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Every episode
The Debrief with Jon Becker
30 episodes
Protecting Your Brain From Blast Injury
Ep 73 · Apr 29, 2026 · 1 hr 33 min
In this critical episode, Jon Becker examines the hidden epidemic of blast-induced brain injuries affecting tactical operators, breachers, and military personnel. Following groundbreaking New York Times reporting that led to congressional action, this five-year investigation reveals how repeated exposure to overpressure from breaching charges, flashbangs, and weapons fire causes microscopic brain damage often misdiagnosed as PTSD. Featuring insights from leading researchers, affected operators,…
Culture First Leadership
Ep 94 · Apr 1, 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
In this special episode, Jon Becker turns the tables and becomes the guest on his own show to discuss his new book "Culture First: Nine Leadership Practices That Build Elite Teams." Drawing from four decades of working with top-tier law enforcement and military units worldwide, Becker explores why some organizations consistently produce elite teams while others struggle despite having the same policies, equipment, and training. He reveals that the differentiating factor isn't tactics or gear—it'…
Hostage Rescue with IED Threat
Ep 92 · Mar 18, 2026 · 1 hr 23 min
In this gripping episode, Jon Becker sits down with Greg Roy to dissect a complex hostage rescue operation that began as a planned home invasion at 2:30 AM. Roy walks through the tactical response when an ex-boyfriend took multiple family members hostage at gunpoint, including the challenging dynamics of operating with incomplete intelligence and the critical decision-making process for SWAT deployment. The discussion reveals the intricate layers of this multi-generational hostage situation and…
DME-11 - HR with IEDs
Ep 93 · Mar 18, 2026 · 14 min
DME-11 - HR with IEDs
K9/SWAT Integration with LASD-SEB
Ep 91 · Feb 25, 2026 · 1 hr 33 min
Canine integration into SWAT operations has evolved significantly, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau leading the charge since the 1990s. In this episode, Jon sits down with John Montenegro and Steve Williams from LASD-SEB to examine their pioneering approach to K9/SWAT integration, where canines and operators function as a single team with complementary capabilities. Montenegro and Williams share tactical insights from decades of experience, debrief actu…
Taking Down a Serial Killer
Ep 89 · Feb 11, 2026 · 1 hr 23 min
On June 14, 2020, Butte County Sheriff's SWAT team executed what seemed like a routine arrest warrant for an arson suspect on a remote mountain property. Using night vision for covert reconnaissance, the team discovered they had walked into an active attempted murder scene. The suspect was later identified as a serial killer responsible for three murders and two attempted murders. Lieutenant Josh Brazzi, SWAT Commander, and Sergeant Angelo Tavelli, Team Leader, share the harrowing details of thi…
DME010 - Arrest Warrant for Murder Suspect on Mountain Compound
Ep 90 · Feb 11, 2026 · 19 min
DME010 - Arrest Warrant for Murder Suspect on Mountain Compound
Legacy Revisited - James Kerr
Ep 88 · Jan 28, 2026 · 1 hr 33 min
Jon Becker sits down with author James Kerr to revisit his groundbreaking book "Legacy" and explore what makes the All Blacks the most successful sports team in history. With a win ratio approaching 80% over 125 years, this New Zealand rugby powerhouse offers invaluable lessons on building elite culture and sustained excellence. Kerr breaks down the actionable principles that create championship-level performance, from "sweep the sheds" to "no dickheads" policies. For tactical professionals, the…
LAPD D-Platoon's Approach to Hostage Rescue
Ep 87 · Jan 14, 2026 · 1 hr 52 min
In this episode of The Debrief, host Jon Becker sits down with LAPD SWAT's Jonathan Pultz, a 27-year veteran and D-Platoon element leader, to examine one of law enforcement's most critical missions: hostage rescue. With D-Platoon conducting 120-150 high-risk operations annually, Pultz brings unparalleled operational experience to discuss LAPD SWAT's methodologies and approach to hostage situations. Through detailed analysis of two recent operations, this conversation explores tactical decision-m…
Improving Tactical Performance with Science
Ep 86 · Dec 17, 2025 · 1 hr 54 min
Guest: Dr. Nathalie Pattyn In this episode, Jon sits down with Dr. Nathalie Pattyn, whose unique background spans medicine, psychology, research, and military operations. Dr. Pattyn discusses her unconventional career path from aspiring astronaut to emergency physician to tactical performance researcher, including her work in extreme environments like Antarctica and space research. The conversation explores how scientific principles can improve tactical performance for law enforcement teams. Dr.…
Beyond the Loop: Why Everything You Know About OODA May Be Wrong
Ep 85 · Dec 3, 2025 · 1 hr 41 min
John Boyd's OODA loop is widely referenced but fundamentally misunderstood. Mark McGrath reveals how the common circular diagram represents less than one percent of Boyd's work. The real framework centers on orientation—constantly updating mental models through destruction and creation. This conversation explores entropy, uncertainty, and incompleteness as foundations for adaptive decision-making in tactical operations, business strategy, and leadership. Guest Information: Mark McGrath Marine Co…
Barricade Erupts into Urgent HRT When Freed Victim Returns to Hostage Taker
Ep 83 · Nov 19, 2025 · 1 hr 27 min
A three-month homicide investigation in Washington State led to a suspect barricaded in a vehicle inside a garage. What began as a routine containment evolved into a seven-hour standoff, which suddenly escalated when the freed domestic violence victim returned to the residence and was taken hostage. Joel Anderson and Bob Shaw detail the tactical challenges of coordinating Pierce County and Washington State Patrol SWAT teams through multiple operational phases—from vehicle barricade to urgent hos…
DME 09 - Barricade Erupts into Urgent HRT
Ep 84 · Nov 19, 2025 · 13 min
DME 09 - Barricade Erupts into Urgent HRT
DME 08 - South Davis UT Family Hostage Rescue & HRT
Ep 82 · Nov 5, 2025 · 15 min
DME 08
Pursuit Leads to Unrelated Family Hostage Situation and HRT
Ep 81 · Nov 5, 2025 · 51 min
In September of 2021 a suspect involved in a carjacking and attempted homicide led police in a vehicle pursuit that ended in a car crash in Farmington Utah. The suspect fled on foot across Interstate 15 into a residential neighborhood prompting patrol officers to establish a perimeter and begin a search with a K9 unit. During the search a single gunshot was heard, South Davis Metropolitan SWAT and North Davis Metropolitan SWAT were both activated to conduct a house -to-house search. Operators di…
Tactical Longevity – Dr. Jenny Prohaska
Ep 80 · Oct 22, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
My guest today is Dr. Jenny Prohaska, a clinical psychologist who has spent her career on the front lines of trauma and high-stakes performance. Jenny trained in neuro -rehabilitation psychology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, working with patients and staff in trauma, ICU, and burn units, where she built her expertise in how the brain and body adapt to extreme stress. For more than a decade, Jenny has brought that expertise into policing and tactical operations. She's force science…
DME 007 - Bakersfield PD Hostage Rescue
Ep 79 · Oct 8, 2025 · 12 min
Hostage Rescue Under Explosive Threat - Bakersfield PD SWAT
Ep 78 · Oct 8, 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
On October 12th, 2020, Bakersfield police responded to a hospital on a domestic violence call to a female who had been hit in the head with a hammer by her ex-husband. When patrol officers arrived at the suspect's house, the male suspect exited the home, screaming at police and threw an improvised explosive device at officers. Negotiations with the suspect began, who initially appeared to be negotiating in good faith, But after two hours, it became apparent the suspect was not going to comply, a…
Left of Bang Revisited with Patrick Van Horne
Ep 77 · Sep 24, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
My guest today is Patrick Van Horne. Patrick is the co- author of Left Of Bang: How the Marine Corps combat hunter program can save your life. He is also the co-founder of the CP journal where he supports clients in preventing, preparing for, and proactively responding to disasters, disruptions and acts of violence. After starting his career is an infantry officer in the Marine Corps following the September 11 attacks, Patrick has supported public and private sector organizations in disaster, pr…
Lessons Learned from the Tree of Life Synagogue Response
Ep 76 · Sep 10, 2025 · 17 min
On October 27, 2018 a lone gunman entered the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA with the intent of killing anyone he could. Tree of Life was the home to three different congregations, Tree of Life, New Light, and Dor Haddash, all of which were preparing for or having their normal shabbat services. What followed was the deadliest attack on the Jewish Community in American history. 11 innocent people were killed, and a further 6 were injured. This attack is the subject of our documentary ca…
Hostage Rescue of an Infant - Surprise AZ PD SWAT
Ep 75 · Jul 2, 2025 · 57 min
On Friday May 17 2024 the Surprise Arizona Police department received a call that a suspect had broken into his ex-girlfriend’s home and taken her and their 7-month-old child hostage. The suspect told her that he planned to kill her and the baby and eventually killed her dog. She eventually convinced the suspect to let her go outside and fled to local construction workers who called the Surprise police. When police arrived on scene, they found the suspect shooting out the front of the house into…
Post Traumatic Growth – Guests: Dr. Richard Tedeschi, Josh Goldberg & Chief Chad Kasmar
Ep 74 · May 21, 2025 · 2 hr 8 min
On this episode of The Debrief we are going to be looking at Post Traumatic Stress and Post Traumatic Growth. These are two topics that I am extremely passionate about because, as you might imagine, each incident we cover on The Debrief has had a profound effect on everyone involved. Over the years that I have been working with teams and the years I have hosted this show I have seen people destroyed by their experiences. Yet I have also seen others use the trauma they endured to build a stronger…
The Lindt Café Hostage Siege – Sydney, AUS – Guest: Ben Besant (aka Officer A)
Ep 73 · Apr 30, 2025 · 2 hr 17 min
On the 15th of December 2014, a terrorist took over the Lindt Chocolate café in Martin Place, in the heart of Sydney, Australia, holding 18 customers and staff hostage, creating a siege that would last for over 16 hours. Although numerous hostages escaped, by the time the event conclude,d 2 innocent people were dead, 4 others were injured. For 10 years, this incident was suppressed under a government-mandated gag order. This prevented the New South Wales Police Tactical Operations Unit (or TOU)…
UVALDE - What Really Happened at Robb Elementary?
Ep 71 · Apr 16, 2025 · 1 hr 18 min
On May 24, 2022, an active shooter took the lives of 19 children and two staff members and physically and mentally injured the survivors, their families, staff, teachers and the broader community in Uvalde, Texas. At the request of Uvalde's leadership, the U.S. Department of Justice established the Critical Incident Review (CIR) to conduct an independent, objective assessment of what happened that day and assess the systems in place in the weeks leading up to May 24. The goal of the episode is t…
DME06 - UVALDE
Ep 72 · Apr 16, 2025 · 12 min
LA Fires – The First 12 Hours
Ep 70 · Apr 2, 2025 · 1 hr 54 min
Capt. Trey Sorensen – Pasadena FD and Sgt. Bobby Crees Pasadena PD Just after 6pm on January 7th, the fire ignited in Eaton Canyon, California. In a matter of hours, powered by sustained 60 mile an hour winds, with gusts as high as 100 miles an hour, the fire spread through Pasadena and into the neighboring area of Altadena. In the days that followed, the Eaton fire grew to become one of the worst fires in California history, killing 17 people, burning more than 14 ,000 acres, destroying more th…
Austin PD LODD: A Wife's Perspective - Kim Pastore
Ep 69 · Mar 19, 2025 · 2 hr 14 min
My guest today is Kim Pastore. Kim’s husband Jorge Pastore was killed on November 11, 2023 while attempting to rescue hostages with the Austin, TX SWAT Team. This was a case we covered previously with the Team in Seasons 4 Episode 5 released on November 11, 2024. However, Kim has graciously agreed to sit down with us and debrief the incident from her perspective. This is an episode we have wanted to do for a long time to consider the spouses perspective on a LODD as well as consider the best pra…
Lessons Learned from Elite Unit Selection Processes – John Dowd
Ep 68 · Feb 26, 2025 · 1 hr 36 min
My guest today is John Dowd. John is a former navy SEAL who 15 years ago started SOFware, LLC a company that develops software and consults with elite units in their assessment and selection processes. John and his team work with many of the world most elite units assisting them in not only choosing the right people but also helping them develop over their entire careers. John’s views on selection and the lessons learned by his team over the past 15 are extremely valuable information for any tea…
Operator Health and Performance with Casey Glass
Ep 67 · Jan 29, 2025 · 59 min
My guest today is Casey Glass. Casey is the founder of Warfighter Health and Performance and for the past 11 years has been a Special Operations Strength Coach for US SOF units. Casey’s Grew up on a ranch in Texas. In college, she played soccer at Texas Christian University and interned with the strength and conditioning staff her senior year. While pursuing her master’s in health and Fitness at Purdue University she became their Graduate Assistant Strength Coach. She then went on to work for th…
Part 2: Lessons Learned from Bank Robbery & Police Ambush
Ep 66 · Jan 16, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
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