The Ben Peterson Show

Could America Defend Against an AI War? | Sean Hagerty

This week on the Engage Your Destiny Podcast, Ben Peterson sits down with a retired Special Operations veteran who spent more than 25 years serving America on the front lines of modern warfare. From surviving brutal firefights in Afghanistan to helping advise America's Defense Science Board on the future of AI and national security, Sean Hagerty shares what he's learned about courage, faith, leadership, and the rapidly changing battlefield. But this conversation goes far beyond military stories. What happens when artificial intelligence begins making decisions faster than humans? Is drone warfare replacing soldiers? Is China really prepared to challenge America? And what happens when technology begins changing not just warfare, but the way we live, think, and worship? Sean offers a rare insider perspective on the future of AI, autonomous weapons, cybersecurity, America's military readiness, and why faith has never been more important in an increasingly digital world. If you've ever wondered where technology, national security, and biblical faith collide, this conversation is one you don't want to miss. WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.  📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-      ❤️ DONATE TODAY: http://engageyourdestiny.org/becomeaguardian 📕 PRE-ORDER BEN’S NEW BOOK:  https://whenintelligenceisnthuman.com NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.   Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! LET'S CONNECT:      Follow Engage Your Destiny on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny     Follow Engage Your Destiny on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/ Follow Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebenpeterson/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction & Why This Conversation Matters 01:15 Sean Hagerty's Military Career & Faith Journey 04:30 First Combat Deployment to Afghanistan 08:00 Surviving a Three-Hour Firefight 12:00 Faith Under Fire, Trusting God in Combat 17:00 What Modern Fear Reveals About Our Culture 20:30 Has America Lost Its Moral Foundation? 23:30 China, Taiwan & America's Military Advantage 30:00 AI, Autonomous Drones & The Future of Warfare 37:00 Can Artificial Intelligence Outpace Humanity? 43:00 AI Hacking, Cyber Warfare & National Security 47:00 Microwave Weapons, Drones & Tomorrow's Battlefield 50:00 Could America Become Its Own Greatest Threat? 53:00 Technology, Faith & Why Human Connection Still Matters

America 250! A Special 4th of July Message

This Independence Day, join Ben Peterson for a special message celebrating 250 years of America and the incredible story of faith, freedom, and God's providence. As America marks its 250th birthday, Ben reflects on the courage of the Founding Fathers, the miracles that shaped our nation, and why gratitude, prayer, and unity matter now more than ever. From the Revolutionary War to today's cultural challenges, this message is a reminder that America has endured because of sacrifice, resilience, and God's faithfulness. This is more than a celebration of history. It's a call for every believer to pray for our nation, support those defending our freedom, and become a light for the Gospel in a generation that desperately needs hope. WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.  📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-      ❤️ DONATE TODAY: http://engageyourdestiny.org/becomeaguardian 📕 PRE-ORDER BEN’S NEW BOOK:  https://whenintelligenceisnthuman.com NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.   Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! LET'S CONNECT:      Follow Engage Your Destiny on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny     Follow Engage Your Destiny on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/ Follow Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebenpeterson/ Timestamps 00:00 – Happy Birthday America: A Prayer for the Nation 02:00 – The Founding Fathers and America's Impossible Beginning 03:15 – Why America Has Been a Light to the World 04:05 – The Power of Gratitude and God's Blessing 04:45 – America's Greatest Trials Throughout History 05:25 – A Call to Pray for America, Our Military, and Our Leaders 05:55 – Celebrating America's 250th Birthday

Emergency PODCAST: AI Just hacked the National Security Agency

Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than anyone expected. But what happens when AI becomes powerful enough to challenge national security, reshape global power, and influence the way we seek truth? In this emergency episode of The Ben Peterson Show, Ben unpacks the shocking reports surrounding AI systems capable of exposing vulnerabilities in one of the world's most secure intelligence agencies, why government leaders are beginning to intervene, and what the race toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could mean for every person alive. More importantly, this conversation isn't just about technology. It's about faith. As AI becomes more intelligent, more persuasive, and more integrated into our daily lives, Christians must wrestle with an important question: Are we allowing technology to become our guide instead of God? Ben explores the biblical story of Saul consulting a medium, the dangers of seeking guidance from artificial intelligence, and why believers must remain grounded in God's Word in an age where information is unlimited but wisdom is increasingly rare. WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.  📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-      ❤️ DONATE TODAY: http://engageyourdestiny.org/becomeaguardian 📕 PRE-ORDER BEN’S NEW BOOK:  https://whenintelligenceisnthuman.com NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.   Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! LET'S CONNECT:      Follow Engage Your Destiny on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny     Follow Engage Your Destiny on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/ Follow Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebenpeterson/ Timestamps: 00:00 – AI reportedly hacks the National Security Agency 02:10 – Why this emergency episode matters 03:00 – Government response and the AI freeze 05:00 – The global AI race with China 07:20 – What Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) really is 10:00 – Why AI raises spiritual concerns 12:20 – Moral relativism and the dangers of AI 14:10 – Saul, mediums, and seeking guidance 16:00 – AI as a tool, not a guide 18:15 – Dopamine, smartphones, and spiritual formation 19:40 – Preparing your faith for the age of AI 20:30 – Ben's new book and how you can support the mission

The Truth About AI, Dopamine and the Future

What if the reason you can't focus, feel restless, or struggle to find satisfaction isn't a lack of discipline, but the way your brain has been trained? In this episode of The Ben Peterson Show, Ben explores how AI-driven technology, social media, pornography, and endless short-form content are reshaping our brains through dopamine. While the world promises constant excitement, it leaves us less satisfied with our work, our relationships, and even our walk with God. Ben explains why dopamine isn't the brain's "pleasure chemical," but its pursuit system, and how today's technology is conditioning us to crave what's new instead of valuing what truly matters. From weakened attention spans and broken focus to strained marriages and spiritual distraction, this episode reveals why the battle for your attention has become one of the greatest spiritual battles of our generation. Most importantly, Ben shares a path forward. Learn why boredom can become a gift, how discipline rebuilds your mind, and why true satisfaction is found through prayer, purpose, meaningful relationships, and a life fully surrendered to Christ. WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.  📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-      ❤️ DONATE TODAY: http://engageyourdestiny.org/becomeaguardian 📕 PRE-ORDER BEN’S NEW BOOK:  https://whenintelligenceisnthuman.com NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.   Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! LET'S CONNECT:      Follow Engage Your Destiny on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny     Follow Engage Your Destiny on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/ Follow Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebenpeterson/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: How AI is eroding our satisfaction with life 02:05 Dopamine: the brain's pursuit system 03:00 How short-form content hijacks your attention 04:10 Why constant novelty weakens focus 05:20 The addictive cycle of scrolling and pornography 06:15 Why discipline disappears under pressure 07:15 How technology impacts relationships and family 08:35 Retraining your brain through purpose and discipline 09:15 Three practical steps to break the dopamine loop 10:10 Why boredom is essential for healing 11:00 Resisting temptation and renewing your mind 11:45 Finding lasting satisfaction in Christ 12:20 Breaking free from AI's grip on your attention 13:10 Prayer for focus, freedom, and purpose

What You Can Learn About Islam, AI Warfare, & Faith From 17 Combat Deployments | Rob Heber

This week on The Ben Peterson Show, we dive into one of the most eye-opening conversations yet with combat veteran, military strategist, and author Rob Heber. After 17 deployments across the Middle East, Europe, and conflict zones around the world, Rob shares what he has witnessed firsthand about modern warfare, global instability, emerging technology, and what the future may hold as AI rapidly transforms the battlefield. From stories on the beaches of Normandy with World War II heroes, to lessons learned from combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, to conversations around autonomous drones, cyber warfare, and the hidden cost of technological advancement, this episode asks an important question: How do people of faith remain grounded in a world changing faster than ever? This conversation goes beyond military strategy. It explores vigilance, purpose, freedom, truth, and how believers can prepare spiritually and mentally for the challenges ahead. WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.  📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-      ❤️ DONATE TODAY: http://engageyourdestiny.org/becomeaguardian 📕 PRE-ORDER BEN’S NEW BOOK:  https://whenintelligenceisnthuman.com NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.   Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! LET'S CONNECT:      Follow Engage Your Destiny on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny     Follow Engage Your Destiny on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/ Follow Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebenpeterson/ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Why This Conversation Matters 03:20 – Normandy, D-Day & A World War II Veteran’s Warning 08:30 – Military Service, Deployments & Lessons from Combat 11:45 – Islam, Global Conflict & Understanding Modern Threats 20:30 – Iran, Negotiations & National Security Perspectives 28:20 – The Rise of AI Warfare & Autonomous Drones 34:40 – How Ukraine Changed Modern Combat Forever 44:20 – AI, Data & Why Everything Is Becoming Targetable 49:15 – The Future of Warfare & America’s Vulnerabilities 54:10 – Why Rob Created Founders Font 57:00 – Restoring Character, Cursive & America’s Foundations 01:01:00 – Final Thoughts & Faith for the Way Forward