The Antihero Podcast – Squadcast (Live) 08/21/2025
Date: August 22, 2025
Theme: Part Delta Force. Part Street Cop. All Truth.
Guests:
- Josh Burton (Elevated Operator, ex-Army Ranger, instructor, and entrepreneur)
- Scott Payne (Legendary undercover FBI agent, author, pod guest veteran)
- Brent Tucker (Co-host, former operator and law enforcement trainer)
- Tyler (Host, High Order Clothing)
- Super Chat Crew: Engaged, numerous questions and memes
Episode Overview
This Squadcast live episode brings together former elite military and law enforcement operators for a wide-ranging, highly candid discussion. Topics span war stories, undercover operations, law enforcement inside baseball, controversy around standards and culture in elite units, plant medicine for veterans, the ritual of manly banter, and a wild ride through pop culture, music, and podcast inside jokes. The panel takes real-time questions from listeners, providing honest, sometimes unfiltered answers about the realities behind heroic mythologies–with a heavy mix of humor and authenticity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introductions & Guest Backgrounds (00:01–03:34)
- Host introduces all guests and notes recent interviews filmed with both Scott and Josh.
- Brent Tucker highlights:
- Scott Payne’s 20+ years undercover in FBI, recent appearance on high-profile podcasts.
- Josh Burton’s diverse journey: ex-Ranger Battalion, Tesla, Cry Precision, Elevated Operator tea brand.
Notable Quote:
“Josh, you are a very hard person to find on the Internet.” – Host [03:03]
“There’s a reason for that.” – Josh Burton [03:07]
2. Cultural Critiques: Hero Worship & Sell-Outs (04:08–06:34)
- Scott and Brent lampoon “dirty self-promotion” after seeing ex-military folks pitching books and memorabilia on podcasts.
- They emphasize keeping integrity after decades on the inside:
“How about you go undercover for 22 years and get on the Joe Rogan show? How about that?” – Brent Tucker [05:28]
3. Elite Units, Respect, and the Reality Check (06:35–08:44)
- Brent praises FDNY Rescue and full-time SWAT for intensity and frequency of action, drawing a line between those who “actually do it” and those who ride the reputation.
"Don’t act like you’re all the same, because you’re not." – Brent Tucker [07:15]
- Scott says the same applies to SWAT: some do 800 hits/year, others barely see action.
4. Communication & Criticism in the Age of Email (08:45–10:07)
- The hosts describe direct but professional responses to angry “email warriors,” emphasizing the benefits of respectful discourse in high-tension fields.
"Can’t read tone in an email vortex unless you put a goofy emoji on it." – Scott Payne [09:13]
5. Banter Section: One Chip Challenge and Superchats (10:45–11:33)
- Light-hearted discussion about the spicy “one chip challenge,” hospital trips resulting, and whether Josh would survive it.
6. Danger in Undercover Work (Scott Payne’s Deep-Dive) (11:33–16:49)
- Scott recounts his closest calls:
- With white supremacist group "The Base": Nearly discovered due to a hidden tracker and a homebrew bug detector. [12:18–14:39]
- Infiltrating the Outlaws MC: Strip-searched at gunpoint while wired, saved by pure luck as enforcer misses the wire. [14:39–16:13]
Notable Story:
“I was wired to the hilt...strip down, they search me...he grabs a piece of clothing and starts kneading it with his fingers...he looks right at it and misses it. That’s divine intervention for me, man.” – Scott Payne [15:30]
7. Politics, Policing, & Unpopular Truths (18:59–24:37)
- Panel weighs in on urban crime, Trump’s rise, media hypocrisy, and how law enforcement agencies target dirty cops from the inside, noting the system self-corrects despite public perceptions.
Notable Exchanges:
“Who’s fixing dirty cops? Cops are.” – Brent Tucker [29:24] “There are a few things a good cop can’t stand more than a dirty cop.” – Scott Payne [28:54]
8. ABSCAM & Political Corruption (31:14–32:50)
- Historical background on ABSCAM, the FBI’s sting operation in Congress.
- Outrage over Congress requiring notification if under investigation.
9. Q&A: Closest Calls, The Culture of Drugs in Special Operations, Standards for Women in SF (41:05–104:33)
- Drugs at Fort Bragg/unit: Josh and Brent debunk idea of rampant drug use in elite SOF units.
- Women in SOF/Green Berets: Panel argues standards were lowered for political reasons, to the detriment of credibility.
“Why is it when the security of our nation is on the line...when it comes to the NBA, when it comes to Super Bowls, why aren’t you saying, ‘a woman better be on that team by next year or you’re a sexist’? But when it comes to special operations, ‘no, a girl can do anything a guy can do.’ Stop it.” – Brent Tucker [103:20]
10. Honest Talk: Plant-Based Solutions for Mental Health & Sleep (77:07–120:28)
- Josh Burton shares how proprietary mushroom blends help veterans recover and manage anxiety after service.
“This stuff actually saved my life and made me a much better person for it.” – Josh Burton [80:20]
- Open skepticism (and laughter) from co-hosts, but genuine testimonials and plug for Elevated Operator’s wellness products.
- Larger discussion about natural vs. pharmaceutical solutions, sleep issues, and how plant medicine may be vital for PTSD recovery—especially compared to “overmedicating” by the VA.
- Discussion of stem cell therapies in Mexico/Colombia for injury and recovery.
11. Faith & Meaning After War and Chaos (124:00–157:02)
- Scott discusses his book, Code Name Pale Horse, integrating his undercover tales and spiritual journey.
- Conversation turns to faith, struggles in belief, and continued personal battles post-career.
“When you’re on the front line for God, you’re probably closer to Hell than you would be otherwise. Because the devil does not want who he’s already got.” – Scott Payne [150:54]
- Denzel Washington quote: "You learn, you earn, then you return." The panel highlights passing on knowledge as the cornerstone of leadership.
12. Pop Culture, Banter, and Music Debates (158:16–end)
- Lightning round of favorite law/military movies, TV shows (End of Watch, Donnie Brasco, Full Metal Jacket, Peaky Blinders, Southland).
- Long-running inside joke about “Nickelback Sucks” and defense/uplifting of Canadian culture through music, wrestling, and acting.
Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes
-
On authenticity:
“I didn’t even ask to get a picture [with Joe Rogan]. I’m just like, I’m so happy to be here.” – Scott Payne [05:35]
-
On real action vs. posers:
“Those Rescue Fire Stations...actually doing the work that the rest of the country firefighters are riding the back of. Like, yeah, we’re just like those guys. No, you’re not.” – Brent Tucker [07:08]
-
On being hard to find:
“There’s a reason for that.” – Josh Burton [03:07]
-
Undercover life-or-death:
“Put my phone in airplane mode...he walks up with something like a Geiger counter...right at the fender...makes all kinds of racket and lights are going off...I thought, well, this is gonna be a quick undercover.” – Scott Payne [12:38] “Divine intervention for me, man. But yeah, he almost found it. They almost got me.” – Scott Payne [15:56]
-
On dirty cops:
“There are a few things a good cop can’t stand more than a dirty cop.” – Scott Payne [28:54]
-
On standards in SOF:
“Every female in special operations, the standards were lowered.” – Brent Tucker [101:20]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [00:01]–[03:34] — Intros & Guest Backgrounds
- [11:33]–[16:49] — Scott Payne’s Undercover Life-or-Death Stories
- [29:08]–[32:10] — Abscam and Congressional Corruption
- [77:07]–[120:28] — Plant Medicine, Mushrooms, Sleep Remedies, Stem Cell Therapy
- [124:00]–[157:02] — Scott’s Faith Journey, “Code Name Pale Horse”, Denzel on Leadership
- [158:16]–[end] — Banter: Music, TV, Movies, and Canadian culture (plus after-hours Superchat roast and music)
Overall Tone & Takeaways
Rowdy, funny, unfiltered, sometimes irreverent—but always grounded in the reality of hard-earned experience. The panel balances deep war and cop tales, straight-talking sentiment, and an undercurrent of brotherhood, healing, and continued service—to self, to others, and to truth.
For New Listeners:
This episode is an enthralling entry-point—exceptionally real, with no sugar-coating. It provides war stories, hard-won wisdom about mental health and policing, and plenty of laughs and good music, giving you both a sense of what it's like in the trenches and in the post-career, post-military world.
Additional Standout Quotes
- “I'll give respect where respect's due. And everyone gets my...you will worded emails.” – Host [07:23]
- “You can put your Zen dip in for when you go to ranger school...it protects them from the toxins in your prison pocket.” – Brent Tucker [25:30]
- “One night on that one [plant medicine] journey is worth ten years of couch therapy.” – Josh Burton [176:33]
(For full context or follow-up, please consult individual timestamps or the official Antihero Podcast YouTube channel.)