The Protectors® with Jason Piccolo

The ticking clock. The pressure to keep sprinting like you're 30. The moment you realize your resume isn't your identity. Brad and I get into all of it — legacy as parents, discipline that shifts from external rules to internal standards, and what it actually means to build a creative career that depends on self-direction.

We also get honest about fitness after 50: staying consistent, adapting, and respecting recovery when old injuries stop bouncing back overnight.

Plus — what younger people are chasing that deserves a warning label, the hardest parts of raising kids when you've seen what the world can do, and a practical reset for anyone who feels stuck but not broken: protect time for something that's only yours, no audience required.

We wrap with Japan travel picks for teenagers and a deep tease of Brad's new Pike Logan thriller, Shadow Strike.

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

We dig into Royal Diamonds, the real mechanics of self-publishing, and what it takes to build a writing career from scratch.

Jack's a retired Army colonel who treats writing like discipline — wide reading (Clancy, Griffin, Cussler, Carr, Taylor), professional editing, repeatable process. Then we open the hood on indie publishing as a business: LLCs, cover design, Amazon, marketing. Writing the book is one part. The rest is operations.

The story: Jake Steed, former Marine with an Oxford PhD, chasing a family piracy legend across the Caribbean. A British royal hunting a blood diamond. Enemies everywhere. Pure action-adventure — with an audiobook narrated by Tucker Smith on the way.

Building a second career or planning life after the uniform? This one's for you.

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

After 536 conversations on Protectors, one thing keeps showing up: every guest has a moment where life demands a pivot. Not always a catastrophe, not always a dramatic turning point — but a real shift where career, identity, or purpose has to change direction.

We're still bringing incredible guests, still keeping it human, but we're done glossing over the most meaningful part of the story. We dig into how people recognize the moment, what they do when certainty disappears, and how they build the next chapter — whether that's a military-to-civilian shift, a leadership change, a mental health struggle, or a recovery journey. No politics. Just practical lessons and real-world resilience.

You'll also keep hearing from authors who've pivoted into writing — shorter, straight-to-the-point conversations covering who they are, the book, and how they got there.

Main guest conversations drop bi-weekly. We want your input on who to bring on and what to ask — follow @DrJasonPiccolo on IG and send suggestions. Then subscribe, share, and leave a review so these pivot stories reach the people who need them most.

Support the show

Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

Support the show

Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

• The powerful impact of peer pressure in drinking culture, especially among first responders
• How alcohol addiction can become intertwined with personal identity and social connection
• The physiological effects of alcohol consumption including weight gain, poor sleep, and depression
• Nick's journey from losing his police career due to drinking to becoming a licensed mental health professional
• Frank's experience maintaining sobriety while still serving as an active NYPD officer
• The challenges of red flag laws and how seeking help can sometimes create professional consequences
• Different paths to recovery including AA, therapy, fitness, and personalized approaches
• The transformative benefits of sobriety including improved physical health, better relationships, and being present as fathers

If you're struggling with alcohol or substance use, remember you're not alone. Reach out to Reps for Responders or visit a local AA meeting. There are multiple pathways to recovery, and finding the right support system can change your life.

Support the show

Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

Tom Young joins the Protectors podcast to discuss his ninth novel and third World War II standalone work, "The Mapmaker," which explores the dangerous operations of the French Resistance.

• The novel follows Charlotte Deneau, a French-American woman who uses her artistic skills to create maps of German positions for the Resistance
• Charlotte becomes hunted by the Gestapo for her exceptional mapping abilities
• The second protagonist is Philippe Girard, a French pilot flying dangerous moonlight missions for the RAF's special operations squadron
• Philippe must locate and extract Charlotte from occupied France while determining if intelligence is reliable or a Nazi trap
• Tom draws inspiration from real-life resistance figures like Virginia Hall and Violette Sabo
• Tom describes his writing process as "by the seat of his pants" rather than outlining extensively
• Writing daily with a goal of 500-1000 words helps maintain progress on long-term writing projects
• Tom's writing career began unexpectedly during an aircraft emergency layover in South Korea
• Research for historical fiction includes nonfiction books and WWII training films on YouTube
• Tom's next potential novel may explore the little-known story of Jewish teenagers who escaped Germany to Virginia before joining the US military
• Advice for aspiring writers: attend conferences, network with the writing community, and remember it's normal for first drafts to need improvement

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

We often limit ourselves by age, thinking our best contributions are behind us, but life offers multiple opportunities for reinvention regardless of your current age or stage.

• Different versions of ourselves emerge throughout life's journey – from career phases to parenthood to retirement
• Finding your "why" creates the foundation for discipline when motivation inevitably fades
• Consistency matters more than intensity when building new habits or pursuing new paths
• The transition from high-adrenaline careers requires having a clear purpose ready for the next chapter
• Shifting from "I have to" to "I get to" transforms obligations into opportunities
• Physical fitness serves as both literal and metaphorical preparation for life's challenges
• Taking care of others provides powerful motivation beyond personal achievement
• Preparation before major life transitions prevents destructive mindsets and behaviors
• Success in one area often indicates how you'll approach challenges in completely different domains
• The discipline to show up, especially on days you don't want to, separates those who thrive from those who merely survive

Whatever season of life you're in, remember that your story isn't over – it's just entering a new chapter that requires the right mindset and consistent action.

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

Bill Frost joins the podcast to discuss the crisis of toxic leadership in law enforcement and the importance of finding purpose after retirement.

• Morning walks as physical therapy and mental health practice after career-ending injury
• The increase in toxic leadership across law enforcement agencies in recent decades 
• How rushing promotions and political influence create poor leadership
• The problem of promoting people who aren't ready for leadership positions
• Why mentorship is critically important for developing future leaders
• The connection between good leadership and agency recruitment/retention
• How police leaders can stay true to their mission while dealing with political pressures
• The importance of having a mission after retirement to avoid destructive behaviors
• How legacy matters and why authentic leadership is remembered positively
• Frost's book "Leadership in Law Enforcement" and its focus on 10 key leadership traits

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

Derek Jackson shares his journey from Air Force jet engine mechanic to OSI special agent, revealing the intense personal and professional challenges of federal law enforcement, and how these experiences inspired his crime thriller novel "Shadow One."

• Starting as an enlisted jet engine mechanic before getting recruited to OSI
• Discussing the reality of FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center) and the demanding training process
• Transitioning from mechanic to criminal investigator and the mental shift required
• Balancing investigative work with personal life and relationships
• Using music to inspire creative writing and developing characters
• Exploring how traumatic cases affect agents psychologically
• Turning real-life experiences into a crime thriller novel
• Finding the courage to follow your own path despite others' doubts

Find Derek Jackson's book "Shadow One" on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and Walmart online.

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Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

Jason and Denny share candid reflections on veteran mental health, personal growth strategies, and the journey toward authentic living after military service.

• Veterans don't need to define themselves by brokenness or past trauma
• Mindfulness and meditation can be powerful alternatives to long-term medication for anxiety
• Creative outlets like photography and growing plants provide therapeutic benefits and new perspectives
• Physical activity, starting with simple daily walks, significantly improves mental wellbeing
• Building authentic relationships requires healing yourself first and understanding your attachment patterns
• Podcasting and media creation offer veterans ways to share stories and create community
• Focus on daily positive experiences can shift perspective and create resilience
• The "internal critic" can be acknowledged without letting it control your thoughts and actions
• Content that is authentic and serves a clear purpose will find its audience

If you're struggling, reach out. Whether through the Special Forces Foundation or Security Hall Podcast, there are resources to connect you with support specifically designed for veterans and first responders.

Support the show

Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo