GRP 162-The Last Train to Kyiv: Insight From a Ukrainian Special Forces Soldier

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you. 

GRP 162-The Last Train to Kyiv: Insight From a Ukrainian Special Forces Soldier 

                       Joining me for this week's podcast is Mikko. Mikko is an active-duty Ukrainian Special Forces Soldier who has been fighting the Russians since the 2022 invasion began. Mikko saw combat in 2016 as a breacher in Eastern Ukraine, working for a Law Enforcement unit in the Special Operations Group. He transferred into a specialized role sending him overseas, where he was in charge of a K-9 section. 

When the Russians invaded Ukraine, he was in Istanbul on his way home. It was a surreal experience as everyone was heading west out of Kyiv, and he was racing east before the Russians could encircle Kyiv. Mikko was in Bucha, a city in Ukraine when the Russians were executing civilians and witnessed the horrific aftermath. We discussed the cultural nuances between Ukrainians and Russians, President Zelenskiy, the Azov Battalion, etc. Tune in!

             Main Takeaways

• Apprehending criminals in the lawless eastern regions of Ukraine

• President Zelensky

• Serving in A Special Recconassiance Unit

• Witnessing Russians Execute Civilians

• The Azov Battalion

• Russia Underestimating Ukraine

• Mariupol

Connect With John Hendricks

www.globalrecon.net

Instagram

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspian.band

GRP 161-Don't Rush To Your Death: A Conversation with An American Tier 1 Operator

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you. 

GRP 161-Don't Rush To Your Death: A Conversation with An American Tier 1 Operator

Joining me for this week's podcast is retired Special Missions Operator Fred Fusco. I did a podcast with Fred five years ago. Fred spent most of his career in Special Operations, serving as a Green Beret Medic before joining the Army Special Missions Unit, where he served as an Assaulter and a Sniper. We talked about some of Fred's experiences in combat, including dealing with suicide bombers on target, conducting hostage rescue operations, and working with allied Special Operators, including the British SAS, Australian SASR, and Polish GROM. Tune in!

   Main Episode Takeaways

• 18 Delta Special Forces Medic

• Poor leadership in combat

• Joining the Army's Special Missions Unit

• Dealing with suicide bombers while assaulting targets

• Hostage Rescue

• Dealing with Traumatic Brain Injury

Connect With Fred Fusco

Instagram

Connect With John Hendricks

www.globalrecon.net

Instagram

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspian.band

Connect With Eco Defense Group

Kay Foye hand-forged and handcrafted an incredible knife to support the work of special operators as they train wildlife rangers on the frontlines of the rhino war. She gathered materials unique to Africa, including spent brass from the range, and combined those with a wooly mammoth tooth. Working in partnership with Eco Defense Group, Kay is bridging the gap of their secret work to ensure these vets can do what they do best in a unique place. I've never seen anything quite like it, so if there are knife collectors who want to support US Special Missions Unit vets and protect the rhino in Africa, get one now. Click the link below.

African Wildlife Knife

If you are interested in learning more about EDGE, see the link below:

https://www.ecodefensegroup.org/donate

www.instagram.com/ecodefensegroup

GRP 160-Sacrifice: A Gold Star Widow's Fight For The Truth

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you. 

Joining me for this week's podcast is the Gold Star Wife of Staff Sergeant Bryan Black Michelle Black. SSG Black was killed alongside SFC Jeremiah Johnson, SSG Dustin Wright, and SGT LaDavid Johnson after their Special Forces team was ambushed on October 4th, 2017, in Niger, Africa.

After investigating the incident, the military sat down with the Black family to discuss their findings. Michelle felt the Army wasn't telling the entire truth about what happened. They blamed the soldiers on the ground while not holding senior officers accountable that sent the team after a terrorist leader without the proper support and mission planning. Michelle details what happened in her book "Sacrifice: A Gold Star Widow's Fight For The Truth" Tune in.

Main Episode Takeaways

• Life as a military family

• The military not holding senior officers accountable.

• Overcoming adversity

• Special Forces

Connect With Michelle Black

www.michelleblacksacrifice.com

Instagram

Book

Connect With John Hendricks

www.globalrecon.net

Instagram

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspian.band

GRP 159-Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change: A CIA Officers fight to bring American Allies home

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you. 

My guest for this week's podcast is a former CIA Officer, U.S. Army veteran, and author of "Watches Without Time: An American Soldier in Afghanistan." Matt Zeller. Matt is the Co-Founder of No One Left Behind, which works to get American allies out of harm's way in combat zones. 

Matt has spent months sounding the alarm and warning high-level government officials that there will be severe consequences if they choose not to act. We discussed his time in Afghanistan, his experience in getting Afghan allies out, digital Dunkirk, and much more.

Main Episode Takeaways

• Working as a combat advisor in Afghanistan

• Joining the CIA

• The problem with the Afghanistan pullout

• An Afghan interpreter saved his life during combat.

• The mission of No One Left Behind

Connect with Matt Zeller

Twitter

No One Left Behind

Website

Book

Connect With John Hendricks

www.globalrecon.net

www.instagram.com/igrecon

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspian.band

GRP 158-Archon Ready Group: A conversation with Two Special Missions Operators

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you. 

Episode Summary

I have two guests on for this week's podcast. They are the primary instructors at Archon Ready Group, and both served at the Army Special Missions Unit for nearly two decades. Billy Delaporte and Dan Ibach are back on with me. We talked about police shootings, police firearms training, and much more. Enjoy

Main Episode Takeaways

• Weapons manipulation

• Police involved shootings

• Grip Matters

• Stance Matters

• Archon Ready Group

This Episode is Brought to you by:

Wondery-Nine Twelve

Connect with Billy and Dan:

Archon Ready Group

Connect With John Hendricks

www.globalrecon.net

www.instagram.com/igrecon

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspian.band