Transcript

Sean Ryan (0:02)

The 2026 Chevy Equinox is more than an SUV.

Jason Magnavice (0:05)

It's your Sunday tailgate and your parking lot snack bar.

Sean Ryan (0:09)

Your lucky jersey, your chairs and your big cooler fit perfectly in your even bigger cargo space.

Jason Magnavice (0:15)

And when it's go time, your 11.3-inch

Sean Ryan (0:18)

diagonal touchscreen's got the playbook, the playlist, and the tech to stay a step ahead. It's more than an suv. It's your Equinox Chevrolet. Together, let's drive.

Bethenny Frankel (0:30)

This is Bethenny Frankel from Just Be with Bethenny Frankel. Listen, I have a bone to pick with these dog food brands calling themselves fresh, natural, healthy. Sounds great, but a lot of these quote unquote fresh dog foods in your fridge are not even 100% human grade, which is why feed your babies just food for dogs. It's good enough for Biggie. And small is my precious babies. So it's good enough for your babies. 100% human grade. Real ingredients. Beef, sweet potatoes, green beans. Delicious. These are foods that you would want to eat, not that the babies would ever share. Just food for dogs is the number one vet recommended fresh dog food. Backed by over a decade of research. No marketing fluff. My dogs lose their minds at dinner. They run to the bowl tags, wagging paws, tapping, full Broadway performance every single night. So I do care about the food. I feed Biggie and Smalls. So go to justfood for dogs.com for 50% off your first box. No code, no gimmicks, just real fresh food.

Sean Ryan (1:34)

Have you seen this show before?

Jason Magnavice (1:35)

Yes, I watched one of this.

Co-host/Interviewer (1:38)

Oh, okay.

Jason Magnavice (1:39)

Your buddies DJ.

Co-host/Interviewer (1:40)

You watch DJs?

Jason Magnavice (1:41)

Well, I knew DJ when he was a kid.

Co-host/Interviewer (1:43)

Yeah, I saw that.

Jason Magnavice (1:44)

I did a freaking. I did a platoon with his dad. He was my. His dad was actually my platoon Chief. I knew DJ when he was 13 or 14 just to go hang out with his parents. They'd always, you know, they have a big deer roast. You know, we'd go hunting and eat some venison, tell stories. His dad was one of the most incredible storytellers. Very still is animated, huh?

Summary

The Shawn Ryan Show #298: Jason Magnavice – SEAL Team 6 Red Squadron Operator

Podcast: The Shawn Ryan Show
Host: Shawn Ryan
Guest: Jason “JMags” Magnavice
Date: April 23, 2026
Duration: ~2 hours (main content summarized; advertisements omitted)

Episode Overview

This episode features Jason Magnavice, a 26-year Navy SEAL veteran, who served with SEAL Team 2 and the legendary SEAL Team 6 (DEVGRU/Red Squadron). Jason shares a candid, wide-ranging account of his life, career, leadership lessons, the realities of special operations, the toll of war on families, and his post-military journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Life, Family, and Inspiration

Growing up in Waterbury, Connecticut:
Jason describes a childhood of outdoor adventure, sports, and strong familial bonds influenced by a Jehovah’s Witness mother and a Vietnam veteran father.
“My grandfather...would take me hiking all the time, point out poison ivy, and show me how to make little spears with a folding knife.” (13:41)
Religious Upbringing and Influence:
Raised Jehovah’s Witness, Jason reflects on the community’s strict customs and impact on family life:
“It’s rough growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness. Going to church three times a week...wearing a suit all the time. Don’t celebrate any holidays.” (15:19)
Inspiration to Join the SEALs:
- Early fascination sparked by watching First Blood and hearing about UDTS/SEALS from his father.
- “I wanted to be a SEAL since I was 10...that image you get in your head at 10 years old...leaves a big mark on your brain.” (27:49)

2. Path to the SEAL Teams

Enlistment & Training:
- Joined Navy after high school; initial resistance from parents.
- Survived BUD/S by embracing the mental game:
  “BUD/S pissed me off...I never thought about quitting, I was just mad all the time...If you get past the PST, stay healthy and deal with the mind games, you’ll be fine.” (30:16; 31:24)
SEAL Team 2 & Hazing Culture:
- Eight years at Team 2, including early deployments to Bosnia, Kosovo, and Norway.
- Describes “old school” hazing and camaraderie:
  “You’re smart if you sneak out when you get secured on Friday...There was a keg in the locker room...You do not want to be a new guy hanging around.” (40:06)

3. Leadership & Philosophy

Defining Leadership Moments:
- Strongly influenced by respected leaders, especially one nicknamed “Crazy Horse.”
  “He was a humble guy...He wasn’t afraid to ask a question, to delegate to people better at certain things; that’s what really made me respect leadership.” (10:21)
- Cautions that arrogance can poison special units, as he observed in early DEVGRU.
Advice to Young Operators:
- “The biggest thing is not letting your teammates down...Brotherhood, you definitely see from the beginning once you’re in.” (52:00)
- “Compartmentalize. Keep busy. If you dwell on it, it does you no good.” (106:33)

4. DEVGRU: Green Team, 9/11, and Early Deployments

Green Team (DEVGRU selection):
- More cerebral and skills-focused than BUD/S; much higher emphasis on safety and advanced tactics.
- “You can’t go one degree off heading when you exit the plane...the biggest thing is safety violations get people shaken from there.” (67:19)
September 11, 2001—The Turning Point:
- Jason completed Green Team as 9/11 unfolded.
- The unit was immediately tasked for global operations:
  “We were walking across the compound when the first plane hit. Our skipper called a meeting...and it was exciting. We knew shit’s about to get real.” (69:09)

5. Afghanistan, Operation Anaconda, and Kinetic Combat

First Combat Deployments:
- Describes living out of a backpack, eating MREs, and being loaned out as an assault/sniper team just before Operation Anaconda (Roberts Ridge, March 2002).
- “We were on the bridge, calling in CAS for a week...when Neil Roberts and Fifi Chappie were lost.” (72:21)
- First time calling in lethal airstrikes:
  “It felt successful. It felt good. It was just work—what it’s about.” (77:32)
Impact of Combat Loss:
- The shock of losing teammates, especially in high-profile events, forced new realities for families and the command:
  “Our command didn’t know how to deal with that...when we got out of the field, our comm guy threw us two iridium phones, ‘Call home now.’ The wife network is losing their mind.” (78:02)
- Compartmentalization as a survival mechanism.

6. Iraq & High-Tempo Special Operations

“The type of ops every team guy wanted”:
- Four deployments to Iraq with Red Squadron (2003–2004 onward).
- Describes nightly raids, direct action missions, and the intensity of joint operations with other U.S. SOF units. “Just going after bad dudes from all over. Some nights one target, some nights five—depending on what intel came off previous ones.” (87:48)
Close Combat and Its Aftermath:
- Vivid stories of rooftop firefights, ambushes, and life-and-death split-second decisions.
- On his first kill:
  “You compartmentalize that too. You’re covering your guys, protecting them. You just don’t think about the action you just did.” (89:59)

7. The Toll of War: Family, Divorce, and Mental Health

Family Strain:
- Marriage impacted by operational tempo, compartmentalization, and changes noticed by his wife post-deployment.
- “Me being gone, and just...my wife said when I got back from Afghanistan, something changed. I was still me...but she saw a side that changed.” (100:12)
Divorce as a "Team Guy Statistic":
- “90% success rate at getting divorced.” (99:22)
Mental Health & Coping:
- Admits to some TBI but attributes survival to keeping busy:
  “I like shooting, cars, motorcycles. When I got back from Afghanistan, I rebuilt a ’93 Mustang...that’s how I dealt with it.” (106:33)
- “A stagnant mind is not something that’s good.” (107:00)

8. Transition to Pilot and Civilian Life

Navy’s Aviation Unit:
- Selected for DEVGRU’s small aviation detachment.
- “It was a great skill...not a great place to go back then; you didn’t want to be flying in the States while your buddies were out doing work overseas.” (96:52)
- Ferried gear, weapons, and occasionally supported sensitive ops stateside.
Becoming a Civilian Pilot:
- After retiring in 2019, stepped into private aviation—flying Gulfstreams and other aircraft.
- “I was ready at that time...I have a replaced shoulder, my knee, my back’s jacked up...it took a toll, mentally and physically.” (117:07)

9. Reflection on Legacy and Current Life

Leadership and Peer Bonds:
- “I miss the boys. I miss the fellas. But when I really think, do I miss it that much? Not really. I miss the cool things, but I was ready.” (117:07)
Grandfatherhood:
- “I don’t see them as often, but when I do, it’s cool...I spoil them when I see them.” (120:04)
No Book, No Social Media:
- “Nothing to sell. Did I write that?” (03:49)
- Chose privacy and personal integrity over public fame.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“BUD/S pissed me off...I never thought about quitting, I was just mad all the time.” (30:16)
“I was raised Jehovah’s Witness—three times a week at the Kingdom Hall, suit and tie, no holidays.” (15:19)
“You miss the biggest thing when you leave: the boys.” (60:16)
“The biggest threat on the battlefield now: drones. It’s a whole different battlefield.” (45:06)
“After losing Neil (Roberts), the network of wives back home lost their minds—command learned a lot about how to communicate.” (78:02)
“Compartmentalize. You can’t let that distraction get in your way, or you’ll let your boys down.” (88:57)
“A stagnant mind is not something that's good.” (107:00)
“I miss the boys. I miss the fellas. But, do I really miss it that much? Not really.” (117:07)

Important Timestamps

Early life, family roots: 13:23–17:00
Leadership. “Crazy Horse” lesson: 10:21
DEVGRU Green Team, 9/11 response: 63:22–69:53
Operation Anaconda/Roberts Ridge: 72:21–78:02
Reflections on killing & war: 89:30–90:34
Mental health & coping post-war: 105:49–107:00
Transition to pilot/civilian life: 116:21–117:07

Additional Insights

On changing warfare:
Jason is notably impressed and concerned by the rapid development and proliferation of drones in modern conflict, especially as seen in Ukraine (42:04–46:10).
On humility and candidness:
Jason is approachable, honest, and occasionally self-deprecating—a refreshing break from action-hero narratives.
On mentorship and legacy:
Enjoyed giving back as a SEAL recruiter and takes pride in supporting the next generation, though critical of flaws in the system.

Conclusion

This episode offers a frank, grounded, and deeply human portrait of a Navy SEAL’s journey—from impressionable youth, through elite special missions, to the bittersweet peace (and challenges) of civilian life. Jason’s insights on leadership, the reality of combat, and long-term sacrifice provide invaluable perspective for veterans, service-minded civilians, and anyone interested in the untold realities behind the SEAL mystique.

(End of summary)

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#298 Jason Magnavice - SEAL Team 6 Red Squadron Operator