Cleared Hot Podcast, Ep. 429

“The Raid, The Record, and The Lawsuit | Rob O’Neill”

Host: Andy Stumpf
Guest: Rob O’Neill (former Navy SEAL, participant in the Bin Laden raid)
Date: January 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This exceptionally candid episode features Rob O’Neill, the SEAL who became publicly known for his role in Operation Neptune Spear—the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. O’Neill sits down with Andy Stumpf for a densely-packed, unfiltered conversation exploring skydiving mishaps, the culture of Navy SEALs and special operations, the truth about the Bin Laden raid, and Rob’s ongoing defamation lawsuit. The episode includes exclusive revelations, self-reflection about military culture, and vitally, a detailed account of what happened on the third deck of Bin Laden’s compound—most of which O’Neill claims to have never shared publicly until now.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Record Straight: First Encounters & Parachuting (00:10–19:00)

• Andy and Rob recall their intertwined histories, including Andy being Rob’s first tandem jump instructor. They deep-dive into skydiving experiences, training mishaps, and the culture of instruction in elite units.
• Memorable mishaps: Tales of near-fatal parachute malfunctions and the brotherhood’s dark humor.
  • Notable Quote:
    “We were going down fast... I filled my socks... I look up to the end cells had blown out... ‘I got bad news. This parachute’s broken.’” – Rob O’Neill (09:10)
• Details on how tactical parachuting shaped SEAL preparation for special missions, including pre-raid assumptions about how they might have to catch Bin Laden in a cave or under fire, and iterative development of high-mountain operational tactics.

2. Military Origin Stories, Swimming Struggles, and Selection (24:00–40:00)

• Rob details enlisting from Butte, Montana, his accidental route to BUD/S (SEAL training) with zero swimming ability, and learning the ropes the hard way.
  • “I didn’t know how to swim... I figured, he’s a professional recruiter—why is he gonna lie to me? And I signed. I didn’t know how to swim.” (25:29)
• Both discuss the surprisingly low physical standards to enter BUD/S and the phenomenon of rapid voluntary attrition.
  • “The first PT, within hours, you will have your first quitter in every class... 20 people quit the first day.” – Andy (30:21)

3. SEAL Culture, Life, and Animal Preferences (41:00–58:00)

• Dark humor and camaraderie in special operations, tales of mishaps, and pet preferences (shepherd vs. malinois vs. dachshund).
• Discussion on the value of trusting skill, risk mitigation, and why robust experience is essential before taking on the highest-risk roles.
  • “Tandem is awesome, but that is not a junior varsity evolution.” – Andy (16:00)

4. The Lawsuit: Anti-Hero Podcast Controversy (41:19–54:00, 1:19:29; resumes 2:02:52)

• Rob elaborates on his $25 million defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Hero Podcast (Brent Tucker and company), who have accused O’Neill and others of being frauds for years, damaging reputations and family life.
  • “They’ve been making a living off calling out veterans... and whether this Tucker guy likes it or not, he will be known as the guy who made money off trying to ruin veterans’ lives.” (41:55)
• Andy probes: Is it ever right for veterans to call out other vets? Both explore the difference between healthy accountability versus public shaming.
• The lawsuit’s personal toll: Rob’s daughters harassed online, persistent claims of fraud, and his insistence this is about damaging lies, not who killed Bin Laden.

“I’m not a fraud… If there’s a problem with the room and you’re at Delta, give me a shout… 16-year-old kids who are thinking about joining the Navy and now aren’t because I don’t want to put up with this… We—I mean, this conversation should be had.” – Rob O’Neill (92:38)

5. Revelations: The Bin Laden Raid and the After-Action Cover-up (1:07:14–1:33:00, with intermittent returns)

The Account

• Planning and Entry:
  Rob describes the chaos, the plan going awry, and how the team adapted after a crashed helicopter.

• Stacking for the Assault:
  He details movement through the compound, the precision and nonverbal communication, and the moment his team encountered Bin Laden.

• The Room, The Kill, and the Aftermath:
  Exclusive admission: Rob reveals details not previously admitted in public accounts or his book.

  • The first man up the final stairs (“the point man”) shot at Bin Laden but possibly missed or only wounded him. Rob followed, fired, and saw Bin Laden’s tongue come out. He admits that multiple SEALs entered almost simultaneously and that at least one fired more rounds into Bin Laden’s body point-blank after his death.
  • On the debrief:
    “If that happens in front of you… are you going to debrief that?... Guys come in there blasting Bin Laden, one guy shoots him in the face in front of me. I’m not telling that story. We need to make this work... This is a bad, this is a bad situation now.” (77:52)
  • On After-Action Reports:
    Rob acknowledges that the official debrief omitted these unflattering facts; the team offered “top cover” for each other and created a “clean” story, believing their bond would last forever. He now regrets this.

• Why Come Forward Now?

  • Rob explains that persistent public attacks and the effect on his family compelled him to finally tell the unvarnished version.
  • “What changed your mind about talking? Constantly getting harassed. My daughters not losing sleep…” (92:38)

The Cultural Critique

• Both reflect on the broader impact of truth, legacy, and public trust, suggesting the military and public would ultimately be better off with honest accounting, despite the impulse to protect teammates.

6. The Medal of Honor and Recognition (1:25:38–1:26:00)

• Rob advocates for the point man on the Bin Laden raid to receive the Medal of Honor for his actions entering the suspected suicide-bomber room, drawing comparisons to Michael Monsoor and the decisionmaking under fire.

7. Transitions, Trauma, and Healing (2:04:10–2:15:00)

• Rob opens up about struggles with alcoholism post-military and how psychedelic therapy (Ibogaine, 5-MeO DMT) provided a profound shift for him.
  • “The way I describe it is I would get demonic... It wasn’t a bad drinker, it was a strict great evil that came out of me... Ibogaine did it.” (124:16)
• Both advocate for alternative, holistic transitions for veterans, rather than hasty, bureaucratic tap programs.

8. Reflections: The SEAL Brotherhood, Professional Jealousy, and Legacy (1:41:48–2:01:00)

• Discussion of post-raid animosity and professional jealousy in Red Squadron and the larger SEAL community.
• The strange duality of being “heroic” and a pariah, and how professional resentment and rumor-mongering shape the public narrative.

9. Closing Reflections: Life After War & Future Plans (2:33:37–End)

• Rob concludes with desires to focus on family, his new speaking agency ("Operator’s Collective"), and finding a deeper sense of peace.
  • “I want to hang out with my kids as much as I can... That’s all that matters.” (153:37)
• Both discuss the enduring cost of their service: lost time with children, the brotherhood’s limits, team unity and betrayal, and paths forward for healing.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On being a “fraud”:
  “53 awards, 16 years in Navy SEAL, never took shore duty, was involved with all kinds of combat operations, I’m not a fraud.” – Rob O’Neill (92:38)

• On omission in debrief:
  “We gave him top cover. There was no question when we were all standing around Bin Laden’s body... The guy that cleared the garden there. There was no question. And then we recorded a debrief like we do 100% of the time.” (82:30)

• On public reaction:
  “The American people want to believe that it wouldn’t [happen]... Because they want to believe that people at the level that you were asked—well, they've never heard the debrief. Why does it matter?” – Andy & Rob (100:07)

• On military jealousy:
  “Why do you think it came apart? ...It’s got to be some sort of professional jealousy.” – Rob O’Neill (111:22)

• On healing and psychedelics:
  “The ibogaine did it because the ibogaine goes into, opens your mind to a point that you're seeing stuff that you suppress.” (126:18)

Structural Timeline / Important Segments

• 00:10–20:00 — Skydiving, tandem mishaps, SEAL qualification tales
• 20:00–40:00 — Early SEAL selection, swimming, attrition
• 41:00–1:00:00 — Lawsuit overview, military culture, gun debates
• 1:07:14–1:33:00 — Bin Laden Raid narrative and revelation
• 1:33:00–1:47:00 — After-action, cover story, and team dynamics
• 1:47:00–2:13:00 — Transition, therapy, Ibogaine
• 2:13:00–End — Brotherhood, legacy, family, closing remarks

Final Notes

The episode is a blisteringly honest account of military life at its most elite—and most human. Rob O’Neill offers a detailed, sometimes searing look at the reality behind the world’s most famous special operation and the unintended consequences for those involved. It is required listening for anyone interested in the intersection of history, war, brotherhood, and personal truth.

For Follow-Up

• Operator’s Collective / Rob O’Neill’s speaking agency: For more info or booking.
• Andy’s show notes: [Cleared Hot Podcast official website/socials]
• Episode relevance: Particularly vital for those interested in special operations leadership, veteran well-being, and the real costs of fame in the military age.