Nate Boyer is a Green Beret, former college and professional football player, actor, and director of the new movie MVP. The film is executive produced by Sylvester Stallone. Its official synopsis explains, “[it] takes place on the streets of Hollywood and centers on the growing friendship between a struggling recently retired NFL player and a homeless veteran suffering from PTSD (played by Boyer). The movie reveals the common challenges faced by military veterans and professional athletes adjusting to a new life once the uniform comes off.”  

MVP stars athletes and actors including Randy Couture, Michael Strahan, Tom Arnold, Talia Jackson, and others.  The film’s release is accompanied by a fundraising campaign for Nate’s nonprofit Merging Vets and Players from the GNC Live Well Foundation.  In addition to being a filmmaker, Nate is also a former professional athlete. Even though he had not participated in organized football before joining the Special Forces, he went on to play for the Texas Longhorns before becoming the oldest rookie in NFL history at the age of 34 as a member of the Seattle Seahawks.  During his time as a Green Beret, Nate served on deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and completed a number of JCET (Joint Command Exchange Training) Missions to locations including Israel, Bulgaria, and Greece. You can learn more about Nate at NateBoyer.com. 

You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @NateBoyer37  

Sponsors: 

Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at http://navyfederal.org/

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!

SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here: http://bit.ly/SIG-JackCarr

Featured Gear   

Schnee’s Boots: Today’s featured gear segment is brought to you by Schnee’s boots. When you shop at Schnees.com make sure you use promo code: JACK21. When you do, you’ll save 10% off your pair of Schnee’s boots and logo wear. 

Follow Jack on the social channels: https://www.instagram.com/jackcarrusa/ https://twitter.com/jackcarrusa https://www.facebook.com/jackcarrusa/ ------------ Check out the merch: https://shop.officialjackcarr.com/

Today’s guest is Ryan Steck, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Real Book Spy, a website that features reviews of novels in the thriller genre.  

His debut novel Fields of Fire is on shelves now! It tells the story of Marine Raider Matthew Redd who must uncover a far-reaching conspiracy after losing his memory under mysterious circumstances.  You can learn more about Ryan’s work at TheRealBookSpy.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @ryansteckauthor and @therealbookspy    

Sponsors: 

Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at http://navyfederal.org/

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!

SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here: http://bit.ly/SIG-JackCarr

 Featured Gear   

MTNTOUGH: Today's featured gear segment is brought to you by the online physical training program for backcountry athletes MTNTOUGH. MTNTOUGH is offering Danger Close listeners 20% off the all-new MTNTOUGH+ subscription with the code DANGERCLOSE when you sign up at mtntough.com 

Jack Carr Crossed Hawks Edge Grain Carving Board 

New West KnifeWorks Cooking Knives 

KC Cattle Company 

Peninsula Kelp Company 

CForce Water

Today’s guest is Robert McKee. 

He is an author, lecturer, and consultant who has dedicated his life to educating and mentoring screenwriters, novelists, playwrights, poets, documentary makers, producers, and directors through his Story Seminars.  

He is the author of Story, Character, Storynomics, Dialogue, and his latest, Action, books that help artists write their truth. Since 1984, more than 100,000 students have taken McKee’s courses around the world. Alumni include Peter Jackson (writer/director THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy, THE HOBBIT), Jane Campion, Andrew Stanton, Geoffrey Rush, Paul Haggis, Akiva Goldsman, William Goldman, Joan Rivers, Meg Ryan, Rob Row, David Bowie, Kirk Douglas, John Cleese, Steven Pressfield, Russell Brand, and the writers of Pixar (creators of TOY STORY 1, 2, & 3, FINDING NEMO). His former students include over 60 Academy Award Winners, 200 Academy Award Nominees, 200 Emmy Award Winners, and 1000 Emmy Award Nominees. To find out more about Robert and his seminars, visit mckeestory.com.  

You can follow him on YouTube @RobertMcKeeSTORY , on Facebook @RobertMcKeeSeminars , and on Twitter @McKeeStory 

Sponsors: 

Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at http://navyfederal.org/

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!

SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here: http://bit.ly/SIG-JackCarr

Featured Gear 

Ten Thousand: Today's featured gear segment is brought to you by Ten Thousand. Ten Thousand is offering our listeners 15% of their purchase! Go to tenthousand.cc and enter code DANGERCLOSE15 to receive 15% off. 

James Rupley Print / Vickers Guide 

United States Naval Special Warfare Book

 Badass Workbench 

Send Me Documentary  

KJ Murphy's Custom Hat

Listener questions are back!  On today’s episode of Danger Close, Jack takes a break from interviewing some of the world’s most interesting people and sits down to answer more of your questions. Jack also gives subscribers a behind-the-scenes look at the gear in his new studio. If you want to submit questions for future episodes make sure to follow @dangerclosepodcast and @jackcarrusa on Instagram and look out for new listener question posts.    

Sponsors:

Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at http://navyfederal.org/

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!

SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here: http://bit.ly/SIG-JackCarr

Featured Gear:  Today’s featured gear segment is sponsored by SIG Sauer.  

Enfield Rifle 

New West KnifeWorks Hog Splitter 

New West KnifeWorks Cleaver 

BRCC Mug 

BRCC Subscription Coffee 

ARES GMT Watch 

Toyotas of War T-Shirt 

SIG Trucker Hat 

Horse Soldier Bourbon 

Direct Action USA Metal Book Cover 

Hooten Young Bourbon Hooten Young Cigars 

Ballistics Award Crossed Tomahawks Brass Casings Artwork 

Parker Shotgun @trackerjoe08 

Replica Arrow from Savage Son 

Life of General U.S. Grant 

Seven Pillars of Wisdom Revolt in the Desert Camp-Fires in the Canadian Rockies 

The Old Man and the Boy 

Crossed Tomahawks Whiskey Glasses 

WarPaw Wine 

Unplug Typewriter Company 

MK 3 MOD 0 

US Navy Dive Knife 

Ellwood T Risk Artwork BRCC x Terminal List Coffee 

BRCC x Jack Carr Revenge Blend 

The Iliad 

The Odyssey Limited Edition Jim Corbett books by Rigby 

Fort Knox Safe Quarantine 

Woodworks SEAL Family Foundation Paddle 

Badass Custom Tomahawks Workbench

Today’s guest is a combat-decorated Special Forces veteran and congressman from Florida’s 6th district. 

Mike Waltz served as a defense policy director for Secretaries of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates and as Vice President Dick Cheney's counterterrorism advisor between combat deployments to Afghanistan directly implementing policies and strategy on the front lines that he helped create in Washington, D.C. A Florida native, Congressman Waltz attended the Virginia Military Institute and served more than two decades in the U.S. Army conducting multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. Today he continues to serve as a Colonel in the National Guard.  He is the author of the book WARRIOR DIPLOMAT: A GREEN BERET’S BATTLES FROM WASHINGTON TO AFGHANISTAN. 

The book’s proceeds are donated to veterans’ foundations. Mike is also a successful small business owner and is a frequent media contributor addressing issues related to foreign policy, intelligence and national defense.  He is also the author of the new children’s book Dawn of the Brave. Today on Danger Close, Jack and Congressman Waltz look back at the American military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, one year later and more.  

To learn more about Rep. Waltz you can visit his website https://mikewaltz.com You can also follow him on Instagram @repmichaelwaltz and @michaelgwaltz and on Twitter @michaelgwaltz. 

Sponsors: 

Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at http://navyfederal.org/

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!

SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here: http://bit.ly/SIG-JackCarr

Featured Gear 

Schnee’s Boots: Today’s featured gear segment is brought to you by Schnee’s boots. When you shop at Schnees.com make sure you use promo code: JACK21. When you do, you’ll save 10% off your pair of Schnee’s boots and logo wear. 

Hooten Young Whiskey 

Horse Soldier Bourbon 

High West Whiskey 

Cross Hawks Slate Coaster Set 

Jack Carr Whiskey Glasses  

Leather Crossed Tomahawks Coasters

Today's guest is No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Greaney. Mark is the creator of The Gray Man series. The first book in the collection was recently turned into a hit Netflix film starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. He collaborated with Tom Clancy on the novelist’s final books, co-authoring and then authoring seven Clancy books in the Jack Ryan series. 

Mark also collaborated with Lieutenant Colonel H. Ripley Rawlings IV for Red Metal. Mark’s new standalone thriller Armored tells the story of a group of American security contractors who must fight for their lives against drug cartels in the mountainous terrain of Mexico. You can find out more about Mark’s work at MarkGreaneyBooks.com, and you can also follow him on Instagram @markgreaneybooks  

Sponsors: 

Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at http://navyfederal.org/

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!

SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here: http://bit.ly/SIG-JackCarr

Featured Gear Today's featured gear segment is brought to you by the online physical training program for backcountry athletes MTNTOUGH. MTNTOUGH is offering Danger Close listeners 20% off the all-new MTNTOUGH+ subscription with the code DANGERCLOSE when you sign up at mtntough.com 

Jack Carr X Origin Raptor Tee 

The C4 Foundation (Chuck Heavy T-Shirt) 

Eberlestock Pendleton 

Director’s Reserve Whiskey

Today’s guest is SAS veteran and entrepreneur Ben Garwood.   

Ben served in multiple units in the British military, most notably in the SAS and as a member of the Pathfinders, an elite reconnaissance platoon for the British 16th Air Assault Brigade. The platoon was featured in the documentary Pathfinders: Into the Heart of Afghanistan. Ben is also behind HR4k, a company that curates clothing, coffee, and gear from U.K. and U.S. veteran-owned companies. He created a series of sci-fi-influenced fictional sagas titled Ground Hammer and the Defenders of the Realm. His stories are inspired by the real-world actions of operators who served in 22 SAS.  

You can follow Ben on Instagram @ben_garwood_ and learn more about his work at groundhammer.com and hr4k.co.uk 

Sponsors:

Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at http://navyfederal.org/

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!

SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here: http://bit.ly/SIG-JackCarr

Featured Gear Today’s featured gear segment is sponsored by SIG Sauer. 

ARES Watches  

Icarus Precision 

Grizzly Forge Knives 

Vickers Guide

Bert Sorin is the president and co-owner of the fitness equipment company Sorinex.  

Sorinex was founded by Bert’s father Richard Sorin in 1980. The company has been making some of the most durable strength training equipment in the industry for more than 40 years. The gear they make is utilized by athletes, servicemembers, and students around the world.  Bert is also an accomplished athlete. He is a 4-time Division 1 All-American Track and Field Southeastern Conference Champion in the Hammer and 35 lb. Weight Throw, a former Weight Throw record holder, and an Olympic trials athlete. He is an ambassador of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, an organization that leads the effort to plan, fund, design, and build the Global War on Terrorism Memorial at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. You can learn more about Bert at bertsorin.com or by following him on Instagram @bertsorin   

Sponsors: 

Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at http://navyfederal.org/

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!

SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here: http://bit.ly/SIG-JackCarr

Featured Gear 

Zero Foxtrot: Today’s featured gear segment is brought to you by Zero Foxtrot. Gear up with Zero Foxtrot and use code "JC" at checkout for 20% off your order. 

Sorinex Center Mass Bell 

SITKA Jetstream Jacket  

Terminal List Limited Edition Cover 

Black Rifle Coffee

Kara Frederick serves as the director of The Tech Policy Center at The Heritage Foundation focusing her research on “Big Tech” and emerging technology policy. 

She previously served as a counterterrorism analyst at the Department of Defense and was a Senior Intelligence Analyst for a U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command, deploying to Afghanistan three times in support of special operations forces. She also served as a briefer to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict and was a liaison to the National Security Agency. Following her time at the Department of Defense, she helped create Facebook’s Global Security Counterterrorism Analysis Program and led the Facebook Headquarters’ Regional Intelligence Team.  

Prior to joining Heritage, she was a fellow for the Technology & National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), where she concentrated on high-tech illiberalism, data privacy, and digital surveillance. Kara is a fellow with the National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School and spent two years as a lecturer at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C She is a regular guest on Fox News and Fox Business and has also been published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, The Economist, Bloomberg, and others. 

You can also find her on Twitter at @karaafrederick  

Sponsors: 

Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at http://navyfederal.org/

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!

SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here: http://bit.ly/SIG-JackCarr

 Featured Gear 

Today’s featured gear segment is sponsored by SIG Sauer. 

Unplug Typewriter Co. Restored Typewriter (IG: @unplugtypewriterco) 

WK Operator Knife  In the Blood

Note: This episode of Danger Close was originally released in October of 2021. 

Douglas London is a retired senior CIA operations officer and the author of the book The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence.  Doug served as a U.S. Marine before joining the Central Intelligence Agency in 1984 where he worked for 34 years – 17 years on either side of 9/11. His job was the clandestine collection of HUMINT: intelligence that comes from people who provide secrets valuable to the United States. By virtue of recruiting spies for an equal number of years on either side of 11 September 2001, Doug offers a unique perspective on the Agency pre and post that seminal date in history.   He served in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Africa including three assignments as a chief of station, the president’s senior advisor at post, and chief of base in a conflict zone.   

Assignments at CIA Headquarters included executive positions at the Agency’s Counterterrorism Center, Information Operations Center, and Near East and South Asia Division. He is the recipient of the CIA’s Career Intelligence Medal.   Today, Doug is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies, and a non-resident fellow at the Middle East Institute.   

On this episode of Danger Close, Doug discusses the state of modern intelligence, failures of the intelligence community, a lack of accountability prevalent in the post-9/11 CIA, and a lot more.   

You can follow him on Twitter @douglaslondon5 and you can follow Jack on social platforms @jackcarrusa. 

Sponsors: 

Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at http://navyfederal.org/

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order!

SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here: http://bit.ly/SIG-JackCarr

Featured Gear 

Schnee’s Boots: Today’s featured gear segment is brought to you by Schnee’s boots. When you shop at Schnees.com make sure you use promo code: JACK21. When you do, you’ll save 10% off your pair of Schnee’s boots and logo wear.   

Microsoft Surface  

Premier Body Armor 

Bulletproof Laptop Case