Shawn sits with Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and SpaceX astronaut, who shares experiences from his extensive career as a pilot and astronaut . He discusses the complexities of human life support on the moon and Mars, and the intriguing conspiracy theories surrounding the moon landing. Poteet also reflects on overcoming motion sickness in flight training and the rigorous astronaut training for the Polaris Program.

Personal Resilience and Growth:

Poteet’s narrative is a testament to overcoming personal challenges through determination and adaptability. Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and raised in New Hampshire, he describes a childhood marked by competitiveness and academic struggles, earning C’s and D’s due to difficulty focusing. His path to success was unconventional, leveraging his athletic prowess in running to secure a spot at the University of New Hampshire, where he majored in outdoor education. His entry into the Air Force via ROTC was serendipitous, sparked by a flyer promising a ride in a refueling aircraft, despite his severe motion sickness and fear of heights. These hurdles persisted into pilot training, where he endured vomiting in his mask and academic pressures, yet his stubborn resolve propelled him forward. This resilience shines through in his 20-year Air Force career, logging over 3,200 flight hours, and later as an astronaut on the Polaris Dawn mission, where he faced new challenges like mastering complex systems despite feeling outmatched by his crewmates’ expertise. According to this dude’s own account (and we think deservedly), he oozes determination and they spend a good deal of time talking about how important that was…and is.

Evolution of Space Exploration:

As the guys chatted it further, they spent a lot of time on shift from government-led to commercial space exploration, with Poteet’s roles in Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn (Space X) as pivotal examples. He details his transition from military aviation to working with Jared Isaacman, a visionary entrepreneur who spearheaded the first all-civilian space mission, Inspiration4, in 2021, raising $250 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This mission, completed in six months, contrasted sharply with NASA’s multi-year training timelines, showcasing the agility of private enterprise. Polaris Dawn, launched in September 2024, pushed boundaries further by achieving the highest Earth orbit since Apollo (1,400 km), conducting the first commercial spacewalk, and testing Starlink communications. Poteet is pretty enthralled with SpaceX’s innovative approach. For example, he discusses how they developed a new EVA suit in two and a half years, a feat that historically took decades. The duo underscore how commercial entities like SpaceX are redefining space travel, making it more accessible and ambitious, with Poteet predicting that spaceflight could become routine within his children’s lifetimes.

Psychological and Ethical Dimensions of Combat:

Poteet’s combat experiences as an F-16 pilot, particularly during his 2015 Afghanistan deployment against ISIS, reveal the profound psychological and ethical weight of combat. He vividly recalls his first combat mission, dropping a Maverick missile on a vehicle carrying five terrorists. Blew ‘em to bits. The act of killing, even in service of protecting allies, carries a heaviness he grapples with, questioning whether his choices align with divine judgment. This introspection peaks as he reflects on the warrior culture’s paradoxical pride in combat—“I finally got to kill somebody”—versus the Christian ethos of valuing life. The contrast between immediate tactical decisions and long-term ethical reflection illustrates the internal conflict many veterans face. Poteet’s candidness about this duality, coupled with Shawn Ryan’s own SEAL Team insights really do create a enlightening discussion, particularly for those who have never had to shoot at another person. In sum, combat shapes identity and faith for many seasoned warriors. It is a burden and an opportunity.

Faith as a Guiding Force:

Faith emerges as a central pillar in Poteet’s life, evolving from a peripheral childhood formality to a profound anchor. A pivotal moment occurred in 2011 when he saved his daughter Maddie from drowning, hours after their joint baptism (crazy)—a “divine intervention” that solidified his belief in God. This experience, coupled with his space journey, deepens his spiritual perspective. Viewing Earth from orbit, he felt an “overview effect” of insignificance, reinforcing his conviction that life’s purpose transcends self. His faith informs his combat reflections, seeking assurance that his actions were righteous, and guides his post-military aspirations to inspire others. The podcast’s philosophical exchange with Ryan about good versus evil—likening it to a marble where light and darkness vie for dominance—underscores faith’s role in navigating temptation and maintaining authenticity, a struggle Poteet continues to refine.

The Future of Human Presence in Space:

Poteet’s see’s a future for space travel that is more democratic and accessible. He describes Polaris Dawn’s objectives—testing suits, communications, and human physiology—as steps toward lunar and Martian missions. The Starship, with its vast volume equivalent to the ISS, promises scalable habitats, potentially docking multiple units into orbiting hotels or labs. Poteet foresees routine launches, possibly three daily, carrying hundreds, driven by SpaceX’s efficient production and reusable technology. His does acknowledge challenges like adaptation syndrome and psychological isolation, but believes they can and will be overcome.

Conclusion:

Poteet’s story is a good, at times inspirational, but long listen. The most universal and insightful part(s) of the discussion were around combat and the search for moral and spiritual clarity. We’d say that this conversation overall is extraordinary in its breadth and invites listeners to ponder their own resilience, beliefs, and aspirations in an ever-expanding cosmos. The first hour and a half are a all about Poteet’s background pre-combat. The meat of the conversation and most compelling parts come after that point. None-the-less, Poteet is a guy you thank for his remarkable service.

THE PODSCORE: 3 (out of 5) MICS

Shawn Ryan hosts Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, a board-certified physician specializing in muscle-centric medicine—a field that views skeletal muscle as the cornerstone of longevity and disease prevention—explores a variety of topics related to health, wellness, and achieving a longer, healthier life. She introduces listeners to key areas such as cancer screenings, functional medicine, nutrition, exercise, hormone replacement therapy, and the vital role of mental focus, setting the stage for a holistic discussion on well-being.

This was a very wide-ranging discussion on a number of health-related messages and opportunities. Early in the conversation the talked about cancer and Shawn’s fear of cancer. In particular, they focused on the increasing cancer rates in US society and trying to find a cause, but also made an effort to discuss practical advice for how to use old, new and emerging technology to stay ahead of a cancer diagnoses. Dr. Lyons places significant emphasis on the importance of early cancer detection, particularly for military operators who face heightened risks from environmental exposures like Agent Orange. She champions advanced screening methods, including full-body MRI scans and the Gallery test, a blood test that can identify over 50 types of cancer.

She also addresses the unique health challenges faced by military personnel, such as gastrointestinal issues often caused by undiagnosed parasites, as well as problems stemming from mold exposure and traumatic brain injuries. Dr. Lyons underscores the need for specialized medical care to tackle these complex conditions effectively.

To combat these challenges for vets and non-vets alike, and enhance longevity, Dr. Lyons advocates for intentional lifestyle choices, with a strong focus on nutrition and physical activity. She critiques outdated dietary guidelines, promoting instead a whole foods diet rich in protein, featuring lean red meats and nutrient-packed organ meats like liver.

Exercise, particularly resistance training with progressive overload, is highlighted as essential for maintaining muscle health, which she considers a critical factor in disease prevention and survivability. To bolster these efforts, she recommends supplements like collagen for skin and gut health, colostrum for immune support, and creatine for cognitive function, noting their value in compensating for the nutrient deficiencies found in modern produce.

“The stronger you are, the more robust you rae, the more muscle mass yoou have, the longer you are going to live…”

Beyond lifestyle adjustments, Dr. Lyons delves into medical interventions and the foundational role of rest. She tackles misconceptions surrounding hormone replacement therapy (HRT), debunking the myth that testosterone increases cancer risk and explaining its benefits—such as enhanced energy, mood, and sexual health—for both men and women. Sleep is another cornerstone of her approach, with most individuals requiring 7–8 hours nightly for optimal brain and metabolic function, though she acknowledges that some, like certain special operations personnel, may thrive on less due to genetic variations.

Expanding the conversation to encompass holistic health, Dr. Lyons highlights the significance of sexual health and relationships, suggesting that regular sexual activity serves as a marker of overall well-being. She also emphasizes the value of community and mental clarity, cautioning against the pitfalls of distraction that can derail health goals. To illustrate this, she shares a poignant personal anecdote about her son’s near-drowning incident, demonstrating how a lapse in focus can lead to serious consequences.

In closing, Dr. Lyons ties together her insights into a unified, muscle-centric philosophy of health. She advocates for a proactive approach that integrates early cancer detection, nutrient-rich diets, strength training, hormone optimization, sufficient sleep, and unwavering mental focus. Through this comprehensive framework, she offers listeners a actionable roadmap to achieve longevity and thrive in their pursuit of optimal health. Lyons does an excellent job slowing things down and sticking to facts (the facts she has). We’ll spend more time with her podcast in the future.

THE PODSCORE: 4 (out 5) Mics.

Ryan speaks with Mike Benz, Executive Director of the Foundation for Freedom Online, criticizes USAID's dual role in humanitarian efforts and covert political manipulation. He highlights how funding influences media narratives and electoral processes in countries like Romania and Pakistan. The discussion also examines the government funding's impact on media independence, alongside the need for reforms to ensure accountability. Benz brings attention to the complexities of U.S. foreign policy and calls for ethical considerations in foreign aid, emphasizing the importance of integrity in both media and government actions.

We just covered Benz on Tucker Carlson last week, but with all of the daily news coming out with relation to DOGE and USAID, we had to review the latest, and this time with Shawn Ryan.  Benz did not initially seem as concerned with the US loss of soft power as he seemed last week on Tucker, until about half way through episode, where he discussed an effort to foment revolution in Cuba during the Arab Spring time period more than a decade ago.  So, this time, he got right into the juice without as many caveats!  

Benz delivered example after example of questionable funding oversees, and murky relationships with universities and media, but was primarily concerned about USAID targeting US citizens in the past, present and future.  He contends (and the evidence shows) that President Donald Trump was the most obvious example of USAID funds being used to target Americans - Russiagate (Atlantic Council) and post-Presidency Lawfare (TIDE Center and Fair and Just Prosecutions who gave marching orders to Leticia Jones and Alvin Bragg, both of whom came after Trump).  

With USAID greatly diminished (14,000 employees down to less than 600 since Trump took office) there is opportunity to redefine how much of their $44 billion budget should be reallocated, how it should be monitored, how much transparency there should be, and where does it live in the US government.  Benz has ideas on those questions.  Notably, he believes that regardless of where these activities and funding live - everything needs rewritten in terms of structure and oversight  - but he was emphatic that the American people need protection first and that these entities must be subject to criminal and civil lawsuits, when appropriate.

In the meantime, he meticulously took us through some fascinating USAID activities:

• Interfering in elections in Ukraine and Romania and even France.
• Writing edicts for governance in Ukraine after Zelensky took power.
• Funding 90% of media in Ukraine.
• “The whole of society concept” that says, in order to institute change of governance or ideology in government, the US must go after media, social, unions, judiciaries, the parliamentarians, entertainment, universities, business, etc
• Disinformation and misinformation in various place via OCCRP (which claims to be independent media)
• Wuhan Gain of Function Research via Eco Alliance
• Project Mockingbird in Cuba (Cuban Twitter) 
• Grant funding to domestic colleges and universities
• Domestic media.  There was a long conversation about Rueters and the $300 million it received from the Biden federal government and a dubious connection to that funding in use of investigating Elon Musk just a couple of years ago.  

“EVERY PLOT OF DIRT ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH IS INFLUENCED BY USAID…”

There were so many astounding examples of  misuse of funds that you could fill pages just writing them out.  What was great is that Benz skipped over what we already know and is really just sugar for the press…ie…Sesame Street in Afghanistan and got into the corruption beneath the headlines.  Additionally, he dismissed the notion that USAID was ever meant just to be a charity by telling stories about how it was used going back to JFK.  USAID was always meant to an instrument for political warfare.  To say less, is disingenuous.  In fact Generals actually prefer USAID because, as one said, “They actually do stuff”.

Towards the end of the podcast there was a fascinating conversation which bridged the future of USAID to its past and its impact on every day Americans.  Many corporations have benefited from USAID, but if the world is more global now, how many AMERICANS actually benefit from some of the activity that USAID conducts.  It was one thing when most US companies had the majority of their staff in the US and we were fighting the Soviets, but who benefits really if there is some revolution in a far off land…the US people broadly or smaller cohorts like corporations.  The genie is out of the bottle, perhaps we should take this opportunity rethink the next genie and the next bottle because one thing is for sure, they’ll both be back. Let’s just make sure we understand to what end.

THE PODSCORE 4.5 (out of 5)

Shawn sits down with Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and political figure, AND discusses his campaign for Ohio governor and innovative tax reforms aimed at revitalizing the state. He emphasizes the urgency of educational reform, advocating for merit-based teacher pay and educational choice, including homeschooling. Ramaswamy explores Ohio's potential as a hub for innovation in AI and biotech, while tackling financial pressures faced by citizens. He also critiques the 'victimhood culture' and promotes a return to meritocracy and excellence in American society.

Shawn starts the podcast with a very simple question, why run for Governor Ohio and take a step back from the federal issues (DOGE)? It’s been widely reported that there were a potentially a lot of reasons for this - including, perhaps, some tension with Elon Musk. Regardless, his answer was much more politically nuanced and actually made some sense. Ramaswamy claimed that as Trump / Musk dismantle ineffective / inefficient parts of the federal government, there will be much more action at the state level. Later on in the discussion he also talked about Musk’s technology taking the lead and it just made sense. Fair enough. So what does he hope for Ohio and Ohioans?

Ramaswamy is very high on creating a new way of life in Ohio that is rooted in “excellence”. Early in the podcast, he gives a very representative example of how this concept may manifest itself in a Ramaswamy-led government; he wants to establish merit based pay for teachers. Ryan and Vivek talk about education a great deal and the concept around choice, merit-based pay, and civics-based education will resonate in Ohio and cannot be done properly by the federal government. The case he makes is a compelling one.

“Education is the Civil Rights Issue of Our Time!”

There was a also a discussion about excellence in Ohio business and cultivating the most business-friendly environment possible. Ramaswamy wants Ohio to become the 10th state to have an income tax rate of 0%. It was unclear what he intended to cut or what other taxes would rise to pay for that big of a cut. He did talk about attracting a significant amount of high-tech manufacturing to Ohio like AI, Crypto, Aerospace and more.

Vivek is expected to formally announcing his candidacy by the end of the month and in past couple of days another contender, Robert Sprague, dropped out and endorsed Vivek. This was a good podcast if your a Vivek fan, an Ohio Native, or just a Shawn Ryan regular, but aside from some specifics about Vivek’s platform for Ohio, there was nothing new here to draw the listener in. There was some discussion about Trump’s progress and DOGE but likely nothing you haven’t heard. Regardless, Vivek is brilliant and is always worth a listen if you aren’t too familiar with him.

THE PODSCORE 3 (of 5) Mics.

Jane Doe, a leading expert on Al Qaeda and former intelligence analyst, provides an eye-opening look at the inner workings of terrorist organizations. She dives into Al Qaeda's operations, the role of sleeper cells, and the rising threat of biological warfare. Jane discusses the evolving tactics of terrorists, emphasizing the danger of targeting individuals and the implications of misinformation. The conversation also touches on the geopolitical complexities surrounding groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the critical need for vigilant security measures in today's world.

"People Are Going To Die!  People Are Going to Die"

The Good:  After the terrorist attacks on Jan 1st, Shawn Ryan goes further down the rabbit hole.  Jane Doe is under cover but as a deeply entrenched analyst she provides first-hand knowledge of all the way that terrorist networks (Al Qaeda, ISIS, Hamas, others) are gaining steam.  She furthers amplifies the idea that there are more than 1,000 terrorists within the US already.  There is more conversation about the "Invisible Bomb" and mass casualty potential of even more than 50k Americans.  Its scary but important listening.

The Bad: Its always tough to listen to interviews with under cover subjects.  Additionally, the topic is obviously unsettling...but of course, necessary.

THE POD SCORE:  4 Mics (of 5)