Liberty Risk

• Ep. 28 • Nick Esayian • Sports, Racing, Grit, Growth, and Life in The Fast Lane.

  Nick Esayian has lived a dozen lives - pro racer, entrepreneur, law enforcement officer, search and rescue - but the thread that runs through all of it is loyalty to a brotherhood. From growing up tough in the Midwest to finding his place alongside legendary racers, athletes, Navy SEALs and special operations veterans, Nick’s story is one of grit, reinvention, and always showing up for the people who matter. He takes us inside the chaos: hustling through the corporate grind, breaking free into racing and entrepreneurship, and the colorful characters, wild parties, and hard lessons along the way. From donating race winnings to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation to working shoulder-to-shoulder with operators in high-stakes REAL WORLD environments, Nick’s connection to the special operations community has shaped his life on and off the track. But this episode doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. Nick opens up about the struggles of transition - from marriages and businesses lost, to chasing financial success that doesn’t always deliver whole hearted happiness, and the importance of staying true to your vision through it all. He talks candidly about identity, purpose, mental health, and the brutal necessity of starting over when life hits back harder than you expect. His perspective is shaped by years spent working and partying with military and special operations communities (including 2 of the hosts), witnessing firsthand the weight they carry, the commaradierie they share, and the resilience it takes to move forward. It’s raw, it’s funny, and it’s packed with the honesty, grit, and dark-humor perspective that you've come to expect from Liberty Risk. Whether you’re here for stories of racing, business, brotherhood, or just surviving your own chaos and want to share a laugh, this conversation delivers.   Find out more about Nick Esayian and his adventures at the following links: ✖️ Personal Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/esayian  ✖️ Light Helmets Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lighthelmets  ✖️ Light Helmets Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/lightimpactpodcast  ✖️ Light Helmets Website - https://lighthelmets.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 - https://www.industrythreadworks.com ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc 

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• Ep. 27 • Derek Janisch • SEAL to Pro Paintballer, Shot on a Weed Farm, Muay Thai, Love & Redemption.

    Derek Janisch - From the poppy fields of Afghanistan to pro paintball arenas, Muay Thai & temptation in Thailand, and finding redemption at home - a story of love, loss, finding yourself, and second chances.  Thanks for joining us for another episode of the Liberty Risk Podcast! Today we dive into Derek's life, and the lessons learned - his early days growing up in Orange County, his obsession with paintball and MMA, and the relentless drive that carried him through BUD/S and onto SEAL Team 7. He breaks down the reality of deployments to Afghanistan and Guam, the brotherhood and chaos of platoon life, and the lessons in leadership learned along the way. Derek also pulls no punches on the personal side - talking openly about relationships, divorce, and the battle to find purpose once the uniform comes off. One unforgettable chapter takes us to Thailand, where Derek trained Muay Thai with local fighters, lived in a small village, and got swept up in a whirlwind romance that tested his perspective on marriage, and reshaped his outlook on life. After the Teams, the chaos didn’t stop. Derek launched a clothing brand, worked in California’s notorious Emerald Triangle, where got shot in the chest while working on a local weed farm. He shares the violence of that world, the awakening that followed, and the long, messy road to healing while working as an ocean guide & underwater photographer in Hawaii. Today, Derek has rebuilt his life in many ways, most importantly, as a husband and father. After years apart, he and his ex-wife found their way back to each other - rebuilding trust, family, and proving that second chances are real. Packed with humor, side quests, and unfiltered talk about entrepreneurship, community, and survival, this episode delivers the kind of Navy SEAL stories and unique veteran insight you've come to expect from your new favorite podcast - Liberty Risk  👉 Thank you for being a part of the Liberty Risk community! 👈  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a review on whatever audio platform you're listening on, and like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube to keep these stories alive! Also, we just started our Patreon account, it's FREE for now, check it out and we'll be adding a lot to it soon! https://www.patreon.com/cw/LibertyRisk    Find out more about Derek and his adventures at the following links: ✖️ Personal Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/derekjanisch2020  ✖️ Clothing Brand Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/justus_inc  ✖️ Clothing Brand Website - https://justuspaintball.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 - https://www.industrythreadworks.com ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc 

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• Ep. 26 • Dan Corbett (AKA Dirty) • DEVGRU Operator: Black Ops, Bar Fights, & 1.5 years in Balkan Prison

  Dan Corbett (AKA Dirty) has lived through some of the wildest life chapters anyone could think of and come out the other side stronger - his story is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. Navy SEAL, DevGroup Operator, mercenary, author, and somehow the only American to become a household name in Serbia without ever wanting to. From growing up in Northern California to finding his place in platoon life, Dan gives us the inside scoop on training for Green Team, deployments to combat zones, plus being a part of legendary tactical adventures like the Captain Phillips rescue. But the real chaos came after the Teams. While contracting overseas, Dan got rolled up in Serbia on trumped-up charges of plotting to a$$assinate their pre$ident and spent 18 months in a Serbian prison. What followed was a roller coaster of shifting legal pressure, bizarre cellmates, and headlines that turned him into Serbia’s favorite anti-hero. Imagine you survive multiple high profile missions, combat deployments, and bar fights… then end up using all those skills to navigate sensitive Balkan prison politics for 18 months. With his trademark humor and grit, Dan breaks down the comedy and brutality of jailhouse life, how the mindset training he learned in the SEAL Teams kept him sane & sharp, and the moment he finally faced a judge to learn his fate after nearly a year in limbo. Along the way we cover bar fights, realities of the contracting world, and how to survive and keep your edge when life goes completely sideways. If you’re looking for Navy SEAL stories, prevailing against impossible odds, and the kind of dark-humor banter you only get when someone’s lived through hell and come out laughing, this episode is Liberty Risk at its rawest.   Here are a few highlights from the many crazy stories we dive into in this episode. • The real story behind the naked hot tub head kick. • Getting your face blasted it all over Serbian news, but at least they used a good pic. • It’s ok to be ok, not every veteran is “broken” • “It’s not that we’re so good, it’s just that everyone else sucks” 😂 • Being a Navy SEAL opens doors, but also paints you into a picture you may not fit in. • Checking into Team 5 & learning about the “minimum weight” of 200 lbs to be in Kevin’s platoon. 💪🏼 • Speaking Tagalog & running sources at rooster fights in Philippines. • The intricacies of navigating Green Team politics. • The different squadrons at Dev and their unique character. • The benefits of going to a gay bar. 🏳️‍🌈 • Discussing the “real story” of the Captain Phillips op. • Story about Will Chesney’s dog saving Dan’s life. • Dan realizing he was a good Operator, but not a good Instructor, and how he fixed that. • The inside scoop on how he got arrested in Serbia and how it went down. • Dirty realizing he was actually kind of a hero within the counter culture groups in prison. • The many interesting criminal and character you meet in Serbian jail. • Roller coaster court drama and their officials being pressured by their government. • Finding common ground and connection with the foreign judge. • Beating the Serbian judicial system, getting helped by the Hells Angels, and going home just to find that the Team had revoked his Trident. • Being home and back contracting within a month. • Finding out Serbia wants him to go BACK to potentially stand trial AGAIN. • How he came to terms with writing a book, and the whole process from start to finish. • Current movie projects and what he’s working on now. • The value of a great parter to help you build, and also keep you on your toes.    👉 Thank you for being a part of the Liberty Risk community! If you enjoyed the show please leave us a review on whatever audio platform you're listening on, and like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube to keep these stories alive.   Find out more about Dan and his adventures at the following links: ✖️ Personal Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/american_mercenary  ✖️ Website - https://www.danieldavidcorbettiii.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 - https://www.industrythreadworks.com ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc 

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• Ep. 25 • Andrew Arrabito of HFB - Blades, Barfights, & Brotherhood ⚔️🏴‍☠️🔱

  Andrew “Bito” Arrabito has lived a life that defies categories - Adventurer, hunter, Navy SEAL, knife maker, entrepreneur, and always at the center of some of the best stories ever told.  In this unfiltered episode, Bito takes us behind the scenes into the gritty world of SEAL Team life: from performing CPR after a HUMVEE rollover on day one, to naked hot tub parties, street fights, and some of the most jaw-dropping deployments you’ll ever hear. He shares the real story behind the infamous combat head kick, what happens when you throw Saddam’s brother into barbed wire, and how (unsurprisingly) bar fights and stealing guns from cops can lead to questioning by the FBI. You’ll hear about riding horses on ops in Afghanistan, accidentally kicking down the wrong hotel door, and getting promoted to E6 at a strip club. There’s booze in canteens, canines on planes, stitches in the wrong places, and more bar fights - including several against Chuck Liddell’s MMA crew in San Luis Obispo. But it’s not just chaos. Bito opens up about finding purpose after service, building Half Face Blades from the ground up, creating custom knives for friends and legends like Anthony Bourdain, and why empathy and love are stronger than hate. From Hollywood film sets (Avatar, 13 Hours) to near-death freefall school mishaps, this episode is a wild ride through the highs, lows, and hard-earned lessons of a life lived on the edge. If you want Navy SEAL stories, veteran grit, entrepreneurial insight, and some of the craziest moments ever told on this show - this is Liberty Risk at its finest.   Here are a few of the story highlights we get into in this WILD episode: • Naked hot tub parties and street fights. • Riding horses on real ops - not as fun as you’d think. • Kevin giving a terrorist a “flat tire”. • Tossing Saddam’s brother in barbed wire for being a dick. • Dating and fighting porn stars (different stars). • Accidentally kicking the wrong door down at a hotel. • Getting frocked to E6 at a strip club. 🍑 • Bar fight with cops turns into an armed stand off, stole their guns, questioned by FBI. • Platoon fight against Chuck Liddell’s MMA crew (again) in San Louis Obispo. • Stitching up the wrong wound. • Canteens filled with Jim Beam instead of water in the desert. • Second worst poop story ever told. 💩 • Getting into bar fights while wearing a dress and fishnet stockings. • Bito’s dog Crow accidentally shits all over the plane. • Why empathy and love are stronger than hate. • Finding a bag of mushrooms on a C-17 and stealing the pilot’s beer. • Behind the scenes on Hollywood blockbusters like Avatar, 13 Hours, and more. • How to get circumcised by a treadmill. 🍆😳 • Custom Liberty Risk Half Face Blades Knifes. 🗡️ • The custom knife Andy made for Anthony Bourdain. • Bito’s ex girlfriend knocking out a robber during a 7-11 stick up. 👊🏼 • Almost dying in freefall school. • Creative ways to get out of going to billets you don’t want to be at.   If you enjoyed the show please leave us a review on whatever audio platform you're listening on!    Find out more about Andy and his adventures at the following links: ✖️ Personal Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/specoperator  ✖️ Half Face Blades Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/halffaceblades ✖️ Half Face Blades Website - https://www.halffaceblades.com ✖️ We KBD Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/we_kbd ✖️ War Paw Wine - https://www.instagram.com/warpawwine ✖️ Canoe Club Ammo - https://www.instagram.com/canoeclubusa   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 - https://www.industrythreadworks.com ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc     

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• Ep. 24 • LIVE at McP’s Part 2 | From Border Battles to Coronado City Hall

  This episode of the Liberty Risk Podcast pulls no punches. First up: a seasoned female law enforcement officer, military veteran, and border security expert who’s spent decades on the front lines. She shares stories of combating human trafficking, drug cartels, and shifting national policies while breaking barriers as one of the few women in her field. Her candid insights reveal the dangers agents face, the toll of serving in high-risk environments, and the grit it takes to keep the line secure. Later, the crew sits down with John Duncan, Mayor of Coronado! From his past life as a federal litigator to leading one of America’s most iconic beach towns, Duncan talks about the fight to keep Mexico's sewage crisis from affecting us here in the States, his mission to support veterans and first responders, and what it takes to keep a community thriving. Along the way, the conversation cuts deep into the struggles veterans face when transitioning to civilian life, the urgent need for military suicide awareness, and the power of unfiltered storytelling. With humor, hard truths, and Liberty Risk grit, this episode is a front-row look at service, sacrifice, and the bonds that hold communities together.   You can find out more about John Duncan at his Instagram below: ✖️ John  Duncan Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/john_duncan_coronado    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 - https://www.industrythreadworks.com ✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com ✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com ✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc

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