VigilanceElite

EARLY Access [Video] with Gerard Barron - Mining The Ocean Floor

Gerard Barron, born in Queensland, Australia, is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Metals Company, a position he has held since 2017. A seasoned entrepreneur with a track record in battery technology, media, and future-oriented resource development, Barron leads the company's efforts to harvest polymetallic nodules from the deep ocean floor, providing sustainable sources of critical metals like nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese for electric vehicles and renewable energy.

He previously co-founded DeepGreen in 2011 and assumed full control in 2017, guiding it through a public listing and partnerships to advance environmentally responsible deep-sea mining as an alternative to land-based extraction.

Barron testified before the U.S. Congress in April 2025 on national security and critical minerals, emphasizing the strategic importance of ocean resources. He advocates for innovation in clean tech, reducing mining's ecological footprint, and securing supply chains for the global energy transition, often speaking at forums like the St. Gallen Symposium and GESDA.

EARLY Access [Audio] with Gerard Barron

Gerard Barron, born in Queensland, Australia, is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Metals Company, a position he has held since 2017. A seasoned entrepreneur with a track record in battery technology, media, and future-oriented resource development, Barron leads the company's efforts to harvest polymetallic nodules from the deep ocean floor, providing sustainable sources of critical metals like nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese for electric vehicles and renewable energy.

He previously co-founded DeepGreen in 2011 and assumed full control in 2017, guiding it through a public listing and partnerships to advance environmentally responsible deep-sea mining as an alternative to land-based extraction.

Barron testified before the U.S. Congress in April 2025 on national security and critical minerals, emphasizing the strategic importance of ocean resources. He advocates for innovation in clean tech, reducing mining's ecological footprint, and securing supply chains for the global energy transition, often speaking at forums like the St. Gallen Symposium and GESDA.

Shawn Answers Your Questions with Keith Stansell

A Question from our Patreon Member, Jesse Martin, was selected for this clip.

"After years of freedom and time to heal emotionally and physically, if you could go back in time, to any specific moment when you were in captivity to share a message with yourself, what moment would you go back to and what would your message be?"

What Do We Not Know About the FARC?

Keith Stansell answers questions about his time in Colombia, as well as those from our members.

Due to the delay in early access, this piece of content has been made available to all paid members.

Day-To-Day: Surviving Captivity in The Colombian Jungle

Keith Stansell recalls what it was like living day to day in captivity with the FARC in the Colombian Jungle.

EARLY Access [Video] with Keith Stansell - Surviving FARC Captivity in the Colombian Jungle

Keith Stansell is a former U.S. Marine and Northrop Grumman employee who was captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) o

Keith Stansell is a former U.S. Marine and Northrop Grumman employee who was captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on February 13, 2003, after his surveillance plane crashed in the Colombian jungle during an anti-narcotics mission. Held hostage for 1,967 days alongside contractors Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes, Stansell endured harsh conditions in the jungle until their dramatic rescue by the Colombian military on July 2, 2008, during Operation Jaque.

A recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom in 2009, he co-authored the bestselling memoir Out of Captivity: Surviving 1967 Days in the Colombian Jungle (2009) with Gonsalves and Howes, detailing their ordeal and resilience.

Father to twin sons born during his captivity, he advocates for awareness of hostage situations and supports military and veteran communities, emphasizing survival, family, and the human spirit in overcoming adversity.

EARLY Access [Audio] with Keith Stansell - Surviving FARC Captivity in the Colombian Jungle

Keith Stansell is a former U.S. Marine and Northrop Grumman employee who was captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on February 13, 2003, after his surveillance plane crashed in the Colombian jungle during an anti-narcotics mission. Held hostage for 1,967 days alongside contractors Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes, Stansell endured harsh conditions in the jungle until their dramatic rescue by the Colombian military on July 2, 2008, during Operation Jaque.

A recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom in 2009, he co-authored the bestselling memoir Out of Captivity: Surviving 1967 Days in the Colombian Jungle (2009) with Gonsalves and Howes, detailing their ordeal and resilience.

Father to twin sons born during his captivity, he advocates for awareness of hostage situations and supports military and veteran communities, emphasizing survival, family, and the human spirit in overcoming adversity.

Shawn Asks Your Questions with AJ Gentile

A Question from our Patreon Member, Ian Lane, was selected for this clip.

"On 'The Why Files, you walk a line between exploring wild conspiracies and keeping the audience grounded in facts. Have you ever stumbled on a piece of information that made you stop and think, 'This is bigger than I want to touch, and if so, what made you decide to hold back?"

Day-To-Day with AJ Gentile

AJ gives us an inside look at what his day-to-day looks like at The Why Files.

Range Day with AJ Gentile

Shawn and AJ fire a couple of rounds downrange at the new studio with the new Sig Sauer P211 as well as a .357 lever-action rifle, and Shawn gives AJ a couple of pointers along the way.

EARLY Access [Video] with AJ Gentile - Creator & Host of The Why Files

AJ Gentile is an American producer, writer, actor, and YouTube personality best known as the creator, host, and writer of "The Why Files," a channel that delves into conspiracy theories, mysteries, and unexplained phenomena with engaging storytelling and a skeptical lens.

Before gaining fame on YouTube, Gentile worked in Hollywood as a producer and writer, contributing to projects like The Naughty Show (2011) and Stoned Science (2018), and providing voice-over work, including roles in The Legend of Korra. In 2011, he co-founded SpeedWeed, a cannabis delivery company, with his brother Gino and wife Jen.

The Why Files has amassed a large following for its professional, encyclopedia-like analysis of conspiracies without interruptions.

EARLY Access [Audio] with AJ Gentile - Creator & Host of The Why Files

AJ Gentile is an American producer, writer, actor, and YouTube personality best known as the creator, host, and writer of "The Why Files," a channel that delves into conspiracy theories, mysteries, and unexplained phenomena with engaging storytelling and a skeptical lens.

Before gaining fame on YouTube, Gentile worked in Hollywood as a producer and writer, contributing to projects like The Naughty Show (2011) and Stoned Science (2018), and providing voice-over work, including roles in The Legend of Korra. In 2011, he co-founded SpeedWeed, a cannabis delivery company, with his brother Gino and wife Jen.

The Why Files has amassed a large following for its professional, encyclopedia-like analysis of conspiracies without interruptions.

The Most Prominent Challenges in Today's Self-Serving Culture?

David answers questions from our members: Joel and Richard Beemer.

Shawn Asks Your Questions with David Rutherford

A Question from our Patreon Member, Gregory Lawton, was selected for this clip.

"Dave, with all the trouble Shawn has gotten you into over the years, how is it that you remain friends?"

You and Shawn are stranded on a desert island and can bring three items, each permanently assigned to one of you. What items do you bring, and who gets each one?

David Rutherford takes on the Desert Island Challenge.

Andrew Bailey (SRS #176) to Accept the Role of Co-Deputy Director of the FBI

Our Guest from Episode #176 Andrew Bailey has taken a role at the FBI.

Here is the LINK to the episode.

100 Yard Shot with David Rutherford

In this brand new segment, Shawn and David compete and shoot the new Sig Sauer P211 at a target setup 100 yards away.

EARLY Access [Video] with David Rutherford - Navy SEAL & CIA Contractor

David Rutherford is an internationally known motivational speaker, best-selling author, world-championship performance coach, and award-winning podcast host. He is also a former Navy SEAL Medic and Instructor who served for eight years in the NSW community. After his honorable discharge from the Teams, he went to work for Blackwater as an international curriculum development and training specialist for two years.

In 2005, he launched his motivational performance company, Froglogic Concepts, to initially help children develop resilience and confidence. In 2008, David was recruited to work for the CIA as a curriculum and training specialist for two years. He then went on to become operational for the agency as a security threat and protection specialist. After hanging up his kit in 2011, he kick-started Froglogic Concepts again. For over a decade, David and his Froglogic message have reached over 50 million people worldwide as a top motivational speaker, performance coach, podcast host, and author. Some of his notable successes include his role as a motivational performance coach for the 2018 NCAA World Series champions, the Oregon State Beavers baseball team, and the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.

EARLY Access [Audio] with David Rutherford - Navy SEAL & CIA Contractor

David Rutherford is an internationally known motivational speaker, best-selling author, world-championship performance coach, and award-winning podcast host. He is also a former Navy SEAL Medic and Instructor who served for eight years in the NSW community. After his honorable discharge from the Teams, he went to work for Blackwater as an international curriculum development and training specialist for two years.

In 2005, he launched his motivational performance company, Froglogic Concepts, to initially help children develop resilience and confidence. In 2008, David was recruited to work for the CIA as a curriculum and training specialist for two years. He then went on to become operational for the agency as a security threat and protection specialist. After hanging up his kit in 2011, he kick-started Froglogic Concepts again. For over a decade, David and his Froglogic message have reached over 50 million people worldwide as a top motivational speaker, performance coach, podcast host, and author. Some of his notable successes include his role as a motivational performance coach for the 2018 NCAA World Series champions, the Oregon State Beavers baseball team, and the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.

Hood Slide Tee

To celebrate our epic first episode in the new studio with the one and only David Rutherford, we're dusting off the legendary "Hood Slide" T-shirt from the gloriously retro VE days!

If you're a '90s action movie junkie, you know the hood slide—because nothing screams "I'm saving the day" like yeeting yourself across a car hood with zero regard for physics or personal safety!

LIMITED TO 300 PIECES

Early Access for the entire weekend is now available to our paid Patreon members!

PASSCODE: HOODSLIDE25


Here is the link

Navy SEAL vs Navy SEAL Hood Slide

Dave Rutherford is the first guest at the new studio, so it was only right to bring back the Hood Slide T-Shirt and show the video that inspired it.

Navy SEALs Shawn Ryan "Vigilance Elite" and David Rutherford "Team Froglogic". The never-ending saga continues between the two Navy SEAL / CIA Contractors. It started with a friendly ninja slide competition and has now progressed to the hood slide.

My Last Interview... (Extended)

It’s been a long journey, and those who have been with us since the beginning have watched the show evolve into what it is today. With 227 episodes, the show has reached incredible heights—from hitting #1 on Spotify to amassing 1 billion views here on YouTube. The list of memories and achievements is too long to capture in full, but there’s one thing that has made this show possible: our audience. If you’ve watched the video in full and are reading this description to the end, you’ll know—it’s not over. The show is entering a new era, and you’ll see it in full starting Monday, the 18th.

What was the Day-To-Day like as a MACV-SOG?

Henry Thompson gives us an inside look at what his days looked like while he served as a Team Leader in Vietnam.

What’s one act of leadership—yours or someone else’s—that you’d hold onto as your guiding light on a desert island, and what’s the story behind it?

Dick Thompson takes on the Desert Island Challenge.

EARLY Access [Audio] with Henry Dick Thompson - MACV-SOG Team Leader

Henry L. (Dick) Thompson, Ph.D., is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and legendary MACV-SOG operator known by the codename "Dynamite." Serving as a recon team leader from 1968 to 1970, he led over 20 high-risk black operations deep into enemy territory in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam during the Vietnam War's secret campaigns, earning a reputation for bravery in brutal firefights and hand-to-hand combat. 

After 21 years of military service, including roles in Special Forces, Airborne, and Ranger units, Thompson founded High Performing Systems, Inc. in 1984, where he serves as President and CEO, providing leadership solutions, training, and assessments for corporate, military, law enforcement, and firefighters in high-stress decision-making. A psychologist, Mensa member, and Ironman triathlete, he authored, among other books, the bestselling "SOG Codename Dynamite" series, including "A MACV-SOG 1-0's Personal Journal" (2023), sharing firsthand accounts of combat psychology and spiritual warfare. 

Thompson advocates for mental resilience, veteran support, and applying combat lessons to everyday leadership.

EARLY Access [Audio] with Henry Dick Thompson - MACV-SOG Team Leader

Henry L. (Dick) Thompson, Ph.D., is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and legendary MACV-SOG operator known by the codename "Dynamite." Serving as a recon team leader from 1968 to 1970, he led over 20 high-risk black operations deep into enemy territory in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam during the Vietnam War's secret campaigns, earning a reputation for bravery in brutal firefights and hand-to-hand combat.

After 21 years of military service, including roles in Special Forces, Airborne, and Ranger units, Thompson founded High Performing Systems, Inc. in 1984, where he serves as President and CEO, providing leadership solutions, training, and assessments for corporate, military, law enforcement, and firefighters in high-stress decision-making. A psychologist, Mensa member, and Ironman triathlete, he authored, among other books, the bestselling "SOG Codename Dynamite" series, including "A MACV-SOG 1-0's Personal Journal" (2023), sharing firsthand accounts of combat psychology and spiritual warfare.

Thompson advocates for mental resilience, veteran support, and applying combat lessons to everyday leadership.

If Stranded On A Spaceship, Who Would You Want To Communicate With Outside of Your Family?

Matt Gialich takes on the Desert Island Challenge.

Day-To-Day: Matt Gialich - CEO of AstroForge

In this clip of Day-To-Day, Matt Gialich describes what he must prioritize each day in order to lead his company to the best of his ability.

EARLY Access [Video] with Matt Gialich - CEO of AstroForge

Matt Gialich is the Co-Founder and CEO of AstroForge, an asteroid mining company founded in 2022 that aims to extract platinum group metals from near-Earth asteroids to redefine sustainable mining practices. With over a decade of experience leading high-performing engineering teams, Gialich holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. 

His career began at Toyon Research Corporation as an analyst developing novel navigation algorithms, followed by key roles at Virgin Orbit, where he led the flight software and GNC teams and oversaw avionics development. He later served as Director of Vehicle Software at Bird, where he met co-founder Jose Acain, sparking the idea for AstroForge amid their shared passion for space. 

Previously, Gialich was co-founder and CEO of Ex Scientia Technologies. A Y Combinator alumnus, he has guided AstroForge to successful missions, including Mission 1's launch, and advocates for commercial space innovation to address resource scarcity on Earth.

EARLY Access [Audio] with Matt Gialich - CEO of AstroForge

Matt Gialich is the Co-Founder and CEO of AstroForge, an asteroid mining company founded in 2022 that aims to extract platinum group metals from near-Earth asteroids to redefine sustainable mining practices. With over a decade of experience leading high-performing engineering teams, Gialich holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. 

His career began at Toyon Research Corporation as an analyst developing novel navigation algorithms, followed by key roles at Virgin Orbit, where he led the flight software and GNC teams and oversaw avionics development. He later served as Director of Vehicle Software at Bird, where he met co-founder Jose Acain, sparking the idea for AstroForge amid their shared passion for space. 

Previously, Gialich was co-founder and CEO of Ex Scientia Technologies. A Y Combinator alumnus, he has guided AstroForge to successful missions, including Mission 1's launch, and advocates for commercial space innovation to address resource scarcity on Earth.