S6 E7 - Michael Rodriguez — Service With & Without a Uniform
🎙️ Green Beret veteran, father, artist, and advocate — Michael “Rod” Rodriguez has lived a life marked by deep service, both in and out of uniform. In this powerful episode of SOFcast, Rod shares his journey from multiple combat deployments to post-9/11 healing, and how his own traumatic brain injury and his son's military service redefined his mission.Rod reflects on the power of storytelling, the burden of unseen wounds, and how art, policy, and advocacy became his new battlefields. From serving on the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities to leading the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, he shows how special operations values translate to national service, community impact, and legacy.This is about endurance, accountability, and continuing to lead long after the fight.The uniform may come off — but the mission never ends. Listen now.#SOFcast #QuietProfessionals #MichaelRodriguez #GreenBeret #GWOTMemorial #VeteranVoices #ServiceAfterService #SpecialOperations
🎧 In this SOFcast Brief, host Matt Parrish sits down with Maj. John Bendokas from Air Force Special Operations Command to break down the newest addition to the AFSOC arsenal — the OA-1K Skyraider II.Born from hard-earned lessons in places like Tongo Tongo and designed to support geographically isolated SOF teams, the OA-1K is a modular, cost-effective platform built for armed ISR, precision strike, and close air support — especially in austere environments.From collapsing the traditional “air stack” into a single, multi-role aircraft to landing on rough terrain with just a small team, the Skyraider II is purpose-built for irregular warfare. Maj. Bendokas explains how AFSOC is fielding this platform, training the next generation of aircrew, and thinking differently to meet the complex demands of tomorrow’s fight.Whether you’re boots on the ground or tracking strategic shifts in SOF aviation, this one’s worth your time.The future of Armed Overwatch is here. Listen now.#SOFcast #SkyraiderII #OA1K #AFSOC #SpecialOperations #QuietProfessionals #AirPower #IrregularWarfare
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SOFcast S6 E6: Angel Cortes — From the Streets to the Regiment
🎙️ From a childhood of poverty and violence in Los Angeles to the ranks of the 75th Ranger Regiment, Angel Cortes’ story is one of grit, growth, and relentless purpose. In this raw and moving conversation, Angel shares how he escaped gang life, found a new mission in the Army, and eventually became a leader in the Ranger Regiment — even after setbacks, doubters, and near-fatal exits.Today, Angel’s mission is still about service. Through his business OG Pumpkin, he’s built a community that gives back to veterans and low-income neighborhoods. He co-leads Defense Strategies Group, bringing tactical skills and life lessons to a new audience. And when a friend’s wife faced kidney failure, Angel didn’t hesitate — he gave her a kidney, proving once again that leadership and selflessness don’t end with the uniform.This is a story about refusing to let your past define you, fighting for your future, and inspiring others to do the same.Keep going. Listen now.#SOFcast #QuietProfessionals #RangerRegiment #OGPumpkin #Resilience #Leadership #VeteranVoices
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1:12:28
SOFcast Special Episode: “Moments That Matter” — Medal of Honor Panel at SOF Week 2025
🎙️ In this extraordinary SOFcast episode, we step away from the studio and onto the stage of SOF Week 2025, a premier joint conference co-hosted by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Global SOF Foundation.Recorded live in Tampa, this powerful panel titled “Moments That Matter” features three living SOF recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor:Sergeant Major Pat Payne, U.S. Army RangerMaster Sergeant Earl Plumlee, U.S. Army Green BeretCommand Sergeant Major Matt Williams, U.S. Army Green BeretModerated by SOFcast host Matt Parrish, the conversation goes far beyond battlefield heroics. The panelists reflect on the defining moments that shaped their leadership, the burden and responsibility of the Medal, the foundation of trust within elite teams, and the enduring importance of character, resilience, and mentorship. They didn’t seek recognition. They simply answered the call when it mattered most.This is a rare opportunity to witness living history — and to hear from warriors who continue to lead and inspire, long after the fight.Lean in. Learn. Share this with someone who needs it.#SOFcast #MedalOfHonor #QuietProfessionals #SOFWeek2025 #USSOCOM #GlobalSOF #MomentsThatMatter #SpecialOperations #ARSOF #USASOC #specialforces #ranger #greenberet #VeteranVoices
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S6 E5 - Rob Zackery — Calling the Fight, Building the Team
🎙️ From calling in airstrikes with Green Berets and Rangers to leading Airmen across the globe, Rob Zackery’s career as an Air Force TACP is one of purpose, adaptability, and impact. In this episode, Rob shares what it takes to step into any team room and earn trust — not by rank or reputation, but by performance.He reflects on his early combat deployments, including Afghanistan in 2001, the push-pull of old-school and new-school warfighting, and how humanity often shows up in the unlikeliest places. As he climbed the ranks, Rob talks about shifting from trigger-puller to team builder, what real leadership requires, and why creating the right environment matters more than any title.Now a leadership consultant and advocate for underserved youth, veterans, and incarcerated populations, Rob continues to serve — by investing in people, one conversation at a time.Earn trust. Share lessons. Lead with purpose. Listen now.#SOFcast #QuietProfessionals #TACP #Leadership #SpecialOperations #VeteranVoices #HumanMoreThanHardware
SOFcast is the official podcast of U.S. Special Operations Command. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces discuss leadership, overcoming challenges, and current issues for the force. Hear from special operations personnel like Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets, Army Rangers, Marine Raiders, Air Force Special Operators, pilots, medics, communicators, and more!
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