Patriot to the Core
124 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 68 ratingsPatriot to the Core
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Episodes
Ep 116 | Eric Moutsos – Freedom, Liberty, and Non-Essential
May 06, 2024 09:42 - 46 minutes - 106 MBEric Moutsos (@ericmoutsos) is a small business owner and creator of Freedom Blends, a supplement company based on the principles of Freedom and Liberty. A former Salt Lake City Police Officer, Moutsos loved the job but quickly started being outspoken about disturbing practices (aka quotas) and discrimination within the department. In the end, Eric lost his […]
Ep 115 | Brian Jodice – Men’s Heath and Recognizing Signs of Suicide
April 15, 2024 09:49 - 43 minutes - 99.7 MBBrian Jodice (@brianjodice) of Pick Up The Six Productions and NGBN TV is back to promote this new network for men in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Discussed in this episode: -why focus on this demographic? -men’s mental health -Biblical application -best athletic gear and brands for outdoor workouts (specifically F3 and GORUCK events) -prison […]
Ep 114 | Joe O’Keefe – Hunting Osama bin Laden in Tora Bora in 2001
January 22, 2024 10:36 - 1 hour - 153 MBWithin weeks of the 9/11 attacks, Air Force Combat Controller Joe O’Keefe was in Afghanistan working with the CIA and other special operations units. Joe and his small team made their way into the mountains of Tora Bora with the help of the Northern Alliance. Armed with the element of surprise, he was able to […]
Ep 113 | Hershel “Woody” Williams – Medal of Honor Recipient from Iwo Jima
January 01, 2024 10:58 - 59 minutes - 135 MBThe late Woody Williams will never forget the odor of burning human remains. “There are some things about that 4 hours that have bothered me my whole life… I can’t remember going back and getting the other 5 flamethrowers. It was so horrific, I didn’t want to remember.” I was introduced to death by flamethrower […]
Ep 112 | Mark Schmitz – Disaster at Abbey Gate
December 11, 2023 10:54 - 1 hour - 147 MBMark Schmitz’s son, LCpl Jared Schmitz, was one of the 13 Americans murdered at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, on 26 August 2021 during the evacuation from Afghanistan. He was just 20 years old. He was there on a humanitarian mission working the infamous Abbey Gate. When Afghans made it past the Taliban checkpoints, […]
Ep 111 | Don Stevens – Security Forces, Combat Control, Burn the Ships, PTSD
November 06, 2023 09:51 - 1 hour - 190 MBDon Stevens is one of those rare operators who retrained into the Air Force combat control (CCT) pipeline at the age of 32, after being in security forces. This required uncommon humility since leadership said, “What are we gonna do with a MSgt. who doesn’t know squat (many different strong words could be inserted here)?” […]
Ep 110 | Special: Kenny Alicea & Mark Forester – Beautiful Symphony of Death and Destruction
September 29, 2023 09:18 - 46 minutes - 107 MBOn this 13th anniversary of the death of my brother, SrA Mark Forester, I have the opportunity to talk with Kenny Alicea who was the Senior Weapons Sergeant for his Army Special Forces team (ODA 7212) where Mark was attached. Kenny contacted me a few weeks ago and told me he was on that final […]
Ep 109 | Nic McKinley - Fighting a War on Human Trafficking
September 04, 2023 09:37 - 55 minutes - 127 MBNic McKinley is an entrepreneur, former Air Force Pararescueman, and ex-CIA operative who founded DeliverFund, the only donor-funded solution to human trafficking that delivers proprietary data and technology to law enforcement, allowing them to take down human traffickers effectively. With 30 combat deployments under his belt in both Special Operations and the CIA, Nic experienced […]
Ep 108 | Rich Brown – Marine, Author, American Warrior Society Co-Founder, Savage Somm
July 31, 2023 08:45 - 1 hour - 53 MBRetired U. S. Marine and former Policeman, bouncer, Corrections Officer and more Rich Brown (@american_warrior_society) is back on the show so I can dig into his new Memoir “On Violence & Varietals“. We cover many areas of his life: fighting as a boy, the Gulf War, sleeping with one eye open, interacting with prisoners as […]
Ep 107 | The Mark Forester Foundation Charity Golf Tournament – Aug 11, 2023
July 17, 2023 09:47 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBThe Mark Forester Foundation’s annual golf tournament will be held Friday August 11, 2023 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Muscle Shoals, AL. In this episode, I chat with Doug Cole and Jay Stubbs who are long time participants and supporters. We talk about the course, the value of the entry fee, prizes, experiences and why they […]
Ep 106 | T. C. Fuller – Stories From a 20-yr Odyssey in the FBI
June 26, 2023 08:11 - 1 hour - 171 MBT. C. Fuller joined the FBI after an 11-year career in the Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer. Then he joined the FBI and became a Special Agent, serving for 20 years. During his time in the FBI he held many assignments, including: Principal Firearms Instructor, Joint Terrorism Task Force – Domestic and International, […]
Ep 105 | Medal of Honor Recipient Mike Rose – Vietnam
May 29, 2023 09:31 - 1 hour - 83 MBGary Michael Rose (Mike) joins me in person to share what happened in Laos during Operation Tailwind in 1970. During these 4 days, Sergeant Rose exposed himself to the enemy many times in order to treat the wounded. And then, the helicopter carrying Rose and others crashed further injuring him and the other wounded on […]
Ep 104 | Dan Skidmore, aka Cadre DS – Getting Ready for the JAG 28 Birthday Walk
May 08, 2023 08:30 - 1 hour - 33.9 MBDan Skidmore (@danskidmore11) is the Director of Specialized Training at GORUCK. He’s back on PTC as to talk initially about the upcoming Mark Forester JAG 28 Memorial Birthday Walk/Ruck. This is our annual event honoring my brother Mark Forester who was KIA 2010, where we walk 28 continuous miles. Dan will be joining us for […]
Ep 103 | Tips and Thoughts on the Mark Forester JAG 28 Birthday Walk/Ruck
April 10, 2023 08:55 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBChris Sprayberry and Troy Bye join me to talk about the upcoming JAG 28 Birthday Walk on May 20, 2023. Chris (@https://www.instagram.com/sprayberry_77/) has done the walk every year since we started in 2011. Troy’s (@https://www.instagram.com/ourtownpodcast/) first time was last year. After learning the hard way, he can’t wait to do it again while being more […]
Ep 102 | Darrell Utt – Army Special Forces (Ret.) and National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Chief of Bus. Ops
March 13, 2023 08:51 - 1 hour - 56 MBMSG Darrell Utt retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces in January of 2017 after 26.5 years in the Army. For this episode, he joins me in person and we have a great time covering the purpose of the National Medal of Honor Museum being constructed in Arlington, TX and why TX was chosen over […]
Ep 101 | Matthew Reed – Military Intelligence, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia and China
February 27, 2023 10:32 - 1 hour - 39.2 MBMatthew Reed started his military career in the Marines. After being honorably discharged in 2007, he joined the Army and became an Interrogator and a Military Intelligence NCO, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Then from 2012 through 2022, Matt worked as an Intelligence Contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense, with roughly six years […]
Ep 100 | Michael Blout – Combat Controller, Silver Star Recipient
February 06, 2023 09:52 - 1 hour - 47.7 MBMichael Blout joins me to talk about the battle from 2012 where he was awarded the Silver Star. As a former Flight Superintendent, Combat Dive Course Superintendent, and Superintendent over the Department of Training, Special Warfare Preparatory Course and more, we talk much about preparation, mindset, leading, integrating into a team and never quitting. During […]
Ep 099 | Yvette Sierra – Gold Star Mother to SrA Danny Sanchez
January 09, 2023 09:54 - 1 hour - 52.6 MBOn Sept 16, 2010, Yvette’s son, Daniel Ray Sanchez (Danny) was killed in Afghanistan by an insurgent who infiltrated the Afghanistan partner force. Today, Danny’s mom tells us why this “ball of energy” was made for Combat Control and what happened on his first deployment – how was an insurgent able to get on the […]
Ep 098 | Christmas from Heaven – Gail Halvorsen
December 25, 2022 11:03 - 1 hour - 38.5 MBOn this special Christmas Day episode, we hear from a legend from WWII – Gail (Hal) Halvorsen. He has many names: Uncle Wiggly Wings, The Berlin Candy Bomber and The Chocolate Flier. He became popular for dropping candy from his plane to the children of Berlin, from 1948-49. His efforts gained support from many back […]
Ep 097 | Scott DeLuzio – Surviving Son
November 07, 2022 10:47 - 1 hour - 50.3 MBScott’s younger brother, Steven, was killed-in-action in Afghanistan in Aug. 2010 at the same time that Scott was deployed just miles away. Not only did Scott (@scottdeluzio) have to receive the news of Steven’s death while Scott and his unit were outside the wire, his teammates had to engage in combat until he could get […]
Ep 096 | Special: Doug Cole on the Impact of Mark Forester
September 29, 2022 10:06 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBToday, September 29, 2022, mark’s 12 years since my little brother, Mark Forester’s death in Afghanistan. Mark’s close friend and roommate, Doug Cole (@dcoleii), spends some time telling us what life was like living with Mark and watching him transform from a narrow-shouldered, pudgy, college student to a solid, chiseled man. No matter how serious […]
Ep 095 | Brian Jodice – Pick Up the Six Podcast
September 26, 2022 09:18 - 59 minutes - 39.6 MBBrian Jodice is the owner and host of Pick up the Six Productions and Podcast, where he shares stories about the men and women among us who go above-and-beyond to PICK UP THE SIX through SERVICE, PURPOSE and IMPACT. He recalls many impactful interviews he’s done in the last few years, among them was the […]
Ep 094 | Ish Villegas – 2-time Silver Star Recipient
September 19, 2022 09:43 - 1 hour - 43.5 MBIsh Villegas is one of three people who have received the Silver Star twice, since 9/11. Today he walks us thru the battle in 2009 where he got his first Silver Star. It was a 16 hour fight that resulted in at least 32 enemy insurgents killed. During this fight, Ish ran 200 feet across […]
Ep 093 | Leading Well in Turbulent Times
August 08, 2022 09:35 - 53 minutes - 34.7 MB“Good judgment comes through experience, which comes from bad judgment.” Brig. Gen. Robert (Gwyn) Armfield and Lt. Gen. Bruce Fister, both USAF, retired are on the show to talk about their new book “Lead to Serve and Serve to Lead.” They use their experience from extensive military careers and now consulting with companies–from non-profits, to […]
Ep 092 | Justin Roberts – On the Ground in Ukraine
July 26, 2022 10:07 - 47 minutes - 31.5 MBFormer Army Chaplain Justin Roberts (@justindroberts) has been in Ukraine since April 2022 recording a documentary film series to highlight people who are doing good in Ukraine–helping with aid, managing donated money effectively and honestly, and just serving their fellow man. I wanted to know what it’s like in the war where he’s been. How […]
Ep 091 | William Markham – One Veteran at a Time
July 18, 2022 08:28 - 1 hour - 22.8 MBRetired Chief Master Sergeant William Markham spent 30 years in the Air Force, was inducted in the 2021 Air Commando Hall of Fame and in the 2022 USSOCOM Hall of Heroes. I know him personally because he was the chief of my brother Mark’s squadron (21st STS out of Pope Field, NC). I never met […]
Ep 090 | Troy Bye – The Long Road to Cyber Security, Insider Threat & Intelligence
June 20, 2022 10:24 - 50 minutes - 18.2 MBM. Troy Bye, is an Executive Director with ManTech and has spent much of his career managing large IT programs for customers within the Intelligence Community in the Washington D.C. area. ManTech has a long history of supporting the FBI. Now, with the FBI’s transition of many of their cyber programs to Huntsville, AL, Troy […]
Ep 089 | Jennie Taylor – Gold Star Wife and Mother of 7
May 02, 2022 09:33 - 56 minutes - 28.6 MBJennie Taylor was taking a much needed break by spending the weekend with friends from college, therefore she wasn’t home when the “knock” came at her door. In January of 2018, her husband, Major Brent Taylor left his position as Mayor of North Ogden, UT and deployed to Afghanistan with the US Army for what […]
Ep 088 | Combat Controllers – Small Force, Big Impact
February 07, 2022 10:57 - 49 minutes - 35.3 MBCMSgt (retired) Michael Lamonica and MSG (retired) Kyle Stanbro, both retired Air Force combat controllers join us to break down what CCT’s do and their roles in the war on terror, Afghanistan withdrawal, and humanitarian missions throughout the world. And, why CCTs are arguably the deadliest force to ever walk the planet. With each of […]
Ep 087 | Kyle Defoor – Former SEAL, Sniper and current Firearms Instructor
December 27, 2021 10:48 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBTo end the year, I’m playing my all-time most downloaded episode. Right after high school graduation, Kyle Defoor @defoorproformanceshooting left for boot camp in Orlando. A few months later, he was in Coronado going thru BUD/S as an 18-year-old kid. We talk about growing up together in the small town of Haleyville, AL. And since […]
Ep 087: Kyle Defoor | Former SEAL, Sniper and current Firearms Instructor
December 27, 2021 10:48 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBTo end the year, I’m playing my all-time most downloaded episode. Right after high school graduation, Kyle Defoor @defoorproformanceshooting left for boot camp in Orlando. A few months later, he was in Coronado going thru BUD/S as an 18-year-old kid. We talk about growing up together in the small town of Haleyville, AL. And since […] The post Ep 087: Kyle Defoor | Former SEAL, Sniper and current Firearms Instructor appeared first on .
Ep 086 | Gene Adcock – Combat Control Team History
December 13, 2021 10:13 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBRetired Air Force Combat Controller Gene Adcock joins me to talk about his new book, “Combat Control Team History“. Since joining the Air Force in 1955 and retiring in 1977, Mr. Adcock has continued to contribute to the CCT career field. This book is another example with its estimated 800 pages and weight of 10 […]
Ep 085 | Bobby Weismiller – Vaccine mandate, liberty and breaking the cycle
November 15, 2021 10:27 - 55 minutes - 51.2 MBAs this episode goes live, Bobby Weismiller @lionscreedfitness is awaiting his job status with the federal government. Will he still be employed at the end of November? Like millions of others, the executive order could affect his and his family’s livelihood. Bobby outlines his health history, yet the federal government still denied his waiver request. […]
Ep 084 | Zach Asmus and Cress Clippard on Afghanistan and SIV’s
September 06, 2021 10:03 - 1 hour - 66.1 MBAfghanistan. What can I say? Well, I have a lot to say, but I’m not unloading my feelings here–much. We lost 13 American lives. At least 18 are injured, last I read (trying to get correct #). My heart goes out to their families. These heroes haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. Now that our […]
Ep 083 | Mark Lauren – Move Better, Feel Better
August 23, 2021 08:11 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBMark Lauren (@mark_lauren_training) started as a USAF Combat Controller. After his active duty service, he went on to use his experience as an operator and instructor to write the bestselling book You Are Your Own Gym; the Bible of Bodyweight Exercises, which has sold 1.5 million copies worldwide. Mark now uses his 30+ years of training […]
Ep 082 | Dan Schilling – The Power of Awareness
July 26, 2021 08:58 - 56 minutes - 29.3 MBI last spoke with Dan Schilling in episode 64 about his NY Times Best-Selling book “Alone at Dawn”. Today, he has a new book, The Power of Awareness. Schilling uses his personal experience from conducting combat and covert missions around the world, founded and then commanded two special operations squadrons – the second being one […]
Ep 081 | Michael Andrew in Indonesia | Covid Vaccine Distribution
June 14, 2021 08:17 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBMichael Andrew (Michael the Maven) is back on the show to discuss why he’s in Indonesia and why UPS asked him to help them with logistical challenges in delivering vaccines. If you don’t follow Michael, I encourage you to check out all his adventures–both as an entrepreneur and as a volunteer throughout the world. Today […]
Ep 080 – Three Wise Men
March 15, 2021 07:56 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBIn 2010, Beau and Ben Wise buried their big brother Jeremy. Two years later, Beau buried his brother Ben. He went from the youngest son to the only son. Their parents are the only known U.S. military family to lose two sons in Afghanistan during the 19+ year war. In this interview, I’m privileged to […]
Ep 079 | Rhonda Jimmerson – The Fight to Bring Her Brother Home
February 22, 2021 09:14 - 58 minutes - 40.5 MBRhonda Jimmerson’s brother, Major Troy “Trojan” Gilbert was an F-16 pilot with over 1000 flying hours. On November, 27, 2006, his plane crashed in Iraq while he was protecting Americans whose helicopter had crashed. His body was ejected from the plane upon impact and immediately found and taken by al Qaeda–rolled up in a carpet […]
Ep 078 | Stan Staheli, Patton’s Third Army, WWII POW – Replay
January 11, 2021 09:44 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MBPlease enjoy this replay that originally aired in Feb of 2017. J. Stanford (Stan) Staheli was only 18 years old when drafted. One year later he was a member of Patton’s Third Army, 4th Armored Division, liberating France from the Nazi’s. It was here that he was captured in 1944 during a German counter-attack near […]
Ep 077 | My Interview on “The Game” | Throwback from 2012
November 09, 2020 07:17 - 24 minutes - 15.2 MBThrowback to my interview with Mick Gillispie and Ryan Fowler on “The Game” radio show in February 2012. Mick has been a big supporter of The Mark Forester Foundation since its inception. And in this interview we cover many topics surrounding Mark’s education, time in military, final battle, The American Fallen Soldiers Project, fundraisers and […]
Ep 076 – Special: Brig. Gen. Gwyn Armfield | Behind the scenes of our Next-of-Kin notifications
September 29, 2020 10:36 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MBSept 29, 2020 is the 10th anniversary of Mark Forester’s death in Afghanistan. The picture in this post is Mark’s body being taken from the C-17 at Dover AFB for the Dignified Transfer. My guest is General Robert Armfield who was Mark’s group commander in 2010. Armfield was also at Dover when Mark’s body arrived, […]
Ep 075 – Dan Skidmore | Former CCT, GORUCK Dir. of Training
August 24, 2020 08:27 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBDan Skidmore spent nine years as an Air Force combat controller. As a member of this elite group, he deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other locations across the globe. He is a member of Force Blue , which unites the community of Special Operations veterans with the world of marine conservation for the betterment […]
Ep 074 – Memorial Day Special: Bobby Bonello Escorting Mark’s Body to Dover – The Angel Flight
May 24, 2020 12:52 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBToday Mark’s friend and teammate tells us what it was like to get the news of Mark’s death, how he got a risky flight out of his FOB and met up with Mark so he could escort his buddy back to the states as part of the Angel Flight. This episode is solely about Bobby […]
Ep 073 – Linda Ambard | Courageously Alive
May 04, 2020 07:26 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBIt seemed Linda Ambard was the last person to find out about her husband, Maj. Philip Ambard’s death. The media knew, her co-workers knew and even some of her children found out via social media. Linda shares why her late husband immigrated to the United States, learned English, along with 7 other languages, and then […]
Ep 072 – Mark Lauren | Bodyweight Master & Best-selling Fitness Author
March 30, 2020 08:42 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBI know I’m not the only one who is getting an increased amount of target marketing on alternatives to gyms. Our current situation that has caused gyms to close didn’t change my routine at all b/c I don’t rely on one. The reason; my exercise strategy changed when I began following Mark Lauren’s programs in […]
Ep 071 – Jeff Kyle: Marine & Gold Star brother
March 16, 2020 07:22 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBMost of you have heard of Chris Kyle or seen the movie “American Sniper“, directed by Clint Eastwood. It was a very popular book and movie. But I always wondered about his brother Jeff. What made him serve in the military? How close were he and Chris and how did Chris’ death affect him? Today […]
Ep 070 – Michael Yon | Insurgency in Hong Kong
January 27, 2020 09:39 - 1 hour - 57.4 MB“Cowardice and courage; both are infectious. The Hong Kongers are showing a lot of courage.” Michael Yon (Instagram Michael_yon_world) is back on the show to discuss what’s going on it Hong Kong. We get into some deep history on China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as talk its comparison to Poland in the 80’s. […]
Ep 069 – Hershel “Woody” Williams | Medal of Honor Recipient
November 11, 2019 09:49 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBWoody Williams will never forget the odor of burning human remains. “There are some things about that 4 hours that have bothered me my whole life… I can’t remember going back and getting the other 5 flamethrowers. It was so horrific, I didn’t want to remember.” I was introduced to death by flamethrower after learning […]
Ep 068 – Nic McKinley | Unleashing the Warriors on Child Trafficking
October 14, 2019 08:37 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBNic is a former Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) and Country Chief for a special unit within the CIA. During his career he witnessed the epidemic of child trafficking within illegal markets and recognized the opportunity to apply his training to influence this global crisis. How do he and his organization, DeliverFund, do this? By equipping, […]