Bob Parsons is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran. He earned the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry for his service in Vietnam. After returning home, Parsons used the G.I. Bill to attend the University of Baltimore, graduating magna cum laude, and later received an honorary doctorate from the university.

In 1984, he founded Parsons Technology after teaching himself computer programming, growing the company to nearly 1,000 employees before selling it to Intuit in 1994. In 1997, he launched Jomax Technologies, which later became GoDaddy, building it into the world’s largest domain name registrar and a global leader in web services.

Parsons is currently the founder and CEO of YAM Worldwide, overseeing a diverse portfolio of businesses that includes PXG (Parsons Xtreme Golf), real estate, marketing, finance, and hospitality. Alongside his wife, Renee, he co-founded The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, supporting causes such as veteran assistance, education, medical care, and homelessness. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of Fire in the Hole!, which chronicles his journey from combat veteran to successful entrepreneur.

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Rob Jones is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant, Paralympic medalist, endurance athlete, and motivational speaker from Lovettsville, Virginia. After joining the Marines in 2006, he deployed twice to Afghanistan, where in 2010 he was critically injured by an IED, resulting in the loss of both legs above the knee. Following an intensive recovery, Rob retired from the Marine Corps in 2011 and found new purpose through adaptive sports, earning a bronze medal in rowing at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. He has since completed extraordinary endurance challenges, including cycling more than 5,100 miles across the United States and running 31 marathons in 31 consecutive days across 31 cities, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for veteran-focused charities while inspiring others through his message of resilience, service, and perseverance.

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Khalil Zahar is the CEO and co-founder of FightCamp, the connected fitness company bringing real boxing and martial arts training into homes around the world. Khalil didn’t grow up in the fight world. He found boxing in college at a moment when he was looking for structure, challenge, and something that demanded more from him than a typical workout. What started as a way to stay in shape quickly became a discipline. One that sharpened his focus, tested his mindset, and reshaped how he approached pressure, consistency, and personal standards. That experience became the foundation for FightCamp. Khalil built the company around the belief that boxing and martial arts training are not just about fitness. They are systems for building mental resilience, accountability, and self-respect. Today, he leads FightCamp with a mission to make that kind of training accessible to people who value hard work, discipline, and earning their progress. Principles that strongly align with the military and veteran community.

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Matt Maasdam is a Navy SEAL veteran, business leader, and Democratic candidate for Congress from Michigan. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Matt served over 20 years in the U.S. Navy, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and the Pacific, and working in some of the world’s most challenging environments. His military career included serving as the lead instructor for Hell Week at SEAL training and being selected as a Military Aide to President Barack Obama.

After leaving active duty, Matt transitioned to the private sector, holding leadership roles at Under Armour and founding two e-commerce businesses. He brings hands-on experience in team building, job creation, and supporting working families. Matt lives in mid-Michigan with his wife, Laura, a fellow Navy veteran, their two sons, and their cat, Captain America. Guided by service, integrity, and teamwork, he is running for Congress to deliver practical solutions and unite communities.

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Kaj Larsen is a former U.S. Navy SEAL turned journalist, filmmaker, and podcast host. After serving with Naval Special Warfare, he transitioned into frontline reporting, covering conflict zones and global security issues for outlets including VICE News, HBO, and National Geographic. Known for his grounded, no-nonsense storytelling, Larsen brings an operator’s perspective to modern warfare, geopolitics, and leadership. He is the host of the Bravo Two Zero podcast, where he explores war, culture, and the human cost of conflict through candid conversations with veterans, journalists, and subject-matter experts.

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Dave Berke is a retired US Marine Corps Officer, TOPGUN Instructor, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Development Officer. As a F/A-18 pilot, he deployed twice from the USS John C Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN where he served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course. 

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Special thanks to this episodes sponsor BÆRSkin!

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Melissa Comeau is a Marine Corps spouse, director of the American Red Cross’ Military Veteran Caregiver Network, and a writer. She is known for her book “Sleeping with the War,” published in 2015 by the War Writers’ Campaign. The book offers a family and caregiver perspective on life after combat. She served as an Arizona Fellow for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and in that role was honored to help bring to fruition the Hidden Heroes Congressional Caucus for Military and Veteran Caregivers. She is a recognized advocate for the military and veteran community and continues to support caregivers in her current role with the American Red Cross’ Military Veteran Caregiver Network. Before joining the network, Melissa served as the executive director of Lives of Promise, a San Diego-based nonprofit that supports military families facing a PTSD diagnosis. She has also offered peer support to Marines and their families at the Wounded Warrior Battalion – West. Melissa has a background in accounting and IT project management. She lives in Texas and is married to a U.S. Marine who was medically retired after nearly 13 years of service, including four combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Happy Thanksgiving to all!

-The SOFREP Team

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Anthony Vinci, PhD, is a technology and national-security executive, entrepreneur, and former U.S. intelligence official. He earned his doctorate in International Relations from the London School of Economics, after earlier studies in philosophy at Reed College and the University of Oxford. Vinci served as an intelligence officer in multiple global theaters before being appointed the first Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director for Capabilities at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, where he led major initiatives in artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence modernization, and public-private technology partnerships. In the private sector, he has founded and led technology companies focused on geospatial analytics and artificial intelligence, and has held senior roles at major firms including Bridgewater Associates. He continues to work at the intersection of emerging technology and national security and serves as an adjunct senior fellow with leading national-security research organizations.

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Benjamin “Ben” Goldhagen is a human rights advocate and war documentarian whose work centers on exposing the human cost of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and countering disinformation surrounding the conflict. The son of a Holocaust survivor, he frames his advocacy through a moral and historical lens that emphasizes the dangers of unchecked brutality and “eliminationist” violence. After the full-scale invasion began, Goldhagen embedded himself in Ukraine, documenting frontline realities, displacement, and civilian resilience while supporting Ukrainian communities through strategic guidance and storytelling. His films—To The Zero Line and The Steel Porcupine—spotlight the lived experiences of Ukrainians and argue that meaningful international support, including modern weaponry, is both a humanitarian and moral imperative. Through his fieldwork, writing, and documentary projects, he seeks to preserve truth, confront disinformation, and amplify the voices of those living through the war.

Thanks again to our sponsor Navy Federal Credit Union! Find out more here: https://navyfederal.org/veterans

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Thom Geiser is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who now serves as an Armed Services Advisor for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Drawing on decades of experience—including flying C-130s, working in special operations, and serving in international advisory roles—he helps connect military practitioners with humanitarian law and principles. In his role at the ICRC, he engages with armed forces around the world to promote the protection of civilians, improve understanding of the laws of armed conflict, and support the integration of humanitarian considerations into military planning and operations.

Thank you to our sponsor NFCU, and a Happy Veterans Day to All!

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