SOFcast
by USSOCOM
SOFcast is the official podcast of U.S. Special Operations Command. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces discuss leadership, overcoming challenges, and current issues for the force. Hear from special operations personnel like Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets, Army Rangers, Marine Raiders, Air Force Special Operators, pilots, medics, communicators, and more!
Episodes
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S6 E12 - GEN Fenton and CSM Shorter - We Owe It to the Force
What does it take to lead the most elite warriors in the world? For GEN Bryan Fenton and CSM Shane Shorter, it starts with listening. In this rare and candid episode, the Commander and Senior Enlisted Leader of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) sit down with SOFcast to reflect on...
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S6 E11 – The Carr Family - When Aggressive Is the Only Option
What happens when a life of service is interrupted by a life-threatening diagnosis? In this powerful episode of SOFcast, hosts Matt Parrish sits down with Major David Carr and his wife Lauren to share their extraordinary journey—one that takes them from the frontlines of special operations to the...
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S6 E10 - Xavier Scruggs - Control What You Can Control
What do the locker room and the team room have in common? A lot more than you’d think. In this episode, SOFcast host Matt Parrish sits down with Xavier Scruggs — former Major League Baseball player, ESPN and MLB Network analyst, and all-around grinder — to unpack the parallels between elite...
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S6 E9 - Jim O'Brien - Leadership, Legacy & the Global Brotherhood of SOF
From dreaming of being a commando at eight years old to commanding the Special Forces Qualification Course, Colonel (Ret.) Jim O’Brien’s career is a blueprint for service, humility, and transformational leadership. In this episode, Jim sits down with SOFcast to unpack a lifetime in Special Forces…
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S6 E8 - John Dailey — Forging the Foundation of MARSOC
🎙️ Before there was MARSOC, there was Det One — a hand-picked Marine unit tasked with proving that the Corps could integrate into U.S. Special Operations Command. And at the center of that mission was Force Recon Marine and plank holder John Dailey. In this episode, John joins SOFcast to talk...
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S6 E7 - Michael Rodriguez — Service With & Without a Uniform
🎙️ Green Beret veteran, father, artist, and advocate — Michael “Rod” Rodriguez has lived a life marked by deep service, both in and out of uniform. In this powerful episode of SOFcast, Rod shares his journey from multiple combat deployments to post-9/11 healing, and how his own traumatic brain...
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SOFcast Brief | The OA-1K Skyraider II: AFSOC’s Newest Weaponized Workhorse
🎧 In this SOFcast Brief, host Matt Parrish sits down with Maj. John Bendokas from Air Force Special Operations Command to break down the newest addition to the AFSOC arsenal — the OA-1K Skyraider II. Born from hard-earned lessons in places like Tongo Tongo and designed to support geographically...
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SOFcast S6 E6: Angel Cortes — From the Streets to the Regiment
🎙️ From a childhood of poverty and violence in Los Angeles to the ranks of the 75th Ranger Regiment, Angel Cortes’ story is one of grit, growth, and relentless purpose. In this raw and moving conversation, Angel shares how he escaped gang life, found a new mission in the Army, and eventually...
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SOFcast Special Episode: “Moments That Matter” — Medal of Honor Panel at SOF Week 2025
🎙️ In this extraordinary SOFcast episode, we step away from the studio and onto the stage of SOF Week 2025, a premier joint conference co-hosted by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Global SOF Foundation. Recorded live in Tampa, this powerful panel titled “Moments That Matter”...
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S6 E5 - Rob Zackery — Calling the Fight, Building the Team
🎙️ From calling in airstrikes with Green Berets and Rangers to leading Airmen across the globe, Rob Zackery’s career as an Air Force TACP is one of purpose, adaptability, and impact. In this episode, Rob shares what it takes to step into any team room and earn trust — not by rank or reputation,...
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S6 E4 - Jariko Denman - Standards, Legacy, and Life Beyond the Regiment
SOFcast | Season 6, Episode 4: Jariko Denman — Standards, Legacy, and Life Beyond the Regiment 🎙️ From being “the demon cadre” at RIP to advising Hollywood directors and embedded reporting in Kabul, Ranger veteran Jariko Denman brings unapologetic honesty and hard-won wisdom to SOFcast. In this...
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S6 E3 - Nick Lavery - Choosing to Fight Forward
SOFcast | Season 6, Episode 3: Nick Lavery — Choosing to Fight Forward 🎙️ Few stories embody the spirit of SOF like Nick Lavery’s. The first Green Beret to return to combat as an above-the-knee amputee, Nick shares his incredible journey of resilience, mindset, and service — and how his fight...
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S6 E2 - Melissa Johnson - Accelerating Innovation for SOF
SOFcast | Season 6, Episode 2: Melissa Johnson — Accelerating Innovation for SOF 🎙️ How do you rapidly deliver cutting-edge gear and tech to the world’s most agile warriors? USSOCOM Acquisition Executive Melissa Johnson joins SOFcast to pull back the curtain on how her team connects the team…
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Season 6 Premier - GEN Bryan Fenton & CSM Shane Shorter - USSOCOM Command Team
SOFcast | Season 6 Premiere: GEN Bryan Fenton & CSM Shane Shorter 🎙️ SOF is purpose-built for exactly what our Nation demands: unmatched agility, readiness, and lethality — fueled by our people. In this powerful season opener, GEN Bryan Fenton and CSM Shane Shorter reflect on leading U.S.…
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S5 E9 MSgt Jarad Stout - Retired Marine Raider and Silver Star recipient
On this episode of SOFcast, we talk to retired Marine Raider Master Sgt. Jarad Stout. In previous episodes we've interviewed the recipients of many different valor awards, but today’s guest earned the Silver Star in an unexpected and little known location, Bamako, Mali. Jarad describes the…
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S5 E8 CSM JoAnn Naumann and CSM Thomas Baird
On this episode of SOFcast two senior leaders get personal, about their relationship and their careers. Command Sgt. Major JoAnn Naumann, U.S. Army Special Operations Command CSM, and her husband Command Sgt. Major Thomas “T.J.” Baird, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Senior Enlisted…
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S5 E7 Hon. Christopher Maier, ASD SO/LIC
The Honorable Christopher P. Maier, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, joined SOFcast during SOF Week 2023 in Tampa, Florida. He discussed his role in advocating for the care of our people, the 1st SOF Truth, and how he works with the USSOCOM...
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S5 E6 CSM Matthew Williams and the Medal of Honor
Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Williams shares details about the fateful day he earned the Medal of Honor. He also discusses talking with the President of the United States over the phone in his truck, and what it's like continuing to serve while holding the military's highest award. All that and more...
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S5 E5 CSM Robert Abernethy - Senior Enlisted Leader, US European Command
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Abernethy is the Senior Enlisted Leader for U.S. European Command. In this episode CSM Abernethy talks about his career in Special Forces, valuable take-aways from working at the highest levels, and advice to those in the force to remain ready and vigilant. All...
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S5 E4 Chef Robert Irvine
British Royal Navy veteran and world-class chef Robert Irvine joins SOFcast to talk food, military service, and the lessons in service and leadership he's learned during his entrepreneurial journey. Chef Irvine tells is an inspirational story about transition from the military to success in the...
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S5 E3 1SG Jason Belford - A Ranger's journey to the brink of suicide and back
1SG Jason Belford is an accomplished combat veteran of the 75th Ranger Regiment and respected a military leader. On this episode 1SG Belford opens up about not only his career coming up through the Ranger Regiment but also his personal struggles with suicide, the decision to change his career…
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S5 E2 Dr. Brittany Loney - Elite Cognition and Human Optimization
Operator Drift is real and can have negative effects on servicemembers, their families, and careers. Dr. Brittany Loney brings decades of research and real world experience to this discussion on helping increase operator efficiency, cognitive capability, and overall performance. All that and more...
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New Season, New Hosts, Same Awesome Guests and Stories!
MGySgt Chance Stanley and retired Air Commando Mike Lundstrom introduce themselves and discuss the highlights of this upcoming season of SOFcast and the challenge and opportunities of hosting one of the DoD's top podcasts. Subscribe and listen now, also available on YouTube.
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S4 E13 GEN Bryan P. Fenton - USSOCOM Commander
The 13th Commander of US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) U.S. Army Gen. Bryan P. Fenton discusses the journey that brought him to Special Operations, USSOCOM’s priorities, People – Win – Transform, and his steadfast belief that USOCOM can achieve any mission "because of the people". Don't…
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S4 E12 USSOCOM Ghost Acquisitions officers Lt. Col. Chris Michele and Cpt. Ricky Garcia
SOFcat host SGM Matt Parrish talks with Lt. Col. Chris Michele and Cpt. Ricky Garcia about the USSOCOM Ghost Program, a unique iniative under Special Operations Force's Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L) that bridges the gap between SOF operators and the acquistion power they need…
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S4 E10 SFC Jason Howell - Special Forces, Ultra Marathons, and climbing Mt. Everest
Climbing Mt. Everest wasn't enough for Special Forces SFC Jason Howell. He set out to do it without using any supplemental oxygen! From becoming a Marine to donning a Green Beret, running Ultra Marathons, and becoming a Special Forces mountaineering instructor, tackling the toughest things in…
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S4 E9 Retired Navy Vice Admiral Sean A. Pybus and Mrs. Patty Pybus- SEALs, Family, and Loss
USSOCOM welcomes back former Deputy Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, Retired Admiral Sean A. Pybus and his wife Patty. In this episode we discuss Vice Admiral Pybus's storied military career, life as the military spouse of a Navy SEAL, and the tragic loss of their son Christopher to...
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SPECIAL EPISODE Bob Delaney - Undercover NJ State Trooper, NBA ref, and PTSD awareness advocate
To start the new year USSOCOM is focused on the "First Truth", humans over hardware. SOFcast presents this special episode. Bob Delaney is no stranger to stress and trauma. In this episode he discusses how he's coped with both as an undercover police officer working to take down the New Jersey…
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S4 E8 Navy SEALs Mike Sarraille and Andy Stumpf
Mike Sarraille and Andy Stumpf talk about lessons learned from their time as US Navy SEALs, finding their own paths from breaking world records to writing books, and giving back to the families of fallen heroes. All that and more on this episode of SOFcast! Subscribe Today!
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S4 E7 Zack Garner - To the edge of giving up and coming back
Zack Garner is a medically retired US Army Green Beret who's found himself repeatedly fighting serious heatlh issues. Zack shares the harrowing stories of coming back from the edge of giving up, from regretting waking up, and how he came back from those dark places. All that and more! Subscribe...
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S4 E6 Mark Stephens - Retired SMU Operator and Chairman of the Executive Board of Task Force Dagger
SGM (R) Mark Stephens is a Commando Hall of Fame inductee, former SMU Operator, and now the Chairman of the Executive Board at Task Force Dagger providing assistance to wounded, ill, or injured US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) members and their families. Mark talks about his career in Army...
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S4 E5 Pineland Underground - MAJ Bobby Tuttle and SGM Chuck Ritter
From the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School's hit podcast Pineland Underground, SOFcast welcomes hosts MAJ Bobby Tuttle and SGM Chuck Ritter. We talk about the show's success, dirty deeds done right and cheap, and how podcasts are opening a whole new world of dialogue.…
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S4 E3 Dan Rayburn - Know what you're worth!
Dan Rayburn is a successful entrenpreneur and business expert who's made it part of his mission to help SOF veterans maneuver the world of civilian job placement. Dan takes a no-nonsense approach to matching the best company's in the world with uniquely talented Special Operations servicemembers....
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S4 E2 Chaplain (MAJ) Jeff Struecker - Rangers, Somalia, and Faith
Retired Chaplain Jeff Struecker recounts his experiences during Gothic Serpent, the military operation depicted in the film "Blackhawk Down". He and fellow members of Task Force Ranger endured some of the most intense and brutal fighting since Vietnam, suffered terrible loss, but ultimately…
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S4 E1 Medal of Honor recipient and Green Beret MSG Earl Plumlee
On August 20, 2013 during a change of command ceremony on FOB Ghazni, Green Beret Earl Plumlee found himself facing a complex attack by a determined enemy force that had breached the perimeter and was approaching fast. Armed with his "super cool sniper rifle" and a side arm, MSG (then SFC)…
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S3 E12 USSOCOM CSEL CSM Shane Shorter
SOFcast host SGM Matt Parrish welcomes the 11th USSOCOM Command Senior Enlisted Leader CSM Shane Shorter. They discuss CSM Shorter's career, leadership philosophy, and how he's reinforcing the "team" concept and values at USSOCOM. All that and more, on this episode of SOFcast.
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2022 Warrior Games - Army Green Beret MSG Ivan Morera
Amy Master Sergeant Ivan Morera is a Special Forces medic, the DoD's only military freefall qualified upper-body amputee, and a competitor at this year's Warrior Games! MSG Morera sits down with SOFcast host SGM Matt Parrish to talk about the day that changed his life, his road to recovery, and...
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S3 E11 Lessons learned and more from a PSYDET's return from Europe
SOFcast talks with a PSYOP Det recently deployed to Europe. They share their experience, lessons learned, and what exactly is PSYOP.
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S3 E9 Matt Hesse - "The Purpose Blueprint"
Matt Hesse is a US Army Veteran, entrepreneur, and the founder of the University of Health and Performance. Matt and SGM Parrish talk about the importance of physical fitness and how it contributes to a healthy transition and supports mental and spiritual well-being. They also discuss Matt's...
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S3 E8 CMDCM (SEAL) David Isom, Command SEL, SOCPAC
INDOPACOM is comprised of 36 nations, home to 50% of the world's population, and 3,000 different languages! CMDCM (SEAL) David Isom shares some of the unique challenges he faces as the Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) Senior Enlisted Leader and why SOF is critical to the mission in the...
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S3 E7 LtCol(R) John Griffin - YOU can innovate for SOCOM
Have you ever had an idea to fix a problem from deployment or training but didn't know how to make that solution a reality? Northeastern University Program Director for the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel John Griffin talks about how NSIN is meeting...
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S3 E5 Czech Republic SOF operator Igor - Partnerships, J3-I, and Service
Fostering and maintaining relationships with our allies and partners is an integral part of USSOCOM's SOF Strategy. That's why USSOCOM hosts the largest gathering of international SOF personnel outside of NATO, known as J3-I and why this year's SOF Week is even more important as it includes the...
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S3 E4 Best Rangers 2022 - CPT Josh Corson and CPT Ty Boyle
Winners of the 2022 Best Ranger Competition, from the 75th Ranger Regiment CPT Joshua Corson and CPT Tymothy Boyle join the hosts of SOFcast to talk about what it took to not only complete the three-day grueling event but to beat 50 other teams. Tenacity, endurance, and faith, these Rangers…
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S3 E3 ReBlast - Low Level Blast Exposure and SOF
Detecting and treating brain injuries continues to be a high priority for USSOCOM. That's why ReBlast is so important. ReBlast is a pilot study researching the long-term effects of repetitive, low-level blast exposure (RLLBE) on Special Operations Forces service members. In this episode, SOFcast…
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S3 E2 SFC Doug Kiesewetter - Preserving what you've built
SFC Doug Kiesewetter is a Special Forces Engineer and Weapons Sergeant with the US Army National Guard 20th Special Forces Group and the Chief Content Officer at SOFLETE. In this episode, host SGM Matt Parrish and SFC Kiesewetter talk about the changing culture within SOF that encourages…
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S3 E1 SMSgt Derek Anderson - An impossible mission to save 13 lives
In June of 2018, the world held its breath as news of 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a cave slowly filling with water hit the headlines. SMSgt Derek Anderson, an Air Force Pararescueman, was part of the team tasked with saving them. Faced with pouring rains threatening to flood the...
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S2 Bonus - The Senior Enlisted Leaders of USSPACECOM and USCYBERCOM
US Cyber Command's Senior Enlisted Leader Cheryl D. Lyon and US Space Command's Senior Enlisted Leader MGySgt Scott H. Stalker join SOFcast to to discuss their organizations respective roles in future combat, safeguarding our country's interests, and where SOF fits in their missions. Subscribe...
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S2 E12 USSOCOM Commander GEN Richard D. Clarke
The Commander of USSOCOM GEN Richard D. Clarke returns to SOFcast for our season finale! General Clarke discusses leadership and accountability, the evolving global role of SOCOM, and why "we can't take our foot off the gas" in taking care of SOF servicemembers. Subscribe and leave us a review!
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S2 E11 SSgt Nick Jones - The battle that changed his life forever
SSgt Nick Jones is only the 8th Marine Raider to receive the Navy Cross for valor, an award second only to the Medal of Honor. SSgt Jones take us into the ISIS-occupied tunnels of Northern Iraq and into the battle that changed his life. Leadership in the face of danger, selfless determination…
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S2E9 SOF Caucus - A bipartisan look at SOF
SOFcast goes to Washington! Hosts CCM Greg Smith and SGM Parrish sat down with representatives from both sides of the aisle during last year's SOF Caucus to discuss their support for SOF operations, family, and what they’re doing for SOF’s readiness. Guests Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) Rep. Michael...
About this show
SOFcast is the official podcast of U.S. Special Operations Command. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces discuss leadership, overcoming challenges, and current issues for the force. Hear from special operations personnel like Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets, Army Rangers, Marine Raiders, Air Force Special Operators, pilots, medics, communicators, and more!
Hosted by
USSOCOM
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