The Team House

We break down the escalating Houthi campaign against Saudi Arabia, the growing threat to shipping through the Bab al-Mandab, and whether the U.S. will intervene as Gulf air-defense stocks and regional confidence in Washington come under strain. We also look at Europe’s fears of further Russian escalation, North Korea exploiting America’s divided attention, and Ukraine’s massive drone and missile strike campaign inside Russia.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett

Bing West looks back on a lifetime of war and policy, from serving as a Force Recon Marine in Vietnam and writing The Village to working in the Reagan administration and covering Iraq and Afghanistan alongside U.S. troops. We also discuss why America keeps repeating the same strategic mistakes, the rise of autonomous warfare, the growing challenge from China, and whether today’s conflicts are converging into something much larger.
Grab Bing's books here: https://a.co/d/0iGKYJRo
Today's Sponsors:
Ultra Pouches ⬇️
Don’t sleep on @ultrapouches. New customers get 15% Off with code HOUSE at https...

We break down Russia’s use of gig-economy recruits and online networks for espionage and violence, the growing damage to U.S. bases across the Middle East, and what Iran may be gaining strategically from the conflict. We also discuss the Houthis’ leverage over another maritime choke point, the messy legacy of U.S. proxy warfare in Syria, and how Saudi, Emirati, Omani, and other regional actors are hedging as American influence erodes.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:

We break down the Houthis’ advances toward the Bab al-Mandab, the growing pressure on Saudi oil exports, and new reporting that Houthi forces used Claude to help develop and test ballistic missiles. We also discuss the Haaretz report alleging Netanyahu was warned before October 7, the proposed Trump development in Tbilisi and its Russia ties, and signs that Ukraine may be regaining the initiative around Lyman.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn...

Ambassador Matthew Klimow recounts his path from West Point and a 30-year Army career to the highest levels of U.S. national security, including his firsthand experience inside the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. We also discuss the chaos of that day, the early War on Terror, working for Vice President Dick Cheney, and his later diplomatic career as U.S. ambassador to Turkmenistan.
Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 10% off! 
Quince⬇️
go to: https://www.quince.com/house
for free shipping and 365 day returns 
PrizePicks ⬇️
Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TEAMHO...

original airdate 4/15/22
Erick Miyares recounts his path from the Marine Corps and 7th Special Forces Group into a highly secretive Army special mission unit, conducting intelligence and advanced force operations across Afghanistan, Iraq, and other sensitive environments. He also opens up about being shot in Colombia, hunting high-level targets in Ramadi, singleton missions, hostage rescue work, and the psychological toll of spending two decades operating in the shadows.

Support the show & get ad free episodes here:
https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse

00:00 – Start
02:38 – Erick’s Cuban-American Upbringing in Miami
04:18 – Joining the Marine Corps

We break down the latest U.S. diplomacy with Russia and Ukraine, Iran’s missile threat to American warships, and the growing strain on U.S. Patriot and THAAD interceptor stockpiles. We also look at what the wars in Ukraine and Iran are exposing about America’s defense industrial base, autonomous warfare, and whether the Pentagon can adapt fast enough for a potential conflict with China.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's Linke...

Jason Allison looks back on 20 years in the NYPD, from growing up in the Bronx and working anti-crime and narcotics to investigating homicides, armed robbery crews, and federal cases with the ATF. We also discuss the darker side of 1990s New York, the club scene that inspired his new noir novel The Killing Yards, and his transition from detective to fiction writer.

Get Jason's book "The Killing Yards" here:
https://a.co/d/09pXcZeT
or here:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/830859/the-killing-yards-by-jason-allison/

Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR...

Max Lesser breaks down how Chinese intelligence services are using fake consulting firms, job listings, LinkedIn, and other online platforms to target former government employees and collect sensitive information at scale. We also discuss AI-enabled espionage, covert influence operations, TikTok and data privacy, and why awareness may be the best defense against increasingly sophisticated virtual recruitment.
Find Max here: https://www.fdd.org/team/max-lesser/
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's L...

Retired Sergeant Major Will Hudson reflects on a 21-year Army career that took him from the 173rd Airborne Brigade and the 2003 invasion of Iraq to years of combat deployments with 3rd Ranger Battalion, eventually becoming a RASP instructor, LRS company first sergeant, and operations sergeant major. He also opens up about the toll that years of war, injuries, alcohol, and retirement took on his mental health, and how faith and personal loss ultimately reshaped his life.
Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 10% off! 
For ad free video and audio and access to live...

In this episode, we break down CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s surprise trip to Moscow, what it may signal about U.S. concerns over Russian escalation, and Estonia’s warning that Putin is increasingly boxed into “only bad options.” We also look at the growing economic pressure inside Iran, divisions within the regime, and whether the U.S. has a coherent strategy for turning military, economic, intelligence, and covert pressure into actual political results.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:<...

Eduardo Garduno recounts his path from a turbulent childhood in Southern California to the 75th Ranger Regiment, with deployments to Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq and combat against ISIS. He also opens up about his difficult transition out of the military, becoming a police officer, struggles with PTSD and alcohol, and the long road toward recovery and writing his memoir.
Follow Eduardo here:
https://www.instagram.com/eduardo__garduno/
Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 10% off! 
Cash App ⬇️
Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/in49dyw5 #CashAppPo...

Brent Tucker, a 20-year Army Special Operations veteran, takes us through his path from the National Guard and 20th Special Forces Group to Delta Force, including combat in Afghanistan and Syria, getting shot on a mission, and fighting ISIS. He also discusses Delta selection and training, working alongside the SAS, the physical toll of two decades at war, and his life after the military.

Grab some FRCC here: https://frccoffee.com/

To help support the show and for all bonus content including:
-AD FREE AUDIO
-AD FREE VIDEO
-Access to ALL bonus segments...

We break down the latest Iran developments, including the fight over Hormuz, new U.S. sanctions, China’s role, and whether Iran could really be pulled into a new Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan security bloc. We also look at Russia’s growing threat to Europe, Ukraine’s air defense crisis, and what America’s shifting military posture in South Korea could mean for the balance of power in Asia.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Subscribe to our newsletter!!!!
https://teamhousepodcast.kit.com/join
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here...

Dave Leaning recounts his path from the Royal Marines and Afghanistan to the little-seen world of private maritime security and counter-piracy operations off East Africa. He takes us inside ransom deliveries, hostage recoveries, armed encounters with Somali pirates, and the missions that ultimately gave him a sense of closure after war.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-leaning-04014439
Today's Sponsors:
Quince⬇️
go to: https://www.quince.com/house
for free shipping and 365 day returns 
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 10% off! 
Blue Chew ⬇️
https://bluechew.com/
Get 1 month free when you buy 2...

Anthony Vinci joins us to break down the rapidly evolving AI landscape, from China’s growing challenge and the risks of frontier models to surveillance, national security, and the race to control the technology. We also get into the massive spending behind the AI boom, whether current valuations are sustainable, and what happens if the bubble eventually bursts.
Anthony's AI company: https://www.vico.io/
Anthony's Book:⬇️
https://a.co/d/04QQ9KQ7
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhacket...

This episode breaks down the growing strain on the U.S. Navy, from conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and America’s shipbuilding problems to what that could mean in a potential Taiwan crisis. The group also covers Israel’s campaign in southern Lebanon, Israeli politics, and reports of possible CIA covert activity tied to drug trafficking around Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Mars Men ⬇️
https://mengotomars.com/ for 50% Off AND 3 Free Gifts when you checkout.  After you purchase, they will ask you where you heard about them. PLEASE support our show and tell them our show sent you.
Supp...

Giuseppe Weller recounts the little-known story of the Coast Guard’s Drug Interdiction Assist Team, which worked alongside the DEA in South America conducting riverine missions, training local forces, and helping destroy cocaine labs and airstrips. He also discusses Ranger School, hunting traffickers in Bolivia, the eventual shutdown of the unit, and how that experience led him into a career in undercover and organized-crime investigations.
Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 10% off! 
Mars Men⬇️
For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at http...

original air date - 01/19/24
Former CIA officer Luis Rueda reflects on a career that took him from fleeing Castro’s Cuba to covert operations in Central America, Grenada, the drug war, Iraq, and eventually serving as Chief of Station in New Delhi. He also breaks down the failures behind the Iraq War, the reality of intelligence work, and what decades in the CIA taught him about power, policy, and counterintelligence.

Support the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse

00:00 - Start
01:07 - Growing Up in Cuba and Fleeing After the Bay of Pi...

This episode breaks down the latest developments in the Iran conflict, including the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. munitions shortages, covert action, and growing unrest inside Iran. The group also discusses the CIA’s new Cuba task force, the strengths of European intelligence services, and why Ukraine may be in a stronger position than the headlines suggest.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Subscribe to our newsletter!!!!
https://teamhousepodcast.kit.com/join
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanha...

Kenny Robertson reflects on his career from the Marine Corps and 101st Airborne to 5th Special Forces Group, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, and Ukraine. He also discusses the toll of years in combat, his struggles after leaving the military, and how psychedelic medicine led him to create Waypoint 6 to help other veterans.
https://www.waypoint6.com/
https://www.instagram.com/waypoint_six/
Today's Sponsors:
Quince⬇️
go to: https://www.quince.com/house
for free shipping and 365 day returns 
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 10% off! 
Blue Chew ⬇️

original airdate: 10/20/23

Mike Edwards recounts his journey from the conventional Army to the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC), sharing stories from combat in Iraq, clandestine reconnaissance missions, and years spent leading and training some of the military's most elite units. He also reflects on Project Exodus Relief, the challenges of transitioning out of the military, and how faith helped him overcome the personal struggles that followed his service

help support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse

00:00 - Start
01:27 - Growing Up in Alabama
03:24 - Mechanized...

As reports of a much larger U.S. military campaign against Iran emerged, the Trump administration abruptly paused the strikes and shifted back toward diplomacy. We break down whether the threat of escalation was a negotiating strategy, why sanctions continue to fail, Iran's asymmetric advantages, dwindling U.S. missile stockpiles, and what happens next in one of the world's most dangerous conflicts.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Subscribe to our newsletter!!!!
https://teamhousepodcast.kit.com/join
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitte...

Jay Morton discusses his career in the British Parachute Regiment and the Special Air Service (SAS), including deployments to Afghanistan, the challenges of SAS selection, and the realities of life in one of the world's premier special operations units. He also reflects on his transition to civilian life, climbing Mount Everest, and the lessons he's carried with him since leaving the military.
https://www.instagram.com/jay__morton/?hl=en
https://www.deltathreeoscar.com/
Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 10% off! 
Blue Chew ⬇️
https://bluechew.com/
Get 1 month free when...

We sit down with former U.S. Navy submariner and defense analyst Thomas Shugart to examine the rapidly shifting military balance between the United States and China, from Taiwan invasion planning and shipbuilding to missile stockpiles and the future of Indo-Pacific deterrence. We also explore whether America is prepared for a prolonged conflict with China and why Beijing may be far closer to that goal than many realize.
Find Tom here:
https://x.com/tshugart3?lang=en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-shugart-703079114
https://thomasshugart.substack.com/
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patr...

We break down the latest phase of the U.S.-Iran war, from dwindling interceptor stockpiles and the fight over the Strait of Hormuz to Iran’s nuclear leverage and the limits of American military power. We also examine Ukraine’s attacks on Russian supply ships bound for Iran, growing anger across the Middle East, and whether smarter sanctions, covert action, and diplomacy can still bring the war to an end.

Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Subscribe to our newsletter!!!!
https://teamhousepodcast.kit.com/join
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://theh...

Luis Saucedo recounts his journey from the streets of Baghdad to high-value target raids in Afghanistan as a sniper in the 75th Ranger Regiment. He shares stories of brutal firefights, near-death experiences, and life inside one of America’s most elite combat units. Luis also reflects on the injury that ended his career, the difficult transition out of the military, and his new mission helping veterans rediscover purpose and brotherhood.


Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 10% off! 
Stash ⬇️
https://www.stash.com/HOUSE for 15% off your monthly subscription or 30% off your an...

This week we trace four decades of American intelligence failure in Iran, from the 1953 CIA coup against Mossadegh through the 1979 embassy takeover that wiped out our human network overnight. Jonathan Hackett walks us through Stuxnet, the JCPOA, the 2019 rollup of our entire asset network, and why we're now dependent on Israeli intelligence to tell us what's happening underground.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Subscribe to our newsletter!!!!
https://teamhousepodcast.kit.com/join
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Jack's new book:⬇️
https://a.co/d/0gywUGvn
Find Jo...

This week we break down the collapsed ceasefire and week two of American strikes on Iran, from the deaths of US service members in Jordan to the Chinese navigation system suddenly making Iranian missiles far more accurate. We get into why the air campaign can't achieve its goals, the intelligence gaps limiting US targeting, Saudi Arabia's controversial nuclear agreement, and the vulnerability of Gulf desalination plants. The uncomfortable conclusion: Iran is going to get the bomb, ground troops aren't a real option, and this is now entirely about the Strait of Hormuz.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www...

We speak with retired Green Beret Dave Harris about his path from the 82nd Airborne to 3rd Special Forces Group, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Africa. We also get into Special Forces selection, crisis-response missions, CQB training, and how he transitioned into training law enforcement after leaving the Army.

Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 10% off! 

Blue Chew ⬇️
https://bluechew.com/
Get 1 month free when you buy 2 of BlueChew Gold with code "HOUSECALL"

VanMan ⬇️
Go to https://vanman.shop/teamhouse26 and use code TEAMHOUSE26 f...

We break down the renewed fighting with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz crisis, and whether the U.S. has any realistic military or diplomatic path forward. We also get into NATO, Ukraine’s air defense needs, the defense industrial base, and why America keeps spending more while producing less.

Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Marc's new article:
https://engelsbergideas.com/author/sam-worby-marc-polymeropoulos/
Subscribe to our newsletter!!!!
https://teamhousepodcast.kit.com/join
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x...

We speak with retired FBI agent Wayne Barnes about his career in counterintelligence, from undercover work with the Black Panthers and a hidden Nixon assassination plot to debriefing Cold War defectors and recruiting Soviet intelligence officers. We also dig into his book A Traitor in the FBI, the hunt for a Russian mole inside the Bureau, and the tradecraft, deception, and lucky breaks that shaped the case.
Grab Wayne's book "A Traitor in the FBI: The Hunt for a Russian Mole"
https://a.co/d/06ffYkg0
Find Wayne here:
https://www.waynebarneswriting.com/
Today's Sponsors:<...

Jack Murphy joins us to break down his new High Side investigation into JSOC’s planned mission to recover highly enriched uranium from Iran, a raid some insiders compared to “Eagle Claw 2.0.” He explains why the operation would have required far more than a small special operations team, the risks of fighting in a CBRN environment, and why the mission may have been too dangerous to greenlight.
The High Side:
https://substack.com/@thehighside/note/p-192763347?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=mr77m
Jack's new book:
https://a.co/d/0gywUGvn
00:00 - Inside JSOC’s Planned Iran WMD...

We break down Ukraine’s deep strike campaign inside Russia, the fight over Crimea, and whether Moscow’s war machine is starting to crack under pressure. We also get into the NATO summit, Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy process, Iran’s reconstitution after the ceasefire, and the growing split between the U.S. and Europe.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Marc's new article:
https://engelsbergideas.com/author/sam-worby-marc-polymeropoulos/
Subscribe to our newsletter!!!!
https://teamhousepodcast.kit.com/join
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️<...

We speak with journalist Colin Freeman about covering wars from Iraq and Somalia to Ukraine, including his own kidnapping by Somali pirates and the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. We also dig into his book The Mad and the Brave, the foreign volunteers who joined Ukraine’s International Legion, and the chaos, courage, and darker realities they faced on the front lines.
Colin's book: https://a.co/d/0j8oksfv
Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 10% off! 
Mars Men⬇️
For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Sh...

original air date 12/1/23
Michael Vickers joins us to discuss his path from 10th Special Forces Group to the CIA, including Cold War missions, Berlin tradecraft, Grenada, Beirut, and Ground Branch. We also get into the covert war in Afghanistan, the Reagan Doctrine, working with foreign partners like Pakistan and China, and how the U.S. helped drive the Soviet Union out by all means available.

Grab Mike's book here:
https://a.co/d/05Lzlki9

00:00 — Start
02:19 — Michael Vickers’ Origin Story
03:39 — 10th Special Forces Group During the Cold War
07:14 — Berlin, Detachment A, and Denied-Are...

This week we break down the collapse of the Iran ceasefire talks, the escalating tit-for-tat strikes between Tehran and Washington, the fight over the Strait of Hormuz, and why the current MOU may be far more fragile than it appears. We also dive into the war in Ukraine, Russia's growing military and economic problems, the future of NATO support, and what these developments could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/team
FOR 10% off! 
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Marc's new article:
https://engelsbergideas.com/autho...

Brad Colbert, retired Marine Force Recon veteran and one of the real Marines behind Generation Kill, joins us to talk about his path into the Corps, recon selection, 9/11 while forward deployed, Camp Rhino, and the early days of the war in Afghanistan.
We also get into the 2003 invasion of Iraq, how recon Marines were used as shock troops, his Royal Marines exchange, HBO’s Generation Kill, and the lessons he carried into life after the military.

Find Brad here:⬇️
https://bradcolbert.us/

Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house

FOR 10% of...

We break down the Iran MOU, the fight over the Strait of Hormuz, Lebanon’s role in the deal, and why the panel sees the agreement as a major strategic win for Tehran and a serious problem for Washington.
We also dig into Iran’s nuclear program, Hezbollah, U.S. military messaging, bad battle-damage assessments, and whether the United States still has any real leverage left in the next 60 days of negotiations.
GhostBed ⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/team
FOR 10% off! 
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Marc's new article:
https...

Stephanie Rotolo joins us to talk about her path from Mortuary Affairs and MP work to joining the Cultural Support Team program and deploying to Afghanistan with Special Operations Forces. She breaks down CST selection, working with Afghan female tactical platoons, going out on missions with ODAs, and how those experiences shaped her later work in Civil Affairs across West Africa.
Find Stephanie here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-r-d-rotolo-1b01641a6?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name
Today's Sponsors:
Mars Men⬇️
For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at M...