The Jack Carr Channel

Today’s guest is Elliot Ackerman—decorated Marine veteran, former CIA paramilitary officer, and New York Times bestselling author. A recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor, and Purple Heart, Elliot served five combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the battle of Fallujah, before going on to serve as a White House Fellow.  His acclaimed books - 2034, Halcyon, Waiting for Eden, Places and Names, and The Fifth Act - blend authenticity with a sharp literary edge. His latest novel, SHEEPDOGS, follows an ex-CIA officer and an Afghan pilot caught in a high-stakes heist that spirals into a deadly web of betrayal. In this episode, Jack and Elliot dive into the inspiration behind Sheepdogs, Elliot’s path to the Marine Corps after 9/11, and his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also explore his transition from the battlefield to publishing, his time with the CIA and as a White House Fellow, and the craft of writing stories that confront the moral complexities of war. FOLLOW ELLIOT X: @elliotackerman Instagram: @Elliot.ackerman FOLLOW JACK Instagram: @JackCarrUSA  X:  @JackCarrUSA Facebook:  @JackCarr  YouTube:  @JackCarrUSA SPONSORS CRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/ Bravo Company Manufacturing - https://bravocompanyusa.com/ and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA THE SIGs of Jack Carr: Visit https://www.sigsauer.com/ and on Instagram @sigsauerinc  Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here https://jackcarr.co/gear 

David Baldacci, a bestselling author with over 52 novels to his name, discusses his latest work, 'Strangers in Time,' set during WWII. He shares the inspiration behind his characters—a grieving bookseller and two war-scarred teens seeking hope amid chaos. Baldacci reflects on his journey from law to literature, emphasizing resilience and the challenges of writing. He also advocates for the importance of reading in fostering understanding and reveals details about the innovative audio production of his book, highlighting the emotional depth of storytelling.

Today’s guest is Ryan Pote, a former Navy helicopter pilot, NASA search and rescue aviator, and mission commander who served in a joint interagency special operations task force countering narcotics trafficking throughout Central and South America. After a decorated career flying across the globe, Ryan transitioned to federal investigative work on prototype aircraft and now serves with the Navy’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Test and Evaluation Unit. He’s also a musician, SCUBA instructor, and holds a master’s in U.S. history. His debut thriller, BLOOD AND TREASURE, begins with the violent destruction of the International Space Station and a mysterious survivor who plunges into the Indian Ocean—where treasure hunter Ethan Cain must unravel a plot that spans both ancient secrets and futuristic threats. FOLLOW ALEX X: @ryanpotebooks Instagram: @ryanpotebooks Facebook: @ryanpotebooks Website: https://www.ryanpote.com/   FOLLOW JACK Instagram: @JackCarrUSA   X:  @JackCarrUSA Facebook:  @JackCarr  YouTube:  @JackCarrUSA SPONSORS CRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/ Bravo Company Manufacturing - https://bravocompanyusa.com/ and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA THE SIGs of Jack Carr: Visit https://www.sigsauer.com/ and on Instagram @sigsauerinc  Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here https://jackcarr.co/gear

Today’s guest is Jon Dubin—former prosecutor, FBI Special Agent, SWAT Operator, and now the managing partner of Pineapple Brothers Lānaʻi.  Jon began his career in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuting violent crimes before joining the FBI in 2003. Over his time with the Bureau, Jon specialized in counterintelligence, gangs, and counterterrorism. He served as a SWAT operator for 13 years, trained agents as a firearms instructor, and was assigned to the Oakland Police Department-FBI Homicide Task Force. He finished his time in service on the Joint Terrorism Task Force. In this episode, Jon shares how he went from prosecuting domestic abuse cases, to chasing gang members and terrorists with the FBI, to building a luxury hunting business in Hawaii - with wild stories from the courtroom, the streets, and the islands.  FOLLOW JON Instagram: @pineapplebrotherslanai Website: https://pineapplebrothers.com/about-us/ Website: https://www.highadventurecompany.com/ FOLLOW JACK Instagram: @JackCarrUSA  X:  @JackCarrUSA Facebook:  @JackCarr  YouTube:  @JackCarrUSA SPONSORS CRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/ Bravo Company Manufacturing - https://bravocompanyusa.com/ and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA THE SIGs of Jack Carr: Visit https://www.sigsauer.com/ and on Instagram @sigsauerinc  Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here https://jackcarr.co/gear 

This week on DANGER CLOSE, Jack Carr is joined by Alex Berenson—former New York Times reporter, bestselling thriller author, and investigative journalist. Alex began his career as a journalist after graduating from Yale with degrees in history and economics, joining The Denver Post and later becoming one of the first reporters at TheStreet.com. He spent more than a decade at The New York Times, where he covered everything from Big Pharma to Hurricane Katrina—including two assignments reporting from Iraq. Those experiences inspired his debut spy novel, THE FAITHFUL SPY, which won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Alex went on to write twelve bestselling novels in the John Wells series—gritty, high-stakes thrillers centered on a rogue CIA operative who infiltrates al Qaeda and operates in the shadows of global terrorism – and a standalone thriller titled THE POWER COUPLE.  Berenson eventually stepped away from the series, pivoting back to journalism and nonfiction with TELL YOUR CHILDREN and PANDEMIA.  In this episode, Alex discusses the personal and professional journey that shaped his fiction, his thoughts on the thriller genre today, and what he’s working on next. FOLLOW ALEX Instagram: @alberen X: @AlexBerenson Facebook: @AlexBerensonAuthor Website: https://alexberenson.com/  FOLLOW JACK Instagram: @JackCarrUSA  X:  @JackCarrUSA Facebook:  @JackCarr  YouTube:  @JackCarrUSA SPONSORS CRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/ Bravo Company Manufacturing - https://bravocompanyusa.com/ and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA THE SIGs of Jack Carr: Visit https://www.sigsauer.com/ and on Instagram @sigsauerinc  Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here https://jackcarr.co/gear 

This week on DANGER CLOSE, Jack Carr is joined by Eugene H. Pugh, a Vietnam veteran and former member of MACV-SOG’s elite Recon Team Asp. Born in Colón, Panama, Gene began his military journey in 1966, volunteering for Special Forces and serving as a communications sergeant, assistant medic, and intelligence specialist. In 1968, he deployed to Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group and was assigned to the highly classified MACV-SOG. His recon team, RT-ASP, was uniquely comprised of former North Vietnamese soldiers—an extraordinary advantage in conducting prisoner snatches, wiretaps, and deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines. Following Vietnam, Gene taught school in Washington, D.C., became a pilot, and later worked as a private investigator in Texas. Now retired, he is an author, screenwriter, and co-founder of both Impact Studios and Veterans Mortgage of America. His novels include SURRENDER NOT AN OPTION and THE DIPLOMAT. FOLLOW GENE Instagram: @veteransmoa Facebook: Veterans Mortgage of America LinkedIn: Veterans Mortgage of America FOLLOW JACK Instagram: @JackCarrUSA  X:  @JackCarrUSA Facebook:  @JackCarr  YouTube:  @JackCarrUSA SPONSORS CRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/ Bravo Company Manufacturing - https://bravocompanyusa.com/ and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA THE SIGs of Jack Carr: Visit https://www.sigsauer.com/ and on Instagram @sigsauerinc  Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here https://jackcarr.co/gear 

Stephen Hunter, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the Bob Lee Swagger series and former film critic for The Washington Post, shares his insights on creating authentic characters. He discusses the development of Bob Lee Swagger and the cultural context of gun ownership in America. The duo explores the emotional weight of military service and how personal experiences influence storytelling. Hunter also reflects on the JFK assassination's impact on narrative and the balance between commercialism and literary integrity in writing.

This week on DANGER CLOSE, Jack Carr is joined by military historian and national security expert Dr. Mark Moyar. Dr. Moyar is the Director of the Center for Military History and Strategy at Hillsdale College, where he holds the William P. Harris Chair of Military History. A summa cum laude graduate of Harvard with a Ph.D. from Cambridge, he served in the Trump administration as Director of Civilian–Military Cooperation at USAID and has advised across government and military institutions. He is the author of eight books, including his most recent and widely discussed work, TRIUMPH REGAINED: THE VIETNAM WAR, 1965–1968. In this episode, Dr. Moyar and Jack explore the Vietnam War through the lens of revisionist history, challenging the conventional wisdom that has shaped public perception for decades. From the early influence of French colonialism and the flawed assumptions that guided U.S. foreign policy, to the critical decisions of Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, Moyar offers a clear-eyed reassessment of America’s involvement. They examine the Domino Theory, the role of media figures like David Halberstam and Neil Sheehan, and the controversial legacy of the Phoenix Program—often mischaracterized in pop culture and politics alike. The conversation also delves into the 1963 Buddhist protests, the assassination of President Diem, and the missed strategic opportunities that could have changed the trajectory of the war. Dr. Moyar draws compelling parallels between the U.S. exit from Vietnam and more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, connecting lessons from history to modern military and diplomatic challenges. He also speaks to the cultural forces—films like JFK and distorted media narratives—that continue to shape the American understanding of Vietnam to this day. This is a powerful discussion about the weight of history, the cost of misinformation, and the importance of revisiting the past with intellectual honesty. FOLLOW MARK X: @MarkMoyar Website: https://markmoyar.com/ FOLLOW JACK Instagram: @JackCarrUSA  X:  @JackCarrUSA Facebook:  @JackCarr  YouTube:  @JackCarrUSA SPONSORS CRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/ Bravo Company Manufacturing - BCM Stock MOD3: https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-stock-mod-3-black/  and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA THE SIGs of Jack Carr: Visit https://www.sigsauer.com/ and on Instagram @sigsauerinc  Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here https://jackcarr.co/gear 

Jared Shaw, a former Navy SEAL and actor in The Terminal List, shares his journey from military service to the screen, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in storytelling. Alongside David DiGilio, the show's Executive Producer, they discuss the challenges of adapting the novel during the COVID era, including virtual collaborations and character development. They reflect on creating pivotal scenes and the bonds of brotherhood that enrich the narrative, while also highlighting the real military experiences that shaped the series.

Jim Hawes, a former Navy SEAL and CIA paramilitary officer, shares riveting tales from his covert missions in the 1960s. He discusses the intense operation aimed at capturing Che Guevara, revealing the unpredictable nature of military life. Jim reflects on his experiences in Vietnam and the Gulf of Tonkin incident, emphasizing the complexities of covert operations. He also delves into his work in the Congo, highlighting the historical context and external influences during the conflict. Finally, Jim offers insights for aspiring warriors and entrepreneurs, focusing on resilience and adaptability.