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Liberty Risk is where real conversation meets real impact.
Each week, we sit down with veterans, operators, entrepreneurs, and everyday legends to talk about the moments that shape a life - the victories, the failures, and the lessons that come from living all-in.
Our listeners come for authenticity and stay for the connection. They’re here for stories that challenge, inspire, and remind them what it means to take risks and live with purpose.
Liberty Risk is more than a podcast. It’s a crew of people who share values of grit, freedom, and curiosity. They show up every week, share what they hear, and carry the spirit of these conversations into their own lives.
Pull up a chair and join the conversation - this is where the good stories live.
NEW EPISODES EVERY FRIDAY
Ep. 50: Aaron Della Vedova of Guru Tattoo
Veteran and icon of the West Coast tattoo world pulls up a chair, pours a bourbon, and starts unpacking one hell of a life story - 3.5 hours with Aaron Della Vedova of world-famous Guru Tattoo.
Aaron’s path from punk-rock kid in Boulder City, Nevada to Coast Guard veteran to one of the most respected tattoo artists in the country was anything but a straight line. Following his dream he ran into con men selling “tattoo apprenticeships” in Vegas, faced off with a 6’6” biker tattooer who threatened to cut his hands off, and worked under a heroin-addicted “mentor” who once showed up to the shop barefoot, in his underwear, holding a Rambo knife and demanding a "loan".
None of it knocked him off course. Aaron stayed steady at the helm of his vision for creating a tattoo culture that was more inclusive, more professional, and built around respect for the craft.
Eventually that winding road led him to San Diego, where he opened Guru Tattoo and built it into one of the most respected studios in the country - holding strong for over 25 years in a business where most shops come and go with the seasons. Along the way he’s tattooed thousands of clients, including both arm sleeves on longtime friend Joe Rogan.
But this episode goes far deeper than tattoo stories.
Aaron and the crew break down why people really get tattooed - and why the tattoo chair can become a unique form of therapy. The pain forces you into the present moment, the artwork becomes a permanent record of the chapters of your life you've overcome, and for some people it’s a way to reclaim parts of themselves they thought were gone. One client even broke down crying in the parking lot mid-session - not from pain, but from years of pent-up emotion finally letting go.
From there the conversation moves through psychedelics, consciousness, the tattoo industry’s rise over the last few decades, military hazing culture, parenting, and the importance of focusing on what you can control when everything around you feels like it’s falling apart.
And because this is Liberty Risk… of course we also get into wild stories, relationships, and why drunkenly tattooing your husband’s 🍆 at a wedding might be the ultimate expression of “love forever.”
Wild stories, unexpected depth, and plenty of laughs along the way.
STREAMING ON ALL MAJOR PLATFORMS
MEET YOUR LIBERTY RISK HOSTS
Ryan Williams
MEET RYAN
Ryan Williams spent 10 years in the SEAL Teams, then 8 as a civilian Instructor in the SEAL training pipeline (SQT).
During that time Ryan started his journey into entrepreneurship, launching his first clothing brand in 2007. Over the last 18 years, Ryan has worked behind the scenes with hundreds of brands & businesses.
Currently his companies, Industry Threadworks, and Archive 3PL, produce and fulfill apparel for a variety of brands.
Nick Betts
MEET NICK
With 47 months in combat as a sniper and a degree from the Los Angeles Film School, he bridges the worlds of warfare and storytelling.
His career spans global operations with the CIA, State Department, and DoD, followed by over 15 years in marketing and creative leadership.
From helicopters to film sets, he's built a reputation on precision, adaptability, and a relentless drive to get the shot - whether behind a rifle or a camera.
Kevin Kent
MEET KEVIN
Chief Special Warfare Operator Kevin Kent (BUD/S Class 200) spent 21 years in the SEAL Teams, mostly with Team 5, completing 9 combat deployments across war zones while racking up a medal haul that’d make a North Korean general jealous - though he somehow dodged the Good Conduct Medal (red stripes say it all).
After retiring, Kevin pivoted to Hollywood as an actor, stuntman, weapons trainer, and military advisor on productions like Fast X, Netflix’s Obliterated, and Jack Ryan.
He founded K-Squared Productions, directed award-winning short films, and runs high-risk executive protection gigs when he's not behind a camera. Based in San Diego, he’s a proud husband of 22 years and father to three grown kids - still thriving in the chaos, just with better lighting.
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