logo
episode-header-image
May 2022
52m 42s

Ricardo Perez, Former Army Sniper, Scien...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

On this week’s podcast, Rad interviews Ricardo Perez, former US Army sniper, author of Born To Fail: Embrace Hardship To Forge Your Warrior Spirit, and current research scientist at the University of Washington Department of Virology. He shares his deployment in Kandahar, from carrying around a 50-cal sniper rifle to documenting everything he could through writing.

 

This became the basis for his book as well as his story of growing up and his journey to become a scientist after life in the army. Ricardo shares that he struggled with depression after his deployment. He recalls the difficulty of finding jobs even as a college graduate and how a strong mindset overcame it. 

 

For Ricardo, his family remains his primary motivation to achieve his dreams. The proceeds of his book go into the production of his audiobook which features controversial conversations during the Afghanistan war.

 

Visit Ricardo's Website: https://ricardopperez.com/

Get a copy of Born to Fail: https://amzn.to/3kKAEpw

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Nov 13
Inside the Red Cross’ Military Mission: Thom Geiser Tells SOFREP What Few Ever Hear
Thom Geiser is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who now serves as an Armed Services Advisor for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Drawing on decades of experience—including flying C-130s, working in special operations, and serving in international advisory role ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 28
What It Really Takes to Lead a SEAL Team: Former SEAL Team 2 CO Mike Hayes Tells All
Mike Hayes is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer who served 20 years in Special Operations. A graduate of one of the toughest SEAL training classes—one of only 19 out of 120 to complete—he deployed throughout South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, including in Bos ... Show More
53m 23s
Oct 22
The Man Who Infiltrated the Crips: Tegan Broadwater’s Unbelievable True Story
Teagan Broadwater is a former law-enforcement officer, author, entrepreneur, and multi-disciplinary creator whose work spans undercover operations, music, podcasting, and philanthropy. He served as an undercover officer with the Fort Worth Police Department, where his assignments ... Show More
1h 9m
Recommended Episodes
May 2021
Two Soldiers, Ten Years
<p><i>This episode contains strong language and scenes of war that some may find distressing. </i></p><p>In 2010, James Dao, then a military affairs reporter for The New York Times, began following a battalion of U.S. soldiers headed for Afghanistan.</p><p>Two soldiers caught his ... Show More
48m 46s
Jan 2021
Alexs Thompson, "I'll Go: War, Religion, and Coming Home, from Cairo to Kansas City" (2020)
Today I interview Alexs Thompson about his new memoir, I'll Go: War, Religion, and Coming Home, from Cairo to Kansas City (2020). Let me begin with a moment of honesty. When I first heard about Thompson's memoir, I was skeptical that it was true. The experiences about which Thomp ... Show More
49m 10s
Dec 2021
Ep. 250 - Ryan Robicheaux (U.S. Army/ Author, "Scout's Out!")
Ryan Robicheaux grew up in Arkansas where he earned his Pilot's license in high school. After witnessing the tragedy of 9/11, Robicheaux enlisted in the Army National Guard and after college became Army active duty where he attended Warrant Officer Candidate School. He was awarde ... Show More
58m 25s
Dec 2022
74. The Most Dangerous Year on Earth with Brian Morra
<p>This week, Justin chats with author and Air Force intelligence veteran Brian Morra. Brian was an intelligence officer in the US Air Force and Air Force Reserve for 15 years before shifting his focus  to the aerospace and defense industry, where he spent many years managing int ... Show More
1h 29m
May 2022
Ep. 273 - Dario DiBattista (U.S. Marines / Writer & Editor)
Dario DiBattista served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 2001 to 2007 with a couple of deployments overseas. Dario would later become a distinguished graduate of the John Hopkins University M.A. in Writing Program. He is the editor of the anthology 'Retire the Color ... Show More
1h 14m
Jun 2023
The Courier | Mossad
As a student in the early 1970s, espionage was never on the cards for Howard Kaplan. But when he was given the opportunity to smuggle documents out of Soviet Russia for the Israeli government, he could hardly turn down the adventure. Sophia Di Martino joins Howard - now an author ... Show More
44m 32s
Jun 2023
98. Special Forces Detachment A in Berlin with James Stejskal
<p>Today, Justin chats with author, veteran, and former CIA case officer James Stejskal. James enlisted in the US Army in 1973 and served for more than 20 years, including with the now famous Special Forces Detachment A in Berlin in the 1970s and 80s. Among other assignments, he ... Show More
1h 7m