The Antihero Podcast: Broadcast – Conventional Military Has Had ENOUGH

Date: September 22, 2025
Hosts: Tyler, Mike, Jimmy
Special Callers: Listeners, Jimmy’s Dad (Ret. LTC, US Army)

Episode Overview

This first-ever live “broadcast” Monday-format episode dives deep into the rifts between the conventional military and the special operations (“soft”) community. The hosts open the floor to listener call-ins, address frequently-asked questions and rumors, and focus much of the show on the on-going under-appreciation of conventional forces in the military and law enforcement spheres. They also touch on current events, sports, cultural relevance of uniformed service, and the realities of online drama in the veteran and LEO podcast space.

The tone is rowdy, unfiltered, and brash — true to the “Antihero” ethos.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Podcast & Format Updates

• New Live Show Format:
  • Mondays are now a live, interactive, broadcast-style show — focused on “Monday recap,” current events, and listener engagement, while Thursday remains “for the boys.”
  • Open phone line and live chat enable audience participation.
• Addressing Rumors & Super Chats:
  • Being more transparent about behind-the-scenes changes, handling of super chats (keep them cheap on Mondays, Thursday chat remains rowdy and interactive).

2. Clearing the Air: Tyler’s “Investigation” at the Sheriff’s Department

(05:01–06:21)

• Rumor Addressed: Tyler was NOT forced out due to any investigation.
  • “Six months ago, Tyler told me, I am quitting the sheriff's office within the next six months. 100%. No investigation, no nothing. Tyler submitted his resignation...” – Tyler (05:09)
  • “While resigning, he was served with a... ...After resign[ing], five days after... he turned his resignation in and applied... denied.” – Tyler & Mike (05:32–05:41)
  • Clarifies the “under investigation” narrative was agency spin after the fact.

3. The Conventional Military Steps Up

Jimmy’s Direct Call-Out of Rob O’Neill and “Operator” Culture

[07:36–09:45, primary rant clip]

• Key Quote:

  • “Shut the up. The operators are talking. Go yourself. ... Slabs of granite with names on them. How many... are operators? Not many. It's less than 1%... The infantry guys, the field artillery guys, the CAB scouts, the guys from recon, the guys that went out there into sector every single day ... Tell me that you went downrange and saw the shit that the average conventional infantryman, Marine or soldier saw. You didn't. ... When you forget that, you forget your place. Special Operations forces exists for two people, the O3.11 Marine Corps infantryman and the 11 Bravo army infantryman.” – Jimmy (07:41–09:25)

• Key Points:

  • Hard fact: the bulk of the casualties and daily grind fell to conventional units.
  • “Operator” types often get the media, movies, and online attention, while the pain and danger were shouldered by regular grunts, medics, drivers, etc.
  • Special Operations exist to enhance the warfighting potential of the regular military; it is not the other way around.
  • Call-out to Rob O’Neill and other “soft” types for condescension toward conventional vets.

Broader Discussion on Conventional vs. SOF and LEO Parallels

[10:52–16:07]

• “According to Hollywood, the whole goddamn global war on terror was fought by... Seal Team 6...” – Jimmy (09:44)
• Parallels between regular street cops vs SWAT: elite teams get prestige, but regular cops do the bulk of the work.
• The best operators are those who quietly did their jobs; conventional soldiers often can’t claim the same hero status without being seen as egotistical.
• “You can only hear the same war stories 47 times from the same person... I did that same thing. I was just in the 173rd... I was just a Marine...” – Mike (15:09)

4. Live Audience & Interactive Elements

• Calls with Listeners (“Poopy Johnson,” “Clint/Luda”):

  • Listeners share their frustration at being overlooked as “just the cavalry” or “just a medic.”
  • Anecdotes of pride and funny field stories highlight the diversity of service.
  • “We were really one of the unsung heroes of... the whole war on everything. Because nobody talks about us. It's always SEALs, special forces, infantry... but really in the front lines as well.” – Poopy Johnson (42:26)

• Call-in Snafus and Humorous Moments:

  • Technical hiccups and long-winded callers lampooned in real time, with the hosts calling for “brief, bright, be gone” calls.
  • “Be brief, be bright, be gone. Opposite of Jimmy.” – Tyler (113:49)

5. Open-Source Military Intel: What’s Coming Next?

[29:38–34:04, Jimmy break-down]

• The DOD expects a “large-scale combat operation” (peer adversary, possibly China) in the next three years.
  • Difficult to acquire tactical materials — a sign of ramp-up and procurement.
  • Medics may need to care for casualties far longer (“golden hour” may not be doable with contested airspace).
  • Military hospitals (“forward facilities”) may now push closer to the frontlines.
• Recommendation to check out Bear Independent for deeper analysis.

6. Sports & Culture

[40:29–49:56]

• Monday sports recap: NFL highlights, blocked field goals, new kickoff rules, humorous memes.
• Explores how modern technology (YouTube, RedZone) is changing the way fans watch football.
• Commentary on cultural rituals shared by military/police/firefighters (“addicted to caffeine, need therapy, and all underpaid”).

7. Training & Readiness Concerns in Law Enforcement

[71:33–81:50]

• Discussion: Are first responders really prepared for multiple active-shooter attacks or complex scenarios?
  • Most agencies only train for single-shooter events; true multi-threat scenarios are not adequately drilled.
  • Accreditation and “checkbox training” are giving departments a false sense of preparedness.
  • The next big attack will expose the lack of real, boots-on-the-ground readiness. “Maybe... they'll rip those bogus certificates off the wall... and go, hey, it's time to start fucking getting serious again about law enforcement...” – Tyler (81:50)

8. “Bro Vet” Drama and Moving On

[58:19–61:35]

• Listeners question why former co-host Brent is no longer on; Mike reiterates:
  • Changes in business structures are normal (“People loved Motley Crue in 1989, but you go to 1992...”).
  • The show will push forward, evolve, and not “cater to the literal fat” who can’t adapt.
• The rise and fatigue of military influencer drama (“BroVet TMZ”) — audience is tired of it.

9. College Sports and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness)

[87:19–101:34] (with Jimmy’s Dad, Ret. LTC)

• The NCAA’s NIL rules have “ruined” old college football and basketball culture.
  • “Completely out of control... Every year is a wild card year... No more walk-ons... All just one-year mercenaries...” – Jimmy’s Dad (89:41–90:17, summarized)
• The boosters’ role is more powerful and less regulated than ever; paying players is now overt and huge sums.
• Academic requirements for athletes effectively obsolete.
• NIL creates chaos in rosters, loyalty, and traditions (“no more Rudy stories”).

10. Show Wrap: Community Over Drama

[105:00–108:27]

• Reflection on the realities of doing a show in a hyper-critical, anonymous internet world; the need for constructive criticism but a break from bad-faith drama.
• “You learned that as a kid, too... When you're little and you mouth off to somebody bigger than you and he punches you right in the face, that's when you learn. Like, I have to account for the words that come out of my mouth.” – Mike (105:32)
• The Antihero brand is ultimately about uniting uniformed professions, sharing real truths, and pushing back against cultural erasure and self-loathing.

Notable Quotes & Moments

“Tell me that you went downrange and saw the shit that the average conventional infantryman, Marine or soldier saw. You didn't. And when you forget that, you forget your place.”
— Jimmy (08:25)

“The best operators are those who quietly did their jobs; conventional soldiers often can’t claim the same hero status without being seen as egotistical.”
— Paraphrase/Tyler & Mike (15:51)

“You can only hear the same war stories 47 times from the same person... I did that same thing. I was just in the 173rd... I was just a Marine...”
— Mike (15:09)

“Most agencies only train for single-shooter events; true multi-threat scenarios are not adequately drilled... It’s just a giant, mass problem.”
— Tyler (80:51)

“People loved Motley Crue in 1989, but you go to 1992, Motley Crew, it’s a totally different sound, and you know it.”
— Mike (58:48)

“Completely out of control... Every year is a wild card year.... No more walk-ons... All just one-year mercenaries...”
— Jimmy’s Dad on college sports NIL changes (89:41–90:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 05:01–06:21: Tyler’s “investigation” and resignation story
• 07:36–09:45: Jimmy’s “operator” rant (clip played, focus on conventional military losses and respect)
• 10:52–16:07: Expanded discussion on conventional vs. SOF / police-SWAT parallels
• 29:38–34:04: Open-source military predictions (China/near-peer, changes in medic roles)
• 40:29–49:56: Monday sports segment (NFL, Red Zone channel, memes)
• 71:33–81:50: Training reality for cops — active shooter, mass-casualty events
• 87:19–101:34: NIL and College Football, Jimmy’s Dad segment

Closing Thoughts

The Antihero Podcast doubles down on its signature blend of brash veteran and cop banter with a new format, larger role for audience interaction, and a hard reset on who gets credit for sacrifice in the world of military and public safety.

Listeners’ main takeaways:

• Conventional forces and “regular” responders still hold the line and deserve more recognition.
• The podcast isn’t afraid to skewer the “operator” culture or its own community’s media drama.
• Changes to the show reflect a push for authenticity, unity, and real conversation — not just drama or hero worship.
• The struggle to validate and unify cops, soldiers, and firefighters continues — and the Antihero crew is (loudly) leading the charge for respect and realism.

Next episode:
Tune in Thursday night for the “Squadcast” – “for the boys.”
Call-in line: (772) 217-5453