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Heroes Behind the Headlines: a new podcast featuring an explosive new story every episode. First-hand accounts of adventures and events which have shaped our world . The real stories behind the headlines you know, told by the heroes you don’t. Hosted by NYT and international bestselling author Ralph Pezzullo.

Our guest today is geopolitical analyst and bestselling author Brandon Weichert to talk about his recent book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine which is a devastating critique of US policy failure in Ukraine. For 30 years, a succession of Russian leaders from Mikhail Gorbachev to Boris Yeltsin to Vladimir Putin warned the West that NATO’s expansion into territories bordering Russian, especially Ukraine would trigger a violent response from Moscow. But the West didn’t listen. In his excellent book, Brandon Weichert explains how arrogant Western leaders created the current crisis with Russia that continues after four years and why hundreds of thousands of innocent Ukrainians have been made to pay with their lives. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Dr. Eugene Lipov is a pioneer of the Stellate Ganglion Block for emotional trauma and mental health challenges and a renowned anesthesiologist with decades of experience. Through his research, Dr. Lipov developed the Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR), an advanced Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), proving 80% successful in relief in symptoms of emotional trauma and mental health challenges. His innovative approach and contributions to emotional trauma and mental health challenge treatments have allowed him to help hundreds of patients, including veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD, walk away from treatment with a new perspective on life and the relief they deserve.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Native New Yorker Bryan Stern served in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy; worked in military intelligence; is a Purple Heart recipient; 9/11 survivor; and a first responder. As a private citizen frustrated with the debacle that was the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan under the Biden administration, Bryan founded Grey Bull Rescue – a team of military vets who donate their time to rescue people caught in the worst countries in the world, and also aid in stateside catastrophes. In this first operation they helped evacuate 117 American citizens left to face the Taliban alone after the military withdrew.Since that first adventure, GBR has conducted over 600 missions around the globe, including in Ukraine. Bryan shares some of his high-octane adventures, and explains how mind over muscle is the way to find a solution to the tightest scrapes, and why Grey Bull is the best, last resource if you’re a high-risk hostage or trapped behind enemy lines.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

On January 24, 1975, six young businessmen were enjoying lunch in lower Manhattan’s historic Fraunces Tavern when a bomb placed inside the restaurant exploded, tearing through the building. It had been planted by a group claiming support for Puerto Rican independence known as the “FALN,” the most active domestic terrorist organization in American history. Four of the young businessmen died and 50 others were injured, many horrifically. Among the four victims was Frank Connor, a son of immigrants and the father to two young sons – the youngest of whom was Joe Connor, who was 9 years old at the time. Joe Connor’s book, Shattered Lives, co-authored by Jeff Ingber, chronicles the origins of the Puerto Rican independence movement, its transformation into a Cuban-led Marxist cause, the FALN’s decade-long reign of murder and destruction that was a precursor to future domestic terrorism, the hunt for the perpetrators by a group of dedicated FBI agents, the inexplicable escape from prison by the FALN’s chief bombmaker who eventually received asylum in Cuba, and the political maneuvering that led to Presidents Clinton and Obama granting clemency to FALN members. Our guest, Joe Connor, talks about the devastating impact of the Fraunces Tavern bombing on the families of its many other victims, uniting them in their struggle to move forward while seeking justice for their loved ones. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Award-winning journalist Bill Conroy is back dishing the inside dirt on how America's war on drugs has really turned into a complex business of law enforcement and political policy conflicts. Bill describes how the federal agencies charged with protecting the U.S. from the drug trade compete with each other and the differing priorities of our intelligence agencies. Bill hits the highlights from his latest book, "The Great Pretense."Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Writer Ian Trottier has penned a biography of John Brennan, government intelligence figure with a stellar biography--under former president Obama, Brennan served as head of the CIA, oounterterrorism advisor; and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism; and Deputy National Security Advisor under President George W. Bush.While pointed at the hot issues surrounding America's security, he declared himself a Communist and a devotee of Wahabism--an ultra-conservative offfshoot of Sunni Islam. Author Trottier also presents his findings regarding Brennan's profiting from terrorist activity, including the Boston Marathon Bombing, prompting the question, 'Has terrorism become a business?'Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Charismatic mastermind and one-time meth cook Scott Scurlock befriended Steve Meyer and pulled him into a surreal world of treehouses and crime in Washington in the early to mid-90s. Scott earned notoriety as the most prolific bank robber ever in Washington state, and the nickname, “Hollywood,” for the extensive facial prosthetics he wore during the robberies.Shawn Johnson led the FBI team that apprehended Scott’s associates, including Steve, in a bloody shootout, and resulted in Scott taking his own life. Steve and Shawn are here together, sharing their different perspectives on this remarkable true crime saga.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Colonel Robert Howard was a very distinguished member of the top-secret MACV-SOG units that fought during the Vietnam War in America’s secret war in Laos and Cambodia. Comprised of only one to a few U.S. special force team members plus a cadre of native Vietnamese, Montagnard, Cambodian (Khmer Krom), and Nung fighters, these recon units operated deep behind enemy lines recovering downed pilots and attempting POW rescues, destroying enemy fuel dumps and caches, conducting wiretaps, gathering intelligence and spreading propaganda which forced Hanoi to divert 40,000 troops—about four divisions—to rear security missions along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Surrounded by heroes, Bob distinguished himself among his peers, becoming the most decorated Green Beret ever. His medal include the Medal of Honor–for sheer valor and heroism even as he suffered multiple wounds himself defending his men. Today’s guest, historian Stephen L. Moore shares Bob Howard’s story in his book “Beyond the Call of Duty: The Life of Colonel Robert Howard, the Most Decorated Green Beret.”Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Right after the U.S. dropped the bomb on Nagasaki, Victoria Kelly’s grandfather was sent there as part of the U.S. forces sent to occupy the city after its destruction. Victoria grew up curious about her grandfather’s experience there, as he’d died before she was born. Victoria has partnered with Karen Tanabe, whose family survived the bombing, to make “Atomic Echoes”: A documentary that details what it was like for the locals and the U.S. soldiers on the ground, and how they came together to help the afflicted, as they all struggled with the fallout of radiation. Victoria joins HBH today, to share some of the amazing stories and people she and Karen discovered in their journey to make a filmed record of what it was like after an atomic bomb goes off.

Patrick Naughton’s father served in Vietnam when he was a child, and shared accounts of his experiences and adventures – from infantry to serving in Special Forces as part of the MACV-SOG teams doing recon and battling across the fence” in America’s secret war with Northern Vietnam forces in Laos and Cambodia.Patrick felt the only path to truly earn his larger-than-life’s father’s respect was to enlist in the military himself, and he likewise joined the infantry and served in Iraq. His book “Born From War,” is a fascinating account of the parallel experiences father and son had, and the lessons about generational impact of military service learned by both.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com