The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Episode: 1KHO 707: The Best Bad Option | Brad Thor, Cold Zero
Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Ginny Yurich
Guest: Brad Thor

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Ginny Yurich welcomes bestselling thriller author Brad Thor to discuss his new novel Cold Zero, co-authored with Ward Larsen. Together, they explore the world of high-stakes international thrillers, the impact of technology on espionage, mental resilience, and the enduring value of human relationships. The episode dives into behind-the-scenes stories of Brad’s transition from TV to bestselling novels, the groundwork for his stories, the challenge of keeping fiction relevant in fast-changing times, and practical parallels between fiction, parenting, and life.

Key Topics & Highlights

Brad Thor’s Unconventional Career Path

[03:25 - 06:46]

• Started at USC studying Business Administration due to his father's wishes, secretly switched to creative writing and film.
• Lived in Paris post-college aiming to write a novel, but fear of failure made him quit early.
• Hosted the travel TV show Traveling Light before returning to his writing dream, encouraged by his wife.
• Wrote his first novel, The Lions of Lucerne, after his honeymoon.

“I really think that that which we fear the most is often that which we're most destined to do in life.” — Brad Thor [05:08]

Turning Novels Into TV & Movies

[08:16 - 10:30]

• Cold Zero set for adaptation as a major Netflix movie, with Pete Berg and Nick Pizzolato involved.
• The Scott Harvath series is being developed for TV by talents from John Wick, The Punisher, and 24.
• Thor tempers excitement, noting decades-long unpredictability in Hollywood adaptations.

“Anything can happen until it's on the screen and I'm sitting there with a big bucket of popcorn.” — Brad Thor [08:26]

Writing Process, Output, and Reader Engagement

[10:30 - 12:44]

• Maintains a prolific output: a new Scott Harvath thriller every year since 2002, next being Choke Point.
• Engages readers online with immersive “ultimate reader experiences” for each book, offering bonus background, gear overviews, and book club questions.

Cold Zero: High-Stakes Tech Thriller in the Arctic

[12:44 - 29:37]

• Premise: A flight over the Arctic crashes, with the CIA, Russia, and China racing to recover advanced AI tech aboard.
• The AI tech: A “shoebox-sized” device able to compromise enemy electronics on the battlefield.
• Features strong female protagonist Casey Sheridan and co-pilot Brett Sharp; explores both personal and national loyalties under pressure.
• Set in the Arctic for strategic modern reasons; weather and environment become characters themselves.

“The cold and the severe conditions actually become a character in the book.” — Brad Thor [21:52]

• The book is praised for its realism—limiting “magical” cargo finds, focusing on survival with limited resources.

“We allowed ourselves one cool thing that could be pulled out of there. That was it.” — Brad Thor [22:15]

• Discussed themes include the “Frankenstein moment for the digital age,” where powerful tech can turn on its creators or users.

Research & Realism in Espionage Thrillers

[33:25 - 34:56]

• Thor leverages a broad network from intelligence, law enforcement, and military to nail authentic details about survival, tradecraft, and tactics.
• Cold weather and survival skills featured heavily, with practical advice (e.g., minimizing movement in cold water).

“The tradecraft…hasn't changed very much over the course of my writing.” — Brad Thor [33:31]

Deception, Loyalty, and Practical Espionage

[34:56 - 42:56]

• Both books explore concepts of leaks, betrayal, and “MICE” (Money, Ideology, Coercion/Compromise, Ego) as motives for spying.
• Modern parallels: recent real-world data leaks, misuse of encrypted communication by top officials, and the persistent challenge of secrets in large organizations.
• Character relationships—both positive (partnerships aiding the protagonist) and negative (betrayals)—drive the stories and mirror real intelligence work.

“The intelligence community is largely based on relationships…they are looking for people that are really good with persuading people…” — Brad Thor [44:56]

Mental Toughness & Human Nature Under Pressure

[47:15 - 51:00]

• Both Cold Zero and The Lions of Lucerne explore what people are capable of under extreme duress.
• Emphasis on the idea that mental toughness is as key to survival as physical preparation—an insight borrowed from elite military communities like Navy SEALs.

“It's amazing what you can do when you set your mind to it…you and I see that every day. We see people that are fighting cancer…there is no time to roll over…you keep going and going…” — Brad Thor [48:32]

• The SEAL maxim: The only easy day was yesterday—highlighting the need for continual resilience.
• Practical advice: celebrate small wins to maintain motivation on difficult journeys.

“Celebrate win after win after win. Focus on the positive, focus on what's worked, not what's not working…” — Brad Thor [50:21]

Changing Technology and the Evolution of Espionage

[51:51 - 55:03]

• Technology—such as facial recognition and gait analysis—has changed what is possible in espionage and personal disguise.
• Old tactics (fake passports, basic disguises) no longer work in modern surveillance environments.

“The way you walk is as unique as your fingerprint…what you would need to do is put a stone in your shoe…because it completely changes your walk.” — Brad Thor [53:03]

• Thor’s novels reflect these rapid changes in real-world technology and their implications for both crime and counter-espionage.

Brad Thor’s Influences & Book Recommendations

[55:27 - 58:27]

• Writes what he loves to read—espionage and international thrillers.
• Influenced by Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, John le Carré, Frederick Forsyth; lauds contemporary writers like Simon Gervais, Ward Larsen, James Rollins, Steve Berry, and Dan Brown.
• Nonfiction favorite: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson.
• Reads widely for both entertainment and professional development.

“Stephen King…said you should write what you love to read because that's where your passion is.” — Brad Thor [55:57]

The Human Element: Enduring Appeal and Adaptation

[59:07 - 60:37]

• Thor has adapted his writing style (shorter, punchier chapters) to match readers' changing habits in the digital/information overload era.
• Regardless of tech, stories remain compelling because of their core human conflicts, relationships, and dilemmas.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Whatever you fear most may be what you’re meant to do.” — Brad Thor [05:08]
• “My mind is my most important weapon…turning off the fear, moving ahead.” — Referenced by Ginny Ertz [47:15]
• “The only easy day was yesterday.” — Brad Thor [49:50]
• On the realism of espionage fiction: “You can't have a satellite phone, a bunch of hand warmers…You have to just do it once to be fair to the audience.” — Brad Thor [22:15]
• On facing uncertain outcomes in Hollywood: “I have kissed every single frog in that town.” — Brad Thor [08:24]

The Outdoor Childhood Memory

[61:12 - 61:49]

• Brad recalls swinging on a “Tarzan vine” rope into his kiddie pool in Houston—a testament to the show’s theme of joyful, physical childhood.

“My dad took me to the toy store to buy a rope swing so I could pretend it was a vine…so I could swing like Tarzan…That’s my earliest memory.” — Brad Thor [61:12]

Notable Timestamps

• 03:25 - Brad’s career journey from TV to novels
• 08:16 - Movie and TV adaptations: cold realism about Hollywood
• 12:44 - Reader engagement: online “mini-universes” for each book
• 13:41 - How AI and the Arctic crash premise were conceived
• 21:41 - Making the Arctic a major character in Cold Zero
• 29:37 - Themes of duty, deception, and adaptation under pressure
• 42:11 - “MICE”: why people betray their countries
• 47:15 - Mental resilience lessons from Special Forces and real life
• 53:03 - The end of classic disguises in the age of AI and surveillance
• 55:57 - Brad’s book recommendations and reading philosophy
• 59:07 - Changing writing styles for today’s reader
• 61:12 - Brad’s favorite outdoor childhood memory

Episode Takeaways

• Fiction Mirrors Reality: Whether it’s high-tech espionage or the hard choices on the battlefield, Thor’s thrillers are grounded in the real challenges of trust, loyalty, and resilience.
• Keep Adapting: Technology, media, and even fiction’s form adapt over time, but it’s the human element—relationships, moral choices, survival—that anchors enduring stories.
• Celebrate Small Wins: Whether stranded in the Arctic (in fiction) or parenting/facing challenges in real life, cultivating grit and noticing every bit of progress is vital.
• Thrillers Can Be Family-Friendly: Cold Zero is recommended as a “clean” read for teens and adults, combining fast-paced action with a strong, relatable heroine.

Further Reading & Recommendations

• Brad Thor’s Books:
  • Cold Zero
  • The Lions of Lucerne (Scott Harvath #1)
  • Edge of Honor, Choke Point (upcoming)
• Authors Brad Recommends:
  • Simon Gervais – The Elias Network
  • Ward Larsen
  • James Rollins
  • Steve Berry
  • Dan Brown
  • Erik Larson – In the Garden of Beasts
• Classic Thrillers:
  • Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, John le Carré, Frederick Forsyth

Final Thought

In an age of relentless technology and screen time, Brad Thor’s novels—and this conversation—remind us of the power of hands-on adventure, resilience under pressure, and stories that thrive on the unpredictable, wild, and very human world outside.