Miles Lagoze is a Combat Camera Marine veteran and the critically acclaimed director of Combat Obscura, a 2019 documentary that utilizes footage he captured during his unit's historic mission to secure ground in the northern Sangin and Kajaki districts of Afghanistan. His debut book is titled Whistles from the Graveyard. 

Lagoze recounts his enlistment at the age of 18 and the controversy he faced while using a government-issued camera for his film. The documentary presents a raw and graphic portrayal of the Afghan War, often evoking polarized reactions from audiences. Meanwhile, Whistles from the Graveyard uncovers the grim reality faced by the men and women deployed to fight America's longest war.  

Watch Combat Obscura: https://www.amazon.com/Combat-Obscura-Miles-Lagoze/dp/B07N8JZG1C

Get your copy of Whistles from the Graveyard: https://amzn.to/3s34Eoa

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode's guests are Charles and Sean Sasser, a father and son duo with deep roots in the military. Charles is a 30-year veteran of both the Army and the Navy, where he spent 13 years as a Green Beret and a journalist respectively. Sean is also an Army veteran, volunteering for the Ranger regiment as a HUMINT collector and also serving in the STB.

They share their career stories, from Charles' journey through Airborne School before joining the 82nd, just one of 7 divisions he eventually served with, and Sean's experience in RIP (now known as RASP) and going through the good and bad of a medboard. Rad, Charles, and Sean also talk about the new names of bases and how the military, for its faults, is still a place of belonging for its members.

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Antal is a 30-year Army veteran who retired as a colonel. He is a former Operations Officer; Commander of the 16th Cavalry Regiment; and Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Antal is a prolific author who has published 14 books and hundreds of magazine articles on military history, technology, and leadership.

The surprise attack of Hamas is a failure in imagination. It unmasks the vulnerability of the US and its allies to first strikes and serves as a sobering wake-up call to the failure of deterrence. There is a need to be serious about sending bullies a clear and lasting message and mobilizing society to the specter of a very real war.

Get your copies of John Antal’s books: 

• Next War: https://amzn.to/48TXXoP

• Leadership Rising: https://amzn.to/48MHzqh

• 7 Seconds to Die: https://amzn.to/3M0xCvq

Check out Next War on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSKRH_UqSko

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Hasson is a former US Army captain, Bronze Star recipient, and author of Kabul. He narrates important yet lesser-known facts about the US war in Afghanistan like the flawed Doha Agreement and the unwise decision to give up Baghra. James shares how mistakes were made, from the abandonment of US citizens to the unkept promises to the Afghan people. 

James spoke with soldiers on the ground during the withdrawal. There was utter chaos at the gates, planes were landing and taking off ad hoc, and crowds of people were literally dying trying to escape the Taliban. He talks about how the ranks of the Afghan army melted away and how tragic it was that President Biden ordered them to leave their allies to fend for themselves. 

Follow James on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesHasson20

Get your copy of Kabul here: https://amzn.to/3ZEGTz7

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kervin Aucoin is a 15-year Army veteran, owner of Aucoin Analytics, and host of the geopolitical podcast This Week Explained. He begins by talking about the most important conflict today, the Russia-Ukraine War, and how it really began in 2014 with the invasion of Crimea. 

He explores the relationship between former president Trump and Russia, as well as the danger of larger countries like Finland and Sweden getting invaded as Russia continues its expansionism. Kervin then discusses the role of drones in ISR today and the very real opportunities and weaknesses that AI has in intelligence-gathering. 

Rad and Kervin also talk about how people should be accepting and using AI moving forward, especially with the writers’ strike happening today in Hollywood, and why good and accurate information is the key to averting crises like WW3. 

Follow Kervin on social media:

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-explained/id1584681500

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaucoin83/

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dwain Worrell is a filmmaker, traveler, and novelist. His writing credits include Marvel’s Iron Fist, CBS’s Fire Country, the Disney+ series National Treasure, and his latest book Androne. The book explores a near future where bipedal androids are omnipresent, even on battlefields.

The action-packed book explores life and death as soldiers now control the killing power of andrones from great distances. The book hinges on an empathetic decision made by a pilot, putting into question the strange and dangerous truths of this new invisible war. 

Rad and Dwain also discuss the Hollywood writers' strike, its causes and effects, and their insider takes on it as members of the ecosystem. They also talk about the invasion of Ukraine and the ideological importance of this fight being won against the Russians. 

Follow Dwain on social media:

Website: https://www.dwainworrell.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worrell_dwain/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DwainAWorrell

Get your copy of Androne here: https://amzn.to/48nVzX7

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jim Shockey is a Canadian wilderness outfitter, worldwide adventurer, television producer and host, and outdoor writer. He is the author of Call Me Hunter, a fast-paced thriller that also talks about fully experiencing the one life you have. Shockey then discusses the Hand of Man Museum and his aspiration for it to remain open and accessible to the public through donations.

He also speaks about harboring a deep and spiritual respect for animals. This might seem ironic coming from a hunter, but he believes that finding a balance in nature is our duty as members of the natural world. Shockey talks about tolerance and how it is the number one thing the world needs today, as well as staying focused on the goals you want to achieve. 

Follow Jim and the Hand of Man Museum on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimshockeyofficial/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JimShockey_

Hand of Man Museum: http://handofmanmuseum.com/

Get your copy of Call Me Hunter here: https://amzn.to/45aIopX

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kyle Buckett is a 20-year Navy SEAL veteran and author of the book Leadership Is Overrated. He advises younger people not to lie to themselves about wanting to join the SEALs because if they are unwilling to do what it takes to succeed, they will simply become another statistic. 

He shares his experience as a trainer for Hell Week, the brutally difficult defining event of BUD/S training, and his realizations of changing team culture on his first deployment to Afghanistan. Kyle learned that leadership is about empowering others and trusting them to go out and crush their goals. 

Follow Kyle on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buckett/

Website: http://leadershipisoverrated.com/

Get your copy of Leadership Is Overrated here: https://amzn.to/44NgVua

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean Stott is a former special forces soldier with the Special Boat Service where he served for 16 years. He shares how he transitioned to private security after a parachuting accident ended his military career and tells the story of how he singlehandedly evacuated the Canadian embassy in Benghazi.

Realizing that he was chasing the adrenaline of his SOF days, Dean decided to take care of himself while still keeping his mind and body engaged. He settled on breaking the world record for the fastest person to cycle the 14,000-mile Pan-American Highway, smashing the previous record by a whopping 17 days.

Follow Dean on social media and get his book Relentless:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanstott/

Website: https://www.deanstott.com/

Get a copy of Relentless: https://amzn.to/45R7z1q

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Damian Porter is a former New Zealand SAS Commando in D Squadron. Also known as the How Not to Die Guy, he pulls from his vast knowledge and experience in the field and pays it forward to help others keep safe. He talks about upgrading and downgrading responses depending on the situation and how this boils down to proper training. 

Since bad guys don't play by the rules, Damian stresses the need to either walk away from a fight or protect yourself immediately and eliminate the threat. The key is situational awareness and it is this skill that he passes on to others. He shares more practical advice like how to lose weight through movement and how it all begins with a choice.

Follow Damian on social media:

Straight Talk - Mind and Muscle Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/straight-talk-mind-and-muscle-podcast/id1315986446

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyDI0IBtcYblCWpiIOalL7w

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hownottodieguy/

Website: https://www.hownottodieguy.com/

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.