Podcast
SOFREP Radio
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts · EN
Special operations military news and straight talk with the guys in the community. Hosted by former military operators. As seen ranked #1 in Apple Podcasts government category.
36episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Hunter and Hunted: An FBI Agent Sits Down with the Bank Robber He Caught
Yesterday01:25:00Summary readyShawn Johnson graduated from Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota, with a degree in Criminal Justice before earning his Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was immediately accepted into the FBI, trained at the FBI Academy, and assigned to the Seattle Division. There, he worked on the Green River Serial Murder investigation before joining the Violent Crimes Squad, where he investigated bank robberies, fugitives, interstate theft, extortions, and kidnappings. His legal background also led to service as Assistant Chief Division Counsel. Johnson later joined the National Security Squad, working counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations, including joint overseas investigations with the United States Army and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Returning to the Violent Crimes Squad, he played a key role in the Hollywood investigation, helped establish the Puget Sound Violent Crime Task Force, served as Bank Robbery Coordinator, and authored the Division's Bank Robbery Response Plan. After transferring to the Milwaukee Division's Madison Resident Agency, he focused on drug conspiracy investigations, employing sophisticated surveillance techniques that contributed to major takedowns of drug organizations in Chicago and Madison. Following 9/11, he managed the newly established Madison Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), overseeing federal and local efforts to investigate international terrorism. Johnson later returned to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where he instructed new agents in criminal investigations, counterterrorism investigations, and Human Intelligence (HUMINT). His final FBI assignment was with the Directorate of Intelligence, training agents in HUMINT policy and procedures. Upon retiring from the FBI, he founded Wolf & Owl LLC, where he continues to train FBI personnel in support of the Bureau's mission to protect the United States. Steven Meyers was the partner and principal accomplice of Scott Scurlock, better known as "Hollywood," the notorious bank robber responsible for a string of high-profile bank heists in the Seattle area during the 1990s. Over the course of four and a half years, Meyers worked closely with Scurlock and their crew in planning and executing 19 bank robberies that resulted in the theft of more than $2.3 million. Beyond participating in the operation, Meyers helped develop the plans, create disguises, and support the methods that allowed the crew to evade law enforcement for years. Meyers and Scurlock were deeply involved in every aspect of the enterprise, including planning operations, laundering money, and acquiring vehicles and equipment. As Scurlock's closest collaborator, Meyers gained a unique understanding of the man behind the "Hollywood" persona and the motivations that drove one of the Pacific Northwest's most infamous crime sprees. In 2023, Meyers was featured in the Netflix documentary *How to Rob a Bank*, providing firsthand insight into the robberies and the inner workings of the crew. Today, he joins retired FBI Special Agent Shawn Johnson—the lead investigator who helped solve the case—to share the untold stories behind the Hollywood robberies and offer perspectives from both sides of one of the most remarkable bank robbery investigations in modern history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Summary5 Air Medals & 800 Combat Hours: Nate Amidon Tells All
2w ago01:02:01Summary readyNate Amidon is the founder and CEO of Form100 Consulting, a veteran-owned tech consulting firm that applies military leadership principles to modern software organizations. His team has improved technology practices for Fortune 500 companies across manufacturing, aviation, CPG, and defense sectors. Nate served over 20 years in the Air Force as a C-17 pilot, accumulating 4,000 flight hours, 800 combat hours, and earning 5 Air Medals. His experience leading aircrews and planning large-scale missions’ shapes Form100’s approach to alignment, clarity, and execution in technology programs. He holds a management degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy, an MBA from the University of Nebraska, and multiple industry certifications. Nate lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife and three children, and spends his free time fly fishing or skiing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryThe SEAL Code That Cost Him 30 Years: Dustin "Dusty" Turner Tells All
4w ago00:56:14Summary readyDustin “Dusty” Turner is a former Navy SEAL trainee whose case has become one of the most controversial wrongful-conviction stories connected to the military community. Convicted in 1996 for the murder and abduction of Jennifer Evans, Turner maintained that his fellow SEAL trainee, Billy Joe Brown, acted alone — a claim Brown later confessed to under oath. Despite a Virginia court initially granting Turner a Writ of Actual Innocence in 2009, the decision was later overturned on appeal. After serving more than 30 years in prison, Turner was released on parole while continuing to fight for full exoneration. During his incarceration, he became known as a model prisoner, mentor, veterans’ support leader, and advocate for rehabilitation and second chancesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryInvestigating Globemaster Down: Soviet Espionage and a Failed Nuclear Plot
Apr 3000:58:27Summary readyTod Robberson is the author of Globemaster Down: Soviet Espionage and the Doomed Attempt to Sneak Nukes into Europe, released on March 31, 2026. Tod is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who spent four decades as a reporter, bureau chief, correspondent and/or editor for various news organizations including The Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Reuters news agency. He currently is a senior editor for investigative news at ESPN. Robberson has lived in London, Panama, Mexico, Cyprus, El Salvador, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia and holds a master’s degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He has covered wars throughout Latin America, the Middle East and Afghanistan and has provided guest commentary for CNN, MSNBC, National Public Radio, Sky News and Telemundo. In addition to his 2010 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing, Robberson has received a National Headliners Award, the SAIS-Novartis Award for international reporting, and statewide journalism awards in Texas and Missouri. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryWarrior to Shaman: Mathew Butler’s Journey Beyond the Battlefield
Apr 2001:06:18Summary readyMatthew Butler is a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and the founder of Awake Green Beret. After years of service in high-intensity military environments, he faced the difficult transition out of the military and the internal challenges that came with it. His journey led him beyond conventional paths and into deep personal work, including shamanic practices and spiritual exploration. Through that process, he rebuilt his sense of purpose and identity. Today, Butler works with veterans and others seeking transformation, helping them navigate trauma, reconnect with themselves, and integrate a more grounded, purposeful way of living—bridging the gap between the warrior mindset and inner healing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryThe Truth About Veteran Suicide No One Talks About: Magnus Johnson of Mission 22
Apr 201:01:26Summary readyMagnus Johnson is a former Green Beret, Bronze Star recipient, and co-founder of Mission 22, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending the veteran suicide epidemic. He has spent his life studying what breaks men and what builds them, first on the battlefield, then in the long, often invisible struggle of coming home. After leaving the military, Johnson faced what so many veterans face: the disorienting work of rebuilding identity outside the uniform. That journey, through art, mindfulness, community, and faith, became the foundation for everything he has built. This includes Mission 22's Recovery + Resiliency program, designed to help veterans transform trauma into Post Traumatic Growth. Find out more about 'The Men we Make' here : http://www.magnusrjohnson.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryOperator to Author: Jack MacTavish on the Story Behind Royal Diamonds
Mar 1800:57:47Summary readyJack MacTavish is a retired United States Army Colonel and author of action-adventure and espionage fiction. Over a military career spanning more than 36 years in both the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, he served in airborne, special operations, and joint assignments, including roles supporting U.S. Army Special Operations Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. His operational experience took him across multiple global regions, including Afghanistan, Korea, Haiti, Central and South America, and the Middle East. In addition to his military service, MacTavish has supported missions within the U.S. Intelligence Community as a contractor. MacTavish is the author of Royal Diamonds (2026), his debut novel, which blends action-adventure, espionage, and historical intrigue. His writing is informed by firsthand experience, emphasizing realism, operational authenticity, and the complexities of modern conflict and global power dynamics. He currently resides in North Carolina, where he continues to write and remains an advocate for veteran causes, including support for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryTwo Purple Hearts: The Kyle Steiner Story
Mar 1100:58:11Summary readyKyle Steiner is a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran and combat leader who served in the Global War on Terror. He enlisted in the Army in 2005 and deployed to Afghanistan with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, serving in the Korengal Valley during some of the most intense fighting of the war. His experiences there were later captured in the acclaimed documentaries Restrepo and Korengal. During combat operations, Steiner was wounded in action and awarded two Purple Hearts after surviving multiple enemy attacks, including an RPG blast and a machine-gun round that struck and deflected off his helmet. He later went on to serve in U.S. Army Special Forces, conducting missions across the Middle East, Central America, and South America. Over the course of his career he became Ranger-qualified, Combat Diver-qualified, HALO-certified, and a graduate of the Special Forces Sniper Course. His assignments included service with SOCOM’s Crisis Response Force. Steiner’s military decorations include two Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, and the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for valor. Today, he is the founder of Operator Mindset, a leadership and performance coaching platform focused on discipline, resilience, and purpose. He is also a husband, father, and speaker who shares lessons from combat, leadership, and personal transformation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryBehind the Uniform: BizSgt Michael Kracyla on Combat, Leadership, and Reality
Mar 500:53:14Summary readyMichael Kracyla is a retired U.S. Army Green Beret with more than two decades of experience leading teams in environments where trust, judgment, and execution were critical under real pressure. Following his military service, he recognized a gap in the business world: many highly capable veterans and operators were entering the private sector without the systems, networks, or structured development needed to translate their leadership experience effectively. To address this challenge, Kracyla founded Business Sergeant, a leadership development and executive search platform designed for organizations that cannot afford leadership failure. The platform serves founders and CEOs seeking trusted leaders, while also preparing veterans and operators to step into high-level roles in business. At its core, Business Sergeant is built around community. Leaders are developed, observed, and held to high standards long before they are placed in positions of responsibility. Its executive search work flows directly from this network, allowing the organization to place leaders it knows, trusts, and has helped develop into mission-critical roles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryNo Feel-Good Talk: Real-World Readiness from DoD Contractor Rob Kelly
Feb 2601:04:25Summary readyRob Kelly is the founder of ALWAYS READY™ and a former New Hampshire police officer, Department of Defense contractor, K9 instructor/handler, and lifelong public servant. Built on a foundation of discipline, mindset, and action, ALWAYS READY™ was born from Rob’s personal transformation and his commitment to helping others take ownership of their lives. In December 2023, Rob hit a breaking point—overweight, burned out, and stuck in self-made excuses. Instead of chasing motivation, he chose discipline. That shift—from “I should” to “I must”—sparked a complete transformation and became the core philosophy behind ALWAYS READY™. Today, Rob’s mission is simple but uncompromising: help people uncover their “why,” eliminate excuses, and show up stronger in body, mind, and purpose. ALWAYS READY™ is more than a brand—it’s a movement for anyone willing to build real readiness for life’s challenges, whether in service, work, family, or personal growth. Being ALWAYS READY™ means cultivating a resilient body, a disciplined mind, and a heart grounded in service—ready to face whatever comes next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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