Operation Pineapple Express Used Signal to Evacuate Afghan Allies

Operation Pineapple Express Used Signal to Evacuate Afghan Allies

Author: Brave Software June 18, 2025 Duration: 39:52

Scott Mann, Ret. U.S. Army Green Beret and Founder of Task Force Pineapple, shares his journey from a Special Forces soldier to a storyteller and actor. He detailed his time as a Green Beret who helped form Task Force Pineapple,  a group of veterans who used technology to coordinate the evacuation of Afghan allies during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

Key Takeaways: 

  • The role of biometric data collection in US Army missions and the Global War on Terror

  • How their unprecedented use of the consumer app, Signal, became a go-to resource for natural disaster management and special operations

  • The critical role of technology and veteran networks in crisis situations

  • His new creative venture: Last Out - an award winning play his touring on stages across the country to provide healing to Veterans and their Families

Guest Bio:
Scott Mann is a former U.S. Army Green Beret with tours in Colombia, Peru, and Afghanistan. He's the founder of Task Force Pineapple, a 501(c)(3) supporting Veterans and Afghan Allies, and the author of Operation Pineapple Express, a New York Times Best Seller. Scott also wrote Nobody is Coming to Save You, a guide to building trust and human connection in divided times. He also hosts The Scott Mann Podcast and is the playwright and star of Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret, an award-winning play honoring the sacrifices of our military community.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

 


Hosted by Brave Software, The Brave Technologist is a series for anyone curious about the real human impact of our digital evolution. It moves past the surface-level buzzwords to ask how technologies like AI, machine learning, and Web3 actually affect everyday decisions, privacy, and the fabric of society. The conversations here are grounded and thoughtful, prioritizing the user's perspective in a landscape often dominated by abstract visions of disruption. You'll hear from builders, thinkers, and technologists who are shaping these tools, discussing not just what is possible, but what is responsible and meaningful. This podcast sits at the intersection of technology, business, and marketing, examining how these forces converge to shape our collective future. It’s for listeners who want to understand the "why" and "for whom" behind the code, offering a nuanced take that is often missing from tech commentary. Tune in for a deeper, more inclusive dialogue about the systems that are redesigning our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Brave Technologist
Podcast Episodes
Future-Proofing AI: Ethics, Accountability and Governance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:32
Jo Davaris, Global Chief Privacy Officer at Booking Holdings, discusses how to build trust in AI, emphasizing privacy and ethical governance as the pillars of AI innovation. We explore the importance of feedback mechanis…
The Role of Analytics in Shaping the Future of MLOps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:42
Sophia Rowland, Senior Product Manager at SAS, discusses her journey from data science to product management at SAS, focusing on the integration of AI and analytics. She explains the concepts of Model Ops and ML Ops, the…
Agentic Workflow and Generative AI for Enterprises [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:25
Vivek Kumar, Director Of CX Innovation & Strategy, Oracle Corporation, discusses the integration of generative AI into enterprise solutions, with a focus on its transformative impact on customer experience and CRM system…
Unplugged: Cellular Privacy in a Surveillance Economy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:34
Ryan Paterson, CEO of Unplugged Technologies, discusses the mission and features of Unplugged, a privacy-focused mobile device aimed at empowering users to regain control over their personal data. He also shares stories…
Privacy and Digital Identity on a Blockchain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:38
Kyle Den Hartog, Security Engineer at Brave Software, discusses emerging use cases for crypto, and their respective privacy implications. He emphasizes the urgency for innovative solutions to safeguard personal informati…
Become a Podcast Thought Leader Using AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:39
Cahill Camden, Founder of Echo Jockey, discusses how the landscape of media is shifting towards podcasts and away from traditional media. He also shares success stories from users of Echo Jockey, highlighting how automat…
New Use Cases For AI and the Brave Search API [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:32
Jan Piotrowski, VP, Head of Brave Search Business discusses the importance of independent search engines and the evolution of Brave Search. Jan shares insights on scaling Brave Search to over 30 million daily queries, em…