Cleared Hot

Full Auto Friday to round out the week! A listener flew from San Diego to Kalispell to tell a woman she was his person. He laid it all out on a couch in my coffee shop. I walk through the two things that I think matter most going into a marriage — communication and patience. A 30-year-old writes in paralyzed by fear. Lifting weights, jiu-jitsu, new restaurants, driving in cities — his brain goes straight to worst-case on everything. What is the difference between irrational and improbable, and why he needs to go talk to a professional who can help him rewire the path his thoughts are carving? I answer a question on how to pick the right jiu-jitsu gym. My wife Leah's advice: look at the makeup of the mat. If it looks like society, you're in the right place.  And I finally tell the story of being on the CBS reality show Hunted — union hours, wardrobe continuity, and pretending to play hide and seek in a warehouse in Bakersfield for eight hours a day. Enjoy Pick up a copy of my book Drownproof: https://www.clear

Greg Anderson is a former Army Ranger and deputy U.S. Marshal with two decades in law enforcement and combat, a 3rd-degree black belt, and the owner of one of the most thriving Jiu-Jitsu academies in the Pacific Northwest. His first book, Courage Through Adversity, just dropped. He's also about to row to Hawaii. The Row West Pacific expedition is a four-man team rowing a Ronic 45 from the U.S. coastline to Hawaii — no motor, no support vessel, roughly 60 days at sea. Greg explains why he bought the boat, what 3-on/3-off looks like when there's nowhere to stop, and what the trip is actually about. It's not the craziest thing he's signed up for, but it might be the hardest. We also cover what happens when local government decides your Jiu-Jitsu gym is an illegal operation. The answer involves a $40,000 parking assessment, federally protected buttercups, and a mandatory ratio of rhododendrons to parking spaces. Greg pushed back. It worked.  He talks about the book — why he wrote it, what he was actually willing

Negligent Discharge Friday. Michael now has nunchucks. We're accepting name suggestions. Two names. Because there are two of them. We got into Iran. The strike on the elementary school. Outdated intelligence. The difference between owning a mistake and talking around it. The authorized use of military force and how every administration since 9/11 has abused it. The draft being floated by a president who dodged Vietnam with bone spurs. Gaza and how you fight an enemy embedded in a civilian population. Mandatory service and why two years of serving something bigger than yourself might fix a lot of what's broken. Then Snowden. Hero, villain, or somewhere in between. The surveillance state we already live in. The Patriot Act being one of the most unpatriotic things ever passed. AI deepfakes that take two days and $40 to build. A woman grieving the retirement of her AI boyfriend. And a guy in Kenya getting arrested trying to smuggle 2,200 ants in test tubes through an airport. Enjoy. Today's Sponsors: Firecracker

Erica Gaines came into law enforcement as the Knife Girl — selling switchblades at police conferences, making small talk with cops, building relationships she didn't fully understand. She had opinions. She thought shooting someone in the leg was a reasonable ask. Then she stepped into a use-of-force simulator. One domestic violence scenario, a shock pack on her lower back, and two minutes of chaos later, she walked out shaking. That experience rewired her. She's been inside this world ever since, running TacMobility — bringing neuroscience, stress physiology, and resiliency training to law enforcement agencies across the country. Suicide is the number one cop killer in America. Not line-of-duty deaths. Not ambushes. Not traffic stops. Only half of agencies have any wellness program at all. Of those, only 23% are teaching actual resiliency skills. We get into what that gap costs — and why wellness and resiliency aren't the same thing, and confusing them is part of the problem. We talk about internal law enforc

Listener Q and A to close out the week. Topics are heavier than usual, but that's how it goes sometimes. -What's in the EDC fanny pack and why -A guy who keeps getting knocked down asks if he should keep pushing toward becoming a Marine -Family drama with the sister-in-law is bleeding into everything, how do you protect what matters without making it worse  -A man's mom just got a terminal cancer diagnosis. I lost my mom to cancer. I have regrets about how I handled the end of her life. Enjoy.   Pick up a copy of my book Drownproof here: https://www.clearedhotpodcast.com/book Today's Sponsors: Stash: Don't let your money sit around—put it to work with Stash. Go to https://www.Get.Stash.com/clearedhot to see how you can receive TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS towards your first stock purchase and to view important disclosures. Fabric: Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at https://www.meetfabric.com/CLEAREDHOT.  

Oscar Hagelsieb is a Mexican-American law enforcement professional known for his lengthy career in U.S. federal service focused on border security, organized crime and cartel infiltration. He grew up in a tough neighborhood on the outskirts of El Paso, Texas, the son of undocumented immigrant parents. His upbringing gave him firsthand insight into both sides of the border and influenced his decision to pursue a career in federal law enforcement. Hagelsieb began his federal service as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent, where he worked in frontline enforcement along the U.S.–Mexico border. In that role he encountered families and migrants crossing for economic opportunity as well as experienced cartel-linked smuggling activity.  Building on his effectiveness and his deep understanding of local culture and language, Hagelsieb transitioned into undercover work, infiltrating narcotics and human smuggling networks tied to major Mexican drug cartels. His appearance and background were strategic assets in these operations,

Four questions for today's Q and A that all center on responsibility and perspective. We start with a man in a movie theater watching someone try to enter through an emergency exit, his mind flashing back to the Aurora theater shooting and wondering ever since if he should have acted or done more. From there, a husband blindsided by his wife saying she's leaving and facing the reality of telling his two young sons. The third question comes from a man recovering from major surgery who feels useless and like a burden on his wife while he heals. We close by tackling whether it's smarter to openly acknowledge the risks young men and women face online, or ignore what is statistically unlikely but emotionally unsettling.   Pre-Order my upcoming book Drownproof here:  https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/drownproof-9781250379610/ New Cleared Hot Merch: https://shop.clearedhotpodcast.com/collections/podcast-gear   Today's Sponsors: Betterwild: Right now, Betterwild is offering our listeners up to 40% off your ord

Brad Colbert is a retired Marine Master Sergeant with 30 years of military and government service. He served with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in Afghanistan in 2001 and during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, where he led Marines in combat and was later depicted in Generation Kill. After retiring from active duty, he continued working in support of the Intelligence Community before shifting his focus to leadership, resilience, and veteran advocacy through The Carry On Podcast and the Recon Foundation. We talked about combat, responsibility, and what happens when the uniform comes off. A major part of this conversation was veteran mental health and the reality that too many men are still fighting alone. Brad is working to change that. This episode is about ownership, connection, and making sure the people who served don't suffer in silence. Find Brad Here: https://bradcolbert.us/ Today's Sponsors: Montana Knife Company: https://www.montanaknifecompany.com David: Buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to htt

Young Michael dove deep on his internet research for this Friday. We spent an hour discussing a variety of topics, and as usual, he did not disappoint: -Black Belts Freaking Out and Punching Purple Belts -Do Weapons Fire By Themselves? -The Reality of Steven Seagal Movies -Social Media Comments and Arrests in Europe -Helicopter Crashes into the Snow -The Epstein File debacle And much more...... Enjoy-   Today's Sponsors: Firecracker Farms: https://www.firecracker.farm use code CLEAREDHOT for 10% off your first order. Fabric By Gerber Life: Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at https://www.meetfabric.com/CLEAREDHOT  

Mark Greaney is one of the most successful thriller authors working today — a #1 New York Times bestselling writer who built an entire spy fiction universe with his Gray Man series and helped carry forward Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan legacy. His novels have become global hits, translated into dozens of languages, and turned into major motion pictures on Netflix starring high-profile talent. We dive deep into what separates hobbyists from career storytellers, why meticulous research matters, and how Greaney approaches pacing, character, and realism in a crowded genre. In this episode, Greaney walks us through his journey from early drafts to international bestseller, the hustle behind sustaining a long-running series, and how real-world preparation — from travel to tactical training — feeds the kind of action readers devour but seldom see the work behind. The Hard Line: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/786216/the-hard-line-by-mark-greaney/   Today's Sponsors: Black Rifle Coffee: https://www.blackriflecoffe

This week's Q&A tackles a mindset I respect—but one that can turn on you if you're not careful. Two listeners ask different versions of the same question: can a "no quit" attitude become destructive? One is staying in a marriage he knows is unhealthy because he fears being labeled a quitter. The other can grind himself into the ground at work but doesn't know how to recognize the point of diminishing returns. The third question comes from a man caught in an emotional affair, wrestling with guilt and the weight of repeating the same mistake that fractured his own family. Pre Order your copy of my new book "Drownproof" here: https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/drownproof-9781250379610/ Today's Sponsors: AG1: For a limited time only, go to https://www.drinkag1.com/clearedhot to get a FREE AG1 Flavor Sampler and AGZ Sampler to try all the flavors, plus FREE Vitamin D3+K2 and AG1 Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order! Stash: Don't let your money sit around—put it to work with Stash. Go to htt

After two years of legal battles and business upheaval, Mike Glover returns to the podcast with a clarity and perspective few men ever earn. Mike spent nearly two decades as a U.S. Army Green Beret and Special Forces sergeant major, deploying to combat theaters, leading reconnaissance, sniper, and operations elements, and later serving as a contractor for the CIA in high-risk security environments. When he hung up the uniform he founded Fieldcraft Survival, turning elite skills into real-world survival training and gear for civilians, law enforcement, and government clients — shaping an entire industry in the process. In this conversation, we talk about what the last two years have actually been like — the legal pressure, the business fallout, and what it's like to navigate both in public. Mike lays out where things stand now, what he's learned, and how adversity changes your perspective when it's no longer theoretical. We also get into what he's building next, the direction he's taking in business, and what

This week's Full Auto Friday is a return to listener questions and some uncomfortable but necessary conversations. We talk about the fine line between being tough and being stupid, how to deal with shame and guilt after a DUI, what it actually looks like to keep moving forward when you can't see any progress, and how to reconcile regret over military service in today's political climate. This isn't about excuses, self-pity, or rewriting the past—it's about ownership, perspective, and doing the next right thing even when motivation is gone and the path forward isn't clear.   Today's Sponsors: Firecracker Farm: https://www.firecracker.farm use code CLEAREDHOT for 10% off your first order. LMNT: https://www.drinklmnt.com/clearedhot  

Violence against public figures, politicians, and high-profile individuals is no longer rare or isolated — it's increasing, accelerating, and becoming more unpredictable. Threat reporting, attempted attacks, and successful assaults on protectees have risen sharply over the last several years, driven by political polarization, online radicalization, and the ease with which individuals can move from grievance to action. From lawmakers and candidates to commentators and executives, the modern threat environment is broader, faster, and far less controllable than most people understand. In this episode, I sit down with Caleb Gilbert, founder of White Glove Protection Group, to break down the reality of personal protection — including where it works, where it fails, and why it's often misunderstood. We take a hard look at the mechanics of real-world security failures, including a detailed discussion of the protection dynamics surrounding the Charlie Kirk attack site, and why even professional protective details can

Jarred Taylor from Black Rifle Coffee is the second guest to sit down in the new studio, and we kicked this one off by talking about branding—what it actually takes to build something real, why most brands fail, and how hard it is to grow without losing the core of what made it work in the first place. From there, things went where they usually do. We broke down movies and TV through a tactical lens, talked about what Hollywood consistently gets wrong, and then spent some time on the "Wet Boys"—Jarred's online aviation squadron that flies simulated demos, builds digital airshows, and uses their downtime to antagonize the Air Force Thunderbirds on social media. Today's Sponsors: Hollow Socks: Hollow Socks is having a Buy 2, Get 2 Free Sale, head to https://www.Hollowsocks.com today to check it out. AG1: Get a free AG1 Flavor Sampler and AGZ Sampler to try all the flavors, plus free Vitamin D3+K2 and AG1 Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order at https://ww.DRINKAG1.com/CLEAREDHOT  

Rob O'Neill is a retired Navy SEAL with more than 400 combat missions, deployments with SEAL Team Two and SEAL Team Six, and participation in some of the most high-profile special operations of the last two decades. He served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and has spent years navigating the complicated transition from service to public life. In this conversation, Rob joins me for an unfiltered, long-form discussion about his career, the brotherhood of the teams, and the personal cost that comes with telling parts of his story publicly. We talk at length about Operation Neptune Spear, the mission to kill Osama bin Laden, and Rob's perspective on how the official debrief differs from his lived experience. Rob explains why he believes portions of the record are incomplete, discusses actions taken by members of the assault force after bin Laden was already dead, and why those details matter to him years later. These are Rob's firsthand accounts and interpretations, shared in full context and without editi

In this episode, I sit down with Luke Urick, the Executive Director, and Bryon Gustafson, the Deputy Director of the Montana Veterans Project, a Great Falls–based nonprofit that helps veterans rediscover purpose, camaraderie, and resilience through veteran-led therapeutic adventure trips in the Montana backcountry. We explore how challenging wilderness experiences can help veterans reconnect with themselves, their fellow warriors, and the mission that doesn't simply end when military service does. We dig into why traditional approaches sometimes fall short, and how shared physical challenge, communication, and hard work in nature can catalyze healing in ways that matter long after the trip ends. This is a conversation about more than PTSD or buzzwords — it's about purpose, belonging, and veterans building new life chapters with intention and grit. Montana Vet Program - https://www.mtvetprogram.org Today's Sponsors: Betterwild: Betterwild is offering listeners up to 40% off your order at https://www.betterwild

In this episode, I sit down with Caitlin V, a sex educator and author whose work focuses on intimacy, communication, and long-term relationship dynamics. Caitlin has spent years helping individuals and couples better understand desire, connection, and the often-unspoken issues that quietly erode relationships over time. We discussed how communication breaks down, why people struggle to ask for what they want, and how unspoken expectations erode connection over time. We also talk about common misconceptions around sex, the real value of intimacy in long-term relationships, and what actually helps couples reconnect—not in theory, but in practice. This conversation isn't about shock value or trends; it's about understanding ourselves better, communicating more clearly, and building relationships that don't slowly decay in silence. Caitlin's New Book - Harder, Better, Stronger, Longer - https://www.amazon.com/Harder-Better-Longer-Stronger-Science/dp/1401998038   Today's Sponsors: Black Rifle Coffee: https://www.

In this episode I answer two listener-submitted questions that couldn't be more different. The first is a deep dive into immigration enforcement and the recent ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis. I break down what authorities ICE agents actually have (and don't have), what likely happened tactically, and why this issue continues to expose just how divided the country is. No hot takes—just context, law, and reality as I see it. The second question shifts gears to mindset and self-confidence heading into a military selection process. We talk about preparation beyond physical training, how confidence is built (not imagined), and how to show up ready when it actually counts. As always, these are my perspectives based on experience—not hype, not shortcuts. Enjoy! Today's Sponsors: Fabric By Gerber Life: Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at https://www.meetfabric.com/CLEAREDHOT AG1: Go to https://www.DRINKAG1.com/CLEAREDHOT to get their best o

In this episode, I sit down with former federal employee and rural Colorado Fire Chief Erik Holt, who says his career ended after he reported what he believed to be clear evidence of election misconduct. After nearly two decades in federal service, he accepted a Fire Chief position in a small rural district, rebuilding the department from the ground up. Within a year, it grew from five personnel to more than sixty trained firefighters. By every measurable standard, the department was thriving.  Then came the May 2023 election. Following complaints from citizens, he reviewed surveillance footage from polling locations and says what he found raised serious legal concerns. Acting as a private citizen, and believing he had both a moral and legal obligation, he reported the findings to the District Attorney's Office. What followed, according to him, was retaliation. The newly elected board—some of whom were allegedly implicated—ordered him to delete surveillance footage. He refused. Bank accounts were frozen. Emer