SOFREP Radio

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Chris Wallace, Host of Fox News Sunday and Author of 'Countdown bin Laden' Sep 17, 2021

Show notes

On this week's podcast episode SOFREP Senior Editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri talks with Chris Wallace the host of Fox News Sunday and the author of the recently released book Countdown Bin Laden, the Untold Story of the 247-day Hunt to Bring the Mastermind of 9/11 to Justice.

Chris Wallace's book details the 247-day hunt for the head of al-Qaeda after the CIA located the courier that he was using to communicate with his operatives around the world.

Talking to Steve, Chris Wallace highlights the contrast between the bungled handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and the events at Kabul Airport with the series of successes that led to tracking down, positively identifying, and eliminating Osama bin Laden. In recounting these, Chris's book is a celebration of American capabilities. As Steve says, the hunt for bin Laden is a case study of everything going right.

Chris relates how Rob O'Neill, the veteran SEAL Team Six who took out bin Laden, told him that it was a "one-way mission;" the uncertainties were just that many.

As Steve points out, the book can be considered a historical thriller. Although we know the ending, this doesn't detract from the tension that the participants in the events felt. And through Chris Wallace's expert writing the reader feels the same tension.

Chris also emphasizes how tracking down bin Laden became a top priority for President Obama, despite common perception.

Nevertheless, the book isn't only about the operational aspects of the mission. It also portrays the emotional impact it had on the families of 9/11 victims. This is done by telling the story of New York police officer Jessica Ferenczy, whose fiancee was a NY City police officer killed during 9/11.

Join us for another episode of SOFREP Radio with Steve Balestrieri and Chris Wallace and find out the process that led to this highly recommended book.

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Colin Cahoon, Author and Army Helicopter Pilot Veteran Sep 04, 2021

Show notes

On this week's podcast episode SOFREP Senior Editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri talks with author and helicopter pilot veteran Colin P. Cahoon.

Before becoming an author, Colin was an Army officer and pilot of UH-1 and OH-58 helicopters in which he accumulated more than 1,000 flight hours.

Steve talks with Colin Cahoon about his latest book Mended Wings: The Vietnam War Experience Through the Eyes of Ten American Purple Heart Helicopter Pilots.

Colin talks about his inspiration behind Mended Wings and his wish to honor the Vietnam War era helicopter pilots and all that they gave to the next generation of helicopter pilots.

This was Colin's first non-fiction book, nevertheless, the jump from fiction to non-fiction was made easier through the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Association (VHPA). Through VHPA, Colin was able to locate Vietnam-era Purple Heart pilots and tell their stories for posterity.

Colin also talks about the strong cohesion of the aviation units and the particular experience of Vietnam veterans that set them apart from others.

Mended Wings is an incredible page-turner about a group of heroic aviators and their accomplishments. You can order the book here.

Join us for another episode of SOFREP Radio!

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Kevin Higgins, Retired Special Forces Colonel Aug 28, 2021

Show notes

On this week's podcast SOFREP Senior Editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri speaks with his former Green Beret commander in Panama and Special Forces Colonel (Ret.) Kevin Higgins.

Colonel Higgins is a subject-matter expert on Latin America, so the two talk about Special Forces operations and involvement in Latin American from 1962 to the present day.

Colonel Kevin Higgins recounts his professional history and deployments in Latin America while interconnecting his narrative with the development of American foreign policy in the region.

Join us for another enthralling and informative SOFREP Radio episode.

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Tom Spooner, Former Delta Force and Co-founder of Warriors Heart Aug 20, 2021

Show notes

On this week's special podcast SOFREP senior editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri talks with Tom Spooner former Delta Force member and Co-founder of Warriors Heart.

Warriors Heart is an organization, which provides healing from a variety of issues, including PTSD and drug problems, for veterans, law enforcement agents, and first responders. Yet, its approach is unique. At Warriors Heart healing is achieved communally and holistically; and not in a clinic, but at an idyllic ranch in Hill Country, Texas.

In 2006 Tom suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) which went undiagnosed. His condition deteriorated eventually forcing him to retire from the military.

He talks with Steve about his journey to overcome his TBI and how his commitment to the welfare of the troops led him to eventually create Warriors Heart in 2016. Since the organization's creation Warriors Heart has treated 2,000 men and women.

Tune in to another informative episode of SOFREP Radio. You can find more about Warriors Heart, including how to attend or donate at their website at https://www.warriorsheart.com/about-us/.

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Pete Blaber, Former Delta Force Officer, Author, and Leadership Expert Aug 14, 2021

Show notes

On this week's podcast SOFREP senior editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri speaks with Pete Blaber, Former Delta Force officer, author, and leadership expert.

During his career as an officer in special mission units, Pete Blaber would keep notes and write in order to learn and improve. Nevertheless, as he explains, during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. did not appear to be learning anything on a foundational level. So, after retiring from the Army in 2006, Pete decided to use his writing skills and try to fill the gap.

The results were his two books: The Mission, The Men, and Me, and the latest, The Common Sense Way.

In The Common Sense Way, Pete talks about what common sense really is and how it is linked to good leadership. As Steve says, we all recognize what common sense is but each of us would give a different definition of it.

After all, good leadership transcends field and sector. From engaging our neo-cortex to the contagiousness of survival instincts and the benefits of speaking calmly, the lessons found in The Common Sense Way are not only applicable to leaders in both the military and corporate world but to everyone.

Finally, Pete underlines how former Delta Force member George Hand (better known to his fans as Geo) with whom Pete served, epitomizes common sense. And he also shares some valuable and entertaining stories to illustrate that.

If you are interested you can purchase Pete Blaber's The Common Sense Way here and you can connect with Pete through his website.

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General Don Bolduc Aug 06, 2021

Show notes

On this week's podcast SOFREP senior editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri speaks with General (Ret.) Don Bolduc.

General Bolduc served as Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force commander and in 2012-2013 as Commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Component in Afghanistan where he logged 10 deployments and started the Village Stability Operations program. He was then the commander of Special Operations Command Africa.

Steve and General Bolduc discuss the state of affairs in Afghanistan and how we've come to this point. They also talk about PTSD and the silent toil it has enacted on our troops.

Further, General Bolduc bewails the current politicization of the military, and especially its top leaders, and the deeply divisive political environment plaguing the United States.

The general also talks about his decision to become a police officer in light of the shortage of officers in New Hampshire.

General Don Bolduc is now running for New Hampshire State Senate. To learn more about his campaign you can visit the general's website here.

Join us for another episode of SOFREP Radio.

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John David Mann, Writer and Co-author of "Steel Fear" Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

On this week's podcast episode SOFREP Managing Editor Sean Spoonts sits down and talks with best-selling writer and Steel Fear co-author John David Mann.

John Mann is a very prolific writer having penned 28 books on business and leadership. He is also a close collaborator of SOFREP founder Brandon Webb. Starting in 2012 with Red Circle, John and Brandon have worked together on six books.

John talks about their latest book, Steel Fear. The book was inspired by a series of molestation incidents, which took place on board the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, during the early days of female sailors being allowed to serve on board U.S. Navy ships. The serial molester was never caught. This gave the idea to Brandon of creating a book about a serial killer on board an aircraft carrier.

To accurately represent and convey the image and feel of a U.S. aircraft carrier to the average reader, John, with the help of Sean, had to extensively research aircraft carriers for a number of years. And thanks to Sean's help he also got to visit the USS Lincoln where he received a great welcome.

Further, John talks about the creative challenge of giving enough information to the reader while not giving away too much. Fans of mysteries and thrillers will know that this is a difficult balance to strike.

Join us for another entertaining episode of SOFREP Radio as we delve into the backstage of a military thriller's creation.

If you are interested you can purchase Steel Fear here.

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Ramon Castro Continues His Fight Jul 23, 2021

Show notes

On this week's episode, SOFREP senior editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri catches up with Marine Corps veteran and founder of American Veterans Homefront Initiative Ramon Castro in his journey along the southern U.S. border.

Ramon is walking the length of the U.S.-Mexico border to raise attention to the very important issue of foreign-born American military veterans being deported after their service comes to an end.

Many of these veterans suffer from PTSD or combat-related injuries. Nevertheless, they have no access to Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare services. As a result, their suffering intensifies.

American Veterans Homefront Initiative calculates that thousands of foreign-born veterans have been deported since 1996 when legislation changed. The issue hasn't been addressed by any of the administrations since.

As Ramon specifies, this isn't a political issue but an American one.

By some estimates, the number of green card holders in the U.S. military could be as high as 90,000-100,000. These men and women face the prospect of deportation after their green card expires.

President Biden has said that the issue is a priority for him. His administration has issued a statement saying that they will look into the problem, yet, so far, nothing has happened and the deportations continue.

You can find more about the cause and ways to contribute by visiting American Veterans Homefront Initiative's website at https://www.americanveteranshomefrontinitiative.com/. SOFREP will continue to be in touch with Ramon as he brings awareness to this very important issue.

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Mindy Kotler Smith, American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial Society Jul 18, 2021

Show notes

On this week's special podcast SOFREP senior editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri talks with Mindy Kotler Smith of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial Society.

Steve and Mindy talk about the Prisoner of War (POW) experience and the ordeals POWs underwent in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.

Perhaps the most well-known is the Bataan Death March. The Death March has gone down infamously in history for the cruelty of the Japanese captors and the resilience of the American and Filipino captives. Nevertheless, there were many other lesser-known similar events such as Corregidor and Palawan Massacre.

As Mindy Kotler Smith says, death marches and cruelty by the Japanese in the Pacific were systemic, and contrary to later Japanese claims, they were not isolated incidents.

The American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial Society was founded in 1946 by Sam Moody.

Moody was a POW who had survived the Bataan Death March and then had to endure slave labor in mainland Japan. Moody understood that the only ones who could really connect to other POWs were POWs themselves as they had undergone the same hardships.

Tune in to a somber and revelatory SOFREP episode.

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Ramon Castro, President of American Veterans Homefront Initiative Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

On this week's special podcast SOFREP senior editor and SOFREP Radio host Steve Balestrieri talks with Marine Corps veteran and founder of American Veterans Homefront Initiative Ramon Castro.

Ramon is walking the length of the U.S.-Mexico border to raise attention to the very important issue of foreign-born American military veterans being deported after their service comes to an end.

Ramon Castro also discusses his motivation for tackling this problem, which, for too long, has not received the attention it should have. Fortunately, Ramon's walk has drawn the attention of politicians at the local level.

President Biden has said that the issue is a priority for him. His administration has issued a statement saying that they will look into the problem, yet, so far, nothing has happened.

Join us for another episode of SOFREP Radio and help bring to light an issue that casts shame on America. The veterans who have served the United States should be naturalized and not brushed under the carpet.

You can find more about the cause and ways to contribute by visiting American Veterans Homefront Initiative's website at https://www.americanveteranshomefrontinitiative.com/.

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