
The Protectors® Podcast
Dr. Jason Piccolo
Welcome to The Protectors® Podcast, where the valor meets the storyteller. Hosted by Jason Piccolo, a seasoned veteran and retired special agent, this series is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the courage and tales of those who pledge to protect us. Beyond the front-line stories of bravery and dedication, this podcast goes a step further, weaving in the perspectives of those who bolster and narrate the protector's journey—featuring a remarkable lineup including New York Times Best Sellers and acclaimed Hollywood actors.
The Protectors® Podcast offers a diverse array of voices, from those who wear the uniform to the authors and entertainers who amplify their stories. It's a unique blend that highlights not only the raw realities faced by our protectors but also how their sacrifices inspire the narratives we cherish in literature and film. Each episode is a testament to the interconnected worlds of service and support, bringing listeners an unmatched depth of insight.
Dr. Jason Piccolo is a retired federal agent, former U.S. Army Infantry Captain (Iraq 2006), and author.
Past Guests Include:- Sean Patrick Flanery - Andrews & Wilson- Mark Greaney- Stephen Hunter- Remi Adeleke - Florent Groberg - Clint Emerson - Travis Mills

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Top 10 The Protectors® Podcast Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Protectors® Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Protectors® Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Protectors® Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

535 | William Fraass
The Protectors® Podcast
04/18/25 • 62 min
Bill Frost joins the podcast to discuss the crisis of toxic leadership in law enforcement and the importance of finding purpose after retirement.
• Morning walks as physical therapy and mental health practice after career-ending injury
• The increase in toxic leadership across law enforcement agencies in recent decades
• How rushing promotions and political influence create poor leadership
• The problem of promoting people who aren't ready for leadership positions
• Why mentorship is critically important for developing future leaders
• The connection between good leadership and agency recruitment/retention
• How police leaders can stay true to their mission while dealing with political pressures
• The importance of having a mission after retirement to avoid destructive behaviors
• How legacy matters and why authentic leadership is remembered positively
• Frost's book "Leadership in Law Enforcement" and its focus on 10 key leadership traits
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

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#493 | Bret Vorhees | CEO of Taurus USA | Evolution of Taurus Firearms
The Protectors® Podcast
05/23/24 • 45 min
Bret Vorhees, CEO of Taurus, joined the show to talk all things Taurus from the Judge line to Taurus Optics Ready Option revolvers to 10mm and beyond. Bret also walks us through the features of Taurus's new bolt action rifle.
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

#411 | Gary Edgington | OUTSIDE THE WIRE
The Protectors® Podcast
03/01/23 • 42 min
Do not miss the first half of this conversation with Gary. The Protectors® Podcast welcomes Gary Edgington, author of OUTSIDE THE WIRE.
From Gary: I’ve been chasing the “bad-guys” in one way or another since 1976. I guess it’s in my blood. My dad was a cop too. Tragically, he was killed in the line of duty in 1979 by a knife wielding lunatic. He got one shot into the guy, but it wasn’t enough. I was in the third week of the LA Sheriff’s Academy when that happened. After graduation, I worked for several local agencies including the Manhattan Beach Police Department, the Beverly Hills Police Department, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Then in 1994, I was appointed a Special Agent with the California Department of Justice. I worked major narcotics cases, organized crime, unsolved homicide, and internal affairs. Collateral with these assignments I was a firearms and tactics instructor with the LA office. From 1999 to 2008, I was a member of the FBI’s “Joint Terrorism Task Force” in Los Angeles. After 9/11, I was promoted to Task Force Commander and took command of a multi-agency counter-terrorism task force based in Southern California for the California Department of Justice. I retired in 2008 from DOJ and deployed to Iraq as an embedded counter-terrorism/organized crime subject matter expert working counter-IED with the US Army.
https://garyedgingtonauthor.com/books/outside-the-wire/
This episode brought to you by RANGER POINT PRECISION
https://www.rangerpointprecision.com/
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

#436 | Carlton Hershman | Netflix Victim/Suspect | Retired Detective
The Protectors® Podcast
07/11/23 • 61 min
Carlton Hershman joined The Protectors® to talk about his career, appearing on Netflix’s Victim/Suspect, training law enforcement, and a ton more. Thanks to Laura for co-hosting.
About Carl: Detective Carlton Hershman (Ret) is a 32-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, retiring in 2017. Det. Hershman is a nationally recognized speaker. He has trained thousands of law enforcement professionals, prosecutors, military personnel, sexual assault nurse examiners, and advocates. Det. Hershman served as an instructor at the San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Academy on sex crimes investigations, Interviewing and Interrogation, and investigations 101. He has worked several assignments as an investigator including Special Investigations Unit, Homicide Unit, Sex Crimes Unit, Elder Abuse Unit, and the C.A.T.C.H. Team (Cyber Unit).
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

#425 | B.C. Sanders | Policing | Fix It From The Inside
The Protectors® Podcast
05/19/23 • 59 min
The Protectors® is back! Police Week just ended and wanted to talk policing with BC Sanders. How can we fix policing? Retention? Recruiting?
We also talk music from old school to new school. Make sure to check out BC's podcast The Disruptors.
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

#423 | Jess Flores | Next Shift
The Protectors® Podcast
04/07/23 • 24 min
Jess Flores joined The Protectors® to talk about pivoting to a new career, law enforcement, dealing with change, and why we sometimes need help changing roles.
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

#469 | Jack Stewart | Reality, Fiction, and the Unknown: A Riveting Dialogue | Author of UNKNOWN RIDER
The Protectors® Podcast
11/20/23 • 25 min
Have you ever pondered the mysteries of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), or what some would call UFOs? Well, strap in for a gripping conversation with our guest, ex-fighter pilot and author, Jack Stewart. Our discussion takes flight as we traverse the enigmatic world of UAPs, fueled by Jack's firsthand encounter during a training mission that led to a classified Pentagon briefing. As we navigate the increasing reports of these phenomena, we also place our radar on the vital topic of mental health in the military and law enforcement.
The journey doesn't end there as we chart Jack's unique writing process and the influence of his military tenure on his book series. Discover how he harnesses the power of storytelling to shed light on misunderstood subjects, and brace yourself for the tantalizing prospect of UFO inclusion in his future narratives. Further along, we're joined by fellow authors Jack Carr, Brad Taylor, Don Bentley, Mark Greaney, and Taylor Moore. They share insights into their latest books, collaborative endeavors, and the importance of effectively portraying the valor of our nation’s warriors through compelling narratives.
Finally, we set our sights on the horizon and the exhilarating collaboration of an uncharted writer. We speculate on their potential work and eagerly anticipate a possible face-to-face interview. Through the blend of reality, fiction, and the unknown, we hope to spark your curiosity and intrigue. Buckle up for this fascinating episode – it's a ride you won't want to miss!
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

#332 REWIND | Tom Spooner| (Original Air Date July 28, 2020)
The Protectors® Podcast
04/28/22 • 30 min
REWIND | Tom Spooner| (Original Air Date July 28, 2020) #151
Tom Spooner joined The Protectors PodcastTM to talk about his military career, how he became involved with Warriors Heart, stigma, and tons of other great topics. I am a solid proponent of Warriors Heart’s mission, during our conversation I discuss the loss of my brother to the effects of addiction and understand firsthand how hard it is to find the right fit for those struggling with addiction, especially those in The Protector community. Please check out Warriors Heart and share their message.
About Tom: Former Special Forces and Warriors Heart Co-Founder Tom Spooner’s service to our nation in the U.S. Army spanned nearly 21 years (1990-2011), who is now dedicated to healing his fellow warriors struggling with chemical dependencies, PTSD, mild TBI (which he also faced after a combat injury) and other recurring issues. His career included time in the 82nd Airborne, as a Green Beret in the US Army’s 7th Special Forces Group and, ultimately, in the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta as an Operator. Spooner joined forces with successful treatment providers Josh and Lisa Lannon to open Warriors Heart in 2016. Warriors Heart is the first and ONLY accredited treatment program in the U.S. for “warriors only” (military, veterans and first responders) that helps American Warriors struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and other reoccurring issues. Tom built a "training program" approach to residential treatment that helps our protectors overcome the stigma and shame of asking for help. Warriors Heart is a 543-acre ranch outside San Antonio, Texas, that is the opposite of a hospital. Since retiring from the military in 2011, Tom has successfully enabled thousands of military and law enforcement personnel to acknowledge their struggles, seek treatment, and understand that they are not alone.
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

#331 | Victor Dobro | LEO | Actor | Walking Dead & We Own This City
The Protectors® Podcast
04/26/22 • 30 min
Fun interview with Victor Dobro on The Protectors PodcastTM with special co-host Aaron Lohman. Victor fills us in on how to get into the acting scene coming from the "protector" community, how to get a role as a background thug, losing a ton of weight working a role in the Walking Dead, and his new role in WE OWN THIS CITY.
Make sure to check out everything Victor has going on!
This episode is brought to you by Ranger Point Precision and Big Tex Ordnance.
Use code PROTECTORS for some great discounts!
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo

#43 | James DeMeo | Former LEO, Author, & Security Professional
The Protectors® Podcast
08/26/19 • 29 min
James joined The Protectors to discuss having a plan for when “stuff” hits the fan. James is a dedicated security professional with the background to back it up; from a career in policing, education, and working in the security field for years. Listen in...
The Book: “What’s Your Plan? is a step-by-step guide to keep your family safe during emergency situations. It’s the perfect book to prepare you and your family for crisis situations you may encounter in public venues. The secret, according to DeMeo, is not to approach planning from a fear-based perspective, but rather from a position of knowledge and preparation.”
Find James here: https://jamesademeo.com/
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Protectors® Podcast have?
The Protectors® Podcast currently has 534 episodes available.
What topics does The Protectors® Podcast cover?
The podcast is about News, Law Enforcement, Ptsd, True Crime, Entertainment News, Inspirational, Self Help, Podcasts, Police and Military.
What is the most popular episode on The Protectors® Podcast?
The episode title '535 | William Fraass' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Protectors® Podcast?
The average episode length on The Protectors® Podcast is 33 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Protectors® Podcast released?
Episodes of The Protectors® Podcast are typically released every 2 days, 20 hours.
When was the first episode of The Protectors® Podcast?
The first episode of The Protectors® Podcast was released on Feb 7, 2019.
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