Fred Burton Talks to Former U.S. Navy SEAL Clint Emerson

I read Clint Emerson’s thought provoking and interesting first book, 100 Deadly Skills, and Clint is back with The Right Kind of Crazy, published by Atria November 12, 2019. Clint has operated by two codes: “If you aren’t cheating, you aren’t trying” and “it’s only illegal if you get caught.” I chatted with Clint about his life, how he goes about writing and his new book. Have a listen.

Red Oxx: A Military Career Builds an Entrepreneur

I’m a big fan of Red Oxx bags manufactured in Billings, MT. I chatted with Jim Markel, the CEO, about how he and his father built Red Oxx, the importance of giving back, Jim’s lessons from the U.S. Marines and the luggage business.

In this episode of the Stratfor podcast, Fred Burton speaks to his old friend Jim Markel, the CEO of Redoxx. Redoxx is based in Billings, Montana and builds and sells unique bags for railroad workers, business and adventure travelers as well as everyday bags for families. Markel started life on the drop zones of various military bases. He joined the Marines very young, and when he finished, after a failed attempt at college, he tried his hand at making military-grade products for civilians. He settled in Billings, Montana, and built a company and helped revive a town. Along his journey, he took to heart the ideas that business is built from the bootstraps up, and that no success comes without service. So he spends parts of every year abroad, helping communities where he can be of service, and returning to the town that he loves. 

Why Treat Mexican Drug Cartels as Insurgents?

The body count in Mexico due to cartel violence is at an historic level. Why? A wide ranging discussion with my long time colleague Scott Stewart about the current state of play with the Mexican drug cartels.

Drug cartels wreak havoc and terror across Mexico, and have done for years. In a recent article for Stratfor Worldview, VP of Tactical Analysis, Scott Stewart, discussed how, despite the cartels' vast differences from terrorist organizations, "the Mexican government and its U.S. ally have pursued the "war" on cartels using many of the same tools that we normally associate with the 'global war on terror.'" Scott Stewart writes, "in some ways, it is only when it comes to end goals that the Islamic State and Mexican cartels differ: Whereas the jihadist group wants to control territory for political power, cartels wish to do so for profit."

Fred Burton Talks with CIA Legend James Olson about His Book "To Catch A Spy"

Who does the former head of the CIA’s Counter-Intelligence Division believe is the most serious espionage threat? You may be surprised. Are you curious about “spy dust” and the “sonic wave attacks?” Professor Olson, who teaches at The Bush School, at Texas A&M, College Station, Texas, reflects upon the time he met and briefed the legendary spymaster James Jesus Angleton.

Fred Burton talks with Robert Knake about The Fifth Domain

How good is the U.S. in hunting down nation-state hackers? Very good, according to the authors of The Fifth Domain. We had an eye-opening discussion on the cyber risks from Iran, Russia and North Korea, to include how nation-state intelligence services out-source cyber attacks to criminal actors.

Fred Burton Talks with Mat Best About Thank You For My Service

Mat Best was an Army Ranger. He’s an entrepreneur. He’s a passionate advocate for veterans. He’s a YouTube phenomenon. And he’s now a best selling author. Best’s memoir, “Thank you for My Service,” is a no-holds barred, highly irreverent and oftentimes inappropriate recounting of his experiences during 5 combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Thank You for My Service is a compelling read and continues Best’s advocacy for vets and his businesses. Best is a staunch supporter of veterans. He is the also co-founder of Black Rifle Coffee Company, not only roasts and sells specialty coffee, but hires veterans and shares a portion of its profits with vets, first responders, and law enforcement.

Fred Burton Talks with Sean Parnell About His Latest Thriller All Out War

The latest fast-paced thriller from the author of Outlaw Platoon! I also chatted with Sean about how he puts together a story, his writing process, and structure. Lots of lessons for any one wanting to write a book. I was not surprised to learn that Sean is also a fan of Brad Thor.

A Talk with John Douglas the Legendary FBI Profiler and Original Mindhunter

What makes a killer tick? How do you find a serial killer or a person who vanishes without a trace? John Douglas knows. He’s the legendary FBI profiler and original “Mindhunter.” John’s work has been turned into the highly successful tv series on Netflix. As a student of behavioral profiling, it was a true honor to talk to John and his co-author about serial killers and their new book “The Killer Across The Table.”