Lesser Known Operators
Hosted by Lesser Known Operators
Long-form, informal interviews with U.S. Special Operations veterans about their careers, post-military lives, and search for purpose.
This is a "shop talk" podcast for the Special Operations community, hosted by one of their own. Host Nicholas Allen interviews fellow veterans, primarily Green Berets, about their "second act" after service. Conversations are less about combat stories and more about the practical and emotional realities of transition: starting companies, founding non-profits, and navigating the search for a new identity.
“Unlike many military podcasts focused on war stories, this show is almost entirely dedicated to the post-service chapter. The host's shared identity as a Green Beret creates an insider-level comfort that allows for unusually candid conversations about transition, mental health, and finding a new mission.”
Who hosts this show
Hosted by U.S. Army Green Beret veteran Nicholas Allen, Lesser Known Operators features candid conversations with fellow Special Operations soldiers. The podcast focuses on the often-difficult transition from military to civilian life, highlighting the businesses, non-profits, and new missions guests have undertaken. Allen uses his shared background to build immediate rapport, exploring the challenges and successes of finding a new purpose after service.
Credentials & credits
- U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) veteran
- Host, Lesser Known Operators podcast
- Mental health and TBI advocate
- TEDx speaker
Other ventures
- Project Recon (non-profit for regenerative healing)
- Co-host, Joe Rogan Experience Review Podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01127 - Marc Fitzwater, Green Beret and Owner of I68 Consulting GroupMay 8, 2026 · 1h 49m
- 02126 - The Highwaymen Group with Nick Smith & George PillsburyApr 23, 2026 · 1h 23m
- 03125 - Josh Johnson, CEO of Special Operators Transition FoundationApr 9, 2026 · 2h 07m
- 04124 - Nathan Dial & Rolf Jensen, Two of The Original SOPC CadreApr 2, 2026 · 2h 56m
- 05123 - Paul Ross, Deadline Defense, & Carthage Cattle CompanyMar 25, 2026 · 1h 17m
- 06122 - Roger Vogel on Civil Affairs and Tracer BurnoutMar 20, 2026 · 1h 35m
- 07121 - Christian Irvine: The Green Beret and founder of Veritas RatingsMar 17, 2026 · 2h 03m
- 08120 - Rob Lindsay on Fitness, Firearms, and Mastering MindsetMar 3, 2026 · 1h 29m
Notable episodes
- 01127 - Marc Fitzwater, Green Beret and Owner of I68 Consulting Group
Features a candid discussion about the guest's personal journey with high-functioning alcoholism and the pivotal role the veteran community played in his sobriety.
- 02126 - The Highwaymen Group with Nick Smith & George Pillsbury
Tells the unique origin story of a non-profit for Green Berets that grew out of a casual fantasy football league, illustrating the informal bonds that support the community.
- 03125 - Josh Johnson, CEO of Special Operators Transition Foundation
Provides a detailed breakdown of a structured, three-phase program designed to help special operators find meaningful careers after leaving the service.
What you'll be asked on this show
Allen's interviews are built on a foundation of shared experience. He often opens by establishing a personal connection or common ground, like their shared unit (1st SFG) or training experiences (Robin Sage). He then cedes the floor, allowing guests to speak at length about their post-military ventures and transition challenges. His questions are direct and aimed at understanding the "how" and "why" of their new lives, often probing the origin of an idea or how they help other veterans navigate the same path. He builds rapport by sharing his own vulnerabilities and transition stories, such as dealing with a TBI or driving for Uber to stay busy.
The format is a one-on-one or two-on-one remote interview. Allen often begins with a solo monologue introducing the guest and reading sponsor copy before the conversation starts. The tone is relaxed and conversational, frequently feeling like two old friends catching up and sharing inside jokes from their service.
Questions Lesser Known Operators keeps coming back to
6 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Lesser Known Operators reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“How did you come up with the name for your organization/company?”
This question is often asked early to explore the origin story of the guest's post-military venture.
- Q.02
“Did this start as a formal non-profit, or just as a group of guys getting together?”
Probes the informal origins behind a guest's now-formalized organization or company.
process
1- Q.01
“What is the mission of your organization and what are you trying to do?”
A direct question used to get to the core purpose of the guest's work and its impact.
advice
1- Q.01
“How do you prepare guys for that 'what now?' moment when they get out?”
This question addresses the central theme of the show: the difficulty of transitioning from military to civilian life.
personal
2- Q.01
“Who was the mutual connection that linked us up?”
An opening question that highlights the tight-knit nature of the Special Forces community.
- Q.02
“Where are you based these days?”
A simple, conversational question to build rapport and establish the guest's current location.
Signature segments
- · Host's solo intro with sponsor reads
- · Host's dog, Perro, making an appearance
- · Plugging his non-profit, Project Recon
- · Referencing shared military experiences like 'Robin Sage'
- · Outro: "Please remember to like, subscribe, share, comment..."
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically former U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) operators who have started a business or non-profit after leaving the military. The common thread is their journey of transitioning their skills and drive into a new civilian mission.
- Marc Fitzwateron 127 - Marc Fitzwater, Green Beret and Owner of I68 Consulting Group
- Nick Smithon 126 - The Highwaymen Group with Nick Smith & George Pillsbury
- George Pillsburyon 126 - The Highwaymen Group with Nick Smith & George Pillsbury
- Josh Johnsonon 125 - Josh Johnson, CEO of Special Operators Transition Foundation
- Nathan Dialon 124 - Nathan Dial & Rolf Jensen, Two of The Original SOPC Cadre
- Rolf Jensenon 124 - Nathan Dial & Rolf Jensen, Two of The Original SOPC Cadre
- Paul Rosson 123 - Paul Ross, Deadline Defense, & Carthage Cattle Company
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The show is consistently sponsored by veteran-focused companies, particularly in the health and wellness space like Precision Wellness Group (hormone therapy). The host provides detailed, personal ad reads and offers specific discount codes like 'LKO20' or 'LKO15'.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch Lesser Known Operators
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People also ask
- What is the host's real name and background?
- The host is Nicholas Allen, a U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) veteran who served for eight years.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a long-form interview podcast where host Nicholas Allen has informal, one-on-one conversations with other Special Operations veterans.
- What are episodes usually about?
- Episodes focus on the guest's life after the military, including their transition to civilian life, their business or non-profit ventures, and their search for a new purpose.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases episodes regularly, typically on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
- Who are the typical guests?
- Guests are almost always veterans of the Special Operations community, with a strong focus on former Green Berets who have become entrepreneurs or non-profit leaders.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Lesser Known Operators Official Sitelesserknownoperators.com
- [02]Lesser Known Operators on Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [03]Lesser Known Operators on YouTubeyoutube.com
- [04]Broken Brains Podcast: Green Beret Nicholas Allen on TBI, Veteran Resilience & the Fight for Mental Health Reformmpfact.com
- [05]Tactical Fitness Report: To, Through, and After with Lesser Known Operators Nick Allen (Army Special Forces)youtube.com
- [06]DTD Podcast: From Green Beret to Medical Retirement | Nicholas Allen's Story of Resiliencepodcasts.apple.com
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