Our Longest Interview Ever—And One of Our Best

What happens when you sit down with a man who's lived a dozen different lives? You get the conversation of a lifetime.

Meet Ryan Pote—Navy helicopter pilot, special operations veteran, federal investigator, SCUBA instructor, oil company director, bartender, musician, and now thriller author. In this extended interview, we dive deep into the extraordinary experiences that shaped one of the most fascinating people we've ever had on the show.

From countering drug cartels in Central America as part of a joint special operations task force to serving as a search and rescue pilot for the US Navy Experimental Test Wing and NASA, from researching biofuels in Hawaii to investigating prototype military programs as a federal agent—Ryan's life reads like the thriller novels he now writes.

We also dive deep into his highly anticipated debut thriller Blood and Treasure (releasing July 22, 2025)—a mind-bending story that begins with the International Space Station going dark and blood floating in zero gravity, then crashes into the Indian Ocean where a treasure hunter discovers the sole survivor. It's a premise that could only come from someone who's actually been inside classified operations and understands how the unthinkable becomes reality.

This isn't just an author interview—it's a masterclass in adventure, service, and the kind of experiences most of us only read about in books. Ryan's journey from bartender to biofuel researcher to special operations pilot to federal investigator to novelist proves that truth really is stranger than fiction.

Don't miss this one. It's our longest interview to date, and there's a reason we kept the cameras rolling.

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Buckle up, thriller fans—because Brad Taylor is back in the hot seat, and this time, he's bringing Into the Gray Zone, a geopolitical barnburner that drops Pike Logan into the heart of chaos in India.

In this pulse-pounding episode, we sit down with New York Times bestselling author and former Special Forces officer to dig deep into his latest novel—hailed by Mark Greaney as “a knockout punch of a novel.” From covert operations to real-world threats, Brad walks us through the shadowy world of gray zone warfare where the lines between peace and war are dangerously blurred.

We talk inspiration, tradecraft, and the terrifyingly real scenarios that fuel Pike’s latest mission. When a terror attack during a CIA–India intel meeting is written off as routine, Pike Logan isn't buying it—and he’s proven right when a cascade of deadly operations threatens to ignite global conflict. From the bustling streets of Delhi to the iconic Taj Mahal, it’s a high-octane race to stop an invisible enemy hiding behind proxies and profit motives.

What’s really going on behind the scenes of global terrorism? How does Brad craft such terrifyingly plausible geopolitical thrillers? And what’s next for Pike Logan?

All that and more in this can't-miss episode of The Crew Reviews. Subscribe, stream, and strap in—because this mission gets personal.

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New York Times bestselling author Joel C. Rosenberg joins the Crew to discuss The Beijing Betrayal!

In this explosive finale to the Marcus Ryker series, a catastrophic attack on U.S. soil sets off a deadly global crisis. As China’s shadow war pushes the world to the brink of nuclear disaster, Ryker races against time to stop an unthinkable catastrophe. Will he succeed—or is this truly the end?

Joel takes us behind the scenes of the action, the real-world threats that inspired the story, and what’s next after this thrilling conclusion. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation!

Watch now! Like, subscribe, and drop your questions in the comments!

Praise for Joel C. Rosenberg:

"Rosenberg delivers a thriller so chillingly real, it feels like tomorrow’s headlines. A masterclass in geopolitical suspense." —CE Albanese, The Crew Reviews Podcast

"A relentless, high-stakes ride that cements Rosenberg as one of the best in the genre." —The Real Book Spy

“Few people understand the scope and scale of change in [the Middle East] better than Joel C. Rosenberg.” —Mike Huckabee former governor of Arkansas

“Joel Rosenberg is masterful!” —Brad Thor #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Rosenberg’s imagination is a tumultuous place where Middle Eastern geopolitics combine with devious minds.” —Kyle Mills #1 New York Times bestselling author

Purchase your copy of THE BEIJING BETRAYAL: https://www.tyndale.com/p/the-beijing-betrayal/9781496437990

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