The rule was 500 feet. A Navy SEAL was pinned down. Ryan “Max Afterburner” Bodenheimer had a decision to make.
Former F-15E combat pilot and F-16 Thunderbirds demonstration pilot Max Afterburner joins John Lovell to share the stories behind the cockpit—from a low-altitude rescue mission in Afghanistan to a close call in a Thunderbirds formation.
Ryan also opens up about losing his best friend during flight training, the “dark night of the soul” that tested his faith, and finding the strength to fly again. Along the way, he teaches John how pilots handle G-forces, explains how he earned the call sign “Neo,” and discusses AI, the future of fighter aviation, and leadership under pressure.
Get Ryan’s book, Take Command:
https://mysignedcopy.com/en-us/products/take-command
Watch Max Afterburner on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MaxAfterburnerusa
Up Next in JLS: Season 1
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Want Better Sex in Your Marriage? Sta...
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John Lovell sits down with Ryan Frederick of Fierce Marriage for a candid conversation about sex, trust, and pursuing your wife. After 23 years of marriage, Ryan says intimacy can get better with time. But...
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Why Our Marriage Was So Hard | Roles,...
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John and Bekah Lovell open up about the power struggles, selfishness, and communication mistakes that made their early years so difficult. John admits that leading men on a battlefield didn’t prepare him to lead well as a husband....
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John Lovell sits down with Christian apologist and author Frank Turek for a powerful conversation about truth, faith, culture, and the battle over reality itself. Frank shares his personal perspective on his fri...
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