The Shawn Ryan Show Podcast By Shawn Ryan cover art

The Shawn Ryan Show

The Shawn Ryan Show

By: Shawn Ryan
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The "Shawn Ryan Show" is hosted by Shawn Ryan, former U.S. Navy SEAL, CIA Contractor, and Founder of Vigilance Elite. We tell REAL stories about REAL people from all walks of life. We discuss the ups and downs, wins and losses, successes and struggles, the good and bad in a respectful but candid way with our guest. We're better than entertainment, we're the REAL thing. Please enjoy the show.© 2026 Shawn Ryan Show Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • #291 Joe Kent - His Message to President Trump on Ending the War With Iran

    #291 Joe Kent - His Message to President Trump on Ending the War With Iran
    Mar 26 2026
    Joe Kent is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer, former CIA paramilitary officer, and until recently served as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, stepping down from the post in March 2026 following a principled disagreement over U.S. policy in the Iran war. An Oregon native and graduate of Norwich University in Strategic Defense Analysis, Kent served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, completing 11 combat deployments across the Middle East and other high-threat regions. His military career included service with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces, and U.S. Army Special Operations Command, earning numerous commendations, including six bronze stars. After retiring from the Army in 2018, he served as a paramilitary officer in the CIA's Special Activities Center. Kent brought decades of frontline counterterrorism experience to the role, shaped in part by personal sacrifice: in 2019, his wife, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent, was killed in a suicide bombing while serving in Syria. Follow the markets: https://polymarket.com/event/us-x-iran-ceasefire-by https://polymarket.com/event/us-forces-enter-iran-by Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Live better longer with BUBS Naturals. Get 20% OFF on collagen, MCT creamers, and more with code SHAWN at https://bubsnaturals.com/srs Ready to upgrade your eyewear? Check them out at https://roka.com and use code SRS for 20% off sitewide. Joe Kent Links: X - https://x.com/joekent16jan19 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 3 mins
  • #290 Zach Lahn - Inside America’s Cancer-Causing Chemical Problem

    #290 Zach Lahn - Inside America’s Cancer-Causing Chemical Problem
    Mar 23 2026
    Zach Lahn is a first-time political candidate running in the 2026 Republican primary for Governor of Iowa. Never having held elected office, he launched his campaign from his family farm, positioning himself as a self-funded outsider independent of party leadership and corporate donors. His candidacy is rooted in a belief that Iowa needs leadership grounded in rural life rather than professional politics. Lahn’s platform is socially conservative and economically populist, with a strong focus on agriculture and land ownership. He opposes foreign and corporate control of Iowa farmland and advocates for family farms over large agribusiness monopolies. Economically, he is critical of corporate consolidation and globalism, supporting antitrust action and policies that favor small businesses. On social issues, Lahn is anti-abortion, opposes gender-affirming medical procedures for minors, and emphasizes traditional family structures and parental control in education. He also runs on a tough-on-crime platform, with a focus on fentanyl trafficking and strong support for law enforcement. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Get 30% off your first subscription order at https://armra.com/srs with code SRS. Find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at https://hexclad.com/srs! #hexcladpartner Go to https://helixsleep.com/srs for 20% off sitewide. Go to https://shopbeam.com/SRS, use code SRS. With my code SRS, you can grab Dream for 50% off. Zach Lahn Links: Web - https://zachlahn.com FB - https://www.facebook.com/ZachLahn X - https://x.com/ZachLahn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 12 mins
  • #289 Michael Lester - Is the United States Going to War with Iran For Israel?

    #289 Michael Lester - Is the United States Going to War with Iran For Israel?
    Mar 19 2026
    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
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    3 hrs and 54 mins
All stars
Most relevant
I've listened to nearly all of the interviews at this point and the stories your guests have to tell are truly amazing. Not only are the interviews entertaining, interesting and thought provoking they are also opening eyes to some hard and widely overlooked subjects. thank you for providing a platform for these people to share their stories. keep it up. you're all doing a great job.

A truly amazing project

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Huge fan of your work. Keep up the great job. Could only imagine if there was some like you to document the brave men and women of the greatest generation. A lot of history is lost.

Great job

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I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to call people like you both my countrymen. You guys are and all our military vets are unbelievable hero’s to most of us in this great country. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate what you guys have given for the rest of us. God bless you both.

Unbelievable

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some of the best and most controversial topics discussed. I'm a little late to the podcast game, so I started from the beginning. but this stuff is just eye-opening and life changing for me.

love this podcast

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Shawn is an amazing interviewer, especially in the context of most of his guests. There's some amazing stories from the special ops community, but the episodes where he steps out a bit (cartels, psychedelics, ufos, etc.) are awesome as well. Nothing but straight up, incredible stories right from the people who were there. I hope Ep. 100 is a deep dive into Shawn's career!

Amazing stories, great interviews

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