

Mike Drop
Mike Ritland
Mike Drop, hosted by former Navy SEAL and bestselling author Mike Ritland, is a no-holds-barred platform that dives deep into the stories and experiences of extraordinary individuals. Known for his candid and unfiltered approach, Mike interviews guests ranging from special operations veterans and elite athletes to renowned authors and thought leaders, offering listeners a exclusive glimpse into the human side of those who have excelled in their fields. Whether it's discussing the intense challenges of combat or the resilience required to overcome personal adversity, Mike Drop provides a space where real conversations happen.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 6, 2026 • 1h 33min
From Prison Riots to Hardened Targets: Supporting FBI HRT, Libya Tunnels, and Moral Injury Reflections | Ep. 277 | Pt. 3
Mike Ritland wraps up the interview with original Delta Force operator Mike Vining. Hear raw accounts of Urgent Fury in Grenada, Desert Storm bunker-busting, prison riot support, hardened target planning (Tahuna, Taji), moral injury, leadership lessons, retirement adventures, and his upcoming memoir Blasting Through. A legendary career summed up in one powerful close.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 5, 2026 • 1h 35min
From Vietnam EOD to Delta Force: Mike Vining's Path to Elite Operations | Ep. 277 | Pt. 2
Dive into Part 2 of Episode 277 of the Mike Drop Podcast, hosted by former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland. This gripping conversation features guest Mike Vining, a pioneering Delta Force operator, Vietnam veteran, and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) expert with over 30 years of military service. Listeners will uncover firsthand accounts of high-stakes operations, from Vietnam War missions and the Khobar Towers bombing investigation to the origins of Delta Force, its rigorous selection process, and the dramatic details of Operation Eagle Claw—the failed 1980 Iran hostage rescue. Packed with historical insights, personal anecdotes, and corrections to common myths, this episode offers an unfiltered look at special operations, counterterrorism, and the evolution of elite U.S. military units.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 3, 2026 • 1h 37min
The Insane 1976 Mission That Turned This Man Into an Original Delta Legend | Ep. 277 | Pt. 1
Join Mike Ritland on this episode of the Mike Drop podcast as he chats with retired Sergeant Major Mike Vining, a Vietnam veteran, explosive ordnance disposal expert, and founding member of Delta Force. With a career spanning 26 years and involvement in pivotal operations like the Cambodian incursion and Khobar Towers investigation, Vining shares riveting tales from the front lines, his reflections on war, and insights from his upcoming book Blasting Through, set for release in August 2026.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 26, 2026 • 47min
Rob O'Neill: Venezuela Raid Signals Huge Geopolitical Shift vs China | Ep. 276 | Pt. 3
Mike Ritland wraps the epic three-part sit-down with Rob O'Neill, the SEAL who ended Osama bin Laden. They tackle Venezuela’s game-changing raid and its massive geopolitical ripple effects, Greenland strategy, cartel threats in Mexico, AI/drones in future warfare, deep state battles, Epstein files, Charlie Kirk fallout, fraud deflection tactics, and Rob’s no-BS vision for fixing America. Raw, unfiltered, and packed—classic Mike Drop finale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 25, 2026 • 49min
Rob O'Neill: Addressing the Bissonnette Story | Ep. 276 | Pt 2
Mike Ritland continues the no-holds-barred conversation with Rob O'Neill, the SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden. They dive deep into the Bin Laden raid's raw details—from the piss bottle carry to opium stashes, the burial-at-sea debate, post-raid jealousy in the community, vet-on-vet drama, and why Rob's suing over years of family-targeted defamation. Plus, reflections on Maduro's capture, Delta vs. DEVGRU picks, and the unbreakable brotherhood. Intense, honest, and unfiltered—classic Mike Drop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 24, 2026 • 1h 6min
Rob O'Neill On The Brent Tucker Lawsuit, Venezuela and Erika Kirk's Suspicious Behavior | Ep. 276 | Pt. 1
Mike Ritland sits down once again with legendary SEAL Team Six operator Rob O'Neill — the man who fired the shots that killed Osama bin Laden. In this raw, no-filter return appearance, they cover everything from the renewed Bin Laden raid controversy and recent defamation lawsuit, to psychedelics for PTSD, family life, geopolitics, Greenland, cannabis ventures, and life after the Teams. Buckle up — it's classic Mike Drop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 22, 2026 • 1h 20min
Undercover in Venezuela, Maduro's Fall, and Mexican Cartels | Ep. 275 | Pt. 2
In Part 2 of Mike Drop Podcast Ep. 275, host Mike Ritland talks with retired DEA agent Wes Tabor about his high-risk undercover work in Venezuela under Chávez and Maduro — from diplomatic cover, assassination threats, and fortified life in Caracas to surviving contracts on his head. They dive into Maduro's recent fall, the power vacuum, María Corina Machado's potential role, U.S. strategy, narco-terrorism ops, foreign influences, and why tackling Mexican cartels is far riskier. Raw, insider insights on geopolitics and counter-narcotics in the Western Hemisphere.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 20, 2026 • 1h 21min
Hunting Maduro: DEA and Delta Force Operations Inside Venezuela | Ep. 275 | Pt. 1
Mike Ritland sits down once again with former DEA Special Agent Wes Tabor. Fresh off the high-stakes U.S. raid that captured Nicolás Maduro, Wes breaks down the decades of narco-terrorism, Cuban influence, proxy forces, and geopolitical chess that led to this historic moment. From on-the-ground intel work to the power vacuum left behind, this is the unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at one of the boldest operations in recent memory.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 16, 2026 • 59min
Hegseth Standards, Cartels, Fentanyl & Finding Purpose Through Faith | Ep. 274 | Pt. 3
Retired DEVGRU operator Eric Frohardt wraps up his remarkable journey. From reflecting on life after the Teams—navigating multiple career pivots across beverages, supplements, energy, real estate, and now a C-suite leadership role in investment/development—to candidly discussing the challenges of civilian leadership versus special operations, the importance of unbreakable standards, current events (Pete Hegseth, potential military action against cartels), and the fentanyl crisis, Eric shares deep insights on humility, business, and faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 15, 2026 • 1h
DEVGRU Insider: Unpredictable Selection, High-Altitude Missions & Multi-Nation Raids | Ep. 274 | Pt. 2
Listeners will get an inside look at the unpredictable nature of BUD/S and Green Team selection, the intense reality of life at DEVGRU's Gold Squadron, high-stakes deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, unexpected big-wall climbing adventures (including a multi-day ascent of El Capitan with minimal prior experience), leadership in multi-national operations, and the profound challenges of transitioning out of the military — including loss of identity, purpose, and the lingering questions about the true cost and meaning of those wars.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


