Short on time? Here’s where to start with our list of best veteran podcasts:
- 🏆 Best Overall: Shawn Ryan Show
- 💼 Best for Career Growth: Jocko Podcast
- 🎖️ Best Military Stories: Combat Story
- 😂 Best Humor: Zero Blog Thirty
- 🚀 Best Hidden Gem: Former Action Guys
- 🎧 Best for Long Road Trips: The Team House
Whether you’re commuting to work, hitting the gym, tackling a weekend project, or driving across the country, podcasts are one of the easiest ways to stay informed, inspired, and entertained. For veterans, they’re also a way to stay connected to a community that understands military service while exploring new ideas about leadership, careers, entrepreneurship, current events, and life after the uniform.
The challenge isn’t finding military-themed podcasts—it’s finding the ones worth your time. From in-depth interviews with Special Operations veterans and Medal of Honor recipients to practical advice for navigating civilian careers and building successful businesses, today’s best veteran podcasts offer something for every listener. Whether you’re looking for motivation, professional development, military history, or just a few laughs from people who “get it,” these shows deserve a spot in your playlist.
We’ve rounded up some of the best veteran podcasts available, highlighting what each show is about, who it’s best for, and some of the notable guests you’ll hear along the way.
| Podcast | Best For | Episode Length | New Listener? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawn Ryan Show | Long-form interviews | 2–4 hrs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Jocko Podcast | Leadership | 1–3 hrs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Cleared Hot | Transition & resilience | 1–2 hrs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Combat Story | Military stories | 60–90 min | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Team Never Quit | Motivation | 45–90 min | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Mike Drop | SOF interviews | 60–120 min | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Zero Blog Thirty | Humor & news | 30–60 min | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Our Top Picks for Veteran Podcasts:
- Shawn Ryan Show
- Jocko Podcast
- Cleared Hot
- Combat Story
- Mike Drop
- Team Never Quit
- The Team House
- Former Action Guys
- Zero Blog Thirty
- Independent Americans
- Mentors for Military
- The Afterburn Podcast
- Bonus 3
1. Shawn Ryan Show
Host: Former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan
Best for: Leadership, current events, military stories, long-form interviews
One of the biggest podcasts in America—not just among veterans. Shawn Ryan lets guests tell their stories with minimal interruption, resulting in conversations that often run two to four hours.
🎧 Start Here: Mike Rowe (excellent introduction to the show’s interview style) or Annie Jacobsen for a deep dive into national security.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 2–4 hours (some episodes exceed 5 hours).
Recent guests
- Sean Strickland
- Annie Jacobsen
- Mike Rowe
- Erin Brockovich
- Ryan Holiday
- Josh Duhamel
2. Jocko Podcast
Host: Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink
Best for: Leadership, discipline, military history
If you’ve ever read Extreme Ownership, this is the podcast version. Episodes alternate between interviews and deep dives into military history with practical leadership lessons.
🎧 Start Here: Episode #1 or Episode #115 with Dakota Meyer, one of the most recommended episodes for new listeners.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 2–3 hours
Recent guests
- Leif Babin
- JP Dinnell
- Dakota Meyer
- Dave Berke
- Echo Charles (regular co-host)
3. Cleared Hot
Host: Former DEVGRU operator Andy Stumpf
Best for: Honest conversations, resilience, military transition
Andy Stumpf mixes military experience with business, aviation, endurance sports, and personal growth. His interview style feels conversational instead of scripted.
🎧 Start Here: Kyle Morgan (Ep. 459) or Rich Diviney for leadership and performance insights.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 90–120 minutes
Recent guests
- Kyle Morgan (Distinguished Service Cross recipient)
- Rich Diviney
- Michael Glover
- Green Berets and intelligence professionals
4. Combat Story
Host: Ryan Fugit (former Apache pilot)
Best for: Combat stories and transition
Every episode focuses on one remarkable military career, from Special Forces operators to CIA officers and Medal of Honor recipients.
🎧 Start Here: The interview with Medal of Honor recipient Florent Groberg, one of the show’s most acclaimed conversations.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 60–90 minutes
Featured guests include
- Green Berets
- Navy SEALs
- CIA officers
- Apache pilots
- Medal of Honor recipients
5. Mike Drop
Host: Former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland
Best for: Military, law enforcement, entrepreneurship
Mike has a knack for getting guests to open up about difficult missions and life after service.
🎧 Start Here: Major John Spencer (urban warfare series) or Nic McKinley, both excellent examples of the show’s depth.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 1–2 hours
Recent guests
- John Spencer
- Nic McKinley
- Jay Collins
- Kyle Morgan
- Major James Capers Jr.
6. Team Never Quit
Host: Marcus Luttrell
Best for: Inspiration and resilience
Expect stories about overcoming adversity from veterans, athletes, entrepreneurs, and first responders.
🎧 Start Here: Taya Kyle or Tim Kennedy, two fan-favorite episodes that showcase the show’s focus on resilience.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 60–90 minutes
Featured guests include
- Chad Robichaux
- Tim Kennedy
- Taya Kyle
- Medal of Honor recipients
7. The Team House
Hosts: Jack Murphy & Dave Parke
Best for: Special Operations and intelligence
A favorite among military history buffs, featuring detailed conversations with members of Special Operations, CIA, and intelligence agencies.
🎧 Start Here: Luis Saucedo – 75th Ranger Regiment or any Green Beret interview to experience the show’s detailed storytelling.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 2–3 hours
Featured guests include
- Delta Force veterans
- CIA officers
- Green Berets
- Intelligence professionals
8. Former Action Guys
Host: Danny Maher
Best for: Marine Corps stories
One of the hidden gems of military podcasting. The interviews feel authentic and often highlight Marines whose stories haven’t been widely told.
🎧 Start Here: The ANGLICO Marine interviews are widely recommended by longtime listeners and give a great feel for the show’s conversational style.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 60–120 minutes
Featured guests include
- ANGLICO Marines
- Force Recon Marines
- Marine Raiders
- Combat photographers
9. Zero Blog Thirty
Host: Barstool Sports
Best for: Military news and humor
If every other podcast on this list feels serious, this one balances things out with military news, interviews, and the kind of humor only veterans fully appreciate.
🎧 Start Here: Pick one of the latest weekly news roundup episodes to get a feel for the hosts’ humor and military commentary.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 45–60 minutes
Featured guests include
- Veteran authors
- Military comedians
- Medal of Honor recipients
- Service members
10. Independent Americans
Host: Paul Rieckhoff
Best for: Veteran issues and current events
Army veteran Paul Rieckhoff interviews veterans, policymakers, journalists, and public figures about national security and life after service.
🎧 Start Here: The interview with Jon Stewart is one of the show’s most popular episodes and a great introduction to its mission.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 60–90 minutes
Featured guests include
- Senior military leaders
- Members of Congress
- Veteran advocates
- Journalists
11. Mentors for Military
Host: Fran Racioppi
Best for: Leadership and professional development
One of the longest-running veteran podcasts, with conversations focused on leadership, business, and transition.
🎧 Start Here: Admiral William McRaven or another senior military leader discussing leadership after service.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 45–75 minutes
Featured guests include
- Military executives
- CEOs
- Leadership authors
- Senior officers
12. The Afterburn Podcast
Host: John “Rain” Waters
Best for: Aviation, leadership, and defense
Originally centered on fighter pilots, The Afterburn now features conversations with military leaders, policymakers, and veterans from across the national security community.
🎧 Start Here: Mike “FLASH” McVay or any fighter pilot interview to experience the aviation-focused roots of the show.
⏱️ Typical Listening Time: 60–90 minutes
Recent guests
- Dr. Michael Bosack
- Mike “FLASH” McVay
- Military aviators
- Defense experts
Bonus 3: Not Veteran-Hosted, But Veterans Love Them
- Hardcore History (Dan Carlin) — Epic military history storytelling.
- The Rest Is History — Accessible, entertaining historical deep dives.
- The Art of Manliness — Leadership, resilience, and personal development with many military-related guests.
Know a veteran podcast we should add?
Tell us in the comments. We’ll update this list throughout the year.
