#623 - Gary Sinise
Actor and musician Gary Sinise discusses his decades-long mission to support military service members, veterans, first responders, and their families through visits, performances, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. He explains how his experiences with Vietnam veterans, his role as Lieutenant Dan, and the post-9/11 wars led him into deep service work, including hospital visits, base tours, mental wellness initiatives, and programs for families of the fallen. Sinise also shares the story of his son Mac's rare cancer, profound faith, and musical legacy, and how Mac's compositions now support the foundation's work and help the family process their grief.
#2402 - Miranda Lambert
Joe Rogan speaks with a touring musician about hearing protection, life on the road, and the role of hobbies like mounted shooting, golf, archery, and pool in maintaining focus and mental balance. They discuss her animal rescue nonprofit work, experiences with allergies and moving between cities, and how the COVID shutdown changed her relationship to touring. The conversation also explores fate, early stage experiences, education, ADHD-like traits, impactful teachers, and the mental challenges of high-pressure performance and skill-based pursuits.
12 Minutes to a Better Brain: Neuroscientist Reveals the #1 Habit for Clarity & Focus
Mel Robbins talks with cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Amishi Jha about how attention works in the brain and why it is both powerful and fragile. They break down the three systems of attention (selective "flashlight," alerting "floodlight," and executive "juggler"), how stress and chronic demand degrade these systems, and how neuroplasticity allows them to be trained. Drawing on decades of research with military service members, first responders, athletes, and others, Dr. Jha explains why a minimum of 12 minutes of mindfulness practice, four days a week, can stabilize and improve attention, mood, and stress, and she demonstrates practical exercises listeners can start immediately.
#616 - Retired Boston Detective
Retired Boston police detective Kara Connolly discusses her 31-year career, from working busy 1990s patrol beats in Dorchester and South Boston to becoming a detective and later joining the human trafficking unit. She shares detailed stories about major cases, including armed robberies, a man who cut off his own penis, a baby abandoned in a trash can, long-term human trafficking investigations, and undercover stings targeting sex buyers. The conversation also explores how TV crime shows affect juries, the impact of politics and prosecutors on street-level policing, the emotional toll of the job, and how she is transitioning into retirement in South Carolina.
How to Make Yourself Unbreakable | DJ Shipley
Retired Navy SEAL and former Tier 1 operator DJ Shipley discusses how he structures his days to protect and improve his mental, physical, and spiritual health after years of high-risk combat deployments and severe injuries. He details his rigid morning and evening routines, his strength and conditioning approach with coach Vernon Griffith, and how psychedelic-assisted therapy with Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT helped him confront depression, addiction to prescription meds, and suicidality. Throughout, he shares stories from his SEAL career, the toll of loss and survivor's guilt, and his current mission to help veterans, first responders, and civilians develop unbreakable mindsets and bodies.
SYSK's Fall True Crime Playlist: The Harrowing Story of the North Hollywood Shootout
The hosts recount the 1997 North Hollywood shootout, detailing the backgrounds of bank robbers Larry Phillips and Emil Matasoranu, their prior crimes, the meticulously planned Bank of America robbery, and the ensuing 44‑minute gun battle with hundreds of police officers. They describe how the event exposed gaps in police firepower, contributed to the militarization of U.S. police forces, and raised ethical questions about medical treatment of wounded suspects. In a closing listener mail segment, they read and respond to a detailed correction from Kenton "Factor" Grua's widow about a previous episode, emphasizing accuracy and sensitivity when portraying real people.