Book Michael T. Lester
Available for podcasts, panels, and media appearances on U.S. foreign policy, national security, and the gap between American ideals and American actions.
Request an Interview Email DirectlyMedia Appearances
Recent Interviews
Full episodes, clips, and show notes available on request.
The Shawn Ryan Show — Episode 289: “Is the United States Going to War with Iran For Israel?”
2026 | Video Podcast
966,000+ views
Deep-dive on Israeli influence in U.S. politics, Operation Epic Fury, and the structural forces driving American foreign policy. One of the most-viewed episodes in the show’s recent history.
Watch Episode →“Is AIPAC Influencing U.S. Policy?” — YouTube Short
2026 | Short-form Video
9,500,000+ views
Clipped from the Shawn Ryan Show appearance. The most-viewed piece of content from any of Michael’s appearances — demonstrates the audience appetite for his argument delivered concisely.
The Shawn Ryan Show — Episode 277: “Are We the Bad Guys?”
2025 | Video Podcast
724,000+ views
First appearance covering U.S. foreign intervention, propaganda, and the long-term consequences of American power. Drew directly from documented research in We Are the Bad Guys.
Watch Episode →KPFA Flashpoints Radio
2025/2026 | Radio / Podcast
Interview with Kevin Pina on U.S. foreign policy, covert operations, and the documented record of American intervention. KPFA is one of the longest-running independent radio stations in the United States.
S.O.S. (Stories of Service) — Apple Podcasts
2025/2026 | Podcast
“Power, Propaganda, and the Consequences of American Empire” — a deep-dive on U.S. foreign policy, information control, and the real costs of American military engagement, with a show built around the stories of those who served.
Listen on Apple Podcasts →NewsX — India (Multiple Appearances)
2025/2026 | Television
Two appearances on India’s national English-language news network discussing U.S. foreign policy from the perspective of an American military veteran and researcher.
What We Can Cover
Interview Topics
Each topic is grounded in primary sources — declassified documents, official records, and firsthand observation. No speculation. No partisan framing.
Why the World Sees America Differently
The gap between American self-image and international perception — and why it matters more now than at any point since the Cold War.
Coups, Covert Operations & Regime Change
The documented history of U.S. intervention across Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia — from primary sources, not ideology.
How Propaganda Works Without a Ministry
How information bubbles are constructed and maintained in a decentralized media environment — and why Americans are often the last to know.
Economic Warfare — The Invisible Weapon
Sanctions, financial coercion, and the mechanisms that enforce global compliance without deploying a single soldier.
Israeli Influence in U.S. Politics
The documented record of AIPAC, foreign military financing, and how institutional incentives shape U.S. foreign policy decisions. Sourced directly from FEC filings and congressional records.
What the Military Actually Taught Me
First-hand observations from service across Asia and the Middle East that contradicted the official narrative — and what that contradiction launched.
Short Bio — For Hosts and Producers
Michael T. Lester is a decorated Marine Corps combat pilot and U.S. Naval Academy graduate who served across Asia and the Middle East. His experiences overseas — where the official narrative routinely conflicted with what he witnessed on the ground — launched a twenty-year investigation into the realities of American power.
He holds a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, an MBA, and is a member of MENSA. He teaches graduate-level cybersecurity at St. Mary’s University and Wake Forest University. His book, We Are the Bad Guys: The Global Cost of American Power, has been featured on The Shawn Ryan Show and multiple international media outlets.
He writes and speaks for audiences who love their country enough to examine it honestly.
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Press Assets
All assets available for editorial and promotional use.
Book Michael for Your Show
For fastest response, email directly:
[email protected]Include your show name, audience size, preferred format, and proposed date. Typical response within 24 hours.
For general inquiries and reader messages, use the Contact page.
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Submit a Media Request
For interviews, speaking invitations, and press inquiries. For general messages, use the Contact page.
For Researchers & Producers
Primary Sources & Documentation
- U.S. State Department: FRUS — Official Documentary Record
- State Dept History: Note on U.S. Covert Actions
- CIA Reading Room: Historical Collections
- U.S. Treasury OFAC: Sanctions Programs Overview
- Brown University: Costs of War Research Hub
- National Security Archive: 1953 Iran Retrospective
- U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee: Covert Action in Chile (PDF)
- National Security Archive: Covert Action Collections