Podcasts about korengal valley

Interview with Dan Flores, retired United States Army, Customs and Border Protection and EMS pilot.Years of Service: 1985-2022Daniel Flores is a lifelong Texan. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1985, attending Infantry training at Ft. Benning Ga. He then served in the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After his active-duty time, he then served in the Texas Army National Guard's special operations unit; Company G. 143rd Infantry LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol). In 1990 Mr. Flores went to Army flight school to become an Apache helicopter pilot with 7th Squadron 6th Cavalry Regiment, based in Conroe Texas.In 2006 he was deployed as the attack asset for the 10th Mountain Division. He was in the infamous Korengal Valley and numerous outposts in the Hindu Kush mountains and along the Pakistani border.He wrote a #1 bestselling book telling of his experience flying the Apache helicopter in combat and was instrumental in the success of the movie "Apache Warrior" as a Co-Executive producer.The title of his book is “South of Heaven, My Year in Afghanistan”. From his book the film “Above the Best” was made. The film uses actual footage taken from his Apache helicopter in combat.He received the “The Air Medal” and “Bronze Star” and retired after 26+ years in the Army. He also flew airplanes and helicopters for 21 years, for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as an Air Interdiction Agent before retiring in July 2020. He has been deployed to the U.S./Mexico border and South America on numerous occasions for operations against the Drug Trafficking Cartels and the illegal immigrant surge.He currently flies Helicopters as an EMS pilot, in the Houston area.

Staff Sergeant Salvatore Agustine Giunta deployed to Afghanistan twice, first in 2005 and again in 2007. On the night of October 25th, 2007, then Specialist Giunta and his team were conducting a patrol in the Korengal Valley where they were stationed. After they left their elevated position and began falling back, they were ambushed by 10-15 enemy personnel. Thanks to Giunta's bravery and leadership, his platoon was able to defeat the enemy and rescue a captured ally.

What's going to happen to you after you die? Is death something you ignore or something you use to enjoy your days more? And are near death experiences proof of an after life or just the brain going apeshit because it's losing oxygen? Sebastian Junger is no stranger to death. As a war correspondent he survived an IED attack on his vehicle and spent a grueling stint in the treacherous Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. But in 2020 he came face to face with his own mortality in a very different setting. At home. With his family. And this brush with death shook him much, much deeper because of what — and who — he saw at the threshold into the unknown. In this discussion, Sebastian shares his amazing story and most importantly how his near death experience has shaped the man he is today. https://www.thenewmanpodcast.com/2024/06/sebastian-junger-near-death-experience COACHING   → To learn more about coaching with Tripp Lanier visit https://TrippLanier.com → To learn more about working with Alyson Lanier visit https://AlysonLanier.com   BOOK   → We live in a world with more possibilities than ever before. So why do most men settle for lackluster, cookie-cutter lives that leave them feeling stuck, drained, and uninspired? _This Book Will Make You Dangerous_ is a guide for the rare, few men who refuse to sleepwalk through life. → Visit https://TrippLanier.com/book

Andrew Farlaino of Trained Monkey Blade Co. joins Bob "The Knife Junkie" DeMarco on Episode 502 of The Knife Junkie Podcast (https://theknifejunkie.com/502).Andrew first envisioned what would become Trained Monkey Blade Co. while on deployment with the USMC in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. After numerous deployments and even more equipment failures, Andrew set out to start from scratch and build the best hard use blades he could.Andrew took lessons learned from the many GWOT environments he served in and created the foundation of Trained Monkey Blade Co. Trained Monkey is the Farlaino family business, with his wife Gina and his children playing pivotal roles in maintaining and growing the company.Find Trained Monkey Blade Co. online at https://trainedmonkeybladeco.com and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/trainedmonkeyblade. Be sure to support The Knife Junkie and get in on the perks of being a patron, including early access to the podcast and exclusive bonus content. Visit https://www.theknifejunkie.com/patreon for details. You can also support The Knife Junkie channel with your next knife purchase. Find our affiliate links at https://theknifejunkie.com/knives.Let us know what you thought about this episode and leave a rating and/or a review. Your feedback is appreciated. You can also call the listener line at 724-466-4487 or email bob@theknifejunkie.com with any comments, feedback, or suggestions.To watch or listen to past episodes of the podcast, visit https://theknifejunkie.com/listen. And for professional podcast hosting, use The Knife Junkie's podcast platform of choice: https://theknifejunkie.com/podhost.

Welcome to Episode 121 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.In Part Two of this three-part series, host Jon Gray resumes his conversation with Calvin Dockery and Dave Ritchie.Both Dockery and Ritchie are U.S. Army veterans who flew MH-47 helicopters in the world-renowned 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment's mission is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and combatant commanders. Known as “Night Stalkers,” these soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations. They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with unparalleled precision.  They employ highly modified MH-47 Chinook and MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and the assault and attack configurations of A/MH-6 Little Bird helicopters.In this episode, Dockery and Ritchie debrief a mission they were a part of in the Korengal Valley, also known as the Valley of Death.They talk about how the 160th trains with cities within the U.S. like they did in Los Angeles, and discuss what makes the 160th different from other Army aviation units.They also talk about a mission when they flew in to rescue Jimmy Hatch after he was shot and critically injured on a mission searching for Bowe Bergdahl.Jimmy Hatch was a guest from episode 100, titled Touching the Dragon. If you haven't heard that episode the recording, go back and listen to it,The Hangar Z Podcast would like to sincerely thank sponsors Garmin, Metro Aviation and CNC Technologies.

Sebastian Junger's iconic Oscar-Nominated 2010 war epic RESTREPO chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, widely considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, "Restrepo," named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. Experiential, immersive, and raw, RESTREPO is a 90-minute deployment to a complicated, fraught warzone. Sebastian discusses with Tiller if it is an anti-war movie (1:43), his path to the Korengal Valley (5:30), the challenge of editing down months of footage (11:02), capturing emotional interviews with hardened soldiers (12:10), and incorporating footage of Platoon Medic Restrepo (16:30).

Dr. William Mangham is a native of Mobile, Alabama and a 2000 graduate of UMS-Wright. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 9/11 occurred during his sophomore year and inspired him to join the Marines, in which he served as an officer on three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. This period of service included combat experience in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley and during the Iraq "surge" in 2007. After being honorably discharged as a captain, Dr. Mangham completed pre-med studies and entered medical school at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Upon graduation in 2016, he began his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee and Semmes-Murphey Clinic in Memphis. Dr. Mangham served as chief resident from 2021-2022 and is currently completing a spine fellowship. Dr. Mangham will join the staff of Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana this summer and his practice will focus on minimally invasive spine surgery. Dr. Mangham enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, as well as reading, gardening, cooking, and exercise.

From the front row pew at his mother's church, to the Korengal Valley in Northern Afghanistan, to launching Grindhouse Wrestling Gym LC Cain might be one of the most motivational people we have ever met. Truly a unique and inspiring person, we talked about everything from kids in a gym, to the role that social media is playing in the racial divide. 

In the series finale of The Line of Fire, Ramita interviews Sebastian Junger, the number one New York Times bestselling author, multi award-winning journalist and Oscar-nominated documentary maker.  Sebastian explains how he was inspired to become a journalist while researching dangerous jobs, and what drew him to conflict reporting.  When he was covering the war in Bosnia, Sebastian's first book The Perfect Storm became an instant best-seller, and Sebastian describes how retreating from the limelight to cover the war in Sierra Leone helped him cope with the pressures of overwhelming success.  Sebastian discusses life-changing experiences, including the time he spent with the famed Afghan fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud and being embedded with a platoon of US soldiers in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan, then considered one of the most dangerous postings in the US military. Sebastian shares his insights about the effects of witnessing violence and the worst of human nature, and about his decision to leave war reporting after the death of his close friend and collaborator Tim Hetherington who was killed while covering the Arab Spring in Libya in 2011. Show Notes: You can find all Sebastian's books (including Freedom, Tribe, and The Perfect Storm) and films (including Restrepo) here: http://www.sebastianjunger.com/ Follow Sebastian on Twitter @sebastianjunger Follow Sebastian on Instagram @sebastianjungerofficial

Major Friedman is a highly decorated Officer in the United States Air Force, currently serving as Commander of the Special Tactics Training Squadron, Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida. He originally received his commission in 2000 as a United States Marine Corps Officer and later transferred into the Air Forces elite as a Special Tactics Officer—aka Combat Controller— operating exclusively in the Special Operations community.Major Friedman has served four combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terrorism. His personal decorations include three Bronze Stars (one with Valor), a Meritorious Service Medal, three Commendation Medals, three Achievement Medals and the Air Force Combat Action Medal. He is a sought after speaker with expertise in War and Leadership as well as Spiritual Development and Spiritual Formation. He is an emerging leader spearheading a movement to bring hope and healing to men, women and families dealing with the scars of war.In April 2010, Major (then Captain) Friedman, under the direct leadership of four-star General Stanley McChrystal, deployed as the lead Joint Terminal Attack Controller to the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. This region was dubbed the “Valley of Death” as 44 US servicemen died there and hundreds were wounded. Captain Friedman was tasked with defending US forces during the closure of the Korengal Combat Outpost. While under direct and indirect hostile fire, he engaged multiple Taliban fighters with close air support which resulted in killing and wounding over 40 enemy and destroying several fighting positions– to include the famous Restrepo during final extraction.The motto "First There," reaffirms the Combat Controller's commitment to undertaking the most dangerous missions behind enemy lines. The mission of a combat controller is to deploy, undetected, into combat and hostile environments to establish assault zones or airfields, while simultaneously conducting air traffic control, fire support, command and control, direct action, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, humanitarian assistance and special reconnaissance in the joint arena. Combat controllers can infiltrate via combat diving and parachuting including military freefall and possess unique skills in demolition and the lethal joint terminal attack control qualification. All these skills Major Friedman has successfully mastered.In addition to being active duty in the Air Force, Major Friedman serves as an Executive Producer for Surrender, a faith-based film which follows true-life stories of seven elite combat warriors representing four branches of the US Special Operations Command.He quotes the Department Of Defense statistic that on average, 22 veterans commit suicide daily. Major Friedman is gravely concerned about the many who are suffering the effects of war, from self-destruction to self-elimination. Surrender highlights these challenges and shares messages of hope to the “hurting heroes of our country.” This platform includes suggestions of what we, as Americans, can do to support veterans fighting this epidemic of suicide and other effects as casualties of war.In 2011 Major Friedman and his wife Dayna, established SOF Missions, a faith-based humanitarian missions organization. Teams have been led both domestically and internationally to Brazil, Haiti, Peru, Philippines, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica.The organization has responded to several natural disasters deploying experts to aid those in need. SOF Missions has served an estimated 16,000 people through construction, medical clinics, schools and orphanages, as well as through food and supply distribution.

Daniel Kearney grew up as an Army brat but now calls Georgia home. After earning a Marketing degree, Kearney commissioned in 2002 as a Second Lieutenant. In his 19 years of service, he has 13 combat deployments including one in the well-known Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. Colonel Kearney continues his service and, at the time of this recording, serves as the Director of Future Operations an AI-Enabled Corps efforts known as PROJECT RIDGWAY. Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Colonel Daniel Kearney

Sebastian Junger is an American journalist, author, and filmmaker. He is well noted for his 1997 book, The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea, and with the success of this non-fiction book, Junger was touted as a new Hemingway. His work stimulated renewed interest in adventure non-fiction. The book received a large pre-publication deal for movie rights, was on the New York Times bestseller list for a year in the hardback edition, and for two years in paperback. Alongside British photographer Tim Hetherington, Junger created The Other War: Afghanistan, produced with ABC News and Vanity Fair. It was shown on Nightline in September 2008 and the two men shared the DuPont-Columbia Award for broadcast journalism for the work. His book, War revolves around a platoon of the US Army173rd Airborne stationed in Afghanistan. Junger, along with Hetherington, used material gathered in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan for the book and to create a related documentary feature, Restrepo. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and won the Grand Jury Prize for a domestic documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010. On April 27, 2011, Junger was presented with the "Leadership in Entertainment Award" by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) for his work on Restrepo. Junger's book, Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, was published in May 2016. Tribe studies war veterans from an anthropological perspective and asks, "How do you make veterans feel that they are returning to a cohesive society that was worth fighting for in the first place?" Junger's premise is that "Soldiers ignore differences of race, religion, and politics within their platoon..." and upon return to America, find a fractious society splintered into various competing factions, often hostile to one another. In Junger's latest book, Freedom, he uses personal experience gathered while on an expedition along the east coast railroad lines along with history to examine human nature as it searches for the balance between community and freedom. NEXT STEPS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO: 1. Get his book, Freedom, at amazon or wherever books are sold. 2. Visit his website at sebastianjunger.com. 3. Find him on Facebook and Twitter and other popular social media platforms. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO: – Intro – Freedom vs. Community – With Today's World Climate, Are We Headed Closer or Further Away from Freedom – More or Less Military Capacity – The Middle East Thinks Very Differently – Where Did We Go Wrong? – Freedom Infringement – Healthy Discord – Why This Book Right Now? – Run - Fight - Think – What Are You Hoping This Book Delivers to the Reader More Than Anything Else? – Battle Back Entitlement – Freedom Directly Tied to Unity or Community ABOUT ME: Hi, I'm Stephen Scoggins. After fighting from homelessness and depression to build multiple businesses employing hundreds of amazing people, I've learned a lot about what it really takes to overcome your limitations and build your dream life. Now, my goal is to help one million people get from where they are today, to where they want to be in life. To help with that, I'm releasing videos on this channel several times per week and posting regularly on social media. On this YouTube channel, I interview the world's foremost thought leaders on what it takes to master your life. I also have a library of free resources, downloadable eBooks, and personality tests to help you become the person you always wanted to be. Just check out my websites below! MASTER YOUR LIFE WITH FREE RESOURCES: My website: https://www.stephenscoggins.com Free eBooks & Resources: https://www.stephenscoggins.com/resources My Blog: https://stephenscoggins.com/blog/ Stuck to Unstoppable Podcast: https://stephenscoggins.com/stuck-to-unstoppable/ CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephen_scoggins/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephenscoggins/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenscoggins Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephen_scoggin

This week I kicked it with my good buddy Nick Betts, Army sniper and founder of Krupto Strategic, Nick has since reformed Krupto into a Media company and is an Industry go to for Photography and Video content production he recaps his journey from the streets of Ramadi to the Korengal Valley. Enjoy!

Righteous wars vs. immoral wars and duty to country in both. The relationship between individuals and groups when survival is at stake. Reincorporating the warrior back into society.Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Sebastian Junger discusses the life-long impact of tribes, how to rebuild connection to country when it gets lost, and the dangers of generalizing service members as heroes.CONNECT with The Resilient Life Podcast:Instagram SUBSCRIBE Get the latest video podcast on YouTubeGet the latest audio podcastCONNECT Ryan Manion on Social Media:Facebook - Twitter - Instagram - LinkedIn  LEARN about Travis Manion FoundationMEET Sebastian JungerSebastian Junger WebsiteSebastian Junger TwitterSebastian Junger FacebookSebastian Junger Instagram

For Veterans Day, Sebastian Junger joins us to look at the psychology behind the human instinct (especially among young men) to pursue war and self-sacrifice, how these motivations are inextricably linked to tribalism and community, and the tensions between the rules of community and the individual desire for freedom. We also reflect on the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal and engage in a friendly debate about the political climate in America today. Sebastian Junger has spent much of his journalism career embedded in the most dangerous places on Earth, including the Korengal Valley in eastern Afghanistan where he made the documentaries Restrepo and Korengal with his late colleague Tim Hetherington. He is the NYTimes bestselling author of The Perfect Storm, Tribe, Freedom, and War. Follow him on Twitter at @sebastianjunger.

Today we hear the second part of Ray McPadden's Combat Story. Ray is a former Army Infantry Officer who survived four brutal deployments. In Part 1, we covered his time with 10th Mountain in the Korengal Valley, a notoriously violent part of Afghanistan. [You can find Part 1 at https://youtu.be/uebr9kPuPLM or https://tinyurl.com/wfcat859] In Part 2, we pick up just after Ray returns from 16 months as a Platoon Leader in Afghanistan. He immediately goes to ROP (the Ranger Officer Program) to be assessed for the Ranger Regiment. In this interview, Ray provides some incredible detail about the types of missions and decisions soldiers have to make within the JSOC community and the stark differences between the special ops and conventional military in terms of resources, equipment, aviation, personnel, and more. For those who want to know what it was like to roll out on a multiple hit night in Iraq with JSOC, this interview will make you feel like you're inside the Stryker and on the objective. If you want more, check out Ray's great book - We March at Midnight. I hope you enjoy this second round of Ray's combat story as much as I did. Find Ray Online: Instagram @raymcpadden1 https://www.instagram.com/raymcpadden1/ Book We March at Midnight https://www.amazon.com/We-March-Midnight-War-Memoir-ebook/dp/B08W2NQF4H Find Ryan Online: Follow on Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Follow on Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email ryan@combatstory.com Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:46 - Guest introduction 1:50 - Interview begins and returning from the Korengal Valley 8:15 - Did you get treatment for PTSD after the first deployment 13:00 - Coming straight back from combat to Ranger Officer Program 20:25 - Interesting model in the Ranger Regiment 27:57 - What's a Ground Force Commander 30:08 - How hard is the Ranger Officer Program 33:43 - The Darby Queen 43:30 - Arriving to 2nd Ranger Battalion 46:52 - Big Boy Rules 50:57 - Combat Story #1 - Running ops Day 1 55:23 - JSOC Mission Briefs in combat 1:11:19 - Combat Story #2 - Hasty follow-on operation 1:18:45 - Couldn't sleep post-mission 1:23:56 - Combat Story #3: Tier 1 HVTs operating in difficult spaces 1:45:28 - Combat Story #4: The reality of warfare and children on the battlefield 1:53:38 - Why choose the title “We March at Midnight”? 1:56:25 - What did you carry with you into combat? 1:59:25 - Would you do it all again? 2:01:28 - Listener shout outs and comments

UPCOMING EVENT on November 11th (Veterans Day): If you'd like to attend a Q&A session on November 11th with Combat Story's Ryan Fugit, please fill out this form (https://tinyurl.com/552ewmu5). Today we hear Part I of the Combat Story of Ray McPadden, a former Army Infantry Officer who survived four deployments that included leading troops in one of the most dangerous valleys of Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division and as a Ground Force Commander in the Ranger Battalion. Listeners really appreciate our interviews with Special Operators and it's easy to see why. Many listeners have asked to hear a few more stores from the conventional side of the house. Today's episode focuses entirely on the conventional side of Ray's career and fighting that his Battalion Commander at the time promised would be harder than anything he would go on to do in the Rangers. Ray's experience in the Pech and Korangal Valleys will be eye opening to many who had no idea forces were fighting in this unforgiving terrain and in these isolated conditions. Many have seen Restrepo and the Hornet's Nest and can appreciate just how difficult that fighting was. Ray and his men fought to build the positions and fortifications that would later become the backdrop of those movies and books. We use Ray's own fantastic book - We March at Midnight - as a guide to walk through the first half of his career and will pick up in part two with his time in the Special Ops community. I hope you enjoy this first of two Combat Stories and his fight in what was known as the “Valley of Death” as much as I did. Find Ray Online: Instagram @raymcpadden1 https://www.instagram.com/raymcpadden1/ Book We March at Midnight https://www.amazon.com/We-March-Midnight-War-Memoir-ebook/dp/B08W2NQF4H Find Ryan Online: Follow on Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Follow on Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email ryan@combatstory.com Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:11 - Guest introduction 2:03 - Interview begins 5:10 - Reenacting Sniper (the movie) as a kid 12:54 - Texas A&M and learning from NCOs for the first time 18:50 - “Actions not words” and leading by example 21:14 - Mood in the Army in 2004-2005 starting out 24:05 - A life in the mountains 25:12 - Donkey and mule training 35:43 - The real side of a military spouse - “They go to war with you” 39:30 - Afghanistan and the Pech Valley 42:00 - First Platoon Sergeant - “The key person” for new LTs 45:22 - Reality of Mountain Warfare 47:22 - Combat Story #1: First big fight 1:21:40 - Combat Story #2: The counterattack 1:27:37 - The Korongal (Korangal aka Korengal) Valley and Restrepo and Operation Red Wings environment (Restrepo Info for those interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvUdruvbdmI) 1:30:01 - Combat Story #3: Initial fight in the Valley 1:44:04 - “War is Freedom” 1:50:13 - Delivering some of the hardest news possible 1:54:29 - Combat Story #4: The Last Firefight - “War is horrible” 2:02:10 - Conventions vs Special Operations 2:03:25 - Listener Comments and Shout Outs

Ray McPadden is a former Army Ranger, serving with 2nd Battalion/75th Ranger Regiment. Inspired to serve after 9/11, he began his time in the Army as an Infantry Officer with the 10th Mountain Division. Between Iraq and Afghanistan, he served four combat deployments, spending nearly two years fighting along the Afghan-Pakistan border during one of those tours. In fact, his unit established the first American foothold in the notorious Korengal Valley. In his relatively short time in the Army, Ray experienced the essence of combat and survival in the Infantry and in Special Operations. He's even reflected on it in two books he's written - one a memoir and the other, a war novel. Hear his powerful story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.raymcpadden.com | "And the Whole Mountain Burned" | "We March at Midnight" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

This entire episode was plagued by the tech gremlins from the onset. I am rereleasing this episode after correcting some audio issues and download issues. Hopefully you'll enjoy! Special Guest - Daniel Flores Dan is a lifelong Texan. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1985 and then served in the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After his active-duty time was over, he served in the Texas Army National Guard's special operations unit; Company G. 143rd Infantry LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol). In 1990 Mr. Flores went to Army flight school to become an Apache helicopter pilot with 7th Squadron 6th Cavalry Regiment, based in Conroe Texas. In 2006 he was deployed as the attack asset for the 10 th Mountain Division. He was assigned to the northeast sector, which included the infamous Korengal Valley, and numerous outposts in the Hindu Kush mountains and along the Pakistani border. He wrote a #1 bestselling book “South of Heaven, My Year in Afghanistan” telling of his experience flying the Apache helicopter in combat, and was instrumental in the success of the movie "Apache Warrior." From his book the film “Above the Best” was made. “Above the Best” premiered in March 2019 and promptly won the “Reel Hero” award at the GIFF (Gasparilla International Film Festival, in Tampa Fl.) and then numerous awards since. The film uses actual footage taken from his Apache helicopter in combat. The film has also been enshrined into the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning. He also flew airplanes and helicopters for 21 years, for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as an Air Interdiction Agent before retiring July 2020. He has been deployed to the U.S./Mexico border, and South America, on numerous occasions for operations against the Drug trafficking Cartels and the illegal immigrant surge. He currently flies an EC-145 Helicopter for Air Methods, as an EMS pilot, in the Houston area. Visit www.irreverentwarriors.com  for a list of all upcoming #Silkieshikes! If you liked this episode or want to share you story, shoot us an email kevin@twentyonegun.net  Visit www.twentyonegun.net for everything 21 Gun Follow 21 Gun on Instagram @21gunpodcast

Sebastian Junger is a journalist, war correspondent, Oscar-nominated filmmaker, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and the founder of the nonprofit organization RISC, which is dedicated to training freelance journalists in battlefield medicine and security protocols. Sebastian has covered conflicts around the globe and is the recipient of both the National Magazine Award and the Peabody Award. His debut film, Restrepo, documents the wartime experience of a platoon in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley and was nominated for an Academy Award.  He is the author of The Perfect Storm, Fire, A Death in Belmont, War, and Tribe. His latest book, Freedom, chronicles his year-long journey walking railroad lines down the east coast of the United States while exploring the tensions between personal freedom and community. His work has been featured in Harper's Magazine, New York Times Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Outside, Men's Journal and Vanity Fair, where he served as a contributing editor.    You can follow him on Twitter @sebastianjunger and on Instagram @sebastianjungerofficial. Find out more at http://www.sebastianjunger.com    On the latest Danger Close, Jack and Sebastian discuss conflict journalism, Afghanistan, the concept of freedom, and a recent near-death experience that has reshaped how Sebastian lives and reflects on life.   Presented by SIG Sauer. Featured Gear:   Work by Sebastian Junger: Freedom Fire Tribe  The Perfect Storm War A Death in Belmont Restrepo   Winkler Tomahawks: RnD Full-Size Axe RnD Compact Axe RnD Sub-Compact Axe Today's show is also brought to you by Organifi. Go to https://organifi.com/dangerclose for 20% off.

Lt Col Damon Friedman is a decorated special forces combat veteran who served multiple tours in Afghanistan. He has been awarded three Bronze Stars (including one with Valor) along with the Spirit of Hope Award for his work with veterans. But his story of fight and survival began long before he ever stepped foot onto the battlefield. Growing up on the streets of Los Angeles, Damon and his twin brother Ray, were raised by a single mother who worked tirelessly to give her boys every opportunity to be successful in life. Unfortunately, that meant constantly running away from their abusive father. Damon and Ray turned to crime to survive and one day, found themselves sitting in a juvenile detention facility. It was here that Damon heard a voice that would change the trajectory of his life for good.After successfully completing college, Damon enlisted in the Marine Corps and would eventually become an officer in the United States Air Force as a Combat Controller. It was during a fateful mission to the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan that that voice would come back, and Damon’s path would become clear. He was not just a combat soldier; he was a warrior of God. Today, Dr Damon Friedman is the founder of the SOF Mission, and serves to help millions of veterans suffering from PTSD and other mental health issues find their path to health and faith. Learn more about SOF Missions at: www.sofmissions.org #combatveteran #veteranlivesmatter #mentalhealth #suicideprevention #faith #faithingod #warriorofgod #experientialknowledge #8seconds

In this episode, Maj. Jake Miraldi is joined by retired Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta. In 2010, he became the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. Listen as he describes the 2007 mission in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, and the actions for which he received the award. Note: This episode was originally released in 2019.

O'Byrne is standing at the corner of Ninth Avenue and 36th Street with a to-go cup in each hand and the hood of his sweatshirt pulled up. It's six in the morning and very cold. He's put on twenty pounds since I last saw him and could be a laborer waiting for the gate to open at the construction site across the street. Now that he's out of the Army I'm supposed to call him Brendan, but I'm finding that almost impossible to do. We shake hands and he gives me one of the coffees and we go to get my car. The gash across his forehead is mostly healed, though I can still see where the stitches were. One of his front teeth is chipped and looks like a fang. He had a rough time when he got back to Italy; in some ways he was in more danger there than in combat. O'Byrne had been with Battle Company in the Korengal Valley, a small but extraordinarily violent slit in the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains of eastern Afghanistan. He was just one soldier out of thirty but seemed to have a knack for putting words to the things that no one else really wanted to talk about.War - Sebastian JungerLike all of Sebastian Junger's work, he has a way of painting a picture of where we're going with simple, efficient eloquence, and never more so than this opening paragraph in his book War. I myself first met Brendan in New York City.  He had driven  more than 10 hours from his home in North Carolina to meet with me and attend the premier of a film I had made with Mai Hua about my men's work.  That's the kind of thing Brendan will do for a stranger.  With the boundless energy of a giant puppy, Brendan O'Byrne is full of nervous excitement, warmth, enthusiasm, laughter and love, behind which is a huge well of often painful life experience that gives him a profound wisdom and generosity of spirit.Featured in the Oscar nominated film Restrepo and its follow up Korengal, Brendan served 15 months in Afghanistan, and here he takes time to talk with me about his childhood, multi generational trauma, prison, addiction, PTSD and his time in the military.  He's an exceptional, raw, brave, sensitive and wounded man who I believe has so much to offer the world and I've wanted to share his indomitable spirit with you since this podcast's conception.    Title track composed by Jerry Hyde and Nick Van Gelder, produced by Nick Van Gelder, keyboards by Kenny Dickenson, brass by Noel Langley, vocals by Sian O'Gorman.     Audio Engineering by Sam Williams at  Right Royal Audio  

22JUL2007: Serving as a medic with 2nd Platoon, Battle Company, 2-503IN, 173d ABN BDE, PFC Juan Restrepo deployed with his unit to the Korengal Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan in May of 2007. PFC Restrepo and his unit quickly understood they had landed in the heart of enemy country where firefights would become a daily part of life. As a medic, PFC Restrepo was tasked with looking after his platoon both on combat patrols as well as during down time on base. In turn, his job never really stopped, just changed forms. A few months into his deployment, on 22JUL2007, PFC Restrepo was on a patrol when enemy fire erupted all around. Instinctively going to ground for cover, PFC Restrepo then did what a great medic does, he raised his head to see if any of his brothers were hit. In doing so, he was struck by enemy fire and mortally wounded. As his brothers gathered to provide medical aid, PFC Restrepo did his best to relay what these men needed to do to treat him, the normal roles now reversed. PFC Juan Restrepo, age 20, would pass away that day on the MEDEVAC flight. For continually going above and beyond to care for his men, PFC Juan Restrepo would be awarded, posthumously the Bronze Star.

25OCT2007: Serving as a team leader with Company B, 2-503IN, SPC Salvatore Giunta and his squad began a patrol that would take them back to the relative safety of their nearby outpost. Shortly after leaving their overwatch position, SPC Giunta's squad became the focus of a near ambush initiated by 10-15 Taliban fighters. Armed with assault rifles, machine guns, and RPGs, the enemy force initiated contact with a heavy barrage of close range fire. The two elements were so close that attack aviation overhead was unable to differentiate between friend and foe. Almost instantly, the two men at the head of the column were hit and fell wounded. In reflexive response, SPC Giunta fired into the enemy attackers as he fell back a few feet to consolidate his fire team. The volume of fire only intensifying and now coming from two sides, SPC Giunta led a counterattack to break up the ambush. Leading with grenades, SPC Giunta and his men pushed into the teeth of the enemy ambush, recovering one of the wounded US Soldiers to whom they began providing medical aid. However, SGT Joshua Brennan wasn't lying where he fell. Despite the continued enemy fire, SPC Giunta pushed forward in search of his fallen brother. Cresting the hill he spotted two Taliban fighters carrying a wounded SGT Brennan away. Without hesitation, Giunta took aim and charged ahead killing one enemy fighter and wounding the other causing them to drop SGT Brennan. His team consolidated and held on for reinforcements as the battle dissipated. For his selfless act of courage in breaking up the enemy ambush and rescuing a wounded American from being taken captive, SPC Salvatore Giunta would be awarded the Medal of Honor.

Former Army Infantryman Jason Mace, featured in Sebastian Junger's war documentary film "Restrepo," joins the show to speak about his experiences in the Korengal Valley, as well as continue the dialogue on PTSD, substance use, and helping to make an impact on veteran suicides.[Organizations mentioned during the show]Warrior's Heart (Strength through healing) - https://www.warriorsheart.com/[A Historical Examination of Military Records of US Army Suicide, 1819 to 2017]https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2757484[CLIMB4]** CLIMB4 Fundraiser (click here) or visit https://www.climb-4.org/funVisit the CLIMB4 website (click here) or visit https://www.climb-4.orgDonate to CLIMB4 (click here) or visit https://www.climb-4.org/donateApply for hiking/camping gear (click here) or visit https://www.climb-4.org/apply[VHA Veteran Suicide Statistics - 2019]2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2019/2019_National_Veteran_Suicide_Prevention_Annual_Report_508.pdf

TALES OF VALOR EP 36: Salvatore Giunta |  Medal of Honor recipient Salvatore Giunta and his team's engagement in Korengal Valley of Afghanistan truly inspired us. In a real life scene that lasted about 3 minutes, just telling the story had us feeling like it was 3 hours. The example Salvatore Giunta showed us about courage and commitment to his team is unlike any other. Thank you sir and thank you to the entire team. Thank you to our listeners both loyal and new! Thank you for subscribing/following, rating/reviewing etc. We appreciate you.  Follow us on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/tovpod  

My guest today is Brendan O'Byrne. Brendan is a veteran of the United States Army. In 2007, he served a 15 month deployment in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan with the men of Second Platoon, Battle Company. This deployment was documented in Sebastian Junger's films, Restrepo and Korengal. Brendan was also featured in another documentary called The Last Patrol and in Junger's book, War. Brendan and I discuss good music, the worst parts of combat, the difficulty of coming home, and how war feels more human than modern American society. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

Sebastian Junger's 2010 memoir "War" follows the life and relationships of an American platoon stationed in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. What emerges from his story is a beautiful and disturbing picture of two ethical ways of life that divide Americans on the homefront and Americans on the battlefront.

My really close friend and fellow Veteran Sam Fuller was on the podcast we went very deep into his Service and the different conflicts he's been apart of. Fighting in Fallujah and the Korengal Valley which was captured in the documentary Restrepo, which was his company.  Sam is also the County Veteran Service Officer for Lafayette County, Wisconsin. He assist our active MIL/Vets and dependents, spouses with different benefits, resources. He also assists the community many different events relating to the veteran community.  Sam is one of the many veterans I look up to and gather advice from. He is a wealth of knowledge and does not hesitate to let you know when your wrong. Can't to have him on again. 

Sebastian Junger is a journalist, author and film director. His books include bestseller The Perfect Storm, War, and Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging. He directed Restrepo, a harrowing and touching documentary that follows the brutal deployment of a U.S platoon in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan (ex Navy Seal commander Jocko Willink has pointed to the documentary as the best depiction of life on the front there is; it's on Netflix, go watch it). We talk about how much modern life differs from the lives of our ancestors. We explore how evolution shaped us as social primates but increasingly we live alone and apart from those close to us, noting how in cities we regularly pack ourselves like sardines into public transport but avoid each other's gaze like it's a mortal sin. We discuss the intense meaningfulness found in close knit communities where survival is on the line, and examine why this means that soldiers often do not want to return to society after war. We note the discrepancy between being on the front line, where every day is about keeping yourself and your brothers alive and every action matters, and living in a safe wealthy society, doing a fairly inconsequential job with seemingly no impact on personal or group survival. We consider the importance of person to person interactions and social rituals like weddings, and examine how tribal societies used ritual to assist returning soldiers in reintegration and healing the psychic traumas of war, noting how we lack any equivalent rituals today. Finally, we share reflections on growing up in affluent middle class neighborhoods and tips for leading a satisfying, community oriented existence.

In this episode, Dr. Aaron J. Smith interviews New York Times Best Selling Author and award winning journalist Sebastian Junger on his time embedded with US troops in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan, coping with posttraumatic and transitional stress upon returning home, and how clinicians and researchers can support our Veterans in recreating a sense of meaning and connection in their post-military lives. For more on Sebastian, links from the conversation, and the APA citation for this episode visit the show notes on our website. The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at paloaltou.edu/concept.

Steve Perchak sits down with us again to talk about how things have been. Steve was on for Ep.012 and it has been leading the way in downloads ever since, so we had to have him come on and let us know how things have been going and what is new. He was an accomplished golfer, played since he was 2yo, he is back to swinging sticks and ready to take that to the next level also.  Check out the episode and leave Steve some comments! This Fridays episode, The Saga Ep.021 w/ 1LT Derek Knapp will drop. Derek was a platoon leader in Baker Company, 2-12 Infantry Battalion in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan in 2009-2010. Going to be the episode to catch.  Reach out if you want to come on the show to have a chat. Reach out to HOVPODCAST7@gmail.com LIKE-COMMENT-SHARE-GET INKED!!   HOV©2019

Combat Music is the theme today (sorry for the glitches). Devon Walker, Pat Russell and Andrew McMeley came and talked about their experience with music in preparing them for combat operations. The music that gets the fire stoked and focused on the mission. I challenged them to define these feelings that the music created in them at that moment and thoughts of home. Devon talks about his selection of music before and after mission. Mudvayne to start things off and later Black Label Society, but he always dialed it down while he was cleaning the .50 cal. Devon will be on again to tell his story and also co-host some episodes.  Pat was medically retired in 2018, he came on to shared an in-depth look at his selection of music, he is a certified metalhead. Pat started "Resiliency Outreach" in Tennessee, we will be doing an episode to support his outstanding efforts. Going from the Infantry to Special Forces, he breaks down his selection of music and how it drives him to mission accomplishment. Pat also received the Stellate Ganglion Block, or SGB as its called, we are going to have him back on to talk about how it has been affecting him. Be looking for Pat's upcoming episode. Invited an active duty Soldier on to address his music during combat, Andrew is a hard hitter from the Korengal Valley. He recalls stepping out the gate with either rap or metal. He tells about a time when he bonded with another Veteran, Damien Gardner, proving once again that the bonds in combat last. We'll have Andrew back on again, he's always great to talk with. LIKE-SHARE-SUBSCRIBE-GET INKED!! HOV©2019

Brandon Bettis joined the show today to talk about his military career and the path that has led him to a new career he loves and the stable life for his family. Brandon highlighted the process of becoming an Infantry Officer, deployment to the Korengal Valley (with some stories and more to come), his amazing time at the Old Guard and what it takes to make a successful transition into Veteran Life.  The big take aways from this conversation are as follows:  1) Get a Mentor, one that can help guide you through the transition process, be it military or civilian. Find someone that can impart knowledge for the situation and location you are in. 2) Maintain control of your transition, focus on long-term goals and put things in front of yourself that helps you get there. 3) Look out for your biggest fans, your family is the bedrock of the Veteran, don't break it, safeguard the family unit. 4) Use the "Network" and "Community" to reach goals and to also help others.   Enjoy the episode and if this episode sparked a topic with you, then drop us a line on the Facebook page or email to: HOVPODCAST7@gmail.com and we will get it set up. Everyone be safe and stay blessed.   HOV©2019  

In this episode, MWI's Maj. Jake Miraldi is joined by retired Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta. In 2010, he became the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. Listen as he describes the 2007 mission in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, and the actions for which he received the award.

Ray McPadden, a newly minted officer, takes command of an infantry platoon for deployment to Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, where he discovers just how deeply your first deployment can influence the rest of your career, what he can endure and, most of all, what it takes to be a leader.

Journalist/documentary filmmaker Sebastian Junger (Restrepo, The Perfect Storm) talks about the new PBS Memorial Day special Going to War and his experience as an embedded reporter covering the War in Afghanistan. He recalls his first close call with an I.E.D. in the Korengal Valley, the fear and exhilaration of first arriving in the combat zone, and how war taps into something primal in all of us. He discusses his own struggle with PTSD, how sharing war stories helps our soldiers reintegrate to civilian life, and why so many men and women in uniform feel uncomfortable when someone says “thank you for your service.” Going to War airs Memorial Day, May 28, at 9PM ET/PT on PBS. Visit https://www.pbs.org/show/going-to-war/ to learn more. Keep up with Sebastian Junger at www.sebastianjunger.com and follow him on twitter at @sebastianjunger.  Today’s podcast was sponsored by The Brave podcast, Dollar Shave Club, PolicyGenius, and Lightstream.

Sebastian Junger’s insights on leadership and teamwork within a community - and civilization at large - are remarkable.  His broad range of experiences as a war-correspondent, anthropology student and tree cutter inform perspectives that have made him a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker.   Sebastian is known for his insights on the extraordinary bonds formed in combat.  He has also studied PTSD, and the connection with depression and suicide; which he attributes to a loss of deep communal bonds. He says the basis and prevalence of mental illness and depression today may be derived from a society where all of our material needs, but none of our evolutionary social needs are met. Sebastian’s insight on the the importance of leadership and team accountability harken back to base needs that have been lost in the progress of civilization.   Key Takeaways [2:09] Although having written on and off for newspapers and magazines in his 20s, Sebastian earned his living as a climber and tree cutter until he was sidelined by a chainsaw injury. During his recovery time in Gloucester, Mass., a local fishing boat, the Andrea Gail, was lost to a storm at sea, and this disaster crystallized his desire to write about dangerous jobs. The Perfect Storm was his first book. [4:29] Sebastian discusses the social nature of humanity, attributing our survival to our ability to coordinate our efforts. We’re smart, we can build tools and weapons, and we work together. One of the ironies of modernity and of wealth is that people are able to be more independent of their community. [6:51] Sebastian comments on teams in business, and how they differ from evolutionary social groups. Life-and-death stakes bring out the best in people. A platoon will have greater devotion and loyalty than an office team. [9:35] Sebastian sees the infrastructure that keeps us alive today as separate from our immediate lives. We don’t eat locally. Everything is part of some larger process. There are huge physical advantages to industrialization and mass society, but also huge social and psychological deficiencies. When you don’t depend on, or even know, the people around you, that isolates you, and leads to depression and suicide. [12:46] Sebastian notes that PTSD cases outnumber the returned military who have actually served in combat. He explains why that may be. We are wired to deal with trauma, but not with the alienation and isolation of the American suburb. Addressing leadership, he suggests that skills that work in combat are the ultimate leadership skills and traits, and business leaders need those traits. Leaders eat last. [18:32] If you have a leader who takes a bonus while firing his people, that’s terrible leadership. In a band of hunter-gatherers, that leader would be killed. When we allow that type of leadership behavior, we are radically departing from our social communal past. [21:01] In the military, leaders give orders in their own name. There is no passing the buck. Sebastian recalls an incident of grave danger, where the lieutenant took a life-and-death risk to assess the situation. His sergeant immediately stepped up, following his example. [25:44] Two reporting situations altered Sebastian strongly. First, Afghanistan in 1996 and 2000, fighting the Taliban. For the first time, Sebastian saw extremely wounded people. He unknowingly had PTSD on his return. The second was being with the 2nd Platoon, Battle Company in the Korengal valley. The bonds he experienced were intense and changed his life. [28:27] Sebastian felt that the loyalty he observed, and was part of, in the 2nd Platoon, turned him inside out. Returning home, he was so altered that he could not continue leading his life as it was. He says it was not trauma; it was something much more positive. [30:38] There is much more to war journalism than being embedded with the U.S. Military. That feels so much safer than going by yourself to a civil war in Africa, or Afghanistan, or to the Arab Spring countries, on your own. You’re not even sure you can trust the people with you. The country needs journalists. [32:17] Sebastian’s degree is in Cultural Anthropology. He wrote his thesis on a Navajo reservation, on Navajo long distance runners. That thesis sparked his interest in writing. Anthropology informs everything he has written, especially his research on PTSD. PTSD is much more widespread today than in any previous generation. We are no more a communal society. [39:05] Sebastian shares a new issue he is exploring: raising his six-week old daughter. He is interested in evolutionary parenting. What infants need is closeness to their parents. As children grow, girls stay close to home; boys form groups and range farther away from home. We are not allowing boys today to  roam.   Website: SebastianJunger.com Watch for Hell on Earth, on the National Geographic Channel in June, 2017 Twitter: @SebastianJunger     Books Mentioned in This Episode The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea, by Sebastian Junger Fire, by Sebastian Junger A Death in Belmont, by Sebastian Junger War, by Sebastian Junger Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, by Sebastian Junger The Evolution of Childhood: Relationships, Emotion, Mind, by Melvin Konner   Bio Sebastian Junger is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of The Perfect Storm, Fire, A Death in Belmont, War, and Tribe. As an award-winning journalist, a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and a special correspondent at ABC News, he has covered major international news stories around the world, and has received both a National Magazine Award and a Peabody Award. Junger is also a documentary filmmaker whose debut film Restrepo, a feature-length documentary (co-directed with Tim Hetherington), was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Restrepo, which chronicled the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, is widely considered to have broken new ground in war reporting. Junger has since produced and directed three additional documentaries about war and its aftermath. Which Way Is The Front Line From Here? which premiered on HBO, chronicles the life and career of his friend and colleague, photojournalist Tim Hetherington, who was killed while covering the civil war in Libya in 2011. Korengal returns to the subject of combat and tries to answer the eternal question of why young men miss war. The Last Patrol, which also premiered on HBO, examines the complexities of returning from war by following Junger and three friends — all of whom had experienced combat, either as soldiers or reporters — as they travel up the East Coast railroad lines on foot as “high-speed vagrants.” Junger has also written for magazines including Harper’s, The New York Times Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Outside, and Men’s Journal. His reporting on Afghanistan in 2000, profiling Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was assassinated just days before 9/11, became the subject of the National Geographic documentary “Into the Forbidden Zone,” and introduced America to the Afghan resistance fighting the Taliban. Junger lives in New York City and Cape Cod.

Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. (Ret) Sal Giunta discusses his actions in the Korengal Valley in 2007, how he managed keep calm under duress, and what he was fighting for.

If you want a better understanding of warriors, tribal societies, human nature, and what we can learn from it all, this is for you. My podcast guest is Sebastian Junger (@sebastianjunger), the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Perfect Storm, Fire, A Death in Belmont, War, and Tribe. As an award-winning journalist, a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, and a special correspondent at ABC News, he has covered major international news stories around the world and has received both a National Magazine Award and a Peabody Award. Junger is also a documentary filmmaker whose debut film "Restrepo," a feature-length documentary (co-directed with Tim Hetherington), was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. "Restrepo," which chronicled the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, is widely considered to have broken new ground in war reporting. Junger has since produced and directed three additional documentaries about war and its aftermath. In this episode, we cover rites of passage (and their importance), warfare, the art of great non-fiction writing, PTSD, evolutionary biology, and much more. Some of the topics will no doubt offend many of you, and this is a good thing. I urge you to bite your lip, if need be, and listen to the entire episode. There are gems within, including hilarious stories, surprising statistics, and tear-jerking epiphanies. Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by FreshBooks. FreshBooks is a bookkeeping software, which is used by a ton of the start-ups I advise and many of the contractors I work with. It is the easiest way to send invoices, get paid, track your time, and track your clients. FreshBooks tells you when your clients have viewed your invoices, helps you customize your invoices, track your hours, automatically organize your receipts, have late payment reminders sent automatically and much more. Right now you can get a free month of complete and unrestricted use. You do not need a credit card for the trial. To claim your free month, go to FreshBooks.com/Tim and enter “Tim” in the “how did you hear about us section.” This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world's largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99Designs. I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body, and I've also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you're happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run. ***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss

Tonight is MOVIE NIGHT!We have a very special guest from the soon to be released Kilo Two Bravo film will be on to follow up on our first interview about this awesome movie. Paul Katis (Director/Producer) is an extremely versatile award-winning director with extensive experience of a wide range of genres. He has worked in TV & commercial film production for over 25 years, and in that time has amassed a wealth of credits and experience. After initially editing then producing commercials, he has moved on to direct over 50 commercials before concentrating on longer form production. Learn more about this movie that will be out next week at http://www.kilotwobravomovie.com.We will also be talking to Jason from another soon to be released indie film, Pech River Boys. In May 2010, Bravo Company / 3rd Platoon / 1-327IN of the legendary 101st Airborne Division was deployed to the Pech River Valley located in Afghanistan's Kunar province.  They were stationed at COP Michigan in the mouth of the deadly Korengal Valley.  Pech River Boys: Tales From Afghanistan will be a documentary film to preserve the events that these men experienced and to remember their fallen brother Spc Brian Tabada.This film is still being funded on gofundme.com and more info about the film can be found at https://www.facebook.com/pechriverboys. 

Sebastian Junger spent several months embedded with the Second Platoon of the 173rd Airborne Brigade during their 2007-08 deployment to the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan. Command called the soldiers of Second Platoon “the best trained...and worst disciplined”.

Sebastian Junger spent several months embedded with the Second Platoon of the 173rd Airborne Brigade during their 2007-08 deployment to the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan. Command called the soldiers of Second Platoon “the best trained...and worst disciplined”.

Knight & Day is a movie of thunderous comings and goings. The pretext for it all is a little battery that the hero has to keep out of the hands of the bad guys. We're told that the battery is "the first perpetual energy source since the sun..." Restrepo is a superb documentary by Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Jugner. It's about American soldiers in one of Afghanistan's most dangerous areas, the Korengal Valley. The action is worlds away from the centers of power where generals and their presidents are currently struggling to set policy...

Bruce McQuain from Blackfive joined us once again for Someone You Should Know, our weekly tribute to the troops. Bruce spent 28 years in the U.S. Army and he is a veteran of the Vietnam war. He brings a perspective and understanding to these stories that we could never match. Last week, two men were awarded the nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor. Last weekend, Bruce told us about one of those men, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert James Miller. This week, he told us about the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. His name is Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, "Giunta’s squad of eight soldiers was ambushed during a nighttime patrol in the Korengal Valley in eastern Afghanistan, an area so dangerous to American troops it had become known as the “Valley of Death.” An Army specialist at the time, Giunta survived a bullet to the chest, but his life was saved by the protective body armor he was wearing. Under fire, Giunta immediately proceeded to recover two fellow soldiers wounded in the attack who had become separated from the main part of the squad. It was after this that Giunta saw two Taliban fighters dragging away the body of another wounded soldier, Sgt. Josh Brennan, who was also one of his closest friends. Giunta threw grenades at the insurgents and after firing all his rounds forced them to drop Brennan to the ground. While under fire, he provided care to Brennan until medical help could arrive. Brennan did not survive his wounds nor did the squad’s medic, Spec. Hugo Mendoza. Most of those on patrol that night suffered serious injuries." The Someone You Should Know radio collaboration began as an extension of Matt Burden’s series at Blackfive. Bruce does an incredible job with the series every week. The Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here. What is Pundit Review Radio? On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-8pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.

Bruce McQuain from Blackfive joined us once again for Someone You Should Know, our weekly tribute to the troops. Bruce spent 28 years in the U.S. Army and he is a veteran of the Vietnam war. He brings a perspective and understanding to these stories that we could never match. Last week, two men were awarded the nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor. Last weekend, Bruce told us about one of those men, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert James Miller. This week, he told us about the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. His name is Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, "Giunta’s squad of eight soldiers was ambushed during a nighttime patrol in the Korengal Valley in eastern Afghanistan, an area so dangerous to American troops it had become known as the “Valley of Death.” An Army specialist at the time, Giunta survived a bullet to the chest, but his life was saved by the protective body armor he was wearing. Under fire, Giunta immediately proceeded to recover two fellow soldiers wounded in the attack who had become separated from the main part of the squad. It was after this that Giunta saw two Taliban fighters dragging away the body of another wounded soldier, Sgt. Josh Brennan, who was also one of his closest friends. Giunta threw grenades at the insurgents and after firing all his rounds forced them to drop Brennan to the ground. While under fire, he provided care to Brennan until medical help could arrive. Brennan did not survive his wounds nor did the squad’s medic, Spec. Hugo Mendoza. Most of those on patrol that night suffered serious injuries." The Someone You Should Know radio collaboration began as an extension of Matt Burden’s series at Blackfive. Bruce does an incredible job with the series every week. The Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here. What is Pundit Review Radio? On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-8pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.

This edition features stories on 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division battling the taliban in the Korengal Valley, U.S. and NATO forces keeping watch on roads throughout Afghanistan, coalition forces de-mining Afghanistan, ballistic missile defense in the Pacific and members of a provincial reconstruction team in Panjshir, Afghanistan, remembering their fallen comrades.

This edition features stories on the significance of Vice President Dick Cheney's recent visit to Baghdad, Soldiers destroying a torture compound in Zambraniyah, Iraq, Soldiers patrolling the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan to reduce insurgent attacks, Soldiers assessing the damage of a bridge in Taji, Iraq and the hard work being done by military medical staff at the Balad emergency room.