Navy SEAL Operator: From 9/11 to Fighting ISIS | Joe Taverner

Navy SEAL Operator: From 9/11 to Fighting ISIS | Joe Taverner

Author: dee takos May 9, 2026 Duration: 1:29:01
The Team House
HistoryCultureDocumentaryGovernmentSocietySociety & Culture
Former Navy SEAL Joe Taverner joins us to discuss his career from joining the Navy before 9/11 to deployments in the Philippines, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the fight against ISIS. He breaks down hunting Abu Sayyaf in Zamboanga, working with Polish GROM in Baghdad, the Battle of Najaf, and the 2016 Battle of Tel Skuf where Charlie Keating was killed in action.
This episode also covers leadership after loss, how the SEAL Teams evolved during the GWOT, and Joe’s current work in directed energy weapons, laser defense, and counter-drone technology.
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00:00 — Start
01:08 — Joining the Navy in 1999 and choosing the SEAL Teams
03:31 — 9/11 during workups and the war becoming real
05:31 — First deployment: the Philippines, Zamboanga, and Abu Sayyaf
10:27 — Hunting Abu Sabaya and the boat interdiction mission
13:24 — From pre-9/11 FID missions to real combat deployments
16:41 — Iraq 2004: working with Polish GROM in Baghdad
19:46 — The Battle of Najaf and fighting through urban combat
24:04 — Iraq 2007: Haditha, partner forces, and the SEAL Teams evolving
31:10 — Afghanistan 2009: Khost, partner forces, and the CIA base attack
36:08 — Afghanistan 2014: the Tangi Valley, firefights, and tribal realities
40:12 — Iraq 2016: Mosul, ISIS, and the Battle of Tel Skuf
48:43 — Charlie Keating killed in action and the medevac under fire
51:13 — Leading after loss: keeping the platoon focused after Charlie’s death
01:04:52 — Transitioning out of the military and finding the next mission
01:07:13 — Directed energy weapons, laser defense, and the future of counter-drone warfare
01:20:31 — TBI, veteran recovery programs, Home Base, and closing thoughts


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Hosted by Jack Murphy, The Team House is a long-form conversation built around a simple, powerful premise: to understand national security, you need to listen to the people who have been there. This podcast deliberately steps away from the partisan noise, offering a fiercely apolitical space where special operations veterans, intelligence professionals, and frontline reporters can share their experiences and analysis. Many guests here are speaking publicly for the very first time, providing raw, firsthand accounts that you won't find elsewhere. Each episode is a deep dive into the realities of conflict, the nuanced tradecraft of intelligence work, and the underlying geopolitical forces that shape global events. The conversations are detailed, often technical, and always grounded in the lived expertise of the guests. Alongside this main show, the The Team House network includes the sister program Eyes On Geopolitics, hosted by Mick Mulroy, Andy Milburn, and Jason Lyons, which continues the focus on global dynamics with a similarly experienced lens. For listeners seeking substance over soundbites, this podcast delivers complex narratives about modern warfare, espionage, and international relations, told directly by the individuals who have operated within these shadowed worlds. It’s a rare opportunity to hear unfiltered perspectives on the most critical security challenges of our time, making each episode an immersive lesson in the human and strategic dimensions of power.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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