The Shawn Ryan Show

Joe Kent, a retired Green Beret, former CIA paramilitary officer, and ex-counterterrorism chief, explains why he stepped down over Iran policy. He digs into Israeli influence in Washington, fears of escalation, regime change, shaky intelligence claims, homeland security risks, and how the conflict could benefit China and Russia while rattling Trump’s coalition.

Zach Lahn, sixth-generation Iowa farmer and first-time governor candidate, dives into who really controls American farmland. He talks repair lockouts on farm equipment, investor and foreign land grabs, paraquat and glyphosate fears, cancer and polluted water in Iowa, and why family farms and rural towns are being pushed to the brink.

Michael Lester is a decorated U.S. Marine Corps combat pilot, cybersecurity educator, and author who has spent his career operating at the intersection of military power, technology, and national security. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a member of MENSA, Lester also holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and an MBA, giving him a rare blend of technical expertise and strategic insight. During his military career, Lester flew combat missions across Asia and the Middle East, witnessing firsthand the realities of modern warfare and U.S. foreign policy. After his operational service, he returned to Annapolis to teach electrical engineering and leadership at the U.S. Naval Academy, helping shape the next generation of naval officers. Today, Lester continues his work in national security and technology as an adjunct professor teaching graduate-level cybersecurity at St. Mary’s University and Wake Forest University. He is also the founder of IronClad Family, a company focused on protecting families and individuals from digital threats, identity theft, and modern information warfare. Over the past two decades, Lester has conducted an extensive independent investigation into U.S. foreign policy after noticing a stark contrast between what he witnessed overseas and what was presented to the public at home. That research culminated in his book *We Are the Bad Guys: How the U.S. Wages War, Controls Economies, and Calls It Freedom*, a controversial examination of American military intervention, economic influence, and global power structures. With the launch of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, global tensions and strategic maneuvering have once again taken center stage, making Lester’s analysis of geopolitical strategy and modern warfare more relevant than ever. Follow the market here: https://polymarket.com/event/will-the-us-invade-iran-by-march-31 Join the waitlist: https://theglacierapp.com/waitlist Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Get firearm security redesigned and save 10% off at StopBoxUSA with code SRS at https://www.stopboxusa.com/SRS #stopboxpod Visit https://mauinuivenison.com/srs for a free 6-pack of the jerky sticks with your first order. Go right now to https://sundaysfordogs.com/SRS50 and get 50% off your first order. Get started with Claude today at https://Claude.ai/srs Michael Lester Links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtlester Books - https://michaeltlester.com IronClad Family - https://www.ironcladfamily.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shyam Sankar, Palantir CTO and an early architect of its tech, dives into AI as a tool for workers, not hype. He gets into defense modernization, industrial revival, and why middle management could face a shake-up. The conversation also explores China, deterrence, military software, and how faster innovation could shape future conflict.

Butch Wilmore, retired NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy captain who logged 464 days in space, shares vivid stories from naval aviation to long-duration station life. He recounts suit and spacewalk tech, surviving off-nominal landings, and commanding Starliner’s test flight. He also talks leadership, faith, family tokens flown to orbit, and coping with 286 days stranded aboard the ISS.

Ethan Thornton, founder and CEO of Mach Industries who left MIT to build hydrogen‑powered and unmanned defense systems, shares his hands‑on Texas roots and rapid startup journey. He discusses unmanned warfare, stratospheric and hydrogen tech, decentralizing military logistics, AI risks and economic threats. Short, direct conversation about building fast, scaling manufacturing, and securing strategic tech.

Father Chad Ripperger, a Roman Catholic priest, theologian and exorcist who studies demonology, discusses eerie phenomena like UFOs as demonic mimicry. He outlines seven forms of diabolic activity, talks about ritual abuse and elite occult practices, and describes how possessions, curses, and demonic names are investigated and treated. Practical spiritual protections and signs of large-scale spiritual attacks are also explored.

Stephen Vanderpoort, attorney fighting platform negligence. Schlep (Michael), a survivor-turned-YouTuber who exposes predators on Roblox. They discuss platform design flaws, how predators move victims to Discord, legal fights and lawsuits, chilling in-game recreations and rapid grooming tactics. The conversation covers safety failures, enforcement secrets, and calls for stronger accountability.

A former CIA operations officer recounts a suspected directed-energy attack and its acute neurological effects. The conversation traces decades of microwave research, Cold War-era programs, and modern weaponization doctrine. It covers medical findings like brain injury biomarkers and dysautonomia, institutional pushback, advocacy for accountability, and efforts to secure care and policy changes.

Nik Seetharaman, special-operations–trained cyber leader and founder formerly running cybersecurity at SpaceX and Anduril. He warns about AI agent swarms and emergent behaviors. He recounts high‑stakes military and cyber tradecraft, building defensive AI at Wraithwatch. He also shares personal stories about immigrant life, fatherhood, and mountaineering.