Episode 20 - LTC Scott Mann, USA (Ret): Green Beret, Warrior Storyteller, and NYT Best-Selling Author

LTC Scott Mann, USA (Ret): Green Beret, Warrior Storyteller, and NYT Best-Selling Author

In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, I sit down with Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Scott Mann—former U.S. Army Green Beret, warrior storyteller, and a leading voice on human connection and post-conflict leadership. With decades of experience operating in high-trust, high-stakes environments across Colombia, Peru, and Afghanistan, Scott has become a champion for relational leadership in an increasingly disconnected world.

As founder of Rooftop Leadership and author of the New York Times bestseller “Operation Pineapple Express", Scott has taken his battlefield lessons beyond the military, helping leaders bridge divides, build trust, and lead with authenticity. Whether through his writing, podcast, or the nationally touring play “Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret”, Scott’s work reminds us that leadership starts with human connection—and that nobody is coming to save us but us.

In this episode, Scott shares:

• How a chance encounter with a Green Beret in Arkansas sparked lifelong service

• The inspiration behind “Nobody is Coming to Save You” and why human connection is a leadership imperative

• What “The Churn” is—and how it’s quietly dismantling our capacity to lead, relate, and find meaning

• How shadow tribalism and “outsourcing our agency” are reshaping society

• The behind-the-scenes story of Operation Pineapple Express and the emotional aftermath of Afghanistan’s withdrawal

• The critical role storytelling plays in cultivating humanity and connecting communities

• Top challenges GWOT veterans and their families face and best practices for post-9/11 military life.

• Hope, wisdom, and hard-earned advice for navigating life’s toughest chapters

With grit, candor, and deep purpose, Scott delivers a powerful message about personal responsibility, community, and courage in the face of chaos. Whether you’ve worn a uniform, led a team, or simply want to live more intentionally—this conversation will stay with you long after the episode ends.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking episode!

Catch the podcast episode online:

• YouTube - click here to listen

• Spotify - click here to listen

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About the Guest:

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Scott Mann is a former U.S. Army Green Beret with tours all over the world including Colombia, Peru, and multiple tours in Afghanistan. He is a warrior storyteller, host of The Scott Mann Podcast, and the founder of Rooftop Leadership and Scott Mann Leadership Academy, where he shares the rapport-building and storytelling skills he learned in Special Forces to help today's leaders make better human connections in high-stakes, low-trust engagements.

Scott is the author of Nobody is Coming to Save You, a leadership field guide to making better human connections in this time of division, and the instant New York Times Best-Seller, Operation Pineapple Express, a third-person narrative detailing the harrowing stories of the Veterans, volunteers, and Afghan Allies who navigated the US abandonment of Afghanistan in August of 2021. Scott is also a playwright and actor with his award-winning play, Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret, touring stages across the country to provide healing to our Veterans and Families of the Fallen, as well as providing insight to our citizens on the personal cost of the longest war in our Nation’s history.

To learn more about Scott’s full body of work, visit ScottMann.com.