Our Longest Interview Ever—And One of Our Best

What happens when you sit down with a man who's lived a dozen different lives? You get the conversation of a lifetime.

Meet Ryan Pote—Navy helicopter pilot, special operations veteran, federal investigator, SCUBA instructor, oil company director, bartender, musician, and now thriller author. In this extended interview, we dive deep into the extraordinary experiences that shaped one of the most fascinating people we've ever had on the show.

From countering drug cartels in Central America as part of a joint special operations task force to serving as a search and rescue pilot for the US Navy Experimental Test Wing and NASA, from researching biofuels in Hawaii to investigating prototype military programs as a federal agent—Ryan's life reads like the thriller novels he now writes.

We also dive deep into his highly anticipated debut thriller Blood and Treasure (releasing July 22, 2025)—a mind-bending story that begins with the International Space Station going dark and blood floating in zero gravity, then crashes into the Indian Ocean where a treasure hunter discovers the sole survivor. It's a premise that could only come from someone who's actually been inside classified operations and understands how the unthinkable becomes reality.

This isn't just an author interview—it's a masterclass in adventure, service, and the kind of experiences most of us only read about in books. Ryan's journey from bartender to biofuel researcher to special operations pilot to federal investigator to novelist proves that truth really is stranger than fiction.

Don't miss this one. It's our longest interview to date, and there's a reason we kept the cameras rolling.

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Buckle up, thriller fans—because Brad Taylor is back in the hot seat, and this time, he's bringing Into the Gray Zone, a geopolitical barnburner that drops Pike Logan into the heart of chaos in India.

In this pulse-pounding episode, we sit down with New York Times bestselling author and former Special Forces officer to dig deep into his latest novel—hailed by Mark Greaney as “a knockout punch of a novel.” From covert operations to real-world threats, Brad walks us through the shadowy world of gray zone warfare where the lines between peace and war are dangerously blurred.

We talk inspiration, tradecraft, and the terrifyingly real scenarios that fuel Pike’s latest mission. When a terror attack during a CIA–India intel meeting is written off as routine, Pike Logan isn't buying it—and he’s proven right when a cascade of deadly operations threatens to ignite global conflict. From the bustling streets of Delhi to the iconic Taj Mahal, it’s a high-octane race to stop an invisible enemy hiding behind proxies and profit motives.

What’s really going on behind the scenes of global terrorism?

All that and more in this can't-miss episode of The Crew Reviews. Subscribe, stream, and strap in—because this mission gets personal.

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New York Times bestselling author Joel C. Rosenberg joins the Crew to discuss The Beijing Betrayal!

In this explosive finale to the Marcus Ryker series, a catastrophic attack on U.S. soil sets off a deadly global crisis. As China’s shadow war pushes the world to the brink of nuclear disaster, Ryker races against time to stop an unthinkable catastrophe. Will he succeed—or is this truly the end?

Joel takes us behind the scenes of the action, the real-world threats that inspired the story, and what’s next after this thrilling conclusion. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation!

Watch now! Like, subscribe, and drop your questions in the comments!

Praise for Joel C. Rosenberg:

"Rosenberg delivers a thriller so chillingly real, it feels like tomorrow’s headlines. A masterclass in geopolitical suspense." —CE Albanese, The Crew Reviews Podcast

"A relentless, high-stakes ride that cements Rosenberg as one of the best in the genre." —The Real Book Spy

“Few people understand the scope and scale of change in [the Middle East] better than Joel C. Rosenberg.” —Mike Huckabee former governor of Arkansas

“Joel Rosenberg is masterful!” —Brad Thor #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Rosenberg’s imagination is a tumultuous place where Middle Eastern geopolitics combine with devious minds.” —Kyle Mills #1 New York Times bestselling author

Purchase your copy of THE BEIJING BETRAYAL:

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Greaney joins us to discuss his latest thriller, Midnight Black! The Gray Man is back, and this time, he’s on a relentless mission to rescue Zoya Zakharova from a brutal Russian gulag. With a thousand miles of frozen wilderness and the full force of the Russian police state standing in his way, nothing will stop him.

Mark takes us behind the scenes of the action, the research, and what’s next for the Gray Man. Don’t miss this thrilling conversation!

🔥 Watch now! Like, subscribe, and drop your questions in the comments!

Praise for Midnight Black:

"If there was any doubt whatsoever, MIDNIGHT BLACK-one of the best books I have ever covered-cements Mark Greaney's place as one of the premier titans in the genre today. This is the book that Gray Man fans have hoped for, and rest assured, Greaney dials it way up, fully unleashing Court Gentry and holding nothing back to give his readers an unmatched experience that not only resets the bar but will, in all likelihood, ultimately prove to be the measuring stick future thrillers are judged against." -The Real Book Spy

“Things come alive when Zoya is introduced. Her jousting with the power-mad twerp who controls her life in the Russian hellhole prison is on a different level. Does the journey end in the lovers' reunion? That's for Greaney to tell in the last chapter, where he reveals the true reason for Zoya's arrest and gives action fans what they want.” -Booklist

Mark Greaney's research for the Gray Man novels, including The Chaos Agent, Burner, Sierra Six, Relentless, One Minute Out, Mission Critical, Agent in Place, Gunmetal Gray, Back Blast, Dead Eye, Ballistic, On Target, and The Gray Man, has taken him to more than thirty-five countries, and he has trained alongside military and law enforcement in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine, and close-range combative tactics. With Marine Lt. Col. Rip Rawlings, he wrote the New York Times bestseller Red Metal. He is also the author of the New York Times bestsellers Tom Clancy Support and Defend, Tom Clancy Full Force and Effect, Tom Clancy Commander in Chief, and Tom Clancy True Faith and Allegiance. With Tom Clancy, he coauthored Locked On, Threat Vector, and Command Authority.

Purchase your copy of MIDNIGHT BLACK

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A vanished father. A TikTok star desperate for answers. And a cold case that's about to explode. Legendary crime writer Robert Crais joins us to crack open "The Big Empty," where Elvis Cole and Joe Pike slam headfirst into their darkest case yet.

What starts as a desperate daughter's search for truth spirals into a deadly game of predator and prey on the savage streets of LA. In this no-holds-barred interview, Crais reveals how he transforms a simple missing persons case into a nightmare that will push his iconic detective duo to their absolute limits.

When victims become hunters and justice comes at a brutal price, who's really hunting whom? Get ready - this conversation hits every nerve that makes Crais the undisputed master of Los Angeles noir.

Learn more about Robert visit: https://www.robertcrais.com/

Purchase your copy of THE BIG EMPTY https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/589944/the-big-empty-by-robert-crais/

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New York Times bestselling author and former special forces officer Brad Taylor ups the ante and goes all in talking his latest edge-of-your-seat Pike Logan thriller, DEAD MAN'S HAND.

DEAD MAN'S HAND:

But Putin is aware of the traitors in his midst and assigns the loyal commander of the Russian National Guard to root them out. It’s a mission Victor Petrov is expected to undertake after he prevents Sweden from joining NATO—by assassinating a deputy minister of foreign affairs.

After receiving intelligence about the threat in Sweden, the United States sends Pike Logan to identify Petrov’s target—only for him to get caught in the crossfire between Putin’s agents and the Wolves. When the smoke clears, Pike makes no effort to stop the Wolves on their ultimate mission, believing it just, until he discovers that their operation has unimaginable consequences.

For Putin is preparing a devastating endgame: activating the Dead Man’s Hand nuclear response that will launch Russia’s missiles in the event of his death. . .

Learn more about Brad visit: https://bradtaylorbooks.com/

Purchase your copy of DEAD MAN'S HAND:

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#BradTaylor #PikeLogan #TheCrewReviews

#1 New York Times bestselling author of the Gray Man series, Mark Greaney, unleashes Chaos on the Crew in his latest interview.

THE CHAOS AGENT:

A car accident in Japan.

A drowning in Seoul.

A home invasion in Boston.

Someone is killing the world’s leading experts on robotics and artificial intelligence. Is it a tech company trying to eliminate the competition or is it something even more sinister?

After all, artificial intelligence may be the deadliest battlefield gamechanger since the creation of gunpowder. The first nation to field weapons that can act at the speed of computer commands will rule the battlefield.

It’s an irresistible lure for most, but not for the Gray Man. His quest for a quiet life has led him to Central America where he and his lover, Zoya Zakharova, have assumed new identities. With a list of enemies that  includes billionaires, terrorists, and governments, they need to keep a low profile, but the world’s deadliest assassin can’t expect to hide out forever.

Eventually, they’re tracked down and offered a job by an old acquaintance of Zoya’s. He needs their help extracting a Russian scientist who is on the kill list. They reject the offer, but just being seen with him is enough to put assassins on their trail.

Now, they’re back on the run, but no matter which way they turn, it's clear that whoever's tracking them is always going to be one step ahead. Since flight’s no longer possible, fight is the only option left, and no one fights dirtier than the Gray Man.

Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM

Purchase your copy of THE CHAOS AGENT:

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In this episode, the Crew shares a drink with one of their favorite authors, Gregg Hurwitz, as they discuss his latest Orphan X thriller, "LONE WOLF."

About Lone Wolf:

Not his usual mission, and not one Evan embraces with enthusiasm, but this unlikely, tiny job quickly explodes into his biggest mission yet. One that finds him battered between twisted AI technocrat billionaires, a mysterious female assassin who seems a mirror of himself, and personal stakes so gut-wrenching he can scarcely make sense of them.

Evan's mission pushes him to his limit - he must find and take down the assassin known only as the Wolf, before she succeeds in completing her mission and killing the people who can identify her - a teenaged daughter of her last target, and Evan himself. Matched skill for skill, instinct for instinct, Evan must outwit an opponent who will literally stop at nothing if he is to survive.

What critics are saying:

"The most fascinating and compelling Orphan X novel to date. Think Jason Bourne on steroids... Lone Wolf is one of the year's first must-read thrillers."

Purchase your copy of LONE WOLF: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250871732/lonewolf

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So you want a glimpse into Nick Petrie's latest Peter Ash thriller? Well, this is The Price You Pay--an hour with The Crew Reviews.

For those living under a rock, Nick Petrie is the author of eight novels in the Peter Ash series. His debut, The Drifter, won both the ITW Thriller award and the Barry Award for Best First Novel, and was a finalist for the Edgar and the Hammett Awards. He also happens to be one of the Crew's favorite authors.

ABOUT THE PRICE YOU PAY

Lewis has helped Peter Ash out of more trouble than Peter cares to remember.  So he doesn’t hesitate when Lewis asks a favor in return. Lewis has left his criminal past behind, but a former associate may be in trouble, and he and Peter must drive into the teeth of a blizzard to find him. When they discover blood in the snow and a smoldering cabin, both men know things are bad. Then they learn that someone has stolen notebooks full of incriminating secrets about Lewis’s long-ago crimes, and realize the situation is much worse than they’d thought.

To save Lewis’s wife, Dinah, and her two boys, Lewis and Peter must find the notebooks. With Peter’s longtime girlfriend, June Cassidy, they begin the search—facing ruthless and violent foes at each turn, including one powerful person who will stop at nothing for revenge. Will Peter and Lewis be able to keep that dark past buried? Or will they need to step into the darkness to save the people they love most?

“High-octane…Petrie nimbly combines small-unit action with cyber-sleuthing (courtesy of Peter’s partner, reporter June Cassidy) and rarely takes his foot off the gas during the narrative’s 400-plus pages. Adrenaline junkies will be in heaven.” —Publishers Weekly

Purchase your copy of THE PRICE YOU PAY: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/711821/the-price-you-pay-by-nick-petrie/

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In this episode, Mike and Chris chat with acclaimed screenwriter and bestselling author Terry Hayes about his latest novel, THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST, a decade in the making.

About Terry:

Terry Hayes is an Australian screenwriter, producer, and novelist, born on October 8, 1951, in Sussex, England. Known for his versatile career, Hayes has made significant contributions to the film industry, having penned scripts for blockbuster movies like "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior," "Dead Calm," and "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome." In addition to his success in filmmaking, Hayes is an accomplished novelist. His debut novel, "I Am Pilgrim," a gripping espionage thriller, received widespread acclaim for its intricate plot and compelling storytelling. Hayes continues to captivate audiences with his talent for weaving thrilling narratives across multiple creative mediums.

Raves and Reviews for THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST:

“Go in expecting the unexpected, and you’ll walk away, jaw dragging on the floor, stunned and unable to stop thinking about this book for weeks . . . Shocking, far-fetched, but filled with bloody good fun, Terry Hayes comes out swinging yet again with The Year of the Locust, mixing storylines you might expect from Robert Ludlum and James Rollins, with a touch of Crichton and Fleming for added good measure.”– The Real Book Spy

“THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST is the must read of the year for the true connoisseur of the classic espionage thriller. Terry Hayes’ runaway bestseller I AM PILGRIM was an amazing tour de force; THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST reaches new heights in storytelling. Wonderfully literate, beautifully written, and tightly plotted. This one will stay with you a long time.” — Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author of BLOOD LINES

Purchase your copy of THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Terry-Hayes/15705144

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#TerryHayes #TheYearOfTheLocust #TheCrewReviews