Behind the Bastards: The Ballad of Bo Gritz (Part Two, Live Show – 11/20/2025)
Podcast Host: Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Panelists: Bobby Finger, Sarah Marshall, Cody Johnston
Summary prepared by Podcast Summarizer

Overview

This episode continues the bizarre and unsettling chronicle of Bo Gritz—decorated Vietnam War veteran, conspiracy theorist, failed commando leader, and later a figurehead in America’s militia and far-right movements. The hosts, with their signature irreverent banter, dissect Gritz’s doomed “rescue” missions, the larger-than-life cast of characters around him, and his slow transformation into a folk hero for American extremists. Live audience energy, humor, and a blend of exasperation and fascination punctuate the discussion.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Recap & Launch of Operation Velvet Hammer (02:59–05:47)

• Bo Gritz’s Motivations: Picking up from the previous episode, Gritz continues his grift, fundraising across the country with fabricated stories about U.S. POWs left behind in Vietnam.

• Operation Velvet Hammer (1981): Gritz gathers “21 drifters, dreamers, and desperados,” including a psychic and hypnotherapist (05:00), and begins training... at the American Cheerleading Association Academy in Florida.

  “If you’re Bo Gritz, the place you pick is the American Cheerleading Association Academy in Leesburg, Florida. Obviously.”
  — Bobby Finger [07:12]

• Panel Reaction: Panelists riff on the absurdity of military training at a cheerleading academy and the recruitment of oddball “experts.”

2. Portrait of the Commandos: Terry Smith & Maniacal Fantasies (08:13–12:50)

• Introduction of Terry Smith: A supposed former Green Beret, equally eager and unhinged, famous for outlandish, graphic war stories and violent fantasies.

  “When I shoot the first commie, I’m going to have an orgasm.”
  — Quoted from Terry Smith [08:49]

• The hosts interrogate the credibility of such claims, ironically suggesting this caliber of derangement should prohibit gun ownership.

• Time Magazine Reports: The training atmosphere is described as a testosterone-fueled mess, with rucksacks, military ballads, and overt fantasy fulfillment.

  “They were just high on the idea, adrenaline, and the Ballad of the Green Berets blaring over the loudspeaker.”
  — Time Magazine (as read by Bobby) [12:35]

3. Inept Plans, Comical Logistics, and Repeated Failure (12:51–24:55)

• Plan Details: The team’s strategy includes flying to Laos as “tourists,” renting a house on the Mekong, pretending to offer humanitarian aid, smuggling guns, mingling with guerrillas, and distributing self-printed IOUs as “get out of jail free” cards.

  “These are just … I carry one of those in my pocket now.”
  — Bobby Finger [13:49]

• Run Out of Funds in Florida: Terry Smith’s solution is to rob local cocaine dealers for travel money (15:10), revealing a blending of criminal and paramilitary absurdity.

• Final “Mission”: When the group finally makes it to Laos, they are immediately ambushed—not by communists, but by rival anti-communist Laotians. Gritz is forced to pay ransom to retrieve a captured teammate, and the only “POW” they recover is their own member (23:04–24:13).

4. Celebrity Donors & Hollywood Connections (21:52–28:14)

• High-profile Backers: Clint Eastwood donates $30,000; William Shatner offers $10,000 in exchange for the rights to Gritz’s life story (22:17–23:10).

• Pop Culture Impact: Bo’s escapades inspire “Rambo: First Blood Part 2,” Chuck Norris’s “Missing in Action” movies, “Uncommon Valor,” and even partly the A-Team’s Hannibal Smith (27:16).

  “The character Hannibal Smith on the A-Team inspired partly by Bo Gritz. Serious.”
  — Bobby Finger [27:02]

5. From Grifter to Far-Right Icon: Politics & Almost Heaven (28:41–47:26)

• Shift to Politics: Gritz becomes an influencer in the militia movement, stars in “Rescue Force,” and runs as Vice Presidential candidate for the Populist Party (backed by notorious Holocaust denier Willis Carto). David Duke becomes the presidential nominee, and Gritz’s reaction is telling.

  “He met with David Duke and made him promise a solemn swear promise not to be a racist in the campaign... What more can you ask?”
  — Bobby Finger [34:27–35:11]

• Later Reflections: Years later, Gritz claims he “immediately resigned” upon hearing Duke was the nominee, conflicting with contemporary news reporting.

• Ruby Ridge Negotiations: In one of his few positive contributions, Gritz mediated the end of the Ruby Ridge standoff, likely preventing further deaths (39:05–40:56).

• Racism and Anti-Semitism: Despite denials, Gritz espouses deep antisemitic conspiracy theories and uses homophobic slurs during public rants, as reported by the SPLC (41:00–43:05).

6. Northwest Imperative & The “Almost Heaven” Militia Community (44:18–48:41)

• The “Northwest Imperative”: Gritz sells land in Idaho for a militia intentional community, “Almost Heaven,” envisioned as a white-rights stronghold—though it is hampered from the start by legal and financial incompetence ([44:44–47:06]).
• Collapse: Lawsuits erupt as buyers cannot obtain titles or insurance. Business failures and personal betrayals follow.

7. Final Years and Personal Tragedy (49:00–49:56)

• Personal Downfall: Gritz’s community collapses, his business partner flees with the funds, his wife leaves, and Gritz survives a suicide attempt in 1998.
• Ongoing Legacy: Despite everything, Gritz remains alive at the time of recording, serving as a reminder of how extremism, grifting, and delusions swirled together in late 20th-century America.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “I promise you, you don't have the right answer.” — Sarah Marshall, on where to train for a Laos mission [06:57]
• “Cheerleader's middle name is Lynne!” — Cody Johnston [07:55], bantering about the academy
• “When I shoot the first commie, I'm going to have an orgasm.” — Terry Smith, quoted [08:49]
• “America didn’t send you. You are going to be robbed immediately.” — Cody Johnston [13:49]
• “All the good, all of the real information comes from massage artists.” — Bobby Finger satirizing the intelligence-gathering plan [21:04]
• “Clint Eastwood sent $30,000 and allegedly promised to get Ronald Reagan’s blessing...” — Bobby Finger [22:17]
• “He met with David Duke and made him promise... not to be a racist in the campaign.” — Bobby Finger [35:11]
• “You might have run with Hitler if he promised not to run a racist campaign.” — Bobby Finger [36:20]
• “He’s still alive. God. Yeah, I know. It’s a bummer.” — Bobby Finger, on Gritz surviving into the 2000s [41:44]
• “Stop letting him name things!” — Sarah Marshall, about Gritz's branding (“Spike,” “Almost Heaven”) [43:18; 44:51]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Operation Velvet Hammer Recap: [02:59–05:47]
• Cheerleading Academy “Boot Camp”: [06:12–08:13]
• Terry Smith’s Fantasies: [08:13–12:50]
• Ridiculous Plan Details: [12:51–14:58]
• Coke Dealer Robbery Plot: [15:10–15:47]
• Ambush in Laos: [23:04–24:13]
• Hollywood Connections: [21:52–23:10; 27:16–28:14]
• Populist Party / David Duke Story: [28:41–36:05]
• Ruby Ridge Mediation: [39:05–40:56]
• Antisemitic Quotes: [41:00–42:26]
• The “Almost Heaven” Militia Community: [44:18–48:41]
• Personal Downfall and Attempted Suicide: [49:00–49:56]

Tone and Style

The hosts maintain a sardonic, darkly comic tone throughout—a mix of horror at the events, mockery of the self-important and destructive behavior of Gritz and his followers, and incredulous laughter. The live audience occasionally reacts audibly, adding to the boisterous mood.

Conclusion

The “Ballad of Bo Gritz” ends not with a bang, but with a cautionary groan: a reminder of how American myths and failures can swirl into dangerous movements and lasting cultural legacies. Between lunatic misadventures and real-world harm, Gritz’s tale is a microcosm of late 20th-century conspiracy, paramilitarism, and the ugly undercurrents of American populism—filtered through the ever-sharp lens of the Behind the Bastards crew.