Modern Day Sniper Podcast
by Caylen Wojcik
The Modern Day Sniper Podcast is your ultimate source for insights and discussions on the sniper lifestyle, from active duty to life beyond the uniform. Hosted by Caylen Wojcik, join us as we explore the art and science of precision shooting, the mental and physical discipline required, and the ongoing journey of self-improvement and mastery.Caylen began his professional journey as a rifleman in the US Marine Corps, where he served as a Scout/Sniper and instructor. He trained Marines, soldiers, and Navy operatives in marksmanship and urban combat tactics. After sustaining severe injuries in 2004, Caylen passed his experience to new snipers before leaving active duty. Since then, he has taught precision rifle skills to hundreds of military, law enforcement, and civilians.
Episodes
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MDS Episode #0147 | Nick Gebhardt - The Art of Observation
Send us Fan Mail What separates looking from actually seeing? In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen and Nick explore the relationship between human perception, self-awareness, and performance. Starting with a discussion of Carl Jung's depth psychology, archetypes, the shadow…
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MDS Episode #0146 | Nick Gebhardt - Process Under Pressure
Send us Fan Mail Nicholas is back to break down Jesse’s trip to the IPRF World Championship and what happens when preparation, pressure, difficult conditions, and high expectations all collide. With only a short window to learn a new Falcor factory rifle before competing against some of the best...
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MDS Episode #0145 | Ryan Bucciantini - Beyond the Rifle
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits down with Ryan Bucciantini for a conversation that goes well beyond marksmanship. Ryan brings more than 17 years of coaching experience and a 14-year tenure as a Firearms Instructor with the U.S. Coast Guard, giving him a unique perspective at the...
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MDS Episode #0144 | Nick Gebhardt - From Fundamentals to Flow
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits down with Nick to talk about Jesse’s preparation for the IPRF World Championship, the scramble to get him behind a factory-class rifle, and what it really takes to prepare a shooter to perform under pressure. The conversation quickly moves beyond...
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MDS Episode #0143 | Frank Green - Faster Twist Won’t Fix a Bad Bullet
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits back down with Frank Green of Bartlein Barrels for the second installment of their barrel series — and this one gets deep into the details that actually matter when you sit down to load ammo. Frank kicks things off by sharing real hard data from his…
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MDS Episode #0142 | Nick Gebhardt - The Passport, The Lie, and The Lesson
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits down with co-host Nick Gebhardt for the second installment of their ongoing series on the inner game of precision rifle competition. The conversation kicks off with real-world load development — Nick walks through how fast he got Jesse's new Falcor…
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MDS Episode # 0141 | Nick Gebhardt - Chasing The Dragon
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen Wojcik and Nick Gebhardt — PRS Tac national champion, Black Hawk pilot, and founder of ScopeChaps — kick off a new mini-series built around an honest, unscripted conversation about what precision rifle competition reveals about who we are as people. They…
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MDS Episode #0140 | Dr. David Bach - Inside the Shooter's Brain
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Dr. David Bach — Harvard-trained physician and neuroscientist, serial entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Optios, a neuro-technology company built on over $350M in DARPA-funded research into elite human performance. Dr. Bach breaks...
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MDS Episode #0139 | Frank Green - The Barrel Maker
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Frank Green of Bartlein Barrels—one of the premier precision barrel manufacturers in the country and a lifelong shooter with roots in high power rifle competition dating back to the late 1980s. Frank traces his path from competitive...
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MDS Episode #0138 | Ryan Bertrand - MDS Acquires Longtucky Supply
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Ryan Bertrand—founder of Longtucky Supply and seasoned product developer with a background spanning product design, precision rifle competition, and backcountry hunting. They trace Ryan's path from identifying real pain points on the...
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MDS Episode #0137 | Nick Gebhardt - PRS Tac Class Champion
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen Wojcik sits down in Choteau, Montana with Nick Gebhart—PRS Tac division national champion, Dustoff Black Hawk pilot, founder of ScopeChaps / CanChaps, and reticle designer for Zero Compromise Optic. They trace Nick’s path from small‑town Montana and...
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MDS Episode #0136 | The Beginning of the Untold
Send us Fan Mail This episode is a true fireside conversation—recorded in the field during a multi-day training evolution while the MDS Team is in Arizona. Caylen is joined by Juan Ospina, Chris Lajczok, and Rafael De Hoya—three Marines from the Modern Day Sniper mentorship team—for an unfiltered...
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MDS Episode #0135 | Francis Colon - The Rifle Reveals What The Mind Conceals
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits down with Francis Colon for a recap of the MDT Barrel Burner 2026 PRS Pro Match held at The Leadfarm in Washington State. They dive into the realities of high-level precision rifle performance, unpacking what it actually takes to compete, improve, and...
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MDS Episode #0134 | Erik Cortina - Believe the Target
Send us Fan Mail This episode features a deep dive into precision shooting, ballistics, and the mental aspects of marksmanship. Caylen Wojcik and Erik Cortina share expert insights on rifle setup, trigger control, wind reading, and the importance of mental focus for shooters of all levels. This...
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MDS Episode #0133 | Jay Nichol - The Mindful Hunter
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen sits down with Jay Nichol—backcountry hunter, outfitter, and the mind behind The Mindful Hunter—following his time in our Long Range Skills Progression course in Yakima, Washington. This conversation goes well beyond rifles...
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MDS Episode #0132 | Francis Colon - The Game Within
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen sits down with Francis Colon for a wide-ranging conversation on precision rifle competition, mindset, training, and the deeper process of becoming a better shooter. What starts with stories about brutal mountain passes…
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MDS Podcast Episode #0131 | Meet The Mentors
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen sits down at Nail Spring Ranch with mentors Aaron Martin, Juan Ospina, and Landen Jones to kick off their newest masterclass, Rapid Engagement Techniques, taught by Landen. Recorded during an immersive training week at the...
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MDS Podcast Episode #0130 | Vincent Peak
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the podcast we traveled to Spokane, WA and spent a day with our newest addition to the Mentorship Team at Modern Day Sniper, Mr. Vincent Peak. Vince and his wife Morgan own and operate Northwest Elite, a therapy spa center. Vincent and his wife Morgan have...
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MDS Episode #0129 | Keep the Promise: Romeo Santiago on Brotherhood, Loss, and Carrying the Weight
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Romeo Santiago for a grounded and meaningful conversation centered on service, sacrifice, and taking responsibility for those we served alongside. The discussion covers Romeo’s military background,...
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From Combat to Creation: Dagan Van Oosten on Leadership, Life After Service, and Nomadic Research | MDS Episode #0128
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Dagan Van Oosten for a wide-ranging and candid conversation that spans military service, leadership, entrepreneurship, and life after the uniform. Dagan shares lessons learned from his time in the…
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Jack Hinson: The Birth of American Guerrilla Warfare | MDS Episode #0127
Send us Fan Mail If you care about rifleman-ship, this episode is about more than history. It’s about discipline, limits, ethics, and what happens when skill spreads faster than wisdom. In this episode: Why the “old world” of precision shooting felt earned (and why it’s gone) How YouTube + gear +...
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Precision & Purpose: A Deep Dive with Sam Carlson of Thunder Beast | MDS Episode #0126
Send us Fan Mail Caylen Wojcik sits down with competitive shooter, match director, and Thunder Beast Arms Corp shooter Sam Carlson for a long, thoughtful, and refreshingly transparent discussion about the places where precision rifle shooting, personal growth, trauma, ego, and self-awareness...
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Wind, Intuition & the Science of Precision Shooting | MDS Episode #0125
Send us Fan Mail Former Marine Scout Sniper and Instructor Owen Mulder joins Caylen Wojcik in the Modern Day Sniper studio for the first time — a conversation that dives deep into the art and science of reading the wind, training intuition, and performing under pressure. From sniper school ranges...
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Snipers of the Revolution: Daniel Morgan & Louis Wetzel | MDS Episode #0124
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Modern Day Sniper Podcast. In this history lesson, we close out the life of Louis Wetzel, the infamous frontier rifleman, and dive into the rise of Daniel Morgan, one of the most impactful American riflemen of the Revolutionary War. From Wetzel’s frontier…
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Modern Marksmanship, Wind Reading & Law Enforcement Sniper Lessons | MDS Episode #0123
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik reconnects with competitive shooter Nate Humbard for an unplanned deep dive into the fundamentals of rifle craft. What started as a “History Lesson” recording turned into 60+ minutes of raw shop talk on the realities...
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MDS Episode #0122 - How A PRS Champion Trains for Elite Rifle Competition w/ Corson Piper
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Pacific Northwest shooter, craftsman, and all-around salt-of-the-earth human Corson Piper for an honest conversation on performance, pressure, and finding purpose behind the rifle. The episode opens…
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MDS Episode #0121 - Death Wind – The Untold Story of Lewis Wetzel w/ Nate Humbard
Send us Fan Mail In this second episode of the Modern Day Sniper History Series, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Nate Humbard to explore the raw and riveting life of Lewis Wetzel, also known as Death Wind—a legendary frontiersman, rifleman, and early prototype of what we now call a sniper. From...
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MDS Episode #0120 - Sniper School to Backcountry Wisdom w/ Chris Camren
Send us Fan Mail In this raw and real episode, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Marine veteran, hunter, and lifelong student Chris Camren for a raw, honest conversation about the evolution of marksmanship, mentorship, and mindset. From early days in the Corps to navigating the backcountry with sons…
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MDS Episode #0119 - Solo Hunting Changed My Life w/ Luke Carrick
Send us Fan Mail What happens when solitude meets the backcountry? In this episode, Caylen Wojcik sits down with longtime hunting mentor, guide, and adventure photographer Luke Carrick to talk about the medicine of the mountains, the lessons only hardship can teach, and how solo hunting became a...
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Nation Founded By Riflemen | Modern Day Sniper Podcast Ep.118
Send us Fan Mail In this first installment of our historical series, Caylen Wojcik is joined by assistant instructor and lifelong rifleman Nate Humbard for an unfiltered, in-depth conversation tracing the roots of American sniping—from the frontiersmen of the 1700s to the modern-day warrior’s...
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MDS Episode #0117 - Landen Jones - Part 2 - The LE Sniper Skills Clinic Debrief
Send us Fan Mail In this episode I sit down with Landen to discuss some debrief points from the last two Law Enforcement Sniper Skills clinics we’ve taught together. These classes are going really well and the curriculum has developed substantially over the years of teaching it. We touch on why…
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MDS Episode #0116 - Who Is Landen Jones - Our LE Sniper Program Director
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m sitting down with Landen Jones. Landen Jones is a former US Army Sniper, a current Cowlitz County Deputy Sheriff, and the lead sniper for the XXX regional SWAT team. Landen comes to Modern Day Sniper with the same goals and vision as what drives us - evolve…
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MDS Episode #0115 - Galen Shea - The Chemistry of CLR
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast we’ve brought on Galen Shea for a conversation on rifle cleaning solvents, more specifically, CLR. Galen Shea is a dedicated local shooter in the Pacific Northwest. He frequents NRL 22 matches, as well as many of the club and...
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MDS Episode #0114 - Colton Bagnoli
Send us Fan Mail Carbon Fiber Barrels: What You Need to Know In this conversation, Caylen Wojcik and Colton Bagnoli discuss Colton's diverse experiences in the outdoors, including his transition from law enforcement to becoming a fly fishing guide and a writer for firearms publications. They…
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MDS Episode #0113 - Mark D'Ambrosio - Resilience and Self-Discovery in the Wilderness
Send us Fan Mail Resilience and Self-Discovery in the Wilderness In this conversation, Caylen Wojcik and Mark discuss a range of topics from their backgrounds in metal fabrication and military service to the importance of wilderness experiences and self-discovery. They explore how challenging...
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MDS Episode #0112 - Caylen Unplugged #1
Send us Fan Mail For 2025 and beyond, I’d like to bring you guys a new style of podcast for me - solo-casts. I haven’t been 100% comfortable in the past with sitting by myself in front of the camera. It felt a bit on the arrogant side, and for me arrogance is a tough nut to crack. I do believe…
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MDS Episode #0111 - Tim Parkhurst Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits down with Tim Parkhurst, President of the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation, to discuss the mission of preserving the legacy of Marine Scout Snipers. Tim shares fascinating historical insights, the foundation’s efforts to build a lasting…
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MDS Episode #0110 - Neurobiology and Psychology for Snipers with Owen Mulder
Send us Fan Mail In this in-depth conversation, Caylen Wojcik and Owen Mulder uncover the science behind elite shooting performance. They explore the neurobiology and psychology that influence a sniper's mental game, discussing key concepts like sight wobble, the startle response, and the...
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MDS Episode #0109 - David Cantu & Ken Smith
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to a new episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast! During this episode I sat down with two of my great friends, David Cantu and Ken Smith. David and Ken are precision rifle competitors and hunters here in the Pacific Northwest and I’ve had the pleasure of training…
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MDS Episode #0108 - Scout/Snipers, Shenanigans, and the Marine Corps: Inside the Sniper's Perspective
Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the podcast we invite Jeff “Skully” Escalderon and John Spurling to the show to discuss their perspective on their time serving in the Marine Corps as Scout/Snipers and as instructors. These guys hold nothing back on the podcast as they provide a candid and...
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MDS Episode #0107 - Precision, Passion, and Personal Growth: Welcoming Aaron Martin to the Modern Day Sniper Podcast
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik welcomes Aaron Martin, a new addition to the Modern Day Sniper and Modern Day Rifleman cadre. They discuss Aaron's background as a precision rifle instructor and former Marine, including his time in the Scout Sniper...
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MDS Episode #0106 - Managing Fear with Tony Blauer
Send us Fan Mail In this episode we welcome Tony Blauer of Blauer Tactical Training Systems. Tony Blauer explores the vital role of fear management in personal safety and self-defense, critiquing traditional training methods in favor of understanding the psychology and physiology of fear. He...
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MDS Episode #0105 - Long Range Legend Carl Taylor
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits down with Carl Taylor from In Motion Targets, an experienced figure in the precision rifle community. Join us as we dive into Carl’s background, his contributions to the sniper community, and his journey through the Guardian Long Range match in...
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MDS Episode #0104 - Mastering Precision Rifle Shooting with Jacob Bynum
Send us Fan Mail In this episode Caylen talks with the legendary Jacob Bynum from Rifles Only. Jacob is a true pioneer in the field of precision rifle shooting, and we are always excited to have him on the show because he brings us back to the pure fundamentals of marksmanship. In this episode…
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MDS Episode #0103 - The Ethical Hunter: Responsible Practices in the African Plains
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits down with his good friend, Len Waldron to discuss hunting in Africa and WWII. Len Waldron prepares for a hunting trip in Africa and reminisces about their previous adventures. They discuss the importance of ethical hunting practices and responsible...
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MDS Episode #0102 - Debunking Gun Myths: Accuracy & Reloading for Practical Shooters w JD Thomas
Send us Fan Mail This episode explores the world of precision shooting and gunsmithing. Learn about gun design, intricate barrel making, reloading techniques, and the mental focus needed for peak accuracy. Caylen and JD Thomas share insights for both enthusiasts and professionals. Find out What...
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MDS Episode #0101 - Inside the Mind of an Elite Skydiver ft. V Buck Priv
Send us Fan Mail In this podcast, host Caylen Wojcik and Competitive Sky Diver V Buck Prib converse about the realities of high-level extreme sports. They discuss safety measures, rigorous training, mental preparation, costs, and more. Caylen and Prib share experiences and insights, emphasizing…
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MDS Episode #0100 - The Future of Modern Day Sniper
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to our 100th Episode! This is a big deal for us! Today Caylen and Phillip sit down to discuss the future of Modern Day Sniper and where we’re headed for 2024 and beyond. The pair discuss the new in-person class naming convention and the reasons that they decided to make...
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MDS Episode #0099 - Blending a Passion for Teaching and Precision Rifle with James Wazeter
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with one of our Modern Day Riflemen, James Wazeter. We dive into his systematic approach to precision shooting, his coaching experience in the fitness industry, and his passion for long-range bolt rifles. In our discussion, we cover a range of topics...
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MDS Episode #0098 - Veteran Experiences and Transition Challenges with Mike Lilly
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Modern Day Sniper Podcast Episode 98, where we have a heartfelt discussion with special guest Mike Lilly, a well-known figure in the Precision Rifle Series and the National Rifle League's Hunter Series. Mike and his wife run the successful YouTube channel, "Long...
About this show
The Modern Day Sniper Podcast is your ultimate source for insights and discussions on the sniper lifestyle, from active duty to life beyond the uniform. Hosted by Caylen Wojcik, join us as we explore the art and science of precision shooting, the mental and physical discipline required, and the ongoing journey of self-improvement and mastery.Caylen began his professional journey as a rifleman in the US Marine Corps, where he served as a Scout/Sniper and instructor. He trained Marines, soldiers, and Navy operatives in marksmanship and urban combat tactics. After sustaining severe injuries in 2004, Caylen passed his experience to new snipers before leaving active duty. Since then, he has taught precision rifle skills to hundreds of military, law enforcement, and civilians.
Hosted by
Caylen Wojcik
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