The Jack Carr Channel

In May of 2011, Mark Owen crossed the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on a mission to capture/kill Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda - to decapitate “The Head of the Snake.”  But that night in Abbottabad, Pakistan is just a part of Mark’s story. In this special four-part series of Danger Close, Jack sits down for an extended interview with Mark to discuss the story you haven’t heard. Starting with Mark’s childhood in a remote Alaskan community to his early days in the SEAL Teams to 9/11 and the sustained combat that followed to his selection and training for a team at the highest echelons of special operations, this is Mark Owen unfiltered, candid, and uncensored. Mark would go on to take part in high-profile operations like the mission to rescue Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates and the search for Bowe Bergdahl. He would later work his way up a stairwell in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan and into a hallway where the most wanted terrorist in the world waited…   But, as Jack and Mark discuss, the aftermath of the raid would not only change the public profile of Naval Special Warfare, it would also alter the course of Mark’s life in ways he could have never anticipated. IRONCLAD and SIG Sauer proudly present, The Head of the Snake: The Killing of UBL, a special Danger Close event. Mark Owen’s books: No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden and No Hero: The Evolution of a Navy SEAL Sponsors: Today’s episode is presented by SIG Sauer. Part 4: Aftermath   The days following the raid that killed Osama bin Laden were an exciting time for the American public, but for the men that were there the night he died things were taking a turn. In the final installment of The Head of the Snake series, we learn about why Mark’s military career would soon come to an end, and how his decision to tell the public the story of the Bin Laden raid drew the ire of the Pentagon.  It’s a fascinating look at the post-9/11 American military, issues within the Navy Special Warfare community, how the Defense Department deals with internal controversies, and more.  

In May of 2011, Mark Owen crossed the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on a mission to capture/kill Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda - to decapitate “The Head of the Snake.”  But that night in Abbottabad, Pakistan is just a part of Mark’s story. In this special four-part series of Danger Close, Jack sits down for an extended interview with Mark to discuss the story you haven’t heard. Starting with Mark’s childhood in a remote Alaskan community to his early days in the SEAL Teams to 9/11 and the sustained combat that followed to his selection and training for a team at the highest echelons of special operations, this is Mark Owen unfiltered, candid, and uncensored. Mark would go on to take part in high-profile operations like the mission to rescue Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates and the search for Bowe Bergdahl. He would later work his way up a stairwell in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan and into a hallway where the most wanted terrorist in the world waited…   But, as Jack and Mark discuss, the aftermath of the raid would not only change the public profile of Naval Special Warfare, it would also alter the course of Mark’s life in ways he could have never anticipated. IRONCLAD and SIG Sauer proudly present, The Head of the Snake: The Killing of UBL, a special Danger Close event. Mark Owen’s books: No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden and No Hero: The Evolution of a Navy SEAL Sponsors: Today’s episode is presented by SIG Sauer. Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order! Part 3: The Raid  In part three of the Head of the Snake series, Jack and Mark do a deep dive into the raid that killed Osama bin Laden–no matter what you may have seen in the movies, this is a story with details you’ve likely never heard before. Not only did last minute changes in Washington nearly cause a disaster for Mark and his team, but we also learn the methods used to infiltrate and clear the fortified compound. Jack also learns why the details of Bin Laden’s death can tell us so much about his life.  

In May of 2011, Mark Owen crossed the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on a mission to capture/kill Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda - to decapitate “The Head of the Snake.”  But that night in Abbottabad, Pakistan is just a part of Mark’s story. In this special four-part series of Danger Close, Jack sits down for an extended interview with Mark to discuss the story you haven’t heard. Starting with Mark’s childhood in a remote Alaskan community to his early days in the SEAL Teams to 9/11 and the sustained combat that followed to his selection and training for a team at the highest echelons of special operations, this is Mark Owen unfiltered, candid, and uncensored. Mark would go on to take part in high-profile operations like the mission to rescue Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates and the search for Bowe Bergdahl. He would later work his way up a stairwell in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan and into a hallway where the most wanted terrorist in the world waited … But, as Jack and Mark discuss, the aftermath of the raid would not only change the public profile of Naval Special Warfare, it would also alter the course of Mark’s life in ways he could have never anticipated. IRONCLAD and SIG Sauer proudly present, The Head of the Snake: The Killing of UBL, a special Danger Close event. Mark Owen’s books: No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden and No Hero: The Evolution of a Navy SEAL Sponsors: Today’s episode is presented by SIG Sauer. Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order! Part 2: A New Kind of War  In the weeks following the 9/11 attacks, the United States found itself grappling with a new war–and a new kind of warfare. In this episode of the Head of the Snake series, Mark Owen discusses the early days of the war in Afghanistan and what military leaders got wrong in the wake of 9/11. As special operations tactics began to evolve, so did their approach to technology. Jack and Mark discuss the evolution of gear, and the role it’s played in the fight against terror.  As the U.S. military adapts to an evolved style of warfare, Mark found himself on one of his team’s most dangerous missions to date: Searching for missing Army soldier Bowe Bergdahl in the lawless badlands of Afghanistan. 

In May of 2011, Mark Owen crossed the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on a mission to capture/kill Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda - to decapitate “The Head of the Snake.”  But that night in Abbottabad, Pakistan is just a part of Mark’s story.  In this special four-part series of Danger Close, Jack sits down for an extended interview with Mark to discuss the story you haven’t heard. Starting with Mark’s childhood in a remote Alaskan community to his early days in the SEAL Teams to 9/11 and the sustained combat that followed to his selection and training for a team at the highest echelons of special operations, this is Mark Owen unfiltered, candid, and uncensored. Mark would go on to take part in high-profile operations like the mission to rescue Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates and the search for Bowe Bergdahl. He would later work his way up a stairwell in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan and into a hallway where the most wanted terrorist in the world waited…   But, as Jack and Mark discuss, the aftermath of the raid would not only change the public profile of Naval Special Warfare, it would also alter the course of Mark’s life in ways he could have never anticipated.   IRONCLAD and SIG Sauer proudly present, The Head of the Snake: The Killing of UBL, a special Danger Close event.    Mark Owen’s books: No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden and No Hero: The Evolution of a Navy SEAL  Sponsors: Today’s episode is presented by SIG Sauer.  Today’s episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order! Part 1: The Road to Afghanistan   Long before he was a part of one of the U.S. military’s most high-profile missions, Mark Owen was the child of Christian missionaries living in a remote village in Alaska. It was there that he would begin to learn the survival and shooting skills that would become major assets in some of the most dangerous operations conducted in the War on Terror.  In part 1 of the Head of the Snake series, Jack hears about Mark’s childhood, his early days as a Navy SEAL, and how the 9/11 attacks would revolutionize special operations.   

On this special, two-part edition of Danger Close, Jack looks back at some of his favorite conversations of 2021.   In part two, we hear from author, former Game Warden and Marijuana Enforcement Team leader, John Nores; best-selling thriller author, Brad Thor; award-winning outdoor writer, wildlife photographer, videographer, naturalist, wilderness guide, and outfitter, Jim Shockey; journalist, terrorism and national security analyst, and author, Peter Bergen; actor, writer, director, author and producer, Donal Logue; author and prolific actor, Danny Trejo; endurance athlete, a Tactical Games competitor, entrepreneur, trainer and the host of the IRONCLAD podcast Reborn, Ashley Horner; and chef, author, host, outdoorsman and SIG Hunter Games competitor, Brad Leone. It’s another packed episode with some of the best moments of 2021 on Danger Close.  P Sponsors: Today’s episode is presented by SIG Sauer.   

On this special, two-part edition of Danger Close, Jack looks back at some of his favorite conversations of 2021.   In part one, we hear from former Green Beret and FieldCraft Survival CEO, Mike Glover; former police officer, Diplomatic Security Service special agent, author, and security consultant, Fred Burton; acclaimed actor and audio book narrator, Ray Porter; retired Navy SEAL and Cleared Hot podcast host, Andy Stumpf; author, retired SEAL, Can You Survive This Podcast? host, and founder of the security consulting company Escape the Wolf Clint Emerson, Clint Emerson; journalist, war correspondent, Oscar-nominated filmmaker, and author, Sebastian Junger; retired Navy SEAL, bestselling author, host of the top-rated Jocko Podcast, and Echelon Front CEO, Jocko Willink; women’s rights activist, free speech advocate, and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali; former operator in Great Britain’s Special Boat Service, security consultant, adventurer, endurance athlete, and author, Dean Stott; and President and Director of Thunder Ranch and Marine Corps veteran, Clint Smith. It’s a packed episode, with some of the best moments of the year on Danger Close.   Part 2 drops on Friday.  Today’s episode is presented by SIG Sauer. 

On this episode of Danger Close, Jack discusses his recent trip to Hawaii to pay tribute to veterans on the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, with The Best Defensive Foundation.   Jack also reads—and responds to—a few “negative” reviews of the Terminal List series, and unveils the December reading list picks.  Today’s episode is presented by SIG Sauer.  Featured Books:  The Spy Who Came for Christmas by David Morrell  Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote  On Her Majesty’s Secret Service by Ian Fleming  The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth  The Hundred-Year Christmas by David Morrell

Today’s guest on Danger Close merges the worlds of science, adventure, fitness, philosophy, and psychology in the quest to understand and enhance human performance and happiness.      Michael Easter is a bestselling author, journalist, speaker, and professor in the journalism department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His work has appeared in Esquire, Vice, Men's Journal, Outside, Men’s Health, and Scientific American.     Combining the “statistical and mystical” he has made it his mission to travel the world and investigate the experiences and teachings of influential thinkers and those “living at the extremes” and then share his insights through his work. His book and articles have received endorsements from Navy SEALs, Olympic champions, CIA officers, physicians and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors.  His book, The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self, is on shelves now.  You can follow him on Instagram @michael_easter and can learn more at eastermichael.com.  Sponsors: SIG Sauer: Today’s episode is presented by SIG Sauer    Featured Gear:  Best Defense Foundation    Maui Brewing Co x Chula Vista Brewing “Day of Infamy” Cream Ale     Fear, Adrenaline and Excitement by Jack Holder    Pearl Harbor Bottle Breacher with Wood Gift Box    Born Primitive    Nine Line Apparel

Today’s guest on Danger Close is Julian Rademeyer.  Julian is an award-winning author, investigative journalist, and one of the world’s leading authorities on illicit wildlife trafficking. Julian served as a project leader at TRAFFIC, the international wildlife trade monitoring network, and as the Southern Africa editor of AfricaCheck.org. As an investigative journalist he worked for leading South African newspapers including City Press, Beeld, The Sunday Times, Pretoria News and The Herald and as the chief reporter for Media24 Investigations along with global news organizations to include the Associated Press and Reuters reporting from Somalia, Equatorial Guinea, Belarus, and Lebanon.      His bestselling 2012 book, Killing for Profit: Exposing the Illegal Rhino Horn Trade, has achieved widespread international acclaim for its unflinching look at the demand for rhino horn from Asian markets fueling its illegal trade and the organized criminal syndicates bringing rhinos to the brink of extinction.      Julian currently serves as Director of the Organized Crime Observatory for East and Southern Africa at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.  You can follow him on Twitter @julianrademeyer.   Featured Gear:  TG Knives Sika Camel Trophy: The Definitive History  Patriot Force Jack Carr Action Figure

Today’s guest on Danger Close was described by President Ronald Reagan as “an American hero.”     Oliver North is a combat decorated U.S. Marine, #1 bestselling author and American patriot. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968 and served twenty-two years as a United States Marine. His awards for service in Vietnam include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for valor, and two Purple Hearts. From 1983 to 1986 he served as Counter-Terrorism Coordinator on the National Security Council staff. He helped plan Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, the capture of the Achille Lauro hijackers, and the raid on Muammar Gaddafi’s terror bases in Libya after which he was targeted for assassination by Abu Nidal’s Islamic Jihad.    His first book, Under Fire, chronicles his Vietnam combat experience and his involvement in what would eventually become known as “Iran-Contra.” Iran-Contra was two secret operations carried out by the Reagan Administration in the mid-1980s linked by their financial connections and participants, including a Marine Lieutenant Colonel named Oliver North.      For seventeen years he was a syndicated columnist and host of the award-winning “War Stories” on the FOX News Channel. In 2018 he stepped up to serve as the 66th president of the National Rifle Association of America.      He has authored seventeen bestselling books and is the co-founder of Freedom Alliance, an organization serving wounded U.S. military personnel and their families, providing Hero College Scholarships for children of service members killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.    His latest book, We Didn’t Fight for Socialism, is out now.    Find out more about Oliver North at olivernorth.com or visit his YouTube channel.