Liberty Risk

Ep. 53 • Sheriff Chad Bianco • Behind The Badge: The Race To Save California 🇺🇸

Behind the badge with Sheriff Chad Bianco. 30+ years in law enforcement. Current Sheriff of Riverside County. Now running for Governor of California. But this isn't a campaign speech - this is what it sounds like when you put a career cop who's seen everything across the table from guys who understand the intricacies of living a life on the line - and let it run. We start where most people wouldn't - standing guard over a murder scene, watching the sun come up while birds pick apart what's left behind… and the kind of stories that never leave you, even if you learn how to laugh about them later. From there it turns into something bigger. The similarities & the differences between what military and law enforcement deal with in their careers - short bursts of chaos vs. 30 years of accumulation… and what that actually does to people behind the badge, or the flag. The old-school era of policing - chain smoking, broken marriages, zero support - and how sometimes culture has to change the hard way. But also what happens when you try to fix it. Mandatory counseling. Anonymous mental health access. And why some guys never come back after certain experiences… and why that might be the right call. Then we get into the part no one avoids. California. Why the state might be disqualifying the exact people it needs most - pushing out military veterans in favor of candidates who look better on paper but freeze when it matters. What actually happens inside Sacramento. Why a supermajority only works until people start paying attention. And why he doesn't care about being liked - only about getting the job done. The Palisades fire and the moment wealthy California finally felt what everyone else already knew… when money stopped being a shield from bad policy. CEQA. The Coastal Commission. Environmental red tape that sounds good until you're the one stuck in it. Then energy. Shutting down nuclear. Importing oil from overseas. Letting water flow to the ocean while calling it a drought. And the question that keeps coming up - is any of this actually about the environment? Immigration & ICE. Where the line really is between federal and local enforcement. And what happens when the system is broken on both sides - for the people coming in, and the people already here. And also: Classic cars and smog laws. Cartels running black market marijuana operations. Sewage dumping into waters Navy SEALs train in. The gap between what leaders say… and how they actually live. No talking points. No script. No effort to clean it up. Just a conversation that goes exactly where you think it will… and then a few places you didn't expect. This is Liberty Risk, welcome to the show! 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ Our Patreon page is LIVE! 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ Here you can get exclusive access to the behind the scenes action, the hidden conversations between breaks, a private community chat, and LOTS more, including discounts on Liberty Risk merch as well as some of our partner brands. Come check it out and join the conversation! https://www.patreon.com/LibertyRisk    Get to know more about Sheriff Bianco at the links below! ✖️ Sherif Bianco's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sheriffbianco  ✖️ Sheriff Bianco's Website - https://biancoforgovernor.com    Liberty Risk Hosts: ✖️ Ryan Williams - https://www.instagram.com/invictus5326 ✖️ Kevin Kent - https://www.instagram.com/therealkevinkent ✖️ Nick Betts - https://www.instagram.com/n_betts   Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Liberty Risk Merch - https://www.liberty-risk.com/collections/shop-all ✖️ Industry Threadworks (screen printing apparel) - https://www.industrythreadworks.com ✖️ Archive 3PL (fulfillment for E-com brands) - https://archive3pl.com ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc   

Ep. 52 • Andy Stumpf • Beyond The Trident: A Life of Curiosity. 🔱🏴‍☠️

You've heard the stories, you know him: Former Navy SEAL. DEVGRU operator. Host of Cleared Hot Podcast. But this isn't the highlight reel. This is 3.5 hours of the stories behind everything you think you know. This is what it sounds like when he's sitting across from guys who actually know him - his former teammate from SEAL Team Five and Sniper school classmate - and the conversation plays out as you'd expect. In true Liberty Risk fashion we dive into the stories you don't usually hear, and the lessons learned from some adventures gone wrong. The night partying with his platoon in Tucson that almost cost him his Trident - bar fight (not his), running from cops, vaulting a razor-wire fence, climbing rooftops, and ending up in front of his command figuring out how to navigate one of the biggest lessons that would shape his future: the power of OWNING IT. We also talk about what BUD/S is really like behind the chaos - both as a student and later as an Instructor - and why most people misunderstand both sides of it. Of course we talk about Green Team, life at The Command, and what actually gets guys kicked off the Team, both in selection, and after. An unlikely twist of perspective that can only come from hindsight - one of the best things that ever happened to him was getting shot in Iraq. Catching a round to the hip, pinned under a car watching muzzle flash & getting pulled out by a friend - and the different path that event put him on. And then it keeps going. The unspoken rules inside the Teams. The realities and dualities of loyalty - it's a two way street, and how giving it to the wrong people can burn you - fast. After the Teams - business deals that go sideways, getting gaslit by people you trust, and learning the hard way that not everyone sees the world the same way you do, and also what to do about it. Stories about how half the things in his life weren't planned - skydiving, flying helicopters, jiu-jitsu - and the value of just following curiosity and letting life unfold as you go. We also talk about the hard realities of losing friends - why he walked away from wingsuit base jumping, & the stories behind the headlines. Figuring out when to push, when to pull, when to hold on, and when to simply (and gracefully) say "NO". We dive into his new book: Drownproof - and the context behind the stories hits a lot harder when you hear them told in real time among friends. No filters, no guard rails, no agenda, just the kind of conversation that feels like you probably shouldn't be listening to it… but here it is. 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ Our Patreon page is LIVE! 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ Here you can get exclusive access to the behind the scenes action, the hidden conversations between breaks, a private community chat, and LOTS more, including discounts on Liberty Risk merch as well as some of our partner brands. Come check it out and join the conversation! https://www.patreon.com/LibertyRisk    Get to know more about Aaron & his ventures at the links below! ✖️ Andy Stumpf Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andystumpf212  ✖️ Andy's Book Drownproof - https://www.clearedhotpodcast.com/book  ✖️ Andy's Website - https://www.clearedhotpodcast.com    Liberty Risk Hosts: ✖️ Ryan Williams - https://www.instagram.com/invictus5326 ✖️ Kevin Kent - https://www.instagram.com/therealkevinkent ✖️ Nick Betts - https://www.instagram.com/n_betts   Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Liberty Risk Merch - https://www.liberty-risk.com/collections/shop-all ✖️ Industry Threadworks (screen printing apparel) - https://www.industrythreadworks.com ✖️ Archive 3PL (fulfillment for E-com brands) - https://archive3pl.com ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc   

Ep. 51 • The Power of Tattoos: Pain, Purpose, & Self Discovery with Aaron Della Vedova of Guru Tattoo

Veteran and icon of the West Coast tattoo world pulls up a chair, pours a bourbon, and starts unpacking one hell of a life story - 3.5 hours with Aaron Della Vedova of world-famous Guru Tattoo. Aaron's path from punk-rock kid in Boulder City, Nevada to Coast Guard veteran to one of the most respected tattoo artists in the country was anything but a straight line. Following his dream he ran into con men selling "tattoo apprenticeships" in Vegas, faced off with a 6'6" biker tattooer who threatened to cut his hands off, and worked under a heroin-addicted "mentor" who once showed up to the shop barefoot, in his underwear, holding a Rambo knife and demanding a "loan". None of it knocked him off course. Aaron stayed steady at the helm of his vision for creating a tattoo culture that was more inclusive, more professional, and built around respect for the craft. Eventually that winding road led him to San Diego, where he opened Guru Tattoo and built it into one of the most respected studios in the country - holding strong for over 25 years in a business where most shops come and go with the seasons. Along the way he's tattooed thousands of clients, including both arm sleeves on longtime friend Joe Rogan. But this episode goes far deeper than tattoo stories. Aaron and the crew break down why people really get tattooed - and why the tattoo chair can become a unique form of therapy. The pain forces you into the present moment, the artwork becomes a permanent record of the chapters of your life you've overcome, and for some people it's a way to reclaim parts of themselves they thought were gone. One client even broke down crying in the parking lot mid-session - not from pain, but from years of pent-up emotion finally letting go. From there the conversation moves through psychedelics, consciousness, the tattoo industry's rise over the last few decades, military hazing culture, parenting, and the importance of focusing on what you can control when everything around you feels like it's falling apart. And because this is Liberty Risk… of course we also get into wild stories, relationships, and why drunkenly tattooing your husband's 🍆 at a wedding might be the ultimate expression of "love forever." Wild stories, unexpected depth, and plenty of laughs along the way.   🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ Our Patreon page is LIVE! 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ Here you can get exclusive access to the behind the scenes action, the hidden conversations between breaks, a private community chat, and LOTS more, including discounts on Liberty Risk merch as well as some of our partner brands. Come check it out and join the conversation! https://www.patreon.com/LibertyRisk    Get to know more about Aaron & his ventures at the links below! ✖️ Aaron Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aarondellavedova  ✖️ Guru Tattoo Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gurutattoo ✖️ Chats & Tatts Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/chatsandtatts    Liberty Risk Hosts: ✖️ Ryan Williams - https://www.instagram.com/invictus5326 ✖️ Kevin Kent - https://www.instagram.com/therealkevinkent ✖️ Nick Betts - https://www.instagram.com/n_betts   Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Liberty Risk Merch - https://www.liberty-risk.com/collections/shop-all ✖️ Industry Threadworks (screen printing apparel) - https://www.industrythreadworks.com ✖️ Archive 3PL (fulfillment for E-com brands) - https://archive3pl.com ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc 

Ep. 50 • Grant Harvey • Surviving Hollywood - Jungle Medivac, Sniper Training & Leprechaun Fight Club

This episode we sit down with Grant Harvey - actor, adventurer, and living proof that sometimes the craziest stories in Hollywood happen off camera. Grant's path into acting started the way most good stories do: irrational confidence, a couple weird opportunities, and a last-minute decision to drive to LA with no money, no plan, and a mattress he pulled off the sidewalk. Somehow that turned into a career spanning film and television - including roles that required serious tactical training and working alongside real operators. But the wildest part of Grant's story isn't Hollywood. While filming a production in the jungles of Colombia, a simple day of shooting turned into a full-blown medical disaster. What started as heat exhaustion spiraled into toxic shock, ARDS, and a three-and-a-half week coma after a series of medical failures that nearly killed him. At one point doctors told his family he wasn't going to make it. Somehow he fought his way back, woke up after a month, and walked himself out of the hospital a week later. Naturally, the conversation goes everywhere from that near-death experience to sniper training for The Accountant 2, working with military advisors on Taylor Sheridan's new series, and the details that actually matter when you're trying to portray elite units on screen. Along the way we get into Hollywood insanity, getting knocked out by a leprechaun at a bar on Sunset blvd, being chased out of Jumbo's Clown Room with a baseball bat, and why Grant once turned down a potential $40 million lawsuit because he'd rather keep acting than cash out. It's a conversation about survival, authenticity, and the strange road that sometimes leads people from a small town in the Sierras to Hollywood sets, jungle comas, and back again.   🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ Our Patreon page is LIVE! 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ Here you can get exclusive access to the behind the scenes action, the hidden conversations between breaks, a private community chat, and LOTS more, including discounts on Liberty Risk merch as well as some of our partner brands. Come check it out and join the conversation! https://www.patreon.com/LibertyRisk    Get to know Grant more at the links below! ✖️ Grant Harvey Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thegrantest  ✖️ Grant Harvey IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2908492    Liberty Risk Hosts: ✖️ Ryan Williams - https://www.instagram.com/invictus5326 ✖️ Kevin Kent - https://www.instagram.com/therealkevinkent ✖️ Nick Betts - https://www.instagram.com/n_betts   Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Liberty Risk Merch - https://www.liberty-risk.com/collections/shop-all ✖️ Industry Threadworks (screen printing apparel) - https://www.industrythreadworks.com ✖️ Archive 3PL (fulfillment for E-com brands) - https://archive3pl.com ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc 

Ep. 49 • Tim Pyles • 30 Years In The San Diego Underground Music Scene

This week we sit down with Tim Pyles - San Diego's "Mayor of Local Music" - for a long-form conversation that feels less like an interview and more like closing down a bar with someone who's seen every version of this city. Tim walks us through a 30-year run in radio that started with construction jobs and a late-in-life internship, then turned into a career at 91X, FM 94/9, KGB and beyond - all fueled by a genuine obsession with local bands and weird British records. We talk about the early days of The Casbah (local legendary small music venue), Tijuana in the wild '80s when Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins were playing at Iguanas, the mod scooter scene in La Jolla, and the underground rave era where you got an address, a Thomas Guide, and hoped you found the party before sunrise. We get into how deregulation changed radio forever, how "The Pyle Sessions" became a proving ground for local artists, and how Tim somehow survived a DUI, job losses, industry shifts, and still ended up back in the building decades later. Of course, because it's us, the conversation drifts into many side quests. 😂 We go from vandalized parking meters to AI-generated music, conspiracy rabbit holes, media distrust, and whether we're watching the slow collapse of journalism in real time. There are plumbing disasters (more than one), septic tank trauma, rave culture innocence, and a few stories that probably shouldn't have been recorded. At its core though, this one's about culture - how scenes are built, how cities change, and why the weird local stuff matters more than people think. It's part San Diego history lesson, part music nostalgia trip, part unfiltered chaos. Three hours. No script. Just fun stories with fun people. Thanks for being here with us!   🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ Our Patreon page is LIVE! 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ Here you can get exclusive access to the behind the scenes action, the hidden conversations between breaks, a private community chat, and LOTS more, including discounts on Liberty Risk merch as well as some of our partner brands. Come check it out and join the conversation! https://www.patreon.com/LibertyRisk    Get to know Tim & his ventures more at the links below! ✖️ Tim Pyles Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelocalpyle  ✖️ The Pyle Sessions - https://www.thepylessessions.com    Liberty Risk Hosts: ✖️ Ryan Williams - https://www.instagram.com/invictus5326 ✖️ Kevin Kent - https://www.instagram.com/therealkevinkent ✖️ Nick Betts - https://www.instagram.com/n_betts   Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by: ✖️ Liberty Risk Merch - https://www.liberty-risk.com/collections/shop-all ✖️ Industry Threadworks (screen printing apparel) - https://www.industrythreadworks.com ✖️ Archive 3PL (fulfillment for E-com brands) - https://archive3pl.com ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc