The Protectors® with Jason Piccolo
The original The Protectors® podcast, established in 2019, is about resilience, reinvention, and the moments that change the direction of our lives.
Hosted by retired federal agent, U.S. Army veteran (OIF 2006), author, and interviewer Dr. Jason Piccolo, the show explores what happens after service, success, failure, burnout, loss, transition, and personal transformation.
Through conversations with veterans, leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday people who chose a new path, The Protectors® focuses on growth, identity, purpose, and the courage to move forward.
Jason also interviews both bestselling and independent authors, exploring the creative process, the writing journey, the challenges of publishing, and the stories behind the books. From debut novels to works by New York Times bestselling authors, these conversations offer insights into storytelling, perseverance, and success.
These are conversations about second chapters, hard-earned wisdom, and finding meaning after life changes course.
Whether you’re rebuilding, redefining yourself, chasing something new, launching a new venture, writing your first book, or simply trying to move forward, The Protectors® is about navigating change with resilience and purpose.
The Protectors® with Jason Piccolo
#422 | Ryan Stovall | Former Green Beret | Author | BLACK SNOWFLAKES
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Ryan Stovall joined The Protectors® to talk about his poetry collection Black Snowflakes Smothering A Torch: How to Talk to Your Veteran, working in a combat hospital, Balad burn pits, his writing career, and a ton more.
About Ryan: Ryan Stovall is a former adventurer, world traveler, and Green Beret twice decorated for valor and awarded two Purple Hearts, whose poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction can be found in numerous journals and anthologies.
About BLACK SNOWFLAKES: A primer serving to facilitate dialogue between those who have experienced the crushing arms of war and those who have not, at its foundation Black Snowflakes Smothering a Torch presupposes that many issues veterans face when reintegrating come not from the veteran’s traumas but from the hypocrisies inherent to American civilian culture itself. As such Black Snowflakes represents an invaluable starting point, one that will serve as both a reference for civilians seeking to understand and as a voice for veterans hoping to explain.
Make sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccolo
Podcasts we love
Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.