Mike Drop
Society & Culture
About
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
- Green Beret Exposes the Government's Chinook Shootdown Cover-Up | Ep. 294 | Pt. 1
Retired Army Sergeant Major and Green Beret Terry Wilson spent 24 years in uniform with the 7th Special Forces Group, racking up 11 combat deployments and nearly 11 years total downrange. He is now the CEO of Tactical Edge Coaching and Con…
- Ibogaine, Iran, and the Epstein Files: A Recon Marine Gets Unfiltered | Ep. 293 | Pt. 3
Retired Marine Force Recon Gunnery Sergeant Ryan Kuperus closes out his conversation with Mike Ritland with the kind of honesty that makes people uncomfortable — and that's exactly the point. From a brutally candid take on the "silent prof…
- When Leadership Fails in Combat: Lessons from Helmand Province | Ep. 293 | Pt. 2
Retired Marine Force Recon Gunnery Sergeant Ryan Kuperus returns for part two with some of the most harrowing combat accounts you'll hear. From a near-fatal friendly fire incident involving Cobra attack helicopters, to navigating an IED-sa…
- Recon Marine Exposes the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps for Stolen Valor | Ep. 293 | Pt. 1
Ryan Kuperus is a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant with 17+ years in infantry, recon, and Force Recon. Medically retired after multiple combat deployments and enough kinetic stories to fill a book. From leading teams in Now Zad to pulling h…
- Life After SAS & Training America’s SWAT Teams | Ep. 292 | Pt. 3
Former SAS operator Phil Singleton reflects on life after the Regiment. He shares his candid thoughts on the Falklands War, his decision to leave the SAS, and the remarkable journey that followed — from bodyguard work in Saudi Arabia to be…
- Nuclear Power, $39 Trillion in Debt, and a Broken VA: Adam Schwarze's Senate Blueprint | Ep. 291 | Pt. 3
In the final installment of this three-part conversation, Adam Schwarze lays out his policy vision with the same directness he brought to the battlefield. From making nuclear energy his Senate legacy to dismantling deficit spending and bur…
- From Ship Boardings to the Senate Floor: Adam Schwarze on Iran, COVID, and Running for Office | Ep. 291 | Pt. 2
Adam Schwarze—Marine infantryman turned Navy SEAL officer, Harvard-educated warrior-scholar, and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota—sits down with Mike for part two of a raw, unfiltered conversation. From completing BUD/S as…
- WAR With Iran Would Be a DISASTER... And Nobody Wants to Admit It | Ep. 291 | Pt. 1
Adam Schwarze enlisted in the Marines three weeks after watching the Twin Towers fall live from his senior year English class and never really stopped fighting. Nine deployments, 70 plus countries, classified undersea SEAL operations, and…
- We Suck at Combatives: How One SEAL Chief Rebuilt the Teams' Fighting Program | Ep. 290 | Pt. 3
Randy Rozzell returns to close out his conversation with Mike Ritland, pulling back the curtain on what it took to rebuild Naval Special Warfare's combatives program from the ground up. From hand-to-hand fights for his life on deployment t…
- Was It Worth It? A SEAL's Honest Reckoning With Combat, Sacrifice, and Afghanistan | Ep. 290 | Pt. 2
Randy Rozzell—retired Navy SEAL, 22-year veteran, and former Chief of Naval Special Warfare Combatives—goes deep on the missions that defined his career. From a grueling five-day firefight in Marjah to covert operations he still can't full…
- Survived Hell Week 4 Times & Built the Combatives Program That Changed NSW Forever | Ep. 290 | Pt. 1
Randy Rozzell is a retired SEAL Chief with 22 years in the teams, multiple combat deployments with Team Seven, the guy who rewrote how Naval Special Warfare teaches hand-to-hand combat. A small-town Texas kid who ran away from home at 14,…
- SOG One-Zero School, Post-War Reflections & Views on Vietnam, Iran & Modern Conflicts | Ep. 289 | Pt. 3
MACV-SOG operator Travis Mills continues sharing his extraordinary journey. He discusses running the One-Zero School at Long Thanh to train new SOG team leaders, the profound sense of purpose that emerged from surviving the FOB 4 sapper at…
- MAC-V SOG in Vietnam: Silent Movement, Supply Route Ambushes, and the Night FOB 4 Was Overrun | Ep. 289 | Pt. 2
Vietnam War veteran and former MACV-SOG operator Travis Mills shares raw, firsthand accounts from his time with the elite Studies and Observations Group. He details the extreme challenges of small-team reconnaissance insertions deep into e…
- Inside MAC-V SOG: The Green Beret Who Ran the Most Classified Missions of the Vietnam War | Ep. 289 | Pt. 1
My guest today is a man who existed in the shadows of one of the most classified units in American military history — a Vietnam-era Green Beret named Travis Mills who helped build the legendary MACV-SOG one-zero school, ran recon deep into…
- Rowing the Pacific: 60 Days at Sea, Endurance & Ocean Expedition | Ep. 288 | Pt. 3
In the final part of Episode 288 on the Mike Drop Podcast, Mike Ritland continues his conversation with retired Army Ranger and jiu-jitsu academy owner Greg Anderson. They dive into Greg’s upcoming 3,100-mile unsupported ocean rowing exped…
- America First Foreign Policy: Isolationism, Israel, Iran & Endless Wars | Ep. 288 | Pt. 2
In part 2 of Episode 288 on the Mike Drop Podcast, Mike Ritland sits down with retired Army Ranger Greg Anderson. They discuss America First foreign policy, skepticism toward endless wars and foreign aid, reflections on World War II and go…
- They LIED About IRAN: What Really Happened in the Strait of Hormuz | Ep. 288 | Pt. 1
Greg Anderson returns to the Mike Drop Podcast. The former Army Ranger and U.S. Marshal breaks down the conflict with Iran, the strategic ripple effects, and what’s really happening in the Strait of Hormuz that isn’t being talked about. He…
- Iran, the Strait of Hormuz & Why Boots on the Ground Would Be a Disaster | Ep. 287 | Pt. 3
Joe England (The Stoic Viking), shares unfiltered insights on the current conflict with Iran. He breaks down the strategic realities of the Strait of Hormuz, the challenges of regime change, shifting alliances, and why boots-on-the-ground…
- A Tier 1 SIGINT Operator’s View of Delta, DEVGRU & Iran | Ep. 287 | Pt. 2
Joe England (The Stoic Viking) delivers a firsthand account of life inside America’s most secretive intelligence unit, Task Force Orange (Intelligence Support Activity/ISA). He details attachments with Delta Force and DEVGRU SIGINT operati…
- Iran Prepares to Strike the US As Tensions Escalate in the Middle East | Ep. 287 | Pt. 1
Joe England—aka Stoic Viking—shares his incredible story of survival, resilience, and purpose. After a near-fatal car accident that changed everything, Joe opens up about rebuilding mentally and physically, his drive to serve, and the mind…
- Boots on the Ground in Iran? Clint Bruce Breaks Down Trump's Strategy in the Middle East | Ep. 286 | Pt. 2
Clint Bruce weighs the strategic realities of the U.S. strikes on Iran, the regime-change question, nuclear risks, and potential boots-on-the-ground scenarios, while drawing directly from his combat experience and command roles. He also br…
- Leaving The NFL To Join The SEAL Teams, Trump's Strategy in Iran & More | Ep. 286 | Pt. 1
Clint Bruce, former NFL linebacker who walked away from the league to become a Navy SEAL, completed multiple combat deployments, and now leads Trident Response Group while co-founding Carry The Load to honor our fallen, sits down for a pow…
- Leading Special Forces Selection, Media Battles, and the Fight for Veteran Suicide Reform | Ep. 285 | Pt. 3
Former Australian 2nd Commando Regiment officer and combat veteran Heston Russell opens up about his personal journey, including coming to terms with his sexuality while serving, family reactions, and the cultural differences in veteran su…
- U.S. Allies and the Human Cost of War | Ep. 285 | Pt. 2
Former Australian Commando Heston Russell continues his detailed account of life inside Australia’s elite special forces. He covers domestic counter-terrorism readiness, high-stakes training exchanges with U.S. DEVGRU and FBI HRT, protecti…
- Australian Commando Selection, Iran War & The Future of Warfare | Ep. 285 | Pt. 1
Heston Russell, former Major with Australia’s 2nd Commando Regiment, multiple combat deployments. We’re going deep on what commando selection actually does to your mind and body, how he built and led teams through Afghanistan and Iraq, and…
- From Honeypots to AI Grooming: Inside the Fourth Intelligence Revolution | Ep. 284 | Pt. 3
Former intelligence officer, NGA Chief Technology Officer, and author of The Fourth Intelligence Revolution Dr. Anthony Vinci joins Mike Ritland on Mike Drop to explore the new frontiers of espionage in the age of AI. They break down honey…
- Iraq Regret, Iran Strikes & Epstein Timing | Ep. 284 | Pt. 2
Former intelligence officer, NGA Chief Technology Officer, and author of The Fourth Intelligence Revolution Dr. Anthony Vinci joins Mike Ritland on Mike Drop to break down the Iraq War’s long-term consequences, the power vacuum that empowe…
- Boots on the Ground in Iran? This Ends Like Iraq… | Ep. 284 | Pt. 1
Former intelligence officer, NGA Chief Technology Officer, and author of The Fourth Intelligence Revolution Dr. Anthony Vinci joins Mike Ritland on Mike Drop to unpack America’s high-stakes Iran moves. As deception returns, ships repositio…
- Epstein Leverage, Iran Strikes & AI Warfare: Nick Koumalatsos Unfiltered | Ep. 283 | Pt. 3
Nick Koumalatsos, Marine Raider, returns for the final segment of Episode 283. The discussion examines the Epstein case as a form of systemic leverage, followed by a critical assessment of U.S. strikes in Iran—questioning underlying motive…
- Nick Koumalatsos on Optimizing Men's Health + Iran Strikes as Distraction? | Ep. 283 | Pt. 2
Nick Koumalatsos, Marine Raider and combat veteran, returns for Part 2. This episode covers hormone optimization and TRT, peptide protocols for recovery, and the importance of discipline and accountability—principles rooted in special oper…
- Is Iran a Distraction From the Epstein Files? | Ep. 283 | Pt. 1
Marine Raider and combat vet Nick Koumalatsos breaks down the current U.S. strikes in Iran and answers the hard question: are these precision attacks the opening moves of a real regime-change campaign, or just the latest massive distractio…
- Iran, Cuba & Venezuela: How Trump Intends to Shift the Global Order in 2026
Trump says Cuba might be next, oil prices are spiking after Iran, China is building submarines, and Russia is feeding intel to Iran. In this episode, I break down what’s actually going on behind the headlines—why Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba…
- Inside the White House War Room | Special Forces Veteran Mark Grdovic | Ep. 281 | Pt. 3
In Part 3 of Episode 281 of the Mike Drop Podcast , I sit down with Mark Grdovic to talk about what happened after the Iraq invasion—getting pulled out of theater sooner than expected, taking those lessons back to train the next generation…
- The Secret Northern Front of the Iraq War: Special Forces & Kurdish Fighters | Ep. 281 | Pt. 2
In Part 2 of Episode 281 of the Mike Drop Podcast , I sit down with Special Forces veteran Mark Grecovich to break down the planning and execution behind Operation Viking Hammer . We get into working with Kurdish forces, the complications…
- Operation “Viking Hammer” Was Never the Real Mission? | Ep. 281 | Pt. 1
Retired Green Beret, Mark Grdovic shares the largely untold story of what came to be known as "Operation Viking Hammer", a 2003 U.S. Army Special Forces mission in northern Iraq that targeted the terrorist group Ansar al-Islam prior to the…
- A Sniper’s Redemption: Therapy, Plant Medicines, and Overcoming Combat Trauma | Ep. 280 | Pt. 3
In the final part of this three-part episode of the Mike Drop Podcast, host Mike Ritland wraps up the conversation with former British Army sniper Ted Shirley. Ted shares his path to recovery from severe PTSD through civilian therapy, grou…
- The Sniper's Demon: Precision Shots, Trauma, Suicide Attempts, and Life After the Front Line | Ep. 280 | Pt. 2
In this intense episode of the Mike Drop Podcast, host Mike Ritland speaks with former British Army sniper Ted Shirley about his 2009–2010 Afghanistan tour. Ted recounts mile-long confirmed kills, massive air assaults, close calls with ene…
- British Army Sniper on Who Really Killed Charlie Kirk | Ep. 280 | Pt. 1
Ted Shirley, a former British Army sniper with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and author of Afghanistan Sniper: Trauma on the Frontline and Beyond, recounts his two brutal tours in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, where he became one of the UK’s…
- Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Cartels: Crenshaw’s Take on U.S. Foreign Policy Choices | Ep. 279 | Pt. 3
In the final part of Episode 279 of Mike Drop , Mike Ritland and Congressman Dan Crenshaw wrap up their discussion. Crenshaw addresses federal spending, waste vs. fraud in entitlements like Social Security and Medicare, the unsustainable p…
- Dan Crenshaw Responds to Shawn Ryan and Eddie Gallagher Controversies | Ep. 279 | Pt. 2
In Part 2 of Episode 279 of Mike Drop , host Mike Ritland sits down with U.S. Congressman and former Navy SEAL Dan Crenshaw for a candid, no-filter conversation. Crenshaw breaks down the Shawn Ryan controversy—accusations of insider tradin…
- Dan Crenshaw Controversy and Allegations - YOU Be The Judge | Ep. 279 | Pt. 1
Dan Crenshaw sits down with Mike Ritland on the Mike Drop Podcast for a raw conversation. The former Navy SEAL and Texas Congressman opens up about his journey into politics, major policy fights (border security, cartels, flood mitigation,…
- Epstein Exposed: Julian Dorey on Mossad Ties, Blackmail, and Why the List Stays Hidden | Ep. 278 | Pt. 3
In Part 3 of Episode 278 of the Mike Drop podcast, host Mike Ritland continues his in-depth conversation with podcaster Julian Dorey. The discussion explores handling false claims from guests, the value of constructive criticism from comme…
- Julian Dorey: Health Struggles, Podcast Evolution, and the Realities of Content Creation | Ep. 278 | Pt. 2
In Part 2 of Episode 278 of the Mike Drop podcast, host Mike Ritland speaks with podcaster Julian Dorey about his relentless path to building his show. The conversation covers Dorey’s severe, undiagnosed health crisis that nearly ended his…
- Julian Dorey: How Epstein Ran the Ultimate Blackmail Op | Ep. 278 | Pt. 1
In this episode of the Mike Drop podcast, host Mike Ritland welcomes Julian Dorey, the host of the wildly successful Julian Dorey Podcast. Diving straight into one of the darkest ongoing mysteries, they unpack Jeffrey Epstein’s sick blackm…
- 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, leade…
- 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 Dispo…
- 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…
- 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/…
- 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…
- 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…