Episodes

  • Susan Tate Ankeny, World War II Nonfiction Author of 'American Flygirl'
    May 4 2024

    Susan Tate Ankeny is a nonfiction World War 2 history book author whose works include 'The Girl and the Bombardier' and her newest book, 'American Flygirl'. 'American Flygirl' recounts the inspiring story of Hazel Ying Lee, the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license and fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) despite the widespread anti-Asian sentiment back then.

    Hazel refused to be deterred by discrimination due to her gender and her status as the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Just one year after sitting in on a friend's flight lesson, she earned her pilot's license and was on the way to the front against the Japanese. She would posthumously receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for her extraordinary service and patriotism.

    Learn more about Susan: https://susantateankeny.com/

    Get a copy of 'American Flygirl': https://amzn.to/3UuX67N

    Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club




    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    50 mins
  • Don Mann, Former Navy SEAL and Author of 'Inside SEAL Team SIX'
    Apr 27 2024

    Don Mann is a decorated former Navy SEAL Special Operations Technician and the author of 22 books including the New York Times Best Selling autobiography Inside SEAL Team SIX. As a former Training Officer, Mann was directly responsible for shaping the bodies and minds of the SEALs who assassinated Osama bin Laden.

    He talks about the genesis of the name of SEAL Team SIX and how it was a tactic to throw off the Russians since there were only 3 SEAL teams then. He shares the mission of SEAL Team SIX in operating anywhere around the world, making them the President's foremost "break glass in case of emergency" solution.

    Learn more about Don: https://www.usfrogmann.com/

    Get a copy of Inside SEAL Team SIX: https://amzn.to/3xRuVs7


    Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    1 hr
  • Kevin Wilson, Author of 'Sully's Squad'
    Apr 20 2024

    Kevin Wilson is the author of Sully's Squad, a coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of World War II. The book follows fifteen-year-old Arty, who lies about his age to enlist, as he gets thrown into the horrors of the Sicilian campaign. Amidst the madness, he meets Angelina, a young nun-in-training, and forges a deep brotherhood with his squadmates.

    Wilson also draws inspiration from real life for his characters, such as Sully the sergeant, who is based on his uncle killed in action during the Great War. The story sensitively portrays the realities of battlefield deaths, shellshock, and the emotional journey of veterans returning home.

    Get a copy of Sully's Squad: https://amzn.to/49NDx01

    Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club



    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    54 mins
  • Stayton Bonner, Author of 'Bare Knuckle'
    Apr 13 2024

    Stayton Bonner is a former Rolling Stone and GQ Magazine editor and the author of Bare Knuckle: Inside the World of Underground Boxing. This gripping narrative talks about the rise of Bobby Gunn in the lucrative blood sport, as well as intimate details into the gritty criminal underworld that drew in immigrants and mobsters in search of fame and fortune.

    Bobby was a skinny but tough kid born into the world of boxing. At a young age, his father taught him dirty street fighting and bare-knuckle boxing. While lesser known, Bobby’s Marine Corps background further honed his toughness and resilience, forging him into a lethal weapon whose name would eventually be etched in bare-knuckle boxing history.

    Get a copy of Bare Knuckle: https://amzn.to/3vNlLfx

    Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club



    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    48 mins
  • John Dailey, Det-1 Team Leader and Author of 'Tough, Rugged Bastards'
    Apr 6 2024

    John Dailey is a retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant and author of Tough, Rugged Bastards. In 2003, Dailey was handpicked to become the team leader of Detachment One, the first Marine Corps unit assigned to the US Special Operations Command. Their battlefield success became the proof-of-concept for the formation of the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC).

    Dailey shares how the title of his book came about. As team leader, he was free to choose the members of his team but was instructed to select "tough, rugged bastards with strong backs and hard feet" as the sole stipulation. The book covers the creation, training, and deployment of Detachment One, ultimately leading to the creation of MARSOC.

    Learn more about John Dailey: https://www.jadailey.com/

    Get a copy of Tough, Rugged Bastards: https://amzn.to/49lvWWk

    Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club




    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    55 mins
  • Adam Lazarus, Renowned Author of 'The Wingmen'
    Mar 23 2024

    Adam Lazarus, renowned for his notable works such as Super Bowl Monday and his latest book, The Wingmen, delves into the heroic narratives of two American icons and lifelong friends: space explorer John Glenn and Ted Williams, widely regarded as the greatest hitter in baseball history.

    Before the onset of the Korean War, Glenn had completed 59 combat missions during World War II, while Williams was a highly decorated WWII Marine pilot and a two-time American League Triple Crown winner at the pinnacle of his baseball career.

    During the Korean War, the paths of these extraordinary men intersected as they were both called to serve again. The Wingmen explores how the duo bravely flew into North Korea with Glenn in the lead and Williams at his side. Lazarus unravels the profound friendship between these larger-than-life men and the unbreakable mutual respect they shared.

    Learn more about Adam Lazarus: https://www.adamlazarusbooks.com/

    Get a copy of The Wingmen: https://amzn.to/3xbJl64

    Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club



    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    53 mins
  • Eric Blehm, Award-Winning Author of 'The Darkest White'
    Mar 16 2024

    Eric Blehm is an award-winning author known for his New York Times bestsellers Fearless and The Only Thing Worth Dying For. In the early 1990s, he served as editor-in-chief of TransWorld SNOWboarding magazine and, by 1999, had transitioned to freelance writing.

    Blehm gained significant insight into the world of special operations shortly after the September 11 attacks when he found himself embedded with Green Berets. This immersion ultimately led to his acclaimed book The Only Thing Worth Dying For. His subsequent book, Fearless, chronicles the remarkable journey of Adam Brown, a Navy SEAL whose unrelenting spirit allowed him to triumph over severe injuries.

    Blehm's latest work, The Darkest White, marks a return to his snowboarding roots. The book narrates the life of Craig Kelly, often hailed as snowboarding's first superstar, and explores how his legacy continues to inspire professional snowboarding, a discipline that he was instrumental in creating.

    Learn more about Eric Blehm: https://www.ericblehm.com/

    Get a copy of The Darkest White: https://amzn.to/3IDRu5p

    Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club



    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    58 mins
  • Dwayne Epstein, Biographer of Lee Marvin and Author of "Killin' Generals"
    Mar 9 2024

    Dwayne Epstein is an accomplished author and biographer, renowned for his insightful explorations into the intricacies of his subjects' lives. His most notable works include Lee Marvin: Point Blank and Killin' Generals: The Making of The Dirty Dozen.

    He delves into some of Lee Marvin's thoughts on The Dirty Dozen and how his favorite aspect of the movie was how it reflected the thoughts and feelings of the greatest generation—the ordinary people who lived through it.

    Dwayne also shares that Lee Marvin was a US marine serving in the Pacific theater before he became an actor. He talks about how Marvin suffered from PTSD his entire life upon returning due to his harrowing experiences and his realization of how horrific war really was.

    Get your copy of Lee Marvin: Point Blank: https://amzn.to/3v5NnMp

    and Killin’ Generals: https://amzn.to/3T1OVPm

    Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    52 mins