Modern Day Sniper Podcast
Self-Improvement
About
The Modern Day Sniper Podcast is your ultimate source for insights and discussions on the sniper lifestyle, from active duty to life beyond the uniform. Hosted by Caylen Wojcik, join us as we explore the art and science of precision shooting, the mental and physical discipline required, and the ongoing journey of self-improvement and mastery.Caylen began his professional journey as a rifleman in the US Marine Corps, where he served as a Scout/Sniper and instructor. He trained Marines, soldiers, and Navy operatives in marksmanship and urban combat tactics. After sustaining severe injuries in 2004, Caylen passed his experience to new snipers before leaving active duty. Since then, he has taught precision rifle skills to hundreds of military, law enforcement, and civilians.
Episodes
- MDS Episode #0136 | The Beginning of the Untold
In MDS Episode #0136, recorded in the field, Caylen speaks with Marines Juan Ospina, Chris Lajczok, and Rafael De Hoya about identity, hardship, and mentorship. The discussion explores themes of personal growth, overcoming internal obstacl…
- MDS Episode #0135 | Francis Colon - The Rifle Reveals What The Mind Conceals
In episode 0135 of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, host Caylen interviews Francis Colon about the MDT Barrel Burner 2026 PRS Pro Match. They explore the mental and procedural aspects of high-level precision rifle competition, including trai…
- MDS Episode #0134 | Erik Cortina - Believe the Target
MDS Episode #0134 features Erik Cortina discussing precision shooting, ballistics, and the mental aspects of marksmanship with Caylen Wojcik. The conversation covers rifle setup, trigger control, wind reading, and mental focus for shooters.
- MDS Episode #0133 | Jay Nichol - The Mindful Hunter
In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, host Caylen speaks with Jay Nichol of The Mindful Hunter about the mindset behind skill development, modern hunting realities, and the difference between perceived and true capability. They…
- MDS Episode #0132 | Francis Colon - The Game Within
In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, host Caylen interviews Francis Colon about precision rifle competition. They cover training methods, the mental aspects of shooting, and the long-term process of improving performance.
- MDS Podcast Episode #0131 | Meet The Mentors
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen sits down at Nail Spring Ranch with mentors Aaron Martin, Juan Ospina, and Landen Jones to kick off their newest masterclass, Rapid Engagement Techniques, taught by…
- MDS Podcast Episode #0130 | Vincent Peak
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the podcast we traveled to Spokane, WA and spent a day with our newest addition to the Mentorship Team at Modern Day Sniper, Mr. Vincent Peak. Vince and his wife Morgan own and operate Northwest Elite, a…
- MDS Episode #0129 | Keep the Promise: Romeo Santiago on Brotherhood, Loss, and Carrying the Weight
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Romeo Santiago for a grounded and meaningful conversation centered on service, sacrifice, and taking responsibility for those we served alongsi…
- From Combat to Creation: Dagan Van Oosten on Leadership, Life After Service, and Nomadic Research | MDS Episode #0128
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Dagan Van Oosten for a wide-ranging and candid conversation that spans military service, leadership, entrepreneurship, and life after the unifo…
- Jack Hinson: The Birth of American Guerrilla Warfare | MDS Episode #0127
Send us Fan Mail If you care about rifleman-ship, this episode is about more than history. It’s about discipline, limits, ethics, and what happens when skill spreads faster than wisdom. In this episode: Why the “old world” of precision sho…
- Precision & Purpose: A Deep Dive with Sam Carlson of Thunder Beast | MDS Episode #0126
Send us Fan Mail Caylen Wojcik sits down with competitive shooter, match director, and Thunder Beast Arms Corp shooter Sam Carlson for a long, thoughtful, and refreshingly transparent discussion about the places where precision rifle shoot…
- Wind, Intuition & the Science of Precision Shooting | MDS Episode #0125
Send us Fan Mail Former Marine Scout Sniper and Instructor Owen Mulder joins Caylen Wojcik in the Modern Day Sniper studio for the first time — a conversation that dives deep into the art and science of reading the wind, training intuition…
- Snipers of the Revolution: Daniel Morgan & Louis Wetzel | MDS Episode #0124
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Modern Day Sniper Podcast. In this history lesson, we close out the life of Louis Wetzel , the infamous frontier rifleman, and dive into the rise of Daniel Morgan , one of the most impactful American ri…
- Modern Marksmanship, Wind Reading & Law Enforcement Sniper Lessons | MDS Episode #0123
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast , Caylen Wojcik reconnects with competitive shooter Nate Humbard for an unplanned deep dive into the fundamentals of rifle craft. What started as a “History Lesson” recordin…
- MDS Episode #0122 - How A PRS Champion Trains for Elite Rifle Competition w/ Corson Piper
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Pacific Northwest shooter, craftsman, and all-around salt-of-the-earth human Corson Piper for an honest conversation on performance, pressure,…
- MDS Episode #0121 - Death Wind – The Untold Story of Lewis Wetzel w/ Nate Humbard
Send us Fan Mail In this second episode of the Modern Day Sniper History Series, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Nate Humbard to explore the raw and riveting life of Lewis Wetzel, also known as Death Wind—a legendary frontiersman, rifleman, a…
- MDS Episode #0120 - Sniper School to Backcountry Wisdom w/ Chris Camren
Send us Fan Mail In this raw and real episode, Caylen Wojcik sits down with Marine veteran, hunter, and lifelong student Chris Camren for a raw, honest conversation about the evolution of marksmanship, mentorship, and mindset. From early d…
- MDS Episode #0119 - Solo Hunting Changed My Life w/ Luke Carrick
Send us Fan Mail What happens when solitude meets the backcountry? In this episode, Caylen Wojcik sits down with longtime hunting mentor, guide, and adventure photographer Luke Carrick to talk about the medicine of the mountains, the lesso…
- Nation Founded By Riflemen | Modern Day Sniper Podcast Ep.118
Send us Fan Mail In this first installment of our historical series, Caylen Wojcik is joined by assistant instructor and lifelong rifleman Nate Humbard for an unfiltered, in-depth conversation tracing the roots of American sniping—from the…
- MDS Episode #0117 - Landen Jones - Part 2 - The LE Sniper Skills Clinic Debrief
Send us Fan Mail In this episode I sit down with Landen to discuss some debrief points from the last two Law Enforcement Sniper Skills clinics we’ve taught together. These classes are going really well and the curriculum has developed subs…
- MDS Episode #0116 - Who Is Landen Jones - Our LE Sniper Program Director
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m sitting down with Landen Jones. Landen Jones is a former US Army Sniper, a current Cowlitz County Deputy Sheriff, and the lead sniper for the XXX regional SWAT team. Landen comes to Modern Day Sniper w…
- MDS Episode #0115 - Galen Shea - The Chemistry of CLR
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast we’ve brought on Galen Shea for a conversation on rifle cleaning solvents, more specifically, CLR. Galen Shea is a dedicated local shooter in the Pacific Northwest. He frequ…
- MDS Episode #0114 - Colton Bagnoli
Send us Fan Mail Carbon Fiber Barrels: What You Need to Know In this conversation, Caylen Wojcik and Colton Bagnoli discuss Colton's diverse experiences in the outdoors, including his transition from law enforcement to becoming a fly fishi…
- MDS Episode #0113 - Mark D'Ambrosio - Resilience and Self-Discovery in the Wilderness
Send us Fan Mail Resilience and Self-Discovery in the Wilderness In this conversation, Caylen Wojcik and Mark discuss a range of topics from their backgrounds in metal fabrication and military service to the importance of wilderness experi…
- MDS Episode #0112 - Caylen Unplugged #1
Send us Fan Mail For 2025 and beyond, I’d like to bring you guys a new style of podcast for me - solo-casts. I haven’t been 100% comfortable in the past with sitting by myself in front of the camera. It felt a bit on the arrogant side, and…
- MDS Episode #0111 - Tim Parkhurst Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits down with Tim Parkhurst, President of the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation, to discuss the mission of preserving the legacy of Marine Scout Snipers. Tim shares fascinating historical ins…
- MDS Episode #0110 - Neurobiology and Psychology for Snipers with Owen Mulder
Send us Fan Mail In this in-depth conversation, Caylen Wojcik and Owen Mulder uncover the science behind elite shooting performance. They explore the neurobiology and psychology that influence a sniper's mental game, discussing key concept…
- MDS Episode #0109 - David Cantu & Ken Smith
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to a new episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast! During this episode I sat down with two of my great friends, David Cantu and Ken Smith. David and Ken are precision rifle competitors and hunters here in the…
- MDS Episode #0108 - Scout/Snipers, Shenanigans, and the Marine Corps: Inside the Sniper's Perspective
Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the podcast we invite Jeff “Skully” Escalderon and John Spurling to the show to discuss their perspective on their time serving in the Marine Corps as Scout/Snipers and as instructors. These guys hold no…
- MDS Episode #0107 - Precision, Passion, and Personal Growth: Welcoming Aaron Martin to the Modern Day Sniper Podcast
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Caylen Wojcik welcomes Aaron Martin, a new addition to the Modern Day Sniper and Modern Day Rifleman cadre. They discuss Aaron's background as a precision rifle instructor…
- MDS Episode #0106 - Managing Fear with Tony Blauer
Send us Fan Mail In this episode we welcome Tony Blauer of Blauer Tactical Training Systems. Tony Blauer explores the vital role of fear management in personal safety and self-defense, critiquing traditional training methods in favor of un…
- MDS Episode #0105 - Long Range Legend Carl Taylor
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits down with Carl Taylor from In Motion Targets, an experienced figure in the precision rifle community. Join us as we dive into Carl’s background, his contributions to the sniper community, and h…
- MDS Episode #0104 - Mastering Precision Rifle Shooting with Jacob Bynum
Send us Fan Mail In this episode Caylen talks with the legendary Jacob Bynum from Rifles Only. Jacob is a true pioneer in the field of precision rifle shooting, and we are always excited to have him on the show because he brings us back to…
- MDS Episode #0103 - The Ethical Hunter: Responsible Practices in the African Plains
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen sits down with his good friend, Len Waldron to discuss hunting in Africa and WWII. Len Waldron prepares for a hunting trip in Africa and reminisces about their previous adventures. They discuss the…
- MDS Episode #0102 - Debunking Gun Myths: Accuracy & Reloading for Practical Shooters w JD Thomas
Send us Fan Mail This episode explores the world of precision shooting and gunsmithing. Learn about gun design, intricate barrel making, reloading techniques, and the mental focus needed for peak accuracy. Caylen and JD Thomas share insigh…
- MDS Episode #0101 - Inside the Mind of an Elite Skydiver ft. V Buck Priv
Send us Fan Mail In this podcast, host Caylen Wojcik and Competitive Sky Diver V Buck Prib converse about the realities of high-level extreme sports. They discuss safety measures, rigorous training, mental preparation, costs, and more. Cay…
- MDS Episode #0100 - The Future of Modern Day Sniper
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to our 100th Episode! This is a big deal for us! Today Caylen and Phillip sit down to discuss the future of Modern Day Sniper and where we’re headed for 2024 and beyond. The pair discuss the new in-person class nam…
- MDS Episode #0099 - Blending a Passion for Teaching and Precision Rifle with James Wazeter
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with one of our Modern Day Riflemen, James Wazeter. We dive into his systematic approach to precision shooting, his coaching experience in the fitness industry, and his passion for long-range b…
- MDS Episode #0098 - Veteran Experiences and Transition Challenges with Mike Lilly
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Modern Day Sniper Podcast Episode 98, where we have a heartfelt discussion with special guest Mike Lilly, a well-known figure in the Precision Rifle Series and the National Rifle League's Hunter Series. Mike…
- MDS Episode #0097: PRS + WPR
Send us Fan Mail In this podcast, Phillip sits down with the Director of PRS Ken Wheeler and Western Precision Rifle founder Peter Kneip. They discuss the integration of the PRS Regional Series with the Western Precision Rifle community in…
- MDS Episode #0096: Pigg River 2023 Recap with John Carughi
Send us Fan Mail The team sits down in Virginia after wrapping up our 4th year at Pigg River. We have John Carughi on this podcast also known as “Weapon Snatcher.” The team recaps the 4 days of training, some common trends as well as divin…
- MDS Episode #0095: Creating Opportunities with Matt Solowynsky
Send us Fan Mail The Field Shooting Workshop Phillip sits down with Matt Solowynsky from R&S Solutions to discuss creating opportunities. Despite still being an active duty Marine, Matt shares how he navigates his transition process with r…
- MDS Episode #0094 The YO Ranch and the Ole’ Timers
Send us Fan Mail Caylen and Phillip have an in-depth discussion about their recent event at the Y.O. Ranch, a stunning location situated just outside of San Antonio, Texas. During their conversation, they touch upon the exciting prospects…
- MDS Episode #0093 Tripods and the Mountains
Send us Fan Mail In this podcast, Phillip and Caylen discuss effective communication with students of all skill levels and shooting experience. They also provide tips on selecting the right tripod for shooting specific to their application…
- MDS Episode #0092: The Tripod Masterclass is Coming...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode the MDS team takes a deep dive into what they’re learning while developing and filming our upcoming Tripod Shooting Masterclass. This is a compilation of a lot of little tidbits of discoveries that the team…
- MDS Episode #0091: Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Caylen, Phil, and Ryan dive deep into the behind-the-scenes aspects of the firearm industry, offering their unique perspectives and insights on dealing with trolls and overall negativity that inherently co…
- MDS Episode #0090: NRL Hunter Utah Recap
Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Phil and Ryan take a deep dive into their experience at the NRL Hunter in Utah competition that they recently participated in as a team. They go over the various stages they encountered, including…
- MDS Episode #0089 - Big Guns and the Mental Game
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Modern Day Sniper Podcast, Phillip and Caylen discuss various topics related to shooting, including the importance of balance in life, having a solid baseline in your career, different levels of awar…
- MDS Episode #0088: Ryan and Caylen at MSTOA
Send us Fan Mail In this episode Ryan and Caylen are spending a week at the Mountain States Tactical officer’s Association annual meetings and training week. This is our 5th year consecutively supporting this effort and we’re always happy…
- MDS Episode #0087 Kitchen Loads in the UK
Send us Fan Mail The Modern Day Sniper team is in the United Kingdom doing a series of classes with the precision rifle shooters of Great Britain. They sit down with Andy Simpson and James Bass, who are attending the Intro to Precision Rif…