The Old Paratrooper Podcast

Seconds to make a life-or-death decision. Years to answer for it.Former Metropolitan Police firearms officer Tony Long joins The Old Paratrooper Podcast to discuss his career in armed policing, the shootings that left three people dead, and the decade-long legal ordeal that ended with his acquittal at the Old Bailey.From his childhood and early ambitions to brutal Hendon training, foot patrols and the world of the SPG, Tony describes his journey from naïve recruit to trusted “thief taker” and firearms officer.00:00 — Meet Tony Long02:21 — A surprising family discovery05:48 — Joining the Metropolitan Police12:12 — Hendon: old-school police training18:55 — From detective ambitions to firearms27:01 — Early days on the streets40:14 — Informants and police intelligence53:57 — Dark humor under pressure59:08 — Joining the firearms unit75:26 — The Northolt siege89:07 — The armed robbery operation103:39 — The mental switch before a shift115:51 — The operation that led to trial129:53 — Split-second decisions, judged later139:55 — The Old Bailey trial and acquittal149:31 — Lethal Force and final reflectionsWe explore:• Firearms training in the 1970s and 80s• Informants, intelligence and policing before modern technology• Fear, respect and dark humour within old-school police culture• The pressure of deciding whether to pull the trigger• Investigations, a murder trial and the lasting mental tollBlunt and unfiltered, Tony shares his perspective on lethal force, accountability and living with decisions that cannot be undone.📖 Tony Long’s memoir, Lethal Force, is available on Amazon.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lethal-Force-Life-Controversial-Marksman/dp/1785033948Subscribe to The Old Paratrooper Podcast for honest conversations with veterans, emergency responders and people whose experiences deserve to be heard.Interested in supporting the podcast ??? The check out the merch range on the link below.https://theoldpara.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooekmN5nuMemozCBSlXndH8wu7y8z-c_pbTYvpezFBuFwRsjuieEx British military? struggling with your hearing ? Click the link below to see if you’re eligible for compensation.https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch#veteran #britisharmy #viral #veteran #britisharmy #viral #royalmarinecommando #motivation #parachuteregiment #interview #military #algorithm #youtubeshorts #facebook #instagram #mentalhealthawareness #sas #police

⚠️ The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Old Paratrooper Podcast. ⚠️

SAS veteran and author Rusty Firmin joins me on The Old Paratrooper Podcast to discuss his new book, “Aftermath”, and some difficult topics that deserve an honest conversation.

We cover Gaza, war crimes, veterans’ homelessness, Walter Mittys and conspiracies.

We also ask what more can be done to stop those who served ending up on the streets.

A straight-talking conversation with room for challenging views and different perspectives.

Watch the full episode and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Another huge episode of The Old Paratrooper Podcast.Real people. Real experiences.

No bullshit.

02:23 — Rusty Firmin: Life, Service & New Book

05:25 — Inside SAS: Aftermath

08:13 — From Military Service to Security Work

11:29 — Military Life, Loss & Moving Forward

14:29 — Stolen Valour and False Claims

17:26 — Veteran Homelessness and Support

21:30 — Media, Misinformation & Trust

24:15 — Global Conflict and Competing Narratives

29:15 — The Gaza Situation

42:24 — Questioning Historical Events

45:53 — Conspiracies, Power and Public Perception

48:25 — Truth, Belief and Speaking Freely

51:12 — Social Media and Control

53:44 — Technology, Young People and Mental Health

59:19 — Preparing for a Digital-First Future

63:23 — Veterans, Accountability and Service

75:52 — The Reality of Military Operations

Book Available below

https://www.rusty-firmin.com/shop

Interested in supporting the podcast ??? The check out the merch range on the link below.

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Ex British military? struggling with your hearing ? Click the link below to see if you’re eligible for compensation.

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#veteran #britisharmy #viral #veteran #britisharmy #viral #royalmarinecommando #motivation #parachuteregiment #interview #military #algorithm #youtubeshorts #facebook #instagram #mentalhealthawareness #sas

Tim Spicer joins The Old Paratrooper Podcast to discuss his new book, The Axe and the Balloon, exploring the remarkable life and legacy of Brian Franks one of the founding fathers of the SAS.In this episode, Tim takes us into the world of the early Special Air Service and the man behind a story that deserves to be far better known.From wartime service and the formative years of the SAS to the character, leadership and experiences that shaped Brian Franks, Tim reveals the research and stories behind the book and explains why he wanted to bring Franks' life to a new generation.It's a conversation about soldiering, leadership, history, sacrifice and the origins of one of the world's most famous special forces units.🎙️ Tim Spicer on Brian Franks and The Axe and the Balloon.The Old Paratrooper PodcastReal people. Real stories. No bullshit.🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with veterans, special forces operators and extraordinary people who have lived extraordinary lives.Get hold of Tim's book on the link belowhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Axe-Four-Balloons-Biography-Everymans/dp/1999589173/ref=asc_df_1999589173?mcid=051b534769d73274a488927d69f161cd&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=795367046375&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10194214930364462762&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046393&hvtargid=pla-2505137101354&psc=1&hvocijid=10194214930364462762-1999589173-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1Interested in supporting the podcast ??? The check out the merch range on the link below.https://theoldpara.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooekmN5nuMemozCBSlXndH8wu7y8z-c_pbTYvpezFBuFwRsjuieEx British military? struggling with your hearing ? Click the link below to see if you’re eligible for compensation.https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch#veteran #britisharmy #viral #veteran #britisharmy #viral #royalmarinecommando #motivation #parachuteregiment #interview #military #algorithm #youtubeshorts #facebook #instagram #mentalhealthawareness #sas#TimSpicer #BrianFranks #SAS #SpecialAirService #TheAxeAndTheBalloon #SpecialForces #MilitaryHistory #BritishArmy #TheOldParatrooperPodcast

FULL EPISODE BELOW

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6fTtoyZ4BecXDZ8uBpwtCN?si=b8b4c13b45634ede

The hardest lessons in war are the ones bought with lives. Chris Ryan reflects on the patrols that went wrong, the SOPs that were broken to get troops on the ground in Iraq, and the brutal cost of learning from failure too late.Chris Ryan is one of the most recognised names to come out of the SAS. From covert operations and life behind enemy lines to the reality of serving in one of the world's most elite special forces units, he shares stories and insights that have never been told publicly before.In this exclusive episode of The Old Paratrooper Podcast, Chris opens up about his military career, survival, leadership, resilience, and reveals moments he's never discussed in any previous interview or podcast. This is a rare, honest conversation with one of Britain's most iconic soldiers.Check out his book on the link below.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breakout-breakneck-2026-thriller-bestselling/dp/1838779841/ref=asc_df_1838779841?mcid=7397fdd1e2633714a29aeacfed1c3ca6&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=797309076872&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12699108331387211369&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9213842&hvtargid=pla-2500422134114&psc=1&hvocijid=12699108331387211369-1838779841-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=4Interested in supporting the podcast ??? The check out the merch range on the link below.https://theoldpara.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooekmN5nuMemozCBSlXndH8wu7y8z-c_pbTYvpezFBuFwRsjuieEx British military? struggling with your hearing ? Click the link below to see if you’re eligible for compensation.https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch#veteran #britisharmy #viral #veteran #britisharmy #viral #royalmarinecommando #motivation #parachuteregiment #interview #military #algorithm #youtubeshorts #facebook #instagram #mentalhealthawareness #sas

FULL EPISODE BELOW

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3OaGtrHNkJJYZ4YkjS4xrM?si=ffb1ce7573244b03

Billy B shares why Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test is gaining traction in the US, how SAS: Who Dares Wins has continued to evolve over its 10 years, and why younger audiences are tuning in. He also previews the upcoming British season and teases a new twist. A behind-the-scenes conversation about the growth and staying power of a reality TV format on both sides of the Atlantic.Ex-Military? Struggling with hearing? Left after 1987? Click below to see if you're eligible for compensation. 👇👇👇https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch/If you are struggling with your mental health and thinking about hurting yourself, the links below may help. It's good to talk.https://veteransvolunteerservice.org.uk/https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/mental-health-helplines/https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=oneboxWhatever you're going through, call them free any time, from any phone, on 116 123🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with veterans, special forces operators and extraordinary people who have lived extraordinary lives.Interested in supporting the podcast ??? The check out the merch range on the link below.https://theoldpara.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooekmN5nuMemozCBSlXndH8wu7y8z-c_pbTYvpezFBuFwRsjuie#veteran #britisharmy #viral #veteran #britisharmy #viral #royalmarinecommando #motivation #parachuteregiment #interview #military #algorithm #youtubeshorts #facebook #instagram #mentalhealthawareness #sas #deltaforce

Brent Tucker spent 20 years in US Army Special Operations, serving as both a Green Beret and an operator with the elite 1st SFOD-D — better known as Delta Force.

Across his career, Brent completed 13 combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, serving as an assaulter and sniper. His service came at a serious personal cost: he was shot and wounded by grenade shrapnel during combat in Afghanistan, injuries for which he received the Purple Heart.

After medically retiring as a Master Sergeant in 2018, Brent took the same drive into a new chapter — building businesses supporting the first responder community and becoming the host of the Tier 1 Podcast.

From Green Beret to Delta Force, combat deployments and being wounded in action, to life after the military and finding a new purpose behind the microphone — Brent Tucker joins The Old Paratrooper Podcast.

🎙️ This is one you don't want to miss.

The Old Paratrooper Podcast Real people. Real stories. No bullshit.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with veterans, special forces operators and extraordinary people who have lived extraordinary lives.

Interested in supporting the podcast ??? The check out the merch range on the link below.

https://theoldpara.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooekmN5nuMemozCBSlXndH8wu7y8z-c_pbTYvpezFBuFwRsjuie

Ex British military? struggling with your hearing ? Click the link below to see if you’re eligible for compensation.

https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch

#veteran #britisharmy #viral #veteran #britisharmy #viral #royalmarinecommando #motivation #parachuteregiment #interview #military #algorithm #youtubeshorts #facebook #instagram #mentalhealthawareness #sas #deltaforce

As the world marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11, former New York firefighter James Hanlon joins The Old Paratrooper Podcast to share his personal experience of the day that changed America forever.James reflects on witnessing the attacks unfold, the courage and sacrifice of his fellow firefighters, and the lasting impact 9/11 had on New York’s fire service and the wider world. He also discusses his work as a documentary filmmaker, preserving powerful real-life stories and bringing audiences closer to the people behind some of history’s most significant events.A deeply personal conversation about service, loss, remembrance and the responsibility to ensure these stories are never forgotten.The Old Paratrooper PodcastReal people. Real stories. No bullshit.🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with veterans, emergency services personnel, special forces operators and extraordinary people who have lived extraordinary lives.Interested in supporting the podcast ??? The check out the merch range on the link below.https://theoldpara.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooekmN5nuMemozCBSlXndH8wu7y8z-c_pbTYvpezFBuFwRsjuieEx British military? struggling with your hearing ? Click the link below to see if you’re eligible for compensation.https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binchhttps://www.booksamillion.com/p/Legacy-Child/James-Hanlon/9798996072927#FDNY #Firefighter #Firefighters #NewYork #FirstResponders #FireService #TheOldParatrooperPodcast #JamesHanlon #veteran #paratroopers #military

What really happened when former British soldiers swapped military service for the dangerous and rapidly expanding world of private security in Iraq?In this episode of The Old Paratrooper Podcast, Chris sits down with Gary Roberts, author of Seven Point Six Two: The True Story of Soldiers for Hire in Iraq.Gary takes us inside the extraordinary world of armed security contractors operating in Iraq—where former soldiers suddenly found themselves protecting people and assets in an environment where ambushes, roadside bombs and attacks were an everyday reality.This isn't Hollywood or a polished war story. It's a first-hand account of the men who went to Iraq after their military careers, the realities of working as armed contractors, the risks they accepted and the experiences that stayed with them long after they came home.We talk about Iraq, private military contracting, firefights, weapons, fear, brotherhood, leadership and what happens when professional soldiers enter a world where the rules are very different.Gary also explains the story behind Seven Point Six Two, why he decided to write it and the men and experiences that inspired the book.Raw. Unfiltered. No politics. Just the story from someone who was actually there.Interested in supporting the podcast ??? The check out the merch range on the link below.https://theoldpara.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooekmN5nuMemozCBSlXndH8wu7y8z-c_pbTYvpezFBuFwRsjuieEx British military? struggling with your hearing ? Click the link below to see if you’re eligible for compensation.https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch#veteran #britisharmy #viral #veteran #britisharmy #viral #royalmarinecommando #motivation #parachuteregiment #interview #military #algorithm #youtubeshorts #facebook #instagram #mentalhealthawareness #sas

Former United States Navy SEAL Dusty Turner went from serving in one of the world’s most elite military units to being convicted of a murder he did not commit.Sentenced to 82 years in prison, Dusty ultimately spent 31 years behind bars before being released.This is a story of a night that changed everything, a controversial murder conviction, more than three decades inside the American prison system, and the fight to prove that the truth was not what the jury had been told.On The Old Paratrooper Podcast, Dusty tells his story in his own words from the SEAL Teams to a prison cell, what 31 years took from him, and what it feels like to finally walk free.🎙️ The Old Paratrooper Podcast — raw, unscripted and unfiltered conversation.Interested in supporting the podcast ??? The check out the merch range on the link below.https://theoldpara.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooekmN5nuMemozCBSlXndH8wu7y8z-c_pbTYvpezFBuFwRsjuieEx British military? struggling with your hearing ? Click the link below to see if you’re eligible for compensation.https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch#veteran #britisharmy #viral #veteran #britisharmy #viral #royalmarinecommando #motivation #parachuteregiment #interview #military #algorithm #youtubeshorts #facebook #instagram #mentalhealthawareness #sas #navyseals

The views expressed in this clip and podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of The Old Paratrooper Podcast.

⚠️ VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED ⚠️This podcast contains graphic descriptions and discussions that some viewers may find distressing.

You asked for him back — so we got him back.After the incredible response to his first appearance, Chris Ryan returns to The Old Paratrooper Podcast for a second conversation that goes into territory we simply couldn't cover the first time.Chris begins by talking about his first-hand experience of Gaza, after joining a military delegation that received an intensive briefing on the October 7 attacks before entering Gaza and seeing the tunnel network for himself. He describes the footage he was shown, the devastation he witnessed, the complexity of fighting above and below ground, and why he believes misinformation and propaganda have made an already horrific conflict even harder for the outside world to understand.This isn't presented as a comfortable conversation or an attempt to tell people what they should believe. It's Chris explaining what he personally saw, what he was told and what conclusions he drew from the experience, while also acknowledging the suffering of innocent civilians and the complexity of the conflict.Then we hand the episode over to you.After hundreds of questions and comments following the first podcast, I put some of the ones you wanted answered directly to Chris.We get into Bravo Two Zero, his thoughts on the criticism and controversy surrounding the patrol, his relationship with Andy McNab, the men who didn't come home, and some of the claims that have been made about what happened.Chris also talks about women serving on the front line, why he believes the standards should remain exactly that — standards — and why anyone capable of meeting them deserves their place.We discuss life inside the SAS, the early joint SAS/SBS selection, how dramatically the operational tempo changed during Iraq, whether he misses the Special Forces world, writing The One That Got Away, the psychological impact of revisiting old memories, becoming a bestselling author and dealing with the fame that followed.It's raw, at times uncomfortable, sometimes funny and completely unfiltered.

Chris Ryan. Gaza. The SAS. Bravo Two Zero. And your questions answered.

Another huge episode of The Old Paratrooper Podcast.Real people. Real experiences. No bullshit.

Check out his book on the link below.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breakout-breakneck-2026-thriller-bestselling/dp/1838779841/ref=asc_df_1838779841?mcid=7397fdd1e2633714a29aeacfed1c3ca6&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=797309076872&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12699108331387211369&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9213842&hvtargid=pla-2500422134114&psc=1&hvocijid=12699108331387211369-1838779841-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=4

Interested in supporting the podcast ??? The check out the merch range on the link below.https://theoldpara.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooekmN5nuMemozCBSlXndH8wu7y8z-c_pbTYvpezFBuFwRsjuie

Ex British military? struggling with your hearing ? Click the link below to see if you’re eligible for compensation.

https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch

#veteran #britisharmy #viral #veteran #britisharmy #viral #royalmarinecommando #motivation #parachuteregiment #interview #military #algorithm #youtubeshorts #facebook #instagram #mentalhealthawareness #sas