Mike Drop

Mike Drop

Mike Drop, hosted by former Navy SEAL and bestselling author Mike Ritland, is a no-holds-barred platform that dives deep into the stories and experiences of extraordinary individuals. Known for his candid and unfiltered approach, Mike interviews guests ranging from special operations veterans and elite athletes to renowned authors and thought leaders, offering listeners a exclusive glimpse into the human side of those who have excelled in their fields. Whether it's discussing the intense challenges of combat or the resilience required to overcome personal adversity, Mike Drop provides a space where real conversations happen.

Episodes

November 18, 2025 115 mins
In Episode 266 of the Mike Drop Podcast, Mike Ritland sits down with Kawa Mawlayee—the first Afghan-born Green Beret—for a raw talk on war, immigration, and identity. Kawa recounts fleeing Soviet-invaded Afghanistan, losing his father, and growing up as a refugee in Nebraska before serving 21 years across the Marines and Army, including Iraq’s invasion and the battle of Fallujah. They dive into today’s immigration crisis, where Ka...
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In Part 2 of Episode 265 of the Mike Drop Podcast, host Mike Ritland continues his in-depth conversation with Ken Rhee — a Korean-American UDT/SEAL (ROK SEAL) who grew up in the U.S., served in South Korea’s elite naval special warfare unit, trained at American BUD/S, fought pirates off Somalia, volunteered in Ukraine, and now runs a private military consulting firm while navigating strict Korean gun laws and a suspended prison sen...
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In this episode of the Mike Drop podcast, host Mike Ritland sits down with Ken Rhee, a former Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy SEAL lieutenant who uniquely completed both Korean BUD/S and U.S. Navy SEAL training in Coronado. Raised in the U.S. from age three, Rhee returned to Korea driven by family patriotism, rising through Officer Candidate School to become a tier-one operator in the elite Special Mission Battalion (SMB). Rhee contr...
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Welcome to Part 2 of Episode 264 of the Mike Drop podcast, hosted by Mike Ritland, a former Navy SEAL and renowned dog trainer. In this gripping continuation, Mike sits down with Nico Kelly Nick O'Kelly, a former Green Beret who transitioned into an elite Night Stalker pilot with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Kelly is also the author of the book Stigma: Breaking the Stigma, which delves into his personal ba...
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Join host Mike Ritland on Mike Drop Podcast for an unflinching conversation with Nick O'Kelly, a retired Green Beret turned Night Stalkers Black Hawk pilot from the elite 160th SOAR. From the high-stakes chaos of his first combat insertion—where a last-second sharp turn into a dusty, high-speed landing pushed the limits of control—to the invisible war he fought against crippling suicidal ideation that began in flight school, Nick p...
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Dive into Part 3 of Episode 263 of the Mike Drop podcast, hosted by former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland. In this raw and introspective finale, guest Alex Rogers—a retired Navy SEAL—delves into the challenges of screening for DEVGRU, leadership conflicts and career shifts at TRADET, and the profound personal battles with divorce, depression, and mental health that led to his Navy exit. Listeners will hear candid reflections on transitioni...
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Dive into Part 2 of Episode 263 of the Mike Drop podcast, hosted by former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland. In this gripping continuation, guest Alex Rogers—a retired Navy SEAL with a raw and unfiltered perspective—opens up about his journey through the grueling realities of SEAL life. Listeners will discover intense stories from BUD/S training, including heart-pounding challenges like underwater swims, Pool Comp, and Hell Week; firsthand a...
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From a troubled youth in Vermont, where a brush with the dangerous world of drug dealing nearly derailed his life, Alex found redemption through the grueling trials of SEAL training and a 12-year career with SEAL Team Three. His journey from chaos to discipline, marked by raw honesty and resilience, sets the stage for a candid conversation about overcoming adversity and finding purpose. Alex opens up about a pivotal moment that ch...
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Dive into the gripping world of counterterrorism and FBI operations in Part 3 of Episode 262 of the Mike Drop podcast, hosted by former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland. In this installment, Ritland sits down with retired FBI Special Agent Harry Samit, a veteran investigator renowned for his pivotal role in pre-9/11 interrogations, including the arrest of Zacarias Moussaoui, often called the "20th hijacker." Listeners will uncover inside...
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Dive into Part 2 of Episode 263 of the Mike Drop Podcast, hosted by Mike Ritland, where he sits down with retired FBI Special Agent Harry Samit. Known for his pivotal role in the pre-9/11 investigation of Zacarias Moussaoui—the so-called "20th hijacker"—Samit shares gripping insider details from his 20+ year career combating terrorism. In this episode, listeners will uncover the dramatic twists in Moussaoui's trial, sentencing, and...
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In this gripping episode of the Mike Drop podcast, host Mike Ritland sits down with Harry Samit, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer and retired FBI agent who played a pivotal role in one of the most significant counterterrorism cases in history: the arrest of Zacarias Moussaoui, the "20th hijacker" of the 9/11 attacks. Samit shares chilling details of his investigation in the weeks leading up to September 11, 2001, revealing h...
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In this riveting second part of Episode 261 of the Mike Drop podcast, host Mike Ritland—former Navy SEAL and K-9 expert—dives deep into the high-stakes world of FBI special operations with guest Jeremy Rebmann, a retired FBI sniper and author. Listeners will be gripped by Jeremy's firsthand accounts of intense missions, including a dramatic takedown in Oklahoma's Glass Mountains involving a fugitive bomber and a heroic police K-9, ...
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Welcome to another episode of the Mike Drop podcast, where we dive deep into the stories of warriors, operators, and those who've lived on the edge. Mike Ritland, retired Navy SEAL, dog trainer, and author, sits down with Jeremy Rebmann—a true embodiment of dedication, precision, and service. Jeremy is a retired FBI Special Agent with an impressive 32-year career spanning the U.S. Air Force and the FBI. A graduate of the U.S. Air ...
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Welcome to Part 3 of Episode 260 of the Mike Drop podcast. Mike Ritland engages with guest Alan Shebaro, a U.S. Army veteran and advocate for Palestinian rights, diving deep into the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Shebaro challenges narratives around Hamas, Israeli policies, and U.S. involvement, drawing from his military background and experiences in the West Bank. The conversation covers controversial topics l...
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Dive into Part 2 of Episode 260 of the Mike Drop podcast, Ritland sits down with guest Alan Shebaro, a U.S. Army veteran and outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, who shares his personal journey from military service in Iraq and Afghanistan to questioning U.S. foreign policy. Listeners will find thought-provoking discussions on the aftermath of 9/11, the ethics of American interventions abroad, critiques of historical U.S. inv...
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On this episode of the Mike Drop Podcast, Mike Ritland hosts Alan Shebaro, a former Green Beret sniper, 5th-degree jiu-jitsu black belt, and We Defy Foundation founder, supporting veterans with jiu-jitsu scholarships. Alan opens with a fiery take, branding Israel a "terrorist state" for displacing Palestinians and dismissing the "unprovoked" October attack narrative as a cover for decades of occupation. He challenges theological la...
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Welcome to Part 3 of Episode 259 of the Mike Drop Podcast, featuring guest Zach Skow, founder of Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue and the Pawsitive Change program. In this final installment, Zach and host Mike Ritland explore the successes and rare failures of inmate rehabilitation through dog training, delving into the U.S. prison system's flaws—including over-incarceration, drug ubiquity, and historical policies like the War on Drugs an...
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Welcome to Part 2 of Episode 259 of the Mike Drop Podcast, featuring guest Zach Skow, founder of Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue and the Pawsitive Change program. In this raw and inspiring continuation, Zach dives deep into his journey from near-death alcoholism and liver failure to finding purpose through rescuing dogs. Listeners will discover heartfelt stories of personal redemption, the harsh realities of America's dog overpopulation ...
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In this powerful episode of the Mike Drop Podcast, Mike sits down with Zach Skow, founder of Marley’s Mutts and the Positive Change prison-dog program. What begins with the chaos of evacuating nearly 300 animals during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan unfolds into Zach’s raw story of addiction, survival, and redemption. From a troubled childhood to end-stage liver failure at 28, Zach was given 90 days to live. Saved by his bon...
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Dive into Part 3 of Episode 258 of The Mike Drop Podcast, where host Mike Ritland continues his gripping conversation with former CIA operative Andrew Bustamante. This segment dives deep into the personal and societal implications of living in a turbulent America, exploring Bustamante’s decision to relocate abroad to prioritize his children’s future amid rising national challenges. From the moral dilemmas of setting examples in...
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