Douglas is an actor, and the creator of the play The American Soldier.

The American Soldier portrays fourteen characters, based on real stories and actual letters written by veterans and their family members from the American Revolution, all the way through current day Afghanistan. The story is told with a through-line and a strong message, but not chronologically. It examines the internal struggles and problems that soldiers face when returning home from combat and the sacrifice made by our veterans and their families.

We see one character who represents all the powerful and beautiful things of the military – discipline, teamwork, and brotherhood. He is the only character who comes out more than once to share these lessons with us. All other aspects are only seen once, and they represent our glimpse of what sacrifice is for our veterans and their families.

The play starts with our narrator sharing his lesson in discipline. We see a Revolutionary soldier freezing at Valley Forge, a grieving mother remembering her son and his story of how he died in Vietnam, our narrator sharing his lesson in teamwork, our Bronx WWII veteran suffering with the effects of PTSD from his experience in Iwo Jima, our African American Vietnam Vet, our Iraq veteran addicted to the adrenalin of war, a wife and son dealing with the father’s absence while he is away at war on 3rd deployment in Afghanistan, a father in the wake of his soldier son’s suicide from Iraq, a chicano soldier dealing with the loss of his limb and his wife helps him to stand up again, a WWI soldier sharing his love for his brother in the trenches, an eloquent Civil War Soldier writing his final letter to his wife (the Dear Sarah letter), and finally our narrator sharing his lesson in brotherhood.

Learn more about The American Soldier here -https://www.theamericansoldiersoloshow.com/

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In this episode we're diving into another round of listener-submitted questions. I always appreciate the honesty and vulnerability of these questions, and this week is no exception.First up, what does it really take to be The Best? Whether it’s in sports, business, or even sweeping the floor, how much sacrifice and commitment are required to reach the top? Are the sacrifices worth it, what is the cost of greatness, and finding purpose along the way?Next, a question about being “good enough.” After a year of life upheavals, a listener reflects on his deepest fear—never measuring up, never being enough. It’s a feeling that drives him to improve but also leaves him questioning whether satisfaction and self-acceptance are achievable. Finally, a question from a listener dealing with night sweats and high blood pressure long after leaving military service. It’s a frustrating struggle, especially when medications don’t seem to help, and it’s now impacting his marriage.Today's Sponsors: Spartan Forge: https://spartanforge.ai/Maui Nui Venison: Maui Nui Venison is offering listeners a limited collection of my favorite cuts and products. But... supply is limited by the nature of their work, so don’t wait. https://mauinuivenison.com/clearedhot

Joel Struthers spent six years as a legionnaire (and more specifically as a member of the elite Group Commando Parachutistes). The French Foreign Legion, a branch of the French army, is one of the most famous military organizations in the world.

Joel is the author of Appel, A Canadian in the French Foreign Legion, which details his time with the Legion, his experiences, the selection and recruitment process, and combat deployments to Africa.

Joel is also a helicopter pilot and a partner in a Canadian risk mitigation firm that solves difficult problems in challenging environments

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BetterHelp-

This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/CLEAREDHOT and get on your way to being your best self.

Traditional Q and A to round out the week, answering only the most demanding questions facing our society. I'm not sure they were actually that serious, but it sounds good. I did actually cover: Dreams, evolving social circles and desires as you age, and turning your emotions back on after working hard to separate from them. EnjoyToday's Sponsors: AG1:AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out https://DrinkAG1.com/clearedhot to get this offer! Stopbox: Listeners are getting a crazy deal. Not only do you get 10% Off your entire order when you use code "clearedhot" at stopboxusa.com, but they are also giving you Buy One Get One Free for their StopBox Pro. That’s 10% off AND a Free StopBox Pro when you use code "clearedhot" at https://stopboxusa.com.

Jon Fussell is the founder and CEO of Patriot Leadership Development. John spent his entire 20-year Naval career in the Naval Special Warfare Community. After serving in leadership positions at SEAL Teams Three, Ten, Four, and SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two he earned an assignment to Joint Special Operations Command's Naval Special Warfare Development Group. Throughout multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, he led our Nation’s most elite special mission units on hundreds of direct-action combat missions. Among other awards, he has earned four Bronze Stars with Valor, and two Presidential Unit Citations.Patriot Leadership Development: https://www.patriotld.com/Today's Sponsors: Montana Knife Company - https://www.montanaknifecompany.com/LMNT -https://drinklmnt.com/CLEAREDHOT

The new series continues!Michael and I sat down today and discussed a few topics through the lens of experience in different decades of life. For those of you familiar with the show you know that often on Friday I answer Q and A, today is no different, except that Michael is joining me to give his perspective from a younger generation:Social Circle InteractionsMental Discipline and Accountability Avoiding Becoming Overwhelmed Today's Sponsors:TrueWerk:Check out the full lineup and get 15 percent off your first order at https://TRUEWERK.com/clearedhotMando:Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code "clearedhot" at https://shopmando.com

Stefano Ritondale is a former Army Armor officer with extensive military intelligence experience. He is also the Chief Intelligence Officer of Artorias, specializing in Cartel violence in Mexico, Latin American affairs, and drug trade/organized crime.

You can follow him on X:

https://x.com/All_Source_News

Artorias:

https://www.artorias.com

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In this Q&A episode, I dive into three powerful listener questions that hit hard on personal struggles, global issues, and life-or-death moments. First, I respond to a heartfelt message from a 40-year-old father of six who’s navigating the emotional wreckage of divorce. He’s wondering how to rebuild, find love again, and move forward without being crushed by the weight of his past. I’ve been there—I share my own experiences with heartbreak, healing, and what it really takes to start over with confidence. Next, I unpack the geopolitical ripple effects of President Trump’s decision to label Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations. What does this mean for border security, asylum claims, and the flood of firearms crossing from the U.S. into Mexico? Lastly, a retired Army vet who survived a heart attack—known as the “widowmaker”—asks how to deal with the fear and anxiety it left behind, not just for him, but for his wife. I’ve faced my own health scares and the mental and emotional aftermath of those “what if” moments that shake you to your core. Today's Sponsors:

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