SOFREP Radio

4.3 (1.5K)
GOVERNMENT
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Special operations military news and straight talk with the guys in the community. Hosted by former military operators. As seen ranked #1 in Apple Podcasts government category.

DEC 17

Life After the Trident: Kaj Larsen Talks War, Media, and Meaning

Kaj Larsen is a former U.S. Navy SEAL turned journalist, filmmaker, and podcast host. After serving with Naval Special Warfare, he transitioned into frontline reporting, covering conflict zones and global security issues for outlets including VICE News, HBO, and National Geographic. Known for his grounded, no-nonsense storytelling, Larsen brings an operator’s perspective to modern warfare, geopolitics, and leadership. He is the host of the Bravo Two Zero podcast, where he explores war, culture, and the human cost of conflict through candid conversations with veterans, journalists, and subject-matter experts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

55 min
DEC 10

Air Combat to Ground Truth: TOPGUN Insights with Dave Berke

Dave Berke is a retired US Marine Corps Officer, TOPGUN Instructor, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Development Officer. As a F/A-18 pilot, he deployed twice from the USS John C Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN where he served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

54 min
DEC 2

Inside the Military Caregiver Fight: Melissa Comeau on Advocacy, Resilience, and Reform

Special thanks to this episodes sponsor BÆRSkin! Get the BÆRSkin Hoodie 4.0 for 60% Off! Click the link: https://baer.skin/rad Melissa Comeau is a Marine Corps spouse, director of the American Red Cross’ Military Veteran Caregiver Network, and a writer. She is known for her book “Sleeping with the War,” published in 2015 by the War Writers’ Campaign. The book offers a family and caregiver perspective on life after combat. She served as an Arizona Fellow for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and in that role was honored to help bring to fruition the Hidden Heroes Congressional Caucus for Military and Veteran Caregivers. She is a recognized advocate for the military and veteran community and continues to support caregivers in her current role with the American Red Cross’ Military Veteran Caregiver Network. Before joining the network, Melissa served as the executive director of Lives of Promise, a San Diego-based nonprofit that supports military families facing a PTSD diagnosis. She has also offered peer support to Marines and their families at the Wounded Warrior Battalion – West. Melissa has a background in accounting and IT project management. She lives in Texas and is married to a U.S. Marine who was medically retired after nearly 13 years of service, including four combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

55 min
NOV 29

Anthony Vinci: AI, Geopolitics, and the Future of National Security

Happy Thanksgiving to all! -The SOFREP Team Thanks again to our sponsor BÆRSkin Get the BÆRSkin Hoodie 4.0 for 60% Off! Click the link: https://baer.skin/rad Anthony Vinci, PhD, is a technology and national-security executive, entrepreneur, and former U.S. intelligence official. He earned his doctorate in International Relations from the London School of Economics, after earlier studies in philosophy at Reed College and the University of Oxford. Vinci served as an intelligence officer in multiple global theaters before being appointed the first Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director for Capabilities at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, where he led major initiatives in artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence modernization, and public-private technology partnerships. In the private sector, he has founded and led technology companies focused on geospatial analytics and artificial intelligence, and has held senior roles at major firms including Bridgewater Associates. He continues to work at the intersection of emerging technology and national security and serves as an adjunct senior fellow with leading national-security research organizations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

56 min
NOV 28

The Truth Russia Doesn’t Want You to Hear: Ben Goldhagen Breaks It Down

Benjamin “Ben” Goldhagen is a human rights advocate and war documentarian whose work centers on exposing the human cost of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and countering disinformation surrounding the conflict. The son of a Holocaust survivor, he frames his advocacy through a moral and historical lens that emphasizes the dangers of unchecked brutality and “eliminationist” violence. After the full-scale invasion began, Goldhagen embedded himself in Ukraine, documenting frontline realities, displacement, and civilian resilience while supporting Ukrainian communities through strategic guidance and storytelling. His films—To The Zero Line and The Steel Porcupine—spotlight the lived experiences of Ukrainians and argue that meaningful international support, including modern weaponry, is both a humanitarian and moral imperative. Through his fieldwork, writing, and documentary projects, he seeks to preserve truth, confront disinformation, and amplify the voices of those living through the war. Thanks again to our sponsor Navy Federal Credit Union! Find out more here: https://navyfederal.org/veterans See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 20m
NOV 13

Inside the Red Cross’ Military Mission: Thom Geiser Tells SOFREP What Few Ever Hear

Thom Geiser is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who now serves as an Armed Services Advisor for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Drawing on decades of experience—including flying C-130s, working in special operations, and serving in international advisory roles—he helps connect military practitioners with humanitarian law and principles. In his role at the ICRC, he engages with armed forces around the world to promote the protection of civilians, improve understanding of the laws of armed conflict, and support the integration of humanitarian considerations into military planning and operations. Thank you to our sponsor NFCU, and a Happy Veterans Day to All! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 4m
OCT 28

What It Really Takes to Lead a SEAL Team: Former SEAL Team 2 CO Mike Hayes Tells All

Mike Hayes is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer who served 20 years in Special Operations. A graduate of one of the toughest SEAL training classes—one of only 19 out of 120 to complete—he deployed throughout South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, including in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Hayes commanded SEAL Team TWO and led a 2,000-person Special Operations Task Force in southeastern Afghanistan. He also served as Deputy Commander for all Special Operations in Anbar Province, Iraq, and was selected as a White House Fellow (’08–’09). At the National Security Council, he served as Director for Defense Policy and Strategy, where he helped draft a proposed START Treaty and led the White House response to the Maersk Alabama hijacking. His decorations include the Bronze Star for Valor in Iraq, a Bronze Star for Afghanistan, and the Defense Superior Service Medal. After retiring from the Navy, Hayes transitioned to senior leadership roles in technology and investment, and authored Never Enough: A Navy SEAL Commander on Living a Life of Excellence, Agility, and Meaning, donating all profits to support Gold Star families. He lives with his wife, Anita, and their daughter, Maeson, and most enjoys spending time and laughing with them when not mentoring others or speaking about leadership. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

53 min
OCT 22

The Man Who Infiltrated the Crips: Tegan Broadwater’s Unbelievable True Story

Teagan Broadwater is a former law-enforcement officer, author, entrepreneur, and multi-disciplinary creator whose work spans undercover operations, music, podcasting, and philanthropy. He served as an undercover officer with the Fort Worth Police Department, where his assignments included multiple narcotics units, the gang unit, and an FBI Gang & Violent Crimes Task Force. During his career, he led a deep undercover operation in a six-street neighborhood nicknamed “The Fishbowl,” where he posed as a high-end cocaine trafficker to infiltrate a violent gang. That work resulted in dozens of arrests, major seizures, and recognition by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and his department. After leaving the police department, Broadwater founded a security and investigations firm, authored the memoir Life in the Fish Bowl, and launched creative ventures focused on community healing, systemic justice, and empowerment. Today, he continues to contribute through public speaking, podcasting, and music, while supporting charitable initiatives for youth, veterans, and underserved communities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 10m

See All (512)

4.3

out of 5

1,503 Ratings

A brutally honest perspective without window dressing.

07/03/2022

Chuck L/ NYC

I prefer straight talk out of everyone. Problem is that men and woman in law enforcement, fire and armed forces seem to be the last of this dying breed. Sensible talk from a meaningful community.
Replace Rad

07/09/2022

Fascinating Podcast

I want to love this podcast, I really do! The topic is amazing and the guests are usually awesome, but Rad is a terrible interviewer. Firstly he doesn’t know what he’s talking about and that’s fairly obvious and even forgivable if this weren’t a military themed podcast, but he also interrupts the guests constantly and seems to feel the need to talk when he’d be better served by actually listening and letting the guest tell their own story. And some of the comments he makes and questions he ask are things I hear from kids who have played too much Call of Duty rather than an experienced host interviewing some of the most experienced Special Operations personnel this country has. Every time he speaks it’s as if I’m hearing fingernails on a chalkboard, hence the poor rating here. If there was a way to mute Rad and just listen to the guest I’d give 3-4 stars, and with a decent host this would be 5 stars all day long.
Man babies with a microphone

07/06/2022

TheCompDoctor

This podcast typifies the modern right. These are a bunch of man babies who cannot stand to hear views that aren’t in lockstep with Fox News and conservative talk radio. I tuned in to hear an interview with Bob Baer, and got a lot of Fox News propaganda instead. Next.
From one to another

04/26/2022

BE71986

From one SOF guy to another, thank you for having open and honest dialogue. Too many don’t speak out and many who do have a self aggrandizing point or product to sell. Who we are today and who we are ever evolving into is the story of all people. Thank you for your efforts bringing honesty forward on behalf of those who don’t.

Special operations military news and straight talk with the guys in the community. Hosted by former military operators. As seen ranked #1 in Apple Podcasts government category.

Channel

iHeartPodcasts
Creator

iHeartPodcasts
Years Active

2013 - 2025
Episodes

512
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

2025 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
Show Website

SOFREP Radio
Provider

iHeartMedia + Entertainment, Inc