Podcasts about Extreme music

Patrick Naughton's father served in Vietnam when he was a child, and shared accounts of his experiences and adventures – from infantry to serving in Special Forces as part of the MACV-SOG teams doing recon and battling across the fence” in America's secret war with Northern Vietnam forces in Laos and Cambodia.Patrick felt the only path to truly earn his larger-than-life's father's respect was to enlist in the military himself, and he likewise joined the infantry and served in Iraq. His book “Born From War,” is a fascinating account of the parallel experiences father and son had, and the lessons about generational impact of military service learned by both.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

We're re-airing this two-part interview from 2023 with one of our favorite Americans, in celebration of Memorial Day:A living legend of MACV-SOG and the Green Berets, John "Tilt" Stryker Meyer shares some of the most daring first-person stories of combat ever told! Inserted by Kingbee helicopter into the dense jungle along the Ho Chi Minh trail in  Laos and Cambodia during the height of the Vietnam War, Tilt and the US and indigenous members of Strike Force Idaho  deployed on  one impossible  top-secret  mission after another, spying on, harassing  and taking it to the North Vietnamese and Vietcong despite a  casualty rate of over 100%.Top-secret, all-volunteer SOG teams soon became the bane of the NVA's and Vietcong's existence, and despite overwhelming odds and  sometimes  having to face battalion-size enemy detachments, Tilt describes how these small US-indigenous units bravely soldiered on achieving a combined kill ratio of 158 to 1 – the highest in US military history.Bravery like that described by Tilt is not only inspiring, it changes the way we perceive the Vietnam War.  Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Karen Holt didn't realize her childhood was anything other than normal, whether it was her father's absence every Monday to Friday; their odd moves from town to town without any warning;  the FBI arresting her father; visiting a mafioso on his ranch; or even visiting her father in his ‘country club' prison.As she became an adult, she realized her father, Chauncey Marvin Holt worked not just as an accountant, circus performer, or painter, but also for the CIA; he had curiously prominent friends; and also did work for the mafia. As he neared the end of his life, her father told her much of what he was involved in during her childhood, including his being at Dealey Plaza the day JFK was assassinated. In fact, Holt was pictured in Life Magazine as one of the three hobos detained as witnesses.Karen shares her recollections, and how she made peace with her father's outrageous life, as he describes it in his memoir “Self-Portrait of a Scoundrel.”Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

GORE CLUB digs into the EXTREME side of music. Enjoy? Gore Club Podcast is:Steve VessellAce CarrierDeathmetal Dave RobertsRecorded by Kreepy Katie RutherfordBadly Edited by Steve VessellFIND US ON YOUTUBE! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...facebook at / thelouisvillegoreclub / stevevessell / deathmetaldave / foreversteelmusic provided by Karl Casey Karl@whitebataudio.com

Born on a U.S. airbase in London of American parents, Geoff began his career writing  speeches for Margaret Thatcher, leveraging his dual British-US citizenship to navigate elite political circles. With decades of front-row access to senior UK and U.S. officials, Gilson served as a key operative for the British Conservative Party, gaining unparalleled insight into global power structures. In 1988, when his friend and business partner Hugh Simmons turned up dead in the woods near where they lived with seven million dollars were missing from his law firm's account, Geoff launched his own investigation into this friend's death, which eventually revealed a complex web of money laundering, arms deals and political collusion and connections between high-level political leaders, intelligence organizations, and money launderers and arms dealers. The result is detailed in his riveting book, "Maggie's Hammer," a meticulously researched and gripping exposé. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Former U.S. Army Ranger, Barry Todd, was out celebrating a professional milestone with his wife and several friends at a local watering hole in Yuma, Arizona, when he was attacked by a drunken patron along with some buddies. Barry was slammed headfirst into a cement wall, incurring a concussion and other bodily injuries until his gun went off and shot the man who'd insisted on attacking him.The police were called and incomprehensibly arrested Barry, who explains how self-defense and stand your ground laws don't always protect you as they should. Police in his case didn't actually know the law in Arizona, and elected DAs often pursue charges & convictions rather than the truth, as is their legal obligation. Barry also discovered that one friend of his attackers was linked to the local police. Barry walks us through his battle of five years to get his case dismissed, and his record cleared, and how he feels a calling to help anyone unfairly charged with a crime. All proceeds from his book, “Stand Your Ground: One Man's Self Defense Nightmare,” go to his foundation that helps the charged person and their attorney successfully get their case dismissed.The original culprit was never charged.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Editor - Brian Philip Davis Hokum editor Brian Philip Davis teams up once more with director Damian McCarthy.  Prior to this film the two joined forces to craft McCarthy's supernatural thriller, Oddity.  This time out, they double down on the dread and jack up the jump scares to keep audiences on the edge of, and often a few feet above, their seats. Written and directed by Damian McCarthy, Hokum stars Adam Scott as novelist Ohm Bauman.  When Bauman retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents' ashes, he's consumed by tales of a witch that haunts the honeymoon suite. Soon, disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance force him to confront dark corners of his past. BRIAN PHILIP DAVIS Brian Philip Davis is known for his work in genre cinema, with films showcased at major festivals including Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, TIFF, FrightFest, and Fantastic Fest. He has a strong ability to work across multiple genres—from horror to comedy—bringing a confident balance of tone that allows each project to feel cohesive, engaging, and distinctive. In addition to Damian McCarthy's Hokum, Brian's upcoming working also includes The Incomer, a folk comedy (starring Domhnall Gleeson), written and directed by Louis Paxton and winner of the Sundance Film Festival NEXT Innovator Award 2026. Additional titles include Oddity, Bad Day for the Cut, Boys from County Hell, The Occupant, Here Before, and The Devil's Doorway. He is a member of Irish Screen Editors, British Film Editors, and BAFTA, and is represented by UTA.   Visit Extreme Music for the new Extreme Music extension for Avid Media Composer See which Avid Media Composer is right for you Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube

California State Assemblyman Mike Gatto was a rising star in the California Democratic Party when on November 12th, 2013, his retired father Joseph Gatto was found murdered in their family home in the neighborhood of Los Angeles. Emotionally devastated, Mike put his career on hold to pursue his father's murderer. With very few clues nad more questions than evidence, the murder has never been solved, and the rate of unsolved murders is higher than ever.Mike recounts the facts of this still unsolved crime, and his own experience grappling with his grief. He asks anyone with information about the murder to step forward.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Proud Canadian and innovative thinker and author, Jeff Brown was flattered beyond  when Sophie Trudeau, (his country's “first lady” at the time.) reached out to compliment his writing and aphorisms, and engage him to think about ideas that expressed the spirit of what Justin Trudeau and his wife sought to communicate as part of their platform.At their first meeting, Sophie quickly disclosed her own dissatisfaction in her marriage, and proceeded to behave in a flirty and what felt inappropriate manner through their subsequent conversations and collaborations, both live and virtual. Uncomfortable as an unpaid, uncredited speech writer, and deeply distressed by his growing insight into the Trudeaus' life, marriage, and hypocrisy, Jeff sought to separate in a civil manner, putting polite space between them and retreating from future requests.And then the nightmare began… Sophie sought to pressure Jeff to stay tethered to the ‘first couple,' and when he resisted, Jeff and his wife were subjected to  a four-year whirlwind of digital surveillance, political pressure, and personal transformation which reshaped his understanding of trust, truth and freedom.social ostracism, government monitoring, and even harassment, including the suppression of his book about the experience, In Trudeau's Kitchen. Jeff describes how an ordinary citizen can become the target of not only the political world— but of a hidden network of covert systems, governmental agencies, and corporations. His book stands as a warning to all of us. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Growing up in New Hampshire, country boy Brennan Morton couldn't wait to join the military, and when 9/11 occurred, it provided the final push to his enlistment. He ultimately qualified and trained to be a Marine recon sniper – part of an elite fighting force. Brennan loved every minute of the training, watched physically superior candidates wash out, and found that he thrived during the intense winnowing. Brennan recounts the challenges and fellow soldiers he encountered as he strove to join this elite group.But then he was deployed to Iraq with his unit, and the reality of what he'd sought hit home. Sent into a brutal fighting environment that saw his comrades brutally harmed by IEDs without any enemy to directly fight, Brennan describes how his team operated, his own survivor's guilt, the horror of war that took its toll in lives and spirit, and finally his own path to healing as drawn from his book “Valhalla Boys.” Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

The hits keep coming: Mark Shaw shares his recent discoveries linking the JFK and RFK assasinations, and also the mysterious and dreadful death of famed journalist Dorothy Kilgallen who was hot on the trail to solve the mystery behind President Kennedy's death. Ripped from the pages of his new book, "Abuse of Power," there's plenty of thought-provoking revelation that further strengthens the inescapable conclusion that the President's death was not caused by a lone gunman, and that the American people--in spite of the recent release of documents relating to the assassination--still haven't head the full truth about the most notorious American crime ever.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Mark Blocksom found himself inside Synanon in the 80s, a notorious rehab program criticized for abusing its members, and was rescued by friends who were actively working to help deprogram members of the bigger cults at that time, including the Moonies and Hare Krishna.They hired Mark to help share his experiences, but what he gravitated to were the actual rescues of cult victims, which were generally illegal kidnappings requested by family members.Mark shares his adventures and the inner satisfaction and the global fame he earned doing this work. His own life story was more complicated, and while he ultimately prevailed over his personal battles, he recently passed away. Rest in peace, Mark. Your good heart inspires us.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Retired FBI Agent Stewart Fillmore was trained to break down evidence to solve crimes and build cases. Here, he focuses on the forensics of the JFK assassination and the likelihood that the hole in the front of the late President's throat was an entry wound, not an exit wound as the FBI and Warren Report had concluded.Stewart walks us through the evidence he's gathered, and what it tells him about the nature of the crime. Importantly, his account aligns with the prior testimony of HBH guest Tosh Plumlee: Namely, that there was a shooter to the left front of the President's limousine, from the top of the South Knoll and that gunman was captured in photo taken by UPI  reporter Frank Cancellare.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Editor - Tim Squyres, ACE Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice editor Tim Squyres has over three decades of experience working with directors such as Ang Lee, Robert Altman and Jonathan Demme.  But his latest film marks the first time collaborating with writer/director BenDavid Grabinski.  Together the two navigated the tonal minefield of blending action, comedy, romance and a little time travel, to deliver a raucous romp that spans multiple years in one night. Set in a highly-stylized criminal underworld, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice follows two (or three) gangsters and the woman they love trying to survive the most dangerous night of their lives, one in which a time machine is involved. TIM SQUYRES ACE Acclaimed film editor Tim Squyres is best known for his long-standing collaboration with director Ang Lee. A graduate of Cornell University, Squyres began his career in the late 1980s and quickly distinguished himself as a precise and emotionally intuitive storyteller. His early work with Lee on The Wedding Banquet (1993) marked the beginning of a creative partnership that would span decades and include films such as Sense and Sensibility, Crouching Tiger - Hidden Dragon, Hulk, and Life of Pi. Across these projects, Squyres developed a reputation for crafting nuanced performances and guiding complex narratives with clarity, rhythm, and restraint. In addition to his work with Lee, Squyres has also collaborated with a range of influential filmmakers, including Robert Altman on Gosford Park and Jonathan Demme on Rachel Getting Married. His versatility across genres—from ensemble dramas to intimate character studies—has earned him multiple Academy Award and American Cinema Editor nominations. Visit Extreme Music for the new Extreme Music extension for Avid Media Composer Hear Tim talk about Ang Lee's Gemini Man See which Avid Media Composer is right for you Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube

Early in the morning of October 23, 1983 two truck bombs were detonated at buildings in Beirut Lebanon housing members of the US and French Multinational Force in Lebanon – a military peace mission in the eight-year-old Lebanese civil war. The attack by a terrorist group called Islamic Jihad, which had backing from the governments of Iran and Syria, killed 307 people: 241 U.S. and 58 French military personnel, six civilians and two of the attackers. Two hundred of the 241 US casualties were US Marines, making it the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Based on interviews with survivors, military records and personal records, Targeted Beirut by today's guest, Pulitzer Prize nominated historian and NYT bestselling author author James M. Scott, and past HBH guest Jack Carr is the authoritative account of the deadly attack. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Writer & editor Sarah McCarthy befriended a beautiful South African former model, Juliet Bryant, only to learn years later, after Epstein became worldwide news, that her friend had been trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein as a teenager. Fascinated by Juliet's horrific account of her experiences, Sarah determined to research and verify Juliet's dreadful account, speaking with other victims and witnesses. Juliet was initially recruited in South Africa by Epstein after meeting him at a local restaurant, along with Kevin Spacey, Chris Tucker, and former President Clinton. Sarah now shares highlights of the information contained in her book, including the shocking efforts Epstein undertook to ensure his DNA was perpetuated. At the time of this episode's air date, London-based Sarah and her boyfriend have experienced so much harassment that she opted to delay publication of her book.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Step inside one of the Hudson Valley's most exciting wedding events as we recap Westchester Magazine's Unveiled: A Boutique Bridal Brunch, held on Sunday, March 1st at the elegant VIP Country Club. This special event brought together some of the region's most creative and stylish wedding professionals for a morning dedicated to inspiration, planning, and celebration. Hosted by Westchester Magazine and highlighting the best of Westchester/Hudson Valley Weddings, the event featured an impressive collection of top-tier vendors – from florists and photographers to entertainers and bridal fashion experts. Attendees sampled delicious cuisine and desserts, explored stunning bridal gowns, and had the chance to win exciting prizes throughout the afternoon. Westchester Talk Radio was on site capturing all the excitement, speaking with vendors and attendees and bringing listeners an inside look at this unforgettable bridal showcase. Host Joan Franzino spoke with Mike Allan, founder of Extreme Music Productions. Mike discusses his transition from radio to becoming a premier event producer, specializing in "hybrid" entertainment that blends professional DJ sets with live instrumentalists. Mike's "say yes" philosophy has expanded his business into a one-stop-shop for weddings and corporate events, offering everything from photo booths to "dancing on the clouds" effects.

In 1942, on the heels of the Pearl Harbor attack as the US entered the war, Canada and the U.S. agreed to form a special top-secret military commando unit – nicknamed by the Nazis as “The Black Devils” for their stealth, bravery and skill. Designed to work as a nimble, highly conditioned unit of ‘super-fighters' with special skills, selected servicemen from the two nation's forces became one and trained for eight-and-a-half months in Helena, Montana before being shipped overseas to Europe.Bill Woon's dad, Dave Woon, was a Canadian national who was recruited to the unit. Dave ultimately married a Montana girl, and raised his family there, and never discussed the details of his adventures with his son. Bill relates the history of the group, trained initially for cold-weather fighting in Norway, but ultimately deployed in Italy where they knocked the German mountain stronghold of  of Monte La Difensa and  held a key strategic position during the Battle of Anzio, before being deployed to France and Germany. Bill later worked to get his dad's unit a special gold Congressional Medal in 2005. Notably, the First Special Service set the paradigm for the Green Berets and other tier-one fighting gro The FSSF Service originally recruited about 1800 soldiers, won all 22 battles they engaged, had a casualty rate of 134%, and captured over 30,000 enemy soldiers.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

This three part-interview takes us through the amazing career and true-crime adventures of Texas native Zeke Flatten, who grew up knowing he wanted a career in law enforcement, got himself hired as a bail bondsman at 18, and became an undercover cop at 20. Initially placed undercover in a high school to investigate gun sales and other crimes, he ended up buying a bomb from a student  who was later convicted of murder.In 2000, while working undercover, he discovered an ecstasy ring that led to the arrest of Mafia leader Sammy (the Bull) Gravano in Phoenix. In 2017, Zeke, then retired from law enforcement, gained attention as a national whistleblower after exposing a major public corruption scandal involving high-ranking law enforcement officials in Northern California. He was unlawfully detained by local officers posing as U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents, leading him to uncover a complex web of corruption and money laundering involving local law enforcement engaged in a criminal enterprise. His revelations prompted FBI and IRS investigations resulting in multiple federal indictments and convictions, department policy changes and highlighted systemic corruption within local law enforcement in California's Emerald Triangle.In the summer of 2018, while attending a high school reunion in San Antonio, Zeke learned about the murder of a teenage friend named Gary Osborne. Gary had been shot to death on the night of April 8, 2009 by two men who kicked in his front door. No suspect had ever been arrested until Zeke launched an investigation that led him to a convicted burglar named Trey Fisher, who was also part of a pedophile ring responsible for one of the most famous child murders in Texas history.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

This three part-interview takes us through the amazing career and true-crime adventures of Texas native Zeke Flatten, who grew up knowing he wanted a career in law enforcement, got himself hired as a bail bondsman at 18, and became an undercover cop at 20. Initially placed undercover in a high school to investigate gun sales and other crimes, he ended up buying a bomb from a student  who was later convicted of murder.In 2000, while working undercover, he discovered an ecstasy ring that led to the arrest of Mafia leader Sammy (the Bull) Gravano in Phoenix. In 2017, Zeke, then retired from law enforcement, gained attention as a national whistleblower after exposing a major public corruption scandal involving high-ranking law enforcement officials in Northern California. He was unlawfully detained by local officers posing as U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents, leading him to uncover a complex web of corruption and money laundering involving local law enforcement engaged in a criminal enterprise. His revelations prompted FBI and IRS investigations resulting in multiple federal indictments and convictions, department policy changes and highlighted systemic corruption within local law enforcement in California's Emerald Triangle.In the summer of 2018, while attending a high school reunion in San Antonio, Zeke learned about the murder of a teenage friend named Gary Osborne. Gary had been shot to death on the night of April 8, 2009 by two men who kicked in his front door. No suspect had ever been arrested until Zeke launched an investigation that led him to a convicted burglar named Trey Fisher, who was also part of a pedophile ring responsible for one of the most famous child murders in Texas history..Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Editor - Nigel Williams How to Get to Heaven From Belfast editor Nigel Williams once again finds himself cutting with showrunner Lisa McGee.  Having first worked with McGee on her hit series, Derry Girls, the two are back together for a show that features Lisa's well-known witty dialogue and quirky characters, but this time all wrapped up in a mystery. How to Get to Heaven From Belfast is an eight-part series that follows three longtime friends. Now in their late 30s, but still as close as ever, the girls are about to embark on the most thrilling adventure of their lives. When an email arrives, telling them about the death of the estranged fourth member of their childhood gang, a series of eerie events at her wake set them on a dark, dangerous and hilarious odyssey through Ireland and beyond.  Together they try to piece together the truth of the past. It's a show about friendship, memory and what happens when life doesn't turn out quite like you'd expected. NIGEL WILLIAMS Nigel Williams is one of the most highly sought-after editors in comedy. He hit gold in 2000 when two strangers were looking to cut a pilot. Those strangers were Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Together they made one of the biggest comedies of all time, The Office. Nigel then went on to edit some of the most successful comedies on TV, including Extras, Outnumbered, Motherland, Horrible Histories and Tracey Ullman's Show. Nigel also edited 5 seasons of Episodes, starring Matt Leblanc, in Los Angeles, working with Jeffrey Klarik and David Crane (creator of Friends). Williams was thrilled that his recent work on hit show Derry Girls was recognized with a coveted BFE award for Best Editor. He has also co-founded Wrap Party Agency, and is committed to promoting more diversity and inclusion within post-production. Visit Extreme Music for the new Extreme Music panel for Avid Media Composer See which Avid Media Composer is right for you Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube

Send a textRussell Emanuel — co‑founder and CEO of Extreme Music — joins Film Hustlers to unpack how he turned a dusty music library into a global, tech‑driven powerhouse that lets filmmakers instantly find, customize, and license premium cues without the Hollywood price tag. He explains the company's radical focus on real composers, remixable tracks, and bespoke scoring through Bleeding Fingers, how the platform fills gaps for every genre worldwide, and why this modern library is now essential for producers who need high‑quality, affordable music fast.

This three part-interview takes us through the amazing career and true-crime adventures of Texas native Zeke Flatten, who grew up knowing he wanted a career in law enforcement, got himself hired as a bail bondsman in high school, and then became an undercover cop at 19. Initially placed undercover in a high school ostensibly to stop drug sales, he ended up working on gun sales and other crimes, including stopping the use of even a bomb brought to school by a student.Throughout his 20+-year career as a detective he was extraordinarily effective, but ultimately took a break to focus on his young family. As he attempted to start a legal cannabis business in California, an illegal stop and siezure by off-duty police in Northern California's “Golden Triangle” (where a huge volume of cannabis is grown) sent him on a whole journey to identify and bring to justice a ring of crooked police who were routinely robbing people roadside of weed and cash from the local industry. Enlisting the aid of the FBI and local journalists, he was able to see many of the officers involved apprehended or forced into retirement.While Zeke was being harassed during the case, he went home for his high school reunion and discovered a classmate and former friend had been murdered. This propelled him into another adventure to solve the case, leading him to also uncover a human trafficking ring and solve one of the most famous child murders in Texas.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

U.S. Government whistleblower Martin Rodil breaks down the Venezuelan efforts to steal elections in the U.S. and also explains how that country's Cartel de los Soles–the largest criminal organization in the world–aims their drug trafficking and other activities at the United States.Martin, along with his partner Gary Berntsen, were tracking down cartel bank accounts and other assets for the U.S. government to rightfully seize, when they tripped over an enormous election theft program created and maintained by Venezuela, (aided by Cuba, China, Iran, and Russia) aimed at America and dozens of democracies around the world. Martin gives us his first-person account of how he recruited the disillusioned engineers who originally helped create the source code and malware that lives inside our electronic voting machines, and how this unexpected discovery proved difficult to share with D.C. officials.Martin made his career in international intelligence working alongside the DEA for over twenty years. He is also a principal source, along with Gary, in host Ralph Pezzullo's recent book, “Stolen Elections." (Available on Amazon Books.)Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Former CIA agent and Boston native Ralph Mariani shares the real-life thriller account of the 1975 murder of his boss, Richard Welch, the then-CIA station chief in Athens, and the twenty-seven-year investigation that was only solved when two grandmas came forward when a new description of the culprits was circulated.On the night of December 23, 1975, CIA Station Chief Dick Welch and his family attended a Christmas party at the American Ambassador's residence. Upon returning home, Dick exited the car to open the main gate. A man appeared amid the darkness and shot him dead. Five days after the attack, a terrorist group called “Revolutionary Organization 17 November” claimed responsibility for Dick's death. It wasn't until 2003—almost 28 years later— after 17 November had killed 23 people as a bomb exploded in the hands of Savvas Xiros, one of the organization's most ruthless killers, that the people responsible for the murder of Dick Welch and several other foreign diplomats were caught. Because of the  steadfast efforts of Ralph Mariani, other colleagues and members of Welch's family, together with fears about poor publicity ahead of the 2004 Olympics did Greek authorities finally take action against the group, and bring them to justice. The question Mariani helps answer is: Why did it take so long? And why did the Greek government not accept US help in solving the crime?   Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Over his career as a journalist, reporting from mainly Afghanistan and Pakistan, Jere Van Dyk has worked for the New York Times and CBS News and has appeared widely as a commentator on international affairs. His also the author of several books. In 2008 Jere was captured and held by the Taliban, an experience that he wrote about in his fascinating book Captive, which received a Foreign Press Award in 2022. He is with us today to talk about his long experience in Afghanistan that began with  a trip he made as a young man. He recounts the friendship he developed with both Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin Haqqani, leaders of the famed Haqqani network; (allies of the United States during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan of the 1980s and later some of our fiercest enemies) the significance of the Durand line drawn by the British in 1893; and how all this relates to the current rise of Muslim nationalism. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Editor - Michael P. Shawver Sinners editor Michael Shawver has enjoyed a long and productive relationship with his former USC classmate, director Ryan Coogler.  Together the two have collaborated on Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and now Sinners.  Their past experience on both VFX-heavy films like Black Panther, as well as socio-political dramas like Fruitvale Station, would prove invaluable as they worked to blend the real horror of racial injustice with the fantastical horror of a vampire onslaught. Taking place in 1932, Sinners follows identical twins, and World War I veterans, Elijah "Smoke" and Elias "Stack" Moore as they return to Clarksdale, Mississippi after spending seven years in Chicago. Using money stolen from criminal syndicates, they purchase a sawmill from a landowner to start a juke joint for the local Black community. Their younger cousin Sammie, a singer and guitarist, joins them despite his pastor father's warnings about the sins of blues music.  His warnings would prove prophetic, as the twins and their friends face foes both familiar and supernatural. MICHAEL P. SHAWVER Originally from Rhode Island, Sinners editor Michael Shawver developed an early working relationship with director Ryan Coogler during their time together at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Shawver initially edited Coogler's short film, Fig, and later went on to cut his feature debut, Fruitvale Station, starring Michael B. Jordan. The film garnered two of the Sundance Film Festival's top prizes, the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize, and went on to receive numerous awards and nominations at film festivals worldwide. Shawver also edited All Summers End, a debut feature film by director Kyle Wilamowski; Warren, by director Alex Beh; Tell, for director J.M.R. Luna; and Fourth Man Out, for Andrew Nackman. Shawver's next collaboration with Coogler and Jordan was Creed, for which he received a nomination for Best Editing in the Independent Critics Poll. Michael then reunited with Coogler and Jordan on Black Panther, a box office smash, which was nominated an outstanding 43 times, including for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and Best Motion Picture Drama at the Golden Globes. His work on this project also earned him a Saturn Award Nomination for Best Editing and an Alliance of Women Film Journalists Nomination for the Best Editing EDA Award. In addition, the film won Movie of the Year at the AFI Awards. Following Black Panther, Shawver edited A Quiet Place: Part II, directed by John Krasinski. He later returned to the Marvel universe for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, again collaborating with Coogler and Jordan. Shawver's recent work includes Abigail, a genre-bending thriller directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. He is currently editing The Thomas Crown Affair directed by and starring Michael B. Jordan. The Credits Visit Extreme Music for the new Extreme Music panel for Avid Media Composer See which Avid Media Composer is right for you Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube

With the country of Venezuela and the criminal behavior of the Maduro regime currently headline news, today's guest is particularly timely – petroleum executive, kidnapping victim and author Jose Angel Pereira. At first glance, Jose Angel Pereira's career looks like that of someone who reached the pinnacle of corporate success – that of a seasoned executive with over three decades in the oil and gas industry. Jose Angel once led CITGO Petroleum as CEO, navigating billion-dollar deals and international joint ventures across five continents. But in 2017, he was summoned from Citgo's Texas headquarters by the Maduro regime to make a presentation. As he and his executive team left the meeting, they were arrested. Later named the CITGO 6, the six executives were imprisoned in Venezuela and tortured for five years. Conditions were so harsh that one of them perished. Jose Angel is with us today to talk about the experience and what he learned about resilience, purpose and leadership, as detailed in his recent book from Hero to Villain: My True Story of the CITGO6. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.comChristiTutionalist Politicsthe "ChristiTutionalist Politics" podcast. News/Opinion-castListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

On the evening of  January 7, 2025 several destructive wildfires swept through the Los Angeles area, including the fast-moving Eaton Fire near the neighborhoods of Altadena and Pasadena. Firefighters and three night-flying helicopters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were ordered to respond. They intended to drop water on the Eaton fire but, buffeted by ferocious updrafts and downdrafts, aborted the operation at 6:45 p.m. By midnight, the fire expanded to over 1,000 acres fueled by strong Santa Ana wind blowing northeast to southwest with gusts of up to 100 mph.As flames threatened neighborhoods, Pasadena Transit operators from Transdev were called on to help. Working around the clock for three days, fourteen bus drivers led by their manager and dispatcher Letty Ochoa and assistant general manager Erasmo Rodriguez, drove through flames, flying embers and overwhelming smoke and managed to rescue 500 people living in senior centers and getting them out of harm's way. Letty Ochoa is with us to talk about that dramatic experience and the heroic response of members of Transdev when their community was threatened. The Eaton Fire eventually killed 19 people and destroyed more than 9,000 buildings, becoming the 5th deadliest and 2nd most destructive wildfire in California history. It burned simultaneously with the deadly and destructive Palisades Fire in the Santa Monica Mountains, which spread to 23,448 acres, killed 12 people and destroyed 6,837 structures.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

HBH is so proud of this episode--we think this breakdown of an important and ongoing issue bears repeating:Award-winning journalist Sam Quinones lays out the facts behind the meth and fentanyl drug crisis in the U.S.:He expertly describes how mass manufacturing has made these drug ubiquitous, cheap, and infinitely more potent, and thus unlike any other drugs--legal or illegal--ever consumed by human beings. Sam explains how today's meth has triggered an abrupt rise in homelessness, and why these drugs and so destructive to users, their families, and ultimately all of us.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Editor - Stacey Schroeder ACE Editor Stacey Schroeder ACE admits she knows nothing about magic, but you wouldn't know it from the amazing slight of hand she demonstrates when cutting a movie.  Coming into this film never having worked with director Ruben Fleischer before, and also being new to the franchise, Stacey had to rely upon her past experiences in comedy and action to hit all the right notes for this "magic-heist-action-comedy" tale. Now You See Me: Now You Don't is the third installment in the Now You See Me film series. Returning cast members include Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan and Morgan Freeman.  For this installment of the franchise, the Four Horsemen and a new generation of illusionists join forces to steal the world's largest diamond from a South African mogul who heads an international crime syndicate. STACEY SCHROEDER ACE Editor Stacey Schroeder's film credits include Now You See Me: Now You Don't; The Disaster Artist; Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (with Jamie Gross and Craig Apert); Sonic the Hedgehog; Blockers and Cinderella(2021). Her television credits include pilot for The Last Man on Earth; Eastbound & Down; You're the Worst; She-Hulk: Attorney at Law; Garfunkel & Oats and Girlboss.   Raised in New Port Richey, Fla., Schroeder graduated from the University of Florida and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two kids. The Credits Visit Extreme Music for the new Extreme Music panel for Avid Media Composer See which Avid Media Composer is right for you Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube

Part two of Dash's awesome interview: Former Navy SEAL Dash Dong Wong's journey from growing up as a street urchin in Hawaii to becoming a Navy special operations operator is a powerful testament to resilience and inner strength. Says Dash, “I grew up in paradise, but was raised in hell.” Through all the trauma he faced as a kid, including battling in a child fight club at ten years old, he learned to find hope and beauty in even the worst situations. Though he never knew his real father, he was adopted by a friend of his mother, a delivery man named Andrew Wong. Dash has faced numerous challenges throughout his life – including his career in the military, being diagnosed with cancer, and reconnecting with his adoptive father after a 37-year separation. Prepare to be inspired and learning the importance of faith and resilience in overcoming trauma and finding meaning in life's challenges.    Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Former Navy SEAL Dash Dong Wong's journey from growing up as a street urchin in Hawaii to becoming a Navy special operations operator is a powerful testament to resilience and inner strength. Says Dash, “I grew up in paradise, but was raised in hell.” Through all the trauma he faced as a kid, including battling in a child fight club at ten years old, he learned to find hope and beauty in even the worst situations. Though he never knew his real father, he was adopted by a friend of his mother, a delivery man named Andrew Wong. Dash has faced numerous challenges throughout his life – including his career in the military, being diagnosed with cancer, and reconnecting with his adoptive father after a 37-year separation. Prepare to be inspired and learning the importance of faith and resilience in overcoming trauma and finding meaning in life's challenges.    Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Art theft expert, security expert and author of “The Rembrandt Heist: The Story of a Criminal Genius, a Stolen Masterpiece, and an Enigmatic Friendship,” Anthony Amore introduces us to Boston native, Miles Connor Jr., a combination rock star, samurai sword collector, and brilliant art thief. Connor's fascinating motives for stealing art were tied up with his policeman father's passion for collecting, and also for avenging what he felt was a grave insult to his father by a local museum, the Forbes House. His first theft was to break into that museum as a teenager and steal dozens of artifacts. One of his remarkable heists was stealing from the famed Woolworth collection housed in Maine. In one of his more brazen acts, Miles also stole and then helped in repatriating a Rembrandt in order to lessen his sentence for that art theft. Amore's book explores Connors most audacious theft and of the most unusual art crimes in history -- the 1975 theft of Rembrandt's Portrait of Elsbeth van Rijn from the Boston Museum. His reason for stealing the painting was even bolder and more surprising. Today in his eighties, Connor lives on a sprawling property with about a dozen horses in Blackstone, Massachusetts.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

At the height of World War II, Oak Ridge, Tennessee was home to 75,000 residents, who consumed more energy than New York City. Most of the world didn't know that the town even existed. And most of the people who lived there, who were largely young women from small towns across the America, didn't know the true nature of the work they were doing day after day in the hulking factories that had been hastily built in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains. That is until the end of the war when Oak Ridge's important secret was revealed, namely that Oak Ridge had served as the production site of the Manhattan Project, and the huge factories there produced highly enriched uranium and plutonium as fuel for the world's first nuclear weapons. Oak Ridge's important historical mission and the lives of the mostly women who worked there are brought to life in Denise Kiernan's excellent book, The Girls of Atomic City, which is an important addition to our country's history. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Retired FBI agent Pete Lapp helped capture Ana Montez, a Puerto Rican-born American and UVA alumna who was a senior analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency overseeing the Cuban account. For 17 years, she was also a spy for Cuba and was an avowed communist. Ironically, as many of four of Anna's close family members worked for the FBI and despite Anna's more extreme political views, assumed she was a loyal American. From his book “Queen of Cuba,” Pete relates how Ana was identified as a potential national security risk, secretly investigated, and ultimately apprehended after years of committing espionage. He describes how she transmitted information and also shares his view of her psychology: Withdrawn, lonely, at odds with her father, and driven by her political convictions and personal disagreement with U.S. foreign policy (including its policy towards Nicaragua) rather than financial gain, by which so many other spies have been enticed.Recruited while in college in 1983 during the Reagan administration by Cuban agent Marta Velasquez, (who was also a Puerto Richan-American) Ana's steadfast career rise at the Department of Defense gave her increased access over time to information of value to Castro's Cuba, stopping short of putting agents in personal peril. Cuban intelligence has been chronically underestimated over decades and makes Ana's case a warning example of an organized program to infiltrate critical branches of the U.S. government, along with the recent apprehension of former U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia, Manuel Rocha, whose been identified as a Cuban spy.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Editor - Evan Schiff ACE Frankenstein editor Evan Schiff ACE first began his journey as an assistant editor on Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth (2006). Over the next, nearly two decades, Evan would establish himself as an action movie editor to be reckoned with.  He would flex his cutting chops on films like John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) and Bob Odenkirk's action debut, Nobody (2021).  Evan would also drop by the MCU to cut The Marvels (2023).  But to hear Evan tell it, it was hardly his skills as an action editor that would prompt Del Toro to hire his former assistant editor to cut Frankenstein. Produced, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, and based on the 1818 novel by Mary Shelley, Frankenstein stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz. The film follows the life of egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein whose experiment in creating new life results in dangerous consequences when his monstrous creation comes to life. EVAN SCHIFF ACE (In Evan's own words...) Originally from Syracuse, NY, I started my career in the film industry at the age of 16, between my junior and senior years of high school, with an internship at Stan Winston Studio (now Legacy EFX). After graduating from high school and being accepted into USC's film production program, SWS hired me back to do tech support as their Systems Administrator and eventually their in-house VFX Editor. I worked there part-time for all four years of college and full-time for one year after. While at USC, I got bit by the editing bug. I found that, even more than creature or visual effects, I loved sitting in the editing bay for hours on end putting my student films together. So a year after graduation, and five years after starting my job at Stan Winston's, I started to pursue editing full-time. It was slow at first, but eventually I got my first few jobs as an assistant editor, and things took off from there. The Credits Visit Extreme Music for the new Extreme Music panel for Avid Media Composer Hear Evan's interview for John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum See which Avid Media Composer is right for you Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube

Part Two of this fascinating interview: Douglas Horne is the preeminent JFK assassination expert and a former investigator with the official government JFK Assassination Records Review Board. He's also the author of the five-volume book set titled: Inside the Assassination Records Review Board: The U.S. Government's Final Attempt to Reconcile the Conflicting Medical Evidence in the Assassination of JFK, JFK's War with the National Security Establishment: Why Kennedy Was Assassinated.Recently he was one of the JFK Assassination experts who was called to testify before  the House Oversight Task force on Declassification of Federal Secrets chaired by Congressman Anna Paulina Luna. Among his findings are shocking revelations about efforts by the government to alter the wounds to JFK's head and body before the official autopsy, and changes that were made to the Zapruder film. For anyone seeking the truth about the Kennedy assassination and coverup, there isn't a person who has done more investigation or delved deeper into that existing evidence than Douglas Horne. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Douglas Horne is the preeminent JFK assassination expert and a former investigator with the official government JFK Assassination Records Review Board. He's also the author of the five-volume book set titled: Inside the Assassination Records Review Board: The U.S. Government's Final Attempt to Reconcile the Conflicting Medical Evidence in the Assassination of JFK, JFK's War with the National Security Establishment: Why Kennedy Was Assassinated. Recently he was one of the JFK Assassination experts who was called to testify before  the House Oversight Task force on Declassification of Federal Secrets chaired by Congressman Anna Paulina Luna. Among his findings are shocking revelations about efforts by the government to alter the wounds to JFK's head and body before the official autopsy, and changes that were made to the Zapruder film. For anyone seeking the truth about the Kennedy assassination and coverup, there isn't a person who has done more investigation or delved deeper into that existing evidence than Douglas Horne. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

World War II hero Phil Larimore remains the youngest candidate to ever graduate from Army Officer Training School, which he did at the age of seventeen, on the eve of America's involvement in World War II. Landing on the Anzio beachhead in February 1944, Phil – the youngest commissioned US officer in World War II – was put in charge of an Ammunition Pioneer Platoon of the 3rd Infantry Division. Their job: to deliver ammunition to the frontline foxholes—a dangerous assignment involving regular forays into No Man's Land. As Phil fought his way up the Italian boot, into Southern France and across the Rhine River into Germany, he experienced some of the most intense combat ever. But it was what happened in the final stages of the war, when Phil was sent on a secret mission into Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia to find the farm where Hitler was hiding his world-famous Lipizzaner stallions that makes his story incredibly special and is  the ultimate expression of Phil Larimore's life-long love of horses. Like so many veterans of that “greatest generation,” Phil didn't talk much about his war experiences until much later in life, and when he did his stories seemed outrageous to his family and his sons. After his death, his son and our guest Dr. Walt Larimore discovered his father's papers in the attic—and learned that his father's stories were all true. In this episode, Dr. Larimore describes his father's remarkable service to his country, including meeting Eisenhower, losing his leg, fighting to stay in the army, and being awarded  the Distinguished Service Cross, two silver stars, two bronze stars, three Purple Hearts, the Medal of France, the Crois du Garde with a palm, and more. All of this and more is described in Dr. Walt Larimore's remarkable book At First Light.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Phoenix Police Department cold case homicide detective and and former CPA Troy Hillman tells the extraordinary, detailed inside story of how an elite team of detectives—hounded by the press, a frustrated and frightened public, and their own doubts and exhaustion—solved a double murder that had haunted the Phoenix area for more than twenty years. The initial details were already chilling—the brutal murder of two women, found headless, who were assaulted while riding their bikes along a well-known canal bike path—but Hillman reveals how the initial headlines only scratched the surface and how his team's use of groundbreaking methods and familial DNA set a precedent for cold cases like The Golden State Killer. These methods included consulting with The Vidocq Society –  an all-volunteer team of forensic experts and investigators – and an expert in the new field of forensic genealogist  – which utilizes genetic information from direct-to-consumer companies to identify suspects or victims in criminal cases.All of this is captured in his fascinating new book Chasing Down the Zombie Hunter.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the death of Saddam Hussein, scientists who worked for the regime were killed or left the country. When one of them –microbiologist Thamer Abdul Rahman Imran – learned the new regime wanted to arrest him and the insurgents wanted to kill him, he went into hiding. Racing against time, ex–Secret Service agent Steve Monteiro and his team from the Department of Homeland Security set out to find the missing scientist and learn what he knew about the anthrax crisis that was baffling investigators in the United States. The journey took them from the White House to the Middle East as they fight bureaucrats in Washington who seemed to want them to fail. The Gray Bird of Baghdad tells the true story of one's man's quest to protect his country and another man's fight to save his family from the ravages of a country at war.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

We are re-airing Doug Laux's second appearance on HBH, as we fondly remember him upon his passing:Being accepted to work at the CIA is highly difficult. The interview process is long and secretive - and applicants and their references are often vetted without ever knowing it. Once accepted, very few go on to practice espionage. That distinction is reserved for those invited to the CIA's top secret and legendary training program known as ‘The Farm'. Fewer still actually graduate the program and become Case Officers or as they are most commonly referred: Spies. HBH is excited to welcome back former CIA Case Officer Doug Laux.Before deploying abroad, or even traveling to Camp Peary - which houses ‘The Farm' somewhere deep in the forests of Virginia - Doug was required to make enormous personal sacrifices. He had to to lie to family and friends, leaving them all completely in the dark, as to what he was really doing with his life. This is all the very beginning of a CIA Case Officer's career. Doug's career at the agency was a significant one which took him to Afghanistan, Syria and other other hot zones around the world.Make sure to check out the outstanding book ‘Left of Boom' by Doug Laux and Ralph Pezzullo - and thanks for listening to Heroes Behind Headlines.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Henry (Dick) L. Thompson is back to share more adventures from his latest book SOG Code Name Dynamite 2 about his time in Vietnam as part of MACV-SOG.From 1964-1972 America engaged in a Top Secret war in Southeast Asia to support our efforts in Vietnam, with an elite group of warriors who were sworn to secrecy for decades. If caught, the US government would deny any involvement.Missioned primarily to do recon on North Vietnamese forces massing across the border in Laos and Cambodia, the small teams were comprised of US soldiers and local fighters, and were dropped near the enemy. They almost always encountered much larger forces, posted a casualty rate of over 100%, and relied on helicopter pilots like recent guest Roger Lockshire to ferry them to safety once the bullets started flying.We're delighted to have Dick back in this two part episode.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Editor - Andy Jurgensen One Battle After Another editor Andy Jurgensen came into his new film already "battle" tested with director Paul Thomas Anderson's unique film-based workflow.  Shoot film.  Print film dailies.  Screen film dailies.  Create digital workprint.  Cut in Avid.  Conform negative.  But Paul loves a challenge, so he decided to not only make "One Battle" the first IMAX film presented entirely in the 1.43:1 ratio, but he also resurrected the VistaVision format for the first time in sixty years.  Luckily, Andy loves a challenge too. One Battle After Another stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob, a washed-up revolutionary who lives in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited and self-reliant daughter, Willa. When his evil nemesis, Colonel Lockjaw (Sean Penn), resurfaces and Willa goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her as both father and daughter battle the consequences of their pasts. ANDY JURGENSEN Andy Jurgensen has worked with director Paul Thomas Anderson since their time together on Inherent Vice (2014).  At that time, Andy was first assistant editor to Leslie Jones ACE.  From there Andy served as associate editor to Dylan Tichenor ACE on Anderson's Phantom Thread (2017).  Andy finally got his big break as a lead editor for Anderson's Licorice Pizza (2021). In addition to his work with Paul Thomas Anderson, Andy has also served as an assistant editor on a number of films with director Jay Roach, including The Campaign (2012), Trumbo (2015) and Bombshell (2019). The Credits Visit Extreme Music for the new Extreme Music panel for Avid Media Composer Hear Andy's interview on Licorice Pizza See which Avid Media Composer is right for you Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube

In tribute to our friend and past HBH guest, we're re-airing the first of former CIA officer Doug Laux's two appearances during our first season:CIA Officer Doug Laux explains how he developed a network of spies to track down the man responsible for running the Taliban's lethal IED network, which at the height of the Afghan War was responsible for over 80% of US and Coalition deaths.RIP Doug, you'll be sorely missed.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Henry (Dick) L. Thompson is back to share more adventures from his latest book SOG Code Name Dynamite 2 about his time in Vietnam as part of MACV-SOG.From 1964-1972 America engaged in a Top Secret war in Southeast Asia to support our efforts in Vietnam, with an elite group of warriors who were sworn to secrecy for decades. If caught, the US government would deny any involvement.Missioned primarily to do recon on North Vietnamese forces massing across the border in Laos and Cambodia, the small teams were comprised of US soldiers and local fighters, and were dropped near the enemy. They almost always encountered much larger forces, posted a casualty rate of over 100%, and relied on helicopter pilots like recent guest Roger Lockshire to ferry them to safety once the bullets started flying.We're delighted to have Dick back in this two part episode.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Courageous resistance fighter Elżbieta Zawacka, aka ‘Agent Zo', was the only woman to parachute from Britain to Nazi-German occupied Poland during the Second World War. While being hunted by the Gestapo there, who arrested her entire family, she established a military intelligence network, couriered microfilm across wartime borders and, as the only female member of the Polish elite special forces, the ‘Silent Unseen,' played a key role in the largest organized act of defiance against Nazi German occupation – the Warsaw Uprising. Author Clare Mulley shares her amazing story described in her book Agent Zo: The Untold Story of a Fearless World War II Resistance Fighter.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

On April 2nd, 2015, after getting a degree and paying off his loans, Tom Turcich stepped out his front door to start a quest that would last for seven years, take him to six continents, and cover twenty-eight thousand miles. At the end of it he became the tenth person to walk around the world, and his dog, Savannah, became the first dog to do so. Through encounters with strangers, weeks of solitude, and a sheer resilience of spirit, Tom emerged as a beacon of inspiration for countless individuals yearning to find purpose in their lives. His tale serves as a reminder that fulfillment lies not solely in reaching a destination but in the transformative power of the journey itself. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

In 2009 Savannah Cannon joined up at nineteen, to escape her hardscrabble circumstances. She was quickly tapped as having an aptitude for math and computers. Once trained, she was promptly deployed to a dangerous desert outpost in Afghanistan, where female Marines were not supposed to be assigned. There Corporal Cannon worked as a "data dork" - a data networking specialist - setting up and maintaining critical communications and computer systems. She also went on patrol. The stakes were life and death, and her mostly male fellow Marines were ordered to avoid her.Isolated, depressed, and stressed by the brutal, surrounding reality, Savannah then found herself pursued, assaulted, and then pregnant by a fellow Marine who insisted they had a real relationship. Afraid of being drummed out of the military for being pregnant, she kept silent at great cost to her mental and physical health, and ultimately miscarried.Savannah recounts the challenges she faced as a part of a generation of female soldiers thrown together with their male counterparts, and her experiences coping with a military ill-prepared and riddled with arbitrary rules for the problems which naturally arose. Savannah ultimately rebuilt her life when she returned stateside, and wrote her raw and honest memory, "Corporal Cannon."Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com