The "Shawn Ryan Show" is hosted by Shawn Ryan, former U.S. Navy SEAL, CIA Contractor, and Founder of Vigilance Elite. We tell REAL stories about REAL people fro...
#170 Mike Benz - USAID Funding CIA-Backed Mercenaries, Media Superweapons and Samantha Powers
Mike Benz is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Freedom Online, a non-profit watchdog group dedicated to protecting digital liberties and restoring the free and open Internet. He previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Technology at the US State Department during the Trump administration, where he formulated US policy on Internet diplomacy issues and interfaced with private industry. Benz has been a vocal critic of technological government overreach, most recently in his critiques of USAID and his advocacy against online censorship. He actively brings attention to people and organizations involved in controlling speech on social media.
Prior to his role at the State Department, Benz was a White House speechwriter for President Trump and advised on technology policy. Prior to his public sector work, he practiced business law as an attorney in New York, representing technology companies and financial firms.
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2:39:21
#169 Vivek Ramaswamy - Making Ohio Tax Free, DeepSeek, DOGE and the Education Crisis
Vivek Ramaswamy is a biotech entrepreneur, author, and political figure from Cincinnati, Ohio. He founded Roivant Sciences in 2014, focusing on innovative pharmaceutical development, and later co-founded Strive Asset Management. He is a prominent political figure, campaigning for the 2024 US Presidency before endorsing Donald Trump.
In 2025, Ramaswamy stepped down from his co-leadership role in President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Ramaswamy’s expected run for Ohio governor has reshaped the state’s political landscape, with endorsements from prominent Republicans and a platform centered on tax reforms and reducing government inefficiency.
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1:42:40
#168 Lue Elizondo - X-15 Rocket Plane, UFO Cover-Ups & a Mind-Blowing Google Search
Luis “Lue” Elizondo is a former U.S. Army intelligence officer and UFO researcher. He gained prominence for exposing research at the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a Pentagon initiative investigating unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs).
Since leaving the Pentagon, Elizondo has become a vocal advocate for government transparency regarding UAPs. His memoir, "Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs" debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list. Elizondo continues to advocate disclosure of UAP information, appears in media interviews, and participates in various projects continuing the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
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2:51:06
#167 Lindy Li - Obama’s Third Term, Kamala Paying Beyoncé, Cardi B, and Oprah
Lindy Li, is a former campaign advisor and prominent commentator on U.S. politics who’s made significant contributions to the political landscape. After moving from China to America at the age of five, she eventually attended Princeton University where she became the first woman to serve as class president for all four years. Her early career included roles as a financial analyst at Merck and Morgan Stanley before pivoting to politics, where she served as the Women's Co-Chair and Mid-Atlantic Regional Chair at the Democratic National Committee. She was also involved in the Asian American outreach team for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.
Li has recently transitioned from her Democratic roots to align with conservative politics, citing a toxic culture within her former party as one of many reasons for her departure. She has been vocal in criticising both President Biden and Vice President Harris, claiming that their leadership has stifled dissent within the party. She currently co-chairs the Justice Unites Us Super PAC, focusing on increasing Asian-American voter turnout, and has been recognized as one of Pennsylvania's most powerful women. In January 2025, she was appointed to President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fundraising committee, marking a significant shift in her political affiliations.
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1:45:11
#166 Diana Pasulka - Religious History, UFO Phenomena and the Ancient Mysteries of Purgatory
Diana Walsh Pasulka is a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington who specializes in Catholic history and the intersection of religion, technology, and UFO beliefs. Pasulka's research focuses on how belief in UFOs and extraterrestrial life has influenced traditional religions and modern culture. Her notable works include "Heaven Can Wait," "American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology," and "Encounters: Experiences with Non-Human Intelligences". She holds a B.A. from the University of California, Davis, an M.A. from Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University.
Pasulka's ongoing research explores the religious aspects of UFO phenomena and non-human intelligence encounters. She has collaborated with prestigious publishing houses, appeared on high profile media platforms, and consulted for films about religious supernatural themes. Pasulka is currently leading a translation project of Saint Joseph of Copertino's canonization records in cooperation with the Vatican Apostolic Archive. Her work continues to bridge the gap between academic religious studies and contemporary beliefs in extraterrestrial phenomena, solidifying her position as a leading expert in this unique field of study.
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The "Shawn Ryan Show" is hosted by Shawn Ryan, former U.S. Navy SEAL, CIA Contractor, and Founder of Vigilance Elite. We tell REAL stories about REAL people from all walks of life. We discuss the ups and downs, wins and losses, successes and struggles, the good and bad in a respectful but candid way with our guest. We're better than entertainment, we're the REAL thing. Please enjoy the show.