Best United States Special Operations Command Podcasts (2025)

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Preparations for the Invasion of Malaya - Episode 529 1:13:14

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38m ago1:13:14

1:13:14

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the preparation for the Japanese invasion of Malaya in December 1941. The guys dig into the Japanese outlook on the region, the reasons for invasion, as well as the invasion plans. Digging into the personalities involved, Jon dishes out the goods on Brooke-Popham, Percival, Yamashita and others…

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Invasion of Tarawa and Alexander Bonnyman Medal of Honor Footage - Episode 528 1:32:07

8d ago1:32:07

1:32:07

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall dig into the archival footage shot by Norm Hatch and his crew for the invasion of Tarawa in November 1943. Thge guys dig into some of the personalities seen on screen like Herb Amey, Jim Crowe, Norm Hatch and Alexander Bonnyman. Towards the end of the episode Seth and Jon go through Alexander Bonnyman's Medal…

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The US Army at Pearl Harbor with John McManus - Episode 527 1:15:55

15d ago1:15:55

1:15:55

This week, Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome their mutual buddy, John McManus to the show to discuss the role of the US Army at Pearl Harbor. Everyone knows what the Navy and Marine Corps did and went through during the Japanese attack on Oahu, but do you know the role of the US Army? Tune in to this episode and you will find out. The guys get …

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Ghost Fleet at 10: Fiction as a Strategic Tool with author August Cole 35:49

15d ago35:49

35:49

In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with August Cole, strategist, author, and futurist who has spent his career exploring fiction's role in national security strategy. Drawing from his journey from Wall Street Journal journalist covering defense and technology to co-authoring the groundbreaking novel Ghost …

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The Battle for Wake Island Part 2 - December 12-23, 1941 Episode 526 1:46:09

22d ago1:46:09

1:46:09

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the second part of the Battle for Wake Island, the Japanese invasion and American defense. The guys also dig into the details, focusing on the American relief effort planned by Admiral Husband Kimmel, the Japanese plans for a re-do, the Japanese landings and subsequent beat-down that the Marine…

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The Battle for Wake Island-Part 1- December 8-11 Episode 525 1:40:09

29d ago1:40:09

1:40:09

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall tackle the topic of the American defense of Wake Island. In this much-anticipated series of episodes, Seth and Jon take a look at why Wake was occupied in the first place, what it took to build Wake into a useful base, as well as the commanding officers, both American and Japanese. Finally, the guys get into …

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Battle of Midway Archival Footage - Episode 524 1:29:51

1M ago1:29:51

1:29:51

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the archival footage shot just before and during the Battle of Midway from June 3-7, 1942. Some of the footage we go through here was shot in late May 1942 aboard USS Enterprise and shows such future Midway heroes such as Wade McClusky, Dusty Kleiss, Cleo Dobson and others. The guys then go thr…

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Raising the Fleet: Pearl Harbor Salvage Operations - Episode 523 1:13:52

1M ago1:13:52

1:13:52

By Jon Parshall, Seth Paridon

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Immediate Post Pearl Harbor America with Rich Frank Part 2 - Episode 522 57:07

2M ago57:07

57:07

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their mutual good friend, Rich Frank to talk about the after-effects of the Pearl Harbor attack here in the United States.The guys get into the fountains of rumors that sprang up from coast to coast telling of Japanese aircraft carriers in the Panama Cana Zone to Japanese paratroopers landing on …

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S6 E12 - GEN Fenton and CSM Shorter - We Owe It to the Force 1:10:43

1M ago1:10:43

1:10:43

What does it take to lead the most elite warriors in the world? For GEN Bryan Fenton and CSM Shane Shorter, it starts with listening. In this rare and candid episode, the Commander and Senior Enlisted Leader of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) sit down with SOFcast to reflect on the privilege and responsibility of leading at the h…

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Academia's Role in National Security with Jamie Jones Miller of Northeastern University Arlington 34:06

2M ago34:06

34:06

In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Jamie Jones Miller, CEO of Northeastern University's Arlington campus and Interim Director of the Kostas Research Institute. Drawing from her journey from Capitol Hill legislative work on the House Armed Services Committee to the Pentagon's Office of Legislative Affa…

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Immediate Post Pearl Harbor America with Rich Frank Part 1 - Episode 521 1:00:45

2M ago1:00:45

1:00:45

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their good buddy historian Rich Frank to the show to talk about immediate post Pearl Harbor America. In the days and weeks after Japan's successful attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu, the United States found itself in a strange new world. The news hit both FDR and the populace like a thunderbolt cau…

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Marshall Islands Raid, Butch O'Hare Medal of Honor, and Coral Sea Archival Footage-Episode 520 1:19:05

2M ago1:19:05

1:19:05

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a dive into the archival footage world of the US National Archives and look at imagery from the Marshall Islands Raid of February 1, 1942. After looking through selected shots, the guys dig into previously unrecognized archival footage of Edward "Butch" O'Hare's Medal of Honor action. The footage was sho…

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Attack on Pearl Harbor: The Second Wave - Episode 519 1:46:41

2M ago1:46:41

1:46:41

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall wrap up the Japanese attack on Oahu with the second wave. As the first wave of Japanese attackers winged off and away from Oahu, the second wave followed them into the area just a short 15 minutes later. Seth and Jon get into the weeds of the second wave discussing the vast differences between the two assault…

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Attack on Pearl Harbor: The First Wave Part 2 - Episode 518 1:04:03

3M ago1:04:03

1:04:03

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall wrap up the First Wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor by covering what happens to USS California, USS Arizona, and other ships in the anchorage before they move inland. The guys get into the attacks on Hickam Field and tell the story of the inbound flight of B-17s coming in from the mainland. Flying into a war…

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S6 E11 – The Carr Family - When Aggressive Is the Only Option 1:00:41

3M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

What happens when a life of service is interrupted by a life-threatening diagnosis? In this powerful episode of SOFcast, hosts Matt Parrish sits down with Major David Carr and his wife Lauren to share their extraordinary journey—one that takes them from the frontlines of special operations to the frontlines of a deeply personal medical battle. Afte…

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Attack on Pearl Harbor: The First Wave Part 1 - Episode 517 1:14:54

3M ago1:14:54

1:14:54

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall finally get to the meat of the Pearl Harbor series with Part 1 of our discussion of the First Wave. We get into the nuts and bolts of 1st Air Fleet's run towards Pearl Harbor, the launch sequence, the attack plan and the flight into Oahu in great detail, giving way to conversations about William Outerbridge a…

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Prepping for Pearl Harbor: American Defenses - Episode 516 1:39:50

3M ago1:39:50

1:39:50

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the American preparations, or lack thereof, for an attack on Pearl Harbor. The guys take a dig into Admiral Husband Kimmel and General Walter Short by looking at their personalities, history, leadership and, above all, steps for an eventual war with Japan and how to deal with it. Diving into th…

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Japanese Planning for Pearl Harbor - Episode 515 1:27:54

3M ago1:27:54

1:27:54

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall dig into the Japanese planning for the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. The guys get into the brain behind the idea, that being Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku, and his first ideas for the plan in April 1940. The guys discuss the growth of the plan from idea to reality through 1940, into 1941, including dive…

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The Air War Over China 1937-40 with Justin Pyke - Episode 514 1:56:35

4M ago1:56:35

1:56:35

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome a new guest to talk about the air war over China. Justin Pyke joins us and delivers a masterful performance talking about an oft-forgotten aspect of the war in China. We always talk about nerding out--well here you go guys. We get into everything from the first deployment of the G3M, to the P-36 Hawk …

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Innovation at the Speed of Battle with Zach Beecher of Scout Ventures 35:10

4M ago35:10

35:10

In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Zach Beecher, Partner at Scout Ventures, who brings a unique perspective from serving as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq to now leading dual-use technology investments on the front lines of defense innovation. Drawing from his combat experience …

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Countdown to Pearl Harbor-Diplomatic Warfare Part 2 with Rich Frank - Episode 513 1:25:07

4M ago1:25:07

1:25:07

This week Seth Paridon and co-host Jon Parshall welcome their good buddy Rich Frank back to the show to continue last week's conversation on the diplomatic road to Pearl Harbor. The guys pick up where they left off and begin with Rich's key steps to the oil embargo of July 1941. The discussion is fascinating as the trio waxes poetic on the world vi…

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No Substitute for Victory: A Green Beret's Defense Mission with Rep. Pat Harrigan 33:48

4M ago33:48

33:48

In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10), who brings a rare combination of Special Forces experience, defense entrepreneurship, and fresh congressional perspective to America's national security challenges. Drawing from his service in 3rd Special Forces Group, his journey bu…

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The Diplomatic Road to Pearl Harbor Part 1 with Rich Frank - Episode 512 1:19:46

4M ago1:19:46

1:19:46

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome their good friend, the "Grand Poo-Bah" of Pacific war historians, Rich Frank to the show to discuss the actions of Japan and the United States between the years 1938 and early 1941. Incidents such as the sinking of the USS Panay, FDR moving the fleet to Pearl Harbor, the Japanese move into Indochina, …

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Doolittle Raid Archival Footage Dissection - Episode 511 1:08:20

4M ago1:08:20

1:08:20

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the archival footage from the famous Doolittle Raid of April 18, 1942. There are several iconic moments in Pacific War history, or WWII for that matter, and the Doolittle Raid ranks right up there in the top five for sure. The guys take a peek at some footage that hasn't been seen very much, as…

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Annapolis Goes to War: The Naval; Academy Class of 1940 with Craig Symonds - Episode 510 59:30

4M ago59:30

59:30

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome noted author and historian Craig Symonds to the show to discuss Craig's new book. Annapolis Goes to War: The Naval Academy Class of 1940 is an excellent read and this episode gives you a brief look at some of the grads who made an imprint on the Pacific side of the war. Craig is an amazing historian a…

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S6 E10 - Xavier Scruggs - Control What You Can Control 53:49

4M ago53:49

53:49

What do the locker room and the team room have in common? A lot more than you’d think. In this episode, SOFcast host Matt Parrish sits down with Xavier Scruggs — former Major League Baseball player, ESPN and MLB Network analyst, and all-around grinder — to unpack the parallels between elite athletics and elite military service. From the grind of th…

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FDR and the Preparation for War 1933-1940 - Episode 509 1:31:50

5M ago1:31:50

1:31:50

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a really deep dive into the preparation for the war that no one in the US wanted to fight. We have always said that it isn't like flipping on a light switch--the build-up had to start somewhere. Where did the US Naval and US Army build-up begin? In the heart of the Great Depression of all places. Seth an…

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Innovation through Incrementalism: Rep. Jim Himes, Ranking Member, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 28:33

5M ago28:33

28:33

In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT), who serves on both the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Financial Services Committee. Drawing from his unique background spanning Wall Street and public service, Congressman Himes discusses the critical i…

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S6 E9 - Jim O'Brien - Leadership, Legacy & the Global Brotherhood of SOF 1:05:48

5M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

From dreaming of being a commando at eight years old to commanding the Special Forces Qualification Course, Colonel (Ret.) Jim O’Brien’s career is a blueprint for service, humility, and transformational leadership. In this episode, Jim sits down with SOFcast to unpack a lifetime in Special Forces — from chasing insurgents in the Balkans to shaping …

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January through March 1942 in Pearl Harbor Archival footage Dissection-Episode 508 1:25:26

5M ago1:25:26

1:25:26

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at some really, really cool National Archives archival footage. The guys dig into the records of Hollywood director John Ford's Field Photographic Unit that operated on Oahu, mainly at Kaneohe and Pearl Harbor from February-May 1942. In a startling, but super cool, discovery, the guys find footage…

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S6 E8 - John Dailey — Forging the Foundation of MARSOC 1:04:33

5M ago1:04:33

1:04:33

🎙️ Before there was MARSOC, there was Det One — a hand-picked Marine unit tasked with proving that the Corps could integrate into U.S. Special Operations Command. And at the center of that mission was Force Recon Marine and plank holder John Dailey. In this episode, John joins SOFcast to talk about his journey from rural Virginia to becoming a team…

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The Battle of Nomonhan/Khalkhin Gol - Episode 507 1:21:29

5M ago1:21:29

1:21:29

This week Seth Paridon and co-host Jon Parshall dig into a little-known event that had massive implications on the future progression of the Pacific War. In 1939, the renegade Japanese Kwangtung Army decided, on their own, to launch an offensive against Soviet and Mongolian forces near the small village of Nomonhan. Initial Japanese successes were …

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From Submariner to CEO: Cameron McCord's Journey Building Nominal 34:28

5M ago34:28

34:28

In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula reconnect with Cameron McCord, Co-Founder and CEO of Nominal, two years after his first appearance on the show (linked here). Drawing from his unique journey from submarine officer (484 days underwater) to defense tech entrepreneur, McCord discusses building software to accelerate…

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S6 E7 - Michael Rodriguez — Service With & Without a Uniform 1:16:23

5M ago1:16:23

1:16:23

🎙️ Green Beret veteran, father, artist, and advocate — Michael “Rod” Rodriguez has lived a life marked by deep service, both in and out of uniform. In this powerful episode of SOFcast, Rod shares his journey from multiple combat deployments to post-9/11 healing, and how his own traumatic brain injury and his son's military service redefined his mis…

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The War in China 1937-1940 - Episode 506 1:34:07

5M ago1:34:07

1:34:07

This week Seth Paridon and co-host Jon Parshall take a look at the war in China from 1937-1940. Major clashes occurred in 1937, most notably at Nanking, where the guys get into both the battle and the Rape of Nanking, both catastrophes that grabbed the world's attention with both hands. Following that, we get into the negotiations, such as they wer…

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SOFcast Brief | The OA-1K Skyraider II: AFSOC’s Newest Weaponized Workhorse 37:31

5M ago37:31

37:31

🎧 In this SOFcast Brief, host Matt Parrish sits down with Maj. John Bendokas from Air Force Special Operations Command to break down the newest addition to the AFSOC arsenal — the OA-1K Skyraider II. Born from hard-earned lessons in places like Tongo Tongo and designed to support geographically isolated SOF teams, the OA-1K is a modular, cost-effec…

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Exploring the Wreck of USS Yorktown - Episode 505 1:34:23

6M ago1:34:23

1:34:23

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take you guys on an exclusive look at the remarkable footage taken by NOAA during their recent dive on the wreck of the USS Yorktown (CV-5). Seth and Jon tour the wreck and focus in on some of the highlights of the footage, explaining what some of the material is, why it looks like it does, the state of the w…

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SOFcast S6 E6: Angel Cortes — From the Streets to the Regiment 1:12:28

6M ago1:12:28

1:12:28

🎙️ From a childhood of poverty and violence in Los Angeles to the ranks of the 75th Ranger Regiment, Angel Cortes’ story is one of grit, growth, and relentless purpose. In this raw and moving conversation, Angel shares how he escaped gang life, found a new mission in the Army, and eventually became a leader in the Ranger Regiment — even after setba…

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Pearl Harbor Attack Archival Footage Dissection-Episode 504 1:16:05

6M ago1:16:05

1:16:05

As promised, this week Seth and Jon Parshall take a dive into the world of WWII archival footage from the US National Archives. The team focuses their attention on a few reels of footage from the early part of the Pacific War, namely, captured Japanese footage from Hong Kong, and the Pearl Harbor attack. The guys go through the shots step by step a…

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Financing the Fight with Chris Lay and James Parker of Leonid Capital Partners 39:29

6M ago39:29

39:29

In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula are joined by James Parker and Chris Lay, co-founding partners of Leonid Capital Partners, a private credit fund supporting the US national security ecosystem. Drawing from their unique backgrounds in astrophysics and neuroscience, Parker and Lay discuss how their innovative lendi…

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SOFcast Special Episode: “Moments That Matter” — Medal of Honor Panel at SOF Week 2025 1:01:58

6M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

🎙️ In this extraordinary SOFcast episode, we step away from the studio and onto the stage of SOF Week 2025, a premier joint conference co-hosted by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Global SOF Foundation. Recorded live in Tampa, this powerful panel titled “Moments That Matter” features three living SOF recipients of the Congressiona…

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The Marco Polo Bridge Incident and the Battle of Shanghai - Episode 503 1:53:24

6M ago1:53:24

1:53:24

This week Seth and co-host Jon Parshall take a look at...yes you read that correctly. More on that later. Seth and Jon take a look at what some historians say is the beginning of World War II, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. The team dives into the lead-up to the shots being fired and then what happens next. Both Japan and China, especially Chiang …

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

6M 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…

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The Mukden Incident: Planting the Seeds of War-Episode 502 1:27:53

6M ago1:27:53

1:27:53

This week Seth and Bill take a deep look at where it all began...the Mukden Incident and the following Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931. Contrary to popular belief, World War II did not begin on September 1, 1939 when the Germans invaded Poland--it all started right here. In an absolutely fascinating episode, the guys break down the contrived…

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

6M 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…

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

6M 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…

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Deadly Effective: US Subs vs the Imperial Japanese Army-with Rich Frank - Episode 501 1:09:48

7M ago1:09:48

1:09:48

This week Seth and Bill welcome Season 5 into the world with very special guest, the "Grand Poo-bah" of Asia-Pacific War historians and very dear friend, Rich Frank. Rich delivers and absolutely fascinating presentation on the effectiveness of US Navy submarines against---the Imperial Japanese ARMY! Yes, you read that correctly. In a way that only …

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

6M 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…

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

6M 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…