SOFREP Radio: Defending the Defenseless: Meet Ben Owen, Founder of We Fight Monsters

Ben Owen clawed his way out of addiction, and then he built a war chest of purpose and took the fight straight to the streets of Memphis, turning dope houses into hope houses and chaos into community.

Hey, Team SOFREP! Check this out, Rad’s latest SOFREP Radio episode just dropped, and I have it here for you hot off the presses.

So, sit back in a comfy chair, grab your favorite beverage and a snack, and get ready to hit the play button on the video below.

For those of you in a hurry, check out my summary of Rad’s interview with Ben. You’re gonna like it. – GDM

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On today’s episode of SOFREP Radio, Rad sat down with Ben Owen, a man whose story of addiction, redemption, and unflinching activism should resonate with every American who gives a damn about what’s happening in our streets. This interview isn’t just another feel-good turnaround tale. No sir. It’s a raw, unfiltered look at the ugly state of addiction and trafficking in America—and what one former addict is doing to fight back.

From Rock Bottom to Rebuilding Lives

Ben Owen’s background reads like a tragedy, until you reach the third act. Raised by an Army Ranger and initially set on a path toward medicine, Owen’s life veered off course after 9/11. He enlisted in the infantry, but a hidden injury and a short military stint left him discharged and spiraling. Alcohol led to heroin, and heroin led to a full-blown $800-a-day habit—even while he was running a multimillion-dollar business.

A federal arrest brought his world crashing down. “I ended up getting arrested on the way to the firing range,” Owen recalled, “with my own drugs and my own guns.” The Veterans Court wouldn’t take him due to his short service and gun charges. Still, through drug court and sheer force of will, he started crawling back. He met his now-wife Jess in Narcotics Anonymous. Together, they relapsed, survived, and ultimately found purpose.

Birth of We Fight Monsters

In 2022, Ben and Jess launched We Fight Monsters, a nonprofit that works directly in the trenches of addiction and human trafficking in Memphis, one of the deadliest cities in the U.S. The group provides shelter, treatment, and a second chance to addicts, trafficked women, and former gang members. “At any given time, we’re housing about 75 men, women, and kids,” said Owen.

So far, they’ve shut down four fentanyl trafficking operations, rescued survivors from one human trafficking ring, and turned former dope houses into “hope houses.” Their tactics are unconventional but effective—rehabilitating, not incarcerating. “We’ve done all that without shooting anybody or putting anyone in jail, except three child predators,” Owen added.

The Fentanyl War

Owen didn’t shy away from naming the enemy. He traced the current fentanyl crisis back to China’s incentivized exports of precursor chemicals to Mexican cartels. “They don’t sell that stuff inside China,” Owen explained, “but they get tax breaks to send it to Mexico.” From there, it’s pressed into pills and funneled across the U.S. border.

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Today, heroin has all but vanished from American streets. “Since 2019, I’ve not seen heroin once in Memphis. It’s all fentanyl now,” said Owen. The synthetic opiate is far more deadly, and far easier to produce. Its grip on addicts is unforgiving. Fighting with Purpose Owen’s mission isn’t just about fixing individuals—it’s about redeeming entire communities. Through business mentorship, safe housing, and compassionate intervention, We Fight Monsters is taking ground back, one block at a time. “If we can do it in Memphis,” Owen said, “we can do it anywhere.” His message to veterans and others struggling with purpose? Find a way to help someone who can never repay you. “Purpose is powerful,” he said, “and service is where we find it.” Watch the full interview with Ben Owen on SOFREP Radio and visit WeFightMonsters.org to support the mission.