AARP Hearing Center
Whether you’re in the gym, walking the dog, gardening, sitting in the car or just waiting for someone, there’s always an opportunity to escape and learn by listening to a podcast.
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The podcast boom has given us an explosion of content, offering a way to take a deep dive on a subject or to listen to people we grow to trust. There are hundreds of podcasts that appeal to veterans, and we won’t attempt to rank them or tell you which are best — it’s such a personal choice. I’ve been a guest on a number myself.
But here, in no particular order, are some podcasts with particular appeal for veterans that we recommend you try out:
The Team House
A weekly podcast that is livestreamed every Friday evening, The Team House is hosted by Jack Murphy and Dave Parke, both former Rangers. Murphy was a sniper and senior weapons sergeant in the 5th Special Forces Group, and Parke was a Marine, Navy diver, sniper and paramilitary contractor.
The pair host freewheeling conversations with veterans, spies and authors that can last several hours and sometimes involve a few beers.
Sample review: “Exceptional listen for ALL veterans. The diversity of guests and the way their experiences are conveyed is both entertaining and informative.”
Danger Close with Jack Carr
During a two-decade career as a Navy SEAL, Jack Carr served as a team leader, platoon commander, troop commander, task unit commander and sniper. He’s the author of the best-selling Terminal List book series, which is the basis for the Amazon Prime television show of the same name, starring Chris Pratt.
Carr’s mother was a librarian, and his voracious reading adds depth to his Danger Close interviews with special operators, CIA paramilitaries and authors.
Sample review: “Jack Carr is an American treasure. Warrior, patriot, author, interviewer and citizen … he excels at them all. His easy style keeps me engaged and learning and thinking.”
Mike Drop
Hosted by Mike Ritland, who spent a dozen years as a Navy SEAL, then two decades as a dog trainer whose company won contracts with the military and U.S. government agencies. He describes his Mike Drop podcast as a “not so politically correct discussion of wide-ranging topics that span from government, politics and war to health and fitness, from guns and survival skills to food and nutrition with music, BBQ and a touch of everything else in between.”
Sample review: “Mike does an outstanding job interviewing all sorts of amazing people serving at the tip of the spear and beyond. He gives these men and women a platform to share their experiences and their struggles.”
The Jedburgh Podcast
This podcast is described as a conversation with “transformative leaders, visionaries, drivers of change, and those dedicated to winning no matter the challenge.” The Jedburgh Podcast draws its name from the OSS teams dropped behind enemy lines during World War II.
