SOFREP Radio

In this week's podcast episode, Abby brings us a story nothing short of a movie. Abby Boretto is a resilient advocate for community, volunteerism, and storytelling. Raised in a historic Connecticut town with deep family roots, she developed a lifelong dedication to service and making a positive impact. For 25 years, Abby dedicated herself to raising her three children in California, becoming a pillar of her community while balancing parenting, civic activism, community volunteering, and bold personal reinvention. She held the title of Mrs. California All-Star United States, became a trailblazing silver-haired model, and most recently, produced The Ring and The Mountain, a powerful documentary exploring legacy, connection, and grassroots nation-building. Through every endeavor, Abby continues to inspire, proving that reinvention and purpose have no limits! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this weeks SOFREP episode we have a whole lot of drones. Ryan Gury is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Performance Drone Works (PDW), a U.S.-based innovator in unmanned aerial systems. With over a decade of experience as an inventor, entrepreneur, and drone expert, Gury has been a driving force in the small drone industry. In 2015, he co-founded the Drone Racing League (DRL), establishing it as the world's leading professional drone racing property for elite pilots. As Chief Technology Officer at DRL, he spearheaded the design, engineering, and production of custom-built racing drones and developed groundbreaking radio technology to counteract jamming and interference. The technological innovations under Gury's leadership attracted significant interest from the Department of Defense and the broader defense community, leading to the establishment of PDW in 2018 to meet the specialized needs of military and government agencies. Gury holds ten patents for pioneering drone technologies and has been recognized with two Guinness World Records: fastest battery-operated remote-controlled quadcopter and longest endurance for electric-powered quadcopter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Francelle Bradford White first learned about her mother’s exploits in World War II when she was six years old and has been fascinated by her achievements ever since. She is a Director of the international art and antiques transport company Gander & White, and lives in England with her husband. As a fundraiser in her spare time, she has raised thousands of pounds for charitable causes, including Alzheimer’s, the disease from which her mother now suffers. Movingly written by her own daughter, this captivating and intimate biography chronicles the astonishing courage Andrée Griotteray, a teenage girl in Nazi-occupied Paris who would become a hero of the French Resistance through her harrowing work as an underground intelligence courier. For readers of Three Ordinary Girls, A Woman of No Importance, Lis Parisiennes, The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line, and the many other untold stories of WWII’s “hidden figures.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Shaul is the Founder and President of the Mountain Tactical Institute (MTI), where he serves as a self-educated strength and conditioning coach specializing in tactical and mountain athletes. His clientele includes professional mountain guides, alpine climbers, freeskiers, kayakers, backcountry hunters, as well as military, law enforcement, and firefighter personnel from various countries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the SOFREP team to you, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays & Happy New Year! Tom Kilgannon is the President of Freedom Alliance, an organization dedicated to supporting military personnel, veterans, and their families. With a strong commitment to defending American values and advocating for the well-being of those who serve in the armed forces, Kilgannon has played a key role in shaping the organization's initiatives. Under his leadership, Freedom Alliance has focused on providing scholarships, financial aid, and other essential services to veterans and their families, while also promoting policies that protect American freedom and security. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Stejskal is a former U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) officer, seasoned intelligence operative, and author. With a career spanning over two decades, Stejskal has served in numerous high-risk environments around the world, specializing in covert operations, counterterrorism, and military intelligence. After his service, he turned to writing and consulting, sharing his vast expertise on special operations, military history, and the world of intelligence. Stejskal's insights offer a unique perspective on the intersection of military strategy, geopolitics, and the human element of warfare. He is the author of several books, including Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the U.S. Army’s Elite, 1956-1990, which explores the covert operations of U.S. Special Forces in the heart of Cold War Europe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gene Yu is a former U.S. Army Green Beret, author, and entrepreneur. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Yu served with distinction in Special Forces, specializing in unconventional warfare and counterterrorism operations. After his military career, he transitioned into the private sector, becoming an author of the "Yellow Green Beret" series, which provides a humorous and candid look at life in the Special Forces. Yu gained international attention in 2013 when he played a pivotal role in orchestrating the successful rescue of a kidnapped Taiwanese national in the Philippines. Beyond his military and writing accomplishments, Yu has been active in the tech industry, co-founding businesses and contributing to innovations in cybersecurity and software development. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mission Roll Call is the first of its kind: a non-partisan movement that gives our community an opportunity to speak on the issues that are most important to them. We partner with our network of veterans, their families, supporters, and veteran service organizations in our coalition to advocate for positive change in the lives of all veterans. Through polling, direct outreach, and media appearances, Mission Roll Call gathers and delivers the unfiltered, unbiased, and apolitical voice of veterans and their supporters across America, advocating for meaningful improvements and ensuring their concerns and ideas are heard at the highest levels of policy-making. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navy SEAL and New York Times best-selling author Brandon Webb is back with SOFREP.com Managing Editor Stavros Atlamazoglou to discuss site and company updates, Brandon's extended stay in Moscow thanks to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Stavros' current situation in Greece, and much more. If you haven’t already noticed, we have a ton of new SOFREP t-shirt designs and gear available in our store. As always, be sure to check out our Crate Club for Spec Ops grade gear hand picked by military...