Dave Berke is a retired US Marine Corps Officer, TOPGUN Instructor, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Development Officer. As a F/A-18 pilot, he deployed twice from the USS John C Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN where he served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course. 

Dave Berke is a retired US Marine Corps Officer, TOPGUN Instructor, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Development Officer. As a F/A-18 pilot, he deployed twice from the USS John C Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN where he served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course.&nbsp;

Special operations military news and straight talk with the guys in the community. Hosted by former military operators. As seen ranked #1 in Apple Podcasts government category.

SOFREP Radio

Air Combat to Ground Truth: TOPGUN Insights with Dave Berke

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/301654cc-6c31-4828-ab51-b3af00fe568e/transcript

After serving in the U.S. Navy, Chad Eaves built a career helping leaders communicate when the stakes are high. As the founder of Eaves Group, executive coach, and communication strategist, he works with executives, organizations, and veteran professionals to sharpen one of the most overlooked leadership skills: effective communication. Drawing on decades of experience spanning military service, corporate leadership, and academia, Chad focuses on the practical side of influence—how to lead teams, navigate difficult conversations, and build trust without relying on buzzwords or management fads. His work is rooted in the belief that communication isn't a soft skill—it's a competitive advantage. In this episode, Chad joins SOFREP Radio to discuss leadership after service, the communication mistakes that derail careers, and why the ability to clearly influence people is often the difference between merely getting the job done and earning the opportunity to lead.

After serving in the U.S. Navy, Chad Eaves built a career helping leaders communicate when the stakes are high. As the founder of Eaves Group, executive coach, and communication strategist, he works with executives, organizations, and veteran professionals to sharpen one of the most overlooked leadership skills: effective communication. Drawing on decades of experience spanning military service, corporate leadership, and academia, Chad focuses on the practical side of influence&mdash;how to lead teams, navigate difficult conversations, and build trust without relying on buzzwords or management fads. His work is rooted in the belief that communication isn't a soft skill&mdash;it's a competitive advantage. In this episode, Chad joins SOFREP Radio to discuss leadership after service, the communication mistakes that derail careers, and why the ability to clearly influence people is often the difference between merely getting the job done and earning the opportunity to lead.

The Communication Edge: How Great Leaders Build Trust, Influence, and Lasting Impact with Chad Eaves

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a7caaeb7-04be-4f53-a6d5-b47800f9c8ab/transcript

Dr. Mike Simpson is a former U.S. Army Ranger, Special Forces Green Beret, emergency medicine physician, and combat veteran. After serving with the 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry (Ranger), he went on to become a Special Forces Engineer and Medical Sergeant with the 7th Special Forces Group, deploying throughout Central and South America. Following his military service, he earned his medical degree and later served as an Army physician assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), deploying in support of the Global War on Terror. Dr. Simpson was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor and the Combat Medical Badge. Today, he is a board-certified emergency medicine physician, a recognized expert in tactical trauma and combat sports medicine, an MMA fight physician, podcast host, and speaker. He is also known for his work as a member of the investigative team on two seasons of the History Channel series Hunting Hitler.

Dr. Mike Simpson is a former U.S. Army Ranger, Special Forces Green Beret, emergency medicine physician, and combat veteran. After serving with the 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry (Ranger), he went on to become a Special Forces Engineer and Medical Sergeant with the 7th Special Forces Group, deploying throughout Central and South America. Following his military service, he earned his medical degree and later served as an Army physician assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), deploying in support of the Global War on Terror. Dr. Simpson was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor and the Combat Medical Badge. Today, he is a board-certified emergency medicine physician, a recognized expert in tactical trauma and combat sports medicine, an MMA fight physician, podcast host, and speaker. He is also known for his work as a member of the investigative team on two seasons of the History Channel series Hunting Hitler.

From Ranger to JSOC Physician: The Extraordinary Journey of Dr. Mike Simpson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a8c63f9b-521b-421f-9dca-b46600c13019/transcript

Shawn Johnson graduated from Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota, with a degree in Criminal Justice before earning his Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was immediately accepted into the FBI, trained at the FBI Academy, and assigned to the Seattle Division. There, he worked on the Green River Serial Murder investigation before joining the Violent Crimes Squad, where he investigated bank robberies, fugitives, interstate theft, extortions, and kidnappings. His legal background also led to service as Assistant Chief Division Counsel. Johnson later joined the National Security Squad, working counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations, including joint overseas investigations with the United States Army and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Returning to the Violent Crimes Squad, he played a key role in the Hollywood investigation, helped establish the Puget Sound Violent Crime Task Force, served as Bank Robbery Coordinator, and authored the Division's Bank Robbery Response Plan. After transferring to the Milwaukee Division's Madison Resident Agency, he focused on drug conspiracy investigations, employing sophisticated surveillance techniques that contributed to major takedowns of drug organizations in Chicago and Madison. Following 9/11, he managed the newly established Madison Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), overseeing federal and local efforts to investigate international terrorism. Johnson later returned to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where he instructed new agents in criminal investigations, counterterrorism investigations, and Human Intelligence (HUMINT). His final FBI assignment was with the Directorate of Intelligence, training agents in HUMINT policy and procedures. Upon retiring from the FBI, he founded Wolf & Owl LLC, where he continues to train FBI personnel in support of the Bureau's mission to protect the United States. Steven Meyers was the partner and principal accomplice of Scott Scurlock, better known as "Hollywood," the notorious bank robber responsible for a string of high-profile bank heists in the Seattle area during the 1990s. Over the course of four and a half years, Meyers worked closely with Scurlock and their crew in planning and executing 19 bank robberies that resulted in the theft of more than $2.3 million. Beyond participating in the operation, Meyers helped develop the plans, create disguises, and support the methods that allowed the crew to evade law enforcement for years. Meyers and Scurlock were deeply involved in every aspect of the enterprise, including planning operations, laundering money, and acquiring vehicles and equipment. As Scurlock's closest collaborator, Meyers gained a unique understanding of the man behind the "Hollywood" persona and the motivations that drove one of the Pacific Northwest's most infamous crime sprees. In 2023, Meyers was featured in the Netflix documentary *How to Rob a Bank*, providing firsthand insight into the robberies and the inner workings of the crew. Today, he joins retired FBI Special Agent Shawn Johnson—the lead investigator who helped solve the case—to share the untold stories behind the Hollywood robberies and offer perspectives from both sides of one of the most remarkable bank robbery investigations in modern history.

Shawn Johnson graduated from Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota, with a degree in Criminal Justice before earning his Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was immediately accepted into the FBI, trained at the FBI Academy, and assigned to the Seattle Division. There, he worked on the Green River Serial Murder investigation before joining the Violent Crimes Squad, where he investigated bank robberies, fugitives, interstate theft, extortions, and kidnappings. His legal background also led to service as Assistant Chief Division Counsel. Johnson later joined the National Security Squad, working counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations, including joint overseas investigations with the United States Army and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Returning to the Violent Crimes Squad, he played a key role in the Hollywood investigation, helped establish the Puget Sound Violent Crime Task Force, served as Bank Robbery Coordinator, and authored the Division's Bank Robbery Response Plan. After transferring to the Milwaukee Division's Madison Resident Agency, he focused on drug conspiracy investigations, employing sophisticated surveillance techniques that contributed to major takedowns of drug organizations in Chicago and Madison. Following 9/11, he managed the newly established Madison Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), overseeing federal and local efforts to investigate international terrorism. Johnson later returned to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where he instructed new agents in criminal investigations, counterterrorism investigations, and Human Intelligence (HUMINT). His final FBI assignment was with the Directorate of Intelligence, training agents in HUMINT policy and procedures. Upon retiring from the FBI, he founded Wolf &amp; Owl LLC, where he continues to train FBI personnel in support of the Bureau's mission to protect the United States. Steven Meyers was the partner and principal accomplice of Scott Scurlock, better known as "Hollywood," the notorious bank robber responsible for a string of high-profile bank heists in the Seattle area during the 1990s. Over the course of four and a half years, Meyers worked closely with Scurlock and their crew in planning and executing 19 bank robberies that resulted in the theft of more than $2.3 million. Beyond participating in the operation, Meyers helped develop the plans, create disguises, and support the methods that allowed the crew to evade law enforcement for years. Meyers and Scurlock were deeply involved in every aspect of the enterprise, including planning operations, laundering money, and acquiring vehicles and equipment. As Scurlock's closest collaborator, Meyers gained a unique understanding of the man behind the "Hollywood" persona and the motivations that drove one of the Pacific Northwest's most infamous crime sprees. In 2023, Meyers was featured in the Netflix documentary *How to Rob a Bank*, providing firsthand insight into the robberies and the inner workings of the crew. Today, he joins retired FBI Special Agent Shawn Johnson&mdash;the lead investigator who helped solve the case&mdash;to share the untold stories behind the Hollywood robberies and offer perspectives from both sides of one of the most remarkable bank robbery investigations in modern history.

Hunter and Hunted: An FBI Agent Sits Down with the Bank Robber He Caught

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c3d86da0-dd6a-4089-8b63-b45d00eb6bd1/transcript

Air Combat to Ground Truth: TOPGUN Insights with Dave Berke

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