The Spear

Charlie Faint

Booking Overview

This interview podcast focuses on combat experience, military leadership, and decision-making under pressure, typically featuring military officers, combat veterans, and national security practitioners with firsthand operational experience. Credible pitches include decorated veterans, senior military leaders, special operations professionals, and experts on military innovation or national security; booking is likely high difficulty because recent guests hold senior command, combat, or specialized operational credentials.

Metrics

Episodes: 225

Frequency: Biweekly

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Estimated listeners: 10k-100k

Gender skew: Male

Location: USA

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

johnamble@gmail.com

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Host

Charlie Faint - Dr. Charlie Faint is a host and interviewer with the Modern War Institute at West Point, focusing on detailed personal accounts of combat, military service, leadership, and professional development.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

high

Typical Credentials:

Firsthand combat, military, special operations, intelligence, military medical, or national security experience, generally combined with command responsibility, specialized operational expertise, distinguished service, or significant leadership and professional-development experience.

Required Achievements:

Senior command or leadership positions, Combat deployments and operational experience, Specialized military or national security expertise, Military awards and decorations, Leadership of major military organizations or initiatives

Recent Guest Discussions

Julio Santos - Special Operations Culture, Enlisted Leadership, Selection Standards, Teamwork, Accountability, Training, And Preserving Organizational Excellence.

Sean Karrels - Special Operations Aviation, Leadership, Military Culture, Mission Command, Accountability, Training, Disciplined Initiative, And Preparing For Future Conflict.

Chaveso Chevy Cook - Psychological Operations, Nonkinetic Effects, Influence And Communication, Cyber And Information Operations, Leadership, Writing, Education, And Mentorship.

Michael Villahermosa - Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Combat Leadership, Decision-making Under Fire, Nco-officer Relationships, Military Service, Professional Writing, And Mentorship.

Tiffany Bilderback - Coalition Building, Military Medical Leadership, Security Assistance, Ukraine, Partner-force Development, Trust-building, Accountability, And Leader Development.

Recent Topics

Military, Combat, Military Leadership, Special Operations, National Security

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on

The Spear

ISAF Planner in Afghanistan

September 24, 2026

In this episode with host Dr. Charlie Faint, retired Colonel Pat Howell reflects on a career that took him from the 82nd Airborne Division and conventional engineer units to the 75th Ranger Regiment, strategic planning in Afghanistan, Joint Special Operations Command, and ultimately leadership of the Modern War Institute at West Point. Pat describes how strong noncommissioned officers and demanding organizations shaped his approach to leadership, particularly the need to balance leading by pe...

Night Stalkers Don’t Quit: An Interview With the Command Team of the 160th SOAR

September 10, 2026

In this episode of The Spear, host Charlie Faint sits down with the command team of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Colonel Sean Karrels and Command Sergeant Major Julio Santos, for a conversation about the people, leadership, and culture behind the Night Stalkers. Drawing on decades of experience in Army aviation and special operations, the two discuss their paths into the regiment, what the 160th looks for in its soldiers and leaders, and why teamwork, disciplined initiative...

Psychological Operations in Combat and on the Joint Staff

August 27, 2026

In this episode, Colonel Chaveso “Chevy” Cook sits down with MWI's Charlie Faint to recount a career that took him from a South Carolina JROTC classroom to West Point and then on to combat deployments, the psychological operations career field, academia, and ultimately the Joint Staff, where he advised senior national security leaders on nonkinetic effects. Chevy reflects on how early mentors, wartime service, and unconventional assignments taught him to see military problems from increasingl...

Publicly listed emails

johnamble@gmail.com

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