Shawn Ryan

Military and Intelligence Career

Shawn Palmisano Ryan was born on October 4, 1982, in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Chillicothe. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 18 with the goal of becoming a Navy SEAL. After successfully completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUDS) training, Ryan served with SEAL Teams 2 and 8, accumulating 14 years of combat service across more than 20 deployments to 14 different areas of operations. Following his Naval service, he transitioned to work as a CIA contractor in clandestine operations worldwide, further extending his national security career.

The Shawn Ryan Show Platform

In 2019, Ryan launched The Shawn Ryan Show, a long-form podcast that has become one of the most influential platforms for discussing military experience, government transparency, and classified security topics. The show has amassed over 1 billion YouTube views and 900,000+ YouTube subscribers, appearing regularly in the top 200 podcasts on Apple Podcasts and charting high in the Society & Culture category. Distribution extends across major platforms including Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and Google Podcasts. In 2024, the show secured strategic partnerships with Daylight Media (overseeing ad sales, distribution, and audience development) and the Cumulus Podcast Network.

Role in UFO/UAP Disclosure

Ryan has positioned his podcast as a key platform for UAP/UFO disclosure, conducting in-depth interviews with major figures in the emerging transparency movement. Notable interviews include Luis Elizondo (AATIP director and former Pentagon UAP official), Steven Greer (Disclosure Project founder), and Admiral Tim Gallaudet (oceanographer discussing underwater UAP encounters). These conversations reach millions of listeners, making Ryan's platform one of the most significant channels through which classified or sensitive UAP information reaches mainstream audiences. His credibility as a former military intelligence officer lends weight to discussions of national security matters and government secrecy.

Current Life

Ryan is also the founder and CEO of Vigilance Elite, a tactical training company that capitalizes on his military expertise. He married Katie Jean Williams in November 2019 and has two children, including a son named Sunny. His dual role—former spook turned transparent interviewer—positions him uniquely within the disclosure ecosystem as someone credible to both military/intelligence audiences and the broader public.