Support the Cause Here: https://bornprimitive.com/Bear Handlon: From Navy SEAL Battlefields to Building a Fitness Empire Meet Bear Handlon, a true embodiment of grit, discipline, and unyielding drive—a former Navy SEAL officer, Yale athlete, and visionary entrepreneur who's redefined what it means to "work hard, wear easy."
Born and raised in the heartland of Indiana, Bear's journey began on the gridiron, where he honed his competitive edge as a middle linebacker for the Yale Bulldogs. But Bear didn't stop at football; in 2013, he channeled that same intensity into the world of functional fitness, competing at the prestigious CrossFit Games as part of a team—a testament to his early passion for pushing physical and mental limits.
Fresh out of Yale, Bear's path took a pivotal turn toward service. In the spring of 2014, just months before commissioning into the U.S. Navy, he co-founded Born Primitive alongside his partner (and now wife) Mallory Handlon (née Riley). What started as a simple idea—crafting high-performance compression shorts sewn by a neighbor to better support Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit sessions—quickly evolved into a garage-side hustle. As Bear reported for duty, he and Mallory bootstrapped the brand from their modest setup, turning late-night shipments into a foundation for something extraordinary.
Over the next nearly 8 years, Bear served with distinction as a Navy SEAL officer in the Special Operations community, deploying on high-stakes missions that demanded the very resilience he infused into his fledgling company. Balancing classified operations with entrepreneurial demands, Bear led SEAL teams while remotely guiding Born Primitive's growth. It was a masterclass in multitasking under fire: no outside capital, no safety nets—just raw determination. By the time he transitioned out of active duty, Born Primitive had exploded from a one-product wonder into a global lifestyle powerhouse. Today, as Co-Founder and CEO, Bear oversees a 9-figure fitness, athleisure, and outdoor apparel brand that's synonymous with durability, style, and performance. From moisture-wicking tees that withstand the toughest WODs to versatile gear for everyday warriors, Born Primitive's motto—"Work Hard, Wear Easy"—mirrors Bear's ethos of excellence without compromise.
Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7
Kagan Dunlap Show Links:
Website - https://kagandunlapshow.com/
X - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShow
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=en
Bear Handlon Links:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bearhandlon
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bear-handlon-699688152/
Retired Master Sergeant Earl D. Plumlee, is an American Green Beret and Medal of Honor Recipient from Clinton, Oklahoma. He kicked off his military journey in 1998 with the U.S. Army National Guard, then switched to the Marine Corps in 2000, serving as a Force Reconnaissance Marine until 2008. Rejoining the Army in 2009, he became a Weapons Sergeant with the elite 1st Special Forces Group.
Plumlee was presented with the Medal of Honor on Dec. 16, 2021 for his actions while responding to an attack by insurgents on Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan on Aug. 28, 2013.
Since retiring from the U.S. Army in December 2023 after 25 years of service, Master Sergeant Earl D. Plumlee has channeled his heroism into veteran advocacy and public service. He serves as a Business Development Manager and senior technical training professional in Saab, Inc.'s Land Systems Division, supporting military readiness and innovation.
A sought-after speaker, Plumlee delivered keynote addresses at events like the 2025 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting—sharing lessons on leadership forged in combat—and the Secure Forward conference, while appearing on Veterans Radio to recount his Medal of Honor actions.
Inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame in October 2024, he continues inspiring through initiatives that honor fallen heroes and empower service members.
Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7
Kagan Dunlap Show Links:
Website - https://kagandunlapshow.com/
X - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShow
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=en
Earl Plumlee Links:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/earl_plumlee_official/
Army 1st Lt. Austin von Letkemann, better known by his Instagram handle Mandatory Funday is a rising comic influencer and U.S. Army intelligence officer who has amassed over 3 million followers and hundreds of millions of monthly viewers through his uplifting, humorous content.
Letkemann shares his unexpected journey from personal setbacks to viral stardom, having joined the Army out of curiosity amid life's challenges. Transitioning into a public affairs role where he'll craft content for the Army—"flying the plane as we build it," as he puts it—Letkemann launched his content creation in 2022 with a simple formula: film a short video, post it, and repeat thousands of times.
His posts celebrate leadership, military life, and fatherhood, aiming to inject positivity and laughter into the service community. A devoted father to four daughters—who fill his world with "activity and sparkles"—Letkemann balances family with passions for weightlifting and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7
Kagan Dunlap Show Links:
Website - https://kagandunlapshow.com/
X - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShow
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=en
Mandatory Funday Links:
Instagram - https://instagram.com/mandatoryfunday
Facebook - https://facebook.com/MandatoryFunDay
TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/mandatoryfunday
YouTube - https://youtube.com/channel/UCq_IooL5-mnPOXnjxxfRMrA
X - https://x.com/@monotonemustang
Doug Collins is a distinguished public servant, military veteran, pastor, and legal expert whose remarkable journey has taken him from the halls of Georgia's state legislature to the highest echelons of national leadership. A proud veteran, Collins has dedicated much of his adult life to defending his country. He served in the United States Navy Reserve and later joined the United States Air Force Reserve in 2002, where he continues to serve to this day. Collins' represented the people of Georgia as a member of the state House of Representatives from 2007 to 2012. In 2012, he was elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, going on to serve in the three succeeding Congresses from January 3, 2013, to January 3, 2021. As of 2025, Doug Collins holds one of the most vital positions in the Trump administration: Secretary of Veterans' Affairs in the Cabinet of President Donald J. Trump. In this role, he champions the needs of America's heroes, working tirelessly to expand access to healthcare, streamline benefits, and honor the sacrifices of those who have served. Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:Website - https://kagandunlapshow.com/X - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enDoug Collins Links:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secvetaffairs/X - https://x.com/SecVetAffairsX - https://x.com/repdougcollins?lang=en
Ben and Jessica Owen, founders of Flanders Fields and We Fight Monsters, have dedicated their lives to combating opiate and fentanyl addiction and sex-trafficking in the mid-south. Both recovering addicts with a tumultuous past including drug arrests and homelessness, they've transformed their struggles into a force for good. Leveraging experiences from running safehouses during the Afghanistan evacuation, they now establish sober-living homes in the U.S., converting dope houses into recovery spaces. Working alongside agencies and street gangs, they embody hope and recovery, turning their once perilous paths into lifelines for others.Ben is the President of digital media and data intel company Black Rifle Co, co-founder of We Fight Monsters, and CEO of Flanders Fields, where his mission is to build and establish as many Flanders owned clean living facilities as possible to get veterans clean and off the streets through volunteer missions in the United States and around the world. Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:Website - https://kagandunlapshow.com/X - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enBen Owen Links:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/therealbenowen/?hl=enLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealbenowenFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/wefightmonsters/Black Rifle Co - https://www.blackrifle.company/Flanders Fields - https://flandersfields.org/We Fight Monsters - https://wefightmonsters.org/Once American - https://onceamerican.com/
In this episode of the Kagan Dunlap Show, Jack Carr—Retired Navy Seal and Number 1 New York Times Best Selling Author—joins Kagan to share his powerful life story, his experiences in the U.S. Navy and as an author of the Military Community.
From a young age, Jack Carr had two dreams: serving his country in uniform as a Navy SEAL and becoming an author. Following twenty years in the SEAL Teams, Jack shifted his sights to publishing and fulfilled his literary objective with the release of his debut novel, The Terminal List.
Since then, he has continued to captivate readers worldwide with the gripping tales of James Reece in his New York Times bestselling novels True Believer, Savage Son, The Devil’s Hand, In the Blood, Only the Dead, and Red Sky Mourning. The next Terminal List series thriller, Cry Havoc, hits shelves October 7, 2025.
The Terminal List was adapted into the #1 Amazon Prime Video series starring Chris Pratt and is currently filming a second season based on Jack’s novel True Believer.
Jack’s first non-fiction work, Targeted: Beirut – The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Origin Story of the War on Terror was an instant New York Times bestseller.
Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7
Kagan Dunlap Show Links:
Website - https://kagandunlapshow.com/
X - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShow
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=en
Jack Carr Links:
Website - https://www.officialjackcarr.com/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/jackcarrusa
X - https://x.com/JackCarrUSA
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jackcarrusa/
Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jackcarrusa?lang=en
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcarrusa/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7eUrbVoYVJF9kJc1GjBBwz?si=bedf1ea5a28e4623
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jackcarrusa/
In this episode of the Kagan Dunlap Show, James Everett Livingston—Veteran of Vietnam, Medal Of Honor Recipient, and Retired Marine Corps Major General—joins Kagan to share his powerful life story, his experiences in the Marine Corps, and his experience in Vietnam during the battle of Dai Do while he was serving as the Commanding Officer for Company E of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade.
Livingston retired on Sept. 1, 1995, after a 33-year career. However, he has remained active in the military community. He wrote a book about his experiences, called "Noble Warrior," and he continues to take part in military awareness campaigns and veterans' events, including a recent Army Corps of Engineers leadership development program at his current hometown of Charleston, South Carolina.
Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7
Kagan Dunlap Show Links:
Website - https://kagandunlapshow.com/
X - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShow
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=en
In this episode of the Kagan Dunlap Show, Eric Tansey—former Army Paratrooper and combat veteran turned professional Podcaster and comedian—joins Kagan to share his story of his time in the Army National Guard and his time as a police officer in North Carolina.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:Website - https://kagandunlapshow.com/X - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enEric Tansey Social Links:His Book - https://www.amazon.com/Pig-Latin-Seriously-Former-Officer-ebook/dp/B0DJ3VLNRZInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/erictansey_official/?hl=enLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-tansey-38a194125/X - https://x.com/tansey_eric
Congresswoman Nancy Mace was born on December 4, 1977, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and has represented South Carolina's 1st Congressional District since 2021.
She Graduated from The Citadel in 1999 as the first woman in it's Corps of Cadets, Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration magna cum laude, and later obtained a master's in journalism and mass communications from the University of Georgia in 2004.
Before politics, she authored the book " In the Company of Men: A Woman at The Citadel" (2001), founded a public relations firm, and co-owned a political news website.
Elected to Congress as the first Republican woman from South Carolina, she has been re-elected in 2022 and 2024, chairs the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, and in August 2025 announced her candidacy for Governor of South Carolina in 2026.
William Richardson Timmons IV, born on April 30, 1984, in Greenville, South Carolina, is a Republican U.S. Congressman representing South Carolina's 4th congressional district since 2019, following his service as a state senator from 2016 to 2018. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in international affairs and political science from George Washington University, where he played Division I tennis, along with a Juris Doctor and Master of Arts in international studies from the University of South Carolina, and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy from New York University. Congressman Timmons, is also serving as a Captain and JAG officer in the South Carolina Air National Guard and has been since 2018.
Wesley Hunt is currently serving his second term in Congress as the Representative of the 38th District of Texas.
Congressman Wesley Hunt was born and raised in Houston, TX, in a military family and is a proud St. John's School alumnus. Upon graduation from St. John's, Wesley accepted an appointment at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
In 2004, he graduated from West Point and spent eight years in the Army as an Apache helicopter pilot.
Wesley's service included one deployment to Iraq, where he flew 55 combat air missions, and two deployments to Saudi Arabia as a Diplomatic Liaison Officer.
Upon completion of his military service as a Captain, Wesley attended Cornell University and earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), and a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations (M.I.L.R.).
Wesley has served as a U.S. Congressman since 2023 and sits on the House Natural Resources and Judiciary Committees.
In addition to his military and Congressional service, President Trump appointed Wesley to the United States Military Academy Board of Visitors in 2025.
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/kagan_dunlap Gaming Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapGamesX: https://twitter.com/kagan_m_dunlap?lang=en Join My Discord: https://discord.gg/UH5zUBPJnn Check out my Merch: https://www.bunkerbranding.com/pages/kagan-dunlap
Doug Collins is the 12th U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. A veteran, Air Force Reserve chaplain, and former Georgia congressman.
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/kagan_dunlap Gaming Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapGamesX: https://twitter.com/kagan_m_dunlap?lang=en Join My Discord: https://discord.gg/UH5zUBPJnn Check out my Merch: https://www.bunkerbranding.com/pages/kagan-dunlap
Sergeant Veronica Ochoa is a Marine Corps Water Purification Specialist by trade but is currently on recruiting duty in Portland Oregon.
Shawn Hendrix is a former Chief of Staff at Mr. Beast, and has been in the film and video industry for a long time. Originally from Texas, Shawn is now living in North Carolina and is heavily involved in philanthropy which began during his time with Mr. Beast.
Callie is a member of the U.S. Army National Guard and is an avid fitness enthusiast who shares her experiences on social media to showcase how service to the nation has impacted her life.
Follow me on:
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/kagan_dunlap X: https://twitter.com/kagan_m_dunlap?lang=en
Join My Discord: https://discord.gg/UH5zUBPJnn
Check out my Merch: https://www.bunkerbranding.com/pages/kagan-dunlap
Chef Rush retired from the US Army as a Master Sergeant and is known as one of the top chefs in the United States. He has represented the US Army in countless capacities over the years and he even served as the White House Chef for four separate Presidential Administrations
Andrew Bailey is an Army Veteran, and also the Attorney General for the State of Missouri. His current focus is on defending free speech and freedom of expression and I had a chance to sit down with him and ask him about how that is proceeding.
Dean Goble is the Director of Black Rifle Coffee Philanthropy and Raegan Hunsaker is the Event Director for Black Rifle Coffee Company. Both are amazing people and do a ton to support the community.
Follow me on: X: https://twitter.com/kagan_m_dunlap?lang=en
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/kagan_dunlap
Join My Discord: https://discord.gg/UH5zUBPJnn
Check out my Merch: https://www.bunkerbranding.com/pages/kagan-dunlap
Check Out My Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-podcast/id1734065968
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=d1a97b2f278946a0
Orin Julie is a Reservist Israeli Defense Force Officer and firearms enthusiast. She is also an outspoken mental health advocate and Israeli super model. She has well over hundreds of thousands of followers and subscribers across all platforms and uses her platforms to discuss gun safety, mental health and socioeconomic and geopolitical states of the world.
Colonel Adam Bryson is a Communications Officer by trade and works in the Office of The Deputy Commandant for Information Warfare. Information warfare (IW) is the use of information and communication technology to gain an advantage over an opponent. It involves actions to deny, exploit, corrupt, or destroy an enemy's information, while protecting one's own information and exploiting the enemy's. IW is different from cyberwarfare, which targets computers, software, and command control systems, while IW targets information itself.
