The Protectors® with Jason Piccolo

Dr. Jason Piccolo
  • 4.7 (126)
  • Entertainment News
  • Updated Semiweekly

The original The Protectors® podcast, established in 2019, is about resilience, reinvention, and the moments that change the direction of our lives. Hosted by retired federal agent, U.S. Army veteran (OIF 2006), author, and interviewer Dr. Jason Piccolo, the show explores what happens after service, success, failure, burnout, loss, transition, and personal transformation. Through conversations with veterans, leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday people who chose a new path, The Protectors® focuses on growth, identity, purpose, and the courage to move forward. Jason also interviews both bestselling and independent authors, exploring the creative process, the writing journey, the challenges of publishing, and the stories behind the books. From debut novels to works by New York Times bestselling authors, these conversations offer insights into storytelling, perseverance, and success. These are conversations about second chapters, hard-earned wisdom, and finding meaning after life changes course. Whether you’re rebuilding, redefining yourself, chasing something new, launching a new venture, writing your first book, or simply trying to move forward, The Protectors® is about navigating change with resilience and purpose.

  1. May 20

    543 | Ward Larsen | Author of TOM CLANCY RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

    We talk with Ward about moving from A-10 fighter pilot life to airline flying and then into a full-time career as a thriller author. We dig into what it takes to write authentic military fiction and how he handles the pressure of writing in the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan universe. Support the show Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

    24 min

  2. May 18

    542 | Douglas Brunt | Author of THE LOST EMPIRE OF EMANUEL NOBEL

    We catch up with Doug Brunt on the leap from cybersecurity CEO to full-time author and the surprising pressures that come with building a second-act career. We also dig into his research-driven storytelling on Emmanuel Nobel and how power can erase people from history. Support the show Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

    34 min

  3. May 12

    541 | Brad Taylor | Author of SHADOW STRIKE

    The ticking clock. The pressure to keep sprinting like you're 30. The moment you realize your resume isn't your identity. Brad and I get into all of it — legacy as parents, discipline that shifts from external rules to internal standards, and what it actually means to build a creative career that depends on self-direction. We also get honest about fitness after 50: staying consistent, adapting, and respecting recovery when old injuries stop bouncing back overnight. Plus — what younger people are chasing that deserves a warning label, the hardest parts of raising kids when you've seen what the world can do, and a practical reset for anyone who feels stuck but not broken: protect time for something that's only yours, no audience required. We wrap with Japan travel picks for teenagers and a deep tease of Brad's new Pike Logan thriller, Shadow Strike. Support the show Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

    24 min

  4. May 12

    540 | Jack MacTavish | Author of ROYAL DIAMONDS

    We dig into Royal Diamonds, the real mechanics of self-publishing, and what it takes to build a writing career from scratch. Jack's a retired Army colonel who treats writing like discipline — wide reading (Clancy, Griffin, Cussler, Carr, Taylor), professional editing, repeatable process. Then we open the hood on indie publishing as a business: LLCs, cover design, Amazon, marketing. Writing the book is one part. The rest is operations. The story: Jake Steed, former Marine with an Oxford PhD, chasing a family piracy legend across the Caribbean. A British royal hunting a blood diamond. Enemies everywhere. Pure action-adventure — with an audiobook narrated by Tucker Smith on the way. Building a second career or planning life after the uniform? This one's for you. Support the show Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

    23 min

  5. May 12

    539 | The Protectors® Is Back! The Pivot

    After 536 conversations on Protectors, one thing keeps showing up: every guest has a moment where life demands a pivot. Not always a catastrophe, not always a dramatic turning point — but a real shift where career, identity, or purpose has to change direction. We're still bringing incredible guests, still keeping it human, but we're done glossing over the most meaningful part of the story. We dig into how people recognize the moment, what they do when certainty disappears, and how they build the next chapter — whether that's a military-to-civilian shift, a leadership change, a mental health struggle, or a recovery journey. No politics. Just practical lessons and real-world resilience. You'll also keep hearing from authors who've pivoted into writing — shorter, straight-to-the-point conversations covering who they are, the book, and how they got there. Main guest conversations drop bi-weekly. We want your input on who to bring on and what to ask — follow @DrJasonPiccolo on IG and send suggestions. Then subscribe, share, and leave a review so these pivot stories reach the people who need them most. Support the show Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

    6 min

  6. 08/27/2025

    Epilogue

    Support the show Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

    5 min

  7. 08/13/2025

    538 | Frank Voce & Nick Ricciotti

    • The powerful impact of peer pressure in drinking culture, especially among first responders • How alcohol addiction can become intertwined with personal identity and social connection • The physiological effects of alcohol consumption including weight gain, poor sleep, and depression • Nick's journey from losing his police career due to drinking to becoming a licensed mental health professional • Frank's experience maintaining sobriety while still serving as an active NYPD officer • The challenges of red flag laws and how seeking help can sometimes create professional consequences • Different paths to recovery including AA, therapy, fitness, and personalized approaches • The transformative benefits of sobriety including improved physical health, better relationships, and being present as fathers If you're struggling with alcohol or substance use, remember you're not alone. Reach out to Reps for Responders or visit a local AA meeting. There are multiple pathways to recovery, and finding the right support system can change your life. Support the show Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

    1h 24m

  8. 07/24/2025

    537 | Thomas Young | BOOK DISCUSSION: "The Mapmaker"

    Tom Young joins the Protectors podcast to discuss his ninth novel and third World War II standalone work, "The Mapmaker," which explores the dangerous operations of the French Resistance. • The novel follows Charlotte Deneau, a French-American woman who uses her artistic skills to create maps of German positions for the Resistance • Charlotte becomes hunted by the Gestapo for her exceptional mapping abilities • The second protagonist is Philippe Girard, a French pilot flying dangerous moonlight missions for the RAF's special operations squadron • Philippe must locate and extract Charlotte from occupied France while determining if intelligence is reliable or a Nazi trap • Tom draws inspiration from real-life resistance figures like Virginia Hall and Violette Sabo • Tom describes his writing process as "by the seat of his pants" rather than outlining extensively • Writing daily with a goal of 500-1000 words helps maintain progress on long-term writing projects • Tom's writing career began unexpectedly during an aircraft emergency layover in South Korea • Research for historical fiction includes nonfiction books and WWII training films on YouTube • Tom's next potential novel may explore the little-known story of Jewish teenagers who escaped Germany to Virginia before joining the US military • Advice for aspiring writers: attend conferences, network with the writing community, and remember it's normal for first drafts to need improvement Support the show Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

    23 min
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4.7
out of 5
126 Ratings

About

The original The Protectors® podcast, established in 2019, is about resilience, reinvention, and the moments that change the direction of our lives. Hosted by retired federal agent, U.S. Army veteran (OIF 2006), author, and interviewer Dr. Jason Piccolo, the show explores what happens after service, success, failure, burnout, loss, transition, and personal transformation. Through conversations with veterans, leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday people who chose a new path, The Protectors® focuses on growth, identity, purpose, and the courage to move forward. Jason also interviews both bestselling and independent authors, exploring the creative process, the writing journey, the challenges of publishing, and the stories behind the books. From debut novels to works by New York Times bestselling authors, these conversations offer insights into storytelling, perseverance, and success. These are conversations about second chapters, hard-earned wisdom, and finding meaning after life changes course. Whether you’re rebuilding, redefining yourself, chasing something new, launching a new venture, writing your first book, or simply trying to move forward, The Protectors® is about navigating change with resilience and purpose.

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