Anthony Saladino & Josh Alexander - What It Really Means to Follow Jesus: SMS #165

Anthony Saladino & Josh Alexander - What It Really Means to Follow Jesus: SMS #165

On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Dave sits down with longtime campus minister Anthony Saladino and Joshua Alexander for a powerful conversation about discipleship, healing, spiritual gifts, identity, and what it truly means to follow Jesus. For more than 27 years, Anthony has dedicated his life to reaching college students, helping thousands of young adults encounter Christ while navigating one of the most influential seasons of their lives. But before leading others to faith, Anthony found himself searching for it. Although he grew up attending church, Anthony admits he never truly knew Jesus. As a college athlete, he quickly fell into drinking, drugs, and sexual immorality, despite being one of the most disciplined people on his team. Realizing he couldn't change himself, he began praying one simple prayer: "God, if You're real, change my life." That prayer led him across the country to the University of Montana, where one unexpected invitation to church became the turning point that changed everything. In a single encounter with God, years of addiction were broken, his purpose became clear, and he began the journey that would eventually lead him into a lifetime of ministry. Anthony also shares the remarkable story of surviving thyroid cancer, only to later be told the cancer had returned. After friends gathered to pray, doctors discovered the tumors had completely disappeared, leaving them unable to explain what had happened. Throughout the conversation, Dave and Anthony explore some of the most debated topics within Christianity today, including miracles, healing, deliverance, spiritual warfare, prophecy, speaking in tongues, and why so many believers are hesitant to embrace the supernatural. Anthony explains why authentic discipleship isn't built on extraordinary experiences alone, but on faithfully walking with Jesus, inviting others into your life, and learning to recognize God's voice in everyday moments. The discussion also tackles the growing divide between church culture and biblical discipleship, why many Christians feel spiritually stagnant, and how pursuing comfort can often keep believers from experiencing the adventure God has for them. Whether you've walked with Christ for decades or you're simply asking whether God is real, this episode is an honest conversation about surrender, obedience, and discovering that following Jesus was never meant to be safe—it was meant to transform your life. Follow Anthony Saladino: Facebook: Anthony Saladino Follow Shoot Me Straight: Instagram: @shootmestraight Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple PodcastsSponsors: Elevated Silence – Use code SMASH15 Firecracker Farm

Brent Tucker - Integrity, Leadership & Delta Force: SMS #164

On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie and Dave sit down with former Delta Force operator, entrepreneur, and host of the Tier One Podcast, Brent Tucker, for a conversation about service, leadership, integrity, and what separates those who chase excellence from those who settle for average. Long before serving nearly twenty years in the U.S. Army, Brent was simply a young man from a small Florida town with no plans of a military career. That changed on September 11, 2001. Like so many Americans, the attacks reshaped the course of his life. Determined to serve his country, Brent enlisted with the intention of doing his part before returning home to the family business. But once he entered the military, he realized ordinary service wouldn't satisfy the calling he felt. That pursuit eventually led him through Special Forces selection and into one of the military's most elite units, where he would spend the next decade serving at the highest level of special operations. Eddie and Dave dive deep into what it actually takes to reach that level. From the obsession required to make it through selection, to the sacrifices that come with pursuing excellence, Brent explains why there is no substitute for preparation, discipline, and complete commitment. They discuss why having no "Plan B" shaped his mindset, how culture inside elite military units determines success or failure, and why greatness demands far more than talent alone. The conversation also explores one of the most important topics facing today's veteran community: integrity. Brent shares why he chose to publicly expose fabricated military stories, why accountability matters more than popularity, and how allowing deception to go unchecked ultimately harms every veteran who served honorably. Rather than chasing controversy, he explains why preserving trust within the military community is worth the criticism that often comes with telling uncomfortable truths. But this episode isn't only about Special Operations. It's about personal responsibility, building character, refusing to compromise your values, and understanding that the standards you uphold when no one is watching ultimately define the person you become. Whether you're leading a family, building a business, serving your community, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that excellence isn't an achievement—it's a daily decision. Follow Shoot Me Straight: Instagram: @shootmestraight Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts Sponsors: Elevated Silence – Use code SMASH15 Firecracker Farm

Eddie and Dave – Caring for Aging Parents, Legacy & Life's Hardest Choices: SMS #163

On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie and Dave sit down for a candid conversation about family, aging parents, responsibility, faith, modern culture, and the difficult realities that come with growing older.What begins as a discussion about recent travels, firearms training, and life on the road quickly turns into one of the most personal conversations Eddie has shared on the podcast.After spending years watching his father's health decline from Parkinson's disease, aphasia, and other complications, Eddie opens up about the heartbreaking decision to place his father in a VA care facility. He shares the emotional weight of making a choice he knows is necessary while still feeling like he's somehow letting down the man who spent his entire life taking care of his family.Eddie and Dave discuss the difficult transition that comes when children become caregivers for their parents. They talk about guilt, responsibility, and the reality that sometimes doing the right thing doesn't make the decision feel any easier. Eddie reflects on watching his father struggle with losing independence, while Dave shares his own experiences helping care for aging parents and navigating similar challenges.The conversation also explores family legacy, parenthood, and the lessons that only become clear later in life. Both men discuss the importance of having meaningful conversations with your parents while you still can, learning their stories, understanding their sacrifices, and appreciating the people who helped shape who you are today.Along the way, Eddie shares stories from recent firearms training events across the country and offers his unfiltered thoughts on leadership, accountability, and the culture surrounding parts of the firearms industry. The two also dive into hunting, firearms, UFC, social media, politics, modern media, and why so much of today's culture seems driven by outrage, distraction, and the pursuit of attention.Throughout the episode, Eddie and Dave examine what truly matters when life gets difficult. They discuss why serving others is one of the most important responsibilities we have, how faith provides strength during painful seasons, and why family remains more valuable than money, status, or success.This episode is about far more than aging parents or life's hardships.It's about duty, gratitude, family, faith, responsibility, and learning to cherish the people you love before time takes away the opportunity.Follow Shoot Me Straight:Instagram: @shootmestraightAvailable on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple PodcastsSponsors:Elevated Silence – Use code SMASH15Firecracker Farm

John Frankman – Green Beret, COVID Mandates & Running for Congress: SMS #162

On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie sits down with former U.S. Army Green Beret Captain and congressional candidate John Frankman for a powerful conversation about faith, military service, leadership, government overreach, and the personal cost of standing by your convictions. Before becoming a Green Beret, John was preparing for a very different future. Raised with a deep belief in God, John eventually converted to Catholicism as a teenager and felt called to the priesthood. He spent years studying in seminary, preparing for a life of ministry before ultimately realizing God had a different path in mind. That path led him into the Army, where he would go on to serve as an infantry officer, attend Ranger School, earn his Green Beret, and lead soldiers in some of the military's most elite units. Eddie and John dive into military leadership, the realities of Special Forces culture, and the lessons learned through failure, adversity, and responsibility. From Ranger School and Special Forces Selection to leading Green Berets, John shares what it takes to earn trust, develop resilience, and lead men in high-pressure environments where excuses don't matter and results do. But John's story takes a dramatic turn during the COVID era. As vaccine mandates swept through the military, John found himself facing a decision that would alter the course of his career. Believing the mandate violated both his religious convictions and personal conscience, he refused to comply despite mounting pressure from military leadership. He shares what it was like watching careers threatened, service members punished, and military readiness take a back seat to politics during one of the most controversial periods in modern American history. The conversation explores much more than the pandemic. John discusses faith, morality, government authority, and why he believes courage begins with a willingness to stand alone when necessary. He explains how his experiences in Special Forces shaped his understanding of leadership and why those same lessons ultimately inspired him to run for Congress. Throughout the episode, Eddie and John examine what happens when institutions lose sight of their purpose, why conviction matters more than popularity, and how faith can provide clarity when everything around you is demanding compromise. This episode is about far more than military service or politics.It's about courage, conviction, purpose, and the willingness to sacrifice comfort, status, and even a career in order to remain faithful to what you believe is right. Follow John Frankman: Instagram: @johnfrankmanfl Facebook: JohnFrankmanFL Website: FrankmanforFlorida.com Follow Shoot Me Straight: Instagram: @shootmestraightAvailable on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts Sponsors: Elevated Silence – Use code SMASH15 Firecracker Farm

Jamie Winship - Fear, Identity & Faith: SMS #161

On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie and Dave sit down with former police officer, international conflict negotiator, and bestselling author Jamie Winship for a powerful conversation about fear, identity, faith, and what it truly means to live free.Growing up in some of the roughest neighborhoods around Washington, D.C., Jamie was surrounded by violence, gangs, and constant conflict from an early age. Raised by a father who believed toughness was survival and a mother whose faith often felt rooted in fear, Jamie shares how anxiety, shame, and the need to prove himself shaped much of his early life. Everything changed after a single experience at 14 years old.Sneaking into a movie theater for the first time, Jamie watched *Serpico* and left with a calling he couldn't explain. What began as a fascination with a police officer standing against corruption eventually led him into law enforcement, where he spent years searching for something deeper than simply enforcing laws. Eddie and Dave dive into the difference between enforcing rules and truly serving people. Jamie explains how his faith transformed the way he approached policing, teaching him to see beyond behavior and into the fears, wounds, and identities driving it. He shares how simple shifts in perspective changed the way he handled domestic disputes, criminal investigations, and some of the most difficult situations officers face every day. But Jamie's story extends far beyond police work.From negotiating in some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones to working between Israelis, Palestinians, and Muslim communities throughout the Middle East, he reveals how understanding fear became the key to resolving conflicts that seemed impossible to solve. Instead of asking how to defeat people, Jamie learned to ask how to win them. The conversation takes a deeper turn when Jamie recounts a moment in Kuwait that would ultimately change the course of his life. After sensing God challenge him to confront his fear of failure and loss, he watched a massive international operation collapse, millions of dollars disappear, trusted teammates betray him, and years of work unravel almost overnight. What felt like disaster at the time became one of the most important lessons of his life. Jamie shares why fear sits at the root of so many of our struggles, how identity shapes every decision we make, and why God doesn't force people into healing—He invites them into it.This episode is about far more than policing or negotiation.It's about courage, identity, purpose, redemption, and discovering who you really are when fear no longer gets the final word.Jamie WinshipFollow Shoot Me Straight:Instagram: @shootmestraightAvailable on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple PodcastsSponsors:Elevated Silence – Use code SMASH15Firecracker Farm