#70 - Three Shots Fired. One Brotherhood Shattered: Surviving The Unthinkable w/Ruben Delvalle
From the moment a suspect fired three shots at him in a Chicago alley, Ruben's life transformed forever. In this powerful conversation, Ruben takes us through his journey from Marine infantryman to Chicago police officer, building to the harrowing day when he and his partner Jeff were both shot while on duty.With remarkable candor, Ruben describes his upbringing in Chicago, his time in the Marine Corps including deployment to Iraq, and his transition to law enforcement. The conversation builds toward the fateful encounter that left him wounded and his partner with a bullet permanently lodged in his skull – a moment that altered both their lives permanently.Beyond the shooting itself, Ruben shares the psychological aftermath, their return to duty, and their assignment to the prestigious Fugitive Task Force hunting dangerous criminals.The episode offers rare insights into police work's realities – from street-level interactions to departmental politics and the challenges officers face daily. Ruben reflects on how policing has changed, discussing both the community aspects and controversies surrounding modern law enforcement.Finally, Ruben shares his journey founding Platoon Cigars during the pandemic, creating something positive from his experiences. This conversation beautifully captures the complexities of service, sacrifice, brotherhood, and rebuilding life after trauma. Whether you're interested in law enforcement, military service, or human resilience, this episode delivers powerful perspective from someone who's lived through extraordinary circumstances.Go support Ruben and check out Platoon Cigars and you can follow him at:Instagram: @PlatoonCigars and @robustocloudThanks for following along and see you next week!Send us a textSupport the showFollow Wild Chaos on Social Media: Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wild-chaos-podcast/id1732761860Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KFGZ6uABb1sQlfkE2TIoc?si=8ff748aa4fc64331 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildchaospodcastBam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bambam0069Youtube: https://youtube.com/@wildchaospodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildchaosshowMeta (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/TheWildChaosPodcast
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#69 - Stabbings, Cartels, & Trophy Hunts: The Wildest Guide You’ve Never Heard Of w/Hagan Ekker
From the remote plains of South Central Utah to the cartel-controlled territories of Mexico, Hagan's journey as a hunting guide reads like an adventure novel that couldn't possibly be true, except every word of it is. Growing up in a town of barely 120 people shaped his self-reliance in ways that modern suburban life simply cannot replicate. When the orthodontist arrives in a mobile bus once a month and the nearest gas station is 20 miles away, you learn to plan ahead and make do.The contrast between Hagan's childhood freedom and today's digitally tethered youth is stark. He recalls riding four-wheelers with guns as a kid, fishing miles from home without supervision, and the resistance he felt when finally forced to get a cell phone, it meant his parents could actually track him down. These formative experiences built character and capabilities that he sees lacking in many young people entering the workforce today. "They don't know how to run a dang shovel," he laments, noting how many can't retain instructions from one day to the next.His journey from college wrestling scholarship to oil field work to becoming a respected hunting guide reveals a man constantly adapting to challenge and opportunity. The stories from his guiding career range from hilarious to harrowing, clients obsessing over an eighth-inch difference in antler measurement, brothers stabbing each other while field dressing an elk, and narrowly avoiding cartel violence in Mexico. Each tale offers a glimpse into the beautiful, brutal reality of a life lived close to nature and far from comfort.Perhaps most compelling is Hagan's evolution as a hunter himself. While once focused on trophy animals and personal achievements, he now finds the greatest satisfaction in creating experiences for others, watching a child's face light up with their first successful hunt or seeing a veteran overcome with emotion after harvesting an elk. In a world increasingly disconnected from natural processes and authentic experiences, his story reminds us what we stand to lose if we forget the lessons only wilderness can teach.Send us a textSupport the showFollow Wild Chaos on Social Media: Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wild-chaos-podcast/id1732761860Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KFGZ6uABb1sQlfkE2TIoc?si=8ff748aa4fc64331 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildchaospodcastBam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bambam0069Youtube: https://youtube.com/@wildchaospodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildchaosshowMeta (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/TheWildChaosPodcast
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#68 - What Burns Beneath: The Untold Story of Firefighter Life w/Rafael Gordon
From life-or-death decisions to navigating departmental politics, Rafael pulls back the curtain on his 27-year career as a San Francisco firefighter paramedic in this captivating conversation about service, sacrifice, and survival.Rafael's journey began in 1990 as a paramedic with no intention of joining the fire department. When the city merged emergency services in 1997, he found himself thrust into a hostile environment where paramedics were viewed with suspicion and resentment by traditional firefighters. "There were fistfights," Rafael recalls, describing the decade-long tension that followed the controversial merger.The weight of responsibility in emergency services becomes starkly apparent as Rafael shares his experiences delivering death notifications and making split-second medical decisions. One particularly haunting story involves his first time telling a young woman her boyfriend had died from an overdose. "When you tell somebody their family member is dead, they'll never forget that moment," he explains, emphasizing how critical empathy becomes in these devastating circumstances.Perhaps most gripping is Rafael's account of his own brush with death during a gas explosion response. Separated from his crew in pitch darkness as his oxygen supply dwindled, he experienced a surreal moment of calm while wondering, "Is this where it ends?" His matter-of-fact recounting of the incident reveals the psychological resilience required of first responders who routinely face mortality.Beyond the emergencies themselves, Rafael offers candid insights into the politics affecting emergency services, the realities of homelessness and addiction in San Francisco, and the surprising ways social media has transformed public interactions with first responders. Now retired and pursuing a second career in scalp micropigmentation, his story stands as a powerful testament to finding purpose after decades of high-stress service.What will stay with you long after listening is Rafael's remarkable ability to maintain his humanity despite regularly witnessing tragedy. His journey reminds us that behind every emergency response is a person making difficult choices while carrying the emotional weight of a community's most devastating moments.To follow Rafael and his incredible journey: INSTAGRAM- @optimized_smpTIKTOK- @http://tiktok.com/@optimized_4_impactSend us a textSupport the showFollow Wild Chaos on Social Media: Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wild-chaos-podcast/id1732761860Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KFGZ6uABb1sQlfkE2TIoc?si=8ff748aa4fc64331 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildchaospodcastBam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bambam0069Youtube: https://youtube.com/@wildchaospodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildchaosshowMeta (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/TheWildChaosPodcast
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#67 - Behind the Velvet Rope: The Ugly Truth About Wealth, Safety & Strength w/Logan Flynn
What does real security look like?Former Marine turned executive protection expert Logan Flynn has spent 15 years guarding the ultra-wealthy—and what he’s learned will challenge everything you think about success, safety, and parenting.The conversation shifts from professional insights to perhaps Flynn's most important mission – raising four sons and a newborn daughter. His approach combines seemingly contradictory elements: teaching children hard skills like marksmanship and self-defense while simultaneously emphasizing emotional intelligence and faith. This balanced philosophy stems from his belief that today's parents must intentionally prepare children for an increasingly challenging world.From chaos in Ferguson to private jets and billionaires, Logan shares raw, behind-the-scenes truths of the security world—and why emotional intelligence and faith matter more than firepower when raising the next generation.To follow along with Logan on Instagram: @loganflynnofficial and @decisve_actionSend us a textSupport the showFollow Wild Chaos on Social Media: Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wild-chaos-podcast/id1732761860Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KFGZ6uABb1sQlfkE2TIoc?si=8ff748aa4fc64331 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildchaospodcastBam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bambam0069Youtube: https://youtube.com/@wildchaospodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildchaosshowMeta (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/TheWildChaosPodcast
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#66 - They’re Hunting Our Kids Online — And We’re Handing Them the Weapon! w/Ben Gillenwater
What if your kid’s screen time is more dangerous than you think?In this must-hear episode, 30-year cybersecurity expert Ben exposes how social media is engineered like a digital drug—fueling addiction, mental health crises, and skyrocketing teen suicide rates. He shares real dangers happening right now, and what parents must do to protect their kids—before it’s too late.This conversation will make you never look at your childs "safe and regulated" devices the same again...To follow along and support Ben and his business visit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@family.it.guyYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyITGuy- Here are the links from my website that we talked about:https://www.familyitguy.com/digital-danger-zone.htmlhttps://www.familyitguy.com/ai-and-your-child.htmlhttps://www.familyitguy.com/dns-filtering.htmlhttps://www.familyitguy.com/iphone-setup-guide.htmlSend us a textSupport the showFollow Wild Chaos on Social Media: Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wild-chaos-podcast/id1732761860Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KFGZ6uABb1sQlfkE2TIoc?si=8ff748aa4fc64331 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildchaospodcastBam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bambam0069Youtube: https://youtube.com/@wildchaospodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildchaosshowMeta (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/TheWildChaosPodcast
Father. Husband. Marine. Host. Everyone has a story and I want to hear it. The first thing people say to me is, "I'm not cool enough", "I haven't done anything cool in life", etc. I have heard it all but I know there is more. More of you with incredible stories.From drug addict to author, professional athlete to military hero, immigrant to special forces... I dive into the stories that shape lives. I am here to share the extraordinary stories of remarkable people, because I believe that in the midst of your chaos, these stories can inspire, empower, and resonate with us all. Thanks for listening. -Bam
New Zealand