Best United States Special Operations Command Podcasts (2025)

1
S6 E5 - Rob Zackery — Calling the Fight, Building the Team 1:07:44

7m ago1:07:44

1:07:44

🎙️ From calling in airstrikes with Green Berets and Rangers to leading Airmen across the globe, Rob Zackery’s career as an Air Force TACP is one of purpose, adaptability, and impact. In this episode, Rob shares what it takes to step into any team room and earn trust — not by rank or reputation, but by performance. He reflects on his early combat de…

1
"From Production Lines to Front Lines," with Becca Wasser and Philip Sheers of CNAS 32:10

3d ago32:10

32:10

In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula are joined by Becca Wasser and Philip Sheers from the Center for New American Security (CNAS) to discuss their recent report, "From Production Lines to Front Lines." Drawing from extensive industry research and stakeholder interviews, Wasser and Sheers offer a comprehensive look a…

1
S6 E4 - Jariko Denman - Standards, Legacy, and Life Beyond the Regiment 1:17:15

6d ago1:17:15

1:17:15

SOFcast | Season 6, Episode 4: Jariko Denman — Standards, Legacy, and Life Beyond the Regiment 🎙️ From being “the demon cadre” at RIP to advising Hollywood directors and embedded reporting in Kabul, Ranger veteran Jariko Denman brings unapologetic honesty and hard-won wisdom to SOFcast. In this wide-ranging episode, Jariko shares what made him choo…

1
S6 E3 - Nick Lavery - Choosing to Fight Forward 1:05:16

13d ago1:05:16

1:05:16

SOFcast | Season 6, Episode 3: Nick Lavery — Choosing to Fight Forward 🎙️ Few stories embody the spirit of SOF like Nick Lavery’s. The first Green Beret to return to combat as an above-the-knee amputee, Nick shares his incredible journey of resilience, mindset, and service — and how his fight didn’t end with recovery. Now an author, speaker, and me…

1
S6 E2 - Melissa Johnson - Accelerating Innovation for SOF 56:11

16d ago56:11

56:11

SOFcast | Season 6, Episode 2: Melissa Johnson — Accelerating Innovation for SOF 🎙️ How do you rapidly deliver cutting-edge gear and tech to the world’s most agile warriors? USSOCOM Acquisition Executive Melissa Johnson joins SOFcast to pull back the curtain on how her team connects the team room to the tech world — fielding solutions faster, smart…

1
Season 6 Premier - GEN Bryan Fenton & CSM Shane Shorter - USSOCOM Command Team 1:27:34

13d ago1:27:34

1:27:34

SOFcast | Season 6 Premiere: GEN Bryan Fenton & CSM Shane Shorter 🎙️ SOF is purpose-built for exactly what our Nation demands: unmatched agility, readiness, and lethality — fueled by our people. In this powerful season opener, GEN Bryan Fenton and CSM Shane Shorter reflect on leading U.S. Special Operations Command, the relentless pursuit of excell…

1
"Supply Chains Win Wars": Rare Earth Magnets with John Maslin, CEO Vulcan Elements 25:29

17d ago25:29

25:29

In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with John Maslin, Co-founder and CEO of Vulcan Elements, for an insightful conversation about the critical importance of rare earth magnets to U.S. national security. Drawing from his background as a Navy Supply Corps officer and his entrepreneurial journey, Maslin offers…

1
Founders in Focus Part 2: Tyler Sweatt, Josh Lospinoso + Troy Demmer (Recorded @ Manifest: Demo Day) 38:39

1M ago38:39

38:39

Today's episode of Building the Base is part two of our "Founders in Focus" series, recorded at Manifest: Demo Day where 34 companies from across the defense industrial base demoed their disruptive tech. Hosts Hondo and Lauren caught up with some of the most dynamic founders: Tyler Sweatt from Second Front, Josh Lospinoso from Shift5, and Troy Demm…

1
Founders in Focus Part 1: Jeff Cole, Doug Bernauer + Topher Haddad (Recorded @ Manifest: Demo Day) 27:24

2M ago27:24

27:24

Today's episode of Building the Base is part one of our "Founders in Focus" series, recorded at Manifest: Demo Day where 34 companies from across the defense industrial base demoed their disruptive tech. Hosts Hondo and Lauren caught up with some of the most dynamic founders: Jeff Cole from Hidden Level, Doug Bernauer from Radiant, and Topher Hadda…

1
Rapid Acquisition: Scaling Culture and Capabilities with Melissa Johnson, USSOCOM 37:19

2M ago37:19

37:19

In this episode of Building the Base, Melissa "Mojo" Johnson, Acquisition Executive at US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), offers a candid look into the world of military acquisition, drawing from her extensive experience with the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office and SOCOM. Five key takeaways from today's episode: To drive organizational …

1
Driving Comprehensive Defense Acquisition Reform with Eric Lofgren 43:32

3M ago43:32

43:32

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren and Hondo sit down with Eric Lofgren, a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Eric provides an insider's perspective on the need for comprehensive acquisition reform. He discusses his unexpected path to this role, initially joining a defense contractor before becoming deeply i…

1
Bipartisan Breakthroughs: Rep. Pat Ryan, House Defense Modernization Caucus 22:09

3M ago22:09

22:09

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18). Rep. Ryan represents a diverse district of 800,000 in upstate New York, which includes his alma mater, West Point. An Iraq war veteran, Rep. Ryan transitioned from active duty, to defense tech, to Congress, where he now champions defense…

1
Next-Gen Defense: AI on the Frontlines with Thomas Robinson, COO Domino Data Lab 27:00

4M ago27:00

27:00

This episode of Building the Base features an interview with Thomas Robinson, Chief Operating Officer of Domino Data Lab, who has an interesting background in finance and a strong passion for contributing to national security. Hosted by Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts, the conversation dives into Thomas’s transition from a hedge fund to defense tech…

1
Defending Against the Drone Threat: Counter-UAS Applications with Andy Lowery, CEO Epirus 24:08

4M ago24:08

24:08

In this episode of Building the Base, Andy Lowery, CEO of Epirus, discusses his journey from his days as a Navy reactor operator to leading a counter-UAS high-power microwave (HPM) system company. Epirus' HPM technology, which uses electromagnetic pulses to disable drones, has been tested successfully by the Army for over 15 months. Lowery emphasiz…

1
Looking Ahead: National Security in a New Administration with Nadia Schadlow and Stephen Rodriguez 30:51

4M ago30:51

30:51

This episode of Building the Base features a discussion with Nadia Schadlow, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, and Stephen Rodriguez, an investor in the defense tech space who is leading The Atlantic Council's work on Software-Defined Warfare. Nadia and Stephen have extensive backgrounds in national security: Nadia spent many years at the De…

1
Incentivizing Defense Innovation: Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee 22:51

4M ago22:51

22:51

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, to discuss the critical role of innovation and competition in modernizing the defense industrial base. Ranking Member Smith reflects on his political journey from growing up in SeaTac, Washington,…

1
Answering the Call: Hon. Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering 22:24

4M ago22:24

22:24

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with the Honorable Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Ms. Shyu discusses her transition from industry to government, highlighting her role in accelerating technological innovation within the Department of Defense (DoD). She outlines her e…

1
"Co-opetition" in Defense with Teresa Carlson, President, General Catalyst Institute 41:58

5M ago41:58

41:58

In this episode of Building The Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Teresa Carlson, founding president of General Catalyst Institute. Drawing from her extensive experience leading public sector teams at AWS and Microsoft, Carlson shares invaluable insights on building successful government-technology partnerships, the evolution of cl…

1
Gina Sims, Director of DoD SBIR/STTR Program 33:49

5M ago33:49

33:49

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts speak with Gina Sims, Director of the DoD's SBIR/STTR office, about revolutionizing defense innovation. Sims shares her journey from Air Force acquisition to leading the $3 billion small business innovation program, discussing how she's breaking down barriers for new entrants, str…

1
Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities (ASD(MC)) OUSD(R&E) 38:43

6M ago38:43

38:43

In this episode of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, currently performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities, to share insights on modernizing defense technology acquisition. Drawing from his experience as a fighter pilot and DARPA innovator, Browning disc…

1
Tracy Frost and Dr. Kate Sixt, DoD Research and Engineering OUSD 31:35

7M ago31:35

31:35

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Tracy Frost, Director of Technology Industrial Innovation Base, and Dr. Kate Sixt, Principal Director for Biotechnology at the Department of Defense. The conversation explores the revolutionary intersection of biotechnology and national security, diving into how the …

1
Jason Rathje, Director Office of Strategic Capital - DoD 36:49

7M ago36:49

36:49

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome back Jason Rathje, Director of the Department of Defense's Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), as the first-ever repeat guest. Jason shares his personal journey from an early passion for technology and innovation to leading OSC’s groundbreaking efforts. He highlights the pr…

1
Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering 46:27

7M ago46:27

46:27

DoD Minseries : Maintaining The Edge Research and Engineering; Part 1 of 4 In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (DoD R&E). Broadcasting live from the Pentagon, this conversation launches a new miniseries focused on…

1
Evan Smith, CEO Altana AI 36:23

8M ago36:23

36:23

In this episode of Building The Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Evan Smith, co-founder and CEO of Altana AI. Together, they explore how emerging technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence, are revolutionizing global supply chains and advancing national security. Evan shares his perspective on how AI can bridge critic…

1
Balancing Risk with Reward, with VADM(Ret) Mike Moran, NatSec Advisor and former Navy PEO 41:00

8M ago41:00

41:00

In this episode of "Building the Base," Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with VADM (Ret) Mike Moran, a distinguished leader in military acquisition and naval aviation. Admiral Moran shares his journey from an operational career in the Navy to leading transformative acquisition processes, offering an inside look at the challenges and opportun…

1
Buy Wins Not Products with Justin Fanelli, CTO of The United States Navy 41:39

10M ago41:39

41:39

In this episode of Building the Base, our hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Guerts dive in with Justin Fanelli CTO of the United States Navy. The conversation revolved around the defense industry, digital transformation in government, and the importance of professional curiosity and humility in private-public partnerships. Some of the major takeaways i…

1
Cybersecurity Is National Security with Dmitri Alperovitch 40:04

11M ago40:04

40:04

In this episode of "Building the Base," hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with cybersecurity expert and entrepreneur Dmitri Alperovitch. Dmitri shares his journey from immigrating to the United States from Russia to co-founding CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company. He discusses the insights from his new book, "World on the Brink…

1
Venture Meets Mission with Arun Gupta 45:36

11M ago45:36

45:36

In this episode of Building The Base, Hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts dive in with Arun Gupta venture Capitalist, CEO of the Noble Reach Foundation and Author of "Venture Meets Mission". They Discuss the growing trend of mission-driven entrepreneurship and the need for collaboration between government agencies and entrepreneurs to create posit…

1
Decision Intelligence and AI with Priceline Co Founder Paul Breitenbach 36:30

12M ago36:30

36:30

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Paul Breitenbach, co-founder of Priceline and founder of R4, a company focused on AI technology. Paul shares his journey from being a musician in New Jersey to a successful tech entrepreneur, highlighting his unconventional path into computer science. He emphasizes the i…

1
Adapting to Change with Niloofar Razi Howe 30:43

1y ago30:43

30:43

In this episode of Building The Base our Host Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts dive into a compelling conversation with Nilooofar Razi Howe, a prominent investor, executive, and entrepreneur. Niloo shares her remarkable journey from navigating revolutions as a child to becoming deeply involved in cybersecurity and technology innovation, particularly …

1
Digital Partner Collaboration with UK LTC Tuni Masi 24:15

1y ago24:15

24:15

In this episode of the Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM, the focus is on the digital aspect of partnered operations, particularly exploring international components. Lieutenant Colonel Tuni Massey, a British Army Officer embedded within the US Central Command’s J6 branch, discusses the role of the Collaborative Partner Environment (CPE) in f…

1
Digital Combatant Command Coordination, with BG John Cogbill 26:13

1y ago26:13

26:13

In this episode of the "Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM,"co-hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Brigadier General John Cogbill from CENTCOM to explore the strategic implications of digital transformation in modern warfare. From operationalizing the commander's vision to fostering a culture of innovation, Brigadier General Cog…

1
Digital Air Combat Operations with Col Garrett "Nails" Hogan 23:26

1y ago23:26

23:26

In this episode of the "Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM," co-hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome Colonel Garrett Hogan, callsign "Nails," to discuss technology and innovation in supporting the mission of US Central Command (CENTCOM). Colonel Hogan, with 20 years of experience as an electronic warfare officer, currently serves as th…

1
Digital Counter-UAS Operations with COL Molly Solsbury 25:19

1y ago25:19

25:19

In this episode of the Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM, co-hosts Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula are joined by Colonel Molly Solsbury to delve into the digital side of counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems). Col. Solsbury, Commander of the 513 Military Intelligence Brigade, shares her journey into the Army, the focus of her unit on the Middle…

1
Intro - Digital Warfare Series : U.S. CENTCOM 8:09

1y ago8:09

8:09

In this kickoff episode of the Special Four Part Series, "Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM," our Hosts Lauren and Hondo chat with Schuyler Moore, the Chief Technology Officer of Central Command (CENTCOM). Schuyler puts in context the ongoing digital transformation efforts within CENTCOM as a prelude to the four episodes which follow in this …

1
Picking Winners w/ Trae Stephens , Co- Founder Anduril 39:44

1y ago39:44

39:44

“If you create opportunities, and don't pick winners, then there are no winners, and then the capital runs away, the founders that are interested in the market run away, and you end up right back where you started” - Trae Stephens In this episode of the Building the Base podcast, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts interview Trae Stephens, the co-…

1
Jim Hake, CEO and Founder - Spirit of America 25:47

1+ y ago25:47

25:47

I love starting things. I love ideas, I love creating. And America provides the best opportunity for the realization of human potential there is. - Jim Hake . In this episode of "Building the Base," hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome Jim Hake, the founder of Spirit of America, a unique nonprofit organization. The podcast delves into Jim's…

1
Honorable Dana Deasy Former Department of Defense Chief Information Officer (DoD CIO) 35:57

1+ y ago35:57

35:57

"The DOD is designed to give responsibility down to the lowest level, and that is the complexity that must be solved for. But we are never going to move with speed if we keep it down at the lowest common denominator." - Dana Deasy In this episode of "Building the Base," hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome special guest Dana Deasy, former D…

1
Shelly O'Neill Stoneman, SVP Government Affairs Lockheed Martin 31:04

1+ y ago31:04

31:04

"It's not de-globalization; it's being really thoughtful about which allies and partners to use, and perhaps even 'friend-shoring'...thinking clearly about which allies and partners to use." - Shelly O'Neill Stoneman In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome Shelly O'Neill Stoneman, Senior Vice President of Govern…

1
Gen. Joe Anderson , President & CEO Rafael Systems Global 32:46

1+ y ago32:46

32:46

In this episode of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome General Joe Anderson, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, G-3/5/7, and current President and CEO of Rafael Systems USA, a defense company specializing in advanced defense systems. General Anderson shares his journey into the military, driven by a family traditi…

1
S5 E9 MSgt Jarad Stout - Retired Marine Raider and Silver Star recipient 1:17:41

1+ y ago1:17:41

1:17:41

On this episode of SOFcast, we talk to retired Marine Raider Master Sgt. Jarad Stout. In previous episodes we've interviewed the recipients of many different valor awards, but today’s guest earned the Silver Star in an unexpected and little known location, Bamako, Mali. Jarad describes the details from that harrowing day, but that is only part of h…

1
Karen Dahut, CEO Google Public Sector 37:44

1+ y ago37:44

37:44

In this episode of Building The Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Karen Dahut, the CEO of Google Public Sector, to explore her incredible journey from the Navy to leading Google's public sector business. Karen shares her story, highlighting the influence of her parents' service and her personal dedication to making a differen…

1
Lauren Knausenberger, Former US Air Force CIO 41:49

1+ y ago41:49

41:49

In this episode of Building the Base Laruen Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with, former Chief Information Officer of the Air Force, Lauren Knausenberger. Lauren shares her journey from the private sector to government service and her experiences in driving innovation and collaboration between the tech industry and the Department of Defense (DOD). She…

1
Balan Ayyar, Founder & CEO Percipient.AI 45:16

1+ y ago45:16

45:16

In episode one of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Balan Ayyar, retired US Air Force General Officer and now CEO of Percipient AI, a Silicon Valley-based artificial intelligence and machine learning firm. Balan's unique background, spanning military service, government IT, and startup leadership, provides valuable i…

1
S5 E8 CSM JoAnn Naumann and CSM Thomas Baird 53:20

1+ y ago53:20

53:20

On this episode of SOFcast two senior leaders get personal, about their relationship and their careers. Command Sgt. Major JoAnn Naumann, U.S. Army Special Operations Command CSM, and her husband Command Sgt. Major Thomas “T.J.” Baird, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Senior Enlisted Leader, who have more than 50 years in combined military s…

1
Katherine Boyle, General Partner Andreessen Horowitz 35:39

1+ y ago35:39

35:39

In this week's episode of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts are joined by Katherine Boyle from Andreessen Horowitz. Katherine, a general partner at Andreessen, leads the American dynamism practice, which focuses on national security, aerospace, defense, public safety, housing, education, and industrial sectors. Katherine discu…

1
S5 E7 Hon. Christopher Maier, ASD SO/LIC 51:44

1+ y ago51:44

51:44

The Honorable Christopher P. Maier, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, joined SOFcast during SOF Week 2023 in Tampa, Florida. He discussed his role in advocating for the care of our people, the 1st SOF Truth, and how he works with the USSOCOM Preservation of the Force and Family team. Maier also di…

1
Nand Mulchandani, Chief Technology Officer at the CIA 30:58

1+ y ago30:58

30:58

In this podcast episode, Nand, a former founder and now a representative of the intelligence community, shares valuable insights on the intersection of the private and public sectors in the realm of national security. He emphasizes the need for better communication between startups and intelligence agencies, highlighting the challenge of understand…

1
S5 E6 CSM Matthew Williams and the Medal of Honor 59:08

1+ y ago59:08

59:08

Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Williams shares details about the fateful day he earned the Medal of Honor. He also discusses talking with the President of the United States over the phone in his truck, and what it's like continuing to serve while holding the military's highest award. All that and more on this episode of SOFcast!…

1
Whitney McNamara & Pete Modigliani , Beacon Global Strategies 41:29

2y ago41:29

41:29

The podcast features Lauren Bedula, Hondo Geurts, Whitney McNamara and Pete Modigliani discussing national security, the future of innovation in Natsec and how the private industry can support the growth of the industrial network. Whitney & Pete are both members of the Atlantic Council and share their experience in both Government service and in th…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

United States Special Operations Command Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen