Show Notes
We finally got our MOST requested guest ever on the show! On this episode of Liberty Risk, the guys sit down with former Navy SEAL Chief Eddie Gallagher for one of the most unique conversations we've ever recorded. If you're looking for a play-by-play of the trial, there are already several great interviews that cover every detail. That wasn't our goal. We wanted to tell the stories that came before the headlines... and hear from the people who lived through them. The conversation starts where it all began. Eddie takes us from his troubled teenage years, to becoming a Marine Recon corpsman, Marine sniper, BUD/S graduate, Navy SEAL Instructor, and combat Chief leading one of the most aggressive platoons in the Battle of Mosul. Along the way, the guys trade deployment stories, BUD/S memories, military culture, and enough side quests to remind you this is still Liberty Risk. As the story reaches Mosul and everything begins to unravel, Tim Speer joins the table. Having served alongside Eddie and later shared time with him in the brig, Tim brings a firsthand perspective that very few people can offer, turning the conversation into less of an interview and more of old teammates filling in the parts of the story only they know. Then, the conversation shifts one final time. Eddie's wife Andrea Gallagher joins us to tell the story from her perspective. While Eddie was fighting for his freedom inside the brig, Andrea was fighting for him on the outside. She shares what those months were really like, the faith that carried their family through it, the battle behind the headlines, and how that experience ultimately led them to create the Pipe Hitter Foundation, helping service members, law enforcement officers, and first responders facing legal battles of their own. Of course, it wouldn't be Liberty Risk without a few side quests. The conversation drifts through combat deployments, sniper school, prison stories, military culture, psychedelic therapy, and enough relentless ball-busting to remind you that even the heaviest conversations can be made ligher by some well timed humor. Whether you've followed Eddie's story from the beginning or only know the headlines, this episode isn't about relitigating the trial - it's about understanding the people who lived it. Topics include: Eddie Gallagher's journey from Marine corpsman to Navy SEAL Chief Marine sniper school, BUD/S, and combat deployments The Battle of Mosul and leading Alpha Platoon The arrest, brig, and 2019 trial Tim Speer's firsthand perspective from the brig Andrea Gallagher's fight behind the scenes Faith, resilience, and rebuilding after the trial The Pipe Hitter Foundation Brotherhood, leadership, and life beyond the Teams
🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️ If you're wanting to dive deeper into Liberty Risk lore & hang LIVE with the hosts and other cool people, check out our Patreon Community! Here you can get exclusive access to the behind the scenes action, the hidden conversations between breaks, a private community chat, and LOTS more, including discounts on Liberty Risk merch as well as some of our partner brands. We also have a monthly virtual (Zoom) cigar meetup where you can interact and have REAL 2 way conversations with all Kevin, Nick & Ryan, as well as other cool people in our top tier Patreon group, and also some special guests. 🤫🤫 Come check it out and join the conversation! https://www.patreon.com/LibertyRisk
Get to know Eddie & Andrea better at the following links: ✖️ Eddie's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eddie_gallagher ✖️ Andrea's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andrea_gallagher_ ✖️ Pipe Hitter Foundation Website - https://pipehitterfoundation.org
Liberty Risk Hosts: ✖️ Ryan Williams - https://www.instagram.com/invictus5326 ✖️ Kevin Kent - https://www.instagram.com/therealkevinkent ✖️ Nick Betts - https://www.instagram.com/n_betts
Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Bulkhead Energy Drink - https://www.bulkheadenergy.com ✖️
More from Liberty Risk
🏴☠️ Want to hang LIVE with Kevin, Nick & Ryan? Join the Liberty Risk Patreon crew: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LibertyRisk Cody Hightower, better known as Platoon Daddy, is back with the Liberty Risk boys for Part 2 of our two-part episode, and this time we're getting into life beyond the Army, building a business from scratch, the realities of entrepreneurship, and the mental health struggles that don't always end when the uniform comes off. After 20 years in the U.S. Army, Cody is preparing to trade his platoon sergeant duties for full-time entrepreneurship. We get into how he launched Platoon Daddy during the COVID lockdowns, going from designing stickers on an iPad and celebrating five orders to building one of the more recognizable military humor and apparel brands. Of course, running a military-themed apparel company comes with its own special brand of bullshit. Cody shares stories of cease-and-desist letters from the Army, Marine Corps, Crye Precision, and even Philip Morris, along with the challenges of managing employees, fulfillment, trademarks, and the never-ending headaches of running a business. Ryan brings nearly two decades of apparel industry experience into the conversation as we dive into scaling brands, making expensive mistakes, keeping operations lean, and why sometimes the best business advice is to NOT quit your day job. We also get into some hard-earned lessons about money, taxes, SBA loans, and the realities of keeping a business alive when everything seems to be going sideways. The conversation takes a more serious turn as Cody opens up about his struggles with anxiety, PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries following years of military service. He shares his decision to pursue ibogaine treatment in Mexico, what led him down that path, and his hopes of eventually using the Platoon Daddy platform to help other veterans access alternative treatment options. From military retirement and building a recognizable brand to psychedelic treatments, business disasters, and the occasional completely inappropriate Army story, this episode covers a hell of a lot of ground. Plenty of laughs, some hard conversations, and a look at what happens when 20 years of military service comes to an end and an entirely new mission begins. This is Part 2 of our conversation with Cody Hightower. If you haven't watched Part 1, go check it out first! 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️ WANT TO GO DEEPER WITH LIBERTY RISK? Join the Liberty Risk Patreon Community for the stuff that doesn't make it into the episodes: behind-the-scenes footage, conversations between breaks, private community chats, merch & partner discounts, and plenty more. 🥃 Black Site members also get invited to our monthly Virtual Cigar Night where you can grab a drink, light one up, and hang LIVE on Zoom with Kevin, Nick & Ryan. No livestream. No audience. Real two-way conversations with the guys, other members of the LR crew, and occasionally a special guest or two. 🤫 If you enjoy the show and want to be more than just a viewer, come join the crew: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/cw/LibertyRisk
🏴☠️ Want to hang LIVE with Kevin, Nick & Ryan? Join the Liberty Risk Patreon crew: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LibertyRisk Cody Hightower, better known by his Instagram page Platoon Daddy, joins the Liberty Risk boys for Part 1 of a two-part episode covering his wild 20-year career in the U.S. Army, and the journey of what's next. From dropping out of college, partying his ass off, and working construction to enlisting in the infantry at the height of the Global War on Terror, Cody takes us through two decades of combat deployments, personal growth, life-changing experiences, and plenty of military shenanigans. We get into the comic mix of humor, frustration, commaraderie and danger that is Army life at Fort Benning, deploying to Iraq with a Stryker brigade, getting blown up three times, and surviving the frozen wasteland of Alaska. Along the way, Cody shares stories about getting jumped outside a bar, being stranded at a stripper's house in subzero temperatures, and a fellow soldier who ended up involved in a bizarre murder case. Things only get crazier as we get into airborne operations in Australia, partying with Australian Commandos, getting kicked out of a training exercise at Fort Irwin, and the absolute nightmare of Army recruiting duty. Cody also shares an incredible encounter with Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L. Davis, the real-life inspiration behind Forrest Gump. From the infantry to the 82nd Airborne, it's a wild ride through 20 years of military service, combat, brotherhood, personal transformation, and the experiences & conversations that shape who we become. Of course, there's no shortage of laughs, dark humor, and the kind of stories you can only get from guys who've lived it. This is Part 1. Stay tuned for Part 2 on Monday, where we get into life after the Army, building the Platoon Daddy brand, mental health, and psychedelic treatments including ibogaine and ayahuasca.
🏴☠️ Want to hang LIVE with Kevin, Nick & Ryan? Join the Liberty Risk Patreon crew: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LibertyRisk Part 2 with bestselling author Eric Blehm! Eric is back with the boys at Liberty Risk for more incredible true stories, military legends, outdoor adventures, and the usual off-the-rails conversations. We dive into the unbelievable story of Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient and Green Beret Roy Benavidez, who survived a landmine explosion, taught himself to walk again, and later fought through six hours of brutal combat in Cambodia. Shot, stabbed, and nearly declared dead, Benavidez's story is one of the wildest accounts of courage and survival you'll ever hear. Eric also takes us behind the scenes of his bestselling books Fearless, about legendary Navy SEAL Adam Brown, and Legend, sharing what it takes to uncover these stories and why preserving the history of America's warriors is becoming a race against time. Then we head into the mountains to talk about snowboarding pioneer Craig Kelly, whose life and tragic death in an avalanche inspired The Darkest White, and legendary backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson, who mysteriously disappeared in the Sierra Nevada after spending decades rescuing others. Eric spent years researching these stories, retracing their footsteps, and interviewing the people who knew them best. Along the way, we get into the golden age of magazines, growing up before smartphones, Eric's Army EOD father, and one of the most ridiculous Hollywood screenplay adaptations ever written, featuring a murderous beaver. Yes, seriously. From Navy SEALs and Green Berets to Vietnam War heroes, survival stories, and mountain legends, this episode has a ton of amazing stories, plus plenty of laughs and the usual Liberty Risk side quests. Come hang with us! 🍻🏴☠️
🏴☠️ Want to hang LIVE with Kevin, Nick & Ryan? Join the Liberty Risk Patreon crew: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LibertyRisk
🏴☠️ Want to hang LIVE with Kevin, Nick & Ryan? Join the Liberty Risk Patreon crew: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LibertyRisk