Episodes

  • Ep. 351 - Ian Fritz (U.S. Air Force / 'What The Taliban Told Me')

    Ep. 351 - Ian Fritz (U.S. Air Force / 'What The Taliban Told Me')
    Dec 19 2023
    At eighteen, Ian Fritz joined the Air Force out of necessity and was soon selected to become an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist in the war in Afghanistan. Over the course of two tours, Fritz listened to the Taliban for hundreds of hours, all over the country night and day, in moments of peace and in the middle of battle. WHAT THE TALIBAN TOLD ME (Simon & Schuster; November 7, 2023) is the powerful memoir of his harrowing experiences coming of age in a war that is lost. Fritz’s fluency in Dari and Pashto, the main languages of Afghanistan, is his greatest asset to the military, yet it becomes the greatest liability to his own commitment to the cause. His eavesdropping is critical to supporting Special Forces units on the ground, but there is no training to counter the emotional complexity that develops as you listen to people’s most intimate conversations. In WHAT THE TALIBAN TOLD ME, Fritz grapples with pride for his service and despair that he is instrumental in destroying the voices that he hears. Looking back on his service in the Air Force, Fritz shares what he learned about the people of Afghanistan, the war, and himself. Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Hazard Ground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 39 mins
  • Ep. 350 - Patrick Brown (U.S. Army / The Warrior Alliance)

    Ep. 350 - Patrick Brown (U.S. Army / The Warrior Alliance)
    Dec 12 2023
    Patrick Brown joined the Army in 2005 as an Infantryman in the US Army, deploying to multiple combat zones throughout his service. Immediately after service, he became a US Army Survival, Escape, Resistance, Evasion (SERE-C) instructor to soldiers who were at high risk of being captured while overseas. Patrick would go on contract work for various government agencies teaching survival techniques. Patrick is married with 4 kids, now residing in Atlanta GA assisting the veteran population transition from military service in the state of GA. Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Hazard Ground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Ep. 349 - Mikael Cook (U.S. Army / Author, 'Life and Death at Abbey Gate')

    Ep. 349 - Mikael Cook (U.S. Army / Author, 'Life and Death at Abbey Gate')
    Dec 5 2023
    Mikael Cook is a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. During the August 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan, Mikael was a part of the #DigitalDunkirk team that saved thousands of Afghan allies who had been left behind. He was personally responsible for the evacuation of 20 of our allies, most of whom have now joined him in Michigan. Mikael is an active member of the veteran community and continues his advocacy work for the Afghan allies left behind. Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Hazard Ground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Ep. 348 - Nickolas Yost (U.S. Army)

    Ep. 348 - Nickolas Yost (U.S. Army)
    Nov 28 2023
    Nickolas Yost spent a total of 13 years between the National Guard and Active Duty for the U.S. Army before exiting as a Staff Sergeant. Nickolas had multiple deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He was injured in Iraq, awarded a Purple Heart, then returned to duty to deploy to Afghanistan. After his military career, Nickolas decided to work in the pharmaceutical industry. Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Nickolas Yost Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • Ep. 347 - Scott Mann (U.S. Green Beret / Rooftop Leadership)

    Ep. 347 - Scott Mann (U.S. Green Beret / Rooftop Leadership)
    Nov 14 2023
    Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Scott Mann is a former U.S. Army Green Beret with tours all over the world including Colombia, Iraq, and multiple tours in Afghanistan. He is a warrior storyteller and the founder of Rooftop Leadership where he shares the rapport-building skills he learned in Special Forces to help today's leaders make better human connections in high-stakes, low-trust engagements. Scott is the author of the instant New York Times Best-Seller, Operation Pineapple Express, a third-person narrative detailing the harrowing stories of the veterans, volunteers, and Afghan Allies who navigated the US abandonment of Afghanistan in August of 2021. He has since founded Operation Pineapple Express Relief, a 501c3 to help support the emergency needs of our Afghan Allies such as safe passage out of Afghanistan, plus unforeseen resettlement needs. Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Hazard Ground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 41 mins
  • Ep. 346 - Chris Corbin (U.S. Army Special Forces / Sergeant First Class)

    Ep. 346 - Chris Corbin (U.S. Army Special Forces / Sergeant First Class)
    Nov 7 2023
    Sergeant First Class Chris Corbin entered military service in July 1995. Prior to becoming a Green Beret with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), he served in various Army units such as the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (1995-1999), and the 1st Battalion, and 75th Ranger Regiment (1999-2002). On February 17th, 2011, Corbin was on his third tour to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). That day, he was on patrol with his Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) through a village in the Helmand Province, when he stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and suffered injuries to both legs resulting in a bilateral, below-the-knee (Bilat BK) amputation. On March 24th, 2012, 13 months after his injury, Chris, with his Green Beret father, Master Sergeant Nelson Corbin, ran his first 5K race to benefit the Fisher House on Eglin Air Force Base. His determination and will coupled with the support and motivation provided by his father and teammates enabled Chris to finish his first race in 27 minutes and 34 seconds. Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Chris Corbin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 58 mins
  • Ep. 345 - John Ballenger (U.S. Marines / Marine One Pilot)

    Ep. 345 - John Ballenger (U.S. Marines / Marine One Pilot)
    Oct 31 2023
    John Ballenger comes from a background of 20 years in the US Marine Corps where he primarily served as a CH-53E helicopter pilot during 4 combat tours, and was one of 7 pilots to fly Marine One for two Presidential administrations over the course of his last 5 years in uniform. Preceding his decorated military career, John had experience in railcar logistics and marketing for Trinity Chemical Industries out of Tulsa, OK. John majored in Business Marketing and minored in Management at Oral Roberts University and is currently working on advancing his education towards CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member). Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: John Ballenger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Ep. 344 - Jamie Karnes (U.S. Marines / Special Agent, GBI)

    Ep. 344 - Jamie Karnes (U.S. Marines / Special Agent, GBI)
    Oct 24 2023
    Sergeant Major Jamie Karnes enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in August of 1988 and spent 30 years in the military. Jamie served two deployments to Iraq and multiple overseas assignments throughout his career, including in Mortuary Affairs. Jamie spent time as a civilian law enforcement officer and part of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, working Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit and multiple other tasks. Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Jamie Karnes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 19 mins