#249: Interrogator, Author, Lawyer with MSgt Jonathan Hackett (Ret.)

#249: Interrogator, Author, Lawyer with MSgt Jonathan Hackett (Ret.)

Posted on: June 25,2026

Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Thank you for joining us and your continued support. This week, we welcome Jonathan Hackett to the scuttlebutt. Jonathan is a retired MARSOC operator, intelligence specialist and interrogator, the author of the books, Theory of Irregular War and Iran’s Shadow Weapons, and is now a student at Yale Law School. He has been the expert guest on multiple news outlets, such as Al Jazeera and CBS News, so I have no idea how we were able to get him on our show, but we are so honored to have him. Jonathan talks to us about his path to the yellow footprints, his journey in the special forces world and experiences as a key interrogator during the Global War on Terror, and what he is up to now. He’s got some great advice for transitioning veterans and how to balance being goal-oriented and ambitious, while simultaneously slowing down and appreciating where you are. For someone so accomplished, he is remarkably humble and level-headed, which makes his insight and perspective so much more appealing.

Also, we’ll be taking a break for the 4^th of July holiday but will be back the following week with our 250^th episode. We said this back in episode 100, and then again in 200, but I’ll say it again…we had no idea when we started that we would be going 250 episodes strong. We are so lucky and have all you listeners and our wonderful guest to thank. And the empty sound studio here at the MCA. But mostly you listeners and our guests. A most sincere thank you and appreciation for all your support.

We have recently updated our Privacy Policy. Click to learn more.