Son of a Blitch

Ep. 140 - Celebrating Four Years of The Son of a Blitch Podcast

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991122/fan_mail/new] Four years ago, the Son of a Blitch Podcast was launched and today I’m celebrating a few major milestones: 140+ episodes, listeners in 115+ Countries and Territories, millions of downloads, listens and views from the podcast and related social media content. This anniversary update also provides a preview of what’s coming up in year five, with a mix that reflects the show’s identity: meaningful interviews, and curiosity-driven storytelling.  One of the highlights for year five is a conversation with Chief Arvol Looking Horse, the 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and a Spiritual Leader of the Lakota people. The discussion centers on the 30th anniversary of World Peace and Prayer Day [https://www.worldpeaceandprayer.com/], an initiative begun in 1996 that brings people together at sacred sites around the world on June 21st. Alongside the history of the White Buffalo Teachings, the episode points toward themes that resonate beyond any one tradition: honoring sacred places, remembering lineage, and treating prayer as a lived practice rather than a slogan. For anyone searching for Indigenous wisdom, Lakota spirituality, or the deeper story behind modern peace gatherings, this upcoming interview stands out as a rare chance to hear context from a living steward of tradition. The show also previews a conservation-focused conversation with Bob St. Pierre from Pheasants Forever [https://pheasantsforever.org/default.aspx] and Quail Forever [https://quailforever.org/], highlighting habitat work and how people get involved in organizations that actually put resources into the field. This is a useful reminder that conservation is not just policy talk; it’s membership, volunteering, land access, and long-term habitat projects that protect wildlife and upland birds.    Along the same practical line, a forthcoming interview with Dr. John McCall of Stealth Vision [https://stealthvision.com/] moves into hunting and shooting gear innovation, including an anti-cant level built into a rifle scope reticle that illuminates green when the rifle is truly level. It’s a small design detail with big implications for long-distance accuracy, and an episode that is rich for listeners interested in optics, rifle scopes, marksmanship, and precision performance. We also discuss Dr. McCall's tenure as a Texas Wildlife Commissioner, appointed directly by his friend, Texas Gov. Abbott.   Another exciting conversation coming up is one with The Boxmasters, including founders J.D. Andrew and Billy Bob Thornton, focusing on their 22nd album, 20 years together as a band, and a fast-selling run of live dates on the upcoming tour. Learn more and get tickets for The Morro Rock Tour at TheBoxmasters.com [https://theboxmasters.com/]   The episode also tees up more author conversations, including New York Times bestselling writer M.P. Woodward [https://www.mpwoodward.com/], continuing from work connected to The Fourth Option with Jack Carr [https://www.officialjackcarr.com/] and branching into upcoming book releases, and gear collaborations (with Mike Irwin [https://mikeirwinguitarlessons.com/]) around his brand, Motu Truck Caps [https://motutruckcaps.myshopify.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqLyRATbFGcCc2b09N1zvj3V9fGa5y-UznWxPKymbxmyr-EjZbr], for vehicles like the Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator.  Although I've been teasing it for a while now, I will be working on getting up to the Headquarters of Vortex Optics [https://vortexoptics.com/] to record a podcast with the CEO, Joe Hamilton. We'll talk about the history of Vortex Optics and some of their incredible product line (read my review, here [https://www.sonofablitch.com/vortexoptics.html]), but will spend a lot of the time covering the C.A.R.E. Movement [https://www.vortexcare.com/], which stands for Create A Rare Experience, something his time does time and time again. I also suggest you check out the CARE Movement Podcast, and sign up for the newsletters on the website.  Another exciting interview on the horizon is one I will be hosting with Kent Yoshimura, the CEO and Co-Founder of Neuro Gum & Mints [https://neurogum.com/], providing clean energy and focus, calm and clarity, memory and focus, or recharging through better sleep, depending on the product and your personal needs. We'll also talk about the company's focus on philanthropy, and their partnership with Beast Philanthropy [https://www.beastphilanthropy.org/] (Mr. Beast), of which 100% of proceeds from this tin are donated to help improve lives and drive meaningful change around the world. Their origin story and development is incredible and I can't wait to chat with Kent about it. Fun fact: I take Neuro Mints before every single podcast.  This upcoming year of the podcast promises some exciting new interviews, as well as more written articles and product and book reviews on website, Sonofablitch.com  [https://www.sonofablitch.com/articles.html] Speaking of, here are some of the recent product reviews that I have put together for some of my Partners, Sponsors & Affiliates (PSA's): Decked [https://www.sonofablitch.com/decked.html] Seekins Precision [https://www.sonofablitch.com/seekinsprecision.html] Vortex Optics [https://www.sonofablitch.com/vortexoptics.html] If you haven't already subscribed to the podcast, I'd really appreciate you doing that.  You'll be notified when new episodes drop. And, if you have time, leaving a 5 star rating and a positive review for the podcast really helps the show grow! Thanks for all your support and encouragement!  -George Blitch SonofaBlitch.com [https://www.sonofablitch.com/] IG: "thesonofablitch [https://www.instagram.com/thesonofablitch/]"

Ep. 139 w/ SCOTT MANN - Discussing His New Book, THE GENEROSITY OF SCARS

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991122/fan_mail/new] The conversation opens with Scott Mann’s one-man play, 11 Days, drawn from Operation Pineapple Express and the final, chaotic days of the Afghanistan withdrawal. He explains why live theater is a different kind of truth telling: it reaches veterans, military families, and civilians who only absorbed political sound bites and 24-7 news coverage. By touring community venues around key anniversaries, the project aims to restore context, honor Afghan partners, and put the human cost back in the center. If you care about veterans’ stories, moral injury, and national memory, the play becomes more than art. It is a bridge between people who served and people who feel disconnected from what service required. From there, Scott introduces Generosity of Scars, the second book in his leadership trilogy after Nobody Is Coming to Save You. The central idea is narrative competence: the ability to repurpose struggle into stories that serve other people. He frames modern life as “the churn,” an environment of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity amplified by distraction, disengagement, disconnection, and distrust. In a trust recession where audiences question what is real, authentic storytelling becomes a leadership skill that cannot be outsourced to AI or reduced to talking points. When leaders name the struggle, show what changed, and offer a hard-won lesson, they create clarity, deepen human connection, and build durable trust inside teams, families, and communities.   A major takeaway is Scott’s practical model for working with pain without turning it into oversharing. He describes struggles as wounds, scabs, or scars. A wound is still bleeding and may be unsafe to share. A scab has begun to heal but can be reopened without care, often needing therapy, time, and support. A scar is resolved enough to become a generous asset: evidence of a life lived full out and a story that can help someone else. This is where neuroscience and communication meet. He points to narrative transportation, the moment a listener enters the safety of your story and starts listening autobiographically, mapping your experience onto their own. That is why stories can support mental health, suicide prevention, and recovery: they create reciprocity, reduce isolation, and remind people they are seen.   The episode also traces Scott’s personal arc from Special Forces confidence to a rough transition marked by identity loss, shame, and suicidal ideation, then back toward purpose through storytelling. He explains how story functions as a sense-making tool for trauma and grief, and how repeated practice built the courage to speak, coach, and even write plays.  Today his work focuses on training leaders, founders, and executives to craft and deliver strategic stories that build trust, strengthen workplace culture, and move audiences to action. His definition of legacy is simple and demanding: help people find their voice and tell their story, because one honest story can change a life, a team, and eventually a community. Learn more about Scott Mann: ScottMann.com [https://scottmann.com/] TFPineapple.org [https://tfpineapple.org/] Learn more about George Blitch: SonofaBlitch.com [https://www.sonofablitch.com/] Follow on IG: "thesonofablitch [https://www.instagram.com/thesonofablitch/]"

Ep. 138 - M.P. Woodward, Co-Author of THE FOURTH OPTION ( w/ Jack Carr)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991122/fan_mail/new] M.P. Woodward [https://www.mpwoodward.com/], a former Navy Intelligence Officer turned Best-Selling novelist, explains how his career moving between operational teams and strategic work shaped his storytelling instincts. After two decades in the tech industry, including Amazon Prime Video, he returned to writing and quickly built momentum with THE HANDLER, Tom Clancy “legacy” novels, and now a major collaboration with Jack Carr, with the book, THE FOURTH OPTION.   Chris Walker, the main character in the new thriller, is a modern “stranger comes to town” hero. Woodward frames Walker as a veteran with heavy Afghanistan baggage and an unusually intellectual edge, shaped by serious philosophy training and an unfinished doctorate. That lens matters because perception becomes reality for Walker, twisting him into knots until a call from the widow of a former teammate pulls him toward one last job that becomes mission and purpose. The setup moves from the Pacific Northwest’s wild coast to New Orleans, blending Western DNA with contemporary CIA, SEAL, and Ground Branch influences.   Research drives the book’s sense of place, especially in New Orleans. Woodward describes traveling to the city, staying near locations that appear in the story, and walking the neighborhoods to capture street-level detail. He highlights how history “comes alive” there, from the Battle of New Orleans and Andrew Jackson to the city’s layered culture, while also emphasizing the lasting impact of Hurricane Katrina. Visiting the Ninth Ward and hearing survival lessons like keeping an axe in the attic adds hard-earned realism that fiction can’t fake. He also notes modern security changes and how public trauma reshapes daily life, giving a believable stage for crime, corruption, and the pressure points where villains exploit weakness.   The conversation also pulls back the curtain on professional co-authoring and why collaboration can elevate a series foundation. Woodward explains how a Carr “mood board” evolved into structure: spreadsheets for characters, visual casting to keep voices distinct, and iterative outlining with constant feedback so the story doesn’t drift. Carr’s operator expertise sharpened tactical set pieces, while Woodward leaned into introspection, motivation, and narrative cohesion so the book reads like one voice. For readers searching “Jack Carr new series,” “The Fourth Option Chris Walker,” or “best military thriller research,” the takeaway is clear: great action fiction is project management plus empathy, powered by sources, travel, and relentless revision. THE FOURTH OPTION Publication Date: May 12th Order here [https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/the-fourth-option/] Signed Copies [https://www.officialjackcarr.com/signed-the-fourth-option-bookplates/#all-roads-lead-to-a-reckoning] To learn more about M.P. Woodward, visit: MPWoodward.com [https://www.mpwoodward.com/] To learn more about the host, George Blitch, visit: SonofaBlitch.com [https://www.sonofablitch.com/] IG: "thesonofablitch [https://www.sonofablitch.com/]"

Ep. 137 - JACK CARR Introduces His New Thriller Series, THE FOURTH OPTION (co-written w/ M.P. Woodward)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991122/fan_mail/new] JACK CARR Introduces Chris Walker w/ His New Thriller, THE FOURTH OPTION (co-written w/ M.P. Woodward) A former Navy SEAL and CIA operator rolls into New Orleans in a beat-up VW pop-top with a Belgian Malinois and a head full of ghosts. That’s the spine of The Fourth Option, Jack Carr’s newest thriller and the start of the Chris Walker series, and we get into why this story feels like a classic Western even though it’s set in modern America. We talk about Carr’s “stranger comes to town” inspiration from Have Gun Will Travel and iconic Western films, then dig into what “The Fourth Option” really means and why the stakes are deliberately domestic instead of globe-spanning. New Orleans becomes more than scenery as we discuss Katrina’s long shadow, the city’s contradictions, and the value of on-the-ground research to make a New Orleans thriller feel lived-in and true. Jack also walks us through the real timeline: the original 2014 story sparks, the 2021 Hollywood pitch built as a robust outline and mood board, and the moment he decided to claw the project back so readers could get the best version he could write. We break down the co-writing process with M.P. Woodward, why dialogue is where characters come alive. If you care about military thriller authenticity, writing craft, and what it takes to launch a new series without cutting corners, you’ll want to hear this one. To order a limited edition signed copy of The Fourth Edition, Tour tickets, or the latest Terminal List related gear, visit Jack's website: OfficialJackCarr.com [https://www.officialjackcarr.com] To learn more about the host, George Blitch, visit: SonofaBlitch.com [https://www.sonofablitch.com/] IG: "thesonofablitch [https://www.instagram.com/thesonofablitch/]" YT: "@sonofablitch [https://www.youtube.com/@sonofablitch]" Please subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review with your thoughts!

Ep. 136 - JOE BETAR Discusses His Debut Thriller Novel, HAMMER

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991122/fan_mail/new] Joe Betar’s debut thriller novel, HAMMER, is built on a simple promise: put a capable hero in an unfair situation, then force him to chase the truth faster than the system can. The story follows Jack "Hammer" Garrett, a retired UFC world champion who walks away from the cage to build a quieter life in the Texas Hill Country as a rancher, hunting operator, and shooting instructor. That calm does not last. A personal tragedy detonates his new routine and pushes him into an investigation filled with corruption, political pressure, and international reach. The result lands squarely in the political thriller space while still delivering action, mystery, and adventure, with a central theme that keeps readers turning pages: what justice looks like when patience runs out. A major thread in the conversation is craft and authenticity. Betar leans hard into “write what you know” without letting that limit the scope of the narrative. Texas landscapes come from lived experience, while the MMA influence comes from years around fighters, including friendship with former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes. That contrast helps shape Jack Garrett into someone believable in two worlds: gentle and grounded at home, then terrifyingly focused when danger shows up. The same attention to realism shows up in the travel and logistics. Even places the author has not visited get mapped and researched so the physical details feel documented rather than invented, which is a hallmark of high-quality action thrillers and modern military and political thriller storytelling. The publishing story behind Hammer is a roadmap for aspiring authors who want traditional publishing but do not have a built-in pipeline. Betar drafted the first manuscript in about six months once the pandemic slowed everything down, then rewrote through multiple edit cycles. He credits tools like Scrivener for organizing outlines, research, and character profiles, but he emphasizes that software does not replace judgment. Professional editing does not “write the book for you” either. A strong editor asks the uncomfortable questions: what does not make sense, what character disappeared, what needs to happen earlier, and where a new chapter is required. After that, the real grind begins, with cold emails to literary agents, years of rejection, and persistence that ultimately led to a publishing yes from Clovercroft Publishing. The episode also highlights the human side of launching a debut thriller. Holding the first physical copy lands like Christmas morning after six years of work, and Betar points to his wife’s support as the difference between quitting and finishing. He also stresses the value of beta readers across specialties, from experienced professionals to fellow authors, including encouragement and an endorsement from #1 NYT Best Selling Author, Jack Carr. As the launch approaches, the practical marketing truth comes into focus: pre-orders and Amazon reviews matter because algorithms amplify what people are already buying and discussing. If Hammer succeeds in print and ebook, audio and even screen adaptation become possible, and multiple readers have already said the book “reads like a series.” For fans of political thrillers, action adventure mysteries, and character-driven suspense, Hammer is positioned as both a high-octane story and a case study in how a first-time novelist ships the work and builds momentum. I strongly encourage you to go over to Amazon & place your order! [https://www.amazon.com/Hammer-Joe-Betar/dp/1968127224] Visit JoeBetar.com [https://joebetar.com/] for more info, exclusive content and to sign up for the newsletter! Learn more about the host, George Blitch at: SonofaBlitch.com [https://www.sonofablitch.com/]