We have arrived at our final Q and A for the year. Here are the 3 questions I tackled for today:

1. A recent college graduate struggling in a difficult job while supporting a loved one seeks advice on staying focused and laying the groundwork to start a business. 

2. A father of four, soon to welcome his fifth child, grapples with the decision to move for his children's needs while trying to preserve his teenage daughter's trust and happiness.

3. A young man asks for help mending his fractured relationship with his brother and navigating the tension between his dream of military service and his parent's expectations.

Enjoy

Shane Claytor was a Navy Corpsman and an Iraq War Veteran. After the military, he dedicated his life to being an ICU nurse, working off and on for the VA for 8 years, including during COVID-19. While working for the VA, he was "disciplined" for speaking out when the COVID-19 pandemic began. He has worked as a travel nurse at 6 different hospitals, interfacing with various hospital operational systems.

Shane is passionate about getting the word out to change the VA healthcare system. He is now working as a business consultant and developing an app to help families and loved ones make decisions during the hospitalization process and end-of-life decision making.

Normally scheduled Friday Q and A for today:

1. A third-generation California mason asks for wisdom on raising exceptional humans in an ever-changing world, balancing freedom, discipline, and moral grounding for his 3-year-old son. 

2. A military service member seeks advice on self-defense, family protection, and the first steps into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to combat bullies and cultivate confidence beyond a professional use-of-force course.

3. A 19-year-old South African, navigating a new life in the U.S., struggles with toxic friendships and loyalty. He questions how to set boundaries while preserving his values and finding a balance between putting others first and prioritizing personal growth.

Enjoy

Stephen is a recently retired Navy SEAL with 24 years of active duty service. Immediately upon graduating from high school he enlisted in the Navy and went to Basic Underwater Demolition School BUD/S. Stephen was assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO where he specialized as a SDV Pilot, small arms marksmanship instructor, and scout/sniper. In 1999 Stephen successfully screened and went to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (SEAL Team 6). During his 11 years at the command, Steve successfully completed 10 combat deployments to both OIF (Iraq) and OEF (Afghanistan). During his combat tours as an assault team sniper and team leader, he was awarded the Silver Star and five Bronze Star medals for heroic actions while engaged in National level HVT combat missions, among other medals and awards.

Before retiring he started his own consulting business, (TIER ONE Global Consulting LLC) specializing in soldiering skills, combat shooting, austere high altitude jump training, and lead climbing rock courses to private clients and government agencies. In 2012 he was the Today, Stephen is the owner-operator of Dark Desert Defense. Stephen also owns Six Shooters LLC. This company works specifically in the entertainment industry, film, TV, and video games.

Genghis was born and raised in New Zealand (NZ). At the age of 17 he was accepted for Officer Training with the Royal New Zealand Army. After serving 7 years with the military Genghis moved to the US where he studied at San Francisco State University(SSU).

Genghis grew up around firearms. From an early age he was shooting and hunting with his father. His time in the military led to a greater understanding or firearms specifically in a combat environment. In 2008 Genghis moved to Ghana, Africa where he owned Gold and Diamond mining operations, he also worked as a consultant at this time in security and aviation.

In 2010 Genghis returned to the US and decided to teach part time as a firearms instructor, after a couple of bad experiences with the facilities and training offered in Las Vegas, Genghis and his partners decided to open their own range offering training and firearms experiences. Genghis went on to train more and more clients offering a bespoke approach to defensive firearms training.

Genghis now owns and operates multiple tourism attractions as well as being one of the principles for Dark Desert Defense. As a veteran himself Genghis also founded and is the chairman of the Veterans Training Fund, a 501(c) 3 that assists veterans in assimilating back into society. 

https://www.darkdesertdefense.com/

Back to traditional Q and A for this week:

The first question touches on confronting fraudulent SEALs, where a listener recounts a tense encounter with a man claiming to be a Vietnam-era SEAL, in of all places, Olive Garden. Advice on how to deal with phony military experiences claims.

The second listener shares a deeply personal journey of confronting the emotional toll of caring for an elderly parent, discussing the challenges of developing emotional resilience and learning to sit with pain when there's no solution.

Lastly, we hear from a listener who's grappling with the pressures of aging, the difficulty of dating in his 30s, and the longing for a family.

Dan Brunner is a seasoned expert in federal law enforcement with 29 years of combined service in the FBI and the US Navy. With over two decades of experience as an FBI Special Agent, Crisis Management expert, and SWAT Tactical Operations Team Leader, Dan has unparalleled insight into the dark world of organized crime.

We are going deep into the operations of the Tren de Aragua, one of the most dangerous and elusive criminal cartels in Latin America. Drawing on his extensive expertise in Latin and South American geopolitical matters, Dan sheds light on the cartel's reach, methods, and growing influence across borders. From his firsthand experience tracking down “Top Ten Most Wanted” fugitives to navigating the complexities of legal systems and international security, he provides a rare, in-depth perspective into the fight against transnational crime.

I think we covered it all today, just in time for Thanksgiving.

I hand these episodes over to Michael, sometimes he has great questions, and sometimes he does not. We covered a lot of ground today, from Nazi rallies in NYC to Ai bots advocating for suicide, plus quite a bit in between.

Enjoy

Chris Piehota, a former FBI Special Agent who served as one of the bureau’s top career executives, discusses the dramatic changes he witnessed in the FBI during his 25-year career. Author of Wanted: The FBI I Once Knew, Chris reveals the internal challenges that have led to the FBI’s current crisis of trust, including leadership failures, cultural erosion, and operational missteps.

He provides a firsthand account of how the FBI transformed after September 11, 2001, and how those shifts have led to the agency's diminished reputation. From claims of political polarization to public calls for disbandment, Piehota shares why the FBI is struggling to regain the credibility it once had and what it will take to restore public faith in this vital institution.

Wanted: The FBI I Once Knew - https://a.co/d/blXwtj9

Normally scheduled Q and A for this Friday:

1. A veteran from Tennessee wrestles with the state of American democracy, morality in politics, and societal divisions, drawing unsettling parallels to history while seeking clarity on the future. 

2. A newly promoted supervisor in a state natural resources agency faces the classic dilemma of motivating an entrenched, underperforming employee — or finding a way to move forward for the sake of the team.

3. A young police officer grapples with the decision to leave law enforcement for a less stressful life, questioning his identity, interests, and courage as he considers entrepreneurial ambitions.

Enjoy

Of all the episodes I have been able to record, these episodes with my father stand out as some of my favorites. I never thought I could record conversations about our family history, values, beliefs, and what makes us who we are. I love that they will live forever, far beyond both of us and can hopefully have great meaning to future generations later in their lives.

My dad and I talk about politics often, and what better time to sit down and discuss the current environment than right after the 2024 election.