SOFREP Radio

Melissa Ziobro began her career as a civilian historian, archivist, and curator for the US Army in 2004 prior to returning to her alma mater, Monmouth University, to teach full-time. She has taught over a dozen different courses, including Intro to Public History; Oral History; Museums and Archives Management Basics; NJ History; and the Vietnam War. In August of 2023, she became curator of the University's Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, after having worked with the Center for many years in her faculty role (to include curating the Center’s first traveling exhibit, Springsteen: His Hometown, with the Monmouth County Historical Association in 2019). Her most recent publications include Fort Monmouth: The US Army’s House of Magic (2024) and The Battlin' Bastards of Bravo: Bravo Company, 1/506th, 101st Airborne, in Vietnam and Beyond (2025).

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In the heart of every shadow that plagues our communities, from the silent cries of the trafficked to the silent battles of addiction, We Fight Monsters stands as a beacon of hope and defiance. Born from the shared experiences of those who've faced the abyss and emerged to tell the tale, our organization is a testament to the power of resilience and the strength of unity. We are the ones who navigate the night to bring back the lost, who stand in the face of evil not with weapons, but with the unwavering belief in redemption and recovery. Ben is a daddy to eight (sometimes ten), grandparent to one, humanitarian, fighter of evil, bringer of hope, formerly addicted, alcoholic and homeless. He's also the owner of BlackRifle Co, a data intelligence and digital media agency not to be confused with the coffee company of similar name, and co-founder of two non-profits—We Fight Monsters and Flanders Field—that help people in some of the worst places in America and the world. Ben loves sharing that his wife Jess can drive, load, and fire a M18 Hellcat, a WWII tank destroyer. He’s also the only crackhead ever invited to CIA headquarters. When they’re not in South Memphis helping others rebuild their lives after addiction, Ben and Jess can be found in rural Georgia where they live with their family.

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Command Sergeant Major retired Bart E. Womack, served the United States Army with distinction for over 29 years as a professional soldier, providing focus, leadership, and mentorship to all Officers and Enlisted soldiers. His maturity, expertise, and personal dedication to excellence contributed immeasurably to the readiness of the Armed Forces and the security of our great nation. Highlights of his distinguished military career include Drill Sergeant, Ranger Instructor, and Sergeant of the Guard at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He culminated his career in dual roles as Commandant of the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, and the 101st Airborne Division Command Sergeant Major. He’s a Combat Veteran whose awards include 2 Bronze Stars, one for Valor, the Legion of Merit, the Combat Infantryman Badge w/star, the Tomb Guard Identification Badge, and the Army Ranger Tab to name a few. He is also a Distinguished Member of the Regiment of the 327th Infantry Regiment and the 3rd Infantry Regiment respectively.

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Robert J. O’Neill is one of the most highly decorated combat veterans of our time. He served at SEAL Team Two, SEAL Team Four and eight years at the legendary SEAL Team Six. Having taken part in and leading over 400 combat missions, Rob operated in Liberia, The Balkans, The Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Having been decorated 53 times, his awards include two Silver Stars for gallantry in action against the enemy, four Bronze Stars with Valor to denote heroism against the enemy, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor, three Presidential Unit Commendations and three Combat Action ribbons to name a few. Some of Rob’s qualifications include Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster, Tandem Tethered Bundle Master, Naval Special Warfare Scout / Sniper, Breacher, Master Naval Parachutist, Master Training Specialist, Diving Supervisor, Range Officer in Charge for Small Arms, Close Quarters Battle, Breaching, Laser System Safety Officer among many others. Rob took part in the rescue for Operation Red Wings, which extracted the Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell, he was the lead jumper for the rescue operation that saved Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates and he was a Team Leader for Operation Neptune’s Spear, the mission to kill Osama bin Laden. Rob is co-founder of Special Operators Transition Foundation, specializing in assisting Special Operations Forces veterans with the successful transition from the service into their next great career in corporate America. Rob is the author of the NY Times and London Times Best Selling Memoir THE OPERATOR: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior. Rob has been interviewed on Fox News, CNN, CBS, Newsmax and others.

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Join us as we dive into the world of firearms, optics, and tactical gear with Primary Arms! From expert insights to the latest industry trends, we bring you everything you need to stay sharp, informed, and ready for action. Whether you're a seasoned shooter or just getting started, this is your go-to source for all things shooting sports and defense.

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Founded by combat veterans and seasoned game developers Lewis Manalo and Matt Patak, Old Glory Studios brings over 25 years of experience in the gaming industry. Our founders have worked on some of the most popular tactical shooters in the world, bringing their real-life experiences into game development. Old Glory's goal is to make combat games that are easy to pick up, but hard to master. Backed by a talented network of developers, writers, and artists, our mission is to deliver games that are accessible to everyone while staying true to the authentic combat experiences of our founders. Matt Patak: Served in Iraq with the Third Infantry Division. Level Designer on Tom Clancy's The Division 1 & 2, Ryse: Son of Rome, Exoborne, and more. Lewis Manalo: Served in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne. Worked as an independent film producer before transitioning to video games. Writer on Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon franchise, Dying Light 2, Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodhunt, Exoborne, and more.

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Ever wonder what kind of lunatic books a vacation to North Korea, Haiti, and cartel-infested Mexico for fun? Meet Jurgis, a businessman and good friend of Brandon's from Lithuania who treats the world’s most dangerous hot spots like they’re all-inclusive resorts. We talk how they met at Harvard Business School and about the thrill of walking through gang territory like it’s Disneyland, the fine art of not getting kidnapped, and why some places on Earth make Mogadishu look like a retirement community. If that’s not enough, we close things out with a deep dive into stem cell therapy—because after all the bullets, bribes, and bad decisions, even the world’s most fearless traveler needs a little body repair. Buckle up—this one’s a wild ride. For more on stem cell treatments visit: https://www.bioxcellerator.com/

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Lieutenant (SEAL) Rob Sarver graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2004. He initially served as a surface warfare officer and ultimately as a Navy SEAL assigned to SEAL Team 3, completing seven deployments during his service. He completed three tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and two tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Rob's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with a combat "V" device and oak leaf cluster, the Combat Action Ribbon with a gold star device, and various additional personal and unit accolades. Since his departure from the military in 2013, Rob has held various leadership and executive roles and earned an Executive MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Currently, Rob is the Co-Founder of Servius Group and serves as the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of The Heroes Journey, LLC. 

Alex Gendzier is a partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, where he is involved in veterans affairs. Although Alex has no personal military experience, he feels a connection to them through his own journey of overcoming the odds, experiencing painful losses and making life-changing transitions and the five years of research and interviews that went into this Field Manual. His sense of his own successes and failures, as well as his desire to make a contribution to our service members and their families, led him to collaborate with Rob Sarver.

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Austin Shamlin is the CEO and Founder of Traverse Project—a nonprofit organization that combats the human trafficking threat through data intelligence—where has pioneered data-driven methodologies to combat human trafficking. He is a former police executive who currently sits on the Advisory Board for the University of Houston’s Center for Research Excellence to Counter Human Trafficking, as well as the Board of Directors for Operation Path Forward—a nonprofit supporting those who serve America. Previously, Austin directed international counter-human trafficking operations for a nonprofit under the Tim Tebow Foundation and managed law enforcement operations for D.C. Public Schools. He has also worked as a government contractor in Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, and Somalia. He is a recognized speaker at Blackhat USA, DefCon, BENS, and other major conferences.

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In this week's podcast episode, Abby brings us a story nothing short of a movie. Abby Boretto is a resilient advocate for community, volunteerism, and storytelling. Raised in a historic Connecticut town with deep family roots, she developed a lifelong dedication to service and making a positive impact. For 25 years, Abby dedicated herself to raising her three children in California, becoming a pillar of her community while balancing parenting, civic activism, community volunteering, and bold personal reinvention. She held the title of Mrs. California All-Star United States, became a trailblazing silver-haired model, and most recently, produced The Ring and The Mountain, a powerful documentary exploring legacy, connection, and grassroots nation-building. Through every endeavor, Abby continues to inspire, proving that reinvention and purpose have no limits!

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