Podcasts about Air force

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Following a long weekend of Iranian and Hezbollah strikes that sent Israelis to shelter multiple times, Fabian notes that while the frequency of Iranian strikes has remained similar, the threat level is possibly lower, given the smaller number of missiles in each strike, making it easier for Israeli air defense systems to intercept each missile. At the same time, Hezbollah in Lebanon has been ramping up its rocket strikes and drones on northern Israel, notes Fabian. Israel's Air Force conducted many waves of strikes in Iran, bombing the regime's oil and fuel depots, Fabian reports, hitting the infrastructure involved in ballistic missile production, which forms the biggest threat to Israel. Fabian also discusses the rare IDF operation to search for the body of airman Ron Arad in Lebanon, as ground forces have moved deeper into the country in recent days. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Black clouds over Tehran rain down oil drops after Israel strikes oil facilities 2 soldiers hurt in Hezbollah missile attack; IDF says it hit 600 of terror group’s targets Israel pounds Iran missile sites, airport as Tehran fires back repeated salvos, threatens Europe Israel says commando raid deep in Lebanon failed to find remains of Ron Arad Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: Israelis take shelter in an underground parking lot in Tel Aviv during the war with Iran and Lebanon as missiles are fired toward Israel, March 6, 2026 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: One week into the conflict with Iran, the coalition air campaign continues at full intensity as aircraft strike military targets across the country. Former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Ryan Bodenheimer joins us to explain how these operations are unfolding, what the targets reveal about the strategy, and what the early days of the air war tell us about where the campaign could go next. The war may soon expand beyond the skies. Reports suggest Kurdish forces could engage Iranian troops along the country's western border, potentially opening a new front in the conflict. Bill Roggio from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies joins us to break down the possibility of Kurdish involvement and what it could mean for Tehran's already stretched military. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Ethos Life Insurance: Protect your family's future with fast, online life insurance from Ethos—get your free quote in minutes at https://Ethos.com/PDB  Goldbelly: Discover iconic meals from legendary restaurants delivered nationwide with Goldbelly—get 20% off your first order at https://Goldbelly.com using promo code PDB. DeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/PDB and use promocode PDB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

* Couldn't Stand the Weather: This week Fred Williams and Doug McBurney are joined by Lt. Col. (R) Paul Homan, PhD, former Director of Meteorology at the Air Force Academy, who now serves in the Officer's Christian Fellowship at the Academy. (You can catch Dr. Homan's previous appearances on RSR regarding methane, CO2 and anthropomorphic climate change right here). * Chemtrails! Find out the real story behind the origin of chemtrails, (and how it turns out the Air Force was behind it the whole time). * Hard Currency: Predictions are the hard currency of Real Science and last time Dr. Homan was on Real Science Radio Dr. Homan made a prediction about the 2025 climate being slightly cooler than 2024, and he was right!  * Texas Flood: Did cloud seeding a few days before the 2025 4th of July floods on the Guadalupe River in Texas contribute to the tragedy there? * Cloud Seeding: Dr. Homan provides a clear explanation of what cloud seeding is, how it works, and what's really at play in events like the lack of snow at the opening of the winter Olympics in Peking and the Dubai flash floods in 2024. * Steering a Hurricane: Find out how much energy would be involved in order for HAARP or any other government program, or actor to steer a hurricane in order to effect an election. and whether or not "weather modification" might be a weapon. * Accidental Geoengineering: Hear how human activity like jet contrails and car exhaust have an impact on the climate (and the weather), and how they compare to the sun's solar cycle and volcanoes like the Hunga Tonga undersea eruption in 2022. * Sponsor a Show! Go to our store, buy some biblically oriented science material and sponsor a show! * In The Beginning: Pre-order the 9th edition of Walt Brown's amazing, enlightening, biblically sound book explaining why Earth, (and the solar system) look the way they do!

* Couldn't Stand the Weather: This week Fred Williams and Doug McBurney are joined by Lt. Col. (R) Paul Homan, PhD, former Director of Meteorology at the Air Force Academy, who now serves in the Officer's Christian Fellowship at the Academy. (You can catch Dr. Homan's previous appearances on RSR regarding methane, CO2 and anthropomorphic climate change right here). * Chemtrails! Find out the real story behind the origin of chemtrails, (and how it turns out the Air Force was behind it the whole time). * Hard Currency: Predictions are the hard currency of Real Science and last time Dr. Homan was on Real Science Radio Dr. Homan made a prediction about the 2025 climate being slightly cooler than 2024, and he was right!  * Texas Flood: Did cloud seeding a few days before the 2025 4th of July floods on the Guadalupe River in Texas contribute to the tragedy there? * Cloud Seeding: Dr. Homan provides a clear explanation of what cloud seeding is, how it works, and what's really at play in events like the lack of snow at the opening of the winter Olympics in Peking and the Dubai flash floods in 2024. * Steering a Hurricane: Find out how much energy would be involved in order for HAARP or any other government program, or actor to steer a hurricane in order to effect an election. and whether or not "weather modification" might be a weapon. * Accidental Geoengineering: Hear how human activity like jet contrails and car exhaust have an impact on the climate (and the weather), and how they compare to the sun's solar cycle and volcanoes like the Hunga Tonga undersea eruption in 2022. * Sponsor a Show! Go to our store, buy some biblically oriented science material and sponsor a show! * In The Beginning: Pre-order the 9th edition of Walt Brown's amazing, enlightening, biblically sound book explaining why Earth, (and the solar system) look the way they do!

Ranting about Nuclear powered aircraft mentioned in "MJ12"

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Defence Minister Judith Collins says two Air Force planes will be heading to an undisclosed location in the Middle East to help any Kiwis who are stranded. The White House says the war could last four to six weeks - with Israel unleashing a new wave of strikes on Iran. A C-130J Hercules aircraft left Auckland's Whenuapai - and another was sent earlier to the Middle East, after being in Asia. Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell says Collins confirmed the plan is to get people out of immediate danger so they can get on a flight home to New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The guys blend up an early tiki drink from Air Force vet Don the Beachcomber-- a precursor to other, better-known “pilot”-themed drinks.TEST PILOT RECIPE:1.5oz/45ml DARK JAMAICAN RUM.75oz/22ml LIGHT RUM.5oz/15ml COINTREAU.5oz/15ml LIME JUICE.5oz/15ml FALERNUM6 drops PERNOD1 dash ANGOSTURA BITTERSAdd ingredients into a blender with a cup of ice. Blend at high speed for 5 seconds. Pour into a double rocks glass, adding more ice if needed.Garnish with speared maraschino cherry.Recipe via Don the BeachcomberWANT MORE SLOP? Check out:PatreonSHOP the webstore at:The Sloppy Boys WebsiteLISTEN to The Sloppy Boys hit songs on:Apple MusicSpotifyYoutubeTOUR DATES, SOCIALS and more at:LinktreeT H E S L O P P Y B O Y S L L CExpand Ascend Conquer Retain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PART II AVAILABLE NOW, AD-FREE, ON PATREON!Ash and Kristen begin a three-part investigative series on the abduction of 11-year-old Sally Horner, the real child whose 1948 kidnapping would later echo inside one of the most controversial novels ever written, Lolita.In Part I, Ash breaks down how a convicted sex offender posing as an FBI agent groomed and kidnapped Sally, launching a 21-month ordeal built on authority, manipulation, and fear.Next week, we revisit the grooming and abduction of Jan Broberg. And in the finale, we put all three stories side by side- exposing the shared blueprint of coercive control, isolation, social camouflage, and narrative manipulation that connects them.Because these aren't just separate cases. They're the same pattern... repeated.TW: For everything mentioned above... this is an upsetting topic that I found very difficult to research, make sure to take care of yourselves

Get the full episode: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/listPinbag Shaw | 10 Percent True | EP83 Part 1Thomas “Pinbag” Shaw flew the F-4E Phantom II at a pivotal moment in USAF history.Commissioned during the draft era, he entered Tactical Air Command just as the Air Force was absorbing the hard lessons of Vietnam and rebuilding its fighter culture from the ground up.In this first part of our conversation, Pinbag explains:• Why the J79 smoked — and how crews worked around it• What Red Baron reports actually taught young Phantom crews• How Fighter Lead-In training at Holloman reshaped post-Vietnam tactics• The reality of Sparrow employment before modern radar displays• AIMVAL/ACEVAL and what it revealed about missile combat• Combat Tree, radar geometry, and “hot” vs “cold” scope discipline• Nuclear delivery training in the F-4E• And how a loose ejection seat pin bag became a permanent callsignWe also explore the cultural side of 1970s Tactical Air Command — from Aggressor briefings to the infamous “vulnerability period” at the O-Club — and how the Air Force transitioned from the Vietnam experience into the F-15/F-16 era.This episode is a deep dive into Phantom air-to-air tactics, radar intercept mechanics, and fighter culture in the years between Vietnam and the Eagle.Part Two will take us operational — Korea, Germany, Victor Alert, and real-world air defence.If you enjoy long-form, technical conversations with the people who flew the jets, subscribe and join the conversation.0:00 Intro teaser – O-Club tale2:32 Welcome Pinbag and episode outline4:25 Matthew's subscriber question – smoky J79s8:03 Visual acquisition ranges8:45 Pinbag's background and route to the Phantom (nav school and dreamsheets)23:30 Dual controls question26:28 Back to Holloman and dreamsheets35:00 Off to Holloman AFB38:32 Uniform standards – TAC style40:45 Mandatory formation – O-Club43:10 The “Green Door”45:15 Leaving Holloman46:17 Osan → Hahn → Nellis → Clark → Taegu → Lakenheath (after staff job)49:25 Learning from Red Baron reports (classified material?)51:25 TAC rules, callsigns, naming ceremonies, and the Doofer Book53:20 “Opinions are like assholes…”55:00 Fridays at the O-Club – bell rules and intro story1:01:00 McDill for the F-4 RTU – O-Club and games1:07:43 F-4 “of the day” – equipment fit, avionics, etc.1:15:01 Combat Tree1:21:20 Back to the RTU and a callsign story1:26:02 Through the training phases1:29:49 Back to day one1:36:32 Why the air-to-air preference?1:44:50 Navy terminology – tough for WSOs1:48:28 Nuclear strike?1:50:15 What was going on in TAC1:58:04 Pave Spike2:00:20 USAFE realignment, Ready Eagle, and DOC taskings2:06:30 Sparrow developments

Frank Kendall served as the 26th Secretary of the Air Force from 2021 to 2025. Before that he was Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics under Obama. His new book, Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare, comes out in June. Cohosting today is Bryan Clark of Hudson, JustinMc and Eric Robinson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your dental practice (or business) feels stressful, chaotic, and stuck, more revenue won't fix it.  In this episode, Dr. Jeff sits down with restaurant coach Donald Burns to reveal the leadership truth most owners avoid: your business is a reflection of you. If the team is disengaged, the culture is weak, and you're living in hustle mode… it's not a “sales problem.” It's a people and leadership problem.  Donald shares his journey from dishwasher to elite chef to Air Force pararescue, and how he nearly lost everything running his first restaurant by trying to outwork the problem. Sound familiar? Many dentists and owners hit the same wall: anxiety, burnout, the 2AM payroll panic, and the belief that grinding harder will solve it. If you want better staff buy-in, less stress, more consistency, and a practice that doesn't cost you your marriage, health, or soul, this episode gives you a real playbook. Highlights: →You'll hear why sales growth can hide operational dysfunction and actually increase stress when the culture isn't solid.  →Donald breaks down the “People, Product, Process” order and why most owners get it backwards, especially when launching a new practice or scaling a team.  →You'll learn how to start meetings the right way, anchoring mission, vision, and core values, so your team stays aligned and standards stay high.  →You'll also get a simple, repeatable appreciation habit (and a fun “penny game”) that helps team members feel seen, reduces turnover, and improves leadership presence, without adding hours to your day. To connect with Dr. Buske follow the links below -  LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Limitless Dentist Academy Join Dental Syndicate HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lt. Col Tony Shaffer, President of Project Sentinel joined usWow.  You guys asked some great questions and we really delved in to what is reality and what is conjecture regarding the Iran conflict!Follow Tony: @Tspooky

Sam spent years at the Air Force and Palantir before deciding to build Method Security. Instead of launching an MVP and iterating with customers, he did the opposite: he shut out the world and built in the dark for a year based on his own conviction.In this episode, Sam breaks down his contrarian approach to building a platform for the enterprise and government. He reveals how he raised millions from Andreessen Horowitz with just a prototype, why he refuses to hire a sales team, and how he landed a seven-figure contract right out of the gate.Why You Should ListenWhy he ignored the "talk to users" advice and built in the dark for a year.How to raise a $5.5M seed round from a16z in just 3 days.The "2-Hour Bootcamp" strategy that shortens enterprise sales cycles.Why keeping your engineering team dangerously small creates speed.How to turn a design partnership into a $1M+ contract.Keywordsstartup podcast, startup podcast for founders, product market fit, cybersecurity, a16z, Palantir, enterprise sales, design partners, government contracting, founder led sales00:00:00 Intro00:02:00 From Air Force to Palantir00:06:28 The "Shared Notion Space" of Ideas00:10:04 Raising Seed from a16z in 3 Days00:17:23 The "Dark Period": Building Without Users00:22:23 Structuring Enterprise Design Partnerships00:28:48 The "2-Hour Bootcamp" Sales Strategy00:31:03 Why the Org Chart is Flat (15 Reports to CTO)00:34:02 Converting Pilots to Commercial Contracts00:41:07 The Moment of True Product Market FitSend me a message to let me know what you think!

Grief isn't an ending; it's a relationship that changes. Judy Tashbook Safern joins us with a story that stops the clock: cascading surgeries, pneumonia, and a coma that opens into an enveloping light and a felt encounter with God. She returns with a message—“you are necessary”—only to learn that her father, a larger-than-life psychoanalyst and professor who built Jewish community in West Texas, has been diagnosed with advanced liver cancer and passes within days. The timeline feels like a switch, a mystery that begs hard questions about fate, faith, and why one life continues while another concludes.We explore the details that make this more than a headline. Judy paints her father through action: freezer trucks of kosher meat hauled across states, hand-typed holiday invitations posted around a university and an Air Force base, and a seven-hour drive to Dallas and back for Passover staples. When she wakes, pain floods back; survivor's guilt arrives fast. Grounded in Jewish mourning practices—shiva, shloshim, and a year of gentler abstentions—she sits shiva alone on a hospital floor, 10,000 miles from her family, learning how ritual can still hold when improvised. She also draws on a lineage tied to Rabbi Isaac Luria to give vocabulary to the inexplicable, without forcing certainty where only awe belongs.What follows is a living bond. Judy senses her father in small joys and sharp wit, at Seders where his annual pilgrimage becomes family lore, and in quiet moments when purpose feels like a vow. The lesson she brought back from the light reframes worth beyond roles—parent, partner, child—while still honoring how love threads those roles with meaning. If you've wondered whether the dead keep shaping our days, or how to carry a legacy without being crushed by it, this conversation offers language, practice, and hope.If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show. Tell us: how do you keep your continuing bonds alive?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support.

William Neil McCasland, a retired Air Force general who resides in New Mexico, was recently reported missing. He was last seen on Friday, Feb. 27, near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, the UK Daily Mail reports. Some in the UFO community believe McCasland's disappearance might have something to do with the retired general's alleged connection to UFO disclosure efforts. Also, new reporting helps validate assertions made by former AATIP Director Lue Elizondo that some Pentagon officials with fundamentalist Christian views believe the non-human intelligence on Earth is demonic in nature.Links/Sources:UFO-linked Air Force general's disappearance takes mysterious new twist amid 'sighting' in New Mexico | Daily Mail OnlineMajor General William Neil McCasland – Unidentified PhenomenaIMMINENT by Luis Elizondo: https://amzn.to/47sF7GbCommanders Accused of Framing Iran War as Biblical Mandate, Jesus' 'Return' | Military.comSupport Extraterrestrial Reality/Quirk Zone on Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/Extraterrestrial_Reality⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out my YouTube channel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quirk Zone - YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Extraterrestrial Reality Book Recommendations:Link to ROSWELL: THE ULTIMATE COLD CASE: CLOSED: https://amzn.to/3O2loSILink to COMMUNION by Whitley Strieber: https://amzn.to/3xuPGqiLink to THE THREAT by David M. Jacobs: https://amzn.to/3Lk52njLink to TOP SECRET/MAJIC by Stanton Friedman: https://amzn.to/3xvidfvLink to NEED TO KNOW by Timothy Good:  https://amzn.to/3BNftfTLink to UFOS AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY STATE, VOLUME 1:  https://amzn.to/3xxJvlvLink to UFOS AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY STATE, VOLUME 2: https://amzn.to/3UhdQ1lLink to THE ALLAGASH ABDUCTIONS: https://amzn.to/3qNkLSgUFO CRASH RETRIEVALS by Leonard Stringfield: https://amzn.to/3RGEZKsFLYING SAUCERS FROM OUTER SPACE by Major Donald Keyhoe: https://amzn.to/3S7WkxvCAPTURED: THE BETTY AND BARNEY HILL UFO EXPERIENCE by Stanton Friedman and Kathleen Marden: https://amzn.to/3tKNVXn#ufos #aliens #vegas aliens #ufo podcast

William Neil McCasland, a retired Air Force general who resides in New Mexico, was recently reported missing. He was last seen on Friday, Feb. 27, near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, the UK Daily Mail reports. Some in the UFO community believe McCasland's disappearance might have something to do with the retired general's alleged connection to UFO disclosure efforts. Also, new reporting helps validate assertions made by former AATIP Director Lue Elizondo that some Pentagon officials with fundamentalist Christian views believe the non-human intelligence on Earth is demonic in nature.Links/Sources:UFO-linked Air Force general's disappearance takes mysterious new twist amid 'sighting' in New Mexico | Daily Mail OnlineMajor General William Neil McCasland – Unidentified PhenomenaIMMINENT by Luis Elizondo: https://amzn.to/47sF7GbCommanders Accused of Framing Iran War as Biblical Mandate, Jesus' 'Return' | Military.comSupport Extraterrestrial Reality/Quirk Zone on Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/Extraterrestrial_Reality⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out my YouTube channel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quirk Zone - YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Extraterrestrial Reality Book Recommendations:Link to ROSWELL: THE ULTIMATE COLD CASE: CLOSED: https://amzn.to/3O2loSILink to COMMUNION by Whitley Strieber: https://amzn.to/3xuPGqiLink to THE THREAT by David M. Jacobs: https://amzn.to/3Lk52njLink to TOP SECRET/MAJIC by Stanton Friedman: https://amzn.to/3xvidfvLink to NEED TO KNOW by Timothy Good:  https://amzn.to/3BNftfTLink to UFOS AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY STATE, VOLUME 1:  https://amzn.to/3xxJvlvLink to UFOS AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY STATE, VOLUME 2: https://amzn.to/3UhdQ1lLink to THE ALLAGASH ABDUCTIONS: https://amzn.to/3qNkLSgUFO CRASH RETRIEVALS by Leonard Stringfield: https://amzn.to/3RGEZKsFLYING SAUCERS FROM OUTER SPACE by Major Donald Keyhoe: https://amzn.to/3S7WkxvCAPTURED: THE BETTY AND BARNEY HILL UFO EXPERIENCE by Stanton Friedman and Kathleen Marden: https://amzn.to/3tKNVXn#ufos #aliens #vegas aliens #ufo podcast

Michael 'Outback Mike' Atkinson is a solo adventurist, survival expert and film maker. He is a former Army helicopter pilot, survival instructor and Airforce flying instructor.To watch his films and see more of his adventures: https://outbackmike.com/Follow us both on Instagram @bradleyjdryburgh @outback_mikeIf you enjoyed this clip you can support my channel by subscribing and sharing this with a mate. Big love,Brad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send a textThe Navy just dropped a torpedo strike video that looks straight out of a movie… except it's real.Peaches walks through the latest from Operation Epic Fury: submarine strikes on Iranian vessels, B-1 bombers hammering ballistic missile sites, and the ongoing fallout from the Kuwaiti F-18 friendly-fire shootdown of three U.S. F-15Es.We also hit Marine security actions in Pakistan, Air Force promotion numbers, Minuteman nuclear logistics upgrades, and why the Space Force is pushing for a much bigger slice of the defense budget.Meanwhile the bigger picture keeps shifting: casualties are rising, embassy evacuations are underway, cyber and space operations are already shaping the battlefield, and the White House says the conflict could last four to five weeks… maybe.No hype. Just the wave-tops and context you actually need.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Torpedo Strike Video Everyone Is Talking About 02:00 Navy Operations Crushing Iranian Naval Assets 04:00 Army Casualties in Kuwait and What Happened 06:00 Marines Defend U.S. Consulate in Pakistan 08:30 Operator Training Summit Nashville Update 09:40 B-1 Bombers Strike Iranian Missile Facilities 11:30 Air Force Promotion Rate Drops to 11% 13:00 Minuteman Nuclear Logistics Modernization 14:30 Space Force Budget and Acquisition Problems 16:00 War Timeline and Ground Troop Possibility 18:30 U.S. Casualties and Escalation Risks 20:00 Friendly Fire F-15 Investigation Update 22:00 Cyber and Space Attacks Behind the Scenes 24:00 Embassy Evacuations and UK Base Approval

Send a textPeaches and Trent are back swinging harder than an 0-dark-30 convoy to Quantico. This week's chaos covers everything from “Mattressgate” at 23 STS to why the Air Force might have more generals than common sense. The boys tear into bureaucratic stupidity, leadership delusions, and the eternal struggle of holding people accountable without losing your damn mind. Expect unfiltered rants on beards, fat officers, fake accountability, and why empowerment beats micromanagement every single time. It's dark humor meets hard truth—because the Ones Ready crew doesn't do polite.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – The cursed “fire” episode that died in editing hell 02:00 – The unofficial official podcast of the U.S. Air Force 04:00 – Fat Tony, Hexeth, and the Pentagon clown convoy 09:30 – Too many generals, not enough leadership 17:00 – The real story behind “Mattressgate” at 23 STS 24:00 – Support troops, respect, and when “team building” hurts 31:00 – Leadership vs. babysitting: stop raising soft airmen 41:00 – Haircuts, uniforms, and why optics still matter 47:00 – Culture, accountability, and the death of professionalism 53:00 – Fitness mandates, dumb policies, and burning out defenders 55:00 – Wrapping up with more hot takes and zero apologies

Breaking news has shaken the UFO community: retired U.S. Air Force Major General Neil McCasland has reportedly gone missing near Albuquerque, New Mexico, prompting authorities to ask the public for assistance as concerns grow over his well-being. In this episode, Ryan addresses the developing situation before revisiting a fascinating panel discussion examining the mysterious figure of McCasland and his alleged connections to the modern UFO disclosure movement. Ryan is joined by Tim McMillan of The Debrief, Zac Cichy of the Project Human podcast, and Britt of the Inference YouTube channel to explore McCasland's rumored role in helping bring together the insiders who would later work with Tom DeLonge after the Blink-182 co-founder left music to pursue UFO disclosure. From DeLonge's secret meetings with high-ranking officials to the eventual creation of To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science, the panel examines the influence of the enigmatic general, what his involvement might reveal about the hidden history of UFO research, and what it could mean for the future of disclosure. Call to Action: Neil McCasland was last seen Friday morning, February 27th, 2026, near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Due to medical concerns, authorities are asking for help. If you have any information, please contact the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office Missing Persons Unit at 505-468-7070 or text BCSO to 847411. Or call 911. Please take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify and Apple. Book Ryan on CAMEO at: https://bit.ly/3kwz3DO Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/somewhereskies ByMeACoffee: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/UFxzyzHOaQ PayPal: sprague51@hotmail.com Substack: https://ryansprague.substack.com/ All Socials and Books: https://linktr.ee/somewhereskiespod Email: ryan.sprague51@gmail.com SpectreVision Radio: https://www.spectrevision.com/podcasts Opening Theme Song by Septembryo Closing Song by Per Kiilstofte Copyright © 2026 Ryan Sprague. All rights reserved. #MissingPerson #MissingPersons #AirForce #UFOs #UFOlogy #UFOdisclosure #UAP #TomDeLonge #NeilMcCasland #UFOcommunity #Paranormal #Aliens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lenval Logan spent 20+ years in the US Air Force as an all-source intelligence analyst and became a key member of the UAP Task Force under Jay Stratton. In this exclusive interview, he confirms what George and Jeremy have long suggested: the best UAP evidence has never been shown to the public. Logan analyzes the Syria UAP video that he personally requested analysis for during his time with the Task Force. His assessment: “This met all the parameters of a UAP. To the best of my knowledge, yes - instantaneous acceleration, no doubt in my book.” When Jeremy asks if he's seen better footage, Logan's answer is stunning: “Yes.” He reveals how the intelligence community analyzes UAP cases, what happened when Lue Elizondo and Jay Stratton first walked into his secure facility, and why none of the original Task Force members were brought into AARO. Logan describes seeing a diamond-shaped object outside his aircraft window in 1990 - identical to a craft later photographed as the Calvine UFO. He explains how AWACS systems worldwide track objects that move impossibly fast, turn at right angles, and demonstrate capabilities beyond any known nation. From British AWACS operators admitting 'we all know about this guy' to sensor data showing objects that can't be foreign adversaries, Logan provides the insider perspective on how UAP analysis actually works - and why AARO is failing the American public. Logan is building an app called Phenom to crowdsource UAP data collection and analysis. After being doxed and attacked, he's launching version 2.0 in April with backing to fight the noise and collect real evidence. *Check out Logan's UAP tracking APP at ⁠https://www.ThePhenom.app

In this episode of Business School for the Rehab Chiropractor, Justin speaks with Dr. Derek Huddleston (clinic owner in Little Rock, Arkansas) whose path to practice ownership was forged through extreme hardship and a decision to build a clinic that actually listens.As an Air Force veteran and former medic, Derek shares how losing people close to him, navigating addiction, and watching the “pill-first” system fail pushed him toward chiropractic and a rehab-based model. Justin and Derek unpack what happens when you stop chasing volume, start charging based on value, and take 100% ownership of your outcomes, especially in a market where people assume “that price won't work here.” In this episode, you'll hear about:How Derek went from high-volume practice pressure to a values-driven rehab chiro modelWhy conviction and empathy matter more than scripts when it comes to “selling” care plansThe “small town” pricing myth and how Derek sells $5,600 care plans in a $45K income marketYour Host: Justin RabinowitzFounder of RehabChiro Coach.Justin works with chiropractors and clinic owners to build profitable, scalable practices rooted in clear business models and disciplined execution.To learn more about how Justin and Rehab Chiro Coach can help you finally build the business of your dreams, click here to book a free strategy call with his team.To get your first month free with Jane.app, use my code Rehabchiro1moClick here to book your demo

The Steve Gruber Show | Iran Strikes Back, DHS Shutdown & Terror Threats at Home --- 00:00 - Monologue 27:41 – Dr. Kelly Victory, Chief of Disaster and Emergency Medicine at The Wellness Company. Dr. Victory discusses the growing popularity of spring health cleanses and whether they are beneficial. She also explains parasite cleanses, the role of ivermectin, and why sourcing American-made medications is important. Visit twc.health/GRUBER and use promo code GRUBER to save 10%. 37:51 - Monologue 46:36 – Michael Lucci, Founder and CEO of State Armor. Lucci reveals concerns about a former U.S. Air Force pilot training Chinese military pilots. He explains the national security implications and why lawmakers are increasingly focused on the issue. 56:11 – John Tillman, CEO of the American Culture Project and founder of the Hall of Giants. Tillman discusses his new book, Political Vise: How the Radical Left Controls America and the Path to Regaining Our Liberty. He outlines his argument about cultural influence and political power in the U.S. 1:04:52 – Dr. John Lott, President of the Crime Prevention Research Center. Lott analyzes crime statistics and argues that the rate of transgender-related violence is often misrepresented in media coverage. He discusses data trends and the broader crime policy debate. 1:14:44 - Monologue 1:23:19 – Ron Rademacher, travel writer, author, speaker, storyteller, and record-holder for getting lost on Michigan's back roads. Rademacher shares upcoming events and destinations around Michigan. He highlights unique places and seasonal activities across the state. 1:33:18 – Rep. Ron Robinson, representing Michigan's 58th District. Robinson discusses securing a $152 million state investment for the Selfridge runway project. He explains how the funding will support military readiness and regional economic development. 1:42:02 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses the Renewed Hope Act and efforts led by Tim Tebow to combat child exploitation. The conversation focuses on protecting children and raising awareness about these crimes. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... The second episode is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/vZiEUjtQ-m4

What if building wealth had less to do with income—and more to do with discipline, structure, and mindset?In this episode of Inventive Journey, host Devin Miller sits down with Axel Meierhoefer, a former fighter pilot, military exchange officer, consultant, and founder of Ideal Wealth Grower, to explore how the principles of military aviation translate directly into smarter investing and long-term financial independence.Axel's journey begins in Germany, where an early fascination with aviation led him into the Air Force. Over the course of his military career, he transitioned from flying to test operations and leadership roles, learning firsthand that success in high-risk environments depends on preparation, planning, and systems—not improvisation.After retiring from the military and relocating to the United States, Axel entered the private sector, consulting in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries. While working with organizations and executives, he noticed a recurring issue: even highly compensated professionals often lacked true financial security. High income, he realized, doesn't automatically translate into independence.That realization led Axel to investing—and eventually to helping others do the same. Through real estate and strategic asset ownership, he began building predictable, passive income designed to create choice and freedom over time. But more importantly, he focused on helping people shift from an employee mindset to an owner mindset.Throughout the conversation, Axel explains why many investors give banks and institutions too much power, why risk feels scarier than it actually is when approached without structure, and why emotional decision-making is one of the biggest threats to long-term success. Drawing parallels to aviation, he shows how mission planning, redundancy, and clear objectives reduce uncertainty and improve outcomes.The episode also dives into the future of mentoring and education. Axel shares his perspective on how AI and content-driven platforms may replace traditional one-on-one coaching models, allowing expertise to scale without sacrificing quality or accessibility.Whether you're a high earner who feels stuck, an aspiring investor trying to find your footing, or an entrepreneur thinking about long-term freedom, this episode challenges conventional thinking around money, ownership, and strategy.This is not a conversation about shortcuts. It's about designing a mission—and executing it with discipline.To chat about this one-on-one, grab a free consult at strategymeeting.com

The show opens with tensions rising in the Middle East as a U.S. Space Force squadron is temporarily barred from alcohol during heightened operations connected to U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian targets (13:07).  Back stateside, a West Point cadet is dismissed after allegedly threatening to release AI-generated nude images of a woman, highlighting a growing challenge the military is facing with deepfakes, digital harassment, and how emerging technology is colliding with military discipline and ethics (23:37). But it's not all scandal and strategy. We also spotlight an Air Force pilot who's turning Guinness World Records into a force for good, using record-breaking achievements to raise money and awareness for veterans and charitable causes (30:22).  Then we dive into Unheralded History. Before the Navy SEALs became legends, there was the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), the frogmen who swam into heavily defended beaches during World War II to clear obstacles before amphibious invasions. These daring pioneers laid the foundation for the modern SEAL teams (40:22). From there we revisit Operation Praying Mantis, the largest U.S. naval combat operation since World War II. In 1988, the U.S. Navy unleashed devastating force against Iranian naval units in the Persian Gulf after a U.S. warship struck an Iranian mine, sinking ships and crippling Iran's ability to threaten shipping lanes (47:27). Finally, we crack open one of the strangest intelligence operations of the Cold War: Operation Merlin, a CIA plot that attempted to sabotage Iran's nuclear ambitions by secretly passing flawed nuclear weapon designs through a Russian scientist. As you might expect, the operation didn't exactly go according to plan (54:30). From Space Force readiness and AI scandals to frogmen, naval battles, and CIA spycraft, this episode of Late For Changeover delivers another mission-packed ride through military news, history, and the stories you probably didn't hear anywhere else.

Your Crosswalk host Pastor Brian Michaels, sits down with Rich Hainey, retired Air Force officer, Air Force Academy grad, and former pilot, to discuss his organization, www.Starrs.us and how they're trying to combat the Marxist philosophies infiltrating the academy through DEI and CRT programs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Colorado St vs. New Mexico College Basketball Pick Prediction by Tony T. Colorado St vs. New Mexico Profiles Colorado St at New Mexico 10PM ET— Colorado St has a record of 19-10 overall and 10-8 in the Mountain West with road wins against Grand Canyon, Air Force, UNLV as well as San Jose St. Road defeats against Utah St, Fresno St, Boise St, San Diego St and Wyoming. New Mexico is 22-7 along with 13-5 in the Mountain West with home wins against San Jose St, Wyoming, Grand Canyon, Fresno St, Nevada, Air Force and San Diego St. Home losses against Utah ST and Boise St.

Air Force Party 1947.07.31 The Listening Post

Send a textTwo days. One Daily Drop. And a whole lot of chaos.Peaches breaks down Operation Epic Fury, the reported F-15 shootdown over Kuwait, B-2 strike fallout, and what's real vs what's AI nonsense circulating online. If you're sharing that fake pilot photo… stop. Zoom in. Use your brain.We hit Army transformation moves, Navy battleship announcements, Marine Corps fitness standards, Air Force mobility modernization, Space Force satellite tracking, and Coast Guard ops. Plus the bigger question: is this a four-week campaign… or something longer?No panic. No hype. Just wave-top clarity with context you're not getting in headlines.This is the Daily Drop.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Two-Day Catch-Up + Sponsor 02:00 Army Dining, Indo-Pac Moves, Espionage Warning 06:30 Iran Conflict: Naval Engagements + Security Posture 10:00 Marine Corps Body Standards Debate 15:00 F-15 Friendly Fire + AI Image Breakdown 19:30 B-2 Strikes and Casualty Clarification 23:00 Air Mobility Modernization Priorities 26:00 Suicide Awareness + Service Member Loss 29:00 Battleships, War Powers, and What Happens Next

Most contractors fail in government contracting not because they lack capability—but because they disappear too soon. In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Ryan Atencio breaks down why Air Force bases are some of the hardest customers to break into, yet the most valuable once you do, and how consistent visibility beats waiting on solicitations. You'll learn how to use SAM.gov searches, site visits, and repeated outreach to contract officers to stay top of mind, why everything starts with a quote for government buyers, and how contractors who keep showing up get the call when a real requirement drops. This episode is about playing the long game, understanding buyer behavior, and positioning yourself as the easy button when the government needs something fast. Key Takeaways Why Air Force bases are difficult—but worth the effort How site visits and consistent follow-ups lead to inbound requests Why contract officers reach out to who they remember first If you want to learn more about the community and to join the webinars go to: https://federalhelpcenter.com/  Website: https://govcongiants.org/  Connect with Encore Funding: http://govcongiants.org/funding

"We, the people we can definitely keep the pressure on, not only on our lawmakers, our governors, our mayors, our senators, our Congress people. We have to keep reminding them that we care about these issues…There's a real key also to the future reimagining, asking companies to reimagine themselves as energy companies, not oil companies or gas companies, but energy companies. So all of these pressure points are incredibly important. We all have favorite stores, favorite brands that we shop on. If you love Walmart writing to the customer services and to the president of Walmart saying, 'Hey, get those solar panels on all of our Walmart stores. We want to do our part. They care. They care about consumer response. It's important to say that you care. You want them to care." Dominique Browning on Electric Ladies Podcast This Women's History Month 2026, it's critical that all our elected officials at all levels know that we care about climate change, clean air, clean water and protecting the environment. That pressure is what makes them pass legislation that addresses these issues. How? Listen to Dominique Browning, Founder and head of Mom's Clean Air Force, who is also a Vice President at the Environmental Defense Fund, in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson.   You'll hear about: ●        How to pressure your Mayor, Senators, Congresspeople, state legislators, governors, the head of the EPA, the president, and even your School Board members to pass legislation to address the climate crisis and protect our clean air, clean water and environment. ●        How states and cities are leveraging Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure Act funding and incentives, still, for a range of clean energy and climate solutions, such as electric school buses and solar panels. ●        How important it is to show gratitude when elected officials do the right thing. ●        Plus, career advice, such as:   "Just say yes, say yes to everybody who wanted you to do a project or consult on something or talk about something, meet, brainstorm, et cetera. And slowly but surely, I started building up a network of people who were interested in the same things I was interested in…Another piece of advice I got …(was) 'you got to go with the love.'…Over time, I began to see that what she was talking about was think about what you love, what you're passionate about, and what you can do… And that's very motivating, especially when things are difficult." Dominique Browning on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to Joan's weekly newsletter here to stay abreast of episodes, trends, career advice, and events where Joan is speaking. You'll also like: ·       How to Talk About Climate In A Polarized Culture -- with Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Climate Scientist, Chief Science Officer at The Nature Conservancy & Professor, Texas Tech University ·       The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus ·       How to Rebuild Cities After Disaster  – with Majora Carter, Urban Development Expert ·       How Design & Technology Are Redesigning Cities – Nikki Greenberg, Real Estate of the Future, live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 ·       Unique Practical Climate Solutions For Cities – Joan's panel at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona   Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blogs, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

⬥EPISODE NOTES⬥ What happens when a cybersecurity professional knows exactly what's wrong but can't get anyone to act on it? It's a problem that affects security teams across every industry, and it's the central question driving Josh Mason's new book, Speaks Security with a Business Accent. In this conversation, Josh Mason joins Sean Martin to unpack why technical accuracy alone doesn't move the needle and what it takes to communicate security in terms the business actually understands. Josh Mason brings a perspective shaped by years as an Air Force pilot and cyber warfare officer, where mission-first thinking wasn't optional, it was survival. As a safety officer, he studied aircraft mishaps, analyzed black box recordings, and learned that risk awareness doesn't mean risk paralysis. The same philosophy, he argues, applies to cybersecurity: teams can acknowledge risk without letting fear of failure prevent them from supporting the mission. Drawing from books like Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, The Phoenix Project, and The Goal, Josh Mason structured his own book as a narrative, telling the story of a CIO who transforms a disconnected security team into one that communicates effectively with colleagues, leadership, the board, and eventually beyond the organization. A recurring theme in this conversation is the danger of perfection as the enemy of progress. Josh Mason uses the Iron Man analogy of building an imperfect prototype, flying it, learning from the failure, and iterating, to argue that security teams need to embrace a similar mindset. DevOps teams have already adopted this approach, and security can learn from it. Inaction for perfection's sake, he warns, isn't going to get anyone anywhere. The conversation also examines whether the cybersecurity industry does enough to learn from its own incidents. Unlike aviation, where the FAA and NTSB mandate rigorous post-incident analysis, cybersecurity lacks a centralized authority enforcing that same discipline. Organizations like MITRE, Verizon, and Mandiant publish valuable trend reports, and the data is there for those willing to use it, but it ultimately comes down to individual responsibility and leadership within each organization. For anyone who has ever felt technically right but strategically sidelined, this conversation offers a practical lens on bridging the gap between what security teams know and what the business needs to hear. ⬥GUEST⬥ Josh Mason, Author of Speaks Security with a Business Accent | Air Force Veteran, Cybersecurity Professional, and Founder of Noob Village | Website: https://www.mason-sc.com | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason/ ⬥HOST⬥ Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine, Studio C60, and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/ ⬥RESOURCES⬥ Speaks Security with a Business Accent by Josh Mason | https://www.mason-sc.com The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast episodes | https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast on YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq ⬥ADDITIONAL INFORMATION⬥ ✨ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast:

Show SummaryOn this episode, we have a conversation Today we're having a conversation with Vietnam Era veteran and nurse Joanne Malear, who is the coordinator of the 11th Hour Squadron. They are an all-volunteer organization that believes in taking care of dying veterans like family. They can be there at a loved one's bedside during those final nights when family members are at home getting much-needed rest.Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who've served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor StoriesAbout Today's GuestJoanne Melear is a former U.S. Navy nurse and the founder of the 11th Hour Squadron, a volunteer initiative dedicated to ensuring that veterans in hospice care are not alone at the end of life. Drawing on her military medical experience and deep commitment to lifelong service, she created the program to bring trained veteran volunteers to sit bedside, provide companionship, and honor fellow service members in their final hours.Links Mentioned During the Episode11th Hour Squadron Website PsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course Caring for Veterans Through the End Of Life: Compassionate Communities. In this course, you will learn how you can provide compassionate care through the end-of-life for those who have served our country. You can find the resource here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/caring-for-veterans-through-the-end-of-life-1 Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

What does courage look like under fire? In captivity? In command? In service? This edition of Long Blue Leadership was recorded on location at the U.S. Air Force Academy's 33rd National Character and Leadership Symposium. We've explored these questions with our guests and captured the conversations for you. Ted Robertson, Multimedia and Podcast Specialist for the Air Force Academy Association and Foundation, hosts this special episode featuring voices shaped by combat, crises and lifelong service. Their message to cadets is clear: Leadership is earned through character, and character is forged in hard moments. - Seg. 1: Lt. Col. Mark George and C1C Jaime Snyder, officer and NCLS cadet director, respectively, set the stage for this year's NCLS and for the podcast. - Seg. 2: Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Israel "DT" Del Toro on courage in times of crisis. - Seg. 3: Task Force Hope developer and facilitator Maj. Tara Holmes on preparing future leaders to handle crisis before it happens. - Seg. 4: Former POW Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier '64, on leading in circumstances out of your control. - Seg. 5: Annapolis grad and Vietnam-era aviator, Capt. (Ret.) J. Charles Plumb on how character breeds courage. All of our guest's lives and careers reflect the reality of this year's theme through combat, crisis and service.     CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org   Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org      ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS:  - Host, Ted Robertson, Multimedia and Podcast Specialist, United States Air Force Academy Association and Foundation  - Seg. 1: C1C Jaime Snyder, NCLS Cadet Director; Lt. Col. Mark George, NCLS Officer  - Seg. 2: Senior Master Sargent Israel Del Toro  - Seg. 3: Maj. Tara Holmes, Task Force Hope  - Seg. 4: Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier '64  - Seg. 5: Capt. (Ret.) J. Charles Plumb   Ted Robertson 0:00 Welcome to Long Blue Line Podcast Network coverage of the 33rd annual National Character and Leadership Symposium. I'm Ted Robertson, multimedia and podcast specialist for the Air Force Academy Association & Foundation, coming to you from Polaris Hall located here at the United States Air Force Academy. This year's symposium centers on the theme Courage to Lead in the Profession of Arms: Combat and Crisis-tested Character, where attendees and cadets will explore how courage in all its forms shapes leaders when uncertainty, fear and consequence are real. Our coverage will start with the Center for Character and Leadership Development's Lt. Col. Mark George and NCLS director, Cadet 1st Class Jaime Snyder. They'll set the stage not only for NCLS, but for today's coverage. Then we'll talk with four key leaders speaking at the symposium, including Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Israel Del Torro on keeping courageous during times of crisis. We'll also talk with Task Force Hope developer and facilitator, Maj. Tara Holmes, on preparing leaders to handle crisis before it happens. Then, former POW, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier, USAFA Class of '64, on leading in circumstances out of your control. And finally, Annapolis grad and Vietnam-era aviator, Capt. (Ret.) J. Charles Plumb, on how character breeds courage. All of our guests' lives and careers reflect the reality of this year's theme through combat, crisis and service. So I want to bring in our first two guests to help, as I said, frame the discussion today. We're going to dig in to learn what this is all about and sort of the “why” behind it. Cadet Jaime Snyder, 2026 NCLS director. Cadet Snyder, you've helped lead the organizing of the National Character and Leadership Symposium — 33rd year for this, as you know, and part of that work, you've trained cadets and permanent party. I'm going to ask you to explain permanent party, all of which helps strengthen your own public speaking and leadership communication skills. You want to kind of expound on that a bit? C1C Jaime Snyder 2:20 Yes, sir. So a part of my role being in NCLS is to, one, provide the guidance, the support and resources on the cadet side to succeed. But what really makes NCLS special is that we integrate permanent party with cadets. So oftentimes me, in supporting and training permanent party, is giving them cadet perspective, because while they're over here and the Center for Character and Leadership Development, we're over there in the Cadet Wing, and I can be the mediator between both parties. Ted Robertson 2:46 Let's talk a little bit about permanent party. What does that term mean? Who does that describe? C1C Jaime Snyder 2:52 Oh yes. Permanent party describes the civilian and military faculty that works in the Center for Character and Leadership Development that assists with the execution of NCLS — the National Character and Leadership Symposium. Ted Robertson 3:05 How big is the team behind this event every year? C1C Jaime Snyder 3:08 It's kind of complex where we'll get search cadets. We'll get a large number of volunteers, approximately around 300 from the Cadet Wing. Internal staff consists of 50 cadets who work it throughout the entire year, and around 50 staff members who are permanent party who work in the Center for Character and Leadership Development. Ted Robertson 3:29 I want to bring in next Lt. Col. Mark George, who is the experiential and training division chief and NCLS program director, the very fortunate man that gets to work for some incredibly talented cadets. Col. Mark George 3:43 That is absolutely true. Thanks to for having us on. Cadet Snyder has done an outstanding job leading this team. I came into this a little bit late. You know, we've had some reorganization here at the Academy, and after some shuffling, I got the honor and the privilege to take over NCLS while the planning was well underway. So my job was to just make sure this train kept rolling, that people had the resources that they needed, the top cover they needed. And as Jamie said, he was training me as a permanent party member to make sure that I had the cadet perspective. And then, you know, we were moving this ball forward as we got to this event. Ted Robertson 4:23 So coming up in the podcast we'll get to the sort of “why” and what's at the core of NCLS. Colonel, let's start with you. What is National Character and Leadership Symposium designed to do for cadets?   Col. Mark George 4:38 Sure. The National Character and Leadership Symposium — NCLS — is designed to bring exemplars that embody the core values and the traits that we want cadets to have when they become leaders on Day 1 and inspire them to a lifetime of service.   Ted Robertson 4:57 Cadet Snyder?   C1C Jaime Snyder 4:59 We definitely see at USAFA, there is a clear correlation with NCLS and character development. One thing we want cadets to get out of NCLS is to further develop leaders of character who are going to join the fight in the Air Force and Space Force, and that's why I see the epitome of NCLS as it's an opportunity to hear people's perspectives as well as learn from it and apply it to their daily lives. Ted Robertson 5:24 Gentlemen, this year's theme focuses on the courage to lead in the profession of arms. Cadet Snyder, we'll start with you. How did that theme come together, and why is it especially relevant for cadets right now? C1C Jaime Snyder 5:40 With our current structure at USAFA, we've had some implement of change. We recognize that the future war conflict is more prevalent than ever, and that it's important for the cadets to understand that we're changing the way we approach training, as well as what we're learning in curriculum. So this NCLS was an incredible opportunity to discuss courage when leading in the profession of arms, but furthermore, courage and crises-tested character. Which is what we're trying to further push along with what we do in training as well as what we teach in leadership. Ted Robertson 6:15 You make good decisions when your character is strong. You make those decisions with integrity when your character is intact and it's strong. Would you agree with that, Colonel? Col. Mark George 6:25 Absolutely. And I think Cadet Snyder hit the nail on the head that we really want the cadets to understand that the environments that they're stepping into are going to require that courage to do hard things. In my day, like we didn't necessarily think about the fight in that way. You know, we were kind of stovepiped in. And these cadets, whatever environment they may be stepping into, the next conflict is going to require a lot, a high demand of them, and their character is their foundation for that. Ted Robertson 6:59 One of the things you can say about this event is that it brings together voices from combat, crisis, athletics, academia and industry. How intentional is that mix, Cadet Snyder, and what do cadets gain from hearing such different perspectives on leadership and character? C1C Jaime Snyder 7:18 I think by hearing different perspectives, you get to see how universal courage is. When we say courage, it's not just one thing, it's also moral, social, spiritual. And by looking at different versions of courage, you can understand that there's different ways to actually apply courage. Understanding that courage is not the absence of fear, also knowing that courage is not simply being a confident individual. That it's more complex than you may define courage, and so you can then apply it that way — by looking at different perspectives. Ted Robertson 7:53 Colonel, I'll address this one to you as well. Col. Mark George 7:56 Sure. Courage — we're talking about courage here, and there's a heavy focus on the combat side with this year's speakers. The thing that sticks out to me is that courage always involves a decision to do the hard thing. And that's what all of our speakers brought this year. They're showing how in different environments, whether it's in a prison cell in Hanoi or up on the Space Station or — there's a hard decision and the right thing is sometimes pretty obvious, but it doesn't mean it's easy. It does not mean it's easy to do. And so courage always involves a decision to do the right thing. Ted Robertson 8:39 Cadet Snyder? C1C Jaime Snyder 8:40 What he said I find to be very true — understanding that courage is not simply doing something physical, but also in a leadership role, especially — we're talking to cadets who are going to soon be commissioned officers. It's important to know that you need to make the right decision on and off the battlefield. Ted Robertson 8:58 So from your perspective as a cadet — and this one is just for you, Cadet Snyder — what does it mean to help shape an event like NCLS while you're still developing as a leader yourself? C1C Jaime Snyder 9:10 What I've seen through NCLS is taking the time to relax. Don't focus on the future and focus where you're at right now, and that's character development. So don't let the pursuit of tomorrow diminish the joy today. We all have this aspiration to graduate, throw our hats in the air, Thunderbirds fly over. But right now it's important to focus on character development as that's going to be important as future officers. Ted Robertson 9:35 That makes 1,000% very clear sense. But I do want to ask you, less than 100 days from the day you toss your hat — you're giving me a big smile right now — talk about how that feels right now for you. C1C Jaime Snyder 9:47 It's incredible, and a part of it is less daunting, because I can say this institution has really prepared me to commission, and so it's more liberating than daunting for me. Ted Robertson 9:58 Col. George, I'm going to direct this one straight to you, and this is an ask of you from the leadership perspective: How do we events Like NCLS fit into the broader effort to intentionally develop leaders of character here at the Academy. Col. Mark George 10:14 So I get the honor of leading the experiential and training division in the Center for Character and Leadership Development. So we're all about creating experiences and those opportunities for cadets to have different types of environments where they'll learn about character. And right now, NCLS is an opportunity to listen to where people's character was tested, how they overcame it. And then we also have different events that we try to put the cadets in where we'll actually test their character. And that could be on the challenge tower, it could be through our character labs where we're having discussions. NCLS is a huge part of that, because the planning cycle is so long. Ted Robertson 10:59 Cadet Snyder? C1C Jaime Snyder 11:00 Yes, sir. One thing I wanted to add on to that is with NCLS, one thing that makes this event the most unique experience that I've had is the fact that we get to engage in meaningful dialog. This isn't a brief. This is an experience for everyone who attends. I've had the opportunity to talk to Col. George's son, who aspires to possibly come to the Air Force Academy. So I don't want to say this is just for cadets, but it's also a promotion tool. And understand that what we do at NCLS is very important. And anyone who wants to attend can come and see what we're doing and how important it is.   Col. Mark George 11:33 I want to thank you for that, by the way. He looks up to you, and that meant a lot.   Ted Robertson 11:37 That's pretty visionary stuff. That's touching the next generation. That's fantastic. All right, this is for you both. When cadets look back on NCLS years from now, what do you hope they're going to remember feeling or being challenged to do differently?   C1C Jaime Snyder 11:56 There is a very strong human component to NCLS, and with that, there's a human experience. Understanding that we're getting speakers and we'll see their bios that they're incredible. They have incredible stories of making the right decision when tensions were high, and getting to hear their stories and understand that they ultimately were no different than we are. Some of them were Air Force Academy graduates. Some graduated from the Naval Academy, West Point, other colleges, but they were young, 20-year-old people like we were as cadets. And so getting to understand where they're coming from, human experience is vital to NCLS, and how do we grow and understand where they're coming from? Ted Robertson 12:38 Col. George? Col. Mark George 12:39 Yeah, I think what I would want the cadets to remember is how these speakers made them feel. You're right, you won't remember every nugget of wisdom that was said. I just had the opportunity to talk with Gen. Scott Miller, and he was an incredible leader. And I feel like everything he was saying was gold. I wish I'd been able to write it down. But he really makes you feel like you understand just how important your role is going to be as a young leader. And when you come away as second lieutenants from this place, you've had incredible opportunities and now you're stepping out in the real world. I would think I want the cadets to remember that like, “Hey, what I do matters, and how I lead is very important to getting this mission done.”   Ted Robertson 13:24 Lt. Col. Mark George and C1C Jaime Snyder, officer and cadet in charge of the 33rd NCLS. Congratulations on the event. Well done, and thank you for spending time here with us on the podcast today. Hearing from both the cadet perspective and the senior leadership behind NCLS makes one thing very clear: This symposium is intentionally designed not just to inspire but to prepare future leaders for moments when character will be tested. And that brings me to my first featured guest, a man whose life story embodies what combat and crisis-tested character truly means. Israel “DT” Del Toro, welcome to the podcast. It's an honor to be with you here at the National Character and Leadership Symposium. Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Israel Del Toro 14:18 Thank you, Ted. Thanks for having me. Good to see you again.   Ted Robertson 14:21 Yes, it's not the first time we've gotten to spend some time together. Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 14:24 It's always great to talk to people, try and spread the word of the whole spark and the promise of my dad. Ted Robertson 14:30 The spark and the promises are the two things that really stood out to me about that interview — your heart and your soul man, from a very, very early age. Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 14:39 You know, losing my dad at 12, and then a year and a half later, losing my mom to a drunk driver, and being the oldest, you know, having to now kind of step up to be, like, the parent figure to my younger siblings. It was challenging.   Ted Robertson 14:55 Out of all of that, you wound up as a retired — you are currently a retired senior master sergeant. You took responsibility for your siblings, as you say, after you were orphaned as a teenager, and ultimately in the service combat-wounded airmen, and you survived catastrophic injuries against incredible odds, and that did not keep you down. One of the things that you did was you became an Invictus Games gold medalist. You're now a national speaker, and you talk a lot about resilience and purpose.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 15:27 Yes, sir. Yeah, Invictus, I won gold in shot put. It was pretty awesome. You know, everyone was just going nuts. Ted Robertson 15:37 You kind of make me feel like that was a soul-feeding, motivating time for you.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 15:42 It was. At that time, I was probably one of the senior guys, kind of. Obviously, I was one of the senior guys, wounded guys on the team, and so a lot of people looked up to me. And sometimes I wish — people would say, “Man, it's great. You're such trailblazer.” You're sometimes like, “Man, I just want to be one of the guys. I just, I just want to be No. 10.” You know, everything's all done, and no one's focusing everything on me. But it's a burden that I'm willing to carry on to try and continue to help people.   Ted Robertson 16:19 I want to linger here in your background a bit, because it's more than just impressive. I think impressive is pretty trite to describe what your background is. Let's start with before the Air Force and before combat, and just how your life demanded responsibility at such a young age. And what I want to ask is, how did stepping up for your family shape the leader that you became? Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 16:40 Well, I contribute that totally to my dad. I truly do. My dad was there. My dad, you know, I went everywhere with my dad. My dad — you know, he came from Mexico to this country, and he gave up a lot. You know, my family in Mexico is very wealthy, their ranchers and all that. He came here with nothing. And he always used to tell me, he's like, “Don't ever be envious of someone that's successful. Learn from them. Ask them questions.” He also used to tell me, “If you don't succeed, it's no one else's fault by yourself. Don't blame where you came from, where you grew up from, the situation. It is only your fault.” So my dad always had told me these little lessons and obviously the last lesson he gave me the night before he passed: Always take care of your family. And that just stayed with me, that kind of continued to shape me all throughout my life, all through my journey, at a young age to teenager to young adult to the military and to now, to this day, that really guided me to who I am. Now, it's like, I always hear people say, “Oh, man, I don't know if I can do it.” I was like, “Yeah, you can. You Just never know. You weren't ever put in that situation” I always believe — you always hear the fight or flight. “What are you gonna do?” I just fight, and I continue to fight. I just don't see the flight in me. And, you know, being the promise of take care of your family. Yes, I tell people, that originated with my family — my brothers and sisters. But throughout time it has evolved to now anyone I see that's having a hard time that needs maybe to hear a story or read a book or hear a journey to help them find that spark, because I see them now as my family. I see that as my family, as my mission now.   Ted Robertson 18:50 Let's stay with spark for a minute. It's just one of my favorite things that you've ever talked about. You're down, you've been badly burned, you're worried about whether you're going to survive, and a medic is helping you out, and he does something for you. He says something to you.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 19:07 Yeah, you know, the medic — I always like to say, you know, yes, I'm Air Force. Those guys were Army, and we bust each other's chops. But, we're all brothers and sisters, and we're down range, you know? We take care of each other, we tell stories, we talk about our family. So these guys knew what had happened in my past with my family. So when I'm, you know, laying there, after I coordinate getting air, and I started the adrenaline going down, I started getting scared. I was having a hard time breathing, and I just wanted to lay down and sleep. The medic came and reminded me, “DT, remember what you promised your son, that you'll never let him grow without his dad. Fight for your son. You got to fight for your son.” And he's just making me yell it. You use anything you can to keep your guy motivated, to help that spark go, keep going. And that's what he did. He found that spark to keep me going, to keep me fighting until that medevac came and to get me on that helicopter, to the FOB, to the hospital, and then to eventually San Antonio. Ted Robertson 20:24 After that injury, that's when the fight shifted. You had to get off the battlefield. You had to get that out of your head. You had to start battling for your recovery. So what did courage look like when progress seemed like it was slow and at one point nothing was guaranteed? Israel Del Toro 20:46 Yeah, it, you know, when he had a shift from now being on the battlefield to now a different kind of battle and your recovery, your way of life — it's difficult because you have people telling you this is what your life's going to be. You know, being told that you're never going to walk again. You got to be in a hospital for another year and a half, respirator for the rest of your life and your military career is pretty much over. You know, I like to say there's two choices again: Who you're going to be? Are you going to take the easy path, which is, I'm going to sit in a chair, accept what they say, hate life, you know, curse the world. Are you going to take the hard path where I want to fight? I'm going to show you I can do this. I'm going to prove that I still have value, and I want to come out of this ahead and show not only my son but the rest of the world. You stay positive, you find that spark, you will come out ahead. Ted Robertson 21:48 All right, last question on your background, because we're going to roll all this into why you're here and what messages you want to share with the cadets and the attendees that are here. You did something I don't think most human beings would even think about after that ordeal that you had been through all those years, everything. You reenlisted, and it wasn't just a medical milestone. It wasn't because you could, it was a conscious decision. So what internal commitment had to come first for you to make that decision. Israel Del Toro 22:22 You know, I guess it was, for me it was I loved my job. I knew I could teach, I could be prepare these next guys to [be] the next generation operators. Ted Robertson 22:38 You've never stopped being committed. You've never stopped. So it brings you to NCLS. This is the 33rd year for NCLS, and when you speak to cadets here, what message do you want them to take away with them? Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 22:53 I guess my message more is about that when you're in the military, no matter whatever happens to you, you still have a role to play. Even when I got hurt, did I miss being with my teammates? Yes, but now refocusing, OK, I'm here in this hospital, and I see all these wounded guys here as I guess I'm wounded also, but in my head is like I was still NCO in the Air Force. I still have a job to do. Yes, I'm hurt, I'm wounded, but the job of a leader is, no matter where you're at, is you try and take care of your troops. You try and make things better for them, even if you never see any of the benefits — that is your role. And so that's kind of what I want to leave with these guys that, you know, you're going to always have  challenges throughout your career, but you've always got to remember it's not about you, it's about the guys under you to take care of you. You know, I had a group of cadets yesterday and they were just asking me about leadership. So you know what? The best way to be a great leader is to earn the respect of yourtroops. If you demand it, you're not a leader, but when you earned the respect and they'll die for you, that is the greatest feeling. You know, I gave an example of one of the best moments I had after my injury, is after I got hurt, they sent my replacement, and he comes in and obviously introduce him to the scout team, to the Army company, individuals in leadership, and then the SF team, and all these guys I'm supporting. And the guy comes in like, “Hey, I'm here to replace DT.” And all of them, “You can't replace DT.” And I told that was the best moment that that's the best moment of respect, because I had Army guys saying, “He's our guy.” And that's the thing I told them, it's like, when you get to that moment when your guys say, “Nah, he's our guy,” I was like, “He can't replace him.” That is where you've truly earned the respect of your troops.   Ted Robertson 25:21 Israel, the only word that I can pull out of myself right now for your journey to describe it as “remarkable,” and you continue to give of yourself, and that's a wonderful thing. Your opportunity for a couple of final thoughts here, before we close out.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 25:38 Final thoughts, man, putting me on the spot, aren't you. I guess my final thoughts would be, you can't do it on your own. I'm not here right now, because I did it my own. I did it. I'm never gonna say that I did. I had friends, I had family, I had my wife that were by my side all throughout my journey to medical individuals. And I had those dark times, and I'm going down that spot, that rabbit hole, they were there to pull me out of it. So I think it's like, you know, don't try and do it on your own. We all need help. You know, the goal is, don't be prideful. There's a reason pride is one of the seven deadly sins. But, you know, ask for help, ask for advice. It's not going to hurt you. If anything, it will make you stronger and better. That's parting thoughts for the individuals listening to this. Ted Robertson 26:53 Perfect. Israel “DT” Del Toro, what a privilege to sit with you again. Want to say thank you from all of us for your service and continuing to lead by the example, which is a very rich and broad and deep example. Your story reminds us, and should remind us, that courage doesn't end with just survival. It always continues in service to others. Israel, thank you for being here.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 27:18 Thanks, Ted. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me again.   Ted Robertson 27:21 Israel's story reminds us that crisis and moral injury don't always arrive on a schedule, and that leaders are often expected to navigate those moments without ever having been taught how. That's where our next conversation takes us: into the intentional work of preparing leaders before crisis arrives. Maj. Tara Holmes, welcome to the podcast. It's great to have you with us as part of the National Character and Leadership Symposium.   Maj. Tara Holmes  27:46 Thanks for having me; glad to be here.   Ted Robertson 27:48 You are currently deputy chief of staff here at Headquarters USAFA. You are formerly chief of cadet development for CCLD, the Center for Character and Leadership development. By way of background, you flew.   Maj. Tara Holmes  28:01 So I am a B-52 electronic warfare officer by trade, and then moved over into white jets. So instructed in the in the T-1 and I've kind of been in education and training for, I'd say, since about 2017.   Ted Robertson  28:19 You also hold a Doctorate in Business and Management, and you are an AETC master instructor. I will let you explain AETC.   Maj. Tara Holmes  28:27 Air Education Training Command, that's one of the that's our majcom that's responsible for education and training, and they have a pathway to become a master instructor. So I finished the qualifications for that while I was in white jets and working over at Squadron Officer School.   Ted Robertson  28:46 So let's talk about your work with Task Force Hope. We'll talk about what Task Force Hope is, but you are and have been a developer and facilitator of Task Force Hope, which is a crisis and moral injury leadership workshop.   Maj. Tara Holmes  29:01 Task Force Hope is about providing immediately useful tools to our workshop participants to prepare them to lead through crisis, whether that is no-kidding combat related, or whether that's crisis on the home front, going through stuff in life that's really hard. We work through a series of key concepts and exercises, through storytelling and participant engagement that hopefully provides our participants some self-awareness and some tools to recover as it deals with their relationships.   Ted Robertson  29:39 We talked about this. There's a lot of nuance in what you're teaching these people. There's discernment in it. Who should you talk to, who you should trust with information that you want to share? Because ultimately, some of this becomes a pressure release valve, right?   Maj. Tara Holmes  29:52 Yeah, so one of the key concepts that we talk about is worthiness, right? I think often people feel pressure to not share what they're going through because they don't think their problems are worthy of attention, whether theirs or someone else's. That's one thing that we spend a lot of time on. And like you said, you know, who to who to share with, and at what level, some people are more free with sharing than others, and that's OK. So we work through some frameworks that help illustrate how people can kind of work through those levels, or gain some self-awareness and some clarity around where they fall. Something that is a, you know, deep seated secret for you, maybe something that somebody else is willing to openly share, they just don't see it as that big of a deal. So it's definitely about self-awareness and learning some tools to help relieve some of the pressure and drain on our batteries, as it were, that comes from holding these things in.   Ted Robertson  30:52 People who are attending the workshop are going to learn some things that they may not realize are draining their batteries. You're teaching them to discern what those are, and to be careful to try to avoid those. It sounds like an example to me of things that we don't realize we do, that drains us, right, instead of energizes us.   Maj. Tara Holmes  31:10 So we use the kind of metaphor of a smartphone, right? So there are things that drain us, that are big, that we're taking a lot of energy to conceal the hard things that we're dealing with in our life. But then there's, like, the pesky background apps, there's the things that are always running in the background of our lives that drain our energy without us really even noticing it. You know, so for me as an officer, but also as a mom and a spouse, some of the things that are always draining my batteries are my to-do list, the laundry app, maybe social media apps. Sometimes I've probably spend way too much time reading the news these days. That's kind of always on for me. We have these big things that are draining our batteries, but then we have these like small things that are constantly going on, right? So Task Force Hope is about recognizing what those things are for us and then making a commitment to ourselves to make this space and time to recover.   Ted Robertson  32:09 So that brings us to a really unique place. You kind of function at the intersection of character, leadership and development pretty much every day. So how do you define character when you're responsible for shaping it across an entire Cadet Wing.   Maj. Tara Holmes  32:24 To me, character is the essence of who they are. It is how you show up day after day. It's the habits that you have. That's why, when you do something out of character, people are able to say that. You know, we talk about building character strengths as building blocks towards certain virtues. And virtues is really excellence of character. So it's easy to talk about how to be an excellent athlete, or how to be an excellent academic, right? And that's one of our core values, is being excellent. Well, how do you have excellent character? It's really about leveraging your character strengths in a way that can lead you to be more virtuous, and that's the goal.   Ted Robertson  33:05 You've served, both operationally and as an instructor. Tell me how those things shape the way you think about preparing leaders not just to perform but to endure.   Maj. Tara Holmes  33:19 What comes to mind is the importance of training and building those habits. We're, you know, in the previous question, we talked about it in terms of character. You know, you can, you can use any kind of training. It's about building readiness, right? And being able to build those habits so that when you are faced with a challenge, you have a way to work through the challenge, right? That really came out for me, both operationally and as an instructor. So operationally, you rely on your training to get your job done, and then as an instructor, you're helping others build those habits so that one day when your students are faced with challenges, they can rely on their training as well.   Ted Robertson  34:01 We've talked a bit about your experiences and how they shape the way you think about preparing leaders, not just to perform but to endure. And now let's bring it right down to the direct connection between Task Force Hope and why you are here talking about this program to attendees at NCLS. When we talk about Task Force Hope, it's a program that is really designed to prepare leaders to navigate crisis and recover from both emotional and moral injury. What can you tell me about a gap that a workshop like this fills, that traditional leadership education sometimes or often misses?   Maj. Tara Holmes  34:38 Task Force Hope is preventative in nature. It's training to prevent people from letting their burdens get the best of them so that they can show up. They have the tools to show up fully charged when stuff hits the van. And not only that they do that for themselves, but then they can help their teammates or their subordinates also get there. It's self-awareness, because we all perform self-care differently, and what you need to recharge your batteries is different from the way that I would do it. So it's being intentional and having some tools to be able to identify what works for you and then how to make space in your life, and building that commitment to yourself, to make that space so that the next time that you face a crisis, you're not facing it at 10%, you're full up, you're ready to go. So it's that sustained self-care, if that's what you want to call it. And it's important to say that you know, in a 75-minute session, we're really doing our best to provide exposure to key concepts and these tools. What we hope is that people walk out with the start of something. It's not it's not the end of their work to be done.   Ted Robertson  35:54 How often do you hear the question, “Why didn't I hear this earlier in my career?”   Maj. Tara Holmes  36:00 Every workshop. Last year, after the workshop, we had a 1970-something graduate say that exact thing. For me personally, I had four people say something, you know, “Hey, I was a cadet here in '90-something, '80-something, 2000-something. And, you know, I really wish that I would have had this earlier.” So that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to bring it as early as we can.   Ted Robertson  36:26 OK, so our last question of our visit, if cadets take just one lesson from Task Force Hope and NCLs this year, what is your hope for that lesson to be?   Maj. Tara Holmes  36:39 My hope is that they're worth it. No problem is too big or too small to be dealt with, and like we talked about earlier, I think often people keep things to themselves because they feel like they shouldn't bother others, or there's their supervisors or their teammates with what's going on in their lives. And that's a drain. Like, that's a drain on the system. It eats up your energy, right? But our cadets are worth it. Whatever they're dealing with, big or small, is worthy of being addressed. I hope that's the takeaway, and that we all deal with things, right? We don't always know what other people are dealing with.   Ted Robertson  37:22 Maj. Holmes. Thank you for the work you're doing to prepare future leaders, not just to lead in moments of clarity, but to stand firm in moments of crisis. We appreciate you being here.   Maj. Tara Holmes  37:32 Thanks, Ted.   Ted Robertson  37:33 That focus on preservation, resilience and moral courage brings us to our next conversation, one shaped by combat, captivity and a life of service under the most demanding conditions. Coming up next, my conversation with Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier. Gen. Mechenbier, welcome to the podcast. It is a huge honor having you here, sir.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier 37:56 I hope you feel that way in a half hour so well,   Ted Robertson  37:59 Well, the conversation does promise to be interesting, because your life is… interesting. That was a pregnant pause, sir.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier 38:07 Yeah, I've enjoyed it. It's different.   Ted Robertson  38:11 Just to sort of frame things, you retired as a major general, and what year was that, sir,   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier 38:15 2004   Ted Robertson  38:16 And you were USAFA Class of '64. You're a Vietnam-era pilot, having flown F-4s, you were shot down on your 113th combat mission, but that was you also your 80th over North Vietnam. OK, prisoner of war. Then for almost those entire six years following that, being shot down. You come with 3,600 flying hours across lots of different aircraft.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  38:42 I was privileged fly either for primary capability or for familiarization with 43 different airplanes.   Ted Robertson  38:49 And now you describe yourself as a lifelong advocate for veterans and public service.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  38:56 Well, yeah, I mean, I go to a couple prisons in Ohio, and “work with” is probably overstating my role. Veterans who are incarcerated for long periods of time. But my role is just to go there, spend some time, shoot the breeze with them, no agenda, no desired learning objective and let them know that somebody outside knows that they're there.   Ted Robertson  39:19 What I want to do is spend some time in your background. All right, I want to start with combat and captivity and how that tests leadership in its most extreme forms. And this is in course in keeping with the theme of NCLS here, what did character mean to you when circumstances were entirely beyond your control?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  39:38 The Vietnamese kept us in small groups of one and two or three guys. I mean, we never really until near the end and later on when we got a little organization. But it got very down, very personal, when at one time, I was in a cell with four guys, three Class of 1964 Air Force Academy graduates and one poor Oklahoma State University graduate, and amongst the four of us, we had a senior ranking officer. And of course, you got the same rank, you go alphabetical. And so we made Ron Bliss the senior ranking officer in our room. We had a communication system. We had guidelines that, you know, which were basically consistent with the code of conduct. You know, name, rank, serial number, date of birth, don't answer further questions. Keep faith with your fellow positions. That was the key. Keep faith. Never do anything that you'd be embarrassed to tell somebody you did.   Ted Robertson  40:34 What you're explaining is how different leadership looks, and even how you describe it, how different it is from command. So now it comes down to trust and accountability and courage, and how do those show up in those conditions?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  40:51 It was really a matter of, we always knew we were still in the fight. That was one thing that was with us, and so you just kind of conducted yourself with, OK, I'm not going to let myself be used. Now, we also knew that the more you resisted pushed back, the less likely they were to make you go meet an antiwar delegation or write a confession or do something else like that. So they tend to pick on, if you will, the low-hanging fruit or the easier guy to get to. So we always wanted to set the bar just a little bit out of their reach.   Ted Robertson  41:25 All right, having gone through all of that, it really can change people quite profoundly. So when you look back at it, what leadership lessons stayed with you long after you got out of captivity?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  41:39 In the movie Return of Honor. Capt. Mike McGrath, Navy guy, describes the guys in their ability to resist torture and do things. And that's what you learn. Everybody's got a breaking point. If mine's here and somebody else's is there, that doesn't make me better or worse than them. So you learn to appreciate the talents and the weaknesses. If you know the foibles, the cracks in everybody around you and not to exploit them, but to understand them, and then to be the kind of leader that that they need.   Ted Robertson  42:12 Sir, one of the recurring themes when you're discussing leadership with leaders right is knowing something about each of your people so that you can relate to them in a way that that works for them and motivates them.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  42:23 Yeah. Mark Welch, who's also a graduate and he is a chief of staff of the Air Force, always had a saying: “If you don't know what's going on, it's because you didn't ask.”   Ted Robertson  42:32 Now we're going to roll all that into your long journey between captivity and your visit here to NCLS this year. When you're speaking to the cadets at this year's event, what's your main hope? What do you hope they understand about courage before they even ever face combat?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  42:54 Well, courage is a reaction to a clear and present threat. Nobody knows how they're gonna — know he's gonna say, OK, I'm gonna go to Vietnam and I want to get shot down, and when the Vietnamese capture me, I'm going to give them a middle finger and I'm going to be the meanest bad ass and hardest-to-break prisoner. Yeah, it's how you respond to the to the immediate perception of bodily harm or being used or something else like that. So courage is, yeah, it just happens. It's not something that you can put in a package and say, “OK, I've got courage.” It's how you respond to the situation, because you might respond quite differently than what you think.   Ted Robertson  43:35 And I have to say, you presented your story and you delivered your message in kind of a unique way. You drew from some contemporary references, specifically three clips from a movie that you like, that I was curious. How did you sum up your entire life in three movie clips from Madagascar? How did you do that?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  43:57 Well, the three movie clips — when I watched the movie, I was looking at it, I have got two favorite movies. Madagascar is one, and the other is a Kelsey Grammer movie, Down Periscope. I mean, I think that is a perfect study in in leadership. But in the movie Madagascar, the premise was penguins can't fly, but yet it opens up with them applying resource, innovation imagination, and they eventually get this airplane to fly. OK, great. Success. Well, like everything else in life, things go wrong, and you got to have, No. 1, a backup plan, an exit ramp or a control mechanism for the disaster that's pending. So that's the second movie clip we saw. And then the third one was towards the end of the movie, when the crash landing has happened and the skipper asks for an accounting, and he's told that all passengers are accounted for, except two. And he says, that's the number I can live with. And the message there is, you go through life — you're going to have successes, but you're going to have failures, and failure has a cost, and it's not always pleasant, but that's OK, because that's life.   Ted Robertson  45:15 How do you explain how leaders can prepare themselves morally and mentally for moments they can't predict or control.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  45:25 Watch movies like Madagascar and Down Periscope. You know, there's a breadth of unintentional, if you will, guidance on how to be a leader, if you know where to look or if you're looking for it. I mean, that's part of the whole progress program at the Academy. Nobody's going to say, OK, here's a scenario, lead these resources to a proper conclusion. It's kind of like, OK, here's the situation. What do we do? What can we do? What can't we do? It's like, in my presentation, I talk about being able to run across a pasture in nine seconds, in 10 seconds, but if the bull can do it, you're in trouble. So you got to realign your thinking, you got to realign your goals and you got to realign the application of resources. So that's the leadership part, right there. It's a realization of what you can and what you can't do. It's a realization of what you, your people, your resources, can and can't do. It's a realization of what the technology you have at your disposal to do your mission can and can't do. So it's all about workarounds and being flexible. And then the other thing is, we live in a world that just seems to be everything's got a prescription and a protocol on exactly how to do everything. Doesn't work that way. You got to be able to go left and right. You got to be able to be a little imaginative.   Ted Robertson  46:42 What parting thought did you leave the cadets with?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  46:45 That failure is part of life. It's not death. And I'm part of an organization called American 300 — we go around and talk to young enlisted people and all the services to get them to understand that failure is a learning opportunity. It's not a dagger in the heart, and don't be afraid or ashamed to try, because if you don't, you'll never know what your true potential is. So with the cadets, we close with that last part from the movie Madagascar that basically said, OK, success comes with a price. Be aware and accept it.   Ted Robertson  47:23 All right, we've got to close it out here, but recap, if you would one more time that message that you want cadets to leave here with from having heard you speak.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  47:32 You are now a living, breathing, viable, productive part of our United States Air Force. You bring talents that are unique. Apply them, but understand that they're all very transitory, and you have part of a larger community. If you stick with a community rather than the “I did,” “I want,” I have,” you'll go a long way.   Ted Robertson  47:54 All right, and stepping outside of that very briefly for your final thoughts, what would you like to leave listeners with today.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  48:01 Be proud of the young men and women who are in our military now, not just those at the Air Force Academy. You know, our whole military structure has changed over the years. You know, it's a dynamic world. You got to be flexible and embrace change. We're so reluctant to change. Change is fine, except when you try to change me, is the old saying, but we all have to change. We have to be part of the world in which we live.     Ted Robertson  48:26 Gen. Mechenbier, I want to thank you from all of us for being here sharing those leadership lessons of yours and a lifetime of service that will continue to shape others — future leaders — for a very, very long time to come. We appreciate you very much.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  48:43 Thank you much.   Ted Robertson  48:44 Our final conversation brings us to leadership at the strategic level, where decisions affect institutions, alliances and the nation itself. Capt. Charles Plumb, welcome to the podcast today, sir.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  48:56 Thanks, Ted. Appreciate being here.   Ted Robertson  48:59 It is a privilege to have you. You retired as a Navy captain in 1991 and you have not slowed down, not one inch since. We're going to talk a little bit about the work that you're doing in some very interesting spaces. And what informs all of that. Naval Academy, Class of '64.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:15 Yep, the Great Class of '64.     Ted Robertson  49:17 The great —that's how you express class pride?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:20 Everybody knows the Great Class of '64.   Ted Robertson  49:23 So you are an Annapolis man.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:25 I am, in fact.   Ted Robertson  49:26 No doubt. And a pilot. You flew F-4 Phantoms, and you are a Vietnam-era pilot. You spent most of your time over North Vietnam. Sometimes you got sent to South Vietnam, depending on what was going on. But you said that you have flown 74 combat missions.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:45 Actually 74 and a half, Ted. I have one more takeoff and I have landings.   Ted Robertson  49:50 We should remember that, because it's a very important part of your life we haven't talked about yet. Since you got out of captivity, and then you retired a few years later, you became a published author and a speaker, and as such, you have been to every state, several countries, 5,000 presentations you've delivered in the leadership and character development space. Is there any reason you should not be here at NCLS?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  50:24 Well, I appreciate that. You know, this is a great symposium, and I'm really proud to contribute to it.   Ted Robertson  50:32 Captain, you are a former POW.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  50:36 Yes, I was shot down on my 75th mission and captured, tortured and spent the next 2,103 days in communist prison camps.   Ted Robertson  50:49 You said you got moved around a lot.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  50:52 We did. I was in six different camps, and some of those camps more than once. We never really understood why. We kind of suspected that they wanted to try to deny any fraternization with their guards, and they wanted to keep us on our toes, because they recognized that being military guys, we were going to have leadership, and we were going to have organization and community and we were going to organize, to fight them, and they didn't want that. So they moved us around and kind of shuffled us up, which didn't work. We always had a military organization in every camp that I ever went to.   Ted Robertson  51:31 You found ways to support each other. You found ways to have a leadership structure, even in captivity.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  51:39 We were all fighter pilots or air crews and most of us were we, you know, we had 10 Air Force Academy grads from '64 in five Naval Academy grads from '64 and so we had in a lot of other academy grads. I don't remember how many, but probably 70 total academy grads. And so, you know, we were, we were dedicated. We were lifers. We were, you know, we were very focused guys, which helped out a lot that we knew a lot about military leadership.   Ted Robertson  52:11 You grew up in the Midwest, and you married a Midwestern girl.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  52:15 I did, my high school sweetheart the day after I graduated from Annapolis, we got married in the chapel, and my buddies were holding up their swords as we came out of the chapel. So it was a beautiful day.   Ted Robertson  52:27 Let's go back to how you found your way to the Naval Academy.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  52:32 I was a farm kid from Kansas. Never seen the ocean, never been out of the four states of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri. Never been in an airplane, and I needed an education. Found that the Naval Academy offered me an education.   Ted Robertson  52:50 Outside of Air Force Academy circles, you probably already know that we think of, you know, salty sea dog sailors when we think of people going in the Navy, but you chose aviation.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  53:02 I did. As a kid, I would see these Piper Cubs fly over and I was fascinated by flight, and wondered if I'd ever be able to ride in an airplane. That was my thought when I was a kid. I didn't have any hopes of ever being a pilot, you know, let alone a fighter pilot. That was, I was out of the realm. Nobody, as I grew up, ever told me that I could do that, or I should do that, or, you know, it would be a hope of mine to ever pilot an airplane. But I went to the Naval Academy and found out that was one of the options, and I took advantage of that option.   Ted Robertson  53:43 Yeah, and it led you, of course, to over North Vietnam, and the rest is that part of your history   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  53:51 Launched on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk on my wife's birthday, the 5th of November, wave goodbye to her, and promised her I'd be back in eight months. I didn't make it.   Ted Robertson  54:04 Hard. Very hard story to hear. Let's talk about all of that informing your presentation now, again, 5,000 of these delivered in the leadership and character development space, but you talk a lot about, in your presentation — and you keynoted here at NCLS — the mental game side of this, the integrity, the choices that you have to make, and character that sort of frames all of that.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  54:38 My message to the cadets, and really to most of my audiences, is around challenge and adversity. And I tell the cadets that they work awfully hard trying to get a degree. They study, they go to computers, they read books all to get a degree. And what I point out to them is that more important than the degree that they will get from the Air Force Academy is a character that they build while they are here. That the integrity first, you know, is part of their motto. And if, in fact, they can learn and live that integrity, if they can learn and live the commitment that they have, if they can learn in and live these kind of ethereal things, the things that you can't measure, things you can't define, the things that, you know, that crop up in your in your mind, in the back of your mind, are more important than the lessons they learn from a computer. And so that's kind of my message.   Ted Robertson  55:49 You know, we're in a leadership laboratory here. The art and the science is character development. And you're talking about a kind of character that leads people to make good decisions and make those decisions with integrity in mind. How did that play into your captivity and getting you through that?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  56:09 You know, of course, I studied leadership at the Naval Academy, and I think that my period of experience more than teaching me anything, it validated what I had learned. And the whole idea — and I love the fact that this is called, you know, the Character and Leadership Symposium, because lots of times you see leadership without character, that's a negative kind of leadership. And if a leader does not have character, he doesn't last very long, and he's not very effective. And so if you can keep your character up front, the leadership can follow easily. And that's pretty much what we had in the prison camps. Several of the qualities of leadership that I promote are the things that almost came natural in a prison camp. First of all, we had to find a focus, a reason. We had to find, you know — and that was developed by our leadership in the prison camp. Return with honor — that was our motto, return with honor. And we all rallied around that.   Ted Robertson  57:22 So all of that said, you're standing here in front of a really big group of people as a keynote speaker, lot of cadets, mostly cadets, yeah.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  57:31 Now there were cadets. I'm speaking on a panel with Ed Mechenbier, my good buddy, and we're on a panel with mostly cadets. The first presentation, the keynote was by invitation only. So there were a number of civilians in the audience, number of cadets. There were Naval Academy midshipmen in my audience today. And we had ROTC people, and, you know, from all over the country. So it was quite a wide audience.   Ted Robertson  58:04 Quite a wide audience. And so if we were just focusing on what you leave with cadets, what do you want them to take away from their experience today?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  58:15 I hope they understand my message, that more important than the degree that they graduate with, is the character that they graduate with, and the importance of the integrity that that they learned here, because that was vital in the prison camp, is integrity. We had to have each other's back, and when we when we finally were released, we refused to be released until all the sick, injured and enlisted men had gone home, and it was a question of integrity, is a question that this is the right thing to do. It's not the easy thing to do. Largely, the integrity thing to do is not the easiest thing to do, and that's what I wanted to leave with the cadets. In addition, I want them to know that regardless of what situation they're in, they still have a choice, and their choice is the way they respond to the surrounding adversity situation that they're in.   Ted Robertson  59:21 An Annapolis grad of '64, Midwest kid from Kansas who makes it into the cockpit, and like you said, 74 and a half flights, then some time in captivity, then to a published author with thousands of presentations all over the country, and some in in other countries. What final thoughts would you like to leave today, sir?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  59:47 Well, you know, I think I've already told you, you know, you're a great interviewer, Ted, and I appreciate your questions. I think, finally, this whole idea of self-determination and I think that we all, and not just the cadets, but graduates and families and business people, families. You know that we all have choices, and sometimes when we deny the choice and give up that ability to make our life better for ourselves. And you know, we do it sometimes even when we're not even thinking about it. It's just automatic to blame somebody else for the problem, and in doing so, we give away that choice.   Ted Robertson  1:00:34 Don't give away the choice. Yeah, build that character and stick by your integrity all the time. Capt. J. Charles Plumb, what a privilege it is to meet you, sir. Glad that you're here at NCLs and keynoting like you are, and I do hope that our paths cross again.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  1:00:52 Ted, thank you very much. I appreciate your willingness to tell my story. Thanks for that.   Ted Robertson  1:00:57 You're welcome, sir. Thank you. Ted Robertson Close As we've heard throughout these conversations, courage isn't a single moment. It's a lifelong practice, from cadets just beginning their journey to leaders shaped by combat and crisis to senior commanders responsible for forces and futures. Character is tested when certainty disappears and it's revealed by how we choose to lead. That's the challenge of the National Character and Leadership Symposium, and it's a challenge that extends far beyond these walls. I'm Ted Robertson, thank you for joining me for our Long Blue Line Podcast Network coverage of the 33rd National Character and Leadership Symposium. This podcast was recorded on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.         The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation      

Bruce & Gaydos host a special edition of the Faceoff panel. They are joined by Major General Mick McGuire (ret.) U.S. Air Force, former U.S. Congressman Matt Salmon and Co-founder of Lumen Strategies Stacy Pearson. They discuss the United States' military operation against Iran.

CZ Lopez is a true force of nature, a visionary leader whose career spans groundbreaking work alongside culinary titan Robert Irvine and a dedicated mentorship transforming the lives of veterans. From humble beginnings that led him to find his purpose as an Air Force para-rescueman, CZ's journey of resilience, humility, and unwavering commitment has shaped him into an extraordinary voice in leadership, inspiring countless individuals to embrace accountability, proactively take charge, and make every second count.Takeaways:The Fluidity of "Because": Your core motivation, the "because" that drives you, is not static but evolves with the seasons of your life, demanding constant reflection and alignment.Adversity as Opportunity: Misfortunes and failures are not roadblocks but pivotal lessons and opportunities for growth, strengthening character and fueling future drive.Humility as a Leader's Anchor: True leadership is grounded in humility, recognizing that believing your own hype leads to ego and diminishes credibility, while candid feedback fosters genuine progress.Sound Bytes:"My because is simply because we're temporary. Our existence is numbered. We don't know how long we have on this earth to make a difference. So we have to make every second count.""I looked at failures as something that was going to make me stronger, that was going to give me further drive, more motivation, a chip on my shoulder to just go ahead and keep on pressing forward.""If it's going to be a book about you, buddy, I think you need your face in the front... that beret needs to be in there because that's really who made you who you were, the career field of para rescue."Connect & Discover CZ:Instagram: @therealczcolonlopezThreads: @therealczcolonlopezLinkedIn: @ramoncolonlopezBook: Carnivore Leadership: Taking Charge Instead of Taking Shit

Most contractors assume federal buying works the same everywhere—but it doesn't. In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Ryan Atencio breaks down how purchasing behavior differs across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other branches, and why understanding those differences can directly impact your win rate. You'll learn how government purchase cards are recognized by banks, why some branches operate loose while others are highly structured, and how contracting officers, end users, and incumbents actually influence buying decisions. From simplified buys and Unison Marketplace to recompetes and incumbent takeovers, this episode helps you think like the customer and position yourself where the money actually moves. Key Takeaways How buying behavior differs across Army, Navy, and Air Force Why Air Force contracts are harder to access—but more lucrative How incumbents are really replaced during recompetes If you want to learn more about the community and to join the webinars go to: https://federalhelpcenter.com/  Website: https://govcongiants.org/  Connect with Encore Funding: http://govcongiants.org/funding

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday I'm honored to introduce you all to: Air Force Veteran, Former All-Source Intelligence Analyst, loving and devoted wife, UAP and HNI experiencer, humanitarian, non-globalist human rights efforts activist Michaela FacharA distinguished U.S. Air Force veteran, Michaela served as an All-Source Intelligence Analyst, including a deployment to the CENTCOM Air Operations Center in Qatar from October 2020 to May 2021. There, she processed mission reports, including anomalous UAP activity and instances of "blue on blue" information - revealing choke points in intelligence flow that she later went public with on to highlight systemic issues in information sharing. Her analytical sharpness - honed through high-stakes environments - extended to China-focused intelligence work, leveraging her Mandarin proficiency from time spent living in China earlier in life. Following her deployment, she interned with the Defense Intelligence Agency's Special Operations Division before diving into academia.At Georgetown University, Michaela earned her Master's in Foreign Service. Immersed in courses on globalization, international relations theory, realism, idealism, and social constructivism, she sought to dissect policy failures to prevent future missteps. Yet, in the year 2021, during this intellectually intense period, her path veered into the extraordinary. What began as accelerated insights and "downloads" escalated into a life-altering experience: contact with non-human intelligence (NHI).This encounter unfolded dramatically - marked by crumbling perceptions of space-time, urgent premonitions of nuclear risks, symbolic visions, and a surreal hospital sequence blending apparent government orchestration, psychological distress, and spiritual liberation. She encountered entities, received symbolic messages, and felt cosmic connections. Though initially attributed to potential mental health challenges, the experience ultimately liberated her spiritually, shifting her from a "normie" national security trajectory to one aligned with deeper truths.Today, Michaela walks her true path with fierce purpose. She envisions collaborating with trustworthy allies to liberate children from demonic influences and believes many courageous souls volunteered for this pivotal time to transition humanity away from globalist, satanic Illuminati control. CONNECT WITH MICHAELA: X: https://x.com/MichaelaFacharIG: https://www.instagram.com/michaelafachar/ CONNECT WITH FOCUS CONGO: IG: https://www.instagram.com/focuscongo/LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/focuscongo?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnOFPJEb44ul3qAAyHFSaWXCFJFLReDuHR-jhCSJfI0ib6im99chksEXVuPVM_aem_7lD03RV2SsU1ofEYtyk9-gCONNECT WITH EMMA:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginationpodcastofficialEMAIL: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.com OR standbysurvivors@protonmail.comMy Substack: https://emmakatherine.substack.com/BUY ME A COFFEE: https://www.buymeacoffee.coSupport the show

Lieutenant General Dick Newton (ret.) had a highly decorated 34-year military career. It was capped off serving as the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force and Director of the Air Staff, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. The Lt. Gen. joined CG to discuss U.S. air power over the Iranian skies, the wisdom (or lack there of) of Iran attacking their Mideast neighbors where U.S. military are stationed, the viability of effecting change of regime in Iran and how air attack "game plans" are formulated. The Christopher Gabriel Program ----------------------------------------------------------- Please Like, Comment and Follow 'The Christopher Gabriel Program' on all platforms: The Christopher Gabriel Program is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- The Christopher Gabriel Program | Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | --- Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following today's announcement by CENTCOM confirming 6 military casualties, 4 critically injured and multiple minor injuries SIMON talks to Air Force combat physician, COL. JOSH MCCONKEY about his experiences and what our troops are most likely experiencing during this conflict with Iran.

What does it take to go from zero tech experience to founding PM at a cybersecurity startup in three years?In this episode of Supra Insider, Marc Baselga and Ben Erez sit down with Yaniv Fatal, founding product manager at Blast Security, to unpack his remarkable journey from elite Israeli Air Force pilot to tech. After 13 years in the military and zero technical background, Yaniv failed 20+ interviews before landing at Wiz (later acquired by Google for $32B). He shares how he applied pilot debriefing methodology to each rejection, learned cloud security from absolute zero in weeks, and built credibility through relentless questioning and delivering results nobody else could.They explore Yaniv's philosophy on learning: mastering fundamentals first (no shortcuts), being comfortable asking “dumb questions,” and the belief that you don't really understand something until you can teach it. Plus, his approach to long-term goal setting—he and his wife keep a notebook with goals for where they want to be at age 45, including his aim to be CEO or C-level, which drives every decision he makes today. And why product management is his chosen path to that goal, inspired by the fact that CEOs of Google and Microsoft were all PMs first.If you're considering a major career transition, struggling with imposter syndrome while learning something completely new, or trying to figure out how to set goals that actually drive your daily decisions—this episode is for you.All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox

This week Erin tells us about Michelle Theer, a psychologist who manipulated her lover into murdering her Air Force captain husband as part of a deadly love triangle and insurance plot, then went on the run before being caught and sentenced to life in prison.Sources:https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/nc-court-of-appeals/1201672.htmlhttps://www.osi.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/2311497/the-murder-of-capt-marty-theer/https://cases.justia.com/north-carolina/court-of-appeals/051640-1.pdfhttps://murderpedia.org/female.T/t/theer-michelle.htmhttps://truecrimearchives.blog/air-force-reservist-michelle-theer-military-love-triangle-murder-conviction/https://free-john-diamond.blogspot.com/Support the show

In this episode, Ron Simmons interviews Nate Sheets, who is a fifth-generation Texan, entrepreneur, and founder of Nature Nate's Honey. Nate shares how an Air Force upbringing, a life-changing mission trip to Venezuela, and years in full-time Christian ministry shaped his faith and calling. He tells the story behind evangelism tools like the EvangeCube and the I Am Second movement, reflects on walking through his mother's battle with Alzheimer's and cancer, and explains why he's now running for Texas agriculture commissioner to support farmers, protect local agriculture, and improve the quality of the food we eat. Visit Nate's website here: https://natesheets.com Check out I Am Second here: https://www.iamsecond.com Share the Arrows 2026 is on October 10 in Dallas, Texas! Tickets are on sale now at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sharethearrows.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Allie's book "Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.toxicempathy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Timecodes: (00:00) Intro (00:50) Nate's Background (04:40) Working in Ministries (08:20) Campaigning for Texas Agriculture Commissioner  (09:10) Ron's Analysis — Related Episodes: Ep 1307 | This Is What AOC Means When She Says "Worker Focused Trade" | Ron Simmons https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relatable-with-allie-beth-stuckey/id1359249098?i=1000750786201 Ep 1300 | Was the Government Shutdown a Win or Loss for Trump? | Ron Simmons https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relatable-with-allie-beth-stuckey/id1359249098?i=1000748662175 Ep 1293 | Ron Simmons | Can Trump Use the Insurrection Act Against Minnesota Mayhem? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relatable-with-allie-beth-stuckey/id1359249098?i=1000746486355 Ep 1286 | Maduro Detained, Minnesota ICE Altercation, Can Trump Save Single-Family Homes? | Ron Simmons https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relatable-with-allie-beth-stuckey/id1359249098?i=1000744608458 — Buy Allie's book "You're Not Enough (and That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alliebethstuckey.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Relatable merchandise: Use promo code ALLIE10 for a discount: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.blazemedia.com/collections/allie-stuckey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send a textPeaches and Trent riff on an uncomfortable truth the Air Force rarely markets well: per capita, it's the most lethal force in modern warfare. From GWAT kill ratios and budget realities to why “Chair Force” jokes might actually be strategic misdirection, this episode spirals into a candid breakdown of how the services really operate. They dig into logistics versus lethality, why the Army wins wars by sustaining them, how the Navy quietly controls the underwater domain, and why the Space Force affects everyone whether they realize it or not. The conversation also tackles SOCOM funding myths, why selection and pipelines aren't interchangeable, the reality of special mission units, and how expensive it is to create—and keep—elite capability. Messy, funny, blunt, and very Ones Ready.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Ones Ready intro and sponsor plug 03:00 OTS explanation and what it is not 06:45 Peaches' per-capita lethality hot take 09:30 Air Force vs Army vs Navy reality check 12:00 Budget myths and service comparisons 14:00 Space Force impact explained simply 16:00 GWAT lethality and air dominance 18:30 Logistics wins wars—Army perspective 21:00 Why ST isn't a unilateral force 23:30 SOCOM funding myths clarified 26:30 Selection vs pipeline differences 31:00 Why SOCOM doesn't “shut down” pipelines 35:30 Competition, standards, and why comparison is dangerous 40:00 Cost of training elite forces 45:00 Life in special mission units vs white side 49:00 Panels, recruiting, and community outreach 54:00 Lethality, truth, and why the Air Force undersells itself 56:30 Closing thoughts and upcoming OTS events

Send a textThis one moves fast.West Point dismisses a cadet for using generative AI to create fake explicit images. Zero tolerance for abusing emerging tech. Meanwhile, the Army drops a $186 million order for Switchblade loitering munitions and tank-killer variants. Drone warfare isn't theoretical anymore—it's procurement reality.The Navy rotates leadership in Submarine Force Atlantic and rehearses anti-ship strikes with a B-2 off California. Maritime targeting is a different animal, and joint integration matters.The Air Force arrests a former pilot accused of training Chinese military personnel after gaining exposure to F-35 simulator operations. If proven, it's a brutal breach of trust.Space Force openly discusses offensive posture against China's expanding spy satellite network while also pausing Vulcan launches over an anomaly.VA formally rescinds the medication-based disability ratings rule. Barracks standards get mandatory upgrades across the services. And Russia launches a massive drone and missile barrage ahead of talks.No fluff. Just movement.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and sponsor 02:00 West Point AI misconduct dismissal 04:00 Fort Hood murder arrests 06:00 $186M Switchblade drone order 08:00 Submarine Force Atlantic leadership shift 10:00 B-2 anti-ship strike rehearsal 12:00 Marine body composition changes 14:00 Former Air Force pilot charged in China case 17:00 Space Force offensive posture remarks 19:00 Vulcan rocket launch pause 21:00 VA rule rescinded 23:00 Barracks standards issued 25:00 Russia drone and missile barrage

Earthquake joins the show and starts by breaking down how he picked up women when stationed in Japan while a member of the Air Force. He breaks down how he ran his own comedy club in Atlanta after getting swindled out of a gig with Paul Mooney. Earthquake then gives some insider info about the Sitcom that he is working on with Bill Burr that's in development at Fox and they wrap up by talking about the difference between how Black and White families deal with death. This was a fun one with a comedic legend! Check out Earthquakes special “Joke Telling Business” on Netflix now.News Stories Covered: U.S. Issues Shelter-in-Place Warnings for Popular Tourist Destinations in Mexico After Major Cartel Leader Is Killed, Gavin Newsom ripped for telling black mayor ‘I'm like you' before quoting his low SAT score: ‘Liberal racism on display', L.A. wanted to dismantle homeless RVs. A judge just shut that down. FOR MORE WITH EARTHQUAKE:SPECIAL: Joke Telling BusinessOut Now On NetflixWEBSITE: therealearthquake.comINSTAGRAM & TWITTER: @therealearthquakeFOR MORE WITH ELISHA KRAUSS: INSTAGRAM: @elishakraussWEBSITE: elishakrauss.com JOURNAL: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/elisha-krauss/LIVE SHOWS: February 27 - Dallas, TX (2 shows)February 28 - Dallas, TX (2 shows)Thank you for supporting our Sponsors:BetOnlineSnag the hoodie that will bring you comfort for life, the American Giant Classic Full Zip. Go to www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code ADAM. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!Pluto.tvoreillyauto.com/adamSHOPIFY.COM/carollaTecovas.com/ADAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.