SOFREP Radio

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews Jesse Gould, founder of the Heroic Hearts Project, Army Ranger veteran, and psychedelic therapy advocate. Jesse talks about the modalities of psychedelic treatment, its benefits for neurogenesis, and how it can bring controlled chaos to your mind to reset it. 

Jesse talks about his deployments to Afghanistan and his realization that he was drinking way too much. And, more than that, he started observing his mental state take a turn for the worse.

He shares his discovery of ayahuasca as an alternative treatment. Seeing how none of his efforts as of yet were worth preserving, he decided to go down to Peru to seek a shaman. Jesse details the ceremony, how entering into a psychedelic state brings forth repressed traumas, and the unique way ayahuasca reframes trauma to break the cycle of PTSD.

However, not anyone should just jump in and try ayahuasca. There is preparation needed, both mentally and emotionally, as ayahuasca heightens your senses but your brain interprets the stimuli differently. Therefore, Jesse stresses that being in a safe space is paramount for psychedelic treatment.

Reach out to Jesse and the Heroic Hearts Project through the following links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-gould/

Website: https://www.heroicheartsproject.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews The Mission Within Founder Dr. Martin Polanco and Director of Operations Michael Higgs, who was also Command Master Chief of a SEAL team and a 30-year veteran. Cognitive damage is the reality for many veterans and psychedelic treatment is a stigmatized solution to regaining what had been lost in battle. 

Dr. Polanco discusses how psychedelic treatment heals post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and mild traumatic brain injury, while Michael talks about life before and after a single treatment session. They share how ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT are used alongside music and the guidance of a coach and other medical professionals.

Psychedelic treatment is holistic and emphasizes the therapeutic effects of exercise, meditation, eating healthily, and proper sleep. They also talk about the benefits of microdosing and the need to change the narrative on the true healing potential of psychedelics.

Reach out to Dr. Polanco, Michael, The Mission Within through the following links:

The Mission Within website: https://www.missionwithin.org/

LinkedIn (Martin Polanco): https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin7polanco/

LinkedIn (Michael Higgs) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmhiggs/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews Ricardo Perez, former US Army sniper, author of Born To Fail: Embrace Hardship To Forge Your Warrior Spirit, and current research scientist at the University of Washington Department of Virology. He shares his deployment in Kandahar, from carrying around a 50-cal sniper rifle to documenting everything he could through writing.

This became the basis for his book as well as his story of growing up and his journey to become a scientist after life in the army. Ricardo shares that he struggled with depression after his deployment. He recalls the difficulty of finding jobs even as a college graduate and how a strong mindset overcame it. 

For Ricardo, his family remains his primary motivation to achieve his dreams. The proceeds of his book go into the production of his audiobook which features controversial conversations during the Afghanistan war.

Visit Ricardo's Website: https://ricardopperez.com/

Get a copy of Born to Fail: https://amzn.to/3kKAEpw

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews Kevin Maurer and Lucky Luckadoo. Kevin is an award-winning journalist and author of critically-acclaimed books, including No Easy Day, the inside story of the Bin Laden raid. John "Lucky" Luckadoo also joins today's show to share his experiences during WW2 and how he collaborated with Kevin to tell his story.

He shares how he was stationed in England and the virtually unheard-of feat of surviving 25 bombing runs in broad daylight without fighter escort. Lucky shares that they didn’t talk about the war, they just lived it. 

He comments on the nature of war and how there is nothing to be learned in it. There are no victors, only victims. He says that finding the will to get in the cockpit again and again was a horrific responsibility, but he did it as it was his duty.

 Get a copy of Damn Lucky: https://amzn.to/3vplVqb

Follow Kevin's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScribblerSix

Visit Kevin's Website: https://kevinmaurer.net/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida's 6th congressional district. He is a current Green Beret who also serves as a Colonel in the National Guard. He is the author of a couple of books including Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret's Battles from Washington to Afghanistan.

Rep. Waltz shares that one time he jumped out of a plane only to realize his reserve chutes were undone. He also talks about his upcoming children's book Dawn of the Brave. He comments on the waning sense of duty of Americans and taking the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan.

On immigration, Rep. Waltz also stresses the need for a managed system. There is a humanitarian crisis at the southern border and cartels make hundreds of millions per week due to smuggling and human trafficking. Lastly, Rep. Waltz also warns against the CCP and how they are undermining the US.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-waltz-0557964/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelgwaltz
• Brave Books website: https://bravebooks.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews Lee Stuckey, a former major in the Marines, and Founder and President of AHERO and Operation Phoenix. Lee tells the story of his three combat deployments to Iraq, the trauma that he kept under wraps, and his brush with death.  

Now focused on healing, Lee shares how his farm has grown and the evolving programs AHERO has for its veteran community. He talks about AHERO's events which connect veterans to the experts who can help them heal, whether it's for anger management or addiction.

Music for a Hero has been particularly healing and Kevin Adair also comes on the show to perform and bring awareness to their advocacy. Lee further shares the work they do with Operation Phoenix and advises veterans that healing is possible and it’s best done with a community.

Lee's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-stuckey-8216697b/

Lee's email: [email protected]

AHERO website: https://aherousa.org/

Kevin Adair's Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kevinadairmusic

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this podcast, Rad interviews Zachary Armstrong, a Navy officer turned motivational speaker and advocate for military members suffering from substance abuse disorder, and Michael Peyton, a former Navy SEAL who is now a leader of top-performing teams, developer, and trainer of elite human performance, and change agent solving complex challenges. Both guests had a long battle with addiction and today share how they overcame this challenge with the help of the community and healthy alternatives.

Zach is a coach for The Phoenix—a community focused on providing support to those recovering from substance abuse through sober activities and events. He gets vulnerable with his struggle with alcohol and, as a high-functioning alcoholic, was able to hide his substance abuse struggle for years. Based on his experiences in both military and civilian rehab communities, he is driven to ensure the military re-thinks how their substance abuse programs are run. 

Zach and Mike hope to create an effective rehab program catered to the needs of the military community that focuses on providing alternative methods to recovery.

Check out the National Sober Active Community | The Phoenix: https://thephoenix.org/

Zach's email: [email protected]

Mike's email: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews Dan Benamor and Lila Holley. Dan is the Head of Podcasts at Voyage Media, and has shepherded 7 podcast series to release, including the hit true crime podcast Borderline and the military podcast True War Stories: Mission Report. Lila is an Army veteran, author of 9 books, and founder of Camouflaged Sisters.

Dan shares stories of people he featured in his podcast, from survival after getting shot down in Vietnam to blocking war memories. Lila also talks about the amazing work of healing through storytelling that she does with Camouflaged Sisters, as well as her work as an intelligence officer in the Army.

Finally, they discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, Putin's aggression and ambition, and the devastating impact of the conflict on civilians and soldiers on both sides. 

Dan's links:

• Voyage Media website: https://www.voyagemedia.fm/
• True War Stories: Mission Report Podcast: https://www.voyagemedia.fm/show/true-war-stories-mission-report-1/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-benamor-59547930/

Lila's links:

• Website: https://camouflagedsisters.org/
• Get a copy of Lila's book: https://amzn.to/3LuzVnW
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CamouflagedSistersLLC
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camouflagedsisters/
• Lila's Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Lila-Holley/e/B014Q6YCY8
• LinkedIn (personal) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lila-holley-20574071
• LinkedIn (Camouflaged Sisters): https://www.linkedin.com/company/camouflaged-sisters/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews Dino Garner, former Army Ranger, biophysicist, and self-taught military aviation photographer who learned how to shoot on film while riding an F-4, F-14, A-4, F-15, F-16, and FA-18. His 500-page coffee-table book, TOPGUN: The Otherworldly Dreams of a Lifelong Ten Year Old, is due to be published in September 2022, with Kickstarter, IndieGoGo and GoFundMe campaigns beginning in May 2022.

In the episode, Dino shares how he was invited to shoot while riding Air Force planes and how the Pentagon learned of it, leading to many many more opportunities to shoot in the air. He talks about one time when he almost ejected himself out of an F-16!

Dino also talks about his time in the African savannah protecting wildlife against poachers and then joining the Army Rangers afterward. He also discusses the process of creating his coffee table book, the out-of-this-world shots he took, and the many amazing contributors who helped put it all together.

Visit Dino's website in progress: http://topgun.photography/

Follow Dino on Twitter @RealDinoGarner 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews Jason Van Camp, a West Point graduate who later on became a coveted Green Beret. He has earned Bronze Stars and, after his service, became the author of Deliberate Discomfort and founded Mission Six Zero and Warrior Rising.

Today he shares a crazy story during his time with the Airborne when his chute got tangled and he almost plunged to certain death. Jason also looks back during his time in West Point and gives aspiring seniors some tips on how to mentally prepare for the difficult road ahead.

Jason also tells the story of how he got into Ranger School, supposedly with his buddy, and how he made it in while his friend just slept in. He has a similar story of becoming a Green Beret where he ended up qualifying alone instead of with his classmate.

He shares how it felt to finally get his Green Beret and the overwhelming sense of purpose that came with it. Jason also talks about Mission Six Zero, his for-profit leadership development company for corporate clients, and Warrior Rising, a nonprofit veteran service organization.

Check out Jason's book, Deliberate Discomfort

Check out Mission Six Zero: https://missionsixzero.com/

Visit Warrior Rising: https://www.warriorrising.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.