On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie and Dave sit down with former police officer and SWAT operator Chris Jensen for a brutally honest conversation about law enforcement, brotherhood, corruption inside the justice system, and what happens when the people enforcing the law become targets of it themselves.What started as a childhood fascination with cops and motorcycles turned into a lifelong pursuit of service. From growing up in Southern California and becoming a reserve officer at 30 years old, to grinding through the academy, patrol, motors, and SWAT, Chris shares what policing was really like during one of the most volatile eras in California law enforcement. Eddie and Dave dive deep into police culture — the camaraderie, dark humor, relentless standards, and the brotherhood that forms in high-stress environments where mistakes can cost lives. They talk about why SWAT teams and military units bond the way they do, the importance of accountability, and how humor often becomes the only way to process years of trauma and chaos. But this episode takes a hard turn when Chris opens up about the incident that changed his life forever.During a routine overtime shift at the LA County Fair, a chaotic crowd encounter escalated in seconds. What he believed was a standard use-of-force incident — one that was cleared internally and dismissed in state court — eventually caught the attention of the FBI. What followed was years of investigations, federal indictments, public humiliation, and a system he once believed in turning against him. Chris walks through the reality of being federally indicted as a police officer, the intimidation tactics used by investigators, the emotional toll it took on his family, and the moment he realized the federal government wasn’t searching for the truth — they were building a case. From being marched through federal buildings in shackles to watching his entire career collapse overnight, it’s a firsthand account of how quickly everything can be taken away. This episode is about far more than policing.It’s about identity, purpose, loyalty, corruption, resilience, and what happens when the system you dedicated your life to no longer sees you as one of its own.Chris JensenFollow Shoot Me Straight:Instagram: @shootmestraightAvailable on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple PodcastsSponsors:Elevated Silence – Use code SMASH15Firecracker FarmAqua Vida IV

On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie and Dave sit down with Ryan Cooprider for a no-BS conversation about the Marine Corps, Recon, deployment life, and the reality behind the warrior mindset.Ryan’s story starts on a dairy farm in upstate New York, where hard work wasn’t optional. From milking cows and throwing hay bales to chasing football, lacrosse, and eventually the military, he shares how growing up in that environment built the foundation for the discipline and grit that would shape the rest of his life.After joining the Marine Corps straight out of high school, Ryan quickly found himself deep in the grind of infantry life—boot camp, brutal ship deployments, and the chaos surrounding the early Iraq invasion. He talks about the harsh realities of grunt life, the culture shock of military discipline, and how the Marine Corps breaks you down and rebuilds you through accountability, pressure, and brotherhood.Eddie and Dave dive into the difference between infantry and Recon, and how one deployment alongside Force Recon changed Ryan’s entire outlook. Watching those teams operate opened his eyes to a different level of professionalism, leadership, and purpose—and from that point on, he knew he wanted more.Ryan shares stories from life on ship, the frustration of missing major combat opportunities during the invasion, the politics of trying to move into Recon, and the challenge of deciding whether to stay in, get out, or chase the next level somewhere else. From Okinawa to Iraq to reserve life back home, he opens up about the tension between ambition, loyalty, and figuring out where you truly belong.This episode is about grit, identity, military brotherhood, and the pursuit of becoming the kind of man who earns respect—not just in title, but in how he carries himself every day.Follow Shoot Me Straight:Instagram: @shootmestraightAvailable on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple PodcastsSponsorsElevated Silence – Use code SMASH15Firecracker Farm

On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie and Dave sit down with Ryan Cooprider for a no-BS conversation about the Marine Corps, Recon, deployment life, and the reality behind the warrior mindset.Ryan’s story starts on a dairy farm in upstate New York, where hard work wasn’t optional. From milking cows and throwing hay bales to chasing football, lacrosse, and eventually the military, he shares how growing up in that environment built the foundation for the discipline and grit that would shape the rest of his life.After joining the Marine Corps straight out of high school, Ryan quickly found himself deep in the grind of infantry life—boot camp, brutal ship deployments, and the chaos surrounding the early Iraq invasion. He talks about the harsh realities of grunt life, the culture shock of military discipline, and how the Marine Corps breaks you down and rebuilds you through accountability, pressure, and brotherhood.Eddie and Dave dive into the difference between infantry and Recon, and how one deployment alongside Force Recon changed Ryan’s entire outlook. Watching those teams operate opened his eyes to a different level of professionalism, leadership, and purpose—and from that point on, he knew he wanted more.Ryan shares stories from life on ship, the frustration of missing major combat opportunities during the invasion, the politics of trying to move into Recon, and the challenge of deciding whether to stay in, get out, or chase the next level somewhere else. From Okinawa to Iraq to reserve life back home, he opens up about the tension between ambition, loyalty, and figuring out where you truly belong.This episode is about grit, identity, military brotherhood, and the pursuit of becoming the kind of man who earns respect—not just in title, but in how he carries himself every day.Follow Shoot Me Straight:Instagram: @shootmestraightAvailable on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple PodcastsSponsorsElevated Silence – Use code SMASH15Firecracker Farm