Podcasts about Fort Lewis

What does it take to lead at every level and shape the leaders of tomorrow? SUMMARY Long Blue Line podcast host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99 sat with Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman '95, the U.S. Air Force Academy's vice superintendent, for a deep dive into leadership, humanity and building a world-class service academy. This episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring, emerging, and seasoned leaders alike.   SHARE LINKEDIN  |  FACEBOOK   GEN. SHERMAN'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS  - Leadership is a human experience - focus on connecting with and caring about people.  - Love what you do and love the people you lead; passion inspires others to follow you.  - Embrace failures and challenges as opportunities for personal growth and development.  - Set the right culture and values within your team to build trust and mutual support.  - Be present and engaged with your team, understanding their motivations and experiences.  - Leadership is about more than rank or position - it's about earning genuine trust and respect.  - Invest time in understanding different generations, cultural nuances, and individual perspectives.  - Balance professional excellence with personal growth and life experiences.  - Support your team's development by providing encouragement and holding them accountable.  - Your legacy is built through individual interactions and the positive impact you have on people's lives.   CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Major General Thomas P. Sherman 01:29 Choosing Leadership Over Flying 07:23 The Impact of Mentorship and Values 12:46 Heritage and Evolution of Security Forces 17:43 Personal Growth in Aviano, Italy 24:17 The Importance of Work-Life Balance 29:50 Culminating Command Experience at Bagram 42:25 The Role of Family in Leadership 51:29 Continuous Self-Improvement as a Leader 56:27 Embracing Failure as a Growth Opportunity 01:00:06 Legacy and the Impact of Leadership   ABOUT GEN. SHERMAN BIO Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman is the Vice Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. He is serving as the chief operations officer to the Superintendent and overseeing the Academy's blend of military training, academics, athletics, and character development for cadets. Gen. Sherman commissioned in 1995 from the Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. He built a distinguished career as a security forces officer. He's held command at nearly every level. His key assignments include leadership of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB and critical staff positions at the Pentagon. In May 2024, Gen. Sherman was tapped to serve as the Academy's Vice Superintendent   CONNECT WITH GEN. SHERMAN LINKEDIN     ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS       TRANSCRIPT SPEAKERS Guest, Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman '95  |  Host, Lt. Col. (ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz  00:00 Welcome to Long Blue Leadership, the podcast where we share insights on leadership through the lives and experiences of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99 today. I'm joined by a leader whose career has taken him from the flight line to the halls of Congress and now back to the very institution that launched it all. Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman currently serves as vice superintendent of the Air Force Academy, where he plays a critical role in guiding the development of our future officers and ensuring the Academy remains a world class institution for leadership, character and Day 1 readiness to win the future fight. A 1995 Academy graduate, Gen. Sherman has spent nearly three decades serving in key operational, strategic and command roles. He's led at every level, from squadron to wing command, and his assignments have included everything from nuclear security enterprise to homeland defense, policy development at the Pentagon, and legislative affairs at the highest levels of the Department of the Air Force. Prior to his role as vice superintendent, Gen. Sherman served in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, where he was a principal military assistant leading policy integration across joint staff, interagency services and combatant commands. He's perhaps best known in command circles for leading the 88th Air Base wing at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, one of the largest and most complex wings in the Air Force, with a focus on people first, leadership and mission excellence. Gen. Sherman, welcome to Long Blue Leadership. We're so glad you're here too.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  01:32 It is great to be here. Thank you.   Naviere Walkewicz  01:33 We're excited and we're going to dive right in, because I think what is so special for our listeners is really hearing these moments that have changed your life. I'd like to start at the Academy. You turned down a pilot slot. You were rated, but said no.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  01:48 Well, actually it was a little bit before that. You know, it's kind of interesting, because that was the draw that brought me here, is I just had this incredible passion to want to fly, and I love flying, and I truly enjoyed it, especially through all the different airmanship programs and things like and things like that we had here. The experiences were fantastic. But, you know, as I was starting to learn more about myself going through the Academy, I was starting to feel my heart getting pulled in a direction of wanting to really lead people and really spend a lot of time working with the enlisted. And I think that came from a couple different areas. I think it was some really unique exposure that I got during my ops Air Force time, which I went to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, during ops, and just had our action officer that worked this, I think just did a phenomenal job. And I really started getting pulled to what was then called security police. That is actually when Laurie and I got together and started dating, because Laurie is here in Colorado Springs, but she grew up as an Air Force brat. My father-in-law is a retired Chief Master Sgt., and so there was a lot of mentorship that was taking place around dining room table when I was a young cadet. And I think one of the things that her parents really taught me was just the value of the enlisted force, and so I was feeling my heart really getting pulled. And so obviously, there's a conundrum. There's a conundrum on what were the root desires that brought me here — what were the things that I was learning as a cadet, my joy of flying, and also, particularly the culture at that time, was that that was really the job that you needed to aspire to be, that was the expectation of cadets. And so then to really kind of run counter to that strong current was really kind of a unique, you know, almost unnavigated area, right? And so to really kind of take the story out to its next level is that I'd really gotten to a point where talking with people there — we hadn't had the AMT program, but there were these NCOs that were kind of tangentially attached to cadet squadrons. And so I got a chance to talk to one of the master sergeants that was there who was a maintainer by background. And I was kind of pouring my heart out to him on, you know, what had I been talking to him with my now in-laws, about where was my heart pulling me? And so he said, ‘Give me just a second.' And he picked up the phone, and he called my AOC and he goes, ‘Hey, you're gonna be there for a little while.' And this was a Friday afternoon. He said, ‘I got a cadet that needs to come talk to you.' And he hangs up the phone and he goes, ‘Now you go tell your AOC what you just told me.' And so I ended up going to my AOCs office that day, and we had about a two-hour conversation about this. I sat down and really, kind of took the time to explain to him what was I feeling, And obviously, I really try to see the best in people. And so I think from a noble place, he was doing his best to convince me that I was making a grave mistake. And went on to talk to me about what his concerns were, the career field that I was looking at, things along those lines. And we can save that conversation for another time, but I think really where the foundation came in is where we started to talk about leadership. And you know, what I was asking him to do was to pull my rated recommendation form, so we had just submitted them, and I was asking him to pull my rated recommendation form. I didn't want to compete for it anymore. And so we started to talk about leadership. And he says, ‘Hey, Cadet Sherman, you need to understand that leadership in this Air Force is being the lead F-16 pilot on a bombing run, you know, putting iron on target.' And that's true. It's a very important part of leadership. It is a very important part of tactical operational leadership in this Air Force. So he's not wrong in that space. But I was looking at it from a different lens, and I was looking at it, I think, on a larger level. And what I don't think he realized is that 30 seconds before I walked into his office, he set me up for success. I just happened to be waiting outside the office, and all of a sudden, I looked on his cork board, and somebody, and I don't know who it was, had pinned a note that was written to Airman Magazineby an airman first class. And this airman first class titled this, “I need a leader.” And this A1C felt so strongly about what they were feeling — and I have no idea who this person was — felt so strongly about it that they put pen to paper, and this would have been the fall of 1994, and sent this into Airman Magazine, and it says, “I need a leader.” Commissioning sources. ‘Send us lieutenants that we can look up to that will hold us accountable when we do wrong, that will encourage us when we do well, that will be an example that we can look up to, that will care about us as human beings, because you are not sending them to us now. Air Force, I need a leader.' Like that 30 seconds just before I walked into his office — that changed my life, and it changed my life, because for me, at that moment, what I was getting ready to go ask my AOC to do, what I was looking at inside myself, that became my charge. And so as we spoke, you know, 20-year-old Cadet First Class Sherman — I might have been a 21-year-old at the time — Cadet First Class Sherman pushed back on my AOC, and I said, ‘Sir, I disagree.' I said, ‘I want to be that guy. I want to be that guy that that A1c is asking for on your cork board outside, because that's leadership in this Air Force.' And so, to his credit, he said, ‘Hey, I want you to go think about this over the weekend. You know, think about what you're doing. Come back to me on Monday. No questions asked. I'll pull it if you want me to.' And I left there, and I remember feeling like, not like a weight had been lifted off my shoulder, but I almost felt like this sense of like, ‘Now I've got my purpose,' because that little article has shaped me my entire career, and I mean to this day, and at a scale. You know, as a lieutenant, my scale is this big on what I'm affecting to help do and be what that A1C needs to a wing commander. I always keep it in the back of my head, and after all of these years, I am still thinking about, Am I doing right by that A1C that 31 years ago, felt so strongly about something that they wrote a note to Airman Magazine, and that became my charge.   Naviere Walkewicz  08:09 That is incredibly powerful. I'm a little bit without words, because I'm thinking about, first off, being brave enough to disagree with an AOC. I mean, I think that takes courage in showing your leadership there. Were you always like that? Have you always been someone that is steadfast in a decision and being able to kind of speak out?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  08:30 So I get that from my parents. And, you know, I grew up in Corona, California. My mom and dad are amazing people. And we didn't grow up with a lot of money, and we grew up from a pretty meager background, and my mom and dad had made a decision early on in their marriage, when they had my sister and I, that my mom was going to focus to make sure that Nancy and I got an education, and my dad was going to work as many jobs as he had to to put food on the table. And sometimes my dad was holding down three jobs to make sure that we had nutritious food to eat, and my mom was working miracles to make sure that we were fed well, but that also that she was dedicated and had the time to volunteer for things like PTA, being involved as a class volunteer, making sure that we were involved in things and had exposure to things that what they did was they also instilled in me this really strong blue collar work ethic. And it was this aspect of, if I just roll up my sleeves and put in the work, anything is possible. And so on that line, this young kid growing up with a West Coast father and an East Coast mother, and just this, really neat family background that things for me, that I believed in I would go after with all of my heart and soul. And so I found out about the Academy when I was 12 years old. And so, you know, when I at 12 years — we were going to a community event there in Corona, and there was an officer recruiter — Capt. Craig. was her name — and we started talking. She says, ‘Hey, did anybody talk to you about the Air Force Academy?' And I said, ‘No, this sounds great.' So from there, I just made this decision as a 12-year-old, and I worked all the way through junior high and high school to get here, because to go to your point like, ‘I made a decision, I'm gonna see this thing through.'   Naviere Walkewicz  10:30 Whoa. OK, so you knew you were going to the Academy before you graduated high school.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  10:35 Yes, in my mind, there was no other option.   Naviere Walkewicz  10:39 And so anyone in your family serve, or were you the first one in your family to serve?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  10:43 So I am the first officer and career member of the family. My dad was drafted and went to Vietnam in 1967 and stayed through Tet of 1968. I had an uncle, Harry Lee Schmidt, who was a C-47 loadmaster in World War II and Korea, and my grandfather was actually a part of the initial kind of what was the foundation of the OSS and the Navy doing beach recon on beaches in the South Pacific, prior to island hopping campaign and island landings. And so there was this real heritage of service, right? Just not career service. But even then, as a kid, I always had in my mind, ‘OK, one way or another, I'm going to serve, and if I do an enlistment and then go to college afterwards —' but I had this idea that, ‘OK, I'm going to serve,' and then all of a sudden, this became this amazing conduit that got me here, right?   Naviere Walkewicz  11:38 And they also had ties to aviation. How did they feel about your decision, your family?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  11:43 It was interesting, because they knew how passionate I was about aviation growing up. I mean, we did not miss an air show at March Air Force Base, the Chino air show, which was planes of fame, which was all historic aircraft. I volunteered as a high school student to work there, and we helped restore airplanes with me and my friends. You know, it was interesting, because my parents were very supportive in ‘OK, where's your heart leading you? And, what makes you feel so strongly about this?' Because when I first talked to him on the phone, I called him from Ramstein Air Base and said, ‘Hey, I think I know what I want to do in the Air Force. I want to go to security police. And my mom was like, ‘What's that? And, so, as time went by and I explained it, I think my parents probably all along knew that that was probably going to be a very good fit. And then after commissioning and at my first assignment, I think that they were certain of it, right? Yeah, they were absolutely certain.   Naviere Walkewicz  12:37 That is amazing. Well, I want to dive into this profession a bit, because it's interesting. You know, you've mentioned, when you came in, it was security police, and, security forces and you hear people saying defenders and peacekeepers. So there's this lineage and this heritage. Can you maybe talk a little bit about that and then maybe lead us into that next transformational moment that you might have had in this role?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  12:58 OK, I'm very proud of the fact that, you know, I am part of an ever decreasing group of folks that came in when we were still security police, and that was really still the peacekeeper days, because this was all kind of the follow on on the Cold War. The peacekeepers were our cold warriors and that was a huge part. Our defenders came in and really, that name started to really grow in 1997 when the name changed from security police to security forces, and we were actually going back to some of our heritage that was in Operation Safeside, which was the combat security police squadrons in Vietnam. So when you think about the courage that was displayed during the Tet Offensive at places like Tan Son Nhat that those were safe side warriors that were a part of these combat security police squadrons. And so the very — part of the lineage of the very beret, and flash that we have is actually a tip of the hat to the lighter blue berets, and that flash with the Falcon and the crossed runways that goes back, actually, to our Safeside heritage days. The beret goes back even farther than that. It goes back to Strategic Air Command, Elite Guard back in the 1950s. So it's this great lineage. And so, you know, for me, part of it was like when I got my first beret, wow, that meant something to me. And then, you know, as we then kind of transformed along the way, and this amazing career field grew, and the aspects of this air based ground defense, which was really, I would say, was kind of the draw that got me into wanting to go into security police, was I really liked this idea of, ‘How do we do base defense?' The law enforcement side was intriguing to me, but it was based defense that just had me just had me captivated.   Naviere Walkewicz  14:44 And was that something that you found out early in your career? After you graduate the Academy, you're now in security police. Is that when you kind of realized, ‘This is where I want to go in, air, base, ground defense.'?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  14:54 It even happened at ops. So as we were spending time with the security police squadron, I ended up spending time with a captain who was heading up the Elite Guard, and there was an interaction we had as I was doing a ride along. He's like, ‘Hey, you need to come see me.' And so I went and met up with him, and he took me around and introduced me to all of his airmen that were part of the guard. He knew something all about them. And then we went to his office and talked, and he had gone to Ranger School and Airborne and things like that, and said, ‘Hey, like, the future of the career field is actually us looking to the past.' And really kind of got me fired up on what we call back then, air base ground defense. So when I got to McChord — McChord Air Force Base was my first duty station. And the great thing about going to AMC first is it AMC is a mobility — I mean, it is all about mobility and the operations associated with it. And so the first thing that that my task was as the second lieutenant in that squadron was, I was the air base ground defense flight commander. So that was, I mean — we would go out to Fort Lewis, and we would bivouac for days. And I had, you know, a 44 person team that was a base defense sector. I had specialized K-9 units heavy weapons. And back in those days, we had 81mm mortar teams and fire direction centers that we would set up. So I just got completely on board with the air base defense piece. And so that was that was very passionate for me, which then made the next step to Korea an absolutely logical next location, going to the wolf pack at Kunsan, not only getting a chance to then stand up Gwangju as a part of the first Air Expeditionary Unit to go back to Korea since the Korean War, but then doing the mobile reserve aspect of it. And it was just a great assignment.   Naviere Walkewicz  16:40 Wow. So you were right in from the very beginning. You got kind of just into it all.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  16:45 So when we go back, when you were talking to me about, ‘Hey, when you make your mind up...' So I had this five-year plan built out. And, you know, my five-year plan was ‘OK, I'm gonna do my first assignment at the first opportunity to PCS. I need to go remote. I need to go to Korea. And then, OK, how can I get another overseas assignment after that? And then what do I need?' So the thought was, “Let me get to as many match comms as I can, as fast as I can in my career, and use that as a place — OK, because I want to build my experience base out. Because even as a lieutenant and young captain, I didn't want to come across as a one-trick pony. So my thought was, “Let me just get as much as I could under my belt early on.' And so after I left Kunsan, I ended up going to Aviano Air Base in Italy, which, for me, when you look at like those moments in life that are transformational, this was transformational on a different level. You know, some assignments you go to are very much professional growth assignments. This assignment, for me, was very much a personal growth assignment.   Naviere Walkewicz  17:52 OK, so tell me more.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  17:55 I mean, when you think about it, four years at USAFA, very uniquely focused on a plate that is overflowing with things that you need to get done. So you are, you're focused on, you know, everything from grades to military training to all of those things. And then I get to my first base, and I am just working, and I'm volunteering for everything, and we have got a heavy ops tempo of exercises and things like that. And my leadership was fantastic, because they were throwing me into every opportunity I could. And then, boom, I go to Korea, and that is a unique warfighting focused — and at Kunsan especially was heavily warfighting focused. So now all of a sudden I am spending really, when you think about it, the last almost seven years being uniquely focused on mission, right? And so I get to Aviano Air Base, Italy, and the first thing that happens is Operation Allied Force kicks off. So I get there in January, boom. Allied Force kicks off. I think it was in end of February, beginning of March. And wow, what? Again, what an amazing, mission focused experience. And then after we finished up Allied Force and the base returned back to more of its steady-state standpoint, it was the Italians that took me under their wings, that because I made a specific choice, because I grew up — my mom's side of the family are all Italian immigrants — and I was always at my Nonnie and Papa's house, and there was just a lot of that growing up, which is that whole, like, you know, West Coast dad, East Coast mom thing, but I didn't know, you know, my mom and her brothers never spoke Italian. And there was a lot of that, that thought back in those days that, you know, ‘Hey, we're here to be American, so we're going to learn English, and we're not going to speak, you know, the language that we came from,' right? And so my mom and her brothers really never learned to speak Italian. And so my thought was, ‘Gosh, I grew up with this as such a strong part of my childhood that I need to put myself in a position where I can learn the language and start to kind of get an appreciation on the culture. Together.' And so I specifically — and really lucked out on a location, but I was about 20 kilometers away from Aviano. I was in an amazing town. I was the only American living in the complex that I was in. So I was like, ‘If I'm going to learn, I need to just dive in the way that you do, in the way that I do, and just start learning.' And so I ended up kind of building this support group of Italian families that all kind of took me under their wings.   Naviere Walkewicz  20:27 Wait, I have to ask you a question, because back when you're at the Academy, you said you spoke to your now in-laws. So was Laurie not a part of this?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  20:35 So Laurie and I, right. So that's an important part of the story. Laurie and I dated for two years while I was a cadet, and when I was in tech school, her and I made the very difficult decision — and as painful it was — to part ways, so her and I actually parted ways for a few years. I was single at the time. Laurie was still here in Colorado Springs, and I was getting a lot of assignments under my belt, which, to be honest with you, you know, in retrospect, it was very fortunate, because I may not have made the same assignment choices had I been married at the time. And because I wasn't married, there were no other variables that I needed to factor in, other than personal experience goals, right, that I wanted to play into, and so I could just put down whatever assignment I wanted, and that allowed me the opportunity to just focus on job. And while Laurie and I stayed in touch, and I stayed in touch with her parents over the years, I was in Aviano, and her and I were not together at that point,   Naviere Walkewicz  21:39 That makes sense. I was like, why were you alone in Italy?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  21:43 It's a fair question. But I also think that being single in that environment allowed me — and that's where I think it helped me develop as a person. And so there are a lot of, I think, really wonderful things that happened during that time, and that was because I was so uniquely mission focused. It was these, this amazing group of Italian friends together, that really kind of taught me about there, there's a time to relax, you know, there's a time to work, there's a time to relax, and there's also a real human need to enjoy life and enjoy time together, which is quintessentially Italian. And so, as my pool of this, these amazing people — that  by the way, for the last 25 years, we've been going to visit. It's the same families that took me under their wings when I was a lieutenant, are the same families that were all tuning in as we were doing a live stream of me pinning on my second star. And so I've never been stationed anywhere else in my career where I felt more at home. And so I think this sense of like, ‘Wow. This like independently as my own person, this feels like home.' And as time went by and I started to get an appreciation for actually things that were a part of my childhood. Because, you know, we would have these long, huge meals, we would spend four or five hours at the table as a family. And for me, this was all normal. Well, that was also a part of kind of normal Italian life and normal Italian culture. You're not going out to dinner with your friends unless you're investing at least three hours at the restaurant. But for me, this was all — this felt normal to me. And so it was about, you know, you don't need to eat your food in five minutes.   Naviere Walkewicz  So contrary to USAFA, by the way.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN You know, you don't need to chew no more than seven times and swallow. So it was about experiencing that, and learning even just some things that became personal passions. Like, you know, how wine is made and why wine pairing matters, and how is this process? And so all of a sudden, this personal experience — and I think growing as a human being was taking place there, and I was maturing as a human being because I had gotten all of this phenomenal job experience under my belt, but this was where I was growing as a human being. And you know what's interesting, as time has gone by, I have noticed just how impactful that time was, because there are things that I've noticed, even as a senior officer, that I feel very strongly about, that I don't think I felt as strongly about as a junior officer, and it was because of that experience, and it was the aspect of when people are on leave, let's let them take leave. There is a part of the human experience that you need to enjoy time with people that you care about, because what it does is you're not slacking off from work. You're not leaving everybody hanging. What's happening is that, because you're taking some time to just enjoy life with people you care about, when you come back, the restorative effects that have taken place because you simply breathe and you enjoyed what it was that you were doing and whatever your passion was, you know, unencumbered, you could enjoy that. And we all realize that there are times, especially as you get into positions of authority, that, hey, they're going to need to call you periodically. But what was interesting is that, especially, I mean, I'll give an example as a wing commander. As a wing commander, despite realizing how important that mission is and how big Wright-Patt was, we, Laurie and I took leave, and we took two weeks of leave, and we went back to Italia and visited our friends and enjoyed life, because the culture helps us to slow down. But what it also did is I gave my staff some parameters. ‘Hey, here are the things that I think are important, like on a scale of one to 10. Here are the things that I think are an eight. So an eight or higher, call me. Don't text me.' I said, ‘Physically call me, because I will answer the phone knowing it's for — and then you have my undivided attention.' But what it also does is it means that my vice wing commander who is there, that I am empowering my vice wing commander and showing to everybody else I trust this leader to lead this wing in my absence. And if it's something that really needs my involvement, they'll get a hold of me. But I think our junior leaders need to see that at the senior most levels, that I can physically trust and emotionally trust my vice, my deputy, to hold things down while I'm gone, and that I'm not irreplaceable, and that if I did my job as a leader, I set the conditions that allowed the wing to thrive in my absence, and didn't mean that the wing had to hang on every decision I made or every word that I said, that I set the conditions that allowed them to be successful and fostered the leadership that allowed them to lead in my absence. And I felt great while I was gone, because I knew the people that we had there, and I knew the investment that we made in them. So that was kind of a long, you know, trip around this…   Naviere Walkewicz  27:26 I mean, I think it was so powerful that you kind of learned that about yourself in Italy. And then would you say that there was anyone that you saw emulating that? Or was it just something over time, you developed this realization that you need to enjoy life and you need to allow people the space to do so.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  27:43 So I would say the people that I was emulating in that aspect were a lot of the families that were there. I have been fortunate that I have worked for some commanders who, at different times in their life felt the same way. Conversely, I also worked for commanders that did not feel the same way. And, you know, an interesting case in point on something that on an experience I had in a command bill and after I had left Aviano — this is when Laurie and I were back together; we were married at this point. I had a group commander that was frustrated about me taking leave and called me every day at 1500; every day at 1500 I got a telephone call. And you know what that does is now all of a sudden, you're eating lunch, and the clock is getting closer to 1500 and you start to get that knot in your stomach and you're like, ‘OK, what are we going to talk about today?' And so, unfortunately you don't see some of the same appreciation for that across the board. So how do we deal with it? The best thing that we deal with it is that that's where the buck stops. We don't pass it down to our people. So after I got the call from him, I didn't call back to the squadron. I got the call from him. We went through the call, we answered the questions, and I didn't then immediately turn around and call back to my ops officer who was running the Squadron at the time, and say, XYZ. And we just left it there, because at that point in time, the bucks got to stop it at that point. So I think that that's kind of the, you know, the alpha and the omega of learning and then also having your own personal resilience and courage to say, ‘I accept that the buck stops here, and I'm not going to let this roll downhill to my people.'   Naviere Walkewicz  29:41 That's an excellent leadership lesson, because I was going to ask you, ‘What does that look like, and how would you how would you handle that?' And so you went right into that. Thank you so much for that. So what has it been like leading security forces — defenders? What's it been like? Has there been a moment in time where — a particular assignment or something's really stuck into your mind or into your heart, because it's just really affected you?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  30:05 Absolutely. I will tell you, as we go back, as we were kind of talking about decisions that you make in your youth, and that critical decision that I made in the fall of '94 I mean, I have worked with some of the most amazing people I've worked in my life. I have gotten a chance to go to places I never thought that I would see. And so, when you kind of roll up, I would say it was my final squadron command, and I would say that that was a real culminating squadron command. So I commanded four squadrons, and we command early, and we command often, and there's a lot of responsibility that that's placed on us as young officers to command as a young officer. And so having the opportunity to command two times as a captain, or one time, you know, as a major-select, then as a major, then as a lieutenant colonel. So that culminating command would have been Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan in May of 2012 to May of 2013 and you know, it was interesting because all of my previous squadron commands had all been vested in either the contingency response or the kind of combat contingency environments. And it was almost like all of those were leading me to this moment. So let me just kind of set the conditions on what Bagram was like at that point in time. We had grown the squadron to about a 1,200-person squadron, huge squadron. And what we were also responsible for is we had taken over battle space ownership from the Army. So the Air Force was controlling 220 square miles of battle space throughout Parwan province, which is a huge. I mean, it's twice the size of Washington, D.C., if you want to try to give a comparison, more or less is fair to look at that level as just a huge amount of terrain in which our airmen were responsible from everything from humanitarian operations and goodwill outreach to engagements to literal kinetic action and combat in the battle space. And so a part of this culmination was, was an environment where as the defense force commander — as that squadron commander to them as a lieutenant colonel at that point — I mean how we are weaving ourselves into their lives, and how we are working with their section commanders, and how we're working and managing the value of our perimeter defenses with our teams that were going outside of the wire doing legitimate patrolling and engagement and things along those lines, was huge. And I think that that is an example. And when you look in the rearview mirror to say, ‘Gosh, now this, a lot of this makes sense, like all of these assignments, whether by design or whether by fate, somehow gave me an experience that at this moment, I needed it most.' And I think, as I talk, we've really enjoyed being here with the cadets and talking to them about, how does a leader really develop trust, and how does trust really manifest itself? And so, through the time that we were there, and the engagement as their leader — not just the leader who's just simply circulating, because that's important, but they also need to see your decision making and your strategic thought. And how do you react under pressure? How are you reacting as we've got incoming in, and what do you do being the person in the joint defense operations center, helping to manage that, and how are you both taking care of people, and how are you managing mission? And they see that. And so I would say that the development of that level of trust, especially in an environment where you are literally dealing with high costs, is huge. And so I think there was one, situation that really rests on my heart that and I don't talk about this to give validation, but I think I talk about it on it's about how people connect, and why do I feel so strongly that leadership is a human experience, like this is a what we are doing as a human experience. And so I was retiring my chief. So I was asked by my chief at Bagram — this was some years later. He's out of the 105th Base Defense Squadron out of the New York Air National Guard, and him and I were a phenomenal team there. Dave Pritchard and I just made a great team. And so he was retiring, and asked me to come back and do his retirement. So we had done the retirement ceremony. We were at the VFW afterwards, having his after-party and so forth. And so I had gone into the bathroom for a comfort break and washed my hands and things like that. And I noticed, as I was kind of moving towards the bathroom, there was kind of a young man who was kind of floating. You know, floating around. And so I came out of the restroom as I was finished, and he was waiting there at the exit of the restroom for me, and kind of, you know, got in front of me, and he stood there, and he looked at me, and he goes, ‘Hey, sir, I just, I needed to let you know this, that I was one of the airmen in one of your patrols that got hit by an IED, and he said, your investment in us, and the words that you used and when you came to talk to us, and the faith that you had in us gave me the courage to go back outside of the wire when you asked us to go back outside.' And so why that rests so heavy is when you think about what, what is the what is the con? The consequence there is that somebody believed in you so much that when you spoke to them and said the word, they were going to go back out and do it again, in spite of what had just happened to you. And I don't think there is any stronger level of trust that you can ask from somebody than to have one of those moments. And so that moment just resides very, very heavy on my soul, because I think it puts into real, tangible context, what is the responsibility of leadership? What is your responsibility of leadership?   Naviere Walkewicz  36:42 I'm letting that sit a little bit, because I can't even imagine the amount of feeling that you had first for him, the courage to share that with you. Because I'm sure that he really wanted to share that. I'm curious if you can remember perhaps, what he might have been referring to, like what you were sharing with the men and women there.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  37:02 So, you know, it was also a part of things that, in times after Bagram have really been used for me as a senior leader on why I reinforced the importance of values. And, this was one particular incident there that really comes to mind is, and I use this when I when I talk to people, because I again, it's the consequence, and it's why our responsibility as leaders to set the right conditions and culture and all of that is so incredibly valuable. And so I talked to people about a story about we had had a situation where we had some real destabilization in the battle space. There was a particular village that we were having some unique challenges with, and we were doing a lot of kind of battlefield shaping, and we were doing some particular village engagement, and the engagement just wasn't happening. And so we were now kind of starting to escalate our interaction with the village a little bit more and as we were doing that, we were now going to start doing more shaping operations. So it just so happens that one of these nights —this was in the late fall, early winter of 2012 — and we were sending one of our patrols outside to do some shaping and engagement operation there. But this was in the evening. This was a different aspect that we were working for this particular mission. And so mounted up that the airmen are ready to go. They're pushing outside, they're right on time, and everything is going according to plan, and they are getting close to what we call the objective rally point. So that was where they were going to rally up before they actually moved into the village after that. And so everything was going according to plan. And the only thing they needed to do before they got to the objective rally point was really kind of go down a small gully over a rise, and then they meet at their objective rally point at that point. And so teams are moving out. First truck over the rise, getting to the point. Second truck over, everything's going fine. Third truck over, fourth truck after that, BOOM, off goes the IED. And what had happened is, they were waiting for this opportunity, and they knew exactly what to do. And that is, if you hit the last truck in the movement, you've got three trucks that are gone ahead of time, and now we've got folks in a very precarious situation. And so what I talk to people about, when we talk about conditions and the real impact that a leader has, is I'll talk to them about who was in that truck, who was in that MRAP that we were sending down at that point in time. And inside that MRAP was the face of America. And the explosion was significant, and it did some considerable damage. It threw the engine out of it, penetrated the hole, ripped one of the doors off the side in the front. And so, you know, the truck commander was National Guard from, actually from Tennessee, and he had gotten injured, broken an arm because that door had peeled back. And as the door peeled back, his arm got caught and broke his arm. The driver, Asian American coming out of the state of California, active duty. He had injuries to his legs because of the penetration of the hole. We had a gunner up in the turret, African American female from the New York Air National Guard. She had a broken pelvis at the time, and she just stayed on the gun the entire time despite her injuries. We had our radio operator. European American female coming from the Midwest. She was actually Air Force Reserve. She had a case of TBI from the explosion, and she was still making calls on the radio. We had two of our riflemen in the back, both came from Hispanic heritage, one of them from Puerto Rican heritage, one of them from Mexican heritage. They were very fortunate that while they got tossed around the back and had some minor TBI issues, they were more or less bumps and bruises, and they were all by themselves. Yeah, because they were all alone, they were in the middle of Afghanistan, they had just gotten hit. And so for me, what's so important about that story is that if we did not set the right culture and the right values and the right expectations and be in a leader by example, and they were harassing each other on Bagram, and they were assaulting each other on Bagram, and they weren't respecting each other on Bagram, and they didn't care about each other on Bagram, they would have died out there that night. But they treated each other like a family, and they cared about each other like a family, and they took care of each other like a family that night, and they lived and they all came home. So for me, if we're going to talk about what is the true consequence of leadership — and I use consequence deliberately, because oftentimes that's used in a pejorative manner — but this is the true result of your actions, that if you don't set those conditions, then you are legitimately putting your people at risk. And so that whole experience at Bagram, and in so many ways that we all carry our scars and our bruises and things like that. I wouldn't trade that experience for the world, but that was tough. And I often describe it as a tale of two cities. You know, it was the best of times. It was the worst of times.   Naviere Walkewicz  42:34 I think a lot of times, when leaders go through experiences like that, they have some more fortunate than others, but a support network. And I would guess it would be your family. How has your family played a role in these moments in your life, in helping you as a leader?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  42:54 So I will say it's primarily my wife. I have got this wonderful support of parents and my in-laws and so forth. And what's been truly fortunate is how close I am with my in-laws. Because when Laurie and I were dating while I was a cadet, anytime I had an overnight or weekend pass, I was over at her mom and dad's house and so I think that being married to somebody that has truly known you from the beginning, you know, where, whether we got a training weekend going on, or something like that, or I'm working first BCT or whatnot, that Laurie was a unique part of all of these things. And I would say that it has been incredibly heartwarming to watch her interact with the cadets here, because it's fun, because her and I do everything together. And so as we're going to events, I'll have a group of cadets that I'm talking to, and then I'll look over and Laurie's surrounded by a group of cadets who are asking her just very insightful questions about our experiences together, and ‘Was it tough sending them away on deployments?' Or how, you know, in those tough times, ‘How do you how do you keep your marriage together?' Just really insightful questions to ask, but she has just been so central to everything that I do. And so going back a little bit and talking about, like the strength of our relationship and how much that helps, we actually needed to have that breakup period as horribly painful as that was, and wow, was I carrying a torch for her all of those years. I mean, I remember, you know, as time was going by, I would talk to my mom, and I'd be like, ‘Mom, I just wish that Laurie could see the man that I become.' But we needed that time because oftentimes, and what we found in ourselves, we didn't know it at the time, because you're living in your environment and you can't see it, right? Is that in youth, things are often absolutes. And you often will get to a place where you're starting your marriage, your relationship is growing. And if you start to talk about marriage, there are things that we have found were absolutes for us. You know, certain things that we did, how we practiced our faith. Did we open up presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but the expectation was somebody was going to have to give up their particular tradition to conform to the tradition of one of the spouses. And in your youth, that seems reasonable, and I think we needed that time to be apart, having had that time together at such an important time in each of our lives here. But we needed that time apart, because I think we needed that frame of reference as we grew as people into adults. Grew as young adults. And now all of a sudden here I'm getting multiple assignments, and now being thrust into leadership positions with accountability and authority, and then coming back to that, all of a sudden, you're realizing, ‘Gosh, the world just isn't always in absolutes. And maybe a marriage doesn't have to be zero sum, but maybe a marriage can be positive sum.' And do we really have to make somebody give up something that is important to them, that is a part of their identity? Because somehow you feel like you have to conform your marriage into one side or the other. And so, I think for us that was that was so incredibly important. So to kind of get to that story is that, you know, I left Aviano and I went to Al Dhafra. I was in Al Dhafra actually for September 11. It was my first squadron command, but it was a squadron command I wasn't expecting, because I came there as a chief of security forces for about a 70-person security forces flight as a part of the 763rd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at Al Dhafra. And then all of a sudden, 9/11 happens, and we went from about 400 people on Al Dhafra to about 4,000. And you know, U-2s came in, ISR platforms came in. Everything changed. And all of a sudden, this 70-person security forces flight that I had grew into about a 350-person security forces squadron. And AFSET said, ‘Hey, Sherman, you built it, you keep it, and we'll replace you with a major when you leave.' And I was a six-year captain, and so then finishing up that assignment, and I got picked up for — there was a point to that story — but it was about coming back, is that, hey, I got these new, unique experiences that grew me under my belt. And then I came back to do an AFIT program at Cal State San Bernardino. And that was the moment that brought Laurie and I back together.   Naviere Walkewicz  In what way?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN And so, I had a health scare. Nobody knows what it was. We never figured it out. Doctors never figured it out. But it was one of those things, like, all of a sudden, I shotgun something out to everybody I knew. I said, ‘Hey, doctors are a little bit concerned, you know, keep me in your thoughts.' And so Laurie, Laurie is like, ‘Holy cow, you can't just send a one liner and leave it at that.' So she called my mom and dad and said, ‘What's his phone number?' And so it started to turn into ‘Hey, give me all of your test results after you get it back.' Then pretty soon we're talking a couple times a week, and then pretty soon we're talking every other day, and then we are talking every day. And the beauty of this was that we already knew each other, so we already knew what everybody's favorite color was — by the way, Laurie's is purple. We knew what music each other liked. We knew things about each other. And some of the things that actually drew us together when we were dating here was, you know, we had things like some common family traditions, like, you know, Italian fish on Christmas Eve and sitting around the table for hours and stuff like that were all things that we had in common. So we already knew that about each other. Now, her and I on the phone, we're getting into some real, like substantive discussions, children, faith. How do you how you raise children? How do you know, what are we going to do for different traditions? What happens if I have to take a remote; what does that mean? And so we were getting into these really, deep conversations. And, you know, I would come back from either class or then when I PCs to the security forces center out at Lackland, you know, I would come home from work, and this was in the old flip phone days where you had a battery that came off the back. So I would have one battery in the charger, and then I would have an earbud in, and I'd have the phone in my pocket. Yeah, and I'd come home and to call her, and we would just go throughout the evening. So I'm ironing BDUs at the time, shining my boots and stuff like that, and so, and we were just talking. And then we were just kind of like living life together. And, after that point, it became very clear that those two young people who sincerely cared about each other, now, each of us grew up and had experiences in a place that allowed us to really appreciate each other and really love each other. And you know, we were married just a little over a year after that. And it has been phenomenal, her support. And I think one of the great testaments to that was, 10 days after we got married, I went to Baghdad, but she's like, ‘I grew up in the Air Force. I know how this works. We're gonna move the house. I'll get the house put together.' And she's also a professional in her own right, which is great. So she was working in a legal office here as a paralegal and legal assistant here in Colorado Springs, and has been a GS employee for the last 18-plus years. So what's great is she, too has her own aspect of service. What I love about it is that in the jobs that she's in and then the jobs that I'm in, we can talk shop, and then we cannot talk shop, right? And so she's the first person I go to if I have to ask a question, she's the first person that I'll go to say, ‘Hey, did I do that right? Or do I need to backtrack on that a little bit?' Because she knows me, and she knows me completely, and that level of trust and love and faith that we have for each other has truly enabled me to be able to serve our airmen on a level that I don't think would have been possible without her.   Naviere Walkewicz  51:59 Would you say that she's had a role in your development as a leader, in the way that you lead.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  52:05 Oh, absolutely, absolutely, because, and I love it, because her experience as a brat and her dad as a chief gives her a very unique lens to look through. And so the advice that she gives me she can give me from her teenage self in some way, you know, from that experience, watching how her dad interacted with something or knowing her aspect about this. And then as she's developed professionally, working on the E-Ring at the Pentagon a couple different times, working for very senior leaders, knows how to navigate that space. So then I'll go to her for advice, like, ‘Hey, how did your boss handle something like this?' ‘Well, let me tell you what, how we work through this...' And so I would absolutely say that that Laurie has uniquely influenced and helped me to become the best version of myself that I can be.   Naviere Walkewicz  53:03 Wow. Well, I want to ask you a little bit about developing yourself as well, because one of the questions we like to ask is, what are you doing every day to make yourself a better leader? Can you share what that might be?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  53:17 I've said it a couple times during this: I truly believe that leadership is a human experience, so for me, it's about the interaction. And so oftentimes, advice that I've given to people — like there are amazing resources abound that can help people, give people leadership perspectives, and we can either learn it from history, or we can learn it through study. We can learn it through analysis. We can learn it through books. And I've always talked to people about use the external tools that help to grow you, but make sure that you're using it to influence the personality that you already have. Because oftentimes what happens is, is that people will have this really strong desire to say, “OK, I want to make sure that I do this right. And so in doing this right, let me make sure I've got my checklist, and so I'm going to greet them, I'm going to ask them how their family is, I'm going to ask them if the kid did all right in the baseball game. And I'm going to go through my checklist, and if I do that, I fulfill my leadership obligation.' Now not everybody does, and I'm making generalities on but, but I think that there can oftentimes be the allure that when you are focusing on what may be the theory or the principle of the day, and not using it to supplement and grow and mature your personality, that there is a strong allure to want to wholesale replicate what it was that you learned, and you're doing it in a noble place. It's not nefarious. It's being done in a noble, genuine place. But there's that allure to say, ‘OK, good, I really like what I've learned. I'm going to do these things and step through.' And so why I talk so much about the experience, and why I talk so much about the interaction, is that the more that you know the people that you may be influencing by just simply being there and understanding what that means. It means you're eternalizing the value of your presence. You're listening to their stories, and you're understanding for them, what are the things that are motivating them? What are the things that they value? Because each generation, each environment, each condition is going to require something a little bit different from you, and if you don't take the time to understand your environment or generation or cultural nuances or things like that on where you're at, then you are missing that opportunity to develop trust, where they start to believe in you as a person, and not just the rank and position that you hold, because they'll do the right thing for the rank and position that you hold. That's the caliber of people that we have in this Air Force of ours. They'll do the right thing. But if you transcend that in the fact that they believe in you wholeheartedly and trust you, oftentimes with their own lives, it means that you've invested something into them, where they truly know that you care. And that goes back to that A1C on the cork board that said, ‘I need somebody who cares about me as a person.'   Naviere Walkewicz  56:41 You know, as I think about what you've experienced through your career and the lessons you've learned, both professionally and personally, what would you say to yourself back then that you should be doing back then to get to where you're at now? Because we have listeners that are like, ‘What can I start planting today, that will bloom down the road?'   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  57:03 Absolutely. And so I think if I was to go back and put my arm around Cadet First Class Sherman, I think what I would do is — because it is, it is oftentimes easy to look in the crystal clear mirror of hindsight, right? But I think instead, what I would do is I would put my arm around him and say, ‘Keep following your heart and let the failures happen, because the failures are going to grow and let the stumbles happen and enjoy the triumphs with people and be appreciative for what got you there.' And I think it would be more of the encouragement of like, ‘You have laid out a path for you take the path wherever it goes, the joy, the pain, the triumph, the failure, all of those things, because all of that helps to develop the leader.' And oftentimes you want to go back and say, gosh, if I was going to talk to my previous self, then I would say, ‘Ah, don't do that one thing,' right? But I'm looking at it saying that if I didn't do that one thing, then I'm not sure that I would be where I'm at at a time to make sure I didn't do that thing at a moment that was incredibly catastrophic. And so while we have this desire to want to prevent ourselves from the failure, I think that what we have to do is say you're going to fail and you need to fail, and it's going to sound — relish in the failure, because it is often emotionally troubling, especially those of us that come here because we are Type A perfectionist, and that's part of the draw of coming to this amazing place. Is there a certain personality traits that help us to be successful here, but not all of those personality traits make us uniquely successful in all situations outside, and so you've got to have that failure at some point in time. And the failure that you can get up and say, ‘OK, I did this. This happened. My soul is bruised. My ego is bruised. I may have to take a little bit of accountability for this. OK, now I need to have the courage to take the next step forward again.' Because I could easily retreat back to a safe place, and I could become risk averse, and all that does is hurt the people around you. OK. I have to have the courage to breathe and take the step again and get back in there. So I would tell my — I don't think I would want to prevent myself from doing anything. I think even the growth that took place while Laurie and I were apart — and, like I said, that torch that I carried for her — I think if I had whispered in my ear and said, ‘Hey, just relax, you're gonna marry her.' I think I needed that torch, because that in my own mind and my own emotion was me needing to become a better man, and so I think I needed to go through — like, sometimes you need the struggle, and sometimes the things that are most valuable are the things that you had to go through the struggle for, right? And I think that's where my blue collar ethics background comes in. It's like, I'm just going to roll up my sleeves and I'm going to work through the struggle.   Naviere Walkewicz  1:00:36 Wow. Well, we took a look back. I just want to ask you a question forward. So do you think about legacy? And what do you want your legacy to be? Is that something that plays in your mind as you wake up each morning or go to lead people?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  1:00:50 I think the way that I look at it is, I look at it in a in a different aspect, and the way that I look at it is in a very confined point to point. It's not about what is going to be Tom Sherman's legacy when he retires someday, but was that interaction that I had with somebody to give them some encouraging words when they fell down, did that matter to them at that moment? Because there are people for me in my failures that were commanders, that were leaders, that were mentors, that were senior enlisted, that, you know, grabbed that lieutenant by the arm and helped to lift me up. And their memories are etched in my fabric. And so I think that it's about that individual event that your legacy will live in the people in which you made a difference to them.   Naviere Walkewicz  1:01:49 Well, I'll share with you, I was telling my son — he's a cadet, a third-class cadet, actually, now he's about to be a C2C — that I was doing this podcast with you, and he said, ‘What an incredible leader, Mom, he motivates me. He's so inspiring.' So your legacy is already through my son—   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  1:02:05 Thank you! That means — thank you so much for sharing.   Naviere Walkewicz  1:02:10 —that you really made an impact. So we're going to get to your final thoughts here in a little bit. But before we do, I want to make sure that you know our podcasts publish on every second Tuesday of the month, and you can certainly listen to Gen. Sherman in any of our other podcasts on longblueleadership.org. So Gen. Sherman, what would you like to leave our listeners with today? This has been incredible, by the way. Thank you.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  1:02:32 I have truly enjoyed this, and it's just been — it was just wonderful having the conversation with you, and it's in real honor to be a part of this. I truly believe in what you're doing here.   Naviere Walkewicz  1:02:43 Thank you. It's my pleasure to help share your story and help inspire others. And is there anything we might leave with our listeners that that they can part with tonight?   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  1:02:51 I think, for me, you need to love what you do and love I think, is one of the most powerful words in language. And I don't just say the English language. I say in language because of the strength behind the meaning and how wide the meaning can be impactful. If you love what you do, people will feel that your very presence will make a difference. They'll feel that if you love what you do, then you're being, you know, internally, inspired by the love that you have for what you're being a part of, right? If you love and care about your people, they will follow you to the ends of the Earth, because they know the passion that you have and the belief that you have in them. So I think that as we go back to these things, we oftentimes look at the terms of courage and love may seem diametrically opposed, and I would attest that you can be most courageous and that your courage will be most effective only when it's buttressed by the love that you have in what you do and who you do it with.   Naviere Walkewicz  1:04:08 Thank you, sir, for that. Thank you for being on Long Blue Leadership.   MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN  1:04:11 Absolutely. Thank you. This was a wonderful time. It was a real honor.   Naviere Walkewicz  1:04:14 Thank you. Well, until next time, I'm Naviere Walkewicz. We'll see you on Long Blue Leadership.     KEYWORDS Leadership, Air Force Academy, Major General Thomas P. Sherman, mentorship, personal growth, security forces, work-life balance, family support, continuous improvement, legacy       The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation        

Rural areas like Durango face a healthcare crisis: retaining a workforce, in particular support staff. In April 2o24, Axis Healthcare received a $1.3 million Opportunity Now Grant. To tackle the issue they plan to “grow our own”with local health-care partners to retain a local workforce. By Sadie Smith.  Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/growing-our-own-1-3m-plan-to-train-local-healthcare-workers  This story is sponsored by La Plata Economic Development Alliance.Support the show

La Plata County invites you to the annual “Driving” Tour and Colorado Governor Jarid Polis launched a public dashboard that displays federal funding reductions across Colorado counties. By Sadie Smith.Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/return-of-the-annual-driving-tourThis story is sponsored by M&R Plumbing and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q.Support the show

Charlie Hoch is a former pro snowboarder turned cannabis entrepreneur, which makes him the perfect guest for 420 week. When I say pro snowboarder, while Charlie competed amongst the likes of Travis Rice and was on the podium at some big events, his snowboard career won't be what defines his existence; his success in the cannabis world will be. From developing the original ice bong to building his 100+ SKU empire today, Charlie could use snowboarding instead of having it the other way around, and on the podcast, we talk snowboarding, weed, and more.  Charlie Hoch Show Notes: 4:00:  His 420 plans, Wolf Creek, how smoking a bowl in the backcountry changed his life, going from handrails on his skateboard to big mountain lines 14:00:  Fort Lewis, focusing on his sticker business and becoming a pro snowboarder, 20:00:   Stanley:  The brand that invented the category! Only the best for Powell Movement listeners.  Check out Stanley1913.com   Best Day Brewing:  All of the flavor of your favorite IPA or Kolsch, without the alcohol, the calories or sugar. 22:00:  Close calls, sponsorship, money, making a name for himself at comps, making it work with nothing, photo/video, contests, Alaska, and how does snowboarding end 37:00:   Elan Skis:  Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better. Outdoor Research:  Click here for 25% off Outdoor Research products (not valid on sale items or pro products) 39:30:  Founding the Eyce Brand, the weed business, selling his company and buying it back, the products and brands he's involved in, and who he's smoked weed with 51:00:  Inappropriate Questions  

The CodeRED alert test, originally set for April 20, has been updated to April 21 in consideration of Easter Sunday. World-renowned illusionist Leon Etienne will be performing at the Community Concert Hall.  And Fort Lewis Senior, Lacey Miller will debut her exhibit Herpetofauna Of The Center: A Collection Of Scales at the Center of Southwest Studies. By Sadie Smith. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/codered-alert-test-updated-to-april-21  This story is sponsored by Crystal Mart and Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings.  Support the show

 She was the first in her family to go to college. Now she's a college president, helping other first-gen students navigate higher ed. We speak with the new president of Fort Lewis College, Dr. Heather Shotton, about job readiness in rural Colorado. Then, the San Luis Valley braces for cuts to Medicaid. And artist and historian Chloé Duplessis' new exhibit, "12 Tablecloths" at the Trinidad History Museum, gives a seat at the table to Black domestic workers whose stories were nearly forgotten. 

In this episode, U.S. Army Maj. Kyle Schulz, a recent graduate from NPS Defense Analysis program, joins Trident Room Podcast host U.S. Army Maj. Eric Czaja for a discussion on his path to service, career trajectory leading up to his studies at NPS, and a deep dive into his research exploring sustainable agriculture in the Philippines, and how sustainable agricultural practices support a whole of government approach to advancing the Resistance Operating Concept, strengthening resilience and resistance through food security and economic stability. Maj. Schulz completed undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his commission as a Signal Officer through Officer Candidate School, and spent the first few years of his career supporting Psychological Operations at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After successfully completing the Civil Affairs Qualification Course he has served as a Team Leader, Company Civil Military Operations Chief, and HHC Commander within the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade and the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He completed his master's degree in Defense Analysis, as well as a certificate in Applied Cyber Operations at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in December 2024. NPS Trident Room Podcast host U.S. Army Maj. Eric Czaja commissioned from Marquette University in 2011 as an Infantry Officer. After serving in 2nd ID at Fort Lewis, Wash., Czaja attended Special Forces Assessment and selection. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course, Czaja was an Operation Detachment Alpha Team Leader in 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Czaja graduated from NPS in 2024, and is currently assigned to NPS as a research faculty member in the NPS Department of Defense Analysis.

The Community Concert Hall has introduced a number of international artists to the region while also recognizing local talent. Find out how director Charles Leslie curates the perfect lineup for every season. By Sadie Smith.Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/community-concert-hall-hosts-local-and-global-talent This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS Durango.Support the show

June 12, 1993. Santa Clara, California. 21-year old U.S. Army Private Justin Burgwinkel leaves his girlfriend's apartment and never returns. One week earlier, Justin had gone AWOL from Fort Lewis, the post where he was stationed in Washington state, and kept hinting to his girlfriend that he was working on some sort of secret mission. Three months later, Justin's abandoned car is found at a motel in Monterey with his military dog tags and most of his personal items inside. While the Army denies that Justin was ever involved in any secret operations, no trace of him is ever found. Did Justin Burgwinkel go missing because he became involved in something sinister? Or did he suffer some sort of mental breakdown and lose his grip on reality? On this week's episode of “The Path Went Chilly”, we explore the unsolved disappearance of a soldier who has not been seen in three decades.If you have any information about this case, please contact the Clinton Police Department at (978) 365-4111.Support the Show: Patreon.comn/julesandashleyPatreon.com/thetrailwentcoldAdditional Reading:https://unsolved.com/gallery/justin-burgwinkel/https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Justin_Burgwinkelhttp://charleyproject.org/case/justin-burgwinkelhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/626359358/

June 12, 1993. Santa Clara, California. 21-year old U.S. Army Private Justin Burgwinkel leaves his girlfriend's apartment and never returns. One week earlier, Justin had gone AWOL from Fort Lewis, the post where he was stationed in Washington state, and kept hinting to his girlfriend that he was working on some sort of secret mission. Three months later, Justin's abandoned car is found at a motel in Monterey with his military dog tags and most of his personal items inside. While the Army denies that Justin was ever involved in any secret operations, no trace of him is ever found. Did Justin Burgwinkel go missing because he became involved in something sinister? Or did he suffer some sort of mental breakdown and lose his grip on reality? On this week's episode of “The Path Went Chilly”, we explore the unsolved disappearance of a soldier who has not been seen in three decades.If you have any information about this case, please contact the Clinton Police Department at (978) 365-4111.Support the Show: Patreon.comn/julesandashleyPatreon.com/thetrailwentcoldAdditional Reading:https://unsolved.com/gallery/justin-burgwinkel/https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Justin_Burgwinkelhttp://charleyproject.org/case/justin-burgwinkelhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/626359358/

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the seventy-seventh episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by the CSM Erik Burris, the Task Force Senior Enlisted Observer-Coach-Trainer for TF Aviation on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today's guest is COL Nicholas Ploetz, Commander of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division.   The 4th Combat Aviation Brigade (4th CAB) of the 4th Infantry Division (4th ID) has a storied history that reflects its commitment to supporting ground forces and adapting to evolving combat demands. First activated as the 4th Aviation Company, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Lewis, Washington on 1 April 1957. They were relocated to Fort Hood (now Ft. Cavazos), Texas in 1995, the 4th CAB rapidly established itself as a formidable aviation force within the division, providing critical air support and mobility. They were later relocated to Ft. Carson, Colorado in 2011. Over its deployments to Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the brigade demonstrated resilience and tactical versatility, embodying the 4th ID's legacy of “Steadfast and Loyal.” Their ethos is embedded in the brigade's dedication to mission support, whether through reconnaissance, assault, or medevac capabilities, earning it a respected place within the U.S. Army's aviation and combat support structure. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “Iron Eagle,” the nickname of “Ivy Eagles,” and the brigade's motto of “Vigilantia Aeterna” or “Eternal Vigilance.”   In this episode we discuss best practices for effective planning and employment of a combat aviation brigade during large scale combat operations. In LSCO, two core principles emerge as essential for the CAB: standardization in operations and clarity in staff roles and responsibilities. First, standardizing critical elements such as FARPs (Forward Arming and Refueling Points), logistics, and sustainment processes across the CAB enables rapid, adaptable responses to evolving battle conditions. For example, a standardized FARP setup ensures that refueling and resupply can occur with minimal disruption, allowing aviation assets to remain in the fight without delays. This standardization enhances synchronization between the CAB and other units, like the various brigades within the DIV it supports, ensuring timely, mutually reinforcing actions. By embedding standardized protocols, planners can build in contingencies that maintain mission continuity, even when the order or operational environment shifts unexpectedly.   Equally important is cultivating a proficient and well-coordinated staff structure. Clear roles and responsibilities within the CAB's staff, supported by a rigorous adhered standard operating procedures, are crucial for effective planning and swift decision-making under pressure. Regular military decision-making process repetitions, as observed in training rotations, allow staff members to refine their roles, improving their readiness to tackle complex, high-tempo operations. When staff roles are well-defined and thoroughly rehearsed, the CAB can execute plans more efficiently, maintaining the flexibility needed for fast-paced combat demands. This clarity in structure not only ensures internal cohesion but also strengthens the CAB's ability to synchronize with division-level goals and respond to DIV support needs effectively.   Together, these practices enable the CAB to operate as a cohesive, agile force that can adapt to and shape the battlefield. Through disciplined standardization and clear, well-rehearsed staff coordination, the CAB is better equipped to deliver sustained support, anticipate operational needs, and reinforce the broader mission objectives in large-scale combat scenarios.   Part of S08 “The Aviator's Corner” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we'd like to thank our guests for participating. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

We have officially reached the beginning of the end as we start the Appomattox Campaign. First, we take a look at the small battle of Spanish Fort in Alabama on March 27th- April 8th, 1865 where Union forces attempt to take the fort.  The Appomattox Campaign begins with the battle of Lewis's Farm on March 29th as the Union works to dislodge the Confederate lines at Petersburg and Richmond. This leads us directly into the simultaneous battles of White Oak Road and Dinwiddie Court House on March 31st and the Confederate chances of winning the war are all but over.  Subscribe to our YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@bangdangnetwork

In this fascinating episode, host Jeremiah chats with Kevin, an Air Force veteran and aerospace engineer with a YouTube channel called Remote Cabin Radio. Kevin shares intriguing stories of his first-hand encounters with mysterious creatures in the Seattle area, particularly around Lake Chelan and Fort Lewis. The conversation delves into Kevin's experiences during his military training, his sightings of what he believes could be Bigfoot, and engaging discussions on the advanced civilization theories behind Sasquatch. Kevin also touches upon his ongoing projects and research while offering insightful thoughts on the significance of preserving the environment and peaceful coexistence with these enigmatic beings. This episode is a must-listen for Bigfoot enthusiasts and lovers of unexplained phenomenon alike.Resources: https://www.youtube.com/@RemoteCabinRadiohttps://www.remotecabinradio.comNote: there is a part that had to be cut out of the interview due to certain platforms' algorithms being triggered by subjects such as items that the Smithsonian would gather up around the country. You get the idea. Right now, Patreon is the only platform I have established that I can put that up on so defintely check out the RAW AUDIO version of today's show over at https://www.patreon.com/thebigfootsocietyShare your Bigfoot encounter with me here: bigfootsociety@gmail.com

It's hard to believe that it has been 20 years since my first deployment.  In Honor of the Soldiers in BlackHawk Company 1-23IN out of Fort Lewis, I have compiled a collection of interviews from Mosul from 20034. My FSNCO SSG (R) Troutman is writing a book to detail the critical points of the deployment. You can find some of the info on (https://www.facebook.com/SSGTROUTMAN), and the book will be released on 4 August 2024.You can also hear more about Joe and his story in Episode #77 of this show. (https://www.spreaker.com/episode/pffl-e-77-joe-troutman-blackhawk-company-1-23--58951819) I hope you enjoy these.  This is a much younger version of myself, but the danger of that day was very much real, and the soldiers around me rose to the occasion as they always did.  I would like to publicly thank them and all veterans for their service to the nation and each other. 0:36 - CBS Interview ~5:25 -  King 5 Interview ~17:15 - Fox 5 Interview Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/philosophy-from-the-front-line--4319845/support.

A special thank you goes out to Al Hirsch for providing the music for the podcast, check him out on YouTube.Find merchandise for the podcast now available at:     https://washington-history-by-jon-c.creator-spring.comIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to contribute, please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/EvergreenpodIf you have any questions, episode ideas you'd like to see explored, or just have a general comment, please reach out at Historyoftheevergreenstatepod@gmail.comTo keep up on news for the podcast and other related announcements, please like and follow:https://www.facebook.com/HistoryoftheevergreenstatepodcastFind the podcast over on Instagram as well: @HISTORY_EVERGREENSTATEPODCASTYou can also find the podcast over on YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/@historyoftheevergreenstatepodThank you for listening to another episode of the History of the Evergreen State Podcast!

Joseph Goodfox Jr., a sophomore long snapper for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks football team, was among the Osage performers at March's Academy Awards ceremony.

Joseph Goodfox Jr., a sophomore long snapper for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks football team, was among the Osage performers at March’s Academy Awards ceremony.

New Show today! Today, I have SSG(Retired) Joe Troutman on the show. Joe is a military veteran who has started writing a book to capture the History of Blackhawk Company 1-23rd Infantry as they transitioned away from a mechanized organization to become part of the First Stryker Bridge out of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. We talked about some of the experiences that we had leading up to the 20th Anniversary of our First Deployment and the 4th of August 2004. Joe's book should be out on Amazon this year by 4 August, but we are planning to talk again before the release of the book. Lots of links in this one but they will add some context to what we talked about during the show today. Be on the lookout for more content and Joe's book this summer. 1-23 Infantry - https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-23inf.htmKumwar Summary of B Co 1-23 Mission -https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/08/12/kumawar-mission-briefing-6 20th Anniversary Article of the Stryker Brigade - https://www.army.mil/article/271770/the_road_to_victory_the_20th_anniversary_of_the_first_stryker_deployment My War- https://a.co/d/aAbj9Rm We Were Soldiers - https://www.amazon.com/We-Were-Soldiers-Mel-Gibson/dp/B000J159N8December 8, 2003, Show - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/pffl-special-edition-2--42378297 As for Football – Thunder Run Episode ft Ray Kimball (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3OXpbKpB24nEd2bgViQ3WD?si=_JFym7lDRgS7SfwscAVZ1w)Ray Kimball of Philosophy from the Front Line - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/pffl-episode-44-ray-kimball--51152664 Thanks for checking this one out! Looking forward to talking more about the book and our deployment. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/philosophy-from-the-front-line--4319845/support.

Durango Theatreworks, a sponsored program of Fort Lewis College's theatre department, staged and recorded a radio play version of Charles Dickens' holiday classic A Christmas Carol that ran from December 13 to December 17 at the FLC Mainstage Theatre. The recorded version of the radio play can be heard on Christmas Eve on KDUR 91.9/93.9 at 4PM and KPTE 92.9 The Point at 7PM.  It will also be broadcast on Christmas morning on KKDG 99X at 10 AM. A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play was adapted for the stage and radio by Nathan Jerkins and was directed by Fort Lewis College Professor Michael McKelvey. The cast featured Matt Bodo, Conor Sheehan, Jenny Fitts-Reynolds, Mohriah James, Oliver Kennedy, Siena Widen, Hallie Denman, Kieran Peck, Melissa Mossinghoff, and Bella O'Bryan. After the Saturday night performance, the Christmas Carol cast members, along with director McKelvey, also performed a rollicking read through of a radio adaptation of another Christmas favorite, DieHard. Your Old Fashioned Die Hard Radiocast was also adapted by Nathan Jerkins.Durango Theatreworks was started nearly two years ago by Michael McKelvey in an effort to expand the capacity and community involvement of Fort Lewis College's theatre offerings. Other Theatreworks productions include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Much Ado About Nothing, and Heathers the Musical, all which cast community members alongside Fort Lewis students. This will be the second year that the company has produced A Christmas Carol for the stage and the radio. By Jessica McCallum.Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/durango-theatreworks-creates-radio-play-versions-of-holiday-classics This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Serious Texas BBQSupport the show

Today, you'll hear audio from the conclusion of a speaking session by CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA, this past fall at Spring Canyon's Aspentime Retreat. If you're new to OCF and you've never heard of Spring Canyon, it's OCF's western conference and retreat center located near Buena Vista, Colorado. And if you've never heard of Aspentime, it's a weekend getaway at Spring Canyon for Christian military members and families, and it features teaching and small group sessions led by a speaker like CH Snodgrass. Participants at the weekend retreat explored the profound concept of spiritual formation through the lens of renowned authors such as John Mark Comer, Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, and Donald Whitney, and they uncovered principles and practices that challenge contemporary ideals, emphasizing the necessity of community in the pursuit of spiritual growth. There were also interactive discussions, activities, and real-life applications in which leaders discovered how to build and sustain a vibrant military ministry while fostering personal renewal in an increasingly secular world and military.   About CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA Chaplain Jacob Snodgrass is a native of Ames, OK, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. He was commissioned from ROTC in 2002, and has served as a Chaplain since 2009, endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention. He currently serves as the 10th Special Forces Group Chaplain and as the lead pastor of Agape Carson, Fort Carson, CO. Chaplain Snodgrass has served numerous assignments as a chaplain, pastor, and church planter, including Camp Humphreys, Korea; Fort Lewis, WA; and Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was named U.S. Army Chaplain of the Year in 2019. Chaplain Snodgrass has been married for 18 years to the former Heather Dostal of Leakenheath, UK, and they have six kids: Manuel 24, Karmen 22, Gage 15, Boyce 14, Jovie 11, and Bennett 8.

"I killed my wife" | The POLICE INTERROGATION of Skylar Nemetz PART 1 Officer Darrell Moore The following is excerpted from the report of Officer Darrell Moore: Skylar told me "I need to tell someone my story." I directed the fire department personal to the apartment so they could administer medical attention. Skylar again stated, "I want to talk to you." I stared at Skylar without saying anything. Skylar went onto say that he was in Yakima for field training with the military. Skylar said he returned home to his wife. Skylar said he loves his wife more than most other men, and that his love for her was special. Skylar stated that he returned home from Yakima and he had left his wife with his rifle for her protection when he was gone. Skylar told me that he took out the magazine, and motioned taking out the magazine. Skylar said he was making the rifle safe, and for some reason he grabbed the rifle and shook it. I watched as Skylar demonstrated grabbing what I believed to be the upper portion of the rifle with his left hand and the lower portion of the rifle with his right hand. Skylar motioned holding the rifle at an approximately 45 degree cant. Skylar said, "I just shook it and it shot her." Skylar began to make sounds as if he was crying, but I could see that he had no tears coming out. I also noticed that he had no tears during my entire contact with him. Neighbors According to neighbors, they regularly heard yelling coming from the Nemetz residence. Among the many statements initially made by Skylar Nemetz was a statement to his neighbor that his wife Danielle had shot herself while she was cleaning a rifle. Eureka Interviews On November 24, 2014, detectives traveled to Eureka, California, to conduct interviews. Among those interviewed was Samatha Minton, who stated that she knew Danielle most of her whole life. According to Minton, Danielle had met Skylar on the internet approximately two months before they married. Minton stated that she had observed what she thought was odd behavior between the couple. For example, when Daniella and Skylar would visit, Skylar would drop her off at the house and leave her there all day, while he visited with his friends. Detectives also interviewed Michayla Yingling, who had known Danielle her whole life. Yingling confirmed that Danielle had met Skylar on the internet two months before they had married. Yingling said Danielle never gave her any indication Skylar was being abusive. She knew that Skylar had broken Danielle's cell phone, but she did not know the details. Yingling said Danielle never talked negatively about Skylar, but she got the impression that Danielle was being fake. Yingling stated that Skylar would not let Danielle come to her baby shower, and that Skylar was indecisive on wanting Danielle to get a job. Skylar would tell Danielle to get a job, and when she looked for a job he would tell her she didn't need one. Yingling said Danielle just wanted someone to love her and take care of her. Yingling said Danielle thought her new boss was attractive, and that Danielle had told her that her new boss used to be an underwear model. Yingling said she had a FaceTime session with Danielle and her boss, while they were out to dinner. Yingling was positive that Danielle would not cheat on Skylar. Yingling said on the night Danielle died she had FaceTimed with her at approximately 1600 hours. Yingling said nothing appeared to be out the ordinary, and that at one point Danielle had pointed the phone at Skylar, who had smiled and waved to her. According to Mikala Rippeon, Danielle's youngest sister, Danielle was always wearing long-sleeved shirts and turtleneck sweaters. Mikala remembered seeing what appeared to be fingertip bruises on Danielle's arms. The Diary On February 24, 2015, detectives contacted Skylar's mother, Danetta Heller, as they had obtained information that she was possibly in possession of Danielle's diary that was taken from her apartment after the homicide. The following day, Danetta confirmed that she was in possession of Danielle's diary. Danetta stated there were some pages missing from the diary, but stated that she had not removed the missing pages. Danetta stated that she had removed the diary from the apartment because it contained information that she thought would be hurtful to her son, stating that Danielle was a "busy little girl." After speaking with Skylar's attorney, Danetta ceased to cooperate, however she turned over Danielle's diary to Skylar's attorney, who turned it over to the prosecutor. Several pages had been removed. There was an entry that was about Danielle having sex with a male named Kennedy. It stated that Kennedy and Danielle used to date, that they were still having sex, and that Kennedy's current girlfriend Chloe did not know. The entry was dated 4/23/12. CVSA Although the CVSA shown in this video is pseudoscience, the test results were "no signs of deception." Karie Faas On the morning of October 17, 2014, detectives were contacted by Karie Faas, who advised that she had information about the incident. According to Faas, Nemetz and Danielle had a violent relationship. Faas stated that over the two years she has known Danielle, she has seen Danielle with bruises up and down her arms. Faas stated that she thought she still had a picture of Danielle with her face swollen and bruised, and that Danielle had told her it was from a mosquito bite. Faas went on to say that Nemetz was extremely jealous and almost possessive, and that Nemetz was extremely controlling; he would not let her go places, and he controlled who she could see and what she could wear. Faas stated that Nemetz called Danielle names – specifically, "cunt." Faas stated that Danielle was getting close to her boss from her new job, and that he had kind of hinted that he was interested romantically but Danielle just kind of blew it off. Faas stated that she warned Danielle that she was playing with fire. Faas also stated that Danielle did not want to be friends with her boss on Facebook, because she didn't want Skylar to find out. Karie stated that Danielle was really happy that Skylar was coming home, and that she had gone out shopping and bought new underwear. Danielle stated that she had also bought Nemetz alcohol, so he would be happy when he got home. When asked, Karie stated that Nemetz is a big drinker, that he had a lot of barbecues on the weekend, and that a lot of people go to Nemetz's house to drink. Faas also stated that she heard Nemetz had "snapped" in the field. She stated that during his training deployment he had snapped and "freaked out" on a bunch of soldiers. Faas also stated "there is no way this was an accident, he was only home for a few hours". Faas stated that she knew that Danielle's new job was going to cause problems, and that she had told Danielle to stand her ground if Skylar tried to make her quit. Faas then stated she knew that Nemetz was upset when he left work over who had bought the alcohol for Danielle (which was actually for him). Faas stated that her husband, Anthony Faas, was the last one to see Nemetz at work and he had told Skylar that someone else had bought the alcohol. Faas stated that Danielle had a friend named Jeremy. who had just recently been stationed locally at Fort Lewis. Jeremy had spent the night a couple times with Danielle in the past three weeks. Faas stated that she had some text messages from Danielle that said "Jeremy is here, he can help you bring the kids' stuff up." Faas stated that she knows that her husband Anthony had gone through her phone, and that and he may have seen those texts and told Nemetz. In subsequent interviews with Danielle's boss, as well as with Danielle's friend Jeremy Newton, both appeared forthright, and adamantly denied that Danielle had cheated on Skylar. Those interviews will be uploaded. Anthony Faas Detectives subsequently interviews Anthony Faas, the husband of Karie Faas. Anthony stated that that Nemetz was assigned to his platoon back in 2013 and they became friends right away because they were both from Northern California. He stated that they would hang out together with their wives, and that after a few months, "Dannie" told them that Nemetz would hit her. He stated that at first that didn't believe it, but that they went camping one weekend, and when they got home Dannie had sent a picture of the side of her face swollen. Anthony stated that Skylar told Dannie to say it was the result of a bug bite, however it looked like she had been hit. Anthony said that he and his old team leader, Sam Phipps, confronted Skylar about hitting Dannie, and told him that if he ever did it again they were going to do something about it. He said that Skylar never admitted to assaulting Dannie, and that he subsequently became distant from him and Phipps. Anthony stated that Skylar was a really good dude and a good soldier, adding that Skylar was really good with guns. Anthony stated that all Skylar wanted to do was build guns. Anthony then stated that the deployment was difficult because of new supervision and that everyone was on edge. Anthony stated that Skylar and he started to butt heads, so he pulled Skylar aside and asked him what was going on. Anthony stated that Skylar started cursing at him, and that Skylar was "freaking out" on everyone. Anthony said Skylar commented that everyone was picking on him too much. When he later met up with Skylar, Anthony stated that Skylar thanked him for buying him some alcohol. Anthony replied that he hadn't bought him any alcohol, and that some other guy had bought it for him. Anthony said that Skylar got "real mad" and that his hands were sh

The POLICE INTERROGATION of Skylar Nemetz PART 2 Officer Darrell Moore The following is excerpted from the report of Officer Darrell Moore: Skylar told me "I need to tell someone my story." I directed the fire department personal to the apartment so they could administer medical attention. Skylar again stated, "I want to talk to you." I stared at Skylar without saying anything. Skylar went onto say that he was in Yakima for field training with the military. Skylar said he returned home to his wife. Skylar said he loves his wife more than most other men, and that his love for her was special. Skylar stated that he returned home from Yakima and he had left his wife with his rifle for her protection when he was gone. Skylar told me that he took out the magazine, and motioned taking out the magazine. Skylar said he was making the rifle safe, and for some reason he grabbed the rifle and shook it. I watched as Skylar demonstrated grabbing what I believed to be the upper portion of the rifle with his left hand and the lower portion of the rifle with his right hand. Skylar motioned holding the rifle at an approximately 45 degree cant. Skylar said, "I just shook it and it shot her." Skylar began to make sounds as if he was crying, but I could see that he had no tears coming out. I also noticed that he had no tears during my entire contact with him. Neighbors According to neighbors, they regularly heard yelling coming from the Nemetz residence. Among the many statements initially made by Skylar Nemetz was a statement to his neighbor that his wife Danielle had shot herself while she was cleaning a rifle. Eureka Interviews On November 24, 2014, detectives traveled to Eureka, California, to conduct interviews. Among those interviewed was Samatha Minton, who stated that she knew Danielle most of her whole life. According to Minton, Danielle had met Skylar on the internet approximately two months before they married. Minton stated that she had observed what she thought was odd behavior between the couple. For example, when Daniella and Skylar would visit, Skylar would drop her off at the house and leave her there all day, while he visited with his friends. Detectives also interviewed Michayla Yingling, who had known Danielle her whole life. Yingling confirmed that Danielle had met Skylar on the internet two months before they had married. Yingling said Danielle never gave her any indication Skylar was being abusive. She knew that Skylar had broken Danielle's cell phone, but she did not know the details. Yingling said Danielle never talked negatively about Skylar, but she got the impression that Danielle was being fake. Yingling stated that Skylar would not let Danielle come to her baby shower, and that Skylar was indecisive on wanting Danielle to get a job. Skylar would tell Danielle to get a job, and when she looked for a job he would tell her she didn't need one. Yingling said Danielle just wanted someone to love her and take care of her. Yingling said Danielle thought her new boss was attractive, and that Danielle had told her that her new boss used to be an underwear model. Yingling said she had a FaceTime session with Danielle and her boss, while they were out to dinner. Yingling was positive that Danielle would not cheat on Skylar. Yingling said on the night Danielle died she had FaceTimed with her at approximately 1600 hours. Yingling said nothing appeared to be out the ordinary, and that at one point Danielle had pointed the phone at Skylar, who had smiled and waved to her. According to Mikala Rippeon, Danielle's youngest sister, Danielle was always wearing long-sleeved shirts and turtleneck sweaters. Mikala remembered seeing what appeared to be fingertip bruises on Danielle's arms. The Diary On February 24, 2015, detectives contacted Skylar's mother, Danetta Heller, as they had obtained information that she was possibly in possession of Danielle's diary that was taken from her apartment after the homicide. The following day, Danetta confirmed that she was in possession of Danielle's diary. Danetta stated there were some pages missing from the diary, but stated that she had not removed the missing pages. Danetta stated that she had removed the diary from the apartment because it contained information that she thought would be hurtful to her son, stating that Danielle was a "busy little girl." After speaking with Skylar's attorney, Danetta ceased to cooperate, however she turned over Danielle's diary to Skylar's attorney, who turned it over to the prosecutor. Several pages had been removed. There was an entry that was about Danielle having sex with a male named Kennedy. It stated that Kennedy and Danielle used to date, that they were still having sex, and that Kennedy's current girlfriend Chloe did not know. The entry was dated 4/23/12. CVSA Although the CVSA shown in this video is pseudoscience, the test results were "no signs of deception." Karie Faas On the morning of October 17, 2014, detectives were contacted by Karie Faas, who advised that she had information about the incident. According to Faas, Nemetz and Danielle had a violent relationship. Faas stated that over the two years she has known Danielle, she has seen Danielle with bruises up and down her arms. Faas stated that she thought she still had a picture of Danielle with her face swollen and bruised, and that Danielle had told her it was from a mosquito bite. Faas went on to say that Nemetz was extremely jealous and almost possessive, and that Nemetz was extremely controlling; he would not let her go places, and he controlled who she could see and what she could wear. Faas stated that Nemetz called Danielle names – specifically, "cunt." Faas stated that Danielle was getting close to her boss from her new job, and that he had kind of hinted that he was interested romantically but Danielle just kind of blew it off. Faas stated that she warned Danielle that she was playing with fire. Faas also stated that Danielle did not want to be friends with her boss on Facebook, because she didn't want Skylar to find out. Karie stated that Danielle was really happy that Skylar was coming home, and that she had gone out shopping and bought new underwear. Danielle stated that she had also bought Nemetz alcohol, so he would be happy when he got home. When asked, Karie stated that Nemetz is a big drinker, that he had a lot of barbecues on the weekend, and that a lot of people go to Nemetz's house to drink. Faas also stated that she heard Nemetz had "snapped" in the field. She stated that during his training deployment he had snapped and "freaked out" on a bunch of soldiers. Faas also stated "there is no way this was an accident, he was only home for a few hours". Faas stated that she knew that Danielle's new job was going to cause problems, and that she had told Danielle to stand her ground if Skylar tried to make her quit. Faas then stated she knew that Nemetz was upset when he left work over who had bought the alcohol for Danielle (which was actually for him). Faas stated that her husband, Anthony Faas, was the last one to see Nemetz at work and he had told Skylar that someone else had bought the alcohol. Faas stated that Danielle had a friend named Jeremy. who had just recently been stationed locally at Fort Lewis. Jeremy had spent the night a couple times with Danielle in the past three weeks. Faas stated that she had some text messages from Danielle that said "Jeremy is here, he can help you bring the kids' stuff up." Faas stated that she knows that her husband Anthony had gone through her phone, and that and he may have seen those texts and told Nemetz. In subsequent interviews with Danielle's boss, as well as with Danielle's friend Jeremy Newton, both appeared forthright, and adamantly denied that Danielle had cheated on Skylar. Those interviews will be uploaded. Anthony Faas Detectives subsequently interviews Anthony Faas, the husband of Karie Faas. Anthony stated that that Nemetz was assigned to his platoon back in 2013 and they became friends right away because they were both from Northern California. He stated that they would hang out together with their wives, and that after a few months, "Dannie" told them that Nemetz would hit her. He stated that at first that didn't believe it, but that they went camping one weekend, and when they got home Dannie had sent a picture of the side of her face swollen. Anthony stated that Skylar told Dannie to say it was the result of a bug bite, however it looked like she had been hit. Anthony said that he and his old team leader, Sam Phipps, confronted Skylar about hitting Dannie, and told him that if he ever did it again they were going to do something about it. He said that Skylar never admitted to assaulting Dannie, and that he subsequently became distant from him and Phipps. Anthony stated that Skylar was a really good dude and a good soldier, adding that Skylar was really good with guns. Anthony stated that all Skylar wanted to do was build guns. Anthony then stated that the deployment was difficult because of new supervision and that everyone was on edge. Anthony stated that Skylar and he started to butt heads, so he pulled Skylar aside and asked him what was going on. Anthony stated that Skylar started cursing at him, and that Skylar was "freaking out" on everyone. Anthony said Skylar commented that everyone was picking on him too much. When he later met up with Skylar, Anthony stated that Skylar thanked him for buying him some alcohol. Anthony replied that he hadn't bought him any alcohol, and that some other guy had bought it for him. Anthony said that Skylar got "real mad" and that his hands were shaking.

Today, you'll hear audio from Part 2 of a speaking session by CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA, this past fall at Spring Canyon's Aspentime Retreat. If you're new to OCF and you've never heard of Spring Canyon, it's OCF's western conference and retreat center located near Buena Vista, Colorado. And if you've never heard of Aspentime, it's a weekend getaway at Spring Canyon for Christian military members and families, and it features teaching and small group sessions led by a speaker like CH Snodgrass. Participants at the weekend retreat explored the profound concept of spiritual formation through the lens of renowned authors such as John Mark Comer, Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, and Donald Whitney, and they uncovered principles and practices that challenge contemporary ideals, emphasizing the necessity of community in the pursuit of spiritual growth. There were also interactive discussions, activities, and real-life applications in which leaders discovered how to build and sustain a vibrant military ministry while fostering personal renewal in an increasingly secular world and military.   About CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA Chaplain Jacob Snodgrass is a native of Ames, OK, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. He was commissioned from ROTC in 2002, and has served as a Chaplain since 2009, endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention. He currently serves as the 10th Special Forces Group Chaplain and as the lead pastor of Agape Carson, Fort Carson, CO. Chaplain Snodgrass has served numerous assignments as a chaplain, pastor, and church planter, including Camp Humphreys, Korea; Fort Lewis, WA; and Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was named U.S. Army Chaplain of the Year in 2019. Chaplain Snodgrass has been married for 18 years to the former Heather Dostal of Leakenheath, UK, and they have six kids: Manuel 24, Karmen 22, Gage 15, Boyce 14, Jovie 11, and Bennett 8.

We continue our tour of the metroplex this time heading south where there are actual trees!! Oh and a large military base but don't worry about it. How about a trip to the paracritter zoo? Just watch out for the street fights between the soldiers and the Spikes! ~We also have an actual play podcast! Tune into our weekly adventures in SINless, here on Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7A1SkBE7i56Wj8WA32HtaM⁠⁠⁠⁠ or over on YouTube ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.complaylist?list=PLwEO24mRuGCRtGlUGZhQudTSQd5o8ekUw⁠⁠⁠⁠ ~Interested in supporting us? Five Nuyen a month over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/critical_hits⁠⁠⁠⁠ gets you a bunch of bonus benefits! Check it out chummer! ~Need Shadowrun books or products? We've got you covered! Our affiliate code over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2216/Catalyst-Game-Labs?3537587⁠⁠⁠⁠ not only gives you the gear to keep all your runners chromed up and fit, but it helps us out too! just drop the code: ?3537587 at the end of the browser link and not only get the books you need, but help us keep the doors open and the lights on while you're at it chummer! ~We also play stuff on twitch for our own amusement. Under no circumstances should you watch us on⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://twitch.tv/criticalhitslive⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kick.com/glitchworks⁠⁠⁠⁠ since the whole thing is in poor taste and you're clearly better than that.

For the first time ever, Fort Lewis College will send both a men's and women's team to the NCAA Division II National Championship meet in the same season. It marks the first time in ten years a men's team from Fort Lewis has qualified. The men's team punched its ticket by running to a sixth-place finish at the South Central Regional, an improvement from last season's 11th place finish. The FLC women solidified their spot by running to a ninth-place finish at regionals. By Connor Shreve.Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/skyhawks-cross-country-team-runs-to-national-championship This story is sponsored by Serious Texas BBQ and Kroegers Ace HardwareSupport the show

Today, you'll hear audio from a speaking session by CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA, this past fall at Spring Canyon's Aspentime Retreat. If you're new to OCF and you've never heard of Spring Canyon, it's OCF's western conference and retreat center located near Buena Vista, Colorado. And if you've never heard of Aspentime, it's a weekend getaway at Spring Canyon for Christian military members and families, and it features teaching and small group sessions led by a speaker like CH Snodgrass. Participants at the weekend retreat explored the profound concept of spiritual formation through the lens of renowned authors such as John Mark Comer, Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, and Donald Whitney, and they uncovered principles and practices that challenge contemporary ideals, emphasizing the necessity of community in the pursuit of spiritual growth. There were also interactive discussions, activities, and real-life applications in which leaders discovered how to build and sustain a vibrant military ministry while fostering personal renewal in an increasingly secular world and military.   About CH(MAJ) Jake Snodgrass, USA Chaplain Jacob Snodgrass is a native of Ames, OK, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. He was commissioned from ROTC in 2002, and has served as a Chaplain since 2009, endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention. He currently serves as the 10th Special Forces Group Chaplain and as the lead pastor of Agape Carson, Fort Carson, CO. Chaplain Snodgrass has served numerous assignments as a chaplain, pastor, and church planter, including Camp Humphreys, Korea; Fort Lewis, WA; and Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was named U.S. Army Chaplain of the Year in 2019. Chaplain Snodgrass has been married for 18 years to the former Heather Dostal of Leakenheath, UK, and they have six kids: Manuel 24, Karmen 22, Gage 15, Boyce 14, Jovie 11, and Bennett 8.

  If you're feeling frustrated and discouraged because despite your best efforts, you still haven't achieved your career goals in the military, then you are not alone! Perhaps you've been diligently studying and preparing for exams, but your scores aren't reflecting your hard work. Maybe you've been seeking mentorship and guidance, but haven't found the support you need. Or, you could be putting in countless hours of physical training, only to be overlooked for promotions. Your struggle is real, but there is hope and inspiration to be found in Lisa Forsyth's military career journey. My special guest is Colonel Lisa Forsyth Colonel Lisa Forsyth is our esteemed guest on this episode of Gettin' Gritty with Dr. J. With an impressive 33-year career in the US Army, she has risen through the ranks from private to colonel. Lisa's journey began with a clear vision in second grade, where she knew she wanted to serve in the army as an officer and be a rancher or farmer. Despite limited mentorship and challenges along the way, Lisa remained steadfast in her goal. She joined the Pennsylvania National Guard after high school, taking advantage of their college payback program to pursue higher education. Through Officer Candidate School, she achieved her dream of becoming an officer. Lisa's assignments ranged from Fort Lewis, Washington to jump school at Fort Benning, where she faced the unique experience of being one of the few women in a class of 400. Her story is a testament to her resilience and determination, serving as an inspiration to aspiring military officers and women seeking career inspiration. In that environment, you figure it out pretty quick and become tough. The opportunities were nonexistent, but I knew my ticket out of there was higher education. - Lisa Forsyth In this episode, you will be able to: Gain inspiration from Lisa Forsyth's military career journey and discover how she overcame challenges to achieve success. Learn valuable insights on the challenges of balancing military and family life and discover strategies to find harmony. Be inspired by the story of a single mother in the military and uncover the empowering lessons she learned along the way. Explore societal expectations for women in the military and discover how women are breaking barriers and achieving greatness. Discover the impact of lack of sleep and high functioning insomnia on military officers and learn strategies to improve sleep quality and function at your best. Lisa Forsyth's Military Career Journey Lisa Forsyth's inspiring military career demonstrates her unwavering dedication to achieving her dreams. She faced limited opportunities growing up in a small town, but found a way to further her education through the Pennsylvania National Guard's college payback program. Lisa navigated through skepticism, gender barriers, and daunting physical challenges to reach her goal of becoming an Army officer, setting an inspiring example for aspirant military officers and women. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Visit Dr. Julie Wiernik's website to learn more about her services as a sport and performance psychologist. Check out Dr. Julie Wiernik's podcast, Get and Gritty, for more inspiring stories and tips on maximizing performance in all areas of life. Follow Dr. Julie Wiernik on social media for regular updates and insights on mental toughness and performance psychology. Connect with Colonel Lisa Forsyth on social media to learn more about her journey in the US Army and her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field. Explore opportunities in the US Army and consider a career in the military, whether as an officer or enlisted personnel. Research the Pennsylvania National Guard and their college payback program for those interested in pursuing higher education while serving in the military. Consider Officer Candidate School as a path to becoming an officer in the US Army. Learn more about environmental science and the career opportunities it offers, including in the military. Explore opportunities for military service and education benefits through programs like the Pennsylvania National Guard and the US Army. Consider attending jump school or other specialized training programs in the military to gain new skills and experiences.

In this electrifying episode of "Top of the Mountain", we dive deep into the heart of Division II football: Highlighting Heroes: Salute the RMAC Players of the Week and their remarkable on-field feats. Backyard Brawl Recap: Relive the thrills, spills, and game-changing moments from last week's intense Backyard Brawl. Who came out on top, and what were the key plays that swayed the game? Eyes on the Eagles & Skyhawks: As Chadron State prepares to face Fort Lewis, we break down team strategies, key players to watch, and predict potential game-changers. Beware the Underdogs: Every season has its surprises. We discuss the upcoming matches that could be trap games and speculate on which top-ranked teams might be in for a shock. Standings Snapshot: Take a look at the current standings. Who's soaring, who's slipping, and who's got the potential to rise to the top? Join us for a jam-packed episode as we unpack the latest in Division II football! Whether you're a casual fan or a gridiron guru, "Top of the Mountain" is your ticket to all things DII football. Don't miss it!

It's Regional Roundup Monday! Medical debt affects millions of people and significantly impacts their lives. New legislation in our region aims to help them. Plus, a feature on the Fort Lewis Indian Boarding School and an interview with Wyoming author Craig Johnson about the latest Longmire book.

Get ready for a roller-coaster ride on this episode of "Top of the Mountain"!

In this episode, we host a dialogue with Brian Co from Veloworthy. Brian shares his journey as a cyclist, becoming a podcaster and ultimately founding Veloworthy to explore video storytelling. The talk shifts towards Brian's recent dive into gravel riding during the pandemic - a pursuit aligning smoothly with his interest in digital media and videography. Despite the challenges of filming races and representing cycling's diverse stories, Brian consistently seeks truth in his work. Brian continues to explore the world of gravel through his lenses on this YouTube Channel, Veloworthy. Episode Sponsor: Hammerhead Karoo 2 (use code THEGRAVELRIDE for free HRM) Veloworthy YouTube Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: [00:00:00]Craig Dalton (Host): Brian, welcome to the show. [00:00:03]Brian Co: Thanks. It's so good to be here. I am so excited to be on your podcast. Uh, you know, we, we've been both been doing this for a while, but you've obviously surpassed many of the hobbyists, uh, in the, in the cycling podcast scene, so you're definitely authority when it comes to podcasts, cycling, podcasts. [00:00:24]Craig Dalton (Host): I appreciate it. And, um, you know, as we were reminiscing offline a little bit, your original podcast, the SoCal Cyclist, was one of those that was in my steady rotation as I started getting into listening to podcasts and thinking about doing one myself. [00:00:41]Brian Co: Well, thanks. I'm, uh, do I get a royalty from each episode? [00:00:47]Craig Dalton (Host): Well, you know how cycling media works so you can get a royalty, but it's not gonna do much for you. [00:00:52]Brian Co: It, it'll be, it'll, it'll be, uh, fractions of as cent, I'm sure. [00:00:57]Craig Dalton (Host): Exactly. Hey Brian, as you know, we all start the show. I love to learn like where'd you grow up and how did you find cycling originally? [00:01:05]Brian Co: You know, ironically, you know, I'm kind of, before velo worthy was known as SoCal Cyclist or SoCal Cyclist podcast, and I've ridden all over Southern California, LA Verdugo Hills, San Diego mostly. I'm based out of North County. Uh, but I actually grew up in Northern California. Um, where I think I'll, I'm a little bit biased. I think Northern California when I was growing up had a. And more robust cycling scene than Southern California, which was mostly crit heavy. Uh, so I grew up in the flat heat of Sacramento and um, you know, I think when I was, I. Probably two years old. My dad took me, my brother and all my cousins to this grassy park area called Ansel Hoffman Park and just said, I'm gonna teach you all how to ride a bike in one day. And we just, you know, the age gap between me and my cousins is about five years, and I was the youngest and we all learned the exact same day how to ride bikes. And then so like, Seven, six years later, uh, I entered my first bike race. Um, I was eight years old and it was a B M X race and I just loved it. You know, B M X was very, very big in the eighties and, uh, you know, the movie ET had just come out and there's a scene where they had take ET on the bike and they're like going down the hills and stuff, and I wanted to be Elliot from et I even remember wearing a red hoodie with the hood on. Just so I could pretend to be Elliot from et. And then when I was nine years old, I got introduced to, uh, road cycling, uh, by my cousins. And they all took this trip on the bike from LA to San Diego. I was too young to go, so I was there, but my brother and my cousins, three of 'em all went and they were, you know, 12. 13 years old. Uh, and, and they all did it. And then since after that I was like, I gotta get into bikes. Luckily there was this, this race, it was the biggest race in America at the time, equivalent to like the tour of California was. It was called the Chorus Classic. And it went through my town and it was the first time I actually. Got to meet Greg Lamond in person. And you know, I'm a little kid trying to get an autograph and I'm like tugging at his la claire jersey and he turns around and just gives me a smile because he was being surrounded by people. He had just won the tour of France, uh, for the first time. And, uh, since that point, cycling has, has been the only sport I've ever really known other than like high school, cross country and track. [00:03:59]Craig Dalton (Host): Okay. Interesting. So while you were in high school, I know, I know a lot of kids sort of end up leaving the sport in high school because of social pressures or other sports. Sounds like you kind of maintained and were still riding at that point. [00:04:14]Brian Co: Well, I think it was, it comes down to luck because I was just born at the right time. Like when I was a junior. I remember races being so full that they'd have to have heats and. It was actually cool to be a young junior cyclist. This is, I'm a few years younger than the Lance Armstrong sort of generation of guys like him and Hin, capi and a few others. Um, but when we were little, we all idolized being on like the seven 11 team or the postal service team, and it was actually cool. Today you see more of like. The older, older helmet, mirror bandana wearing crew that maybe thrive peaked in those days. But I think we're seeing a resurgence with, with gravel and, and a few other disciplines [00:05:05]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, certainly with youth, I mean, as you know, in Northern California we have big Nika League, so youth mountain biking at the high school level is insane up here. I I, the Mount Tam School high school team here in my town of Mill Valley, there's 60 kids on that team, which is an unbelievable number. And some of these kids are elite level athletes by the time they're leaving their senior year. [00:05:31]Brian Co: Yeah, it's uh, Nike's becoming the new collegiate cycling. 'cause all we had back in the day was, if you're good enough in high school, you went to a college that had a cycling team. And then I. If you were good enough to race the A category, which was like equivalent to CAT one, two, uh, you might be able to get a pro contract if you did well at a national championship. But Naica now has totally replaced that and the kids are younger, they're more talented, and even though bikes are getting more expensive and equipment is more expensive, they're able to find ways to to do that. I remember my first. Bike race as a junior. I think I was 14 or 15. I did the Mount Tam Hill climb and I was on junior Gears and one of the kids that won, he was on like the, I remember he was on the full team, Richie, uh, red, white and blue kit, and he had a mountain bike that was rigged up to be like, had skinny tires and he blew the doors off of everyone, but. Um, I just remember thinking, I can't compete with this level of talent for all the Bay Area kids. They're just head and shoulder 'cause they can all climb me. In Sacramento, I was okay on the flats and in crits, but you go to the Bay Area and they can just, they're little miniature, you know, Alberto Contours just climbing up the mountains. It was totally [00:06:55]Craig Dalton (Host): you end up, did you end up going to a university that had a cycling program? [00:06:59]Brian Co: Yeah. So, uh, when I was in high school, you know, I, I looked at different colleges. I ended up going to Northern Arizona University and Flagstaff that had I. Uh, a really big cycling team. In fact, um, the first Collegiate National Mountain Bike Championship I did, and, uh, the team got third in the Omnia behind, I think it was like CU Boulder and Stanford. And n a u is not known for a whole lot, but Flagstaff itself is a city, is, is a great place for mountain biking and just, it's at, it's at 7,000 feet altitude. And so you're, you're living at 7,000 feet, you're training at eight to 9,000 feet, and then you just, you have so much, uh, ability to do a lot. And so I actually abandoned road racing and went through like three years of a mountain bike phase. [00:07:54]Craig Dalton (Host): I was just gonna ask you that. [00:07:56]Brian Co: Yeah, rode a Bri Bridgestone, uh, fully rigid, uh, mountain bike, 26 inch wheels. And then my suspension, it was called a soft ride suspension stem. [00:08:07]Craig Dalton (Host): Uh, Brian, don't even talk to me about that. That's painful. [00:08:11]Brian Co: Yeah, [00:08:11]Craig Dalton (Host): had one of those. [00:08:12]Brian Co: jackhammer down these, down, these like breaking bumps. And I'm like, and uh, I, but at the time, like it was that, or like I think Rock Shocks had just come out with like the Judy or something. And so, uh, I did three national championships. Um, the hardest one I ever did was in Kentucky. Uh, a young up and comer from Fort Lewis. His name was Todd Wells, uh, lapped me on the last lap, and I'm like, who is this weirdo? And, uh, he ended up being one of the most dominant mountain bikers in America after that. So I, I hung up my mountain bike cleats after that point. [00:08:52]Craig Dalton (Host): So let's fast forward a number of years you find yourself in Southern California. It sounds like you were still racing criteriums. Recognizing you're not going pro, but still like many of us just loving the sport and continuing to do it. Tell me about like the transition from that to starting to talk about it on the podcast. [00:09:12]Brian Co: Oh, well, I think anyone who grows up with cycling needs, especially from a young age, needs to take a break. So I, I moved to Southern California just because I could, I could ride my bike year round, but then I ended up falling in love with the ocean and I, and I sold all my bike stuff and I ended up taking up surfing for like the next eight years straight. All I did was surf. And I even remember taking like my friends who were like pro cyclists out surfing and then they get hooked. Like my friend, uh, Alex Rio who was on Optum and Rally moved here and I was like his motor pacing guy, but I'm like, Hey, there's a ocean ride here like a hundred feet that way. Let's go get surfboards. And then he ended up loving it so much he moved to Hawaii, ended up starting big island bike tours there. Um, so I, I, I took a break from the sport. I, you know, got a little burned out. I was a little, uh, you know, it was during the whole doping e p o, you know, post live strong kind of mess. And I still followed the tour and stuff on tv, but I, I just wasn't racing anymore. And then one day, like. You know, in 2012 I just got, I, I used my beach cruiser 'cause everyone in Southern California has beach cruisers and I just started doing five miles, 10 miles, 20 miles up to 30 miles on a beach cruiser that weighs about 55 pounds with a basket and a lock. And then, uh, I told myself one day, okay, cool, I'm on a beach cruiser. I'm riding in board shorts and a t-shirt and a helmet, and there's this climb in Southern California called Tory Pines. And I, I said to myself, okay, if I can pass a guy in a real bike kit and a real road bike, I'm gonna buy myself a road bike. And I was like, I don't know how I'm gonna do it. So I, I finally, Saw somebody in a d in like a team kit. I think it was the Swamis team, which is a big team in Southern California. Cotton passed him. I was so gassed up at the top. I remember he said something to me. I think it was a compliment. My bike, it wasn't a single speed, it was a three speed internal hub. And then next day I got a road bike and started racing. And then the first crit I entered, I think it was like masters. I got. I got 13th place and then I was like 13th place with no training, but still the skills. And then I started doing more and more and more and catted up and then started doing the the 35 plus masters, which is I. Uh, probably as fast as the pro one, two, uh, guys, I mean, a lot of 'em are ex pros themselves and just started doing that and then was having so much fun. Decided to create a podcast, talking to all my friends about, um, bike racing and stuff like that. [00:12:15]Craig Dalton (Host): Nice, nice. Yeah. To your point, like in California, the master's class, like there's so many great riders and ex pros scattered across California, you hop into a Master's category. You may very well be racing against an X Pro. [00:12:31]Brian Co: Oh yeah, like I remember I was fighting somebody's wheel just so I could draft behind his name's. Ivan Dominguez, he is the Cuban missile. Just 'cause I wanted to look at his calves. I. That's all I wanted to do. And be like, oh, what gear is he using? And he's like this slow churn, you know, opposite of like spin to win, just mashing the gear. And I was just staring at his calves going, this is so cool. Ivan Dominguez, you know, former multi-time, you know, crit and Road Race champion, uh, and I'm in the same race as him and stuff like that is just, is super cool. [00:13:05]Craig Dalton (Host): Amazing. So you, you're, you start the SoCal cyclist to talk to your friends and just kind of explore another creative outlet as you've got a young child in at the home. Right. [00:13:15]Brian Co: Yeah. Well, at the time, and again, this is in 2016, there wasn't a whole lot of cycling podcasts, and the ones that did exist were very, um, tech heavy. Like they focused on disc breaks and stuff like that, which is great. But I wanted to focus on me and one guest every week for 52 weeks and to see if I could actually do it. But, and, and again, this is. Uh, people physically coming over to my house and recording. So it's the most inefficient way possible. And so, uh, I, I, I met that goal. I, I don't know why I even did it, but I, uh, you know, it started out as, as my friends in the first few episodes, and then by the last it was, you know, a lot of the top people in the sport. So I think it gained a lot of momentum after that. [00:14:07]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, and I can't recall how I originally found and discovered your podcast, but even before you rebranded to Velo Worthy, I was a listener, as you know, and when we connected at that first. Sea Otter, I think we were saying it might've been 2018. I was sort of fanboying you 'cause I knew you had done a lot of episodes. You're putting good content out there. Um, and it was fun to just connect with another podcaster to just trade insights. 'cause as you allo alluded to, the technology we're using back then was pretty rudimentary and difficult compared to what we're able to use today. [00:14:46]Brian Co: Yeah, you're right. Like. Whenever we record or put something out there, not just in podcasting, but in videos or anything, all you're staring at are numbers. So when you see somebody in person, you're like, oh, wow, somebody actually, this isn't all just a facade, like somebody actually is listening and we're talking about in person. So I think that's so cool. I mean, to this day, you know, most recently I was at Unbound, um, and I, I was so. Flattered and kind of validated that people would be like, oh, I watch your race coverage or your YouTube channel, and it just kind of blows me away. And I'm like, oh, really? You watch it? That's cool. And then they talk about it and stuff. So, uh, it still blows my mind. And I, I love that kind of thing. It's cool. [00:15:35]Craig Dalton (Host): so it is interesting in talking and getting a little bit more of your backstory to learn that. You know you had that mountain bike period in your life when you were back in Flagstaff. Then you come back to the road doing your thing, start podcasting Covid hits. I know you decided to kind of put the brakes on the podcast for a little while. I'm curious, in that sort of interim period from 2020 to now, it sounds like you've really kind of discovered gravel as being something that both suits you. Professionally with what you're doing with Worthy, but also just liking the, the vibe of the community and the style of riding. [00:16:15]Brian Co: Yeah, I mean 2020, you know, if, if everything shut down and there's no more races or even, like, I remember the group rides were a fraction of the size they were. Uh, why not do gravel where it's out in the open, it's. Mostly unsanctioned unless you sign up for something. And uh, I think the timing of everything just kind of worked. Um, gravel and I think gravel events kind of really took off between 2020 and now. And I think it appeals to so many people, including myself, because the rules are kind of unwritten. I mean, if I tried to do this, With a road background or a road focus, it would be 10 times more red tape to go to an event, especially like a U C I World Tour event because I, I have gone to like, uh, the tour of France and, um, Amgen Tour of California and just to go through those channels. It's very tradition based. Um, I, I interviewed one writer stuck a microphone in his face. Nathan Haas, he's, he's in gravel now actually, but at the time he, I think he was on like Catusa and he had just finished the stage and I just asked him a question and he reaches toward my lanyard with my media credential and he looks at it and goes, who am I talking to? And, uh, didn't even occur to me to like, Show him my badge. But if I did that at a gravel race, they'd be like, who are you trying to fool? Just talk to me like it. There doesn't need to be this vetting process. Um, so I think gravel gives that kind of freedom. [00:18:01]Craig Dalton (Host): So we don't, so the listener doesn't lear lose the thread here. Let's talk about velo worthy and what you're working on today because it's not a podcast anymore. [00:18:11]Brian Co: No, I, God, I, I need to get back into podcasting 'cause I miss it so much and I'm so excited just being on a podcast like, energizes me so much. But, so velo worthy is primarily, uh, a digital media brand where, uh, For lack of a better term, I make videos and put 'em up on YouTube. Um, but the, the thing about it is I've found this weird niche, uh, with my brand that not many other brands are doing. Um, you're either, most people, you know, if you're like, I. Tyler Pierce, a k a vegan cyclist, you're a vlogger or you, you focus on yourself and your accomplishments. Other writers do that as well. Um, Adam Roberts has his own channel, for example, Alexi has his own channel, for example. So if you're not that, you're either a, a. Working for a media brand. So if you work for Envy or something, you're just doing envy content at these events. But right now there's really nothing that captures the holistic view of an event where you're ca, you're not beholden to one writer necessarily or one brand. You're just trying to cover everything, which is a lot of work. But I think there's something to be said to. Sort of capture an unbiased view of what goes on at cycling events and just seeing things, how they unfold. [00:19:36]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, I think that's the thing that I take away from your videos is that you really do get the sense and feeling of the event. It's not a, an overly packaged, overly produced look at the entirety of the event. You really do. Because you're on the ground, because you're moving through the course, you're capturing footage that's just feels real, like you're seeing the mud on the tires. And when it comes to unbound, you're seeing the jockeying for water. At some of the stations, you're seeing how the riders are handling their pits. And I just feel like as a viewer, you do get a really strong sense of what it's like to be there versus this overly glamorized kind of prepackaged view of what the race weekend experience looked like. [00:20:27]Brian Co: Well, first of all, I'm just not good enough to make something highly produced because that takes a lot of talent, you know, to get that nice, you know, transition effect or whatever. But all kidding aside though, I really like, um, being in the moment, you're kind of up close and personal and, and the thing about gravel racing, the biggest flaw is it's not good for spectating. You start and then you finish either in the same place as the start or a different area. I mean, at least in road racing, it's criteriums and you can just watch lap after lap, have it unfold. But with gravel it's so hard to watch. Um, and so I know that if I film for 10 hours straight, that's kind of boring. Uh, no one's gonna watch that. But if I condense it into. Less than an hour or 45 minutes, or even a half an hour. Um, it can really capture the things that are unfolding. And unbeknownst to me, I didn't know that my footage was gonna be, you know, used for feed zone drama or finish line drama or any kind of drama really, but, The writers are not shy out on course. They'll ask me, what's the time gap? They'll ask me how many guys are ahead, who's in that break? They're asking, they're not asking for directions or anything. And I do follow all the rules of um, I. The race. So if a writer needs assistance and we're not allowed to give it, I don't give it, I just record. Um, so I think the relationship that I versus, uh, you know, a, a local news channel has, uh, at least knowing and following the sport and knowing the writers. And how it's unfolding and posting up at the feed zones, capturing what may or may not happen, uh, whether people wait up or they just hit the gun and go for it. Uh, makes for good, good video. [00:22:21]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, and I think as a fan of the sport, your types of content just help fill the gaps like we might see. Throughout the day, the social media coverage, but the clips are quite quick and much to people's chagrin because it's so hard to get coverage out there, you're just not seeing it in the way you want. So you don't necessarily understand what happened in the race until after the fact. And I was enjoying this morning watching your Unbound video 'cause it just sort of, Added levels of detail and little bit longer clips of content to really get a feel. You know, I obviously many of us have read about the mud conditions in this year's unbound, and it wasn't until I saw some of your, your video that I could sort of understand. Oh yeah. It's that peanut buttery type mud where it looks glossy until you put your tire into it and then it just sinks down a couple inches and it sticks to absolutely everything. [00:23:18]Brian Co: Yeah, this, this year's unbound wasn't necessarily the the dirtiest, but I would say that section of mud. Made the race. Uh, I, I would say it determined who won and lost in that first 11 miles. Uh, but you know, again, you can have the debate of you just gotta be hard and power through it. And if everyone's going through it, then you shouldn't complain or. Do you reroute it last minute and make some changes? So it's actually more of a open, right, where you're, you're riding your bike, you're not running five miles since most cyclists hate running anyway. But yeah, like I, I just, I think, you know, I, I try and show and capture what people would hopefully wanna see. So it's stuff like the mud and, and the pit stops, especially this year. Who's getting a bike wash? Who's not, uh, who's. There's a little section of Sophia that went through the pit stop and it got two and a half million views on TikTok. Just the 60 seconds of it with people going, everything from, why can't she switch bikes to, uh, why does she need to power wash her bike at all? Like, so it's, a lot of it is curiosity. A lot of it is, okay, this is what I heard what happened. I wanna actually see it. So, um, it, it, it's hard to, to get in those areas though. [00:24:45]Craig Dalton (Host): and you've, you know, through a lifetime of cycling and connections you have, you clearly have a good rapport with a lot of these athletes. And it was interesting as that video opened up and, and you're speaking to some of the athletes, I, I thought that was cool. And then you, you do do like morning of start line commentary, and I think there was one woman who said something like, Well, I'm glad it didn't, it's not raining right now, or it seems kind of dry and I thought that statement is not gonna live well. [00:25:13]Brian Co: Yeah. Well, the thing is too, as much as I. You know, I think this is my fifth unbound. Kansas is like Hawaii. The weather just changes on a dime. So it could be sunny, perfectly sunny, not a cloud. And then they just roll in. Um, and a lot of people who aren't from Kansas just aren't used to that. Like even me, I should know, to bring galoshes and, uh, a poncho with me and a plastic wrap for my camera. But I. I didn't because I'm like, oh, the weather looks fine. You know? 'cause we're in California. It rarely changes that drastically. Uh, so yeah, I think I. The relationship I have with the writers is solid. I try not to, to burn people for the sake of burning people. I, I had a good talk with some of the more well-seasoned journalists, and I said, when do you, when do you know when to publish something and when not to, like in the case of Lance Armstrong, no reporter reported anything about him until only one reporter did, and then everybody did, and they said, look, If you wanna burn somebody, you have to do it if it's for the greater good of the sport. So if you know somebody's doing something nefarious, like cutting the course, or cheating or taking drugs or drafting off of a vehicle, you should probably document that and mention that and show that. Don't, don't not do it just because you're friends with them and they ask you not to do it. [00:26:46]Craig Dalton (Host): Right. Yeah, [00:26:47]Brian Co: is always hard because you're like, okay, if I do this, that means you're never gonna probably wanna interview with me again. So that's, that's something I have to decide on the fly. [00:26:57]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, that's the balance. You talked about sort of your efforts to make velo worthy, this video project that people can enjoy on YouTube. You also talked about how you've been excited about coming to Gravel over the last couple years. What does the summer look like for you? What are the types of things that you wanna document this year? [00:27:16]Brian Co: Well, I, I'm learning that I'm not able to sustain what I'm doing on velo worthy unless we have an unbound every single weekend or at least a level of an event, the size of Unbound every single weekend. So I'm actually learning that, again, this is a complete shock to me that brands. Will actually reach out to me and say, okay, we want you to review this tire. Or thinking that I'm some sort, sort of expert just 'cause I go to these events. But, uh, yeah, it's kind of cool, like I'm learning the tech side of it all and doing videos where, uh, I'm reviewing saddles or sunglasses or something. Um, where, you know, in my opinion, I review something. Say sunglasses based on how they look versus like the, the technical prowess of it. And so that's always cool because it, it forces me to just expand what I'm doing and, and you know, you have to have this healthy balance between what you're passionate about versus what people want to see. And if they don't line up, then you have to make some decisions. But, um, You know when, when I'm gr interested in growing velo worthy, it depends on how I define growth and what I want that to be. Because if I could, I could be another channel where I'm just doing all tech, and some people love that. But for me, I like the human story. I like the human drama of it all. [00:28:53]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah. I personally think that's more interesting as well. [00:28:57]Brian Co: Yeah, and then maybe show like what tires they're running at the same time, [00:29:01]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah. I mean [00:29:02]Brian Co: not mutually exclusive. [00:29:04]Craig Dalton (Host): exactly. I mean, there's the personal element of like why I chose this tire for this particular event and why it was successful or unsuccessful as a choice. So what's, yeah, what's next? So you're out at Unbound, and I know you'd mentioned to me offline that you've got a bunch of gravel events you wanna cover this year. [00:29:21]Brian Co: Yeah. So in between Unbound and the events I'm doing, I have it, I have this like glass wall on my wall here that I take a pen and, and write to, and I have like a whole video queue and one's on doing a tire review, uh, a review of, uh, the new, uh, specialized truck, gravel bike that I'm trying to convert into a all in one bike. Um, and then I have, uh, Foco Fondo in Fort Collins. I'm going to a small gravel race, but probably the most fun you'll ever have on two wheels. Uh, Whitney and Zach Allison put it on and they have. Such a good pulse of what makes cycling events fun. Um, doing that, there's Leadville, uh, which is mountain biking, but not super technical 'cause a lot of the lifetime athletes do it. And then Steamboat, s b t is the next week after that. And then there's also Montana, uh, mammoth Tough. Sporting the mammoth tough T-shirt. And then, uh, there's National Gravel, national Inaugural Championships, which we'll see how that even works. Some people may be like, Hey, this is awesome, and other people might say it's killing the spirit of gravel. The minute U s A cycling gets involved. [00:30:47]Craig Dalton (Host): so we'll see. So when you're out at these events, are you gonna sort of follow a similar format where you'll. Capture some athlete interviews. Capture as much of the course as you can to kind of give people the experience. [00:30:59]Brian Co: Yeah, so I actually plan it all out ahead of time. I use, you know, I have a Google Sheet doc. I type in each day, shot lists for everything. I'm very methodical, you know, charge up all my batteries, clear my, and format all my memory cards. I have all my equipment out there. I work on logistics. I get in touch with the athletes ahead of time and we plan, okay, we're gonna meet at this time, at this location. We're gonna sit down for five minutes and talk about this thing. And then when you get there, you know, everyone has a plan till you get punched in the face and then something could happen, it could rain. Uh, the athlete could be like, I don't feel like showing up. I've run into just every logistical thing you can. And so when you're there, you have to adjust on the fly and be like, okay, like at Unbound. There's this whole thing I did with Rebecca Inger where I didn't know she was gonna get sixth and she's this big personality and gravel, uh, and she just saw me and she's like, Hey, come walk with me. And I followed her and we went to get a race number at registration and I just started documenting that. And then I was like, well, why don't you just come over for dinner the night before? Bring Sarah Max, her friend. They're both like super solid in gravel. They came over for dinner and then I was like, let's just go in the living room and we'll film real quick. And they, they were sort of the intro to that video. None of that was planned. That was all spontaneous. So yeah, like you can only plan so much until it actually happens. And then when it does, you have to adapt it kind of like racing itself, you know? So, uh, in a ways it's, I I approach those events in the same way. [00:32:42]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, that makes sense. Sweet. Well, I'm super excited to see all those events you're gonna cover later in the year. I definitely, I wanna get more of the flavor I've had, I've had Whitney on talking about Foco Fondo. I've had Jess, Sarah and Sam Boardman on talking about Last Best Ride. I'm always curious to just kind of see on the ground footage of. How those events will go down and what the experience looks like. Because I think at the end of the day, most athletes who aren't professional athletes, you know, we've got limited time and limited budgets to get out there and picking the events that are gonna be the right vibe I think is important. I. [00:33:19]Brian Co: Yeah. You know, and not every event needs to be documented in the way, say, Unbound is because not every race is about even focusing on the pointy end, especially if it's a smaller event where people just kind roll out. There's no neutral, there's no gun that goes. People just roll out and then they finish. They still ride hard. So I have to figure out a better way to tell the story. 'cause if I just focus on the leaders or one guy or girl, that's just gonna get boring and because there's so much that happens behind that. There's people on tandems and there's people on all kinds of weird gravelly, custom steel alloy, flannel, mustache, whatever. Like it's just, there's so much going on that I, I, I need to be able to capture that as well, so, [00:34:13]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah. No, I agree. I, I mean, I think I've, I've done an equal part of like pointy end of the race racers and mid packers, and I know. It seems to be a growing trend. 'cause I think at the end of the day, part of this quote unquote spirit of gravel is we're all participating together. So I do, I tend to agree with you that the sort of flannel shirt, wearing Mustached party pace athlete experience is every bit as valid to understand as part of, you know, what the overall event jam is gonna feel like as the pointy ended. In fact, probably even more so. [00:34:47]Brian Co: Yeah, I mean, I. Some people finish Unbound in 10 hours and some people finish it in 20 hours. So for the people who are finishing in 20 hours, they had, they spent more time at Unbound than the pros did. [00:34:59]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, no, I, I, I remember back from my triathlon days at Ironman and thinking like, you know, you have the pros finishing in whatever, seven or eight hours. Then the person who's finishing in 17 hours. That is such a harder day, and I think that most of the pros would acknowledge that saying like, they don't think they could even do a 17 hour day. [00:35:21]Brian Co: Yeah, and the pros are asleep and they have their feet up and they've already had a couple of beverages consumed. I don't know. I've been last in bike races before. I've d NFD in bike races, uh, and I've been in bike races, road bike races where I've come in. I'm pretty sure dead last, where they're like taking like the finishing barriers out and I just kind of like hide. But in gravel, you see like at mid-south, they're celebrating and embracing whoever finishes his last, like at Unbound, the XL winner I think did it in, they finished on like a Sunday afternoon. They started on Friday. Uh, and they, they brought out everyone and sprayed champagne on 'em. And you just don't see that at other events. [00:36:09]Craig Dalton (Host): I think that's the allure of the ultra endurance events that are prevalent in gravel, right? Because these are lifetime achievements to kind of do a 200 mile race or what have you. And yeah, everybody should be celebrated. Everybody should feel an immense sense of accomplishment for just having got a getting across the finish line. [00:36:29]Brian Co: Yeah. I met, I'm met a, I'm met a volunteer. Who was doing the finish line, like wet shammy, butter washcloths, those yellow ones. And I'm like, oh, where are you from? He is like, oh, I'm from Florida. And I'm like, you came all the way from Florida to be a volunteer and you're not even writing the event. He's like, yeah, but being a volunteer gets you entry for the next year. So you're already, you're already doing prep. Well before you're, you can even do it 'cause the lottery system is so random. But if you volunteer, you're guaranteed an entry. Or if you're a vendor, you're guaranteed an entry. And people, I forget, travel I. Just to volunteer. You would never see that. You would never see that at a crit as much as I love crit racing, or you'd never see it at a row race where someone volunteers a year early just to just to throw wet rags on somebody just so they can race it the next year. That just speaks volumes. [00:37:26]Craig Dalton (Host): yeah, it really does. Cool. Well, Brian, I appreciate you coming on and sharing the story. I'll make sure people know how to check out the content so they can explore. The velo worthy YouTube channel. [00:37:38]Brian Co: Thank you. And, uh, you know, I, I, I, I think that a lot of room to grow, not in terms of traffic necessarily, but in the way I. People like you and me develop within the sport. Like we're not, we don't have the advantage of being ex-professional with a big following. So like if Peter Seg wants to start his own podcast, we're just doomed. We just are. But I think we just grind it out. We're there, we're talking to people. We're learning and we're creating, I think a great. Space in the sport to have voices like these. So I really appreciate the opportunity to be out here and talking to you because I just love what you're doing and I, I love being able to share my passion for the sport. [00:38:29]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah. Amazing. Thanks Brian.  

BIGFOOT! AMERICA'S CREEK DEVIL| Bigfoot near Fort Lewis Washington | Episode 214 ************************** You can support CreekDevil by becoming a Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/CreekDevil If you enjoyed this content, please subscribe and click the bell! Question, Comment, or Encounter? Shoot us an email: Questions@CreekDevil.com Visit us on the web: https://CreekDevil.com https://WilliamJevning.com iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast email: Questions@CreekDevil.com CREDITS: Bigfoot Creature by Guido Basile Graphic design and layout by co host Tom Voice Over by: Jeff Musgrave Jared Rivit https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1066424 Jim Sower Music: Epic Cinematic Dramatic Adventure Trailer by RomanSenykMusic. Music Link: https://youtu.be/c-XpTMGPQvI Opinion Disclaimer the views and opinions expressed on https://CreekDevil.com, https://WilliamJevning.com, https://www.youtube.com/user/wjevning and are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinion, official policy or position of CreekDevil.com, WilliamJevning.com WILLIAM JEVNING - Founder CreekDevil.com - Jevning Research Group To all who seek adventure and knowledge. -- William Jevning © William Jevning 2023 All Rights Reserved Ep-210 #creekdevil #williamjevning #bigfoot #sasquatch #yeti Shout Out to Our Patreon Supporters! Lisa Helmick Doug Finch Paul Seeds Tameek Jrdk 1 Buff Elvis Karim Anastasia ZRRIFLE Barry S Fred S Anne K Cuzn T Joseph P Arlene F Mike Zuzana Polly S Jeanae S Emily B Kevin F Danny W Lauren G Christopher Q Brian C Kevin B Shelly S Berny M Craig W Wayne J Mike N Erik Jimme D Tiffany R Michelle Pappa Dave Allan H Gary J Dr. Milton Terry D Parker J Don Sgt. Mack L Josh K Diane Edward Gary P Staci K Derrick L Peter M Heywood Meghan E Dr. Terrence Seth R Braden G Thank you Patreons! To all who seek knowledge and adventure -- William Jevning

A new exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society about Bob Hope's devotion to entertaining the troops was all the excuse All Over The Map needed to revisit vintage audio of dusty old jokes recorded at Fort Lewis way back in 1942 during World War II.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our military is not the place for social experimentation . . .AUTO-GENERATED TRANSCRIPT00:00:01 [ALLEN WEST]Lieutenant Colonel Allen West, and welcome to the Steadfast and Loyal podcast.00:00:13 [MUSIC]00:00:52 [ALLEN WEST]Hey folks, thanks for joining us on this episode of the Steadfast Law Podcast. And I just want to take some time to kind of get some thoughts out there with you all. Recently I had the opportunity of going and seeing my nephew take command of an artillery battalion there at joint base Lewis and Mcchord, something that he watched me do 21 years ago and it was just so great to be back on an army installation and it's the exact same installation.00:01:19 [ALLEN WEST]Back then, it was known as Fort Lewis WA in 1982, where I went through the ROTC advanced camp and after completing that six to seven week advance camp, it's kind of like ROTC Cadet Boot camp training. I came back and I was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army, so Fort Lewis has some really deep connections with me and also my nephew.00:01:43 [ALLEN WEST]Lieutenant Colonel Herman Bernard West III, he went through ROTC advance camp at Fort Lewis, so it was kind of nice to drive over to North Fort Hood area, where there used to be the Old World War II barracks where we were housed when we were ROTC cadets.Now that's where his headquarters is for his battalion, the first battalion and 94th Field Artillery Regiment, High Mars High Mobility Artillery rocket system.And the interesting thing about him taking command of a high Mars battalion and he also commanded a high Mars battery was that as their operations.Officer of the 18th Field Artillery Brigade airborne at Fort Bragg, NC. We filled it the very first high Mars test Platoon 3 launchers and we were very instrumental in developing the tactics, the techniques and the procedures for the implementation and the implementation of the artillery rocket system and how they would be delivered onto the battlefield and so.It was just a great thing to be there, to see him taking command of 400 soldiers. It's just good to be around soldiers. But I just got to ask what is going on with our military? With some of our senior leaders.00:03:02 [ALLEN WEST]Now let me frame this in a means that you can understand. It is not a right to be a soldier, Sailor, airman, Marine, Space Force -- whatever you call them -- and Coast Guard, it is not a right. It's a privilege.00:03:18 [ALLEN WEST]To be able to wear the uniforms and on one side, says United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Space Force and have your last name on the other side. Although I think we should continue with referring to people as “Sir” and “Ma'am.” But understand that it is a privilege to serve in the military. We have an all-volunteer force. People raise their right hand, say I want to get some of this, but there's still standards.00:03:48 [ALLEN WEST]If you want to talk about a discriminatory organization, it's the United States military. I mean, you have to be a certain height. You have to be a certain weight. You cannot have any certain medical conditions, you know, asthma or flat feet.You know, I thought I was a pretty strack troop back in the day, but I was not at the height requirement to be a member of the Third Infantry Regiment, which is known as the old guard in Washington, DC. You had to be 5 feet 11 or taller, 5 feet 11, I think to 6'1” to 6'2'. I'm only 5'9”.00:04:27 [ALLEN WEST]Not going to change the standard, that's just how it is. So when I see leaders in the United States military right now that really seem to be confused about what the mission of the military is. The mission of the military is to fight and win the nation's wars. Unfortunately, we haven't been doing too good here recently, especially when you think about the debacle in Afghanistan.00:04:58 [ALLEN WEST]We need to get back to understanding our core competencies in the military, what it means to be a soldier, what it means to be a marine, a sailor, an airman. Remember the space force? I'm still struggling with what you call them, Space Cadet. I don't know. And you know, hopefully no one's going to get upset because I said Coast Guardsman, but that means all members of the United States Coast Guard.00:05:25 [ALLEN WEST]But recently some of the articles that have come out about. Senior military leaders are doing especially again in this month of June. This pride thing. Let me tell you something. When you put on that uniform. That's your pride. You are part of a brotherhood, a sisterhood. The Band of Brothers. That is truly indicative of the one percenters of the United States of America.00:06:00 [ALLEN WEST]Those people who have taken the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, to bear true faith and allegiance to the same that they took that obligation freely without any purpose of mental reservation. Mental evasion or reservation, purpose of evasion of mental reservation. So help me God, I got it.00:06:23 [ALLEN WEST]No one's coerced into doing that. No one's intimidated into doing that. We don't round people up in the streets. There's not a draft. It's a privilege to say I want some, I want to be one of those.00:06:38 [ALLEN WEST]But when I see like the headlines here of this article. Space Force general decries anti LGBTQ plus alphabet soup mafia laws at Pentagon Pride event claims they affect hiring decisions.Lieutenant General Deanna Burt, commanding general of the Space Force, says such laws, such as what's been passed here in Texas to protect children 18 years of age and below. She says this is dangerous for members of the military. I mean, members of the military are 18 years of age and above.But the the thing that I'm looking at is we have the top talent in the nation.We must enable them to perform their missions by ensuring they're not worried about the health and safety of their families.A Pentagon official said. The Department of the Air Force recognizes the various laws and legislation to being proposed and passed in states across America that may affect LGBTQ airmen, guardians or their LGBTQ dependents in different ways.The Mission Space Force, whatever Air Force. You're supposed to be out there defending the country.I don't think China is worried about some LGBTQ plus IA alphabet mafia soup.And furthermore, I mean we should not be focusing on what states are passing to protect, to protect their kids.You're the commanding general of the Space Force. You know, maybe you should make sure we don't have Chinese spy balloons flying over.And I don't know what level altitude space forces were about, but maybe you should be worried about cyber security so we don't have these cyber-attacks. You should not be worried about the whole LGBTQIA+ thing.00:08:37 [ALLEN WEST]See when was it that all of a sudden senior military leaders got involved in ideological agendas? They ain't your business. You can say that West is a bigot, West is a hater. No, I'm not. But let me tell you something about West. When he was in the military, I put people out of the military because they couldn't run fast enough. Couldn't pass PT test physical training tests. They couldn't maintain that the right type of height, weight standards. They had too many DUI's. Or even they bounce too many checks.If you could not show fiscal results, we did not have time to deal with your personal issues, but now all of a sudden we're supposed to believe that the most important thing that that the senior military officers should be talking about in this month or any other month.Is personal sexual behavior? Let me just be very blunt here. If you are confused about whether or not you are a little boy or a little girl, perhaps the United States military is not the place for you.And look, I was in the army when we had the don't ask, don't tell and the Clinton administration all of a sudden that got changed. There's some issues about that, sexual harassment issues. No one wants to talk about, but it's there. And again, why are we trying to accommodate personal sexual behavior? I thought the mission of the military was to bring people in. We're making a team. We're not supposed to be worried about personal sexual behaviors or proclivities and things of this nature. So why are we talking about these things? Why do we have people in the military that are saying that?You know they're going to protect dependent.And provide them with quote UN quote, gender-affirming care. No. You know, all you're doing is mutilating the child.And show me where it says that taxpayer dollars are supposed to be going to mutilating children who are dependents of military servicemen and women.00:10:40 [ALLEN WEST]Our taxpayer dollars are supposed to be going to making sure we had a trained, prepared and ready to deploy organization military not to have a military where we just saw a recent I think it was the Chief of Naval Operations testify before. I think the House Armed Services Committee, they don't have enough amphibious shipping to deploy marine. What is the major mission of the United States Marine Corps? To deploy and conduct amphibious operations, but we don't have enough. To enable the Marines to do their core competency, their core mission. You're telling me we need to be worried about gender mutilation, mutilation surgeries and hormonal therapies and puberty blockers for kids, dependent kids and, no, it's not me being a hater. That's not me being a bigot. That's me being a realist. That's me talking about what?00:11:45 [ALLEN WEST]The mission of the military is, and if that's something that's important to you, maybe you should not be in the United States military. Because again, remember I said it's not a right that you get to serve in the military as a privilege. And there's certain standards that we have. The mission is above you, the individual.But if you think that that is upside down, that's the problem that we get into. Pentagon officials defend diversity and inclusion at a prior month's event, uniformed and Civilian Defense Department officials defended LGBTQ plus there as it is, alphabet soup mafia again, service members and diversity and inclusion efforts on Wednesday at the Pentagon's annual Pride Diversity inclusion, meanwhile, comprises much more than efforts to get people in the door of the recruiting center.00:12:37 [ALLEN WEST]See we've got senior military leaders like this Lieutenant General Deanna Burt and others that are saying that, you know, West, you and these other folks that are talking about these things, you're the reason why we don't have people joining the military. I don't think so. I think one of the main reasons that you are struggling with recruiting in the military cause no one wants to end up in a body bag like 13 of our service members did in Afghanistan. Because of the incompetence of the senior-level leadership in the United States military, nobody wants to be in the military, where everything is focused on equity, the equality of outcomes instead of the equality of opportunity.00:13:24 [ALLEN WEST]See, when I was a young Lieutenant and I made the commandants list of the Field Artillery Officer basic course at Fort Sill I was selected to go to one of the premier units in the United States Army, it was the 509 Parachute Infantry Regiment Airborne Battalion combat team at that time of essence Italy. It ended up becoming the 4th Battalion, 300 and 25th Airborne Battalion Combat Team. But it was the only airborne unit located. And so I had to go, not just the airborne school. But in order to be an officer in that unit I had to go to jump master school right after airborne school.00:14:10 [ALLEN WEST]I want to understand something.I only have five jumps, five, 12345. And I had to go to jump master school in order to meet the standard to deploy and be in this unit, even though that was my assignment, if I didn't pass Jump Master School, I was not going to get the assignment. And I'm in a class with guys that have, you know, 200 jumps, special forces, captains, guys from the Ranger Regiment. All all these guys have been in airborne units and I show up a five jump jump. That's what they call me. They didn't change the standards. There was no talk about equity. There was no talk about hey, you know, he's black and we probably need to make sure he passes because they need a Black Lieutenant over there in the airborne battalion and Vicenza, Italy.00:15:05 [ALLEN WEST]I had to meet all the standards. I had to go through and conduct what is called a JMP.I jumpmaster personnel inspection of three paratroopers, one in in in just straight parachute, then the other who had combat gear with their parachute equipment and had to do all of those jumpers.I believe in 3 minutes and 30 seconds and I had to find out all of the gigs that were wired into their jump master jump equipment and their parachutes. I had to call them out by the right nomenclature.When I saw those deficiencies and I had to follow the right sequence of the inspection, or else I was done. I remember coming home with a parachute harness and everything and putting it on my little brother in Atlanta, GA, and just rehearse and rehearse and rehearse and rehearsing because it wasn't about equity. It was about equality of opportunity.00:16:02 [ALLEN WEST]And now all of a sudden, you know, the whole thing is about diversity and inclusion, that the Pride Month event that Pentagon officials are talking about that Navy commander Emily Schilling, one of the highest ranking openly transgender officers in the military, came out two days.After then President Donald Trump's ban on transgender troops went into effect for shilling inclusion for transgender service members is a matter of life and death. Schilling is talking about. Well, if you don't allow us to serve, we're going to commit suicide.That's what she said, Shilling told the audience Wednesday that over the course of the two years that the transgender ban was in place, 31 transgender service members died by suicide. In the two years after the the ban was revoked, the number dropped to 2.00:16:46 [ALLEN WEST]They didn't die of suicide because of a ban. They died of suicide because they suffer from a mental condition. Now if we are putting members of the military out because they are overweight or they can't come in because they have flat feet or whatever, then why are we having people in with a mental condition?If they are confused about whether that their little boy, little girl, and why then that we turn around and telling the American taxpayer that you got to fund their medical condition, their mental condition which no one forced them to have.00:17:23 [ALLEN WEST]I mean, I I I look. I mean, we all remember Corporal Klinger from M*A*S*H, and Corporal Kinger dressed up that way because he wanted to try to show he was crazy so he could get sent back home. Ohh Colonel West, come on, let them serve. A standard is a standard is a standard. Not everyone is supposed to be able to serve, you know they're the other things you can do. The Peace Corps you can do to forest your service. There are many things I want the best of the best of the best of the best in the United States military. I've been a commander. Commanders don't have time to worry about individual sexual proclivities and problems and issues. They need to be focused on training the men and women under their command.00:18:16 [ALLEN WEST]Sergeant Major of the Army, the top enlisted leader, shot back at criticism of a post from the 82nd Airborne Division. 82nd Airborne Division, I mean.Jumping Jim Gavin and and Matthew Ridgway probably freaking out in their grades. But the 82nd Airborne Division celebrating here, we're going LGBTQ plus IA. Alphabet soup Mafia members, and the two day Twitter battle enlisted man in the United States military. The top dog command Sergeant Major of the army is going back and forth on Twitter. For two days.Maybe he's trying to defend something that shouldn't be defended anyhow, Twitter users, many of whom describe themselves as veterans in their account BIOS, mocked the 82nd airborne divisions Friday morning. Posts kickstarted the units observance of Pride Month.And let me tell you something. When I was a paratrooper, my pride came and putting on that maroon beret because that said I was a cut above. I was the United States Army paratrooper. Pride didn't come in with who you slept with. The Pride didn't come from your gender confusion. Pride came in the fact that I met the standard, I exceeded the standard and I will serve in my country.00:19:43 [ALLEN WEST]Sergeant Major Michael Grinston, the Army's top enlisted leader responsible for morale and discipline issues in the service, condemned the criticism as harassment and shot back at tweets through Saturday morning as senior military leaders have not shot away from wearing in, weighing in on America's cultural controversies.Our senior military leaders should not be weighing in on cultural controversies.Our senior military leaders should be making sure that our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, space force, ease. They're ready to deploy, to fight, to win.You know the 82nd Airborne Division tweet recommended Army families get this.82nd Airborne Division All American recommended Army families check out a book called a Survival Guide for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning teens, as well as another that describes how parents can learn to support their LGBTQIA+ child from the on-base library.These titles are intended for ages 13 and up. I raised two daughters in the military. They didn't think about any of this stuff. None of the kids I remember playing thought about any of this stuff. They were just out there playing, you know, what was the greatest amount of pride that I had? For the kids, my two daughters especially, but when at 1700 hours, 1730, 1800 hours, end of the day. When you hear colors. And they knew where the center of the installation. I'll never forget in Fort Hood, TX. And they faced to the center and they stood quiet at attention knowing that the flag was being lowered. That's something to take pride in were your children. Not telling your children they need to go and get a book called a survival Guide for LGBTQ whatever.Why is the United States military pushing an ideological agenda and using taxpayer funds to do that? So to all of these senior military leaders, to the Department of Defense and to Navy Commander Emily Schilling, who I don't know what you were, but you're still a guy because that's what your DNA will say.If you were to pass out or lose your life, the medical examiner is going to announce she was a male or female. Years from now, when you're someone digs up your bones, it's going to be male or female. So we're just making stuff up in our military. Service members did not die because the service shows pride, love and rainbows.00:23:04 [ALLEN WEST]Shilling said “pride saves lives.” And Pride is a testament that the LGBTQIA+ community endures and will endure. Pride in who you are as an American, as a soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman, space force. That's what saves lives. Training saves lives.00:23:29 [ALLEN WEST]We had a motto, of the 18 Field Artillery Brigade airborne, it was sweat saves blood. Not silly ideological agendas, which is what this whole thing is. Five or so years ago, none of this was happening in the United States military. All of a sudden, is it happening now? The Progressive Socialist left has always wanted to undermine and to break down what they saw was the last great bastion of traditional values, the United States military. And thanks to the useful idiots who wear uniforms and have stars on their shoulders they're being enabled to do just that. That's not going to stop a bullet, that's not going to deter our #1 geopolitical foe who's not focused on ideological agendas or individual sexual behaviors or proclivities. I don't think a single Chinese command Sergeant Major General officer or Admiral, or naval commander is that they're talking about some LGBTQIA+. They're training to kick our ***.They're not worrying about calling people Sir or ma'am. They're not worrying about the right type of pronouns. They're not worried about gender dysphoric drag queen recruiters for global hegemonic dominance.00:25:28 [ALLEN WEST]Which is why China is looking at putting a military installation ust about 100 miles off the coast of the United States of America. They already have port facilities that they built in Jamaica and the Bahamas. They're already buying up land all across the United States of America. Some of the places, such as here in Texas, they bought land right next to Laughlin Air Force Base, which is one of the premier training bases for Air Force fighter pilots. That's what they're doing. But what are we doing? We're talking about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and alphabet soup mafia, ideological agendas.00:26:30 [ALLEN WEST]One of the most important things that the next Commander-in-Chief of the United States military forces has to do is to get our military back focused on what their core mission and competencies, capability and capacity truly is to be. It ain't fair to be in the military, it's discriminatory. But that's what standards mean. And that's why, as George Orwell said, “A nation sleeps peacefully at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on her behalf.” And some rough women. Not no non-binary and all this other nonsense that this current administration, and senior military leaders. Need to get back to old school. Steadfast and Loyal.00:27:51 [MUSIC] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit allenwest.substack.com/subscribe

About Dr. Trey Hanna Dr. Hanna is 32, and married to Ashley Hanna. They have 3 daughters:  Mara Hanna (4), Lena Hanna (2), Wren Hanna (1). Ashley and Dr. Hanna will have their 10 year anniversary on June 29 this year! Outside of dentistry, Dr. Hanna enjoys playing the drums, cooking, and CrossFit. Resume Education: Graduated B.S. Chemistry from Louisiana Tech University (2013) DDS from Louisiana State University New Orleans (2017) 1 year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD-1) at Fort Lewis, Washington (2018) Work History:  Brigade Dental Officer for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (2018-2022) Discharged from Army April 20, 2022.  Bought a FFS dental practice in Ruston Louisiana on July 1st 2022. Sponsored by Kettenbach Dental.  Contact: (877) 532-2123 Website: www.kettenbach-dental.us Webshop: www.kettenbachusa.com   Offer for Fee For Service Podcast Members   Purchase a PreXion CBCT model and install by December 31, 2022 and Receive either a free mounting stand (if needed) or a $1,000 rebate in the form of an Amazon or Target gift card. To learn more, please visit https://www.prexion.com.   FFS Podcast Promotional Links:  ONLY $397: Dental Membership Master Course with Dr. Chris Phelps www.membershipmastercourse.com Dental Membership Direct www.dentalmembershipdirect.com Dental Financing Direct www.dentalfinancingdirect.com   About Dr. Sonny Spera Dr. Sonny Spera graduated from Union Endicott High School in 1981. With a four-year basketball scholarship he graduated from Syracuse University in 1985; majoring in Chemistry and Psychology. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. He was also the co-captain of the 1984-1985 Syracuse basketball team. Dr. Spera graduated from SUNY Buffalo Dental School in 1989 in the top 10% of his class. At SUNY Buffalo Dental School he was a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Society. He was also UB Graduate Assistant Basketball coach.  Dr. Spera has been in private practice since 1989 and is a member of the American Dental Association, the New York State Dental Association, the Sixth District Dental Society and the Broome County Dental Society. He is also a member of the International Association of Orthodontics, the BC Dental Society and the BCDS Study Club. Away from the office, he volunteers with several community organizations, including the Elks Club, the Son's of Italy, the STNY Flyers, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Basketball Coaches Association of New York. He is the founder and president of ME Hoops Inc. Dr. Spera currently resides with his wife Angela, whom he met at Syracuse University, and their three children, Marcus, Erica, and Carla. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, basketball, golf, music and movies. 607-624-2962 (Cell) Sonnyspera@gmail.com Www.progressivedentalny.com   Do you have a FFS practice? Would you like to be interviewed? Fill out the FFS Stories request form here: https://goo.gl/forms/7TaUF9Nqi49l1RFF2

The POLICE INTERROGATION of Skylar Nemetz PART 2Officer Darrell MooreThe following is excerpted from the report of Officer Darrell Moore: Skylar told me "I need to tell someone my story." I directed the fire department personal to the apartment so they could administer medical attention. Skylar again stated, "I want to talk to you." I stared at Skylar without saying anything. Skylar went onto say that he was in Yakima for field training with the military. Skylar said he returned home to his wife. Skylar said he loves his wife more than most other men, and that his love for her was special. Skylar stated that he returned home from Yakima and he had left his wife with his rifle for her protection when he was gone. Skylar told me that he took out the magazine, and motioned taking out the magazine. Skylar said he was making the rifle safe, and for some reason he grabbed the rifle and shook it. I watched as Skylar demonstrated grabbing what I believed to be the upper portion of the rifle with his left hand and the lower portion of the rifle with his right hand. Skylar motioned holding the rifle at an approximately 45 degree cant. Skylar said, "I just shook it and it shot her." Skylar began to make sounds as if he was crying, but I could see that he had no tears coming out. I also noticed that he had no tears during my entire contact with him.NeighborsAccording to neighbors, they regularly heard yelling coming from the Nemetz residence. Among the many statements initially made by Skylar Nemetz was a statement to his neighbor that his wife Danielle had shot herself while she was cleaning a rifle.Eureka InterviewsOn November 24, 2014, detectives traveled to Eureka, California, to conduct interviews. Among those interviewed was Samatha Minton, who stated that she knew Danielle most of her whole life. According to Minton, Danielle had met Skylar on the internet approximately two months before they married. Minton stated that she had observed what she thought was odd behavior between the couple. For example, when Daniella and Skylar would visit, Skylar would drop her off at the house and leave her there all day, while he visited with his friends.Detectives also interviewed Michayla Yingling, who had known Danielle her whole life. Yingling confirmed that Danielle had met Skylar on the internet two months before they had married.Yingling said Danielle never gave her any indication Skylar was being abusive. She knew that Skylar had broken Danielle's cell phone, but she did not know the details. Yingling said Danielle never talked negatively about Skylar, but she got the impression that Danielle was being fake. Yingling stated that Skylar would not let Danielle come to her baby shower, and that Skylar was indecisive on wanting Danielle to get a job. Skylar would tell Danielle to get a job, and when she looked for a job he would tell her she didn't need one. Yingling said Danielle just wanted someone to love her and take care of her.Yingling said Danielle thought her new boss was attractive, and that Danielle had told her that her new boss used to be an underwear model. Yingling said she had a FaceTime session with Danielle and her boss, while they were out to dinner. Yingling was positive that Danielle would not cheat on Skylar.Yingling said on the night Danielle died she had FaceTimed with her at approximately 1600 hours. Yingling said nothing appeared to be out the ordinary, and that at one point Danielle had pointed the phone at Skylar, who had smiled and waved to her.According to Mikala Rippeon, Danielle's youngest sister, Danielle was always wearing long-sleeved shirts and turtleneck sweaters. Mikala remembered seeing what appeared to be fingertip bruises on Danielle's arms.The DiaryOn February 24, 2015, detectives contacted Skylar's mother, Danetta Heller, as they had obtained information that she was possibly in possession of Danielle's diary that was taken from her apartment after the homicide. The following day, Danetta confirmed that she was in possession of Danielle's diary. Danetta stated there were some pages missing from the diary, but stated that she had not removed the missing pages. Danetta stated that she had removed the diary from the apartment because it contained information that she thought would be hurtful to her son, stating that Danielle was a "busy little girl." After speaking with Skylar's attorney, Danetta ceased to cooperate, however she turned over Danielle's diary to Skylar's attorney, who turned it over to the prosecutor. Several pages had been removed. There was an entry that was about Danielle having sex with a male named Kennedy. It stated that Kennedy and Danielle used to date, that they were still having sex, and that Kennedy's current girlfriend Chloe did not know. The entry was dated 4/23/12.CVSAAlthough the CVSA shown in this video is pseudoscience, the test results were "no signs of deception."Karie FaasOn the morning of October 17, 2014, detectives were contacted by Karie Faas, who advised that she had information about the incident. According to Faas, Nemetz and Danielle had a violent relationship. Faas stated that over the two years she has known Danielle, she has seen Danielle with bruises up and down her arms. Faas stated that she thought she still had a picture of Danielle with her face swollen and bruised, and that Danielle had told her it was from a mosquito bite.Faas went on to say that Nemetz was extremely jealous and almost possessive, and that Nemetz was extremely controlling; he would not let her go places, and he controlled who she could see and what she could wear. Faas stated that Nemetz called Danielle names – specifically, "cunt." Faas stated that Danielle was getting close to her boss from her new job, and that he had kind of hinted that he was interested romantically but Danielle just kind of blew it off. Faas stated that she warned Danielle that she was playing with fire.Faas also stated that Danielle did not want to be friends with her boss on Facebook, because she didn't want Skylar to find out. Karie stated that Danielle was really happy that Skylar was coming home, and that she had gone out shopping and bought new underwear. Danielle stated that she had also bought Nemetz alcohol, so he would be happy when he got home. When asked, Karie stated that Nemetz is a big drinker, that he had a lot of barbecues on the weekend, and that a lot of people go to Nemetz's house to drink.Faas also stated that she heard Nemetz had "snapped" in the field. She stated that during his training deployment he had snapped and "freaked out" on a bunch of soldiers. Faas also stated "there is no way this was an accident, he was only home for a few hours". Faas stated that she knew that Danielle's new job was going to cause problems, and that she had told Danielle to stand her ground if Skylar tried to make her quit.Faas then stated she knew that Nemetz was upset when he left work over who had bought the alcohol for Danielle (which was actually for him). Faas stated that her husband, Anthony Faas, was the last one to see Nemetz at work and he had told Skylar that someone else had bought the alcohol. Faas stated that Danielle had a friend named Jeremy. who had just recently been stationed locally at Fort Lewis. Jeremy had spent the night a couple times with Danielle in the past three weeks. Faas stated that she had some text messages from Danielle that said "Jeremy is here, he can help you bring the kids' stuff up." Faas stated that she knows that her husband Anthony had gone through her phone, and that and he may have seen those texts and told Nemetz.In subsequent interviews with Danielle's boss, as well as with Danielle's friend Jeremy Newton, both appeared forthright, and adamantly denied that Danielle had cheated on Skylar. Those interviews will be uploaded.Anthony FaasDetectives subsequently interviews Anthony Faas, the husband of Karie Faas. Anthony stated that that Nemetz was assigned to his platoon back in 2013 and they became friends right away because they were both from Northern California. He stated that they would hang out together with their wives, and that after a few months, "Dannie" told them that Nemetz would hit her. He stated that at first that didn't believe it, but that they went camping one weekend, and when they got home Dannie had sent a picture of the side of her face swollen. Anthony stated that Skylar told Dannie to say it was the result of a bug bite, however it looked like she had been hit.Anthony said that he and his old team leader, Sam Phipps, confronted Skylar about hitting Dannie, and told him that if he ever did it again they were going to do something about it. He said that Skylar never admitted to assaulting Dannie, and that he subsequently became distant from him and Phipps. Anthony stated that Skylar was a really good dude and a good soldier, adding that Skylar was really good with guns. Anthony stated that all Skylar wanted to do was build guns.Anthony then stated that the deployment was difficult because of new supervision and that everyone was on edge. Anthony stated that Skylar and he started to butt heads, so he pulled Skylar aside and asked him what was going on. Anthony stated that Skylar started cursing at him, and that Skylar was "freaking out" on everyone. Anthony said Skylar commented that everyoneThe POLICE INTERROGATION of Skylar Nemetz PART 2 True Crime Podcast 2023 Police Interrogations, 911 Calls and True Police Stories Podcast

The POLICE INTERROGATION of Skylar Nemetz PART 2Officer Darrell MooreThe following is excerpted from the report of Officer Darrell Moore: Skylar told me "I need to tell someone my story." I directed the fire department personal to the apartment so they could administer medical attention. Skylar again stated, "I want to talk to you." I stared at Skylar without saying anything. Skylar went onto say that he was in Yakima for field training with the military. Skylar said he returned home to his wife. Skylar said he loves his wife more than most other men, and that his love for her was special. Skylar stated that he returned home from Yakima and he had left his wife with his rifle for her protection when he was gone. Skylar told me that he took out the magazine, and motioned taking out the magazine. Skylar said he was making the rifle safe, and for some reason he grabbed the rifle and shook it. I watched as Skylar demonstrated grabbing what I believed to be the upper portion of the rifle with his left hand and the lower portion of the rifle with his right hand. Skylar motioned holding the rifle at an approximately 45 degree cant. Skylar said, "I just shook it and it shot her." Skylar began to make sounds as if he was crying, but I could see that he had no tears coming out. I also noticed that he had no tears during my entire contact with him.NeighborsAccording to neighbors, they regularly heard yelling coming from the Nemetz residence. Among the many statements initially made by Skylar Nemetz was a statement to his neighbor that his wife Danielle had shot herself while she was cleaning a rifle.Eureka InterviewsOn November 24, 2014, detectives traveled to Eureka, California, to conduct interviews. Among those interviewed was Samatha Minton, who stated that she knew Danielle most of her whole life. According to Minton, Danielle had met Skylar on the internet approximately two months before they married. Minton stated that she had observed what she thought was odd behavior between the couple. For example, when Daniella and Skylar would visit, Skylar would drop her off at the house and leave her there all day, while he visited with his friends.Detectives also interviewed Michayla Yingling, who had known Danielle her whole life. Yingling confirmed that Danielle had met Skylar on the internet two months before they had married.Yingling said Danielle never gave her any indication Skylar was being abusive. She knew that Skylar had broken Danielle's cell phone, but she did not know the details. Yingling said Danielle never talked negatively about Skylar, but she got the impression that Danielle was being fake. Yingling stated that Skylar would not let Danielle come to her baby shower, and that Skylar was indecisive on wanting Danielle to get a job. Skylar would tell Danielle to get a job, and when she looked for a job he would tell her she didn't need one. Yingling said Danielle just wanted someone to love her and take care of her.Yingling said Danielle thought her new boss was attractive, and that Danielle had told her that her new boss used to be an underwear model. Yingling said she had a FaceTime session with Danielle and her boss, while they were out to dinner. Yingling was positive that Danielle would not cheat on Skylar.Yingling said on the night Danielle died she had FaceTimed with her at approximately 1600 hours. Yingling said nothing appeared to be out the ordinary, and that at one point Danielle had pointed the phone at Skylar, who had smiled and waved to her.According to Mikala Rippeon, Danielle's youngest sister, Danielle was always wearing long-sleeved shirts and turtleneck sweaters. Mikala remembered seeing what appeared to be fingertip bruises on Danielle's arms.The DiaryOn February 24, 2015, detectives contacted Skylar's mother, Danetta Heller, as they had obtained information that she was possibly in possession of Danielle's diary that was taken from her apartment after the homicide. The following day, Danetta confirmed that she was in possession of Danielle's diary. Danetta stated there were some pages missing from the diary, but stated that she had not removed the missing pages. Danetta stated that she had removed the diary from the apartment because it contained information that she thought would be hurtful to her son, stating that Danielle was a "busy little girl." After speaking with Skylar's attorney, Danetta ceased to cooperate, however she turned over Danielle's diary to Skylar's attorney, who turned it over to the prosecutor. Several pages had been removed. There was an entry that was about Danielle having sex with a male named Kennedy. It stated that Kennedy and Danielle used to date, that they were still having sex, and that Kennedy's current girlfriend Chloe did not know. The entry was dated 4/23/12.CVSAAlthough the CVSA shown in this video is pseudoscience, the test results were "no signs of deception."Karie FaasOn the morning of October 17, 2014, detectives were contacted by Karie Faas, who advised that she had information about the incident. According to Faas, Nemetz and Danielle had a violent relationship. Faas stated that over the two years she has known Danielle, she has seen Danielle with bruises up and down her arms. Faas stated that she thought she still had a picture of Danielle with her face swollen and bruised, and that Danielle had told her it was from a mosquito bite.Faas went on to say that Nemetz was extremely jealous and almost possessive, and that Nemetz was extremely controlling; he would not let her go places, and he controlled who she could see and what she could wear. Faas stated that Nemetz called Danielle names – specifically, "cunt." Faas stated that Danielle was getting close to her boss from her new job, and that he had kind of hinted that he was interested romantically but Danielle just kind of blew it off. Faas stated that she warned Danielle that she was playing with fire.Faas also stated that Danielle did not want to be friends with her boss on Facebook, because she didn't want Skylar to find out. Karie stated that Danielle was really happy that Skylar was coming home, and that she had gone out shopping and bought new underwear. Danielle stated that she had also bought Nemetz alcohol, so he would be happy when he got home. When asked, Karie stated that Nemetz is a big drinker, that he had a lot of barbecues on the weekend, and that a lot of people go to Nemetz's house to drink.Faas also stated that she heard Nemetz had "snapped" in the field. She stated that during his training deployment he had snapped and "freaked out" on a bunch of soldiers. Faas also stated "there is no way this was an accident, he was only home for a few hours". Faas stated that she knew that Danielle's new job was going to cause problems, and that she had told Danielle to stand her ground if Skylar tried to make her quit.Faas then stated she knew that Nemetz was upset when he left work over who had bought the alcohol for Danielle (which was actually for him). Faas stated that her husband, Anthony Faas, was the last one to see Nemetz at work and he had told Skylar that someone else had bought the alcohol. Faas stated that Danielle had a friend named Jeremy. who had just recently been stationed locally at Fort Lewis. Jeremy had spent the night a couple times with Danielle in the past three weeks. Faas stated that she had some text messages from Danielle that said "Jeremy is here, he can help you bring the kids' stuff up." Faas stated that she knows that her husband Anthony had gone through her phone, and that and he may have seen those texts and told Nemetz.In subsequent interviews with Danielle's boss, as well as with Danielle's friend Jeremy Newton, both appeared forthright, and adamantly denied that Danielle had cheated on Skylar. Those interviews will be uploaded.Anthony FaasDetectives subsequently interviews Anthony Faas, the husband of Karie Faas. Anthony stated that that Nemetz was assigned to his platoon back in 2013 and they became friends right away because they were both from Northern California. He stated that they would hang out together with their wives, and that after a few months, "Dannie" told them that Nemetz would hit her. He stated that at first that didn't believe it, but that they went camping one weekend, and when they got home Dannie had sent a picture of the side of her face swollen. Anthony stated that Skylar told Dannie to say it was the result of a bug bite, however it looked like she had been hit.Anthony said that he and his old team leader, Sam Phipps, confronted Skylar about hitting Dannie, and told him that if he ever did it again they were going to do something about it. He said that Skylar never admitted to assaulting Dannie, and that he subsequently became distant from him and Phipps. Anthony stated that Skylar was a really good dude and a good soldier, adding that Skylar was really good with guns. Anthony stated that all Skylar wanted to do was build guns.Anthony then stated that the deployment was difficult because of new supervision and that everyone was on edge. Anthony stated that Skylar and he started to butt heads, so he pulled Skylar aside and asked him what was going on. Anthony stated that Skylar started cursing at him, and that Skylar was "freaking out" on everyone. Anthony said Skylar commented that everyoneThe POLICE INTERROGATION of Skylar Nemetz PART 2 True Crime Podcast 2023 Police Interrogations, 911 Calls and True Police Stories Podcast

"I killed my wife" | The POLICE INTERROGATION of Skylar Nemetz PART 1Officer Darrell MooreThe following is excerpted from the report of Officer Darrell Moore: Skylar told me "I need to tell someone my story." I directed the fire department personal to the apartment so they could administer medical attention. Skylar again stated, "I want to talk to you." I stared at Skylar without saying anything. Skylar went onto say that he was in Yakima for field training with the military. Skylar said he returned home to his wife. Skylar said he loves his wife more than most other men, and that his love for her was special.Skylar stated that he returned home from Yakima and he had left his wife with his rifle for her protection when he was gone. Skylar told me that he took out the magazine, and motioned taking out the magazine. Skylar said he was making the rifle safe, and for some reason he grabbed the rifle and shook it. I watched as Skylar demonstrated grabbing what I believed to be the upper portion of the rifle with his left hand and the lower portion of the rifle with his right hand. Skylar motioned holding the rifle at an approximately 45 degree cant. Skylar said, "I just shook it and it shot her." Skylar began to make sounds as if he was crying, but I could see that he had no tears coming out. I also noticed that he had no tears during my entire contact with him.NeighborsAccording to neighbors, they regularly heard yelling coming from the Nemetz residence. Among the many statements initially made by Skylar Nemetz was a statement to his neighbor that his wife Danielle had shot herself while she was cleaning a rifle.Eureka InterviewsOn November 24, 2014, detectives traveled to Eureka, California, to conduct interviews. Among those interviewed was Samatha Minton, who stated that she knew Danielle most of her whole life. According to Minton, Danielle had met Skylar on the internet approximately two months before they married. Minton stated that she had observed what she thought was odd behavior between the couple. For example, when Daniella and Skylar would visit, Skylar would drop her off at the house and leave her there all day, while he visited with his friends.Detectives also interviewed Michayla Yingling, who had known Danielle her whole life. Yingling confirmed that Danielle had met Skylar on the internet two months before they had married.Yingling said Danielle never gave her any indication Skylar was being abusive. She knew that Skylar had broken Danielle's cell phone, but she did not know the details. Yingling said Danielle never talked negatively about Skylar, but she got the impression that Danielle was being fake. Yingling stated that Skylar would not let Danielle come to her baby shower, and that Skylar was indecisive on wanting Danielle to get a job. Skylar would tell Danielle to get a job, and when she looked for a job he would tell her she didn't need one. Yingling said Danielle just wanted someone to love her and take care of her.Yingling said Danielle thought her new boss was attractive, and that Danielle had told her that her new boss used to be an underwear model. Yingling said she had a FaceTime session with Danielle and her boss, while they were out to dinner. Yingling was positive that Danielle would not cheat on Skylar.Yingling said on the night Danielle died she had FaceTimed with her at approximately 1600 hours. Yingling said nothing appeared to be out the ordinary, and that at one point Danielle had pointed the phone at Skylar, who had smiled and waved to her.According to Mikala Rippeon, Danielle's youngest sister, Danielle was always wearing long-sleeved shirts and turtleneck sweaters. Mikala remembered seeing what appeared to be fingertip bruises on Danielle's arms.The DiaryOn February 24, 2015, detectives contacted Skylar's mother, Danetta Heller, as they had obtained information that she was possibly in possession of Danielle's diary that was taken from her apartment after the homicide. The following day, Danetta confirmed that she was in possession of Danielle's diary. Danetta stated there were some pages missing from the diary, but stated that she had not removed the missing pages. Danetta stated that she had removed the diary from the apartment because it contained information that she thought would be hurtful to her son, stating that Danielle was a "busy little girl." After speaking with Skylar's attorney, Danetta ceased to cooperate, however she turned over Danielle's diary to Skylar's attorney, who turned it over to the prosecutor. Several pages had been removed. There was an entry that was about Danielle having sex with a male named Kennedy. It stated that Kennedy and Danielle used to date, that they were still having sex, and that Kennedy's current girlfriend Chloe did not know. The entry was dated 4/23/12.CVSAAlthough the CVSA shown in this video is pseudoscience, the test results were "no signs of deception."Karie FaasOn the morning of October 17, 2014, detectives were contacted by Karie Faas, who advised that she had information about the incident. According to Faas, Nemetz and Danielle had a violent relationship. Faas stated that over the two years she has known Danielle, she has seen Danielle with bruises up and down her arms. Faas stated that she thought she still had a picture of Danielle with her face swollen and bruised, and that Danielle had told her it was from a mosquito bite.Faas went on to say that Nemetz was extremely jealous and almost possessive, and that Nemetz was extremely controlling; he would not let her go places, and he controlled who she could see and what she could wear. Faas stated that Nemetz called Danielle names – specifically, "cunt." Faas stated that Danielle was getting close to her boss from her new job, and that he had kind of hinted that he was interested romantically but Danielle just kind of blew it off. Faas stated that she warned Danielle that she was playing with fire.Faas also stated that Danielle did not want to be friends with her boss on Facebook, because she didn't want Skylar to find out. Karie stated that Danielle was really happy that Skylar was coming home, and that she had gone out shopping and bought new underwear. Danielle stated that she had also bought Nemetz alcohol, so he would be happy when he got home. When asked, Karie stated that Nemetz is a big drinker, that he had a lot of barbecues on the weekend, and that a lot of people go to Nemetz's house to drink.Faas also stated that she heard Nemetz had "snapped" in the field. She stated that during his training deployment he had snapped and "freaked out" on a bunch of soldiers. Faas also stated "there is no way this was an accident, he was only home for a few hours". Faas stated that she knew that Danielle's new job was going to cause problems, and that she had told Danielle to stand her ground if Skylar tried to make her quit.Faas then stated she knew that Nemetz was upset when he left work over who had bought the alcohol for Danielle (which was actually for him). Faas stated that her husband, Anthony Faas, was the last one to see Nemetz at work and he had told Skylar that someone else had bought the alcohol. Faas stated that Danielle had a friend named Jeremy. who had just recently been stationed locally at Fort Lewis. Jeremy had spent the night a couple times with Danielle in the past three weeks. Faas stated that she had some text messages from Danielle that said "Jeremy is here, he can help you bring the kids' stuff up." Faas stated that she knows that her husband Anthony had gone through her phone, and that and he may have seen those texts and told Nemetz.In subsequent interviews with Danielle's boss, as well as with Danielle's friend Jeremy Newton, both appeared forthright, and adamantly denied that Danielle had cheated on Skylar. Those interviews will be uploaded.Anthony FaasDetectives subsequently interviews Anthony Faas, the husband of Karie Faas. Anthony stated that that Nemetz was assigned to his platoon back in 2013 and they became friends right away because they were both from Northern California. He stated that they would hang out together with their wives, and that after a few months, "Dannie" told them that Nemetz would hit her. He stated that at first that didn't believe it, but that they went camping one weekend, and when they got home Dannie had sent a picture of the side of her face swollen. Anthony stated that Skylar told Dannie to say it was the result of a bug bite, however it looked like she had been hit.Anthony said that he and his old team leader, Sam Phipps, confronted Skylar about hitting Dannie, and told him that if he ever did it again they were going to do something about it. He said that Skylar never admitted to assaulting Dannie, and that he subsequently became distant from him and Phipps. Anthony stated that Skylar was a really good dude and a good soldier, adding that Skylar was really good with guns. Anthony stated that all Skylar wanted to do was build guns.Anthony then stated that the deployment was difficult because of new supervision and that everyone was on edge. Anthony stated that Skylar and he started to butt heads, so he pulled Skylar aside and asked him what was going on. Anthony stated that Skylar started cursing at him, and that Skylar was "freaking out" on everyone. Anthony said Skylar commented that everyone was picking on him too much. When he later met up with Skylar, Anthony statedI killed my wife The POLICE INTERROGATION of Skylar Nemetz PART 1 True Crime Podcast 2023 Police Interrogations, 911 Calls and True Police Stories Podcast

"I killed my wife" | The POLICE INTERROGATION of Skylar Nemetz PART 1Officer Darrell MooreThe following is excerpted from the report of Officer Darrell Moore: Skylar told me "I need to tell someone my story." I directed the fire department personal to the apartment so they could administer medical attention. Skylar again stated, "I want to talk to you." I stared at Skylar without saying anything. Skylar went onto say that he was in Yakima for field training with the military. Skylar said he returned home to his wife. Skylar said he loves his wife more than most other men, and that his love for her was special.Skylar stated that he returned home from Yakima and he had left his wife with his rifle for her protection when he was gone. Skylar told me that he took out the magazine, and motioned taking out the magazine. Skylar said he was making the rifle safe, and for some reason he grabbed the rifle and shook it. I watched as Skylar demonstrated grabbing what I believed to be the upper portion of the rifle with his left hand and the lower portion of the rifle with his right hand. Skylar motioned holding the rifle at an approximately 45 degree cant. Skylar said, "I just shook it and it shot her." Skylar began to make sounds as if he was crying, but I could see that he had no tears coming out. I also noticed that he had no tears during my entire contact with him.NeighborsAccording to neighbors, they regularly heard yelling coming from the Nemetz residence. Among the many statements initially made by Skylar Nemetz was a statement to his neighbor that his wife Danielle had shot herself while she was cleaning a rifle.Eureka InterviewsOn November 24, 2014, detectives traveled to Eureka, California, to conduct interviews. Among those interviewed was Samatha Minton, who stated that she knew Danielle most of her whole life. According to Minton, Danielle had met Skylar on the internet approximately two months before they married. Minton stated that she had observed what she thought was odd behavior between the couple. For example, when Daniella and Skylar would visit, Skylar would drop her off at the house and leave her there all day, while he visited with his friends.Detectives also interviewed Michayla Yingling, who had known Danielle her whole life. Yingling confirmed that Danielle had met Skylar on the internet two months before they had married.Yingling said Danielle never gave her any indication Skylar was being abusive. She knew that Skylar had broken Danielle's cell phone, but she did not know the details. Yingling said Danielle never talked negatively about Skylar, but she got the impression that Danielle was being fake. Yingling stated that Skylar would not let Danielle come to her baby shower, and that Skylar was indecisive on wanting Danielle to get a job. Skylar would tell Danielle to get a job, and when she looked for a job he would tell her she didn't need one. Yingling said Danielle just wanted someone to love her and take care of her.Yingling said Danielle thought her new boss was attractive, and that Danielle had told her that her new boss used to be an underwear model. Yingling said she had a FaceTime session with Danielle and her boss, while they were out to dinner. Yingling was positive that Danielle would not cheat on Skylar.Yingling said on the night Danielle died she had FaceTimed with her at approximately 1600 hours. Yingling said nothing appeared to be out the ordinary, and that at one point Danielle had pointed the phone at Skylar, who had smiled and waved to her.According to Mikala Rippeon, Danielle's youngest sister, Danielle was always wearing long-sleeved shirts and turtleneck sweaters. Mikala remembered seeing what appeared to be fingertip bruises on Danielle's arms.The DiaryOn February 24, 2015, detectives contacted Skylar's mother, Danetta Heller, as they had obtained information that she was possibly in possession of Danielle's diary that was taken from her apartment after the homicide. The following day, Danetta confirmed that she was in possession of Danielle's diary. Danetta stated there were some pages missing from the diary, but stated that she had not removed the missing pages. Danetta stated that she had removed the diary from the apartment because it contained information that she thought would be hurtful to her son, stating that Danielle was a "busy little girl." After speaking with Skylar's attorney, Danetta ceased to cooperate, however she turned over Danielle's diary to Skylar's attorney, who turned it over to the prosecutor. Several pages had been removed. There was an entry that was about Danielle having sex with a male named Kennedy. It stated that Kennedy and Danielle used to date, that they were still having sex, and that Kennedy's current girlfriend Chloe did not know. The entry was dated 4/23/12.CVSAAlthough the CVSA shown in this video is pseudoscience, the test results were "no signs of deception."Karie FaasOn the morning of October 17, 2014, detectives were contacted by Karie Faas, who advised that she had information about the incident. According to Faas, Nemetz and Danielle had a violent relationship. Faas stated that over the two years she has known Danielle, she has seen Danielle with bruises up and down her arms. Faas stated that she thought she still had a picture of Danielle with her face swollen and bruised, and that Danielle had told her it was from a mosquito bite.Faas went on to say that Nemetz was extremely jealous and almost possessive, and that Nemetz was extremely controlling; he would not let her go places, and he controlled who she could see and what she could wear. Faas stated that Nemetz called Danielle names – specifically, "cunt." Faas stated that Danielle was getting close to her boss from her new job, and that he had kind of hinted that he was interested romantically but Danielle just kind of blew it off. Faas stated that she warned Danielle that she was playing with fire.Faas also stated that Danielle did not want to be friends with her boss on Facebook, because she didn't want Skylar to find out. Karie stated that Danielle was really happy that Skylar was coming home, and that she had gone out shopping and bought new underwear. Danielle stated that she had also bought Nemetz alcohol, so he would be happy when he got home. When asked, Karie stated that Nemetz is a big drinker, that he had a lot of barbecues on the weekend, and that a lot of people go to Nemetz's house to drink.Faas also stated that she heard Nemetz had "snapped" in the field. She stated that during his training deployment he had snapped and "freaked out" on a bunch of soldiers. Faas also stated "there is no way this was an accident, he was only home for a few hours". Faas stated that she knew that Danielle's new job was going to cause problems, and that she had told Danielle to stand her ground if Skylar tried to make her quit.Faas then stated she knew that Nemetz was upset when he left work over who had bought the alcohol for Danielle (which was actually for him). Faas stated that her husband, Anthony Faas, was the last one to see Nemetz at work and he had told Skylar that someone else had bought the alcohol. Faas stated that Danielle had a friend named Jeremy. who had just recently been stationed locally at Fort Lewis. Jeremy had spent the night a couple times with Danielle in the past three weeks. Faas stated that she had some text messages from Danielle that said "Jeremy is here, he can help you bring the kids' stuff up." Faas stated that she knows that her husband Anthony had gone through her phone, and that and he may have seen those texts and told Nemetz.In subsequent interviews with Danielle's boss, as well as with Danielle's friend Jeremy Newton, both appeared forthright, and adamantly denied that Danielle had cheated on Skylar. Those interviews will be uploaded.Anthony FaasDetectives subsequently interviews Anthony Faas, the husband of Karie Faas. Anthony stated that that Nemetz was assigned to his platoon back in 2013 and they became friends right away because they were both from Northern California. He stated that they would hang out together with their wives, and that after a few months, "Dannie" told them that Nemetz would hit her. He stated that at first that didn't believe it, but that they went camping one weekend, and when they got home Dannie had sent a picture of the side of her face swollen. Anthony stated that Skylar told Dannie to say it was the result of a bug bite, however it looked like she had been hit.Anthony said that he and his old team leader, Sam Phipps, confronted Skylar about hitting Dannie, and told him that if he ever did it again they were going to do something about it. He said that Skylar never admitted to assaulting Dannie, and that he subsequently became distant from him and Phipps. Anthony stated that Skylar was a really good dude and a good soldier, adding that Skylar was really good with guns. Anthony stated that all Skylar wanted to do was build guns.Anthony then stated that the deployment was difficult because of new supervision and that everyone was on edge. Anthony stated that Skylar and he started to butt heads, so he pulled Skylar aside and asked him what was going on. Anthony stated that Skylar started cursing at him, and that Skylar was "freaking out" on everyone. Anthony said Skylar commented that everyone was picking on him too much. When he later met up with Skylar, Anthony statedI killed my wife The POLICE INTERROGATION of Skylar Nemetz PART 1 True Crime Podcast 2023 Police Interrogations, 911 Calls and True Police Stories Podcast

Suzi talks with Josh Wheeldon about his journey to service, time during the military, his duty as a military police officer and his continued commitment to serve his fellow brothers and sisters. Josh's BioJoined the Army as a Military Police Officer in December 2004 shortly after I traveled to Korea 2005. In 2006 came to Fort Lewis where I deployed to the Anbar Province of Iraq for 15 months living embedded in an Iraq Police Station with Marines. Upon returning it was time to get out of the Army. When I was attending college in 2011 I was offered a position to go to Afghanistan, so like any other Veteran I left and found myself in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan at FOB Joyce within no time. I supported 25th Infantry Division (235) and 4th Infantry Division (212). Since returning I used my GI Bill and obtained a degree in Human Resources Management. I went to work for the Veteran Benefits Administration for the external affairs director. Finding the need for services I assisted in starting a Veteran Social Media group that actively serves nearly five thousands Veterans daily. I have served as Puyallup VFW Post Senior Vice Commander. My daily job is ensuring the Soldiers who are being medically separated from the Army are connected with the best resources to succeed outside of the military. I am what is called a Transition Coordinator at the Soldier Recovery Unit. Music credit to Kalvin Love for the podcast's theme song “Bee Your Best Self”Contact Suzi at suzigma@gmail.com or (818) 470-2013 and share your story.vetsandplayers.orgwildhorserescue.org Visit our webpage at cominghomewell.comInterested in sponsoring our podcasts email us at cominghomewell@gmail.comFollow us on our socialsYouTube @cominghomewellbehindtheserviceInstagram @cominghomewell_btsFacebook at Coming Home WellLinkedIn at Coming Home WellTwitter @ComingHomeWellThank you for listening!

Tonights episode features the audio from my first ever LIVE Sasquatch Odyssey Show on YouTube. I have a panel of eight guests, as we discuss my recent interview with a former soldier who was present when a Sasquatch (possibly two) was shot and killed by members of his unit while on a training mission at Fort Lewis in Washington State. We get into all kinds of things tonight so make sure you stick around to the very end. There is even MORE audio after the outro is done, so don't go anywhere!Check Out The Shows Sponsor Vitalis Sleep And Support Our Sponsorshttps://vitalissleep.comUse Promo Code ODYSSEY20 at check out for 20% Off Your Entire Order!Sasquatch Odyssey Podcast YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@sasquatchodysseypodcast5373/videosSend Brian A Voicemail Or Tell Your Storyhttps://www.speakpipe.com/SasquatchOdysseyPodcastSupport The Showhttps://www.patreon.com/paranormalworldproductionsShow Website And Bloghttps://paranormalworldproductions.comAll The Socials And Stuff/Contact Brianhttps://linktr.ee/ParanormalWorldProductionsbrian@paranormalworldproductions.com Follow The Show On Instagram And TikTok https://www.instagram.com/sasquatchodyssey/https://www.tiktok.com/@sasquatchodysseypodcast?_t=8XRHQxPMFYo&_r=1https://www.tiktok.com/@paranormalodyssey?_t=8XBoR6h7Pkk&_r=Sasquatch Odyssey Fans Group On Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/sasquatchodysseyfans

After growing up in Northern Wisconsin raised by a single mom and riding his snowmobile to school during harsh Winters, Dr. Scott Steele found his medical calling at West Point Academy and developed his passion for colorectal surgery over multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Join Alex, Avery, Biddy, and Jon for a special conversation with Dr. Scott Steele to hear more about his life and career journey.   OUR GUEST Scott R. Steele, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, FPSCRS (Hon) is the Rupert B. Turnbull MD Endowed Chair in Colorectal Surgery and Chairman of Colorectal Surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH.   A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, he was an active duty Army officer for over 20 years, serving as the Chief of Colorectal Surgery at Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA.  He has served 4 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, being awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Medical Badge, amongst others.  He is on the editorial board for multiple national surgical journals including Annals of Surgery, Cochrane Collaboration, and had served as the Colon & Rectal Surgery Community Editor for the American College of Surgeons.  He is also an Editor for Surgery, Co-Editor for Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, and the Editor-in-Chief for Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery.  Additionally, he is a reviewer for over 30 peer-reviewed journals.  He has also been appointed to the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery for the last several years, and currently serves as the President.  His contributions to the medical literature include over 300 peer-reviewed articles, 110 invited reviews and book chapters, 30 national practice parameters, guest editor for 5 volumes dedicated to colorectal disease, and currently is an editor on 12 textbooks in colorectal surgery.  He also received his MBA from Case Western University Weatherhead School of Business and Management in 2018, graduating with honors.   OUR CO-HOSTS Alex Jenny Ky, MD, FACS, FASCRS New York, NY Dr. Ky has been in practice for 22 years and is one of the busiest surgeons in her hospital.  She is a former president of the New York Colon and Rectal Society and currently serves as president-elect of the Chinese American Medical Society.  Married for 29 years, she is the proud mom of 3 children and in her spare time she enjoys playing golf and squash. Avery Walker, MD, FACS, FASCRS El Paso, TXAvery Walker is dually board-certified in General Surgery and Colorectal Surgery. He earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois in Chicago, his General Surgery residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington, and his Fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at The Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. A former active-duty officer in the United States Army, Dr. Walker served 13 years as a general and colorectal surgeon with his most recent duty station in El Paso, TX at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. While there he was the Chief of Colon and Rectal surgery as well as the Assistant Program Director for the general surgery residency program. He currently practices colon and rectal surgery at The Hospitals of Providence in El Paso, TX. Dr. Avery Walker is married and has two daughters aged 13 and 9.   Biddy Das, MD, FACS Houston, TXDr. Bidhan “Biddy” Das has board certifications for both colon and rectal surgery, and general surgery. His passion for medical education and medical process improvement has resulted in book chapters and publications, and national and regional presentations on those subjects. Highlighting his medical expertise on fecal incontinence, he has been featured on patient education videos and national and international television and radio as a featured expert on these colorectal conditions. Dr Das also has a particular interest in surgeons redefining their careers -- he serves as both a software consultant and private equity consultant in Boston, New York City, and Houston.   Jonathan Abelson, MD, MS Arlington, MADr. Abelson was born and raised in Scarsdale, New York in the suburbs of New York City.  He has 2 older brothers and both of his parents are dentists.  Dr. Abelson went to college at University Pennsylvania, took 2 years off between college and medical school to work in healthcare consulting.  He then went to medical school at University of Virginia, returned to New York for general surgery residency at Weill Cornell on the upper east side of Manhattan.  Dr. Abelson then did colorectal fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis and am now at Lahey clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts for my first job after training. He is 2 years into practice and has a wife and two sons. His wife works in wellness consulting and they have a dog named Foster who we adopted in St. Louis.    

A convicted felon who allegedly assassinated his military commanding officer was apprehended this week. Donald Bartron, 16, and Peter Zito Jr., 18, were fatally shot in the Oak Hills Recreation Center parking lot on Oct. 3, 1974, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The shooter used a.22 caliber gun, detectives determined. In December 1974, Washington County Sheriff's deputies detained Steven Paul Criss, a "possible suspect shortly after the murders." Investigators found a concealed.22 caliber revolver in Criss' automobile. Ballistics evidence couldn't match Criss' gun to the one that killed Bartron and Zito. Case closed. Criss moved to America. Army, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. In 1976, he shot and killed Sgt. Jacob "Kim" Brown with a.22 caliber gun.If you like TRUE CRIME TODAY - Be sure to search and subscribe wherever you download podcasts! Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-a-true-crime-podcast/id1504280230?uo=4 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0GYshi6nJCf3O0aKEBTOPs Stitcher http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/real-ghost-stories-online-2/dark-side-of-wikipedia-true-crime-disturbing-stories iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/270-Dark-Side-of-Wikipedia-Tru-60800715 Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/565dc51b-d214-4fab-b38b-ae7c723cb79a/Dark-Side-of-Wikipedia-True-Crime-Dark-History Google Podcasts https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hdWRpb2Jvb20uY29tL2NoYW5uZWxzLzUwMDEyNjAucnNz Or Search "True Crime Today" for the best in True Crime ANYWHERE you get podcasts! Support the show at http://www.patreon.com/truecrimetoday

This week of Veterans Day, we're revisiting an episode from November 11, 2020, when hosts Angelia and Danielle welcomed Dr. Nancy Pratt to 3Ps in a Pod to share about her military experience and how that has carried into her education career. Then the Director of Instruction and Innovation at Cave Creek Unified School District, Pratt is now the Director of Instruction at Buckeye Elementary School District. But before realizing her interest in teaching, Pratt was a young woman in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) military briefing class at Arizona State University, realizing she had something special to offer. Pratt became a transportation officer stationed at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington. She shares in this episode about the direction she received from her experiences in the military, how her military experience has shaped her education career, and the direct connections between training military officers and working in education with both students and adult learners. Enjoy this episode on the intersections of military service and educational leadership in this week's 3Ps in a Pod. Learn more about the Arizona K12 Center by visiting azk12.org.

Hello, ya little kernels! On episode 90 of HINKY, the gang is all back together in Fort Lewis studios for another fun-filled episode. We talk about pumpkin-spiced foods and which ridiculous food items are getting the PSL treatment. We also talk about all the places we went and ate at over the past couple of weeks. Renee has some good trick-or-treat info for us in Renee's Reports, and she works that into her Halloween-themed HINKY History Lesson as well. We try some really sweet treats in Everybody Tries, and we find out if Scott correctly guesses Carrie's drink for the week. What else do we get into? Listen to us wherever you find podcasts to find out! Social media: Hungry in Kentucky: New episodes every other Wednesday Twitter and IG @hungryinky Bluegrass Bourbon and Eats: Facebook and IG @bluegrassbourbonandeats Twitter @bbandeats Girls Beer Sports: New episodes every Monday Facebook and IG @girlsbeersports Twitter @grlsbeersports Bluegrass Bourbon and Eats is also a blog! Read our posts at bbandeats.com

Hello, ya spicy little chips! On episode 89 of HINKY, it's just Sara and Carrie holding down Fort Lewis studios. We recap some of the restaurants we went to over the past couple of weeks, and Sara steps in for Renee at the news desk for Renee's Reports. We try some interesting Oreo's and a rather intriguing flavor of Cheeto's in Everybody Tries, and you get not one, but TWO fun stories for the HINKY History Lesson. What else do we get into? Check us out wherever you find podcasts to find out! Social media: Hungry in Kentucky: New episodes every other Wednesday Twitter and IG @hungryinky Bluegrass Bourbon and Eats: Facebook and IG @bluegrassbourbonandeats Twitter @bbandeats Girls Beer Sports: New episodes every Monday Facebook and IG @girlsbeersports Twitter @grlsbeersports Bluegrass Bourbon and Eats is also a blog! Read our posts at bbandeats.com

June 12, 1993. Santa Clara, California. 21-year old U.S. Army Private Justin Burgwinkel leaves his girlfriend's apartment and never returns. One week earlier, Justin had gone AWOL from Fort Lewis, the post where he was stationed in Washington state, and kept hinting to his girlfriend that he was working on some sort of secret mission. Three months later, Justin's abandoned car is found at a motel in Monterey with his military dog tags and most of his personal items inside. While the Army denies that Justin was ever involved in any secret operations, no trace of him is ever found. Did Justin Burgwinkel go missing because he became involved in something sinister? Or did he suffer some sort of mental breakdown and lose his grip on reality? On this week's episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the unsolved disappearance of a soldier who has not been seen in three decades. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Clinton Police Department at (978) 365-4111. Additional Reading: https://unsolved.com/gallery/justin-burgwinkel/ https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Justin_Burgwinkel http://charleyproject.org/case/justin-burgwinkel https://www.newspapers.com/image/626359358/ “The Trail Went Cold” is on Patreon! Visit www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold to become a patron and gain access to our exclusive bonus content. “The Trail Went Cold” will be appearing at the True Crime Podcast Festival, taking place at the Westin Park Central Hotel in Dallas, Texas on August 27-28, 2022. To purchase tickets, please visit https://truecrimepodcastfestival.com/ “The Trail Went Cold” is now doing a weekly livestream show on  GetVokl every Thursday from 7:00-8:00 PM ET as part of their “True  Crime Thursday” line-up. For more information, please visit their website. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

June 12, 1993. Santa Clara, California. 21-year old U.S. Army Private Justin Burgwinkel leaves his girlfriend's apartment and never returns. One week earlier, Justin had gone AWOL from Fort Lewis, the post where he was stationed in Washington state, and kept hinting to his girlfriend that he was working on some sort of secret mission. […]

This week we sit down with professional gravel racer, podcaster and adventurer, Payson McElveen. We learn about his path to the sport, his drive for adventure and his plans for the Life Time Grand Prix and the rest of the races on his calendar. Episode sponsor: Hammerhead Karoo 2 (promo code: THEGRAVELRIDE) Payson McElveen Web / Instagram Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: Payson McElveen [00:00:00] Craig Dalton: Hello, and welcome to the gravel ride podcast, where we go deep on the sport of gravel cycling through in-depth interviews with product designers, event organizers and athletes. Who are pioneering the sport I'm your host, Craig Dalton, a lifelong cyclist who discovered gravel cycling back in 2016 and made all the mistakes you don't need to make. I approach each episode as a beginner down, unlock all the knowledge you need to become a great gravel cyclist. This week on the podcast. We welcome pacing. McKelvin pacing. As you may know, is a gravel racer, a mountain bike racer. A podcaster, a red bull athlete. And in all around adventurer. I've wanted to have pacing on the podcast for quite some time. I'm an avid listener of his podcast, but moreover, I'm a fan. And that probably comes through in this episode. I'm a fan of pace. And as he's every bit as approachable in real life, as he comes across in social media, He not only races at the front end of the gravel races on the calendar. But even more importantly, I feel like he's out there in the community and he's always after some great adventures. You can see him crisscrossing the country of Iceland. You can see him setting FK teas. You can see them getting brutalized on the Colorado trail and one of his first bike packing expeditions, he's just a hell of a lot of fun and a hell of a great guy. So I look forward to listening to this episode. Of the gravel ride podcast. Before we jump in, we need to thank this week. Sponsor the hammerhead crew to computer. The hammerhead crew to is actually the computer that pacing uses. So you may hear them talk about it, both on his podcast and in social media. His experiences are quite similar to mine. The Karoo two is a revolutionary GPS device that offers the rider. A whole bunch of customizability that really translates to giving you the information you need. When you need it in the format that you need it. I've mentioned before. A few of the things that I really love about the career too, are one, the climber feature. I've become addicted to the climber feature. It's quite amazing. Every time you approach a climb. The crew too, is going to display in graphical format in color coded format. The gradient. The length to the top and the amount of elevation you need to gain. I find that really useful in terms of pacing and it's fascinating. I've always been fascinated by grade. So seeing that great in front of me on the computer, I've started to really understand where my sweet spot is. I know that I'm quite good in the six to say 12% range, but north of 12%, I start to suffer. So it's quite interesting looking at that. The second thing I wanted to highlight is hammerheads bi-weekly software updates with new feature releases. That are unmatched by the competition. So unlike other head units, your crew to continues to evolve and improve. With each ride being better than the last you can seamlessly import routes from Strava commute and more. Route and reroute and create pin drop rooting on the fly. All available with turn by turn. Directions and upcoming elevation changes. The crew two's touchscreen displays, intuitive, responsive, and in full color. So your navigation experience is more like a smartphone than a GPS. You'll see your data more clearly than ever while also withstanding rugged conditions since it's water and scratch resistant. Tens of thousands of cyclists have chosen the crew to you as their trusted riding companion. Including this week's guest pace and mckelvin and another fan favorite amanda naaman. For a limited time, our listeners can get a free custom color kit and an exclusive premium water bottle with the purchase of a hammerhead crew to. Simply visit hammerhead dot. I owe right now and use the promo code, the gravel ride at checkout to get yours today. This is an exclusive limited time offer only for our podcast listeners. So don't forget that promo code, the gravel ride. After you put a custom color kit and premium water bottle in your cart. The code will be applied Would that business out of the way, let's dive right into my interview with pace and McKellen. Payson. Welcome to the show. [00:04:11] Payson McElveen: Thank you happy to be here. [00:04:13] Craig Dalton: Yeah, it's good to finally get you on. I feel like I've been wanting to get you on since back in 2019 and the mid south gravel race. [00:04:21] Payson McElveen: Yeah. Yeah, that was that wasn't my first foray into gravel, but one of the first [00:04:28] Craig Dalton: Yeah. And I think it was one of those moments that it was, you know, there was very much a different style between you and Pete when racing in those adverse conditions, all the mud and whatnot, and how you [00:04:38] Payson McElveen: Oh, 2020. Yeah. [00:04:40] Craig Dalton: 20, 20. Yeah. So babying the bike and. [00:04:44] Payson McElveen: yeah. [00:04:45] Craig Dalton: being a little bit rougher on the bike and you know, both you guys smashed into pedals and I, it's funny, cause I'd heard you interviewed after the fact about that race and I'll refer to the listener back to some coverage there, but you were being, you were very conscious of what mud could have done to your bike. And that was clear in the way you were taking care of it. And I had that thought while I was watching the coverage, like that's smart, dipping it in the water, clearing it out, just being conscious of what is going to do the driver. [00:05:12] Payson McElveen: Yeah. Yeah, that was a boy. That was, I mean, gravel racing is always a dynamic thing and I feel like to varying degrees, just emission of damage control even on dry days. But Yeah. That was such a dynamic damn. Early on even. I mean, I thought my race was over 20 miles in when literally right as I think it was Pete might have been summer hill, actually Danny Summerhill was just absolutely on a mission early in that race too. But someone putting in a attack around mile 20 kind of first narrow section, and literally at the same moment, I got a big stick jammed in my rear wheel and had to stop. Pull it out. And yeah. because that selection was made and I ended up in like the third or fourth group that wasn't moving as quickly right off the bat. I think I had like a minute and a half deficit to to the lead group of P call and, you know, all the usual suspects. And it was pretty convinced that the day was over at that point. But also over the years, I've learned. Gravel racing or not kind of, regardless of the style bike racing when you don't give up good things tend to happen, no matter how dire it seems. And I was fortunate enough to ride back into the first chase group with my teammate at the time Dennis van Wenden, who spent many years on the world tour with Rabobank and Belkin and Israel startup nation, bunch of good teams. And. During that day, there wasn't a whole lot of drafting that was going on. Cause the surface was so slow and there was so much mud and you were just kind of weaving around picking your line, but it was really pivotal to have him to kind of join forces with him there. Because he really quieted me down mentally and he was like, Hey man, if you want to try to get back into this race, you need to do it gradually. Like don't panic, chase, you know, A minute gap. We could probably bring back and 25, 30 minutes, but if you do it over the course of an hour more you know, you can stay below threshold and that'll really pay dividends late. So long story short, I was really grateful to have his kind of Sage wisdom and sure enough, we got back into the group right before the aid station there at mile 50 ish. And I was surprised we got back. Pete and Collin and everybody else was even more surprised to see us come out of the mud from behind. But yeah, that was a member of that was a memorable day and in a weird way, I think getting having that setback so early on almost kind of calibrated my mind for the survival contest that it was going to be all day so that when the shit really hit the fan there and the last 30 miles, I was kind of already mentally prepared to roll with the punches. [00:07:52] Craig Dalton: Yeah, I think there's some good points there. I'll, you know, it's always interesting to me talking to elite level athletes and, you know, with most of my listeners, presumably being like myself, mid-pack racers, the same rules apply, right. Should always breaks down for everybody. And you can have a really bad moment in one of these long gravel events and come back as long as you do the right things, right. If you're. If you haven't eaten enough, you haven't drinking drank enough. You just got to get back on top of it and the day will come around and more likely than not the field in front of you is going to experience the same problems. Just a generic initially to yourself. [00:08:28] Payson McElveen: For sure. And I know we're going to get into the grand Prix, but I think that's one of the things that makes the grand Prix so fascinating, especially when combined with the pretty unusual point structure, I think it's just going to be so topsy, turvy and tumultuous and. You know, obviously we saw two, two of the favorites, you know, most people's picks for the overall in Keegan and Mo already take the lead. But I would be shocked if they maintain that lead, you know, all the way through the next five rounds, just because of the nature of gravel racing. Weirdly, I think the mountain bike events will be the least least selective in a way. [00:09:06] Craig Dalton: Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be interesting. Well, let's take a step back pace and I know, you know, I feel like I've gotten to know you through the course of your podcast, the adventure stash, but for our listeners, I want to just talk about how you got into the sport of cycling and we'll get to how you arrived at the gravel side of things. [00:09:24] Payson McElveen: Yeah, sounds good. [00:09:26] Craig Dalton: Yeah. So where'd you grow up? Where, when did you start riding? What was the first kind of race experience you had and how did you sort of develop the vision that you could be a professional athlete? [00:09:37] Payson McElveen: Yeah. So I grew up in a very small town, about 20 minutes outside of Austin, Texas. The rural Texas hill country. I'm fortunate enough to grow up on a little I don't know, hippie farm hippie ranch with my parents. You know, we had chickens and dogs and 18 acres couldn't see any houses from our house, which is something I, you know, in hindsight really appreciate pretty cool environment to grow up in. And I played pretty traditional sports growing up basketball ran track and field. Well, that sort of thing. But bike, riding and racing was always a little bit of the back of my mind because my dad did it some off and on while I was growing up. And then also Lance was winning all the tours during that time. And actually live just 15 minutes away from us. So he was a little bit of a hometown hero and all that was always front of mind. Freshman year of high school. I want to say I kind of had this recurring knee injury from playing basketball and that nudged me towards cycling a bit more. And I just started riding more and getting more interested in mountain biking in general. And there was this really cool mountain bike film, one of the early kind of. Shred it mountain bike. Documentary's called Rome that was playing in a bike shop and I just totally was transfixed one day. And that summer just kind of went all in. Building trails on the property and mountain biking and trying to learn more skills. And through a little bit of, a little bit of coaxing from my dad, I decided to, to line up for a mountain bike race, a local Texas mountain bike race when I was 14. And got absolutely. But for whatever reason, just it hooked me and that fall after getting absolutely destroyed by all the local, Texas kiddos. I just really dedicated myself to training and developing skills and came back that following spring as a 15 year old. And I don't think I lost a race in Texas that year and it sort of solidified. This idea of putting work in and getting a significant reward. And I'm not really sure why that never clicked with other sports. I was, you know, I guess had had a little bit of talent for basketball, maybe definitely talent for track And field, but I never dedicated myself to them from a work ethic standpoint, but for whatever reason, I was really motivated to do that for cycling and. Yeah, it just became a fan of the sport student of the sport, followed it like crazy. You got to know the pros, the U S pros and saw the Durango was really kind of the hotbed for domestic mountain bikers. And one thing led to the other. And now here I am still chasing the dream. [00:12:25] Craig Dalton: And did you end up going to college in Durango? Is that what I recall? [00:12:28] Payson McElveen: Huh. Yeah. So went to Fort Lewis college. That was also a big selling point. I ended up going to Europe with the national team as a 17 year old with USA cycling. And the one of the USA cycling coaches there for that trip was Matt Shriver, who happened to be one of the coaches at Fort Lewis college at the time also. And he sort of, you know, did a little bit of recruiting work with those of us there that. camp and a few of us actually ended up going to Fort Lewis, but yeah, boy, Durango's incredible. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to come here and then call it home for [00:13:05] Craig Dalton: Yeah there, the riding and mentorship in that communities. [00:13:10] Payson McElveen: It is. It is it's it's pretty incredible that the town is so small and so. Isolated in the scheme of things like it's pretty hard to get here. It's a long drive from anywhere and it's a kind of pain in the ass flight from everywhere. Also. We found that out on the way home from sea Otter when it took extra, but Yeah. I'm a small town hard to get to. And yet it's just this ridiculous hotbed of talent, you know, talent that's developed here, but then also talent that moves here. And one other thing I really appreciate is it isn't super like pro dominated. Like there's a very healthy grassroots contingent of cyclists here that. Frankly, do not care what's happening in pro bike racing whatsoever. And that's actually quite refreshing. When you spend a lot of your time at big race weekends, and you're getting asked 25 times a day, what tire pressure you're running, it's really nice to come back to Durango and, you know, just go shred some single track with someone that's wearing jorts and grab a beer afterward. [00:14:11] Craig Dalton: I bet. When you graduated from college and decided to go pro, was there a particular style of mountain bike racing that you were, you had in your head? This is what I want to pursue. [00:14:22] Payson McElveen: Man, this is where it gets pretty complicated. This is where it's very hard to make the story short, but I'll be as succinct as I can. So moving to Durango I had my. Sites, very firmly set on world cup XCO and the Olympics. I'd had some successes of junior and making the national team each year and doing some world cups and going to, you know, selection for Pan-Am games and all that sort of thing, podiums at junior nationals, all that sort of thing. But what I wasn't familiar with yet obviously is most. Teenagers or not is the economics of professional cycling, especially on the dirt side, on the roadside, it's pretty pretty cut and dried. There's almost a league obviously, and there's a fairly well-worn pipeline to the highest ranks of the sport. But in mountain biking, there's just really. Isn't that USA cycling tries, but it's there's such a high barrier of entry for a kid that doesn't live in Europe to go over to Europe, learn that style racing in a foreign land. And you know, it's very cost prohibitive. The writing style is completely different. It's not a mainstream sport. So their talent pools inevitably are just so much more vast than ours because of. that there are more kids that are just interested in being high-level cyclists, where most of our, you know, kiddos are interested in being NBA players or NFL players. So it's, I mean, it's a well-known story that it's very hard to break through at that level. And then there's the other component, which I don't think is talked about as much, which is just you start with the handicaps of inexperience. Obviously fitness, if you're a younger writer and then just start position. And I mean, it's, it is. So it's such a wild setup where you have to be so much stronger to break through and start earning results where your start position improves that just everything is stacked against you. So I had a few what I'd call kind of flash in the pan results enough to not give up on it, but not enough to really. Make it feel like it was a foregone conclusion. So I felt very fortunate to be in college and getting exposed to other styles of cycling as collegiate cycling frequently, you know, allows for. But going into senior year, I was kind of looking down the barrel of having to make some tough decisions. Cause I was making. Money racing professionally, but it was like serious poverty line sort of situation. And you know, finishing seventh or eighth at pro XC nets as a 23 year old is cool. But it's not going to give you an illustrious career. And so late late summer, early fall I just started kind of. Looking outside the bounds of this very narrow lane of focus that most folks my age were focused on, which was XCO mountain biking and the Olympics. And the other thing kind of to notice that one thing that strikes me frequently is that in mountain biking there are just fewer jobs of value in a way, if that makes sense, like on the roadside, if your [00:17:40] Craig Dalton: Yeah. [00:17:42] Payson McElveen: strongest on a world tour, You can still have a very fruitful position that is valued. I mean, if there's 400, some people in the world tour Peloton, I don't know what the number is exactly, but if you're 350 strongest, you're still a very valued member. If you line up at a world cup and there's 200 guys on the start line and you finish even 80th, like what's the value of that? There's [00:18:09] Craig Dalton: Yeah. [00:18:13] Payson McElveen: You're the backdrop for the folks that are at the top to anyway sort of digressing, but point being, I started looking around the sport and. I'd had some offers and opportunities to try racing on the road, but culturally, it just didn't quite jive for me. And then, you know, I started kind of looking at some of the folks that have, that had created their own paths, folks like Rebecca Rush Lil Wilcox hadn't really rose risen to prominence yet, but those sorts of people and I thought, you know what maybe I'll just go try. Something a little bit more adventure oriented. Just for fun. Like I don't know that I'm going to have the opportunity to dedicate as much time to cycling in the future as I am now. So maybe I'll go on an adventure. And sort of around the same time weirdly, I got a message from this race promoter, Italian guy that was putting on a race in Mongolia called the Mongolia bike challenge. And I still don't exactly know how that came about or why he reached out to me. But sure. You know, I'll come try, erase. And he said if I could get myself over there, he'd cover all of my expenses when I was there. And that said, you know, a flight to Mongolia, I think was like 25, 20 $600, something like that. And I had maybe $3,500 to my name as a senior in college. And I was like, well, you know, I just have this sneaking suspicion that this style of racing might be more my cup of tea. Obviously the Xes. I'm falling out of love with that. So I drained my bank accounts flew over there, had an amazing experience. That's a whole other story. [00:19:50] Craig Dalton: Yeah. It's such an amazing country. I had the good fortune of going there and I had previously raised a couple of the trans racist and trans Rockies up in Canada and had friends who had done the. The ones that were over in Europe. And I caught wind of that Mongolia one after visiting Mongolia on a hiking trip. And I was like, that must have been at epic. [00:20:07] Payson McElveen: It was super epic. And you know, it was, I think it was eight days, seven, eight days, the stages where there's one TT day, that was like an hour and 15, but most of the day. Five to four to five and a half hours. And there was some good races there. You know, Corey Wallace was there. He'd won, I think, Canadian marathon nasty year before. And he'd won the Mongolia bike challenge the year before. There was also this Italian world cup guy there, who I'd never been able to be close to at world cup events. And then all of a sudden found myself going shoulder to shoulder with these guys and just feeling way more capable as an athlete and ended up winning that series outside magazine did a little interview and like photo epic on the wind. And that's I found out later kind of what put me on red bull's radar, but that was the thing that really set the hook for me, where I thought, you know what? This was way more fun. I got to see an amazing part of the world. The media cared way more about. Like way more media interest than I'd ever received. And I was just way better suited to it. I had no experience had barely been doing five-hour training. I'd never done a five hour training ride and yet was able to kind of rise to the occasion and do five-hour race days and back it up day after day. So after that point, I started kind of dedicating a little bit more time to to that style. And then consequently one Pro marathon NATS the following year. And that's, that was those two things were kind of the inflection point, I would say. So around 27. [00:21:34] Craig Dalton: and was that, had you joined the orange seal team? [00:21:38] Payson McElveen: So I had been on the rebranded show air team for anyone that remembers the Scott Tedros show our teams. It was called ride biker that year. And it was sort of like a collection of private tiers. It seems like there are some equivalents these days, like, I think the shoot what's it called? Eastern Overland. I want to say they run something similar to that. And then. As far as I can tell that new jukebox program seems to have a bit of a similar setup. So it was kind of set up that way. So I was able to start to pull together some of my own sponsors. And then once I started to get that media interest, the outside interview was kind of the biggest thing. I was able to parlay that into better support or SEL came on board as one of my bigger sponsors, but I hadn't that the team didn't exist yet. And then when. NATS. That's kind of when orange seal and track are like, Hey, what if we like made a team? Like rather than this being a private tier thing, what if we kind of took some ownership and let you just race? And we set up more of a team. So that's how that worked. [00:22:43] Craig Dalton: And you mentioned getting on red bull's radar. When did you end up becoming a red bull athlete? [00:22:47] Payson McElveen: Let's see, I guess 2018, early 2018. Does that, is that right? 2018? [00:22:56] Craig Dalton: The [00:22:57] Payson McElveen: I can't remember. I think [00:22:58] Craig Dalton: timeline sounds right. And did it change your perspective of yourself as an athlete, as you got exposed to the red bull family and other red bull athletes? [00:23:09] Payson McElveen: Oh Yeah. Enormously. I mean, it changed everything and it's funny because when I say. Started communicating with them. At first, it was just like this childhood euphoria of, or my God. This is the most sought after prized sponsorship in adventure, sports outdoor sports. Like this is, I can't believe they're interested, but this is incredible. And you start getting so fixated on the potential of it. for anyone that's familiar with their process they'll know that it's not fast. So basically they were doing background on me for a year. And then for two more years, we communicated. Dated almost you could say decided to figure out how much commitment, mutual commitment there wanted to be. Obviously I was very interested in commitment, but, and then came the phase where it looked like it was going to happen. And all of a sudden you start feeling the pressure and you start questioning. Am I worthy? What is this, what does this mean? What's going to be asked of me, how do I need to rise to the occasion? And I'd say even after I signed for a solid year, that was kind of my mindset. Like, oh man, need to not screw this up. I need to prove that I'm worthy. I need to do innovative things. But one thing that's interesting is that they red bull never. Puts any pressure on you and they really drive home the fact that they want to partner with you because of who you already are and who you can become the potential that they think they see. And they really like to bring people on board before they've reached. They're their prime, their best. They want to help you be a part of that growth process. So once I was able to gradually shift my mindset and realize that this was more of an opportunity and less of an obligation, that's where I think mentally and emotionally, I was kinda able to free up free myself up a little bit race with more race with a sense of opportunity and joy. And then also start to kind of tap into. Creative aspect that I've really started to lean into over the last few years that I've come to realize is like very necessary just for my happiness and sense of fulfillment. And I think that's really where there's most significant interest came from. And it was also just great timing. You know, they wanted someone in this endurance, mass participation sort of arena. That's also why they brought a in, around a similar time. And so, yeah, like, like any success timing was a massive part of the opportunity as well. [00:25:56] Craig Dalton: Yeah. I feel like in some way and correct me if I'm wrong, your relationship with red bull for a few years prior to the pandemic left you very well-suited to whether the pandemic and the lack of racing, meaning you had a wider view of yourself as an athlete and the things you could do. [00:26:13] Payson McElveen: Yeah. And you know, I over the years I've questioned kind of this all of these extracurriculars that, that I'm interested in. Whether it be the podcast or some of the films we do, or some of the, you know, crazy routes, I like to try to tackle Question, you know, how much does that detract from more traditional racing cars like riding across Iceland three weeks before the Australis off-road isn't, you know, stellar prep, but But by the same token, you know, I've really tried to zoom out over the last handful of years and think about how will I look back on this time when I'm 45, 50, 55, whatever. And really, it kind of goes back to Mongolia, you know, T deciding to take that red pill rather than blue pill spend most of the money. I had to go on a crazy adventure halfway around the world by myself as a 23 or. With no experience, you know, I'll never forget that experience the people I met over in Mongolia. And ultimately I think going through life experiencing as much as the world, both interpersonally and just travel wise as you can is a good way to do it. And I've had many mentors over the years who have raised at the highest level, kind of. Persistently remind me that the, what they remember or the things between the actual races and to make sure that, you know, if you go to all-star Germany for the world cup, do everything you can to make sure you don't only see the inside of your hotel room and the three kilometer race course. So that's kind of why. More and more ambitiously gravitated towards some of these more adventure oriented things. And ultimately from a professional standpoint, getting back to your point, it really does, you know, the way I look at it as sort of like a diversified portfolio, there are athletes that only hold one kind of stock, you know, maybe your stock is awesome. Maybe you have a bunch of shares of apple, but you know what happens if for whatever reason, apple tanks. Similarly to the stock market. You know, you want to have a diversified portfolio when we're operating in this space that doesn't have a league. It doesn't have a bunch of structure. And there is a lot of room for creativity. So, it's a personal need, but also it's worked out professionally as well. [00:28:28] Craig Dalton: yeah, I think as a fan of the sport, when you're out there doing those adventures, and obviously you do a lot of filming around these adventures. We just feel closer to you as an athlete. So when you line up at some gravel race, like we're rooting for you because we've seen you struggle. Like any one of us might struggle on it. Adventure. [00:28:46] Payson McElveen: Yeah. that's interesting. I mean, that's good to hear. It makes sense, you know, anytime, you know, I think about I'm, I mean, I'm a massive mainstream sports fan, so I'm always comparing. Our little cycling sport to these mainstream sports. And it's interesting to look at something like say basketball versus football, the NFL versus the NBA and in the NFL, there's massive athlete turnover because of injuries. And also everyone's wearing loads of protective equipment, you know, helmets, pads, all that sort of thing. So you very rarely do you actually see the athletes. They're just these incredible people. Rip it around on the field, hitting each other. With basketball, you see all the writers, interesting hairstyles, writers, basketball players, interesting hairstyles, you know, the way they react to like a bad call, the way they're talking to each other on the bench. Usually they're, they feel more comfortable, you know, giving more flamboyant post-game interviews. And so it feels like the. Collectively like the fan base for individual players in the NBA is so much more engaged than in the NFL. Like fans are with the exception of folks like maybe Tom Brady or like people that have been around forever. Folks of the NFL are fans of the game, fans of teams. And on the NBA side of things frequently, they're fans of the individuals because they feel like they know the individuals. And so I think the same can kind of be said for cycling. And interestingly, I think that. This is a whole other conversation, but I think it's one of the reasons we're seeing such amazing professional opportunities for folks outside the world tour. Now, obviously the most money bar, none is still in the world tour, but there's so much less freedom for personal expression for frankly, like having. Personality. I mean, look at guys like Laughlin that are like redefining the sport and all they had to do was get out of the world tour and do what they wanted to do. And I think that's really interesting and I feel fortunate to be in a part of the sport where that's more celebrated for sure. [00:30:48] Craig Dalton: Yeah, absolutely. So chronologically on the journey, we're back at 2018, you've won your second XC marathon title. Had you started to dabble in gravel in 2018. [00:31:04] Payson McElveen: yeah, I think that was 2018. I did Unbound. Yeah, I guess that would have been 2018 and that was a hundred percent due to sponsors requesting it. I was not interested. And I had a whole mess of mechanicals and actually didn't finish. And I think that might be the. That might be the most recent race I haven't finished maybe besides, well, that's not true. Mid south just happened, but yeah, I was, I didn't get it in 2018. I was like, man, this is carnage. People are flatting everywhere. Why are we out here for so long? This is so [00:31:41] Craig Dalton: It does seem like a Rite of passage to get abused by your first unmanned professional experience. [00:31:47] Payson McElveen: Do it for sure. And Amanda Naaman loves to make fun of me about this cause like I really not publicly, but I was fairly outspoken to some people about how I just didn't understand gravel after that experience. And then I ended up going to mid south in 20, 19 two weeks before the white rim, fastest known time. And I was planning to use it as like. Training effort for the white rim fastest load time. And I ended up winning that mid south race. And then I was like, oh, gravel is sweet. Everyone cares so much about this when Getting loads of interviews, like A massive bump in social media followership, like, wait, maybe there is something to the Scrabble. It Amanda's always like, Yeah. The only reason you fell in love with gravel is because you were fortunate enough to win a race early on, which, you know, might be kind of true, but long story short, it was not love at first sight with gravel, but that's obviously since changed. [00:32:40] Craig Dalton: And you were, are you still kind of in the sort of, I guess 20, 20 season where you still doing XC marathon style racing in conjunction with gravel 2020 is probably a bad example because that was the pandemic year. But in the, in that period, were you doing both still. [00:32:56] Payson McElveen: Yup. Yup. Yeah. And you know, the funny thing is I still. see myself primarily as a mountain biker and there are people who, you know, question, you know, how. I define myself as a racer at this point, but I don't even really feel the need to define what Sal racer you are, because I'm just interested in the biggest races in the country. The, and really, you know, at this point, it's kind of becoming the biggest mass participation, non UCI events in the world. And it's I look at it as a spectrum. You know, if you kind of go down the list of. How do you define these races on one end of the spectrum? You've got something like, you know, BWR San Diego, which in my mind is just kind of like a funky sketchy road race. I don't know that you're allowed to call it a gravel race. If everyone is on road bikes with 20 eights and thirties narrower tires, then the people use a rebate. But and then on the other end of the spectrum, you have something like. I don't know, an epic rides event or, you know, even like the Leadville 100 that really blurs the lines like is that you could for sure. Raise the Leadville 100 on a drop bar, gobbled bike, because as Corey Wallace did last year and you've got everything in between. So, you know, you've got grind. Durose where some people are on mountain bikes. Some people are on gravel bikes, you've got the grasshoppers same. So I look at it as much more of a spectrum, and I think we're just in this incredible golden age of. Grassroot grassroots is such a misnomer, but just like mass participation, non spectator, primary races. And I'm just, I'm here for all of it. It's all. [00:34:38] Craig Dalton: Yeah. Yeah, it's super exciting. And I think the event organizers have just a ton of freedom of how they want. Design the race courses. You know, if I think about the difference between the LA GRA Villa event at this past weekend, which was probably 75% single track, it was the, basically the 40 K MTB course, super single track, heavy required, a pretty hefty skillset. I know a lot of quote, unquote gravel riders were scratching their heads. After that one, thinking they were definitely under. And then the other end of the spectrum, you have something like BWR, as you mentioned, or even SBT gravel. It doesn't require a lot of technical skillset to be competitive in those races. So I find it fascinating. And I think that even goes down to where you ride and where you live. Like my gravel here in Marine county as the listener. Well, nose is quite a bit different than Midwest gravel. Not better, not worse, you know, just depends on what's your company. [00:35:36] Payson McElveen: For sure. And I mean, here in Durango, our best road rides our gravel road rides, and we've been riding road bikes on them for ages. When I first moved here, you know, every, so we have a Tuesday night world's group ride, which for what it's worth is still the hardest group I've ever done anywhere in the country by a lot. But Frequently, you know, every third week or so the route that we'll do is majority dirt and everyone's on road bikes. And up until a couple of years ago, everyone was on 26 or 20 eights. And you know, they're fairly smooth gravel roads, but pretty much if you ask anyone locally, our best road rides are half dirt roads. So when this whole gravel movements start. I know I was one of many that was, we were kind of scratching our heads a little bit about, well, isn't this just bike riding, but I understand the industry has needed to kind of define and brand things, but Yeah, it's it's interesting. [00:36:30] Craig Dalton: Yeah, it's interesting as we were talking about your career in this sort of transition, a transition, but just as melding of your love of ECC and this new level of gravel low and behold in 2022 lifetime announces the grand Prix half mountain bike races, half gravel races. How excited were you around that announcement? [00:36:50] Payson McElveen: who very excited. Yeah I'd had some conversations with lifetime in the year or so prior kind of generally talking about structure and what events might make the most sense and all that sort of thing. But It was a little bit ambiguous about whether it was going to happen and to what degree and what it would all look like. So when the announcement? came out I was sort of primed for it, but I was also surprised by quite a few things. And that certainly. You know, increase the excitement too. As I read through the proposed rules and the points structure and the events they decided on and all that sort of thing. But yeah, I mean, it feels just like an enormous opportunity and I think it feels like an enormous opportunity. Personally because of the events, obviously, but I think it's an enormous opportunity for north American cycling as a whole, because there are so many aspects of the series that are completely different than any other series we've seen. I mean, in the United States with the exception of, you know, the heyday of mountain biking in the eighties and nineties, we haven't seen. Cycling massively successful really as a spectator sport or as a televised sport. Because there's always been this goal of making it a spectator sport, but I don't think in the United States, that's really ever going to be a spectator sport. The key in my mind is that it's a participation sport in this country, and that's what these huge grassroots mass participation events have really tapped into. And made them so successful. And so when you combine that with, you know, a year long points, chase, maybe all of a sudden that is the secret sauce for making it more spectator friendly, even if it's more of this kind of modern age of spectating, where it's very, online-based, there's lots of social media coverage. There's, you know, maybe a live stream there's, you know, Really cool. Like drive to survive, TVC series type things coming out of it. I mean that actually drive to survive as a great example. Like look what drive to survive has done for F1 in the United States virtually no one cared about F1 until that series came out. And now, you know, people are talking about peer gasoline and Daniel, Ricardo, like, you know, [00:39:04] Craig Dalton: Yeah. [00:39:05] Payson McElveen: You know, Kevin Duran or Tom Brady. So, it's a very interesting time and I just feel fortunate to kind of be reaching my peak career years right now as it's happening. [00:39:15] Craig Dalton: Yeah, to your point earlier, I think it just creates this great opportunity for storytelling throughout the season. And this idea of, you know, some courses are gonna be more favorable to mountain bike athletes. Others are going to be more favorable to traditional gravel athletes and just seeing how it all plays out and having the points across the season, as something as a fan that's in the back of your mind. I just think it's going to be a lot of fun and great for this. [00:39:41] Payson McElveen: Yeah. I think so too. I really hope so. And the thing that I really hope, I think what can truly set it apart and almost guarantee its success is if they're able to. Lean into those personal storylines, kind of like we were talking about earlier, the things that I think really makes a fan base fall in love with following a league or a sport, which is the individual stories. You know, like I hope there's all kinds of awesome coverage of Aaron Huck making this return to racing, following pregnancy, or you know, there's so many. Incredible individual storylines that can be told. And I hope that's really seen as an asset and taken advantage of. [00:40:26] Craig Dalton: Yeah, for sure. I mean, I have a. You can look at like Amber and Nevin and her experience, just like sort of getting a little bit crushed, still getting in the points at , but having a really rough day out there, that's the kind of narrative like you're looking for somebody who's coming way outside of their comfort zone to race this entire series. And unsurprisingly like a mountain bike style race was super challenging for. But it's going to be fascinating to see like how she bounces back for Unbound, which is this other radically different experience in my mind at 200 miles. [00:41:00] Payson McElveen: For sure. Yeah. I think we're going to learn a lot over this first year and I hope we get a couple of years at it because I think there will be lots of adjusting along the way. Lots of cool ideas and yeah, I think there's just massive potential and I hope everyone's able to hang in there for a few years to figure out what that potential actually. [00:41:22] Craig Dalton: Agreed. Unfortunately, you have to drop this race due to your injury at mid south, but I'm curious, like, as you looked at the arc and the style of racing that you were going to experience in the grand Prix, does that alter how you're training do you sort of do one thing for Otter? Morph dramatically into something else for a 200 mile Unbound, which is the next race on the calendar for the grand Prix series. [00:41:45] Payson McElveen: Yeah. I mean, training Is definitely different. Just physiologically. I kind of gravitate towards those long slow burn events more easily anyway. So preparing for something like sea Otter, where, you know, the, I mean the average speed, I think Keegan said his average speed was like 17.8 miles an hour. Schwamm against average speed. I did it two years and we averaged over 19 miles an hour, both times. Ironically these mountain bike events and Leadville, you know, despite all of its climbing and high elevation, that average speed is almost 17 miles an hour. So these mountain bike events are very much gravel style, mountain bike events. It would be pretty funny. To see this field, you know, line up for something like the grand junction. Off-road where you're lucky to crack nine and a half mile per hour, average speed. And everyone's running one 20 bikes and two, four tires. But yeah. In terms of training those faster kind of leg speed high-end events are ones that I have to train a little bit. I have to like tune up some speed a little bit more for, so for example, I'll attend the Tuesday night. Group right here in Durango almost every week in the month, leading up to that sort of event I'll get in some good motor pacing sessions still, you know, log some good five-hour rides just because that's what helps me be at my fittest, but not worry about a six and a half, seven hour ride with Unbound. I will notch, you know, some good six plus hour rides. And a lot of it is also just about. Practicing, like practicing your fueling practicing with the equipment you want to use doing some heat acclimation and then just doing massive amounts of sub threshold work. So, you know, I'll do rides, you know, like a six hour ride and do three tempo, three, one hour tempo blocks in there Just like an insane amount of. KJS I'm just trying to get your body used to being efficient really. I mean, that's kind of what it comes down to and being efficient under duress. So being efficient when it's 90 degrees out and your stomach, maybe isn't feeling amazing and you're pinging off rocks and. You know, trying to navigate a big budge. So there are some different things that I do overall training is pretty simple. You know, on the XC world cup, it training gets a lot more complicated, I think. But for these longer distance events training, actually, isn't terribly complicated at all. [00:44:16] Craig Dalton: Is there any one in particular that you're super excited about? [00:44:20] Payson McElveen: In the series [00:44:22] Craig Dalton: Yeah. [00:44:24] Payson McElveen: probably Leadville. I've been consistently good at Leadville. I've never had a 100% clean run at it. But I've been third twice, fourth last year. That's one that I would love to win before I retire. You know, if there's one race I could pick. Before I get too old to be competitive. I think Leadville is probably it. It's tricky though, because we've got these two guys that are just sensational, you know, generational talents and Keegan and Howard, both of them grew up at very high elevation. They're small guys. And they just go uphill like nobody's business and you know, they're hard to beat. They're definitely hard to be so. Every year, you know, I look towards Leadville. I would love to love for everything to come together for me there. But you know, all of these races are really competitive, but if I had to pick one, that's probably the one I'm most looking forward to. [00:45:19] Craig Dalton: Got it. And is there any room in your calendar for a pace and adventure this year? [00:45:25] Payson McElveen: Yeah. Good question, boy. That's kind of the trade-off of the grand Prix, you know, it's really consuming said, I know that I always perform better off of big training blocks. So I've pulled back on race days pretty significantly. So I have some really big breaks in my schedule. I'm probably going to go do this four day GB Duro style stage race in Iceland. That is the route that We bike tour last year around the west fjords it's 450 mile days. Give her. Which would be a fun adventure. But in terms of like, whoa here's a crazy idea. No, one's done yet type thing. I have a pretty significant list of those. We'll see where they fit in. I'm going to do another trail town for sure. I really enjoyed that project of Ben last year and the storytelling aspect of that and the big gear giveaway we got to do and kind of the. The community that we developed online there that was really successful. So I'll do another one of those. There's also going to be another matchstick productions film coming up, which is really good for the sport. You know, really high profile, high production value, feature, length film that typically, you know, features a lot of backflips in three sixties and in Virgin, Utah, and. endurance riding as much, but they've been really cool about working more of that in, so I'm looking forward to filming for that again this year, their next one. Probably in terms of like a big crossing or, you know, massive MKT of some kind. I have a big scouting mission that I'll be doing in the fall, but it it'll be by far and away. The biggest one I've tried, not in terms of huh. Kind of distance too, but mostly just like it's extremely audacious and not the sort of thing where I can just go in blind. So I'm going to go in and do a lot of scouting for that and probably knock that out. Summer of 23. [00:47:18] Craig Dalton: Well, I mean, for the listener, Payson's always an exciting person to follow and your creativity. It's just fun watching how your mind works and the things you want to tackle. And it's just a lot of fun to watch what you're doing. I know we got to get you out on a training ride, but one final question. I just wanted to talk about your change in sponsorship this year, in terms of the bike you're riding. Do you want to talk a little bit about that? [00:47:39] Payson McElveen: Yeah, I mean, I don't know. There's a lot of drip, a lot of directions we could go there, but that was What are the scarier professional periods I've had thus far? I obviously had to two really great options and went back and forth between the two for months. I was very fortunate to have the support of an agent that I've come to lean on very significantly over the last couple of years, not sure where I'd be without him, but Yeah. I mean, that was a, that was another sort of like red pill, blue pill moment where the logical thing would be to stay with the brand that you've been with for seven years and is the big juggernaut and the proven, you know, you can be a reliable cog in a big machine type sort of situation. But I've always had. Kind of entrepreneurial drive. That's really hard to ignore sometimes. And there was a whole lot of upside with joining allied and they're doing some really industry defining things that other brands don't have, the ability or confidence or ambition to do. You know, they're 100% made in the U S. Component is really incredible. And that affords all sorts of things from a quality standpoint, a product development standpoint, and just social issue, standpoint and environmental aspects standpoint things that? felt very good. Morally in a way. But ultimately I just want it to be on the bikes that I thought I could win on. And Allied's bikes are just unbelievable. I mean, the quality and the care. Their process for product development and their willingness to kind of ignore industry trends in favor of just making the fastest, most badass bike possible was very intriguing and enticing. And I did go back and forth many times for awhile. But once I finally made the decision, I just it felt like a massive relief, a huge amount of excitement. And Yeah. in hindsight, I'd make that decision. 10 out of 10 times again, [00:49:44] Craig Dalton: Right on presumably you've got both an allied echo and an allied. What's the other one with the enable in your quiver, are you using the echo as your road bike or using one of their pure road machines? [00:49:56] Payson McElveen: so we were, we've been waiting on parts for the echo. I've had an echo frame for a good bit. Parts just showed up last week. So I'll be getting that echo built up. Probably over the weekend. I've test written one but I haven't put huge miles on an echo yet. It's a really, I mean, just a classic example of a brilliant idea from the incredible mind that is Sam Pikmin there, their head of product, but I'll definitely be racing the echo at things like Steamboat where, you know, aerodynamics and weight and more of a road style bike really would pay dividends. The ABL is just awesome. I was absolutely mind boggled by how light it was. I mean, it's over a pound lighter than the gravel bike I was raised in the previous year, which frankly I didn't really expect. So that's been great. And then Yeah. I'm also on an alpha, which is. They're road bike, just super Zippy snappy road bike, and has a really cool, almost a little bit old school aesthetic with the level top tube that has this really cool classic look. [00:50:56] Craig Dalton: Yeah, for sure. I'll refer in the show notes. I'm the listener to my interview with Sam and I've had allied on a couple of different times, so great product, super I'm super jazzed when anybody's making anything in the USA. And as you said, it's just fun as an athlete. I'm sure to be able to go to the factory and see the layups and talk to them to the craftsmen that are working on the. [00:51:17] Payson McElveen: Yeah, And just to have a lot of input, you know, just to be able to say, Hey, I'm interested in running my bike this way. Is that possible? And then go to the factory five days later and they've literally like machined the part already and run all the kinematics in the way. Let's pop it in, like what [00:51:35] Craig Dalton: let's do it. [00:51:36] Payson McElveen: that would have taken two years at a big bike brand. That's insane. [00:51:41] Craig Dalton: So true. So true. All right, dude. Well, I'm going to let you go. I appreciate all the time. It's been great to finally get you on the mic and talk about your career. I'm going to be looking forward to your comeback for the, for Unbound and throughout the rest of the series. We'll be rooting for you. [00:51:55] Payson McElveen: awesome. Thanks Greg. It was great to finally get on and chat with you and Yeah, keep up the good work quality podcasts are hard work and few and far between. So, nice job. And yeah, keep up the good work. [00:52:07] Craig Dalton: Thanks. I appreciate that. [00:52:09] Payson McElveen: Cool man. [00:52:10] Craig Dalton: Big, thanks to pay some for joining the podcast this week. I hope you enjoyed the conversation and huge thanks to hammerhead and the crew to computer for sponsoring this week's edition of the gravel ride podcast. Remember head on over to hammerhead.io. Use the promo code, the gravel ride for that free custom color kit. And premium water bottle. If you're looking to provide a little feedback, I encourage you to join the ridership. It's our free global cycling community. Just visit www.theridership.com. You can always find me in that group. And I welcome your episode suggestions. If you're able to financially support the show, please visit www dot. Buy me a coffee.com/the gravel ride. Any contribution to the show is hugely appreciated. Until next time here's to finding some dirt onto your wheels

We take a look at the final three Washington State Doe cases and possible missing persons matches. The investigations take us back to Fort Lewis, trailheads, Mormon churches, abandoned houses, the NAMUS-44, and the Washington-Oregon state line; setting us up for a very fast-paced and information dense second half of the season. TCB returns on March 4th. // For more information about the Charley Project Fundraiser: www.cpfundraiser.com. //. Written, researched, and produced by Josh Hallmark. //. With research by Andrew French and Michelle Kaszuba, and research assistance by Michelle Tooker and Shana Wilensky. //. Resources include: NAMUS, The Charley Project, The Redmond Reporter, Strange Outdoors, Oregon Live, KZLY-TV, and The Guardian //. Music by: William Hellfire, Blear Moon, Lee Rosevere, Puddle of Infinity, Chris Zabriskie, Sergey Cheremisinov, and Art in Manila // This episode was sponsored by: • BetterHelp: BetterHelp.com/TCB for 10% off your first month. • Green Chef: GreenChef.com/TrueCrimeBS90 for $90 off • Honey: JoinHoney.com/TCBS