The Protectors® with Jason Piccolo

We sit down with crime thriller author Peter James to talk about why research is the secret ingredient that makes a story feel real and why smart readers can spot shortcuts fast. Peter shares how a single burglary led to lifelong police friendships, the creation of Roy Grace, and the kind of access that changes how you write every scene.

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

Jason Allison is a writer and former detective who spent twenty years with the NYPD. His award-winning fiction has appeared in journals and anthologies. THE KILLING YARDS is his first novel. 

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

 We catch up with New York Times bestselling author Alma Katsu on her new novel, Incarnate, a modern reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray that explores AI, identity, beauty, and the darker side of our digital lives. We also talk about her path from a 30+ year career in intelligence at the CIA and NSA to becoming an award-winning author, and how that experience shapes the stories she tells. 

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

We catch up with Jack Stewart on the leap from Navy fighter pilot to high-output thriller author and what it takes to earn a seat in the Tom Clancy universe. 

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

We catch up with indie author Eric Bishop on how he's built a growing thriller catalog — nearly 10 books deep — while working a full-time job and doing everything himself. We talk the real tipping point that got The Body Man written, why he chose the indie route over traditional publishing, the writing routine (or lack of one) that keeps him producing, and his new release, Downfall. Along the way we get into live music, bucket-list concerts, and the advice he'd give anyone thinking about writing their own book.

Link to DOWNFALL https://a.co/d/05zPn7JO

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

We catch up with director William Kaufman on how he keeps his action films grounded in real tactics while still making audiences care about the people on screen. We talk New Orleans as a home base, Man Of War as his latest swing, and the teams and habits that make lower budget filmmaking hit like a bigger box office movie. 

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

We sit down with our friend Garrett to talk through a real 24-year CIA career and why it looks nothing like the movie version people expect. We also unpack what happens after retirement and how intelligence tradecraft can translate into business intelligence, networking, and travel security. 

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

We sit down in person with our friend Garrett to unpack what a 24-year CIA career actually looks like when you strip away Hollywood myths. We talk through his move from imagery analysis to case officer, the realities of secrecy and marriage overseas, and how intelligence tradecraft can translate into business and everyday life. 
• discovering an “old school” office environment with world-class capability 
• staying in the CIA by changing roles often across analysis and operations 
• understanding HUMINT recruitment as a slow, high-stakes assessment cycle 
• spotting red flags and motivations that can break an operation 
• navigating marriage and family life when both partners live the lifestyle 
• facing the retirement cliff and why many struggle with transition 
• applying the HUMINT cycle to business development for better ROI 
• building a university-style course on OSINT, AI, rapport, and practice 
• preparing for international travel when technology fails 

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

We talk with Ward about moving from A-10 fighter pilot life to airline flying and then into a full-time career as a thriller author. We dig into what it takes to write authentic military fiction and how he handles the pressure of writing in the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan universe.

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

We catch up with Doug Brunt on the leap from cybersecurity CEO to full-time author and the surprising pressures that come with building a second-act career. We also dig into his research-driven storytelling on Emmanuel Nobel and how power can erase people from history.

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo