Podcasts about Air force

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.

Send a textPeaches goes full savage on the Air Force soap opera. From the tragic news of CMSAF Flosi's loss, to General Allvin's early retirement, to Wilsbach's DEI flip-flops and obsession with uniforms—this episode is a rollercoaster of military drama and unfiltered hot takes. Expect snark about fat generals, the “broken windows” theory of PT standards, political rumors about Trump donors, and why Peaches thinks General Minihan is the warrior the Air Force actually needs. If you thought the Pentagon was boring, buckle up—this is the no-BS breakdown you didn't know you needed.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Peaches solo takeover and warm-up rant 02:05 – Tragic news: CMSAF Flosi's family loss 04:31 – AFA conference chaos and leadership shifts 07:19 – General Allvin retires early (no one's sad) 09:26 – Wilsbach vs. Boussier: ego battle royale 11:49 – 4-stars cashing out with defense contractors 14:12 – Wilsbach's bio and Pacific pivot cred 18:36 – Ring camera distractions and Pacific ops talk 22:47 – Patch-wearer credentials and assignments rundown 25:04 – Chief Wolfe's background and power pair with Wilsbach 27:02 – Policies, controversies, and uniform obsession 31:03 – Broken windows, fat Airmen, and Giuliani comparisons 35:26 – Political rumors, DEI baggage, and Trump connections 40:17 – Peaches' own run-ins with Wolfe (fat Tony saga) 45:00 – Security Forces “spec ops” claim and eye rolls 47:12 – Better options for CSAF: Minihan, Spain, Conley 49:24 – Minihan's savage memo: “Aim for the head” 53:24 – Risk-averse DoD vs. Minihan's kill-bad-guys mindset 55:43 – Wrap-up and member merch reminder

Send a textThis Daily Drop hits heroism, policy shifts, and geopolitical tension in one tight package.President Trump presented the Medal of Honor to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover for extraordinary heroism during the Maduro raid. The 160th SOAR pilot was wounded under fire and still completed the mission. It's the kind of quiet professionalism the Night Stalkers are known for—even if he'd rather not be in the spotlight.The Army is experimenting with auction-style retention bonuses for senior warrant officers. The Navy's EOD teams are training in extreme Arctic conditions. The Coast Guard is intercepting migrant vessels while dealing with funding uncertainty.The VA has indefinitely paused the controversial disability ratings rule that would have factored medication effects into compensation decisions. That story isn't over.Meanwhile, Japan is bolstering air defenses near Taiwan, and satellite imagery shows a new Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine entering the fleet.Operational tempo isn't slowing down.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and sponsor 02:00 Medal of Honor for Maduro raid pilot 05:00 Warrant officer “auction-style” retention bonuses 07:00 Fort Bliss sentencing 09:00 Navy EOD Arctic training 11:00 Air Force line-of-duty policy update 13:00 Coast Guard migrant interceptions 15:00 VA disability rule on hold 17:00 Pentagon anomalous health team realignment 19:00 State of the Union honors 21:00 Iran tensions and military buildup 23:00 Japan air defense near Taiwan 25:00 China's new nuclear submarine

The UFO public had high hopes when Congress created AARO to investigate UFO/USO/UAP incidents and report findings to both Congress and the public. Years later, AARO is widely viewed as a complete failure. Its first report was riddled with factual errors and typos. Its first director revealed himself to be a thin-skinned, diehard UFO skeptic, hardly an impartial investigator. Witnesses and whistleblowers say AARO ignored or belittled their testimony. As for transparency, AARO has released very few findings, even fewer UAP images, and a second report, as required by law, is many months overdue. The idea that a small office inside the Pentagon could rigorously investigate its own parent organization - the Department of War - seems preposterous on its face. But has AARO found even a single UFO incident it's been unable to debunk? The answer is yes. British journalist Chris Sharp, editor and publisher of Liberation Times, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to break story after story about UFO matters in both the US and the UK. Now he's wrangled an exclusive interview with AARO's former Deputy Director, Tim Phillips. Sharp's full interview could be published in days. In this episode of WEAPONIZED, Jeremy and George hear what Chris picked up from his extremely candid conversation with Phillips. The revelations are stunning. Phillips admitted AARO identified 40-50 cases showing "utterly bizarre" capabilities the "best and brightest people in the world" couldn't explain - instantaneous acceleration, right-angle turns, maneuvers no human aircraft can achieve. They "conclusively proved" these weren't adversary or friendly tech, yet never released a single video to the public. For the first time, a former AARO official confirmed UAPs detected in space. Some demonstrated "signature management" - actively avoiding detection over sensitive military locations. Despite admitting impossible performance characteristics, Phillips refused to say they're non-human or extraterrestrial. Chris describes it as "describing a dog without calling it a dog." His responses felt scripted and performative. Jeremy coins a new term: "Project Blue Box" - information flows in, nothing comes out. Phillips confirmed AARO approached Glenn Gaffney, the CIA Director George named under oath as blocking transfer of a non-human spacecraft. Shockingly, Phillips claimed he wasn't aware James Clapper admitted on camera the Air Force ran a UAP program above Area 51. How did AARO manage to screw everything up? Has it been an honest arbiter of UFO facts? And is there a future for AARO in light of President Trump's directive to federal agencies to release any and all UFO related files? *Follow Chris Sharp & Liberations Times ⁠https://x.com/ChrisUKSharp⁠ & ⁠https://LiberationTimes.com⁠

What if the next medical breakthrough could be undone—not by biology—but by a hacker? In this episode of Med Tech Gurus, we sit down with Christian Espinosa, CEO and Founder of Blue Goat Cyber, a leading medical device cybersecurity consultancy helping innovators protect patients by securing the technology behind modern healthcare. With over 30 years of experience spanning the U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, and MedTech industry, Christian brings a rare perspective on precision, resilience, and empathy in cybersecurity After a personal health scare revealed vulnerabilities in his own implanted device, Christian turned mission into movement—founding Blue Goat Cyber to transform cybersecurity from a regulatory afterthought into a strategic advantage Christian shares how patient safety—not data protection—must be the heart of every cybersecurity strategy, why "bolting on" security late in development can derail innovation, and how emotional intelligence drives his leadership in high-stakes medtech environments. Whether you're a startup founder, RA/QA leader, or healthcare executive, this episode delivers powerful lessons on building trust, protecting patients, and creating a culture where security saves lives.

The military does many things with precision and honor, but for families left behind, the hardest journey often begins after the ceremony ends. Grief does not follow a timeline, and loss does not end with the rifle volley as the final notes of “Taps” play. In this deeply personal episode of Army Matters, hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with two nationally recognized advocates for military survivors: Maj. (Ret.) Bonnie Carroll, U.S. Air Force, and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Jennie Taylor, Gold Star spouse, mother of seven, and founder of the Major Brent Taylor Foundation. Both women share how the loss of their husbands reshaped their lives, and how survivor community, purpose, and service can coexist with grief. Together, they explore what military families truly need after loss, what civilians often misunderstand about grief, and why connection is the most powerful form of support. Guests: Maj. Bonnie Carroll, U.S. Air Force Retired, Gold Star Spouse and Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Jennie Taylor, Gold Star Spouse and Founder, Major Brent Taylor Foundation Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA's Army Matters podcast! AUSA's Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern. You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.  Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA's educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at podcast@ausa.org. Disclaimer: AUSA's Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

Cheri Carandanis, an abstract painter and former Air Force critical care nurse, shared her journey from pre-med studies to nursing, driven by her desire to balance career and family. She transitioned to the military, specializing in ICU and CCAT teams, and served in Afghanistan post-9/11. After separating from the military, she pursued hospice nursing and earned a master's degree in nursing. In 2019, she suffered two brain injuries, leading to cognitive and vestibular issues, forcing her to retire her nursing license. Through functional neurology and alternative therapies, she recovered significantly, emphasizing the importance of creativity and mindfulness in healing. For the transcript and full story go to: https://www.drmanonbolliger.com/cheri-carandanis  Highlights from today's episode include:  When I paint, I don't have a brain injury." – Abstract art and flow state became a powerful part of her neurological and emotional healing after two brain injuries. "If you've seen one healing, you've seen one healing." – Every healing journey is unique, and creativity, intuition, and somatic work can open paths that conventional medicine alone often can't. "Nothing's really broken; it's just not communicating how it should." – The body often needs a reset, not a label, and approaches like Bowen and other body-centered work help "reboot" the nervous system so healing can happen.   ABOUT CHERI CARANDANIS: Cheri Carandanis is an abstract painter, mixed media artist, and former Air Force Critical Care nurse who knows a thing or two about surviving what she never saw coming. After a traumatic brain injury ended her 25-year nursing career, she turned to art…not as a hobby, but as a lifeline. Now based in Portland, Oregon, Cheri creates raw, emotionally layered work that invites connection and contemplation. Her paintings don't try to explain everything—instead, they hold space for what's been broken, unraveled, and rebuilt. Through texture, color, and bold mark-making, she explores themes of healing, resilience, and the beauty that often shows up after the fall. Her story is one of reinvention, grit, and choosing creativity when everything else falls away. Core purpose/passion: My core purpose is to create space for truth, the kind that lives in the body, not just the story. I'm passionate about art as a place where people can slow down, feel what they've been avoiding, and come back to themselves without being fixed or explained. I care about honest healing, not performative healing, and about beauty that holds weight, not escape. My work invites presence, courage, and staying with what's real. Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube |  ABOUT MANON BOLLIGER, RBHT, FCAH: As a retired Naturopath 1992-2021, I saw an average of 150 patients per week and have helped people ranging from rural farmers in Nova Scotia to stressed out CEOs in Toronto to tri-athletes here in Vancouver. My resolve to educate, empower and engage people to take charge of their own health is evident in my best-selling books:  'What Patients Don't Say if Doctors Don't Ask: The Mindful Patient-Doctor Relationship' and 'A Healer in Every Household: Simple Solutions for Stress'. and What if Your Body is Smarter than You Think?  I am the Founder & CEO of The Bowen College Inc. which teaches BowenFirst™ Therapy and holds transformational workshops to achieve these goals. So, when I share with you that LISTENing to Your body is a game changer in the healing process, I am speaking from expertise and direct experience". Mission: A Healer in Every Household! For more great information to go to her weekly blog:  http://bowencollege.com/blog.  For tips on health & healing go to: https://www.drmanonbolliger.com/tips Follow: Manon Bolliger website  | Linktr.ee | Rumble | Gettr  | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | LinkedIn | Follow: Bowen College Inc. | Facebook | Instagram  | LinkedIn | YouTube | Twitter | Rumble | Locals ABOUT THE HEALERS CAFE: Manon's show is the #1 show for medical practitioners and holistic healers to have heart to heart conversations about their day to day lives. Subscribe and review on your favourite platform: iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Libsyn | iHeartRadio | Gaana | The Healers Cafe | Radio.com | Medioq | Audacy | Follow The Healers Café on FB: https://www.facebook.com/thehealerscafe   Remember to subscribe if you like our videos. Click the bell if you want to be one of the first people notified of a new release.   * De-Registered, revoked & retired naturopathic physician after 30 years of practice in healthcare. Now resourceful & resolved to share with you all the tools to take care of your health & vitality!

Utah St vs. San Diego St College Basketball Pick Prediction by Tony T. Utah St vs. San Diego St Profiles Utah St at San Diego St 11PM ET— Utah St sits at 23-4 overall along with 13-3 in the Mountain West with road wins against Fresno St, Air Force, Boise ST, Colorado St, New Mexico and Wyoming. Road losses at Grand Canyon and Nevada. San Diego St is 18-8 and 12-4 in the Mountain West with home wins against Air Force, Boise St, Fresno ST, New Mexico, Colorado ST, Wyoming as well as Nevada. A home loss against Grand Canyon.

Send a textThis Daily Drop covers multiple days of movement across the force—and there's a lot to unpack.The Army is integrating AI into doctrine writing, launching drone competitions, and standing up a rapid soldier innovation office. The Navy is chasing new anti-radar missile capability while looking at sailor burnout and at-sea tour changes. The Marine Corps is digitizing the battlefield and pushing hard on mental health messaging.The Air Force? It's a mix of progress and pain. The A-10 depot mission at Hill is officially ending. The B-21 Raider just got a $4.5B acceleration deal targeting 2027. Collaborative combat aircraft are entering armed testing. AI is moving into air operations centers.Space Force is arguing for faster expansion after real-world operational demand in Iran and Venezuela highlighted capability gaps.Plus: VA disability rule backlash, Medal of Honor news, fraud indictments, pet PCS warnings, and why abandoning your dog makes you a terrible human.No hype. Just what's moving.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and sponsor 02:00 Army using AI in doctrine development 04:00 Drone warfighter competition 06:00 Delayed Purple Heart recognition 08:00 Rapid soldier innovation office 10:30 Pet PCS warning to Korea 12:30 Navy anti-radar missile requirement 14:30 Sailor burnout and at-sea tour review 16:30 Marine digital battlefield push 18:00 Mental health leadership appeal 20:30 A-10 depot mission ends 22:00 B-21 acceleration contract 24:00 Collaborative combat aircraft testing 26:00 Space Force expansion push 28:00 VA disability rule halted 30:00 Medal of Honor recognition

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com When people look back on 2025 they will see many changes in the FedRAMP process.  It looks like a new administration examined the process, got feedback from companies, and launched new initiatives to speed up the process. During today's interview, Irina Denisenko (Knox CEO) details FedRAMP's challenges and something called "FedRAMP 20x." Knox runs the largest FedRAMP-managed cloud, enabling 90-day authorizations by hosting customers' production environments. Denisenko explains the story of the origin of Knox Systems:   she was running a training company and the Air Force wanted to use her product.  It would have taken so long to complete the FedRAMP requirements that she just bought a company that was FedRAMP compliant. It is hard to believe that the process is so frustrating that fewer than 500 apps are authorized at moderate/high FedRAMP The initiative from the GSA is called FedRAMP 20x  It shifts to continuous monitoring and continuous authorization, moving from annual audits (sampled every 3 years) and monthly CVE spreadsheets to real-time, machine-readable data. What Knox offers is a tried-and-true platform that has reduced time for compliance in order to better serve federal needs. 

For review:1. The next round of talks between the United States and Iran will be Thursday in Geneva, Oman's foreign minister said.2. American refueler and cargo planes were spotted at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Monday, amid a massive US buildup of military forces ahead of a potential attack on Iran.There was no comment from Israeli authorities regarding the American military deployment at Israel's main civilian airport.3. Bulgaria's Sofia International Airport briefly suspended civilian air operations twice over the weekend while a fleet of American military aircraft staged at the facility, fueling speculation that Washington is positioning forces ahead of a potential strike on Iran.4. US President Donald Trump hits back amid a series of reports that his top general has been warning him against the consequences of a prolonged military campaign against Iran. 5. Another round of talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine could be held at end of this week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff told Ukrainian media on Monday."I think at the end of the week, this week," Kyrylo Budanov told reporters when asked about the next round of talks.6. The Air Force today announced a new agreement with Northrop Grumman to “ramp” production of the in-development B-21 Raider, using $4.5 billion in reconciliation funding to help deliver the bomber by 2027.7. The US Army briefly published and then removed new official images of its Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), offering rare updated views of the system as it nears operational fielding.8. The US Marine Corps has confirmed it will not field the Sig Sauer M7 assault rifle, steering away from a potential adoption in partnership with the US Army.This decision leaves the service operating its M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) due to its proven effectiveness in amphibious deployments.

In this episode, we're talking about something every leader wrestles with — how to hire not just for talent, but for fit. Leaders are often tempted to prioritize skills over alignment, yet the long-term health of an organization depends on hiring people who embody its mission, vision, and values. Join us in this episode of Encouragement for Work as Mark is joined by Vaughn Thurman, CEO of HighGear Software, a leader who has built his company around a set of core values that have come to define the organization and everything it does. Vaughn's journey reminds us that hiring decisions do more than impact the bottom line — they shape culture, influence engagement, and define how work is experienced every day. About Our Guest: Vaughn Thurman Vaughn Thurman is a technology leader and entrepreneur passionate about building organizations where people thrive, and mission drives performance. As CEO of HighGear Software, Vaughn leads a team dedicated to helping organizations simplify complexity and work with greater purpose and clarity. Throughout his career, Vaughn has emphasized values-based leadership, particularly the importance of hiring and developing people who align with an organization's mission, vision, and values. His experience building and scaling teams and shaping cultures has reinforced a critical truth: mission-aligned hiring is essential to long-term success and healthy workplaces. Vaughn brings practical insight to conversations at the intersection of leadership, culture, and performance, encouraging leaders to remain faithful to their mission while building strong, empowered teams. Vaughn's leadership journey includes the unique experience of building two radically different companies, teams, and cultures under one roof and of observing and learning from the unexpected operational, financial, and relational impacts of having one team built on principles while the other was built on a top-candidate opportunistic hiring strategy. But most importantly, Vaughn is a follower of Christ and is not ashamed to share the message. Hiring Against Your MVV — Why It Costs You More Than You Think Hiring individuals who do not align with your mission, vision, and values can quietly erode culture, weaken engagement, and undermine long-term performance. Vaughn shares lessons from building HighGear — from early hiring decisions to scaling a values-driven organization — and how staying true to core values shaped the company's identity and success. You will learn: Hiring for culture and values isn't a “nice to have” — it's a strategic and sustainable business decision. Leadership Lessons from a Mission-Driven CEO Vaughn's path — from the Air Force to serial entrepreneur to CEO — offers valuable insight into leading with integrity and purpose. He discusses how core values such as honesty, discipline, and commitment to service influence decision-making, recruitment, and team development, especially when leaders face pressure to compromise. You will learn: Leading people well requires intentional value alignment, beginning with how and why you hire. Building High-Performing Teams by Empowering People Vaughn's work with no-code workflow tools reflects a deeper leadership principle: equip people to do meaningful work. He explores how this mindset shapes recruitment, training, and culture-building — moving organizations beyond transactional hiring toward transformational development. You will learn: Work becomes a place of growth when people are seen as contributors to purpose, not cogs in a machine. Concerned about your organization's as-is HR programs? The benefits of having a trusted partner guide you and your team toward excellence are invaluable. Contact us today. You — and your employees — will be glad you did. Rise with us by implementing high-performance, remote human-resource programs designed to help you find great people. E-mail us here. Mark A. Griffin is President and Founder of IHN HR. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter. Follow Us On Instagram Here

Send a textThis one gets spicy.Peaches, Aaron, and Trent dig into a $99 million Air Force coaching contract and ask the uncomfortable question: why are we outsourcing leadership?When NCOs and officers are supposed to mentor, coach, correct, and develop their people, what happens when that responsibility gets handed to a third-party company? What are we losing in the process? Reps. Hard conversations. Ownership. Growth.The guys break down contracting culture, institutional drift, how outsourcing became the easy button, and why paying civilians to “coach” Airmen might actually be robbing future leaders of the experience they need.They also hit on PME, leadership development, range training, the difference between logistics support and skill outsourcing, and how money gets justified inside big systems.It's not anti-contractor. It's anti-lazy leadership.And yes… it ends with a gold medal hockey celebration because America.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 Intro, sponsorship, and setting the tone03:20 The problem with outsourcing leadership07:10 Easy buttons and institutional drift12:45 Range training, reps, and skill decay18:30 $99 million coaching contract breakdown23:50 Are we stealing growth from NCOs?30:15 PME, mentorship, and hard conversations36:40 When contractors make sense—and when they don't43:10 Leadership reps vs resume padding49:30 Bridging contracts vs permanent crutches53:40 Overtime hockey and national pride

In 1959, the U.S. Army drafted a serious plan to build a nuclear-powered military base on the Moon.Serious... They really did.With reactors. And personnel. On purpose. It was called Project Horizon.Then JFK pivoted to Apollo, astronauts planted flags, and history books closed the case… Or did they?This week, we break down the documented Cold War Moon plans, JFK's race to beat the Soviets, MJ-12 whispers, and hacker Gary McKinnon's claim that he stumbled onto evidence of a secret space fleet and the possibility this was never really mothballed.Was Horizon just a very ambitious binder? Or was Apollo the public show while something quieter happened in the background?Join us as we separate the record from the rumors, run a thought experiment on how a hidden lunar base could work, and ask the big question: Did we just visit the Moon… or did we move in? All that and more this week on Hysteria 51!Special thanks to this week's research sources:Project Horizon (1959 U.S. Army Lunar Base Study)U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency. Project Horizon: A U.S. Army Study for the Establishment of a Lunar Military Outpost (1959). Declassified study outlining a proposed military lunar base. https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB479/docs/EBB-Moon01_sm.pdfU.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. “Project Horizon History Overview.” https://www.army.mil/article/189129/smdc_history_project_horizon_abma_explores_a_lunar_outpost“Project Horizon.” Wikipedia overview with citations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_HorizonJFK & The Decision to Go to the MoonJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library. “Special Message to Congress on Urgent National Needs” (May 25, 1961). https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/special-message-to-the-congress-on-urgent-national-needs-19610525 John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. “Address at Rice University on the Nation's Space Effort” (Sept 12, 1962). https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/address-at-rice-university-on-the-nations-space-effort-19620912 NASA History Office. “JFK and the Decision to Go to the Moon.” https://www.nasa.gov/history/60-years-ago-president-kennedy-proposes-moon-landing-goal-in-speech-to-congress/Majestic 12 (MJ-12)FBI Vault. “Majestic 12 Documents.” FBI files noting Air Force findings that core MJ-12 documents were fraudulent. https://vault.fbi.gov/Majestic%2012National Archives. JFK Assassination Records Collection. https://www.archives.gov/research/jfkAllen Dulles & Assassination ContextWarren Commission Report (1964). https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-reportAssassination Records Review Board (Final Report, 1998). https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/review-board/reportGary McKinnonBBC News. “Gary McKinnon hacking case timeline.” https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-19946958 U.S. Department of Justice (archived release on McKinnon indictment). https://www.justice.gov/archive/criminal/cybercrime/mckinnonIndict.htmCold War Classified Space Programs (Context)CIA. “The CORONA Satellite Program.” https://www.cia.gov/resources/csi/studies-in-intelligence/the-corona-satellite-program/ Email us your favorite WEIRD news stories:weird@hysteria51.comSupport the Show:Get exclusive content & perks as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at https://www.patreon.com/Hysteria51 from just $1Shop:Be the Best Dressed at your Cult Meeting!https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51?ref_id=9022See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear Brazil has a history of official UFO investigation almost as long as that of the United States. However, it has an official policy on disclosure that predates the U.S.'s by more than a decade. In 1954, the Brazilian Air Force started The First Confidential Inquiry into Unidentified Aerial Objects in response to the first major flap in that country. In 1969, the Sistema de Investigação de Objetos Aéreos Não Identificados (SIOANI) was established, and nearly 100 detailed case files were accumulated up until its termination in 1972. After this, in 1977, in response to reports of injuries and deaths as a result of UFO encounters in the area of Pará (mainly in Colores) Operação Prato was authorized by Colonel Protásio Lopes de Oliveira. This resulted in more than 2000 photos, 16 hours of film, and a 179-page report. The First Confidential Inquiry, SIOANI and Operação Prato files were classified for decades, but thanks to a freedom of information campaign begun in April of 2004 by the Brazilian UFOlogist and publisher of UFO Revista, Ademar José Gavaerd, many of the files were shown to him and other UFOlogists in 2005 as a prelude to releasing them to the general public. Then, in 2010, Brazil issued Ordinance 551/GC3, requiring every branch of the military and aviation sectors to collect and transfer all UFO reports to the Aerospace Defence Command in Brasilia along with any material proof by way of photos or video on a yearly basis. There, it is to be catalogued and made available to the public. Along with this, since 2012, the Air Force has periodically released declassified files through the Brazilian National Archives, and recently released 893 reports in May of this year. In this blog, we'll look at the history of the Air Force investigation, the efforts of Gevaerd and other UFOlogists to gain access to the case files, and some of the most interesting (at least to us) cases (translated files can be found here) found within them. Read more →*Note: audioblogs are now a cloned AI version of Martin's voice. 

New Book: Lost in Time — Our Forgotten and Vanishing Knowledge | An Interview with Jack R. Bialik | An Analog Brain In A Digital Age With Marco Ciappelli There's a particular arrogance embedded in how we talk about progress. We speak about innovation as if it moves in one direction only — forward, upward, smarter, faster. But what if the line isn't straight? What if it loops, doubles back, and occasionally vanishes entirely? That's the uncomfortable question at the center of my conversation with Jack R. Bialik. His book Lost in Time: Our Forgotten and Vanishing Knowledge doesn't read like a history lesson. It reads like a case file — evidence, example by example, that the civilization we assume is the most advanced in human history is also, in some critical ways, deeply amnesiac. Take cataract surgery. We learned it in the 1700s, right? Except we didn't. Indians were performing it in 800 BC. The ancient Egyptians and Babylonians had diagrams of the procedure dating back to 2,400 BCE. The knowledge existed, worked, and then — somewhere in the chaos of collapsing empires and burning libraries — it vanished. We didn't progress past it. We forgot it, and then reinvented it from scratch, centuries later, convinced we were doing something new. Or the Baghdad Battery: clay pots, 2,000 years old, that when filled with acid can generate 1.1 volts of electricity. We don't know what they used them for. We don't know who figured it out. We just know it worked, it existed, and then it didn't anymore. This is what Bialik calls the pattern of loss — and it's not random. It follows catastrophe: the Library of Alexandria, the systematic destruction of Mayan records, the slow erosion of oral traditions as writing systems took over. Knowledge disappears when the systems that carry it collapse. And here's where the conversation gets uncomfortably relevant: we are building those systems right now, and we are not thinking about how long they'll last. The curator at the Computer History Museum told Bialik that to preserve the data from early IBM PCs and Macintosh computers, they had to print it on paper. The floppy drives had become brittle. The formats were unreadable. The digital archive was failing — and the only solution was to go analog. A vinyl record from the 1920s still plays. A CD from the 1980s may not survive another decade. I've been thinking about this since we recorded. My brain is analog — that's not just a podcast title, it's a philosophy. I grew up in Florence, surrounded by things that had survived centuries because they were made to last: stone, fresco, manuscript. Then I jumped on the digital train like everyone else, seduced by infinite libraries on my phone, music on demand, knowledge at my fingertips. But what Bialik is pointing out is that fingertips are fragile. And so are hard drives. The deeper issue isn't storage format. It's the distinction Bialik draws between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is the data — the cataract surgery technique, the battery design, the pyramid engineering. Wisdom is knowing why it matters, when to use it, and what the consequences might be. We've gotten extraordinarily good at accumulating knowledge. We are considerably worse at transmitting wisdom. And wisdom, Bialik argues, doesn't live in databases. It lives in the space between people — in stories, in teaching, in the slow transmission of judgment across generations. That's why oral tradition survived when everything else failed. Not because it was more sophisticated, but because it was more human. It didn't require a device to run on. I don't know how to solve the digital longevity problem. Neither does Bialik — not yet. But I think the first step is admitting we have one. That's actually one of the quietest, most powerful arguments in the book: be humble. We don't know everything. We never did. And some of the things we've lost might be exactly what we need right now. The question isn't just what we've forgotten. It's what we're forgetting today, while we're too busy scrolling to notice. Grab Lost in Time: Our Forgotten and Vanishing Knowledge — link below — and spend some time with a perspective that goes very, very far back. Which is maybe the only way to see very, very far forward.   And if this kind of conversation is what you come here for, subscribe to the newsletter at marcociappelli.com.  More of this. Less noise. — Marco Ciappelli Co-Founder ITSPmagazine & Studio C60 | Creative Director | Branding & Marketing Advisor | Personal Branding Coach | Journalist | Writer | Podcast: An Analog Brain In A Digital Age ⚠️ Beware: Pigs May Fly |

What does Islamic institutional growth actually look like in your community? In this second installment of the Islamification of America series, listen as Pastor Nate Brown and Air Force veteran Ryan Onesto examine specific developments happening right now across Central Texas—from Leander and Georgetown to Cedar Park and Austin.You'll Learn:✅ The scale of mosque and institutional growth in Texas over the last decade✅ How irrevocable property trust systems work to secure Islamic developments permanently✅ Why Texas passed HB 4211 to address Sharia-compliant compounds✅ The four-stage framework from institutions to enforcement playing out worldwideWhether you're on your commute or at the gym, this episode will open your eyes to what's happening in Texas suburbs and why it matters for every Christian in America. If you missed Part 1, go back and listen first for the full picture.Hit follow so you never miss an episode—new episodes drop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 AM CT.

In this episode, I'm joined by Major General Rick B. Mattson, retired U.S. Air Force leader and now CEO of Bone Valley Industries. After decades of combat, diplomatic, and global leadership experience, he shares what it takes to lead in high-stakes environments. We explore service before self, faith under pressure, and the framework of values that shapes courageous leadership—from the battlefield to the boardroom.

I'd love to hear your thoughts - send me a text hereIn the chaos following PT 109's collision with IJN Amagiri, Jack Kennedy does everything he can to rescue his shipmates and when it becomes obvious that no one is coming to rescue them, he choses an island deep inside enemy territory and hopes it is small enough to be of no strategic value to the Japanese; but only time will tell if it is garrisoned or not.

Stay connected with us at americangroundradio.com, on Facebook, and Instagram. You're listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for February 20, 2026. 0:30 Today, we reflect on the life and legacy of Jesse Jackson — civil rights leader, founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, two-time presidential candidate, and a man who undeniably shaped America’s political and cultural conversation for decades. But the debate today isn’t about whether he mattered. It’s about whether he meets the historic threshold for one of the nation’s highest ceremonial honors: lying in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. After Mike Johnson declined a request to grant that distinction, critics cried partisanship. We slow the conversation down and ask a deeper question: What is the standard? The Rotunda is reserved for figures deemed central to the constitutional story of the United States — a rare honor previously extended to individuals such as Rosa Parks, Billy Graham, and even Pierre Charles L'Enfant. So where is the line between influence and national consensus? Between impact and constitutional significance? We discuss Jackson’s contributions, his controversies, and the broader principle at stake: preserving the Rotunda as sacred civic space — not a stage for popularity or partisanship. 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. The US Supreme Court struck down President Trump's use of Tariffs without congressional authorization. The United States and Indonesia finalized a bilateral trade agreement today that will lower tariffs between the two countries to 19%. Jesse Jackson's body will not lie in state under the Capital Rotunda.Jackson's family had requested that his body be allowed to lie in state, but that request was denied by Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. 12:30 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 The Supreme Court of the United States handed down a 6–3 decision striking down President Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Court made clear: that particular statute can’t be used as the vehicle for those tariffs. But that didn’t end the story. Within hours, the administration pivoted — announcing a new 10% tariff under the Trade Act of 1974, a separate law that explicitly grants the president temporary tariff authority. In fact, even members of the Court noted there are other statutory paths available. So what are we witnessing — constitutional chaos or constitutional chess? 16:00 We got a question for the American Mamas: “I’m so glad I grew up in the ’80s. How can you keep up with all the trends today?” It sparks a lively (and hilarious) walk down memory lane as Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson join us to compare the universal “just knew it” culture of the 1980s with today’s lightning-fast, social-media-driven world. From slang that changes overnight to the pressure of documenting everything online, we explore how growing up before smartphones may have been a hidden blessing. The conversation turns to modern milestones — over-the-top weddings, pricey bachelorette trips, elaborate gender reveals — and how platforms like TikTok and Twitter have transformed private celebrations into public productions. What used to be punch, mints, and a phone call has become curated content and camera-ready moments. It’s a funny, relatable look at generational shifts, cultural pressure, and why some of us are grateful our most embarrassing moments weren’t captured in 4K. Got a question for the American Mamas? Visit americangroundradio.com/mamas and click “Ask the Mamas.” 23:00 President Donald Trump has directed the Secretary of Defense and other agencies to begin identifying and releasing government files related to UFOs, unidentified aerial phenomena, and any potential information connected to extraterrestrial life. Laugh if you want — but for years, trained Navy and Air Force pilots have reported aerial objects performing maneuvers that appear to defy conventional aerodynamics. These aren’t backyard videos or internet hoaxes. They’re encounters documented by military aviators asking a serious question: what exactly are we seeing? We explore the long shadow of Area 51, Cold War-era secrecy, and how government disinformation about experimental aircraft may have fueled decades of alien speculation. We also separate fact from fiction when it comes to so-called “chemtrails” versus ordinary condensation trails — and why conspiracy theories persist. 26:00 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis traveled to Kentucky this week with a bold message: Congress won’t fix itself — and it’s time for the states to step in. Testifying before Kentucky lawmakers, DeSantis urged them to support an Article V constitutional convention aimed at passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. With the national debt approaching $40 trillion, he argued that without permanent structural changes, Washington’s “muscle memory” of spending and compromise will continue — no matter which party is in power. We Dig Deep into break down how an Article V convention works, why 34 states are required to trigger it, and where the effort currently stands. Twenty states have already signed on — mostly Republican-led — but even if every remaining red state joined, supporters would still need buy-in from purple or Democrat-led legislatures. 32:00 Get Performlyte from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 A social media post from Congressman Randy Fine has gone viral — and sparked a firestorm. Fine responded to comments tied to New York political circles suggesting restrictions on dogs in public housing, referencing concerns rooted in Islamic views that consider dogs unclean. Fine pushed back bluntly, arguing that if Americans were ever forced to choose between their pets and accommodating religious restrictions, it wouldn’t be a difficult decision. Critics immediately labeled the remarks Islamophobic. Supporters say the point wasn’t about religion — it was about culture, assimilation, and whether American traditions should bend to accommodate beliefs that conflict with everyday life in the U.S. In this segment, we unpack the controversy, the statistics behind America’s deep attachment to pets — including service and therapy dogs — and the broader debate over cultural expectations in a free society. We also discuss Fine’s proposed “Protecting Puppies from Sharia Act” and what it symbolizes in the larger conversation about immigration, religious freedom, and preserving American norms. 35:30 Plus, it's Fake News Friday! We're putting you to the test with our weekly game of headlines—are they real news, fake news, or really fake news? From cowboys and Gavin Newsom's dyslexia, to the airport being named after President Trump can you spot the fake news? Play along, keep score, and share your results with us on Facebook page: facebook.com/AmericanGroundRadio. 39:30 We talk about Supreme Court’s 6–3 ruling on presidential tariff authority and what it means for the balance of power in Washington. When former Vice President Mike Pence praised the decision as a win for the Constitution, was it a straightforward defense of separation of powers—or a subtle jab at Donald Trump? And we end today's show with the powerful Olympic story of Alysa Liu—an American gold medal victory with international intrigue and a reminder of the opportunities and freedoms that define the American dream. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy. Articles US and Indonesia finalise deal to cut tariffs to 19% Major Defense Contractor Flees Spanberger’s Virginia Just Weeks After She Takes Office. Why was Ron DeSantis in Kentucky? What he wants from state lawmakers @ReOpenChris X Post: "Governor DeSantis pitches Federal Balanced Budget Amendment to Kentucky Legislature." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Mainieri, Zach Russell and Talmadge LeCroy press conference following 4-2 win over Air Force

What are the differences in black and white comedians and the audiences they draw? I had an interesting experience opening for DL Hughly. He was a huge star and I was an open mic comic. It didn't go well for me. Here's the quick story and the lesson I learned.  https://www.TheWorkLady.com  Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker, comedian, and funny motivational speaker who helps organizations use humor to handle change, build resilience, and strengthen leadership skills. With her laugh-out-loud stories and practical tips, Jan shows audiences how humor isn't just entertainment—it's a business skill that drives communication, connection, and stress relief.   A conference keynote speaker, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer, Jan has written material for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as radio, TV, and syndicated cartoon strips. She's the author of two books—Finding the Funny Fast and Convention Comedian—and her insights on humor in business have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Huffington Post. For over 25 years, she has been helping leaders and teams discover how to bounce back from setbacks, embrace change, and connect through comedy.   Jan has delivered keynote speeches at thousands of events nationwide, from the Federal Reserve Banks to the Mayo Clinic, for industries that include healthcare, finance, government, education, women's leadership events, technology, and safety & disaster management. Her client list features respected organizations such as: Healthcare: Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, Health Information Management Associations, Assisted Living Associations Finance: Federal Reserve Banks, Merrill Lynch, Transamerica Insurance, BDO Accounting, American Institute of CPAs, credit unions, banking associations Government: U.S. Air Force, Social Security Administration, International Institute of Municipal Clerks, National League of Cities, public utilities, correctional associations Women's Leadership Events: Toyota Women's Conference, Go Red for Women, Speaking of Women's Health, Soroptimists, Women in Insurance & Financial Services Education: State superintendent associations, community college associations, Head Start associations, National Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals Safety & Disaster: International Association of Emergency Managers, Disney Emergency Management, Mid-Atlantic Safety Conference, risk management associations   Her background as a Washington, D.C. marketing executive gives her a unique perspective that blends business acumen with stand-up comedy. Jan was also honored with the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives "Excellence in Education" Award. Along with her podcast Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips from a Comedian, Jan also produces Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes. Whether she's headlining a major convention, hosting a leadership retreat, or teaching resilience at a safety conference, Jan's programs give audiences the tools to laugh, learn, and lead.  

In this episode, I'm joined by Major General Rick B. Mattson, retired U.S. Air Force leader and now CEO of Bone Valley Industries. After decades of combat, diplomatic, and global leadership experience, he shares what it takes to lead in high-stakes environments. We explore service before self, faith under pressure, and the framework of values that shapes courageous leadership—from the battlefield to the boardroom.

Steve Schmidt sits down with Terry Virts, a 30-year Air Force fighter pilot veteran and NASA astronaut, who is now running in the 9th Congressional District of Texas. The Houston Chronicle stated in its endorsement of Terry that "in MAGA country, Terry Virts offers hope of holding onto a redistricted seat." His district is literally 'Ground Zero' for gerrymandering, and supporting Terry's race is critical to crushing MAGA in the midterm elections. Hear what Terry has to say about the kind of candidates required for the Democratic Party to flip the House, what he will do if he is elected to Congress, as well as some fascinating stories about his experience as a fighter pilot and astronaut. DONATE to ⁨Terry Virts here: https://www.terryvirts.com Subscribe for more and follow me here: Substack: https://steveschmidt.substack.com/subscribe Store: https://thewarningwithsteveschmidt.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thewarningses.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteveSchmidtSES/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewarningses Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewarningses/ X: https://x.com/SteveSchmidtSESSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's Zero Limits Podcast host Matty Morris chats with Shane Cording Boatswains Mate Royal Australian Navy Shane joined the Royal Australian Navy at 17 and served from 2009 to 2017 across multiple ships and major deployments, including Operations Slipper, Manitou, and Resolute. Shane's experience spans coalition operations in the Middle East, escorting a nuclear submarine through the Suez Canal, boarding operations under drone overwatch, and high-risk transits through the Persian Gulf. With nearly a decade at sea, Shane brings raw, firsthand insight into life in modern naval operations — and the unforgettable stories that come with it.Send us a text however note we cannot reply through these means. Please message the instagram or email if you are wanting a response. Support the showWebsite - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=enHost - Matty Morris www.instagram.com/matty.m.morrisSponsors Instagram - @gatorzaustralia www.gatorzaustralia.com15% Discount Code - ZERO15(former/current military & first responders 20% discount to order please email orders@gatorzaustralia.com.au Instagram - @3zeroscoffee 3 Zeros Coffee - www.3zeroscoffee.com.au 10% Discount Code - 3ZLimits Instagram - @getsome_au GetSome Jocko Fuel - www.getsome.com.au 10% Discount Code - ZEROLIMITS

In the early morning hours of April 17, 1966, five law enforcement officers from four different agencies watched in disbelief as a massive, glowing, football-shaped craft silently hovered over a Pennsylvania shopping center parking lot — the same object two Ohio sheriff's deputies had just chased at speeds exceeding 100 mph across 86 miles of highway. When the Air Force investigated, they had a simple explanation: the officers had been chasing the planet Venus.*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*IN THIS EPISODE: Some believe them to be ghosts, others feel they are creatures or even humans from a different dimension. Still others believe they are demonic entities. Whatever the truth about what they are, the one thing everyone agrees about is that an encounter with a shadow person is undeniably terrifying. (Terrifying True Stories Of Shadow People) *** The townsfolk of Beaver County, Pennsylvania saw something very strange in 1966 – and now, so many decades later, it's just as much of a mystery as it was the day the encounter occurred. (The Unsolved Sighting in 1966) *** Some are beloved favorites like “The Wizard of Oz”, others you may never have seen, like Atuk. Some are dark in tone like “Poltergeist”, or heroic like the first Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve. But one thing all of these films and the others I'll share in this episode have in common is that they are all supposedly cursed. (Infamously Cursed Films)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:47.590 = Terrifying True Stories of Shadow People00:10:44.014 = Unsolved Sighting in 1966 ***00:39:29.825 = Infamously Cursed Films ***01:04:29.801 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakHELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES…https://WeirdDarkness.com/STORE = Tees, Mugs, Socks, Hoodies, Totes, Hats, Kidswear & Morehttps://WeirdDarkness.com/HOPE = Hope For Depression or Thoughts of Self-Harmhttps://WeirdDarkness.com/NEWSLETTER = In-Depth Articles, Memes, Weird DarkNEWS, Videos & Morehttps://WeirdDarkness.com/AUDIOBOOKS = FREE Audiobooks Narrated By Darren MarlarSOURCES and RESOURCES:“Terrifying True Stories Of Shadow People” from Anomalien.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5f3vxdh4“The Unsolved Sighting in 1966” by Scott Tady for EllwoodCityLedger.com and The Beaver County Times: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3ck54nvr“Infamously Cursed Films” by Randolph Strauss for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/uh8xjj9j=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: July 21, 2021EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/UFOPoliceChaseABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness #UFO #FlyingSaucer #UFOSighting #UFOEvidence #ProjectBlueBook #AirForceUFO #GovernmentCoverUp #UAP #UFOWitness #RealUFO #UFOPoliceChase #1966UFO #PortageCountyUFO #OhioUFO #DaleSpaur #UFOTrueStory #AlienSpacecraft #UFOInvestigation #CloseEncounters #UnexplainedPhenomena #ParanormalTrue #TrueUFOStories #UFOHistory #AncientAliens #UFOCommunity #ExtraterrestrialLife #UFOAlert #ConspiracyTheory #UFODisclosure

BONUS: From Combat Pilot to Scrum Master - How Military Leadership Transforms Agile Teams In this bonus episode, we explore a fascinating career transition with Nate Amidon, a former Air Force combat pilot who now helps software teams embed military-grade leadership principles into their Agile practices. Nate shares how the high-stakes discipline of aviation translates directly into building high-performing development teams, and why veterans make exceptional Scrum Masters. The Brief-Execute-Debrief Cycle: Aviation Meets Agile "We would mission brief in the morning and make sure everyone was on the same page. Then we problem-solved our way through the day, debriefed after, and did it again. When I learned about what Agile was, I realized it's the exact same thing."   Nate's transition from flying C-17 cargo planes to working with Agile teams wasn't as jarring as you might expect. Flying missions that lasted 2-3 weeks with a crew of 5-7 people taught him the fundamentals of iterative work: daily alignment, continuous problem-solving, and regular reflection. The brief-execute-debrief cycle that every military pilot learns mirrors the sprint cadence that Agile teams follow. Time-boxing wasn't new to him either—when you're flying, you only have so much fuel, so deadlines aren't arbitrary constraints but physical realities that demand disciplined execution. In this episode with Christian Boucousis, we also discuss the brief-execute-debrief cycle in detail.  In this segment, we also refer to Cynefin, and the classification of complexity.  Alignment: The Real Purpose Behind Ceremonies "It's really important to make sure everyone understands why you're doing what you're doing. We don't brief, execute, debrief just because—we do it because we know that getting everybody on the same page is really important."   One of the most valuable insights Nate brings to his work with software teams is the understanding that Agile ceremonies aren't bureaucratic checkboxes—they're alignment mechanisms. The purpose of sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives is to ensure everyone knows the mission and can adapt when circumstances change. Interestingly, Nate notes that as teams become more high-performing, briefings get shorter and more succinct. The discipline remains, but the overhead decreases as shared context grows. The Art of Knowing When to Interrupt "There are times when you absolutely should not interrupt an engineer. Every shoulder tap is a 15-minute reset for them to get back into the game. But there are also times when you absolutely should shoulder tap them."   High-performing teams understand the delicate balance between deep work and necessary communication. Nate shares an aviation analogy: when loadmasters are loading complex cargo like tanks and helicopters, interrupting them with irrelevant updates would be counterproductive. But if you discover that cargo shouldn't be on the plane, that's absolutely worth the interruption. This judgment—knowing what matters enough to break flow—is something veterans develop through high-stakes experience. Building this awareness across a software team requires:   Understanding what everyone is working on Knowing the bigger picture of the mission Creating psychological safety so people feel comfortable speaking up Developing shared context through daily stand-ups and retrospectives Why Veterans Make Exceptional Scrum Masters "I don't understand why every junior officer getting out of the military doesn't just get automatically hired as a Scrum Master. If you were to say what we want a Scrum Master to do, and what a junior military officer does—it's line for line."   Nate's company, Form100 Consulting, specifically hires former military officers and senior NCOs for Agile roles, often bringing them on without tech experience. The results consistently exceed expectations because veterans bring foundational leadership skills that are difficult to develop elsewhere: showing up on time, doing what you say you'll do, taking care of team members, seeing the forest through the trees. These intangible qualities—combined with the ability to stay calm, listen actively, and maintain integrity under pressure—make for exceptional servant leaders in the software development space. The Onboarding Framework for Veterans "When somebody joins, we have assigned everybody a wingman—a dedicated person that they check in with regularly to bounce ideas off, to ask questions."   Form100's approach to transitioning veterans into tech demonstrates the same principles they advocate for Agile teams. They screen carefully for the right personality fit, provide dedicated internal training on Agile methodologies and program management, and pair every new hire with a wingman. This military unit culture helps bridge the gap between active duty service and the private sector, addressing one of the biggest challenges: the expectation gap around leadership standards that exists between military and civilian organizations. Extreme Ownership: Beyond Process Management "To be a good Scrum Master, you have to take ownership of the team's execution. If the product requirements aren't good, it's a Scrum Master's job to help. If QA is the problem, take ownership. You should be the vessel and ownership of the entire process of value delivery."   One of Nate's core philosophies comes from Jocko Willink's Extreme Ownership. Too many Scrum Masters limit themselves to being "process people" who set meetings and run ceremonies. True servant leadership means owning everything that affects the team's ability to deliver value—even things technically outside your job description. When retrospectives devolve into listing external factors beyond the team's control, the extreme ownership mindset reframes the conversation: "Did we give the stakeholder the right information? Did they make a great decision based on bad information we provided?" This shift from blame to ownership drives genuine continuous improvement. Building Feedback Loops in Complex Environments "In the military, we talk about the OODA loop. Everything gets tighter, we get better—that's why we do the debrief."   Understanding whether you're operating in a complicated or complex domain (referencing the Cynefin framework) determines how tight your feedback loops need to be. In complex environments—where most software development lives—feedback loops aren't just for reacting to what happened; they're for probing and understanding what's changing. Sprint goals become essential because without knowing where you're headed, you can't detect when circumstances have shifted. The product owner role becomes critical as the voice connecting business priorities to team execution, ensuring the mission stays current even when priorities change mid-sprint. Recommended Resources Nate recommends the following books:  Team of Teams by General McChrystal Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink   About Nate Amidon   Nate is a former Air Force combat pilot and founder of Form100 Consulting. He helps software teams embed leadership at the ground level, translating military principles into Agile practices. With a focus on alignment, accountability, and execution, Nate empowers organizations to lead from within and deliver real results in a dynamic tech landscape.   You can link with Nate Amidon on LinkedIn and learn more at Form100 Consulting.

You are in for a special treat! This is another episode of Coffee & Tea (with M&E) Real Moms Talking About Real Things.  Join Emily McDermott, the host of Moms Overcoming Overwhelm and I as we talk about what didn't work this week, how we pivoted, trying to work from home with kids, summer planning, what things we are excited about and so much more! We wanted to provide moms with real life examples of time management, organization, and pivoting when life throws you curveballs. So grab your coffee or tea, pull up a chair, and join us!  Reminder: Quick Announcement We have some fun things coming up this spring.  The doors just opened TODAY  to our Spring Group Coaching Program.  The program starts on March 2nd and runs through May 22nd.  It's an intentionally small group of 8-10 women, so that each one can get personal one on one transformation.  It will be a hybrid format of 60min group coaching calls and personal coaching calls.  For our insiders and people on the waitlist I'm giving a special $100 off bonus.  Go here to check it out (https://michellebyrd.myflodesk.com/waitlist) and if its a good fit for you grab your spot here (https://byrdmichelle.thrivecart.com/spring-group-coaching/) But, hurry doors to the coaching program close on February 27th. I pray this episode blesses you! Michelle   Bio For Emily McDermott: Emily McDermott is an Air Force wife and mom to two energetic boys living in Fairfax, Virginia. She is also the host of the top 1% globally ranked podcast Moms Overcoming Overwhelm where she helps moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts. As a virtual and in-person decluttering coach, she works with moms one-on-one to define what matters, eliminate what doesn't and automate the rest. Emily enjoys writing custom poetry, dancing, and eating peanut butter out of the jar.   Contact Info: For Emily Moms Overcoming Overwhelm Podcast: https://momsovercomingoverwhelm.podbean.com/ Simple by Emmy: http://www.simplebyemmy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplebyemmy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplebyemmy/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1OzHKsGziu5IbkaHBQXGIw Facebook Group - Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms: tinyurl.com/momsovercomingoverwhelm Contact E-mail: info@simplebyemmy.com Freebie: 5 Mindset Shifts To Help you Let Go of Clutter: https://simplebyemmy.com/mindset/ Contact Info: For Michelle Grab a coaching call with me at: https://calendly.com/byrd-michelle/bonus-one-time-un-stuck-time-management-coachin-clone Email: contact@byrdmichelle.com website: www.byrdmichelle.com Free Productivity Planner - my gift to you! www.byrdmichelle.com  Come join our Facebook Group: The Busy Vibrant Mom https://www.facebook.com/groups/2315591962144641/

00:00 High Five.12:10 More on the Nuggets loss in LA.30:35 Air Force basketball and Rockies notes.

There are over 145 games on the betting board for Saturday & Greg picks & analyzes EVERY one of them!  Link To Greg's Spreadsheet of handicapped lines: https://vsin.com/college-basketball/greg-petersons-daily-college-basketball-lines/ Greg's TikTok With Pickmas Pick Videos: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregpetersonsports?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Timemarkers 3:38-Start of picks Wake Forest vs Virginia Tech 5:51-Picks & analysis for Florida v Ole Miss  8:30-Picks & analysis for Creighton v St. John's  11:02-Picks & analysis for Florida St v Clemson 13:42-Picks & analysis for Rutgers v Minnesota  15:56-Picks & analysis for E Carolina vs Charlotte  18:23-Picks & analysis for Loyola IL vs St. Joseph's 20:57-Picks & analysis for Marshall vs Coastal Carolina  23:31-Picks & analysis for Cincinnati vs Kansas 25:36-Picks & analysis for Texas St vs Louisiana  28:12-Picks & analysis for Chattanooga v The Citadel 30:27-Picks & analysis for Georgia So vs App St 32:43=Picks & analysis for North Carolina vs Syracuse  35:08-Picks & analysis for W Carolina vs VMI 37:32-Picks & analysis for Mississippi St vs South Carolina  40:03-Picks & analysis for Xavier vs Butler 42:10-Picks & analysis for Edwardsville vs Tennessee St 44:30-Picks & analysis for Princeton vs Yale 46:42-Picks & analysis for Davidson vs Fordham  48:46-Picks & analysis for Hofstra vs Northeastern  51:15-Picks & analysis for Tennessee vs Vanderbilt  53:52-Picks & analysis for Penn State vs Nebraska 56:04-Picks & analysis for Harvard vs Cornell 58:24-Picks & analysis for Miami vs Virginia  1:00:29-Picks & analysis for Delaware v MidTennessee  1:02:36-Picks & analysis for Notre Dame vs Pittsburgh  1:04:23-Picks & analysis for Samford vs Mercer 1:06:22-Picks & analysis for Duquesne vs Dayton 1:08:48-Picks & analysis for Dartmouth vs Columbia 1:11:23-Picks & analysis for Kansas City v N Dakota St 1:13:39-Picks & analysis for GA Tech v Louisville  1:16:04-Picks & analysis for Rhode Island vs La Salle 1:18:01-Picks & analysis for Kansas St vs Texas Tech  1:20:31-Picks & analysis for Old Dominion v So Miss 1:22:46-Arizona v Houston 1:25:02-Valparaiso v UIC 1:27:37-North Dakota v S Dakota St 1:29:55-Utah Valley v UT Arlington  1:32:04-UNLV v Air Force  1:33:54-Washington v Maryland  1:36:06-Missouri St vs FIU 1:38:35-Arkansas St vs UL Monroe 1:40:53-Ohio vs No Illinois  1:43:14-Picks & analysis for Oklahoma St vs Colorado 1:45:29-Picks & analysis for Jacksonville St vs Sam Houston 1:48:13-Picks & analysis for Texas vs Georgia  1:50:46-Picks & analysis for Boston College vs SMU 1:53:05-Picks & analysis for Lindenwood vs Tennessee Tech 1:55:37-Picks & analysis for Troy vs South Alabama  1:57:34-Picks & analysis for Hampton vs Stony Brook  1:59:57-Picks & analysis for James Madison vs Georgia St 2:02:06-Picks & analysis for Western Kentucky vs Liberty 2:04:18-Picks & analysis for Missouri vs Arkansas  2:06:20-Picks & analysis for UNC Wilmington vs Campbell  2:08:31-Picks & analysis for Oregon vs USC 2:10:45-Picks & analysis for SE Missouri vs Little Rock  2:13:00-Picks & analysis for Southern Utah vs Abilene Christian  2:15:10-Picks & analysis for Arizona St vs Baylor 2:17:12-Picks & analysis for San Jose St vs Boise St 2:19:36-Picks & analysis for Evansville vs Murray St 2:21:48-Picks & analysis for Monmouth vs Charleston  2:24:16-Picks & analysis for East Tennessee vs UNC Greensboro  2:26:25-Picks & analysis for Morehead St vs Western Illinois  2:28:22-Picks & analysis for Southern Indiana vs Eastern Illinois  2:30:37-Picks & analysis for Utah Tech vs Tarleton St 2:32:50-Picks & analysis for W Michigan vs C Michigan  2:34:49-West Virginia vs TCU 2:37:15-E Washington vs Portland St 2:39:33- UC Davis vs UC Riverside 2:41:50-LA Tech vs Kennesaw St 2:44:39-E Michigan vs Toledo 2:46:52-Uconn v Villanova  2:49:11-Loyola Marymount vs San Diego  2:51:30-Georgetown vs Seton Hall  2:53:43-Picks & analysis for Buffalo vs Massachusetts  2:55:46-Picks & analysis for St. Bonaventure vs Richmond 2:58:14-Picks & analysis for S Illinois vs N Iowa 3:00:33-Picks & analysis for San Diego St vs Colorado St 3:03:23-Picks & analysis for Montana St vs Idaho St 3:05:51-Picks & analysis for St. Thomas v Denver 3:08:14-Picks & analysis for Alabama v LSU 3:10:23-Picks & analysis for Temple vs Wichita State 3:12:44-Picks & analysis for Stanford vs California  3:14:43-Picks & analysis for Michigan vs Duke 3:17:14-Picks & analysis for N Carolina A&T vs Elon 3:19:40-Picks & analysis for Furman vs Wofford 3:21:57-Picks & analysis for N Arizona vs N Colorado  3:24:06-Picks & analysis for Wyoming vs Grand Canyon  3:26:07-Picks & analysis for Illinois St vs Bradley 3:28:39-Picks & analysis for Providence vs DePaul 3:30:43-Picks & analysis for South Dakota vs Oral Roberts  3:32:42-Picks & analysis for Illinois vs UCLA 3:34:46-Picks & analysis for Indiana St vs Belmont 3:37:11-Picks & analysis for Pepperdine vs Oregon St 3:39:15-Picks & analysis for New Mexico vs Fresno St 3:41:28-Picks & analysis for Texas A&M vs Oklahoma  3:43:37-Picks & analysis for Kentucky vs Auburn  3:45:51-Picks & analysis for CS Northridge vs Long Beach St  3:47:57-Picks & analysis for Pacific vs Gonzaga  3:49:48-Picks & analysis for Central Florida vs Utah 3:51:50-Picks & analysis for UTEP vs New Mexico St 3:54:07-Picks & analysis for CS Fullerton vs CS Bakersfield  3:56:17-Picks & analysis for Montana vs Weber St 3:58:10-Picks & analysis for Utah St vs Nevada 4:00:09-Picks & analysis for Portland vs Seattle 4:02:09-Picks & analysis for Santa Clara v San Francisco  4:04:17-Picks & analysis for Idaho v Sacramento St 4:06:36-Picks & analysis for UC San Diego vs UC Irvine 4:08:45-Picks & analysis for St. Mary's vs Washington St 4:10:29-Picks & analysis for Iowa St vs BYU 4:12:35-Picks & analysis for UC Santa Barbara vs Hawaii 4:16:38-Start of extra games Albany vs UMBC 4:18:34-Picks & analysis for Binghamton vs UMass Lowell 4:20:28-Picks & analysis for Navy vs Army 4:22:38-Picks & analysis for Long Island vs Mercyhurst  4:24:48-Picks & analysis for Wagner vs St Francis PA 4:26:53-Picks & analysis for Le Moyne vs Stonehill  4:28:44-Picks & analysis for Central Connecticut vs Chicago St 4:30:54-Picks & analysis for Central Arkansas vs Florida Gulf Coast  4:33:09-Picks & analysis for Loyola MD vs Colgate 4:35:05-Picks & analysis for W Georgia vs Queens NC 4:37:02-Picks & analysis for N Florida vs Stetson 4:38:55-Picks & analysis for Delaware St vs Morgan St 4:41:08-Picks & analysis for Maine vs New Hampshire  4:43:06-Picks & analysis for Longwood vs Charleston Southern 4:45:09-Picks & analysis for Jackson St vs Alcorn St 4:46:53-Picks & analysis for Winthrop vs High Point 4:48:55-Picks & analysis for NC Central vs Howard 4:51:08-Picks & analysis for Houston Christian vs Northwestern St 4:53:12-Picks & analysis for UT Rio Grande Valley vs SE Louisiana  4:55:16-Picks & analysis for Presbyterian vs USC Upstate 4:57:24-Picks & analysis for Radford vs UNC Asheville  4:59:26-Picks & analysis for Maryland Eastern Shore vs Coppin St 5:01:23-Picks & analysis for South Carolina St vs Norfolk St 5:03:34-Picks & analysis for North Alabama vs Lipscomb  5:05:40-Picks & analysis for Alabama A&M vs Bethune Cookman  5:07:49-Picks & analysis for Grambling vs Southern 5:09:48-Picks & analysis for Alabama St vs Florida A&M 5:11:57-Picks & analysis for Nicholls vs Stephen F Austin 5:13:52-Picks & analysis for Incarnate Word vs E Texas A&M  5:15:40-Picks & analysis for Texas Southern vs Miss Valley St 5:17:38-Picks & analysis for Prairie View vs Ark Pine Bluff 5:19:26-Picks & analysis for New Orleans vs Lamar 5:21:29-Picks & analysis for Austin Peay vs Jacksonville  5:23:12-Picks & analysis for New Haven vs Fairleigh Dickinson  5:25:05-Picks & analysis for E Kentucky vs Bellarmine 5:26:55-Picks & analysis for Vermont vs NJIT  5:29:43-Picks & analysis for Texas A&M CC vs McNeese Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PART II ALREADY OUT ON PATREON! IT'S AD-FREE, AND THERE'S A TON OF OTHER GREAT PATREON PERKS, JOIN US THERE!Ash and Kristen begin their dive into the wildly controversial world of Graham Hancock and his hotly debated speculations. Along the way, they take approximately 700 Wikipedia detours through Gnosticism, Catharism, esoteric secret-knowledge clubs, and so much conspiracy-adjacent archaeology, religious relic lore, and Ice Age brain-melt timelines that Ash has to stop Kristen every 2-3 minutes to define something. So naturally, we had to make this a two-parter!In part one, the gals talk about Hancock's journey from respected journalist to alternative archaeologist who digs into controversial theories about lost ancient civilizations and literally everything else throughout time and space. They dig into his greatest hits: the Ark of the Covenant, the Knights Templar, pyramids/Sphinx “they're older than you think” chaos, the Face on Mars, and that whole “is this an ancient warning or just Virgin Mary on toast?” dilemma.STUFF TO CHEER YOU UP:Ash's list of "Comfort Shows" (and where to watch them for freeeee)Ash learned a dance and actually filmed it... aka Ash dancing alone in …her yard aka "How Ash Likes to Party" Behind the scenes of Ash struggling to make a simple dance video ft. her SPARKLY BOOTS!PODS TO KEEP YOU INFORMED:It Could Happen Here- It Could Happen Here started as an exploration of the possibility of a new civil war. Now a daily show, it's evolved into a chronicle of collapse as it happens, and an exploration of how we might build a better future.Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay - Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay dissect the biggest topics in Black culture, politics, and sports. Two times per week, they will wade into the most important and timely conversations, frequently inviting guests on the podcast and occasionally debating each other.Pod Save the World - A weekly podcast that breaks down international news and foreign policy developments, but doesn't feel like homework.This F*cking Guy - Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco, co-hosts of the podcast Hysteria, do a deep dive into the lives of some of the worst b*tches in the game - and let you know everything there is to know about their horrible, corrupt, and dishonest pasts.Behind the Bastards - There's a reason the History Channel has produced hundreds of documentaries about Hitler but only a few about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards dives in past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of their lives. Listeners will learn about the young adult novels that helped Hitler form his monstrous ideology, the founder of Blackwater's insane quest to build his own Air Force, the bizarre lives of the sons and daughters of dictators and Saddam Hussein's side career as a trashy romance novelist.Gaslit Nation - Gaslit Nation provides a deep dive on the news, skipping outrage to deliver analysis, history, context, and sharp insight on global affairs. Hosted by journalist and filmmaker Andrea Chalupa, an expert on authoritarian states who warned America about Russia and election hacking before the 2016 election.The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Jon Stewart and The Daily Show News Team cover today's biggest headlines. The “Ears Edition” of The Daily Show features full episodes, extended content, exclusive interviews, and more.If you'd like to support my escape to Indonesia, check out the GOFUNDME :)Follow us on Instagram, where Ash is actually starting to post again!We'd love to see you in our Discord, come hang out!Audio editing by Gaytrice Perdue.

Sam Jones started his career as a GS-7 cyber operator in the Air Force. Today, he's the co-founder and CEO of Method Security, a bleeding-edge, dual-use cybersecurity and AI company that has raised $26M from top investors, including Andreesen Horowitz and General Catalyst. In this BreakLine Arena conversation, Sam doesn't just talk with Zayn (CEO and Host) about cybersecurity; he talks about building for the business effect from the onset. Sam unpacks why his team chose what he describes as the “psychotic approach” of serving Fortune 500 companies and the Department of War from day one. Resilient software isn't a strategic choice but a structural requirement if the government and Fortune 500 are to secure their organizations. And what it means to design a company, technically and culturally, around the hardest missions first.“To become resilient, you need to test the whole of the enterprise all the time where it matters most.”This episode is about more than AI and cyber. It's about raising standards. Building teams with real conviction. Choosing the harder path early so the ceiling stays high later and for the long game.If you're a visionary founder or a purpose-driven top performer building the future with clarity, community, and access to the most ambitious companies in America, join us!Learn more about our Effects-Based Hiring approach here: BreakLine.org

"Three Things You Need to Know"...documentary on Elizabeth Smart...Trump give Air Force 1 a new look..."Debbie Does Movies".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump ordered government agencies to release information about extraterrestrial life and related phenomena on Thursday. The move followed former President Barack Obama's comments on alien life in a podcast interview earlier this week. In 2023, the White House acknowledged that there had been unexplained aerial phenomena reported by pilots and the Navy and Air Force.Andrew Mountbatten-Window was released from police custody on Thursday evening, after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, over allegations he sent confidential government documents to Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince had been questioned all day by detectives from the Thames Valley Police. King Charles III, who appeared at a fashion show in London just hours after his brother's arrest, said in a statement that "the law must take its course."Alysa Liu has won gold in women's figure skating. She becomes the first American woman to claim the Olympic title in the event since 2002. The 20-year-old from the San Francisco Bay Area scored a career-high 226.79 points to finish ahead of Japan's Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai. Liu briefly retired after the 2022 Beijing Games, citing burnout. Liu called her return to the Olympic stage a personal victory, saying she wanted simply to be present and compete.

In Episode 30, Felita "Flow" LaRock opens up about the incredible experiences she has under her belt. From service in the Air Force, to being a vocalist in the USAF Band, to traveling all over the world performing, recording on a children's jazz album, singing with Lee Greenwood, performing with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, and singing the National Anthem for the Cincinnati Reds & Bengals, Dayton Dragons and Columbus Blue Jackets. But . . . who is she?

What does flying fighter jets teach you about entrepreneurship?In this powerful episode, Buddy Burke shares how his journey from Air Force and commercial pilot to startup mentor shaped his mission to guide global Gen Z founders.As a founding pilot at Virgin America, he witnessed what it means to build something from the ground up. Today, he helps young entrepreneurs communicate ideas with clarity, confidence, and purpose.From mentoring at UC Berkeley Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology to working closely with emerging leaders worldwide, Buddy offers sharp insights into how the next generation is reshaping business.If you want to understand where entrepreneurship is headed next, this conversation is a must listen.Guest: Buddy BurkeHost: Chris SalemSound: Mahesh R.Producer: Archita PuranikListen now and start building your path to more sales.Available on TALRadio | Spotify | Apple Podcast#TALRadioenglish #SalesGrowth #BusinessLeadership #Touchalife #TARadio

While answering questions on Air Force one President Trump was asked about Prince Andrew and Obama's answer on alien life.  Visit the Howie Carr Radio Network website to access columns, podcasts, and other exclusive content.

Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman join our podcast to discuss how psychedelic policy is actually moving in Washington, DC. Lavasani leads Psychedelic Medicine Coalition, a DC-based advocacy organization focused on educating federal officials and advancing legislation around psychedelic medicine. Kopelman is CEO of Mission Within Foundation, which provides scholarships for veterans and first responders seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy retreats, often outside the United States. The conversation centers on veterans, the VA, and why that system may be the first realistic federal pathway for psychedelic care. Early Themes Lavasani describes PMC's work on Capitol Hill, including hosting events that bring lawmakers, staffers, and advocates into the same room. Her focus is steady engagement. In DC, progress often happens through repeated conversations, not headlines. Kopelman shares his background as a Marine and how his own psychedelic-assisted therapy experience led him to Mission Within. The foundation has funded more than 250 scholarships for veterans and first responders seeking treatment for PTSD, mild traumatic brain injury, depression, and addiction. They connect this work to pending veteran-focused legislation and explain why the VA matters. As a closed health system, the VA can pilot programs, gather data, and refine protocols without the pressures of private healthcare markets. Core Insights A recent Capitol Hill gathering, For Veteran Society, brought together members of Congress and leaders from the psychedelic caucus. Lavasani describes candid feedback from lawmakers. The message was clear: coordinate messaging, avoid fragmentation, and move while bipartisan interest remains. Veteran healthcare is not framed as the final goal. It is a starting point. If psychedelic therapies can demonstrate safety and effectiveness within the VA, broader adoption becomes more plausible. Kopelman raises operational realities that must be addressed: Standardized safety protocols across providers Integration support, not medication alone Clear training pathways for clinicians Real-world data beyond tightly screened clinical trials They also address recent negative headlines involving ibogaine treatment abroad. Kopelman emphasizes the need for shared learning across providers, especially when adverse events occur. Lavasani argues that inconsistency within the ecosystem can slow federal confidence. Later Discussion and Takeaways The discussion widens to federal momentum around addiction and mental health. Lavasani notes that new funding initiatives signal growing openness to innovative treatment models, even if psychedelics are not named explicitly in every announcement. Both guests stress that policy moves slowly by design. Meetings, follow-ups, and relationship building often matter more than public statements. For clinicians, researchers, operators, and advocates, the takeaways are direct: Veterans are likely the first federal pathway Public education remains essential Safety standards must be shared and transparent Integration and workforce development need attention now If psychedelic medicine enters federal systems, infrastructure will determine success. Frequently Asked Questions What do Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman say about VA psychedelic policy? They argue that veteran-focused legislation offers a realistic first federal pathway for psychedelic-assisted care. Is ibogaine currently available through the VA? No. They discuss ibogaine in the context of private retreats and future possibilities, not an existing VA program. Why do Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman emphasize coordination? Lawmakers respond more positively when advocates present aligned messaging and clear priorities. What safety issues are discussed by Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman? They highlight the need for standardized screening, monitoring, integration support, and transparent review of adverse events. Closing Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman provide a grounded look at how psychedelic policy develops inside federal systems. Their message is practical: veterans may be the first lane, but long-term success depends on coordination, safety standards, and sustained engagement. Closing This episode captures a real-time view of how federal policy could shape the next phase of the psychedelic resurgence, especially through veteran-facing legislation and VA infrastructure. Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman argue that coordination, public education, and shared safety standards will shape whether access expands with credibility and care. Transcript Joe Moore: [00:00:00] Hello everybody. Welcome back to Psychedelics Today. Today we have two guests, um, got Melissa Sani from Psychedelic Medicine Coalition. We got Jake Pelman from Mission Within Foundation. We're gonna talk about I bga I became policy on a recent, uh, set of meetings in Washington, DC and, uh, all sorts of other things I'm sure. Joe Moore: But thank you both for joining me. Melissa Lavasani: Thanks for having us. Jay Kopelman: Yeah, it's a pleasure. Thanks. Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, Melissa, I wanna have you, uh, jump in. First. Can you tell us a little bit about, uh, your work and what you do at PMC? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, so Psychedelic Medicine Coalition is, um, the only DC based Washington DC based advocacy organization dedicated to the advancing the issue of psychedelics, um, and making sure the federal government has the education they need, um, and understands the issue inside out so that they can generate good policy around, around psychedelic medicines. Melissa Lavasani: [00:01:00] Uh, we. Host Hill events. We host other convenings. Our big event every year is the Federal Summit on psychedelic medicine. Um, that's going to be May 14th this year. Um, where we talk about kinda the pressing issues that need to be talked about, uh, with government officials in the room, um, so that we can incrementally move this forward. Melissa Lavasani: Um, our presence here in Washington DC is, is really critical for this issue's success because, um, when we're talking about psychedelic medicines, um, from the federal government pers perspective, you know, they are, they are the ones that are going to initiate the policies that create a healthcare system that can properly facilitate these medicines and make sure, um, patient safety is a priority. Melissa Lavasani: And there's guardrails on this. And, um, you know, there, it's, it's really important that we have. A home base for this issue in Washington DC just [00:02:00] because, uh, this is very complicated as a lot of your viewers probably understand, and, you know, this can get lost in the mix of all the other issues that, um, lawmakers in DC are focused on right now. Melissa Lavasani: And we need to keep that consistent presence here so that this continues to be a priority for members of Congress. Joe Moore: Mm. I love this. And Jay, can you tell us a bit about yourself and mission within Foundation? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, sure. Joe, thanks. Uh, I, I am the CEO of Mission within Foundation. Prior to this, most of my adult life was spent in the military as a Marine. Jay Kopelman: And I came to this. Role after having, uh, a psychedelic assisted therapy experience myself at the mission within down in Mexico, which is where pretty much we all go. Um, we are here to help [00:03:00] provide, uh, access for veterans and first responders to be able to attend psychedelic assisted therapy retreats to treat issues like mild TBI, post-traumatic stress disorder, uh, depression, sometimes addiction at, at a very low level. Jay Kopelman: Um, and, and so we've, we've been doing this for a little more than a year now and have provided 250 plus scholarships to veterans and first responders to be able to access. These retreats and these, these lifesaving medicines. Um, we're also partnered, uh, you may or may not know with Melissa at Psychedelic Medicine Coalition to help advance education and policy, specifically the innovative, uh, therapy Centers of Excellence Act [00:04:00] that Melissa has worked for a number of years on now to bring to both Houses of Congress. Joe Moore: Thank you for that. Um, so let's chat a little bit about what this event was that just, uh, went down, uh, what, what was it two weeks ago at this point? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Yeah. It's called For Veteran Society and it's all, um, there's a lot of dialogue on Capitol Hill about veterans healthcare and psychedelics, but where I've been frustrated is that, you know, it was just a lot of. Melissa Lavasani: Talk about what the problems are and not a lot of talk about like how we actually propel things forward. Um, so it, at that event, I thought it was really important and we had three members of Congress there, um, Morgan Latrell, who has been a champion from day one and his time in Congress, um, having gone through the experience himself, um, [00:05:00] at Mission within, um, and then the two chairs of the psychedelic caucus, uh, Lou Correa and Jack Bergman. Melissa Lavasani: And we really got down to the nitty gritty of like w like why this has taken so long and you know, what is actually happening right now? What are the possibilities and what the roadblocks are. And it was, I thought it was a great conversation. Um, we had an interesting kind of dynamic with Latres is like a very passionate about this issue in particular. Melissa Lavasani: Um, I think it was, I think it was really. A great event. And, you know, two days later, Jack Bergman introduced his new bill for the va. Um, so it was kind of like the precursor to that bill getting introduced. And we're just excited for more and more conversations about how the government can gently guide this issue to success. Joe Moore: Hmm. Yeah. [00:06:00] That's fantastic. Um, yeah, I was a little bummed I couldn't make it, but next time, I hope. But I've heard a lot of good things and, um, it's, it sounded like there was some really important messages in, in terms of like feedback from legislators. Yeah. Yeah. Could you speak to that? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, I mean, I think when, uh, representative Latrell was speaking, he really impressed on us a couple things. Melissa Lavasani: Um, first is that, you know, they really kind of need the advocates to. Coordinate, collaborate and come up with like a, a strategic plan, you know, without public education. Um, talking to members of Congress about this issue is, is really difficult. You know, like PMC is just one organization. We're very little mission within, very little, um, you know, we're all like, kind of new in navigating, um, this not so new issue, but new to Washington DC [00:07:00] issue. Melissa Lavasani: Um, without that public education as a baseline, uh, it's, it's, you have to spend a lot of time educating members of Congress. You know, that's like one of our things is, you know, we have to, we don't wanna tell Congress what direction to go to. We wanna provide them the information so they understand it very intimately and know how to navigate through things. Melissa Lavasani: Um, and secondly. Um, he got pretty frank with us and said, you know, we've got one cha one chance at this issue. And it's like, that's, that's kind of been like my talking point since I started. PMC is like, you have a very limited window, um, when these kind of issues pop up and they're new and they're fresh and you have a lot of the veteran community coming out and talking about it. Melissa Lavasani: And there's a lot of energy there. But now is the time to really move forward, um, with some real legislation that can be impactful. Um, but, you know, we've gotta [00:08:00] be careful. We, we forget, I think sometimes those of us who are in the ecosystem forget that our level of knowledge about these medicines and a lot of us have firsthand experience, um, with these drugs and, and our own healing journeys is, um, we forget that there is a public out there that doesn't have the level of knowledge that we all have. Melissa Lavasani: And, um. We gotta make sure that we're sticking to the right elements of, of, of what needs to happen. We need to be sure that our talking points are on track and we're not getting sideways about anything and going down roads that we don't need to talk about. It's why, um, you know, PMC is very focused on, um, moving forward veteran legislation right now. Melissa Lavasani: Not because we're a veteran organization, but because we're, we see this long-term policy track here. Um, we know where we want to get [00:09:00] to, um. Um, and watching other healthcare issues kind of come up and then go through the VA healthcare system, I think it's a really unique opportunity, um, to utilize the VA as this closed system, the biggest healthcare system in the country to evaluate, uh, how psychedelics operate within systems like that. Melissa Lavasani: And, you know, before they get into, um, other healthcare systems. What do we need to fix? What do we need to pay attention to? What's something that we're paying too much attention to that doesn't necessarily need that much attention? So it's, um, it's a real opportunity to look at psychedelic medicines within a healthcare system and obviously continue to gather the data. Melissa Lavasani: Um, Bergman's Bill emerging, uh, expanding veteran access to emerging treatments. Um, not only mandates the research, it gives the VA authority for this, uh, for running trials and, and creating programs around psychedelic medicines. But also, [00:10:00] one of the great things about it, I think, is it provides an on-ramp for veterans that don't necessarily qualify for clinical trials. Melissa Lavasani: You know, I think that's one of the biggest criticisms of clinical trials is like you're cre you're creating a vacuum for people and people don't live in a vacuum. So we don't necessarily know what psychedelics are gonna look like in real life. Um, but with this expanding veteran access bill that Bergman introduced, it provides the VA an opportunity to provide this access under. Melissa Lavasani: Um, in a, in a safe container with medical supervision while collecting data, um, while ensuring that the veteran that is going through this process has the support systems that it needs. So, um, you know, I think that there's a really unique opportunity here, and like Latrell said, like, we've got one shot at this. Melissa Lavasani: We have people's attention in Congress. Um, now's the time to start acting, and let's be really considerate and thoughtful about what we're doing with it. Joe Moore: Thanks for that, Melissa and Jay, how, [00:11:00] anything to add there on kind of your takeaways from the this, uh, last visit in dc? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, I, I think that Melissa highlighted it really well and there, there were a couple other things that I, I think, you know, you could kind of tie it all together with some other issues that we face in this country, uh, and that. Jay Kopelman: Uh, representative Correa brought up as well, but one of the things I wanted to go back and say is that veterans have kind of led this movement already, right? So, so it's a, it's a good jumping off point, right? That it's something people from both sides of the aisle, from any community in America can get behind. Jay Kopelman: You know, if you think about it, uh, in World War ii, you know, we had a million people serving our population was like, not even 200 million, but now [00:12:00] we have a population of 330 million, and at any given time there might be a million people in uniform, including the Reserve and the National Guard. So it's, it, it's an easy thing to get behind this small part of the population that is willing to sign that contract. Jay Kopelman: Where you are saying, yeah, I'm going to defend my country, possibly at the risk of my l my own life. So that's the first thing. The other thing is that the VA being a closed health system, and they don't have shareholders to answer to, they can take some risks, they can be innovative and be forward thinking in the ways that some other healthcare systems can't. Jay Kopelman: And so they have a perfect opportunity to show that they truly care for their veterans, which don't, I'm not saying they don't, but this would be an [00:13:00] opportunity to show that carrot at a whole different level. Uh, it would allow them to innovate and be a leader in something as, uh, as our friend Jim Hancock will say, you know. Jay Kopelman: When he went to the Naval Academy, they had the world's best shipbuilding program. Why doesn't the VA have the world's best care program for things like TBI and PTSD, which affects, you know, 40 something percent of all veterans, right? So, so there's, there's an opportunity here for the VA to lead from the front. Jay Kopelman: Um, the, these medicines provide, you know, reasonably lasting care where it's kind of a one and done. Whereas with the current systems, the, you know, and, and [00:14:00] again, not to denigrate the VA in any way, they're doing the best job they can with the tools in their toolbox, right? But maybe it's time for a trip to Home Depot. Jay Kopelman: Let's get some new tools. And have some new ways of fixing what's broken, which is really the way of doing things. It's not, veterans aren't broken, we are who we are. Um, but it's a, it's a way to fix what isn't working. So I, I think that, you know, given there's tremendous veteran homelessness still, you know, addiction issues, all these things that do translate to the population at large are things that can be worked on in this one system, the va that can then be shown to have efficacy, have good data, have [00:15:00] good outcomes, and, and take it to the population at large. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Brilliant. Thanks for that. And so there was another thing I wanted to pivot to, which is some of the recent press. So we've, um, seen a little bit of press around some, um, in one instance, some bad behavior in Mexico that a FI put out Americans thrive again, put out. And then another case there was a, a recent fatality. Joe Moore: And I think, um, both are tragic. Like we shouldn't be having to deal with this at this point. Um, but there's a lot of things that got us here. Um, it's not necessarily the operator's fault entirely, um, or even at all, honestly, like some medical interventions just carry a lot of risk. Like think, think about like, uh, how risky bypass surgery was in the nineties, right? Joe Moore: Like people were dying a lot from medical interventions and um, you know, this is a major intervention, uh, ibogaine [00:16:00] and also a lot of promise. To help people quite a bit. Um, but as of right now, there's, there's risk. And part of that risk, in my opinion, comes from the inability of organizations to necessarily collaborate. Joe Moore: Like there's no kind of convening body, sitting in the middle, allowing, um, for, and facilitating really good data sharing and learnings. Um, and I don't, I don't necessarily see an organization stepping up and being the, um, the convener for that kind of work. I've heard rumors that something's gonna happen there, and I'm, I'm hopeful I'll always wanna share my opinion on that. Joe Moore: But yeah. I don't know. Jay, from your perspective, is there anything you want to kind of speak to about, uh, these two recent incidents that Americans for Iboga kind of publicized recently? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, so I, I'll echo your sentiment, of course, that these are tragic incidents. Um, and I, [00:17:00] I think that at least in the case of the death at Ambio, AMBIO has done a very good job of talking about it, right? Jay Kopelman: They've been very honest with the information that they have. And like you said, there are risks inherent to these medicines, and it's like anything else in medicine, there are going to be risks. You know, when I went through, uh, when I, when I went through chemo, you know, there were, there are risks. You know, you don't feel well, you get sick. Jay Kopelman: Um, and, and it. There are processes in place to counter that when it happens. And there are processes and, and procedures and safety protocols in place when caring for somebody going through an ibogaine [00:18:00] journey. Uh, when I did it, we had EKG echocardiogram. You're on a heart monitor the entire time they push magnesium via iv. Jay Kopelman: You have to provide a urinalysis sample to make sure that there is nothing in your system that is going to potentially harm you. During the ibogaine, they have, uh, a cardiologist who is monitoring the heart monitors throughout the ibogaine experience. So the, the safety protocols are there. I think it's, I think it's just a matter of. Jay Kopelman: Standardizing them across all, all providers, right? Like, that would be a good thing if people would talk to one another. Um, as, as in any system, right? You've gotta have [00:19:00] some collaboration. You've gotta have standardization, you know, so, you know, they're not called standard operating procedures for nothing. Jay Kopelman: That means that in a, you know, in a given environment, everybody does things the same way. It's true in Navy and Marine Corps, air Force, army Aviation, they have standard operating procedures for every single aircraft. So if you fly, let's say the F 35 now, right? Because it's flown by the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force. Jay Kopelman: The, the emergency procedures in that airplane are standardized across all three services, so you should have the same, or, you know, with within a couple of different words, the same procedures and processes [00:20:00] across all the providers, right? Like maybe in one document you're gonna change, happy to glad and small dog to puppy, but it's still pretty much the, the same thing. Jay Kopelman: And as a service that provides scholarships to people to go access these medicines and go to these retreats, you know, my criteria is that the, this provider has to be safe. Number one, safety's paramount. It's always gotta be very safe. It should, it has to be effective. And you know, once you have those two things in place, then I have a comfort level saying, okay, yeah, we'll work with this provider. Jay Kopelman: But until those standardized processes are in place, you'll probably see these one-off things. I mean, some providers have been doing this longer than others and have [00:21:00] really figured out, you know, they've, they've cracked the code and, you know, sharing that across the spectrum would be good. Um, but just when these things happen, having a clearing house, right, where everybody can come together and talk about it, you know, like once the facts are known because. Jay Kopelman: To my knowledge, we still don't know all the facts. Like as, you know, as horrible as this is, you still have to talk about like an, has an autopsy been performed? What was found in the patient's system? You know, there, there are things there that we don't know. So we need to, we need to know that before we can start saying, okay, well this is how we can fix that, because we just don't know. Jay Kopelman: And, you know, to their credit, you know, Amio has always been safe to, to the, to the best of my knowledge. You know, I, [00:22:00] I haven't been to Ambio myself, but people that I have worked with have been there. They have observed, they have seen the process. They believe it's safe, and I trust their opinion because they've seen it elsewhere as well. Jay Kopelman: So yeah, having, having that one place where we can all come together when this happens, it, it's almost like it should be mandatory. In the military when there's a training accident, we, you know, we would have to have what's called a safety standout. And you don't do that again for a little while until you figure out, okay, how are we going to mitigate that happening again? Jay Kopelman: Believe me, you can go overboard and we don't want to do that. Like, we don't wanna just stop all care, but maybe stop detox for a week and then come back to it. [00:23:00] Joe Moore: Yeah. A dream would be, let's get like the, I don't know, 10, 20 most popular, uh, or well-known operators together somewhere and just do like a three day debrief. Joe Moore: Hey, everybody, like, here's what we see. Let's work on this together. You know how normal medicine works. And this is, it's hard because this is not necessarily, um, something people feel safe about in America talking about 'cause it's illicit here. Um, I don't understand necessarily how the operations, uh, relate to each other in Mexico, but I think that's something to like the public should dig into. Joe Moore: Like, what, what is this? And I, I'll start digging into that. Um, I, I asked a question recently of somebody like, is there some sort of like back channel signal everybody's using and there's no clear Yes. You know? Um, I think it would be good. That's just a [00:24:00] start, you know, that's like, okay, we can actually kind of say hi and watch out for this to each other. Jay Kopelman: It's not like we don't all know one another, right? Joe Moore: Yes. Jay Kopelman: Like at least three operators we're represented. At the Aspen Ibogaine meeting. So like that could be, and I think there was a panel kind of loosely related to this during Aspen Ibogaine meeting, but Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: It, you know, have a breakout where the operators can go sit down and kind of compare notes. Joe Moore: Right. Yeah. Melissa, do you have any, uh, comments on this thread here? And I, I put you on mute if you didn't see that. Um, Melissa Lavasani: all right, I'm off mute. Um, yeah, I think that Jay's hits the nail on the head with the collaboration thing. Um, I think that it's just a [00:25:00] problem across the entire ecosystem, and I think that's just a product of us being relatively new and upcoming field. Melissa Lavasani: Um, uh, it's a product of, you know. Our fundraising community is really small, so organizations feel like they are competing for the same dollars, even though their, their goals are all the same, they have different functions. Um, I think with time, I mean, let's be honest, like if we don't start collaborating and, and the federal government's moving forward, the federal government's gonna coordinate for us. Melissa Lavasani: And not, that might not necessarily be a bad thing, but, you know, we understand this issue to a whole other level that the federal government doesn't, and they're not required to understand it deeply. They just need to know how to really move forward with it the proper way. Um, but I think that it. It's really essential [00:26:00] that we all have this come together moment here so we can avoid things. Melissa Lavasani: Uh, I mean, no one's gonna die from bad advocacy. So like I've, I have a bit of an easier job. Um, but it can a, a absolutely stall efforts, um, to move things forward in Washington DC when, um, one group is saying one thing, another group is saying another thing, like, we're not quite at a point yet where we can have multiple lines of conversation and multiple things moving forward. Melissa Lavasani: Um, you know, for PMC, it's like, just let's get the first thing across the finish line. And we think that is, um, veteran healthcare. And, um, I know there's plenty of other groups out there that, that want the same thing. So, you know, I always, the reason why I put on the Federal Summit last year was I kind of hit my breaking point with a lack of collaboration and I wanted to just bring everyone in the same room and say like, all right, here are the things that we need to talk about. Melissa Lavasani: And I think the goal for this year is, um. To bring people in the same room and say, we talked about [00:27:00] we scratched the surface last year and this is where we need to really put our efforts into. And this is where the opportunities are. Um, I think that is going to, that's going to show the federal government if we can organize ourselves, that they need to take this issue really seriously. Melissa Lavasani: Um, I don't think we've done a great job at that thus far, but I think there's still plenty of time for us to get it together. Um, and I'm hoping with these two, uh, VA bills that are in the house right now and Senate is, is putting together their version of these two bills, um, so that they can move in tandem with each other. Melissa Lavasani: I think that, you know, there's an opportunity here for. Us to show the federal government as an ecosystem, Hey, we, we are so much further ahead and you know, this is what we've organized and here's how we can help you, um, that would make them buy into this issue a bit more and potentially move things forward faster. Melissa Lavasani: Uh, at this point in time, it's, I think that, [00:28:00] you know, psychedelics aren't necessarily the taboo thing that they, they used to be, but there's certainly places that need attention. Um, there's certainly conversations that need to be had, and like I said, like PMC is just one organization that can do this. Um, we can certainly organize and drive forward collaboration, but I, like we alone, cannot cover all this ground and we need the subject matter experts to collaborate with us so we can, you know, once we get in the door, we wanna bring the experts in to talk to these officials about it. Melissa Lavasani: So I. I, I really want listeners to really think about us as a convener of sorts when it comes to federal policy. Um, and you know, I think when, like for example, in the early eighties, a lot of people have made comparisons to the issue of psychedelics to the issue of AIDS research and how you have in a subject matter that's like extremely taboo and a patient population that the government [00:29:00] quite honestly didn't really care about in the early eighties. Melissa Lavasani: But what they did as an ecosystem is really organized themselves, get very clear on what they wanted the federal government to do. And within a matter of a couple years, uh, AIDS research funding was a thing that was happening. And what that, what that did was that ripple effect turned that into basically finding new therapies for something that we thought was a death, death sentence before. Melissa Lavasani: So I think. We just need to look at things in the past that have been really successful, um, and, and try to take the lessons from all of these issues and, and move forward with psychedelics. Joe Moore: Love that. And yes, we always need to be figuring out efficient approaches and where it has been successful in the past is often, um, an opportunity to mimic and, and potentially improve on that. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Jay Kopelman: One, one thing I think it's important to add to this part of the conversation is that, [00:30:00] you know, Melissa pointed out there are a number of organizations that are essentially doing the same thing. Jay Kopelman: Um, you know, I like to think we do things a little bit differently at Mission within Foundation in that we don't target any one specific type of service member. We, we work with all veterans. We work with first responders, but. What that leads to is that there are, as far as I've seen, nothing but good intentioned people in this space. Jay Kopelman: You know, people who really care about their patient population, they care about healing, they are trying to do a good job, and more importantly, they're trying to do good. Right? It, it, I think they all see the benefit down the road that this has, [00:31:00] pardon me, not just for veterans, but for society as a whole. Jay Kopelman: And, and ultimately that's where I would like to see this go. You know, I, I would love to see the VA take this. Take up this mantle and, and run with it and provide great data, great outcomes. You know, we are doing some data collection ourselves at Mission within foundation, albeit anecdotal based on surveys given before and after retreats. Jay Kopelman: But we're also working with, uh, Greg Fonzo down at UT Austin on a brain study he's doing that will have 40 patients in it when it's all said and done. And I think we have two more guys to put through that. Uh, and then we'll hit the 40. So there, there's a lot of good here that's being done by some really, really good people who've been doing this for a long time [00:32:00] and want to want nothing more than to, to see this. Jay Kopelman: Come to, come full circle so that we can take care of many, many, many people. Um, you know, like I say, I, I wanna work myself out of a job here. I, I just, I would love to see this happen and then I, you know, I don't have to send guys to Mexico to do this. They can go to their local VA and get the care that they need. Jay Kopelman: Um, but one thing that I don't think we've touched on yet, or regarding that is that the VA isn't designed for that. So it's gonna be a pretty big lift to get the right types of providers into the va with the knowledge, right, with the institutional knowledge of how this should be done, what is safe, what is effective, um, and then it, it's not just providing these medicines to [00:33:00] people and sending them home. Jay Kopelman: You don't just do that, you've gotta have the right therapists on the backend who can provide the integration coaching to the folks who are receiving these medicines. And I'm not just talking, I bga, even with MDMA and psilocybin, you should have a proper period of integration. It helps you to understand how this is going to affect you, what it, what the experience really meant, you know, because it's very difficult sometimes to just interpret it on your own. Jay Kopelman: And so what the experience was and what it meant to you. And, and so it will take some time to spin all that up. But once it's, once it's in place, you know, the sky's the limit. I think. Joe Moore: Kinda curious Jay, about what's, what's going on with Ibogaine at the federal level. Is there anything at VA right now? [00:34:00] Jay Kopelman: At the va? No, not with ibogaine. And, you know, uh, we, we send people specifically for IBOGAINE and five MEO, right? And, and so that, that doesn't preclude my interest in seeing this legislation passed, right? Jay Kopelman: Because it, it will start with something like MDMA or psilocybin, but ultimately it could grow to iboga, right? It the think about the cost savings at, at the va, even with psilocybin, right? Where you could potentially treat somebody with a very inexpensive dose of psilocybin or, or iboga one time, and then you, you don't have to treat them again. Jay Kopelman: Now, if I were, uh, you know, a VA therapist who's not trained in psychedelic trauma therapy. I might be worried [00:35:00] about job security, but it's like with anything, right? Like ultimately it will open pathways for new people to get that training or the existing people to get that training and, and stay on and do that work. Jay Kopelman: Um, which only adds another arrow to their quiver as far as I'm concerned, because this is coming and we're gonna need the people. It's just like ai, right? Like ai, yeah. Some people are gonna lose some jobs initially, and that's unfortunate. But productivity ultimately across all industries will increase and new jobs will be created as a result of that. Jay Kopelman: I mean, I was watching Squawk Box one morning. They were talking about the AI revolution and how there's gonna be a need for 500,000 electricians to. Build these systems that are going to work with the AI [00:36:00] supercomputers and, and so, Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: Where, where an opportunity may be lost. I think several more can be gained going forward. Melissa Lavasani: And just to add on what Jay just said there, there's nothing specific going on with Ibogaine at, at the va, but I think this administration is, is taking a real look at addiction in particular. Uh, they just launched, uh, a new initiative, uh, that's really centered on addiction treatments called the Great American Recovery. Melissa Lavasani: And, um, they're dedicating a hundred million dollars towards treating addiction as like a chronic treatable disease and not necessarily a law enforcement issue. So, um, in that initiative there will be federal grant programs for prevention and treatment and recovery. And, um, while this isn't just for psychedelic medicines, uh, I think it's a really great opportunity for the discussion of psychedelics to get elevated to the White House. Melissa Lavasani: Um, [00:37:00] there's also, previous to this announcement last week from the White House, there's been a hundred million dollars that was dedicated at, um, at ARPA h, which is. The advanced research projects, uh, agency for healthcare, um, and that is kind of an agency that's really focused on forward looking, um, treatments and technologies, uh, for, um, a, a whole slew of. Melissa Lavasani: Of issues, but this a hundred million dollars is dedicated to mental health and addiction. So there's a lot of opportunity there as well. So we, while I think, you know, some people are talking about, oh, we need a executive order on Iboga, it's like, well, you know, the, the president is thinking, um, about, you know, what issues can land with his, uh, voting block. Melissa Lavasani: And I think it's, I don't think we necessarily need a specific executive order on Iboga to call this a success. It's like, let's look at what, [00:38:00] um, what's just been announced from the White House. They're, they're all in on. Thinking creatively and finding, uh, new solutions for this. And this is kind of, this aligns with, um, HHS secretaries, uh, Robert F. Melissa Lavasani: Kennedy Junior's goals when he took on this, this role of Health Secretary. Um, addiction has been a discussion that, you know, he has personal, um, a personal tie to from his own experience. And, um, I think when this administration started, there was so much like fervor around the, the dialogue of like, everyone's talking about psychedelics. Melissa Lavasani: It was Secretary Kennedy, it was, uh, secretary Collins at the va. It was FDA Commissioner Marty Macari. And I think that there's like a lot of undue frustration within folks 'cause um, you don't necessarily snap your fingers and change happens in Washington dc This is not the city for that. And it's intentionally designed to move slow so that we can avoid really big mistakes. Melissa Lavasani: Um. [00:39:00] I think we're a year into this administration and these two announcements are, are pretty huge considering, um, you know, the, we, there are known people within domestic policy council that don't, aren't necessarily supportive of psychedelic medicine. So there's a really amazing progress here, and frustrating as it might be to, um, just be waiting for this administration to make some major move. Melissa Lavasani: I think they are making major moves like for Washington, DC These, these are major moves and we just gotta figure out how we can, um, take these initiatives and apply them to the issue of psychedelic medicines. Joe Moore: Thanks, Melissa. Um, yeah, it is, it is interesting like the amount of fervor there was at the beginning. You know, we had, uh. Kind of one of my old lawyers, Matt Zorn, jumped in with the administration. Right. And, um, you know, it was, uh, really cool to [00:40:00] see and hopeful how much energy was going on. It's been a little quiet, kind of feels like a black box a little bit, but I, you know, there was, Melissa Lavasani: that's on me. Melissa Lavasani: Maybe I, we need to be more out in public about like, what's actually happening, because I feel like, like day in and day out, it's just been, you gotta just mm-hmm. Like have that constant beat with the government. Mm-hmm. And, um, it's, it's, it's not the photo ops on the hill, it's the conversations that you have. Melissa Lavasani: It's the dinner parties you go to, it's the fundraisers you attend, you know? Mm-hmm. That's why I, I kind of have to like toot my own horn with PCs. Like, we need to be present here at, at not only on the Hill, not only at the White House, but kind of in the ecosystem of Washington DC itself. There's, it's, there are like power players here. Melissa Lavasani: There are people that are connected that can get things done, like. I mean, the other last week we had a big snow storm. I walked over to my friend's house, um, to have like a little fire sesh with them and our kids, and his next door neighbor came over. He was a member of Congress. I talked about the VA bills, like [00:41:00] we're reaching out to his office now, um, to get them, um, up to speed and hopefully get their co-sponsorship for, uh, the two VA bills. Melissa Lavasani: So, I mean, it, the little conversations you have here are just as important as the big ones with the photo ops. So, um, it, it's, it's really like, you know, building up that momentum and, and finding that time where you can really strike and make something happen. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Jay, anything to add there? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, I was just gonna say that, you know, I, I, I think the fervor is still there, right? Jay Kopelman: But real life happens. Melissa Lavasani: Yes, Jay Kopelman: yes. And gets in the way, right? So, Melissa Lavasani: yeah, Jay Kopelman: I, I can't imagine how many issues. Secretary Kennedy has every day much less the president. Like there's so many things that they are dealing with on a daily basis, right? It, we, we just have to work to be the squeaky wheel in, in the right way, right. Jay Kopelman: [00:42:00] With the, with the right information at the right time. Like just inundating one of these organizations with noise, it's then it be with Informa, it just becomes noise, right? It it, it doesn't help. So when we have things to say that are meaningful and impactful, we do, and Melissa does an amazing job of that. Jay Kopelman: But, you know, it, it takes time. You know, it's, you know, we're not, this is, this is like turning an aircraft carrier, not a ski boat. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. Um, and. It's, it's understandably frustrating, I think for the public and the psychedelic public in particular because we see all this hope, you know, we continue to get frustrated at politics. It's nothing new, right? Um, and we, we wanna see more people get well immediately. [00:43:00] And I, I kind of, Jay from the veteran perspective, I do love the kind of loud voices like, you're making me go to Mexico for this. Joe Moore: I did that and you're making me leave the country for the thing that's gonna fix me. Like, no way. And barely a recognition that this is a valid treatment. You know, like, you know, that is complicated given how medicine is structured here domestically. But it's also, let's face the facts, like the drug war kind of prevented us from being able to do this research in the first place. Joe Moore: You know? Thanks Nixon. And like, how do we actually kind of correct course and say like, we need to spend appropriately on science here so we can heal our own people, including veterans and everybody really. It's a, it's a dire situation out there. Jay Kopelman: Yeah. It, it really is. Um, you know, we were talking briefly about addicts, right? Jay Kopelman: And you know, it's not sexy. People think of addicts as people who are weak-minded, [00:44:00] right? They don't have any self-control. Um, but, but look at, look at the opioid crisis, right? That Brian Hubbard was fighting against in Kentucky for all those years. That that was something that was given to the patient by a doctor that they then became dependent on, and a lot of people died from that. Jay Kopelman: And, and so you, you know, it's, I I don't think it's fair to just put all addicts in a box. Just like it's not fair to put all veterans in a box. Just like it's not fair for doctors, put all their patients in a box. We're individuals. We, we have individual needs. Our, our health is very individual. Like, I, I don't think I should be put in the same box as every other 66-year-old that my doctor sees. Jay Kopelman: It's not fair. [00:45:00] You know, if you, if you took my high school classmates and put us all in a photo, we're all gonna have different needs, right? Like, some look like they're 76, not 66. Some look like they're 56. Not like they're, we, we do things differently. We live our lives differently. And the same is true of addicts. Jay Kopelman: They come to addiction from different places. Not everybody decides they want to just try heroin at a party, and all of a sudden they're addicted. It happens in, in different ways, you know, and the whole fentanyl thing has been so daggum nefarious, right? You know, pushing fentanyl into marijuana. Jay Kopelman: Somebody's smoking a joint and all of a sudden they're addicted to fentanyl or they die. Melissa Lavasani: I think we're having a, Jay Kopelman: it's, it's just not fair to, to say everybody in this pot is the same, or everybody in this one is the same. We have [00:46:00] to look at it differently. Joe Moore: Yeah. I like to zoom one level out and kind of talk about, um, just how hurt we are as a country, as a world really, but as a country specifically, and how many people are out of work for so many. Joe Moore: Difficult reasons and away from their families for so many kind of tragic reasons. And if we can get people back to their families and back to work, a lot of these things start to self-correct, but we have to like have those interventions where we can heal folks and, and get them back. Um, yeah. And you know, everything from trauma, uh, in childhood, you know, adulthood, combat, whatever it is. Joe Moore: Like these things can put people on the sidelines. And Jay, to your point, like you get knee surgery and all of a sudden you're, you know, two years later you're on the hunt for Fentanyl daily. You know, that's tough. It's really tough. Carl Hart does a good job talking about this kind of addiction pipeline and [00:47:00] a few others do as well. Joe Moore: But it's just, you know, kind of putting it in a moral failure bucket. It's not great. I was chatting with somebody about, um, veterans, it's like you come back and you're like, what's gonna make me feel okay right now? And it's not always alcohol. Um, like this is the first thing that made me feel okay, because there's not great treatments and there's, there's a lot of improvements in this kind of like bringing people back from the field that needs to happen. Joe Moore: In my opinion. I, it seems to be shared by a lot of people, but yeah, there's, it's, it's, IGA is gonna be great. It's gonna be really important. I really can't wait for it to be at scale appropriately, but there's a lot of other things we need to fix too, um, so that we can just, you know, not have so many people we need to, you know, spend so much money healing. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: Yeah. You ahead with that. We don't need the president to sign an executive order to automatically legalize Ibogaine. Right. But it would be nice if he would reschedule it so that [00:48:00] then then researchers could do this research on a larger scale. You know, we could, we could now get some real data that would show the efficacy. Jay Kopelman: And it could be done in a safe environment, you know? And, and so that would be, do Joe Moore: you have any kind of figures, like, like, I've been talking about this for a while, Jay. Like, does it drop the cost a lot of doing research when we deschedule things? Jay Kopelman: I, I would imagine so, because it'll drop the cost of accessing the medicines that are being researched. Jay Kopelman: Right? You, you would have buy-in from more organizations. You know, you might even have a pharma company that comes into this, you know, look at j and j with the ketamine, right? They have, they have a nasal spray version of ketamine that's doing very well. I mean, it's probably their, their biggest revenue [00:49:00] provider for them right now. Jay Kopelman: And, and so. You know, you, it would certainly help and I think, I think it would lower costs of research to have something rescheduled rather than being schedule one. You know it, people are afraid to take chances when you're talking about Schedule one Melissa Lavasani: labs or they just don't have the money to research things that are on Schedule one. Melissa Lavasani: 'cause there's so much in an incredible amount of red tape that you have to go through and, and your facility has to be a certain way and how you contain those, uh, medicines. Oh, researching has to be in a specific container and it's just very cumbersome to research schedule one drugs. So absolutely the cost would go down. Melissa Lavasani: Um, but Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. Less safes. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Joe Moore: Yes. Less uh, Melissa Lavasani: right. Joe Moore: Locked. Yeah. Um, it'll be really interesting when that happens. I'm gonna hold out faith. That we can see some [00:50:00] movement here. Um, because yeah, like why make healing more expensive than it needs to be? I think like that's potentially a protectionist move. Joe Moore: Like, I'm not, I'm not here yet, but, um, look at AbbVie's, uh, acquisition of the Gilgamesh ip. Mm-hmm. Like that's a really interesting move. I think it was $1.2 billion. Mm-hmm. So they're gonna wanna protect that investment. Um, and it's likely going to be an approved medication. Like, I don't, I don't see a world in which it's not an approved medication. Joe Moore: Um, you know, I don't know a timeline, I would say Jay Kopelman: yeah. Joe Moore: Less than six years, just given how much cash they've got. But who knows, like, I haven't followed it too closely. So, and that's an I bga derivative to be clear, everybody, um mm-hmm. If you're not, um, in, in the loop on that, which is hopeful, you know? Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. But I don't know what the efficacy is gonna be with that compared to Ibogaine and then we have to talk about the kind of proprietary molecule stuff. Um, there's like a whole bunch of things that are gonna go on here, and this is one of the reasons why I'm excited about. Federal involvement [00:51:00] because we might actually be able to have some sort of centralized manufacturer, um, or at least the VA could license three or four generic manufacturers per for instance, and that way prices aren't gonna be, you know, eight grand a dose or whatever. Joe Moore: You know, it's, Jay Kopelman: well, I think it's a very exciting time in the space. You know, I, I think that there's the opportunity for innovation. There is the opportunity for collaboration. There's the opportunity for, you know, long-term healing at a very low cost. You know, that we, we have the highest healthcare cost per capita in the world right here in the us. Jay Kopelman: And, and yet we are not the number one health system in the world. So to me, that doesn't add up. So we need to figure out a way to start. Bringing costs down for a lot of people and [00:52:00] at the same time increasing, increasing outcomes. Joe Moore: Absolutely. Yeah. There's a lot of possible outcome improvements here and, and you know, everything from relapse rates, like we hear often about people leaving a clinic and they go and overdose when they get home. Tragically, too common. I think there's everything from, you know, I'm Jay, I'm involved in an organization called the Psychedelics and Pain Association. Joe Moore: We look at chronic pain very seriously, and IGA is something we are really interested in. And if. We could have better, you know, research, there better outcome measures there. Um, you know, perhaps we can have less people on opioids to begin with from chronic pain conditions. Um, Jay Kopelman: yeah, I, I might be due for another Ibogaine journey then, because I deal with chronic pain from Jiujitsu, but, Joe Moore: oh gosh, let's Jay Kopelman: talk Joe Moore: later. Jay Kopelman: That's self inflicted. Some people would say take a month off, but Melissa Lavasani: yeah, Jay Kopelman: I'm [00:53:00] not, I'm not that smart. Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, but you know, this, uh, yeah, this whole thing is gonna be really interesting to see how it plays out. I'm endlessly hopeful pull because I'm still here. Right. I, I've been at this for almost 10 years now, very publicly, and I think we are seeing a lot of movement. Joe Moore: It's not always what we actually wanna see, but it is movement nonetheless. You know, how many people are writing on this now than there were before? Right. You know, we, we have people in New York Times writing somewhat regularly about psychedelics and. Even international media is covering it. What do we have legalization in Australia somewhat recently for psilocybin and MDMA, Czech Republic. Joe Moore: I think Germany made some moves recently. Mm-hmm. Um, really interesting to see how this is gonna just keep shifting. Um Jay Kopelman: mm-hmm. Joe Moore: And I think there's no way that we're not gonna have prescription psychedelics in three years in the United States. It pro probably more like a [00:54:00] year and a half. I don't know. Do you, are you all taking odds? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. I mean, I think Jay Kopelman: I, I gotta check Cal sheet, see what they're saying. Melissa Lavasani: I think it's safe to say, I mean, this could even come potentially the end of this year, I think, but definitely by the end of 2027, there's gonna be at least one psychedelic that's FDA approved. Joe Moore: Yeah. Yeah. Melissa Lavasani: If you're not counting Ketamine. Joe Moore: Right. Jay Kopelman: I, I mean, I mean it mm-hmm. It, it doesn't make sense that it. Shouldn't be or wouldn't be. Right. The, we've seen the benefits. Mm-hmm. We know what they are. It's at a very low cost, but you have to keep in mind that these things, they need to be done with the right set setting and container. Right. And, and gotta be able to provide that environment. Jay Kopelman: So, but I would, I would love, like I said, I'd love to work myself out of a job here and see this happen, not just for our veterans, [00:55:00] but for everybody. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, so Melissa, is there a way people can get involved or follow PMC or how can they support your work at PMC? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, I mean, follow us in social media. Melissa Lavasani: Um, our two biggest platforms are LinkedIn and Instagram. Um, I'm bringing my newsletter back because I'm realizing, um, you know, there is a big gap in, in kind of like the knowledge of Washington DC just in general. What's happening here, and I think, you know, part of PC's value is that we're, we are plugged into conversations that are being had, um, here in the city. Melissa Lavasani: And, you know, we do get a little insight. Um, and I think that that would really quiet a lot of, you know, the, a lot of noise that, um, exists in the, our ecosystem. If, if people just had some clarity on like, what's actually happening or happening here and what are the opportunities and, [00:56:00] um, where do we need more reinforcement? Melissa Lavasani: Um, and, and also, you know, as we're putting together public education campaign, you know. My, like, if I could get everything I wanted like that, that campaign would be this like multi-stakeholder collaborative effort, right? Where we're covering all the ground that we need to cover. We're talking to the patient groups, we're talking to traditional mental health organizations, we're talking to the medical community, we're talking to the general population. Melissa Lavasani: I think that's like another area that we, we just seem to be, um, lacking some effort in. And, you know, ultimately the veteran story's always super compelling. It pulls on your heartstrings. These are our heroes, um, of our country. Like that, that is, that is meaningful. But a lot of the veteran population is small and we need the, like a, the just.[00:57:00] Melissa Lavasani: Basic American living in middle America, um, understanding what psychedelics are so that in, in, in presenting to them the stories that they can relate to, um, because that's how you activate the public and you activate the public and you get them to see what's happening in these clinical trials, what the data's been saying, what the opportunities are with psychedelics, and then they start calling their members of Congress and saying, Hey, there is this. Melissa Lavasani: Bill sitting in Congress and why haven't you signed onto it? And that political pressure, uh, when used the right way can be really powerful. So, um, I think, you know, now we're at this really amazing moment where we have a good amount of congressional offices that are familiar enough with psychedelics that they're willing to move on it. Melissa Lavasani: Um, there's another larger group, uh, that is familiar with psychedelics and will assist and co-sponsor legislation, but there's still so many offices that we haven't been able to get to just 'cause like we don't have all the time in the world and all the manpower in the world to [00:58:00] do it. But, you know, that is one avenue is like the advocates can speak to the, the lawmakers, the experts speak to the lawmakers, and we not, we want the public engaged in this, you know, ultimately, like that's. Melissa Lavasani: Like the best form of harm reduction is having an informed public. So we are not, they're not seeing these media headlines of like, oh, this miracle cure that, um, saved my family. It's like, yes, that can happen psychedelics. I mean, person speaking personally, psychedelics did save my family. But what you miss out of that story is the incredible amount of work I put into myself and put into my mental health to this day to maintain, um, like myself, my, my own agency and like be the parent that I wanna be and be the spouse that I wanna be. Melissa Lavasani: So, um, we, we need to continue to share these stories and we need to continue to collaborate to get this message out because we're all, we're all in the same boat right now. We all want the same things. We want patients to have safe and [00:59:00] affordable access to psychedelic assisted care. Um, and, uh. We're just in the beginning here, so, um, sign up for our newsletter and we can sign up on our website and then follow us on social media. Melissa Lavasani: And, um, I anticipate more and more events, um, happening with PMC and hopefully we can scale up some of these events to be much more public facing, um, as this issue grows. So, um, I'm really excited about the future and I'm, I've been enjoying this partnership with Mission Within. Jay is such a professional and, and it really shows up when he needs to show up and, um, I look forward to more of that in the future. Joe Moore: Fantastic. And Jay, how can people follow along and support mission within Foundation? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, again, social media is gonna be a good way to do that. So we, we are also pretty heavily engaged on LinkedIn and on Instagram. Um, I do [01:00:00] share, uh, a bit of my own stuff as well. On social media. So we have social media pages for Mission within Foundation, and we have a LinkedIn page for mission within foundation. Jay Kopelman: I have my own profiles on both of those as well where people can follow along. Um, one of the other things you know that would probably help get more attention for this is if the general public was more aware of the numbers of professional athletes who are also now pursuing. I began specifically to help treat their traumatic brain injuries and the chronic traumatic encephalopathy that they've, uh, suffered as a result of their time in professional sports or even college sports. Jay Kopelman: And, you know. I people worship these athletes, and I [01:01:00] think that if more of them, like Robert Gall, were more outspoken about these treatments and the healing properties that they've provided them, that it would get even more attention. Um, I think though what Melissa said, you know, I don't wanna parrot anything she just said because she said it perfectly Right. Jay Kopelman: And I'd just be speaking to hear myself talk. Um, but being collaborative the way that we are with PMC and with Melissa is I think, the way to move the needle on this overall. And like she said, if she could get more groups involved in, in these discussions, it would, it would do wonders for us. Joe Moore: Well, thank you both so much for your hard work out there. I always appreciate it when people are showing up and doing this important, [01:02:00] sometimes boring and tedious, but nevertheless sometimes, sometimes exciting work. And um, so yeah, just thank you both and thank you both for showing up here to psychedelics today to join us and I hope we can continue to support you all in the future. Jay Kopelman: Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. It's a pleasure being with you today and with Melissa, of course, always Melissa Lavasani: appreciate the time and space. Joe Moore: Thanks.  

Send a textBig Rich sits down with Tucson native and lifelong off-roader Jeff Furrier—board member of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF), racer, entrepreneur, and preservationist of vintage race machinery. From a childhood in a tire-shop family to building UPR into a go-to racing safety and equipment supplier, Jeff shares the journey, lessons, and stories that shaped his life in off-road. With roots in the desert, Jeff grew up one of eight kids in Tucson, learning hustle and car culture from his Air Force-pilot-turned-entrepreneur dad. Hear about the spark that set his career path and the pivots into racing equipment and safety. Support the show

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Natalie Sonner, sustainment flight chief, and Tech. Sgt. Christopher Wilkinson, fitness non-commissioned officer, both assigned to the 122nd Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne, Ind., discuss duties, responsibilities and training of the force support squadron, January 9, 2026. Sonner and Wilkinson share stories and experiences from their service in the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air National Guard audio by Tech. Sgt. Kathleen LaCorte)

Send a textTimothy Klund, aka TK, shares his journey from being an Air Force veteran to becoming a successful entrepreneur and community leader. He discusses the importance of relationships, the value of time, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures. The conversation also delves into the origins of the Celebrity Softball Classic, emphasizing the significance of community and connection. TK's insights on spirituality, personal growth, and the necessity of hard work provide listeners with a roadmap for achieving their own success and fulfillment.-Quick Episode Summary:Air Force, leadership, resilience, relationships, faith, family, giving back, gratitude.-SEO Description:Air Force vet TK shares leadership, resilience, and the power of connection, plus stories from the Celebrity Softball Classic and lessons from life and business.-

Protecting the Voiceless: Bill Waybourn on Human Trafficking and Hidden AbuseThis week, Marcus and Melanie sit down with one of Texas' most respected law enforcement leaders and advocates for the vulnerable — Sheriff Bill Waybourn.With more than three decades of service, Bill's career has been defined by courage, conviction, and a relentless commitment to protecting both communities and the voiceless.From pioneering groundbreaking DWI reform programs to shaping Texas firearm legislation, Bill has stood at the intersection of public safety, constitutional rights, and moral responsibility.But beyond the badge, Bill's story is also one of deep compassion — especially when it comes to children in need.Bill served 31 years as Chief of Police in Dalworthington Gardens, where he became a recognized expert witness and leader in statewide criminal justice reform.He is credited with pioneering the Texas “No Refusal” DWI program, a model that has significantly reduced drunk driving fatalities and has since been adopted by multiple states.Bill has also testified before the Texas Legislature on a myriad of key issues.Bill is especially honored to have helped pass the Chris Kyle Bill, which streamlines the process for military servicemen and women transitioning into law enforcement careers.His dedication to veterans and service members reflects a lifelong commitment to those who have sacrificed for this country.During his first term as Sheriff, Bill launched several nationally recognized initiatives, including a Human Trafficking Unit, a Department of Intelligence, aggressive inmate service programs, less-than-lethal training expansion, and cutting-edge departmental reforms.Bill and his wife Laura Waybourn are the proud parents of ten children, eight of whom have been adopted.Together, they are passionate advocates for children without families, and their lives are rooted in service far beyond law enforcement.A Heartbreaking Story of Survival: AlyssaOne of the most emotional moments in this episode comes as Bill shares the story of his foster daughter Alyssa, who endured horrific medical abuse as a toddler.He recounts how Alyssa was severely malnourished, weighing only 18 pounds, dehydrated, and tragically harmed by her biological mother through Munchausen syndrome by proxy — a form of abuse where caregivers fabricate illness for attention or control.Under proper medical care, Alyssa began to flourish — but her story shines a light on a rarely discussed form of child abuse that demands awareness and action.This conversation is equal parts intense, inspiring, and deeply human — a reminder that real leadership means protecting those who cannot protect themselves.In this episode you will hear:• My dad believed in practical lessons. After bragging that I was the best cowboy on the ground today, and my dad put me on a Bramer steer. I lasted about a second and a half on that ride. He went from there teaching about humility, and how it's a biblical principle, and I needed to learn about that. (9:10)• One of the things that the Air Force did well is that they taught you leadership, independence, and discipline all at the same time. (15:56)• I was 24 years old, and the Police Chief resigned. The city council interviewed a bunch of people and about an hour and a half later, they called me back and said, “You're the Chief.” (20:34)• [Marcus] Q: Explain to me the difference between a constable, a police officer, and a sheriff. (A: Starts at 22:40 and runs thru 28:14)• There've been some great moments throughout my career. My [most memorable events] were surrounded by life-saving stuff. (30:57)• As Sheriff, I was blessed to make a human trafficking unit. We are now moving close to 1,200 rescues. (31:42)• Our daughter, Alyssa, at 3 ½ years old, weighed 18 pounds, and was on 17 meds and a feeding tube. She went septic. It was later proved that her biological mother put human feces and urine into her feeding tube. (34:34)• We were honored that God called us to take her in. (40:36)• I met Chris Kyle right after he came home in '09. (55:29)Support Bill:- IG: https://www.instagram.com/sheriffwaybourn?igsh=cHU1eWt6djMzdGF3Support TNQ  - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13  -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquitSponsors:  - Navyfederal.org       - selectquote.com/TNQ  - davidprotein.com/TNQ  - mizzenandmain.com   [Promo code: TNQ20]   - masterclass.com/TNQ  - Dripdrop.com/TNQ  - ShopMando.com [Promo code: TNQ]  - Tractorsupply.com/hometownheroes  - meetfabiric.com/TNQ  - Prizepicks (TNQ)   - armslist.com/TNQ   -  PXGapparel.com/TNQ  - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ   - shipsticks.com/TNQ   - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}   - Tonal.com [TNQ]  - greenlight.com/TNQ  - drinkAG1.com/TNQ  - Hims.com/TNQ

Send a textPeaches runs a fast Daily Drop Ops Brief and opens by correcting his earlier miscall on the USS collision—owning it and fixing it. The Army wraps up a $27M digital network overhaul in South Korea, surges troops into Hawaii housing pressure, conducts nighttime Arctic air assaults in Alaska, and tests new Apache anti-drone rounds. The Air Force pushes the Sentinel ICBM timeline into the early 2030s, delays F-15EX deliveries to Kadena, repaints Air Force One, and faces renewed debate about expanding the Air Force Academy versus giving the Space Force its own pipeline. Space Force pushes SWORD readiness platforms and surveys satellite refueling concepts, while the Coast Guard prepares for Indo-Pacific port defense. The episode closes with commercial on-orbit surveillance efforts and nuclear talks with Iran. No panic. Just context.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro, sponsor plug, and OTS countdown 02:30 Members-only platform issue update 03:30 USS Truxton correction and ownership 04:30 Army South Korea digital network overhaul 05:50 Hawaii housing surge pressure 06:40 11th Airborne Arctic night air assault 07:40 Apache anti-drone live fire test 09:00 Sentinel ICBM restructure timeline 10:30 F-15EX delay to Kadena 11:40 Air Force One repaint update 12:30 Air Force Academy growth recommendation 14:00 Space Force basic training debate 15:40 SWORD warfighter readiness platform 17:00 Satellite refueling viability discussion 19:00 Coast Guard Indo-Pacific port defense 20:30 Commercial satellite on-orbit inspection push 22:00 US-Iran nuclear talks update 23:30 Wrap-up

Send a textStrap in—this one's a mess. The crew breaks down how the Air Force's first female SERE Chief thought it was a good idea to dox an A1C because his dad called her a “garrison bunny.” Yeah, you read that right. Instead of clapping back with humor, she weaponized her platform of 195k followers to drag a kid who had zero involvement. We torch the hypocrisy, roast the power abuse, and ask the question no one else will: how the hell is this acceptable in uniform? Sprinkle in some Pete Buttigieg jokes, Atlas Shrugged doomsday signals, and a little self-owning about Ones Ready's own social media run-ins, and you've got an episode that pulls no punches. Chiefs, take notes—this is how not to lead.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Worms ready, chaos begins 00:07 – Special Warfare selection: raw materials, not perfect products 01:02 – Peaches vs Pete Buttigieg: airline meltdown edition 02:00 – Atlas Shrugged and America's blinking red warning lights 05:00 – Chiefs are the worst people in public life 06:20 – The cringe reel that started it all 08:40 – From clapback to doxxing: the Chief's power trip 10:45 – Big Tit Energy podcast receipts resurface 12:14 – Social media rules the Chief just torched 14:30 – Why nothing will happen (and why that's the problem) 18:59 – Dragging an A1C who might've idolized her 20:30 – Hypocrisy: building followers off thirst traps, deleting receipts later 23:42 – Owning mistakes vs burning careers 26:20 – How she should've responded (and won the internet) 28:16 – Walking the dog: consequences for the A1C 30:39 – Ones Ready on negativity, scaling outrage, and why this matters

Spike is joined by comedian Joel McHale who returns after several years for an episode packed with Super Bowl recaps, car obsessions, and hilarious anecdotes about sports superstitions. Joel shares his bizarre rowing hazing experience and details his eclectic car collection including his beloved Air Force truck. ______________________________________________

What if the root of your exhaustion isn't burnout, but loneliness? In this thought-provoking episode, DeDe HalfHill—retired Air Force colonel turned leadership expert—shares vulnerable stories about the hidden costs of leadership and reveals why addressing “the messy human side” is non-negotiable. Together Marli & DeDe explore the power of authentic leadership, emotional intelligence, and what happens when leaders give themselves and their teams permission to be real. You'll hear surprising examples from the military and beyond, plus practical mindset shifts for navigating chaos, self-doubt, and the ever-present imposter syndrome. Ready to upgrade your leadership toolkit and banish the myth of the lonely leader? Tune in and discover why normalizing messy emotions might be the ultimate performance hack.DeDe Halfhill Bio:Colonel DeDe Halfhill, USAF (Ret.), is a leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and founder of TAIOH Partners who helps organizations turn hidden friction and burnout into trust, momentum, and measurable performance. Her leadership has been featured on CBS's 60 Minutes and in Dr. Brené Brown's Dare to Lead, where Brown describes her as one of her “leadership heroes and a total badass.” Through her Master the UnseenTM framework, DeDe gives leaders practical language and tools to navigate hard conversations, name what's really going on, and build resilient, deeply connected teams, especially amid uncertainty and change. Her clients include Salesforce, Lockheed Martin, Bank of America, Hearst, FEMA, and other organizations where courageous, emotionally intelligent leadership is a non‐negotiable.Marli Williams is an international keynote speaker, master facilitator, and joy instigator who has worked with organizations such as Nike, United Way, Doordash, along with many colleges and schools across the United States. She first fell in love with transformational leadership as a camp counselor when she was 19 years old. After getting two degrees and 15 years of leadership training, Marli decided to give herself permission to be the “Professional Camp Counselor” she knew she was born to be. Now she helps incredible people and organizations stop waiting for permission and start taking bold action to be the leaders and changemakers they've always wanted to be through the power of play and cultivating joy everyday. She loves helping people go from stuck to STOKED and actually created her own deck of inspirational messages called StokeQuotes™ which was then followed by The Connect Deck™ to inspire more meaningful conversations. Her ultimate mission in the world is to help others say YES to themselves and their big crazy dreams (while having fun doing it!) To learn more about Marli's work go to www.marliwilliams.com and follow her on Instagram @marliwilliamsStay Connected to The Marli Williams PodcastFollow us on Instagram: @marliwilliamsOur Website: www.podcast.marliwilliams.comHire Marli to Speak at your next event, conference, workshop or retreat!www.marliwilliams.comReally love the podcast and want to share it??Give us a review on your favorite platform and share this (or any) episode with a...

Send a textPeaches runs a solo Daily Drop Ops Brief and this one's got everything: an Army Futures and Concepts Command elevation, a retired colonel sentenced for sharing classified war plans with a honeypot, and a battalion leader getting four years for secretly recording guests. The Navy manages to collide two ships in the Caribbean, debates doubling ship procurement, and asks for historic funding levels—while the Pentagon eyes a $1.6 trillion defense budget increase. A Marine is declared lost at sea, the Marine Corps passes another clean audit, and an Afghan adoption case survives court. The Air Force wrestles with healthcare access and collaborative combat aircraft software, Space Force pushes quality-of-life fixes, the Coast Guard uses an anti-drone laser near El Paso, and SECDEF skips a NATO meeting while POTUS leans on military leaders for diplomacy. No conspiracy. Just context.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and sponsor plug 01:10 Army Futures & Concepts Command elevation 02:45 Retired colonel sentenced in honeypot case 04:10 Battalion leader sentenced for secret recordings 05:15 Two Navy ships collide in Caribbean 06:30 Potential increase in ship procurement 07:00 Historic funding push and budget debate 09:30 Marine declared lost at sea 10:10 Marine Corps clean financial audit 11:00 Afghan adoption ruling upheld 12:00 OTS Alabama plug 13:00 Air Force healthcare access complaints 14:20 Collaborative Combat Aircraft advancement 15:20 Coast Guard anti-drone laser use 16:00 SECDEF skips NATO meeting 16:45 POTUS using military leaders in diplomacy 17:30 Syria base handover 18:00 Ongoing counter-narcotics strikes 18:30 Wrap-up

In November 2018, U.S. Air Force veteran Dominic Marino was found bound with duct tape and fatally shot inside his East Hartford, Connecticut home. His house had been ransacked, but valuables were left behind. His loyal German Shepherd was unharmed and neighbors said they never heard anything - not even a barking dog. Nearly seven years later, no one has been arrested. Was this a targeted attack? What were the intruders looking for? Was Dominic the intended target? And who still holds the information that could finally solve this case? Dig in with Margot, as she walks you through Dominic's life, the crime scene, the investigation, and the unanswered questions that continue to haunt his family. If you have any information about the case, please contact: East Hartford PD at 860-291-7640 or the Connecticut Cold Case Unit at 866-623-8058.  Tips can be provided anonymously. ⸻

Blinded But Not Broken: The Unstoppable Vision of Kijuan Amey He Lost His Sight — Then Found His Purpose Kijuan Amey isn't just a speaker — he's proof that resilience can turn tragedy into purpose. Raised in Durham, North Carolina, he built his life on discipline, serving 10 years in the U.S. Air Force and rising to Staff Sergeant. Even after medical retirement, he kept climbing: earning his education, founding Kiwi Enterprise LLC, and leading within veteran communities. A drummer, performer, and author, his life was gaining momentum — until a 2017 motorcycle accident took his eyesight, but not his vision. "I may have lost my sight, but I did not lose my vision," he says. That moment became his mission. Today, Kijuan commands stages and hearts, empowering audiences to rise beyond limits and reclaim purpose. His story doesn't dwell on loss — it radiates victory. He shows that adversity isn't the end; it's the spark. Kijuan Amey isn't just inspiring — he's unstoppable. Resilience, Motivation, Overcoming Adversity, Inspirational Story, Never Give Up, Mindset Shift, Purpose Driven, Veteran Speaker, Triumph Over Tragedy, Inner Strength, Life Transformation, Perseverance, Personal Growth, Inspirational Leader, Vision Beyond Limits #Motivation #Inspiration #Resilience #NeverGiveUp #LifeStory #PurposeDriven #Overcome #Speaker #VeteranStrong #Mindset #SuccessJourney #InnerStrength #BelieveInYourself #Transformation #Unstoppable

Former Under Secretary of the Navy Vic Minella shares his remarkable 38-year journey from enlisted sailor in rural Mississippi to the Department of the Navy's second-highest civilian position. We discuss how 9/11 rewired his approach to leadership and personal responsibility just three months into his naval intelligence career, what it was like managing dual Pentagon roles during a presidential transition, and the moment he found out about his promotion while sick in bed. Vic offers hard-earned lessons on self-care, delegation, staying in your lane, and why showing up every day with energy and a willingness to contribute is the real recipe for advancement. He closes with a powerful message: take the oath seriously, don't be afraid to make that first step, and find a way to contribute no matter what your job is. As always, thank you to the supporters on Supercast who help keep Moments in Leadership ad-free and sustainable. GUEST BIO LINKSVic Minella on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-minella/ FOLLOW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SUPPORTJoin the Moments in Leadership Supercast communityhttps://mil.supercast.com/ Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moments-in-leadership/id1547856712 Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1hQl53NzCiJwlWS9xQZFw9 YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@MomentsinLeadership Official Websitehttps://www.momentsinleadership.com