On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie Gallagher and Dave sit down with retired Marine and former law enforcement officer Sean Kirby for a conversation about the Marine Corps, military brotherhood, combat, fallen officers, and the importance of remembering those who gave their lives in service to others.

Sean shares how growing up in Pensacola, Florida, watching action movies, and hearing stories from friends who served in the military inspired him to pursue a career in the Marine Corps. What started as a decision to join alongside a friend turned into a career spanning more than two decades, taking him from the infantry to marksmanship instruction, and deployments overseas.

As Eddie and Sean revisit their early years in the military, they discover that they served in the same Marine Corps battalion and even shared a deployment more than 25 years ago. Together, they reflect on the culture of the Marine Corps during that time, the demanding standards they experienced, and the brotherhood that shaped their lives long after leaving the service.Sean also shares how the September 11 attacks changed the direction of his career.

After initially leaving the Marine Corps with plans to pursue a career with the U.S. Marshals Service, he made the decision to reenlist rather than remain on the sidelines while his former brothers prepared for war.The conversation explores the differences between the Marine Corps they experienced and the military of today, including changes in training, leadership, discipline, and the warrior mentality that initially inspired them to serve.

Sean also opens up about his experiences in Iraq, including his time in Fallujah and the Marines he served alongside during combat operations. He and Eddie share stories about the men who influenced their careers, the realities of operating in dangerous environments, and the friendships that remain long after their time in uniform.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, Sean found himself struggling to find the same sense of purpose he had experienced throughout his military career.That changed when he became involved with the End of Watch Memorial Ruck, an organization dedicated to honoring fallen law enforcement officers and ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.

Sean explains how the annual event brings together veterans, law enforcement officers, families, and community members for a grueling 42-hour ruck march. Participants walk one mile every 30 minutes, carrying weighted packs and individual memorial weights representing officers who lost their lives. Along the way, their names and stories are shared, reminding everyone that behind every badge was a person, a family, and a life that mattered.

The conversation takes an emotional turn as Sean shares stories of fallen officers and the families who continue showing up year after year to honor their loved ones. He explains why remembering these individuals means more than simply recognizing their service and how the End of Watch Memorial Ruck has given him a renewed sense of purpose after leaving the military.Together, Eddie, Dave, and Sean discuss Marine Corps culture, combat deployments, military brotherhood, law enforcement, fallen officers, life after military service, leadership, sacrifice, and the importance of finding something bigger than yourself to serve.

This episode is a reminder that service doesn't end when you take off the uniform—and that the men and women who gave everything deserve to have their stories told long after they're gone.

End of Watch Memorial RuckOctober 9–11, 2026 | Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds

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On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie Gallagher and Dave sit down with former Navy SEAL and DEVGRU operator Dr. Dan Luna for a conversation about combat, elite military training, trauma, resilience, addiction, and the psychological toll of spending nearly two decades in some of the most demanding environments in the military.Dan shares how growing up without a father led him to seek out strong male role models and eventually pursue one of the most difficult challenges he could find: becoming a Navy SEAL. He reflects on his early years at SEAL Team One, where he served alongside Eddie, and the culture of brotherhood, mentorship, and relentless training that shaped their careers. Together, they revisit their first encounters, deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and the experiences that prepared them for the realities of combat.The conversation takes a deeper look inside BUD/S and Hell Week, where physical exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and psychological pressure push candidates beyond what they believe they can endure. Eddie and Dan share stories from their time as instructors, including the mind games used to test students, the consequences of quitting, and why they believe the standards of SEAL training must remain demanding.Dan also opens up about his experience pursuing a position at DEVGRU, including being cut from Green Team just days before graduation. Despite already being an experienced Navy SEAL, the rejection left him struggling with anger, shame, and self-doubt for nearly a year. He explains how that experience changed his understanding of failure and why he now approaches those who fall short of their goals differently.After years of combat deployments, Dan began experiencing the cumulative effects of injuries, burnout, family struggles, and the relentless pressure to perform. He reflects on the internal battles that can follow a career built around strength and toughness, including the difficulty of separating personal worth from professional achievement.The conversation then turns to Dan's work beyond the military and his research into trauma, suffering, and resilience. Drawing from his experiences as a Navy SEAL and his doctoral studies, he explores how childhood experiences, negative self-talk, and unresolved trauma can influence the way people approach success, relationships, and adversity throughout their lives.Eddie, Dave, and Dan also discuss the difference between pushing yourself to become stronger and allowing that same drive to become destructive. They reflect on the voices in their own heads, the pressure to constantly achieve more, and the challenge of learning to accept themselves after spending years in environments where being good enough was never enough.Together, they explore Navy SEAL training, DEVGRU selection, combat deployments, military leadership, childhood trauma, failure, addiction, mental health, personal identity, and the importance of finding purpose beyond a military career.This episode is a look at the psychological battles that can follow even the most accomplished warriors—and how Dan's experiences in combat, failure, and personal growth have shaped his understanding of what it truly means to be strong.Dan Luna:Website: https://www.google.com/search?q=suicide+prevention+month&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS740US740&oq=suicide+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDQgFEAAYgwEYsQMYgAQyDwgAEEUYOxiDARixAxiABDIKCAEQLhixAxiABDIGCAIQRRg5Mg0IAxAAGIMBGLEDGIAEMgoIBBAAGLEDGIAEMg0IBRAAGIMBGLEDGIAEMg0IBhAuGIMBGLEDGIAEMhAIBxAAGIMBGLEDGIAEGIoFMgoICBAuGLEDGIAEMgcICRAAGI8C0gEINDg2MmowajeoAhmwAgHiAwQYASBf8QUoRWe8GKsJQPEFKEVnvBirCUA&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8#lfId=ChxjMe Follow Shoot Me Straight:📸 Instagram: @shootmestraight🎙️ Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple PodcastsSponsors:Elevated Silence - Use Code SMASH15https://elevatedsilence.com)Firecracker Farmhttps://firecracker.farmPatriot Poucheshttps://patriotpouchusa.com

On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie Gallagher and Dave sit down with Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Mendez and returning guest Bruce Bailey for a conversation about law enforcement, drugs, online predators, human trafficking, protecting children, and what it takes to clean up a city built around tourism.

J.R. shares how a kid from San Antonio who never planned on becoming a cop ended up joining the Marine Corps, becoming a military police officer, and eventually finding his way to Panama City Beach. After starting on patrol, he spent nearly a decade working undercover narcotics, watching the drug landscape shift from cocaine and meth to Florida’s pill mill and opioid epidemic. Eventually, the revolving door of addiction left him questioning how much difference enforcement alone could actually make.

That search for a greater impact led J.R. into Internet Crimes Against Children investigations. He opens up about going undercover online, investigating predators, and seeing firsthand how smartphones, social media, pornography, and new technology have completely changed the access predators have to children. After years of those investigations, J.R. created Parents Against Predators, a program designed to show parents exactly what their children may be exposed to online and how to recognize the warning signs.

Bruce and J.R. also discuss human trafficking and the darker side of communities that depend heavily on tourism—including why problems like sexual exploitation and date-rape drugs can be difficult to openly address when businesses and local economies depend on maintaining a certain image.

The conversation then turns to J.R.’s role as Police Chief and the approach he has taken to changing Panama City Beach. Rather than avoiding problems or trying to please everyone, J.R. says he built a culture where officers are expected to do their jobs for the right reasons, while being held accountable when they don’t. His message to visitors is simple: come to Panama City Beach, have a great time, and leave with good memories—but if you come to commit crimes, expect consequences.

Together, Eddie, Dave, J.R., and Bruce discuss the Marine Corps, undercover police work, the opioid epidemic, online predators, human trafficking, parenting in the age of smartphones and AI, mental health, youth crime, law enforcement, leadership, accountability, and the realities communities face when protecting the public conflicts with protecting an image.

This episode is a look inside the problems most people never see—and why J.R. believes confronting them directly is the only way to actually make a difference.

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