Welcome to Patriot to the Core Podcast

Patriot to the Core 2018

This podcast exists b/c of my little brother Mark Forester. While he was serving as a full-time missionary in California, our nation was attacked on 9/11. He felt the calling then to complete his service to God with his next mission being to serve his country. He knew God wanted him to help control the world's terrorists population.

On September 29, 2010, he was killed in action on his first deployment. From his death notification to my family, to the Dignified Transfer ceremony at Dover, to his viewing, funeral, and subsequent memorials, I was amazed at the new world of heroes and warriors we met. These men and women have become close to our family and been huge supports. But they also stood out because of their willingness to voluntarily fight evil. They believed in freedom and liberty. Because of their actions, I started this podcast to interview great Americans who serve their country and communities.

By supporting this podcast, you help support The Mark Forester Foundation and its cause.

I interview those from all branches of the military, serving multiple roles (combat controllers, PJs, Green Berets, SEALs, Rangers, Infantrymen, Marines, Pilots, etc) and the US government. In addition, I speak with your everyday mom who goes about doing good--from starting a non-profit to fighting for freedom in our communities and schools. I also get to talk with Gold Star Parents, Siblings and Spouses, and Medal of Honor recipients.

This provides an opportunity to learn about everyday Americans who go above and beyond to protect us and to help others. As a Gold Star brother, many of my guests have a military connection, but I still have a wide variety of people who answer the call to serve in various ways.

We talk fighting terrorism, self-protection, exercise, mental toughness, charity, parenting, fugitives and occasionally pop culture and politics (like government overreach).

Please follow and subscribe so we can have many episodes to come. Send suggestions and questions to me at thad@patriottothecore.com. Hope you enjoy!

You can also become a patron. Your support is not considered a donation--it's a way to get something in return for helping support my cause. See link below:

Become a Patron!

Ep 104 | Dan Skidmore, aka Cadre DS – Getting Ready for the JAG 28 Birthday Walk

May 8, 2023 By Thad Forester

Dan Skidmore (@danskidmore11) is the Director of Specialized Training at GORUCK. He’s back on PTC as to talk initially about the upcoming Mark Forester JAG 28 Memorial Birthday Walk/Ruck. This is our annual event honoring my brother Mark Forester who was KIA 2010, where we walk 28 continuous miles. Dan will be joining us for the first time (in person) on May 20, 2023 in Haleyville, AL.

I pick his brain about how to toughen up your feet, break in shoes and prevent injury (especially lower body).

We also discuss the benefits of compression therapy and his own business, Bulletproof Bands. He provided a huge discount on his site by using JAG28 promo code at checkout.

You’ll want to hear why he suggests peeing on your feet too – I’m not sure I can even physically do that. And what is the max weight you should carry for this event.

I look forward to Dan joining our walk this year and leading us in Memorial Pushups. Come join us. We want you to be part of our tribe on May 20, 2023 in Haleyville, AL. Read more and sign up here:

Mentioned in this episode:
Ballistic Trainers shoes
MACV-1 Rucking Boots that Dan will be wearing for this event
Bullet Rucker
Sandbags
Sand Kettlebells
Dan’s hotel in ancient Medina, Marrakesh, Morocco

Sorry for the audio issues on this one. My wifi has been oddly off recently, so you will notice some cut-outs.

You can also find Dan on YouTube and Facebook
And you can listen to our first interview on episode 75.

*Remember, for a big discount on Bulletproof Bands, use promo code JAG28 at checkout. Dan’s business is showing support for The Mark Forester Foundation.

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Ep 103 | Tips and Thoughts on the Mark Forester JAG 28 Birthday Walk/Ruck

April 10, 2023 By Thad Forester

Chris Sprayberry and Troy Bye join me to talk about the upcoming JAG 28 Birthday Walk on May 20, 2023.

Chris (@https://www.instagram.com/sprayberry_77/) has done the walk every year since we started in 2011. Troy’s (@https://www.instagram.com/ourtownpodcast/) first time was last year. After learning the hard way, he can’t wait to do it again while being more prepared.

Today we talk about how they prepare, gear they use, tricks, injuries, misperceptions, mistakes, best memories from years past, and all kinds of stuff related to my brother’s annual memorial walk.

You’ll definitely want to hear how Chris prepares each year. It’s pretty impressive.

We enjoyed the banter together as we hung out in the Our Town Podcast Studio. Please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I want your feedback.

You can also watch us do this interview via YouTube here.

Mentioned in this episode:

How to Train for the Mark Forester JAG 28 Birthday Walk / Ruck – 12 Years of Practice

Joe Carlucci – 2023 Pizza Maker of the Year

Learn more about the JAG Birthday Walk and Register Here

Outro music by Spent Brass: Sons of War / Veteran

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Ep 102 | Darrell Utt – Army Special Forces (Ret.) and National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Chief of Bus. Ops

March 13, 2023 By Thad Forester

MSG Darrell Utt retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces in January of 2017 after 26.5 years in the Army.

For this episode, he joins me in person and we have a great time covering the purpose of the National Medal of Honor Museum being constructed in Arlington, TX and why TX was chosen over Colorado. It seems Jerry Jones had something to do with it too.

He shares some Medal of Honor recipients who most resonate with him and what the Medal of Honor recipients want this museum to actually be–focus on courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship and patriotism.

We also discuss his time in Iraq in 2006 with Operation Parliament. He and his team were able to rescue a hostage unharmed after letting the kidnappers know in no uncertain terms that it would be in their best interest to release her to avoid further action against them.

In addition, we cover his favorite books, IEDs, his Alive Day of April 17, 2006–how 1″ made the difference, leadership lessons from Iraq, control what you can control, can’t fake preparation, calm breeds calm and more. Thanks for visiting me in Huntsville Darrell!

Mentioned in this podcast:

Burn the Boats book
Darrell on Combat Story podcast
Where the Red Fern Grows book
Last Out – Elegy of a Green Beret by Scott Mann
Ep 29: Larry and Janice Brown, parents of Adam Brown
Ep. 69: Woody Williams
Ep. 62: Sammy Davis

*Big thanks to M. Troy Bye at Our Town Podcast for hosting us in his studio.

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Ep 101 | Matthew Reed – Military Intelligence, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia and China

February 27, 2023 By Thad Forester

Matthew Reed started his military career in the Marines. After being honorably discharged in 2007, he joined the Army and became an Interrogator and a Military Intelligence NCO, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Then from 2012 through 2022, Matt worked as an Intelligence Contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense, with roughly six years in the Balkans Region of Europe, where his mission was to root out hostile penetrations of our HUMINT Source pool.

Matthew and I have an interesting discussion on the Chinese surveillance balloons and why China should be very concerned by what the U.S. thinks of them, the global effects of the war in Ukraine, the humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan, interrogation tactics and the importance of studying the Roman Empire.

We close by learning about his books, based on his real life growing up in Houston, and from his career in the military.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Matthew on Cleared Hot Podcast w/ Andy Stumpf

Purchase Matthew’s books here:

The Houston Thriller Series

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Ep 100 | Michael Blout – Combat Controller, Silver Star Recipient

February 6, 2023 By Thad Forester

Michael Blout joins me to talk about the battle from 2012 where he was awarded the Silver Star. As a former Flight Superintendent, Combat Dive Course Superintendent, and Superintendent over the Department of Training, Special Warfare Preparatory Course and more, we talk much about preparation, mindset, leading, integrating into a team and never quitting. During the CCT pipeline, Blout was smoked many times by one of his instructors, Mark Lauren (aka Klinganator or Cyborg). Mark is also a former guest on this show.

He also shared how to keep the sharks away while scuba training and threw in some surprises about dolphins.

Mike is another Air Force Combat Controller who is a silent professional. He’s sacrificed his body and family to fight evil and to serve in other various ways throughout the world. “Take care of your people and they will take care of you.”

One of Blout’s SF teammates, “Big Mike” Duskin, was killed in this battle on Oct 23, 2012. Please take time to read about him at this link: https://www.duskinandstephens.org/duskin

I hope you enjoy the intro music and full song at the end of this interview. It was written by former Air Force CCT, and 2-time PTC guest, Dan Schilling. You can learn the history of this song here. Dan’s goal is for it to be something that urges people to turn up the volume when they play the track!

“My hope was that this song rocks enough that guys I wrote it for will enjoy it and powerful enough to leave an indelible emotional impact crater,” Schilling said, “one you want to revisit over and over again.”

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