Podcasts about Invictus Games

Hour 1 Segment 1 Tony starts the first hour of the show talking about President Donald Trump’s primetime address to the nation last night. Hour 1 Segment 2 Tony talks about the sixth straight day of attacks on Iran. Hour 1 Segment 3 Tony talks more about shredded lettuce from Taco Bell linked to the cyclospora parasite outbreak. Tony also talks about Markwayne Mullin announcing an election security crackdown. Hour 1 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the first hour of the show talking more about Markwayne Mullin announcing an election security crackdown. Hour 2 Segment 1 Tony starts the second hour of the show talking about Josh Hawley pressing Elizabeth Oyer during Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing. Tony also talks about Governor Tim Walz on why ICE shouldn’t have deported the Laotian child rapist. Tony later talks more about Marco Rubio’s speech on political violence from the left. Hour 2 Segment 2 Tony talks about petitions circulating to remove Prince Harry from the Invictus Games. Hour 2 Segment 3 Tony gets into three more things: the husband of Code Pink founder being investigated under federal foreign agent and tax laws, air quality alerts from Canadian wildfires, the White House confirming the continuation of ICE vehicle stops, and Ruben Gallego having relationships with two staffers. Hour 2 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the second hour of the show talking about the leftist media downplaying President Donald Trump’s primetime address to the nation last night. Hour 3 Segment 1 Tony starts the final hour of the show talking more about the leftist media downplaying President Donald Trump’s primetime address to the nation last night. Hour 3 Segment 2 Tony talks about the debate in Maine to replace Graham Platner. Hour 3 Segment 3 Tony talks about how to respond to political ignorance. Hour 3 Segment 4 Tony wraps up another edition of the show talking about reports of strikes from Iran hitting Kuwait and Iraq. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2 Segment 1 Tony starts the second hour of the show talking about Josh Hawley pressing Elizabeth Oyer during Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing. Tony also talks about Governor Tim Walz on why ICE shouldn’t have deported the Laotian child rapist. Tony later talks more about Marco Rubio’s speech on political violence from the left. Hour 2 Segment 2 Tony talks about petitions circulating to remove Prince Harry from the Invictus Games. Hour 2 Segment 3 Tony gets into three more things: the husband of Code Pink founder being investigated under federal foreign agent and tax laws, air quality alerts from Canadian wildfires, the White House confirming the continuation of ICE vehicle stops, and Ruben Gallego having relationships with two staffers. Hour 2 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the second hour of the show talking about the leftist media downplaying President Donald Trump’s primetime address to the nation last night. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What It Takes to Lead Sports Host Broadcasting: Inside ISB with CEO Ursula Romero This week's podcast special guest is Ursula Romero, CEO and Managing Director of International Sports Broadcasting (ISB), a global leader in host broadcasting operations for the world's biggest sporting events. With over two decades of experience shaping modern broadcast standards, Ursula has worked on every Olympic and Paralympic Games since 1996, as well as major global events including the FIFA World Cup and the Invictus Games. An award-winning producer and director, she is also a passionate filmmaker with a Master's in Cinematography from the London Film Academy. Today, she leads ISB into a new era of technological innovation, diversifying global sports coverage and driving the future of live sports production. In this conversation, Ursula opens up about what it really takes to build a career in sports broadcasting from the ground up, how she navigated the transition from producer to CEO, and why storytelling still sits at the heart of great sports coverage—despite all the technological change. What You'll Discover: How Ursula built a 30-year career in global sports broadcasting From summer jobs as a liaison officer and driver at World Cups and World Championships to directing live sport and leading host broadcasting for Global Sporting Events What it actually takes to be a CEO in sports broadcasting Ursula unpacks the shift from head of production to running ISB, taking over during the pandemic, handling bids, clients, pressure, and the emotional reality of stepping into her late father's role. Why storytelling will always beat technology How Ursula thinks about live sport as storytelling, what's changed (and what hasn't) from the 1980s to the age of TikTok, and how to use new platforms without losing narrative quality. The future of live production, social media, and AI in sport Ursula shares how vertical video, second-screen experiences, fan engagement tools, and AI are reshaping coverage—and how to use these tools without diluting the human side of sport. Practical career advice for aspiring sports broadcasters Why work experience beats classroom theory, how to get your foot in the door, the importance of saying "yes" to unglamorous roles, and why exploring non-mainstream sports can be your edge—and much more. Connect with Ursula:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ursula-romero-1b938810/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ualecrim/ SBI Website: https://isbtv.es/ SBI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isbc_live

Prince Harry is back in Britain for events linked to the Invictus Games — but what should have been a visit focused on his charity work has become a full blown Sussex-Palace psychodrama. Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey unpack a bruising week for the Duke of Sussex: a humiliating High Court defeat against the publishers of the Daily Mail, a row over Buckingham Palace accommodation, unresolved security concerns, and uncertainty over whether Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will come to the UK. Was this ever an opening for reconciliation with the royal family — or does every return to Britain now risk becoming another palace crisis?Has Harry overplayed his hand - or has the palace acted coldly? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.ukImage: GettyProducer: Robert WallaceExecutive Producer: Priyanka DeladiaRead more: Harry, the Duke of Hazard? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SCHEDULE JBS, 7-7-20261862 NYC  Liz Peek. Revamping Federal Reserve Communications: No More Dot Plots? Liz Peek discusses new FedChair Kevin Warsh's shift away from "forward guidance" and "dot plots". She argues this pragmatic approach requires investors to analyze raw economic data rather than Fed algorithms. Despite past recession fears, the economy remains stable with low unemployment at 4.2%. (1) Liz Peek. The Democratic Party's 2028 Internal Conflict: Socialists vs. Establishment. Peek analyzes the rising tension between the Democratic establishment and radical socialists like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. She suggests Governor Newsom faces credibility issues due to "flip-flops," while younger socialist candidates threaten to alienate traditional Jewish and Black voters, potentially wrecking the party's 2028 prospects. (2) Captain James Fanell. China's Nuclear Triad Expansion: Submerged Ballistic Missile Test. Captain Fanellexplains the significance of China's recent submerged ballistic missile launch from a Jin-class submarine. Reaching over 10,000 kilometers, this JL-3 missile flew over U.S. territories like Guam. This rare test signals China's rapid development of a nuclear triad intended to achieve strategic deterrence against the U.S. (3) Captain James Fanell. Countering China's First Strike Strategy in the Pacific. Fanell argues China's SLBM test challenges their "no first use" policy, effectively demonstrating a first-strike capability. He recommends the U.S. bolster its naval force structure in the Western Pacific and utilize B-2 bomber flights to signal resolve against Chinese efforts to drive America out of the region. (4) Mary Kissel. NATO's New Vigor and the European Defense Dilemma. Mary Kissel discusses NATO'srenewed urgency following Russian aggression in Ukraine. While front-line nations like Poland exceed spending targets, many Europeans have historically relied on the U.S. defense umbrella to fund social welfare states. She warns that Putin continues to test NATO's unity at the margins. (5) Mary Kissel. Confronting Beijing's Provocations and the Cost of Appeasement. Kissel critiques the U.S.government for pursuing trade deals while China conducts intimidating missile tests in the Pacific. She urges the administration to recognize the severity of the threat, strengthen regional alliances, and impose actual consequences for Beijing's increasingly hostile behavior to avoid a greater future threat. (6) Joseph Sternberg. Federal Reserve Introspection and Britain's Political Turmoil. Sternberg examines Governor Waller's speech regarding how "forward guidance" may have blinded the Fed to 2021 inflation. Turning to the UK, he notes Prime Minister Keir Starmer's plummeting popularity and argues that British politics is trapped in personality-driven cycles without addressing fundamental policy or welfare state problems. (7) Joseph Sternberg. Cultural Divides: American Earnestness vs. European Cynicism. During the World Cup, Sternberg observes that European visitors are struck by American earnestness regarding God, patriotism, and politics. He notes that while shared history exists, deep cultural divisions persist; Europeans often view patriotism as destructive, whereas Americans continue to view it as a healthy instinct. (8) Gregory Copley. Xi Jinping's Internal Struggles and the Vulnerable 'Boomer' Fleet. Copley views China'smissile test as a move by Xi Jinping to look credible amidst domestic instability and loss of control over the PLA. He notes that while the Jin-class submarines are "noisy" and vulnerable, the test sends a pointed message to the West and Pacific nations. (9) Gregory Copley. Russian Bluster and NATO's Disorganized Response. Copley dismisses Russian threats against Poland and Finland as "agit prop" designed to save face during the NATO summit. He argues Russia is incapable of a major war with NATO and that Putin remains secure despite domestic pressures, petrol rationing, and the West's disorganized attempts to unify. (10) Gregory Copley. Iran's Leadership Vacuum and the Illusion of Nuclear Success. Copley reports a lack of cohesive leadership in Iran, with Ayatollah Khamenei potentially incapacitated. He asserts the West has failed on all metrics, including regime change and securing the Strait of Hormuz. Iran views its nuclear program primarily as a bargaining chip for sovereignty rather than victory. (11) Gregory Copley. The Prodigal Son: Prince Harry's Mounting Legal and Financial Woes. Copley discusses Prince Harry's precarious position after losing a major lawsuit, leaving him with a 50 million pound debt. King Charles III prioritizes his duty to the monarchy over family ties as concerns grow regarding Harry's management of the Invictus Games and his wife's public criticisms of the family. (12) Thaddeus McCotter. Democratic Party Discipline: Managing Candidate Crises and Ideological Rifts.McCotter explores how the Democratic establishment "blew up" problematic candidates like Eric Swalwell to install figures like Xavier Becerra. He describes an ongoing "civil war" between the establishment and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), with leadership working to clear out radicals to appeal to mainstream voters. (13) Thaddeus McCotter. The Republican Civil War: MAGA Populism vs. the Establishment. McCotter analyzes the Republican Party's struggle with the MAGA movement, which he defines as populist rather than traditionally Republican. He warns that without a clear programmatic platform beyond Donald Trump, the movement may not survive his leadership, potentially leading to conflict with the revanchist Republican establishment. (14) Grant Newsham. The Shadow of Appeasement: Europe's Unwillingness to Defend Itself. Newsham compares current European hesitation to confront Russia with 1930s appeasement. He argues that many European nations have developed a "pathologic dependence" on the U.S. to fund their social welfare states. He warns that without U.S. backing, Europe lacks the unity to stop Russian aggression. (15) Henry Sokolski. Iran's Nuclear Defiance and the Futility of Unsupervised Deals. Sokolski highlights the disconnect between U.S. and Iranian positions following a recent memorandum of understanding. Iran refuses inspections of bombed enrichment sites, while the U.S. insists on them. He warns that preventing Iran from building a bomb remains an uphill battle without clearer public goals. (16) Corrections applied: Liz Peek (not "Elizabeth Peak"), Zohran Mamdani (not "Zoron Mandani"), Thaddeus McCotter(not "Thaddius Marter"), JL-3 and B-2 (hyphenated).

Gregory Copley. The Prodigal Son: Prince Harry's Mounting Legal and Financial Woes. Copley discusses Prince Harry's precarious position after losing a major lawsuit, leaving him with a 50 million pound debt. King Charles IIIprioritizes his duty to the monarchy over family ties as concerns grow regarding Harry's management of the Invictus Games and his wife's public criticisms of the family. (12)

Belgium eliminated the U.S. from the World Cup on Monday with a dominating 4-1 victory. The U.S. loss followed days of controversy regarding U.S. star Folarin Balogun's red card suspension and FIFA's decision to lift the one-game ban. Nicole Valdes reports.Jimmy Conrad, an analyst for CBS Sports Golazo Network and five-time captain of the U.S. men's national team, joins "CBS Mornings" to break down the U.S. loss to Belgium, if the red card controversy played a role in the match, and who could win it all.Prosecutors in Utah began presenting their case on Monday against Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing Charlie Kirk, during a five-day preliminary hearing. Prosecutors are aiming to prove they have enough evidence to move forward with a murder trial against Robinson, who has not yet entered a plea. Carter Evans reports.Prince Harry has returned to the U.K. for the Invictus Games, but he will not be staying at Buckingham Palace during his week-long visit after the Palace says he missed an invitation deadline. CBS News royal contributor Roya Nikkhah breaks down the dispute.Online influencers are promoting raw milk, but this year more than 80 illnesses related to it have been reported in the U.S. CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Celine Gounder explains the risks of the health trend.Gotham FC, the reigning National Women's Soccer League champions, announced they will relocate their home games from New Jersey to Etihad Park in Queens, New York, beginning in 2028. Gotham FC Governor Carolyn Tisch Blodgett talks to "CBS Mornings" about what this move means for the team and the impact of having a professional women's soccer team playing in New York.Common speaks to "CBS Mornings" about starring in the series "Silo," which is back for a third season. The Oscar, Emmy and Grammy Award winner reveals what drew him to his character. He also discusses recent performances, including at the BET Awards and the opening of the Obama Presidential Center.

Prince Harry continues his UK visit with private Invictus Games meetings at Royal Hospital Chelsea after losing his High Court privacy case against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail. We examine Harry's full statement calling the ruling a “whitewash,” new analysis of whether King Charles and Harry could meet under carefully managed palace conditions, PR advice for Meghan Markle if she returns to Britain, and how Prince William, Princess Kate and Queen Camilla carried on with public engagements as the Sussex drama dominated headlines.Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

In today's episode of The Daily T, Tim Stanley and Poppy Coburn are joined by Reform UK's Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick in the wake of Nigel Farage's decision to stand down as the MP for Clacton, forcing a by-election. They discuss the point of a by-election if the only opposition is Count Binface, and whether there is a cross-party conspiracy against Reform UK.Tim and Poppy are also joined by The Telegraph's royal editor Hannah Furness to discuss where Prince Harry goes next after losing his privacy case against the publisher of The Daily Mail. She was at the Invictus Games conference with Harry where he found out the ruling yesterday afternoon.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorStudio Operator: Meghan SearleProducers: Emma Williams and David LeveneVideo Producer: Will WaltersExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanEditor: Camilla TomineyHighlights:Robert Jenrick says Nigel Farage is ready for "the mother of all street fights" in the new Clacton by-electionWhere does Prince Harry go now with his crusade against the press after losing his legal battle with The Daily Mail? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Prince Harry possibly rebuild his relationship with the Royal Family - and the British public - after a humiliating High Court defeat in his case against the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday? Associate Helen Trinca joins us from London to dissect the 436-page judgment and its fallout. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Prince Harry loses Daily Mail privacy case Analysis by Helen Trinca: Harry ignores collateral damage to royals with reckless response to court loss This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and five others' claims over alleged unlawful information gathering by Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers have been dismissed at the High Court.Chris and Lizzie join Charlene to talk about the decision, which comes as the Duke of Sussex visits the UK to mark one year until the Invictus Games which will be held in Birmingham next summer.

Prince Harry has suffered the biggest legal defeat of his campaign against the British press after losing his High Court privacy case against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline. Mr Justice Nicklin ruled that Harry and six other claimants—including Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley and Baroness Lawrence—failed to prove allegations of unlawful information gathering. We examine the judge's key findings, the quotes likely to define the case, what happens next at the July costs hearing, Harry's appearance at the Invictus Games event as the judgment landed, new comments from Jennie Bond on the Duke's security dispute, and criticism from Carole Malone over Harry's continuing campaign for police protection.Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

Today on America in the Morning   Graham Platner Accused of Sexual Assault  Maine Democrat Senate Candidate Graham Platner has found himself embroiled in another scandal. Correspondent Lisa Dwyer reports.      NY Man Sues ICE  A New York man is suing officials at Immigration and Customs Enforcement alleging they violated his first amendment rights. Correspondent Sue Aller has details.       Alleged Charlie Kirk Assassin Appears in Court  Charlie Kirk's family was present at the courthouse where prosecutors are laying out the evidence they have to prove to the judge they are ready to go to trial. Correspondent Hannah Schoenbaum reports Kirk's family had to step out of the courtroom several times to gather themselves.        President Trump Heads to Turkey  Correspondent Seung Min Kim reports President Trump will travel to Turkey to take part in a NATO summit at the request of the Turkish president.       Trump Weighs in on FIFA Controversy  While speaking with reporters, President Trump weighed in on the growing controversy of a red card reversal at the World Cup. Correspondent Ed Donahue has more.        Markets Get Boost from AI  AI once again gave Wall Street a boost. Here's correspondent Seth Sutel with a look at the stock market.       Microsoft Announces Layoffs  Microsoft says it will cut 4,800 jobs, accounting for about 2% of its global workforces.    Walmart Announces Price Reductions  Walmart says that after receiving a request from President Donald Trump they will begin to cut prices on many summer barbeque favorites including meat, chips, and sodas.    SCOTUS Sides with Texas  The US Supreme Court says Texas can enforce a law limiting children's ability to buy or download apps while the legal process plays out. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.      Football Coach Charged In Death of Player  A former strength and conditioning coach at Bucknell University has been charged in the death of a football player who collapsed during training.    Prince Harry Visits England  Prince Harry has returned to the U.K. for a weeklong visit to raise awareness for the Invictus Games. Correspondent Charles De Ledesma reports the trip has sparked buzz over whether Meghan and the kids will join him.          Graham Platner Faces Calls to Resign  Maine Democratic US Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing mounting pressure to end his campaign after a woman publicly accused him of sexual assault. Correspondent Joan Jones has the latest details       NY Man Says ICE Violated First Amendment  Correspondent Lisa Dwyer reports that an upstate New Yorker is suing after being by ICE investigators for comments they made via email.        Judge Weighing Facts of Charlie Kirk Assassination  A judge in Utah is considering whether there is sufficient evidence to hold a trial for the man accused of last year's assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.      Trump Announces Plans for White House Helipad  Corresondent Josh Boak reports President Trump is planning to make more changes to the White House grounds.      OH Police Officer Killed  An Ohio police officer has died in the line of duty after responding to a 911 call. With details here's correspondent Julie Walker       Judge Rules J6 Suspect Not Eligable for Pardon  At least one Capitol riot suspect will not be allowed to utilize the pardons issued by President Trump. Correspondent Ed Donahue reports.       Toyota Moving Plant from Mexico to U.S.  Toyota Motor announced it is investing $3.6 billion to move the production of the Tacoma pickup truck from a plant in Tijuana, Mexico to its manufacturing campus in San Antonio, Texas.    Cuba Suffers Blackout  Cuba's electric system suffered a country-wide blackout. Correspondent Jennifer King reports the country is currently under an oil embargo imposed by President Trump.      Ukraine War Update  Correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports Russia has attacked Kyiv again, just days after the deadliest attack on the capital this year.      Sports – Robert Workman    World Cup & more.         Finally    President Donald Trump rang the opening bell of the stock market from the Oval Office on Monday    Rob Reiner made a presidential cameo for his final onscreen appearance. With more here's Correspondent Kevin Carr.      America in the Morning from Westwood One  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today's episode of The Daily T, Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley discuss the latest scandal threatening Nigel Farage's position as leader of Reform UK. He faces another investigation for failing to declare financial support from convicted criminal George Cottrell. Will this be the scandal that loses Farage his hard-won seat in Parliament?Camilla and Tim are also joined by The Telegraph's royal editor Hannah Furness for the latest twist in Prince Harry's tumultuous relationship with the royal family, as he's refused a stay at Buckingham Palace at the eleventh hour for his UK visit for the Invictus Games.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorStudio Operator: Meghan SearleProducers: Emma Williams, Liam Askin and David LeveneVideo Producer: Will WaltersExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanEditor: Camilla TomineyHighlights:Why Nigel Farage won't be undone by his latest political funding scandalPrince Harry refused a stay at Buckingham Palace during his UK visit for Invictus Games engagements Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Royal T, Camilla Tominey, Victoria Ward and American commentator Kinsey Schofield discuss Prince Harry's planned visit to the UK to promote next year's Invictus Games, after his demands for state-funded security fell through.They compare his security claims to global celebrities such as Harry Styles, who goes running freely around London.They also discuss the High Court legal bomb that will drop next Tuesday regarding the Prince's privacy lawsuit against the Daily Mail Group. The ruling will land exactly as the Duke takes the stage for his first Invictus Games engagement of his visit.They reflect on Prince William's attempt to pull down the shutters and the King's quiet offer of residence as they explain how Meghan is desperately trying to escape her “villain era”, leveraging royal mystique to save her crashing brand.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorStudio Operator: Meghan SearleProducers: Emma Williams and Georgia CoanVideo Producer: Will WaltersSocial Media Producer: Conor ClarkEditor: Camilla TomineyHighlights:Will Meghan, Archie and Lillibet join Prince Harry on his UK visit for his Invictus Games engagement?Kinsey Schofield gives her perspective on Prince Harry's security row and whether Meghan needs her connection to the royal family for future success Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh questions are being raised about Meghan Markle's business ventures after reports claimed she may be earning commissions from fashion purchases linked to outfits worn at Invictus Games events. Critics are asking whether commercial activity and charitable causes are becoming too closely intertwined, while sources suggest Prince Harry is uncomfortable with the attention.Meanwhile, new reports claim Harry and Meghan are frustrated by the growing relationship between Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and Prince William. Is it family loyalty, future planning, or simply palace reality?We also examine what appears to be a changing role for the York sisters. After missing several high-profile royal events, questions are growing about where Beatrice and Eugenie fit into William's vision for a slimmer monarchy. Plus, a new Ipsos poll shows support for the monarchy at its lowest level in more than thirty years, especially among younger Britons. William's quiet Duchy visits reveal how he is preparing for the future, while a surprising new debate asks whether Harriet Phillips is becoming the next royal fashion influence—and whether some believe she is borrowing a page from Catherine's style book.Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

Prince Harry's expected return to Britain is drawing closer, and all eyes are on July 10. With Harry expected in Birmingham for an Invictus Games event and Prince William hosting his annual charity polo match, the royal calendar may be setting up another chapter in the ongoing story of two brothers living very different lives. Reports suggest tensions remain high behind palace walls, with claims that Queen Camilla remains deeply skeptical of any reconciliation efforts. We hear from royal commentators, insiders, and Deep Crown, who asks the question everyone seems to be avoiding: what role will Meghan Markle play if this trip actually happens?Plus, Prince William surprises Londoners by arriving at an Earthshot event aboard a double-decker bus with Robert Irwin, and Princess Eugenie finds herself at the center of an unexpected social media debate after a Father's Day post sparked comparisons to Harry and Meghan's approach to family privacy.Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

Why did Prince Harry leave the Royal Family?It is one of the most searched royal questions in the world, but the answer is far more complicated than a single argument, a single interview, or a single decision.In this special episode, we trace the full story of Prince Harry's departure from royal life, beginning with the death of Princess Diana in 1997 and the lasting impact it had on his relationship with the media, the monarchy, and public life itself.We examine Harry's unique position as the "spare" to Prince William, his military service, the creation of the Invictus Games, and the challenges of building an identity inside an institution designed around the future king. We explore how William's marriage to Catherine and the births of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis gradually changed Harry's place within the Royal Family and raised difficult questions about his long-term role.The episode also looks at Meghan Markle's arrival in royal life, the excitement that surrounded their engagement and wedding, the growing media scrutiny, Harry's belief that history was repeating itself, and the increasing tensions between the Sussexes, Buckingham Palace, and Kensington Palace.We revisit the South Africa interview that shocked royal watchers, the breakdown of the "Fab Four," the Sandringham Summit, and the dramatic events that led to Harry and Meghan stepping back as senior working royals in early 2020.Finally, we examine the years that followed: the Oprah interview, the Netflix documentary, Spare, the ongoing security battle, the fractured relationships with King Charles and Prince William, and the debate that continues to divide royal observers around the world.Was it Meghan Markle? Was it Prince William? Was it the press? Was it the institution itself?The answer is yes — and no.This is the complete story of how Prince Harry's life inside the monarchy collided with the life he wanted outside it, and why one of the most popular members of the Royal Family ultimately chose to walk away.Follow Palace Intrigue for daily coverage of the Royal Family, including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Catherine, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and the biggest royal stories from around the world.Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

Crazy party in bouji Birmingham angers neighbors, ESPN's Dan Wetzel joins us to talk UFC Freedom 250, bungee jump failure, Melinda French Gates' Epstein grift, Prince Harry stuck in the 8th row, and Puerto Rico hates Marc. World Cup 2026: Cape Verde is an actual country and they tied Spain nil-nil. The USA beat up on Paraguay. Europeans and Australians love the United States. The Carolina Hurricanes have won the Stanley Cup. The Today Show eulogizes the punny Gene Shalit. The Big 12 is suing Texas Tech. Good job, Brendan Sorsby. ESPN Senior Writer Dan Wetzel joins the show to discuss the awesome UFC Freedom 250 event. Fighter Sean Strickland was escorted off the property. There was a Winklevi sighting. Dan Wetzel officially endorses Power Slap. New York Knicks team > New York Knicks fans. Who let the dogs out? Michelle Obama took a shot at the UFC event. There were fist fights in DC at the viewing party. The ⁠Committee for the First Amendment put on counter-programming led by Jane Fonda featuring Peppermint, Bette Midler and Robert De Niro. Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas had the worst bungee jump experience possibly ever. RIP Oliver Tree. Drew is bored with museum talk. Brooklyn Beckham stars in a Door Dash commercial. DJ Fat Tony pops off again. Kids love to be estranged from their parents these days. Another one of Brad Pitt's brats has dropped his last name. An incredible pool party in Birmingham made the news. Call Her Daddy's Alex Cooper and husband are running a toxic work environment. Are you Team Alex or Team Alix Earle? Spencer Pratt has really bad luck with fire. Melinda French Gates loves talking about Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein. Drew's boy, Casey Wasserman, refuses to leave the 2028 Olympics. Trudi and No Neck Ed: A Love Story. Drew has divided the audience over First Amendment auditors. We check out one that went down at a Marine City meat market earlier this year. Markleverse: Prince Harry had to sit in the nosebleed section with Adam Silver at the NBA Finals. Spike Lee hates Harry. Time Magazine can't stop blowing him. It turns out Prince William was the REAL creator of the Invictus Games. Harry and Meghan Markle divorce rumors are swirling. Markle's products are expiring and she's losing her ass.  Marc has been formally charged for medical services in Puerto Rico. Merch, yo. Check it. If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Drew Lane, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley, BranDon, and Roberto).

Welcome to my latest coffee chat  -  First up - Blake Lively probably won't get a damn dime from Justin Baldoni (even though she is still trying to) so thank and praise the LORD. Now she just has to go away and leave Justin Baldoni and all of us alone.  Next, Meghan Markle recently "rebranded" her "As ever" website, but to me it's the same old tired stuff she has already peddled to us, with just a new focus on her. I'm sorry, but I just can't get excited about it.  In this video, I give Meghan some free and unsolicited tips to save her faltering and uninspired brand. She won't listen to me, but that's beside the point.  Also, Meghan is STILL showing us the back of her kid's heads - this time at Disneyland.  It is creepy and I don't like it. For several reasons.  Harry is finding himself in HOT WATER and scandalous accusations regarding Invictus Games and alleged financial mismanagement are swirling- (it's bad.) The future doesn't look too good for the "Duke of Delusion." Lastly, I will share some of my BEST hair care tips and my favorite products that have really helped my recently highlighted, blonde hair feel healthy, soft and shiny at 52! All products are linked under the video and the ones NOT under the video are linked here- OGX Bond Repair Hair Mask and the Schwartzkoft Blonde Me Bond Repair Purple Mask - click here- https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/4589073 Bali Curls Bonding Repair Overnight Exlixir No. 4 - can be found on their website I make a small commission if you click and purchase any of the products linked. Thanks for the support! CHAPTERS  00:00 -  21:55 Intro and Blake Lively refuses to accept reality (even after she LOST her case against Justin Baldoni) and here is why (in my opinion.) 21:56 -  47:39 Hey KIDDIES! Meghan has a creepy new website! 47:40 -  1:01:05 Prince Handbag Harry and the Invictus Games might be breaking up 1:01:06 - 1:02:15 - Princess Catherine in Italy! 1:02:16 - 1:15:46 - Hair Care tips and my favorite products for blonde, lightened, over 50 hair! Catch up on all of the videos of my chapter recaps of "Child Bride" - The UNTOLD STORY of Priscilla Presley HERE-  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyIMNnG5yA189db0kXDep0aA6ARD5ZCt7   Love the show? Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts!) and SHARE this episode!   Want to WATCH my episodes? The clips and pictures add to the fun!- Go to my YouTube Channel and subscribe -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2FsXn-xhr4mYIAK0569BBw   I have a channel membership over there if you'd like to support me! Simply click on the "join" button underneath my YT videos - thanks.   Can't join but want to support my podcast? Help keep me caffeinated and fill my tip jar here - https://buymeacoffee.com/jenniferc    Other stuff  I've been a licensed esthetician and a makeup artist for over two decades - Want to see a list of all of my favorite beauty product recommendations? Everything I love, use, and wear all the time - CLICK HERE - https://shopmy.us/jenniferc/shelves   BUY MY ONLINE SKINCARE GUIDES HERE-  https://jenniferchristopherson.com     In Christ, Xo Jennifer    Disclaimer- This video/podcast episode is under Fair Use: Section 107 of the Copyright Act provides the statutory framework for determining whether something is a fair use and identifies certain types of uses—such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research—as examples of activities that may qualify as fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. All Opinions are my own and within my right to express under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution        

The World Cup kicks off, pandemonium at Madison Square Garden, a brand-new Bonerline, Tom Mazawey hot takes, Corey Feldman Q&A, and Prince Harry: Most Influential Man in Sports. NBA Finals: The New York Knicks had an unbelievable comeback victory against the San Antonio Spurs. BranDon can't watch the Finals due to a stupid DirectTV/Scripps dispute. Knicks fans are going bonkers. Dave Landau appeared on WATP. Donald Trump has made another deal... for now. The World Cup kicked off... with chaos in Mexico City! Shakira shook her ass. Drew is fascinated by Canadian mobsters. The UK and Ireland have an immigration problem. There is a brand new Bonerline. Quarterly taxes suck. Karmelo Anthony's family is broke. JLo is in tears at her child's graduation. Here is a gross scene from her new Netflix movie, Office Romance (NSFW). Tom Mazawey joins the show to boast about his New York Knicks, defend unruly fans, complain about the 2023 NBA Draft, introduce us to World Cup boobies, comment on the Detroit Tigers recent surge, James Outman heading to Detroit, and more. David Beckham gets a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Too bad his son, Brooklyn, won't be in attendance at the ceremony. The spoiled brat is selling hot sauce for $35 a pop. We can't get enough of Corey Feldman cringe. We find a recent Q&A with the Stand By Me crew. Markleverse: Prince Harry and the Invictus Games did Canadian Scott Snow dirty. The BBC continues to kiss ass. Harry is a top 100 leader of sports according to Time Magazine. Meghan continues to post nauseating photos online. Dylan Larking wants out... but the Red Wings need a good return. We might have some merch left. Click here to check what's available. If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Drew Lane, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley, BranDon, and Roberto).

Prince Harry has largely disappeared from public view, prompting new questions about what comes next for the Duke of Sussex. We examine reports that Harry hopes to return to Britain with Meghan, Archie and Lilibet for Invictus Games events, ongoing debate over Meghan's social media photos, claims of frustration over royal security arrangements, and speculation about Australia as a future focus for the Sussexes. Plus, Harry lands on Time's list of the most influential figures in sports and reflects on the future of the Invictus Games.Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

Nick Reiner is seeking access to a $1.5 million trust fund established by his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, even as he faces trial in their murders. Meanwhile, Ethan Slater signaled there may be no bad blood with Ariana Grande after their breakup by liking her latest Instagram post. Across the Atlantic, Prince Harry is hoping to bring Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet to the UK for the Invictus Games and a reunion with King Charles—though sources say any reconciliation with Prince William remains firmly off the table. Rob’s latest exclusives and insider reporting can be found at robshuter.substack.com My novel, It Started With A Whisper, is available nowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JJ Chalmers (former Royal Marines Commando and Invictus Games Medalist) joins Gaby for a natter about all things joy! They chat about JJ's incredible career and life - and the amazing things he has achieved. Both Gaby and JJ share a love of TV - and presenting in particular - so enjoy a good ole natter about that, and of course The Invictus Games. JJ also reveals his Show n Tell item (an object that brings him joy and makes him smile) which Gaby loved so much, she had to try it for herself! Listen to find out what it is......and if you want to see JJ showing it off to Gaby, head over to our YouTube channel, where you can watch all of our episodes! Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an ep - and - follow Gaby and JJ via Instagram

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meghan Markle's latest As Ever social media post sparks backlash after the Duchess of Sussex shared a cream-first scone recipe just hours after Prince William revealed Queen Elizabeth the Second's preferred method. Former royal chef Darren McGrady weighs in on the long-running British debate as critics accuse Meghan of using personal moments to promote her lifestyle brand. Plus: Prince Harry reportedly begins a quiet effort to repair relations with Prince William ahead of the Invictus Games, and new YouGov polling shows Meghan's popularity in Britain falling to its lowest level on record.Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.A new season of King William is available now.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

Andy Soler, Co-Chair of the Invictus Games San Diego 2029, discusses bringing this global adaptive sports event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women to America's premier military region. He explores how San Diego's business, military, and civic leaders—from the Convention Center to the USS Midway—can power a world-class bid and lasting veteran legacy. Listen Where You Live!About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media  "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.   For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union  A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/

Jaime Pressly joins OnlyFans, Eli Zaret in-studio, RIP Pat Caputo, The Roast of Kevin Hart, Spencer Pratt Mayoral campaign, Blake Lively lies exposed, Prince allegedly had AIDS, and Prince Harry's grift that is the Invictus Games. Michael Jackson was a homosexual pedophile. Eli Zaret drops by to question Adrian Peterson's induction in the Minnesota Vikings' Ring of Honor, comment on Tyreek Hill's lawsuit settlement, SNL holding back on Diana Russini & Mike Vrabel, the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs, the red-hot New York Knicks, the NBA Draft Lottery follies, the flailing Detroit Tigers, decent news for Tarik Skubal, the firing of AAA Manager Gabe Alvarez, Donald Trump vs NFL streaming, insane World Cup ticket prices, eulogize Pat Caputo, chick fights on Netflix, White House fights and more. One final sports note… 14U boys are better than college women at sports. Sue Bird is DOMINATING Megan Rapinoe in podcast ratings. We have a new website. Send your complaints to Drew. How long did it take Tom Mazawey to call you back regarding Szott? Call 209-66-Boner and let us know. The Roast of Kevin Hart is available on Netflix. Spencer Pratt is firing off incredible campaign ads. He was the big winner in a recent debate. The next debate is canceled because the women don't want to debate Spencer. We're graced with another James Charles mea culpa. Jaime Pressly wants $1M and her career seems to be floundering so she joins OnlyFans. Brittany Furlan is a selling her body as well. Sponge is coming to Rock and Brews on May 21st. Somebody tell Vinnie to update the band's Twitter page. Blake Lively is the most unlikeable celebrity Kevin Frazier and ET go to bat for her. Ryan Reynolds somehow still likes her. Royal Shenanigans: Diddy and Sarah Ferguson were friends with benefits. Prince Harry is not too good with the Invictus Games money. Meghan is probably to blame. Harry will probably bail on the charity like he has in the past. Meghan Markle went to ‘Humility Training' prior to her Australia trip. Netflix is a Joke Week rolls on. Maybe Dave Chappelle will bring out Kanye West again There is a 9-hour Prince documentary that may never be seen. Did Prince have “full blown AIDS” or what? Milli Vanilli's Fab is really poor. Merch is for sale! Buy it. Or don't. But do. If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Drew Lane, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley, BranDon, and Roberto).

Il celebre campione paralimpico, scomparso in questi giorni, parlò ai nostri microfoni in occasione degli "Invictus Games" del 2018.

Meet Sarah Dyce, Public Affairs and Marketing Manager at the Victorian Institute of Sport.Sarah has a wealth of experience in sports communications, working behind the scenes of the moments that matter most. After graduating with a Bachelor of Marketing and Public Relations from the University of Notre Dame in Perth, Sarah made a bold move to Melbourne in 2018.But here's the part most people don't know. Sarah never set out to work in sport. She arrived in Melbourne in 2018 with a marketing degree, no contacts, and a determination to avoid a nine-to-five in Perth's mining and oil and gas sector. She found a listing on a website better known for arts and theatre jobs, applied for an unpaid internship at Swimming Australia, and quietly outworked everyone around her until the industry had no choice but to take notice.What followed was years of contract roles spanning Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games as part of the Australian Olympic Committee's Main Press Centre team, worked the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, the World University Games in Berlin, the Australian Open, A-League Finals Series, and helped orchastrate one of the most viral moments of the 2025 Australian Open - the now-famous Carlos Alcaraz and young fan John's encounter that captured the world's attention.In this episode, Sarah takes us through the mindset shift that made contract life work for her, the networking habits she built that kept the opportunities coming, and the deliberate decisions she made along the way that led her to the role she has today. If you've ever talked yourself out of applying for a sport role because you didn't feel "sport enough," Sarah's story is the one you need to hear!We cover:(03:07) - Interview starts(09:23) - Quick Fire Questions(16:32) - Why Sarah moved from Western Australia to Melbourne?(20:11) - What her time at Swimming Australia taught Sarah(24:08) - Why Sarah left a full-time role to pick up contract work(28:48) - Sarah's takeaways from contract work(31:54) - How Sarah managed to stack contracts(36:42) - What a day in the AOC Main Press Centre team looks like(43:14) - Differences and similarities of working at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics(51:53) - The viral AO moment Sarah helped make happen(57:27) - How Sarah landed a role at the World University Games in Berlin(01:02:46) - How Sarah's current role at the VIS came about(01:07:20) - How do you measure success across the various roles Sarah has held(01:09:28) - Biggest challenges in sports media and PR(01:11:16) - How you can stand out in a saturated sports media landscape(01:13:22) - How to handle difficult situations as a sports comms professional(01:16:19) - How to build trust and relationships with variou stakeholders in sport(01:19:00) - Impact of mentors on Sarah's journey(01:24:07) - How to land a job in sport media and PR in the next 30 days(01:25:49) - Biggest "Pinch Me" moment working in sport(01:29:39) - What is a takeaway from a family member that influenced your career in sport?(01:31:22) - Sarah's question for next guestIf you liked this ep, give these a go:#281: Journey to Head of Media Rights at Cricket Australia with Abhi Arunachalam#312: How Vimal Kumar Became a Cricket Writer, Built 600k+ on YouTube & Travelled the World#335: How to land a job at the VIS with Director of People & Community, Daniel SimonsWant a job in sport? Click here.Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokFollow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokThanks for listening, much love! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I speak with Paralympic Nordic skier Scott Meenagh. With unwavering dedication, from his time as a young lad on the rugby pitch to fulfilling his dream in becoming a Paratrooper, plan b has never been an option for Scott. Facing what most would deem the unimaginable, Scott armed with his military training and innate positive attitude to life, has smashed several goals in his sporting career and also within his personal life. From the Invictus Games to the Paralympics. his story is incredibly inspiring. Scott is someone who puts humility and authenticity paired with his appetite for life at the centre of eveything he does. Follow Scott on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/smeenagh89?igsh=MXI2OGFkemRtaHRqcQ== Follow The Braw and The Brave Website: https://www.thebrawandthebrave.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBrawandTheBrave TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebrawandthebrave Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrawandthebravepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrawandTheBrave

The Queen said a firm ‘no’ to Meghan and Harry’s half-in, half-out royal-commercial model. They’re doing it anyway, with yoga, a Masterchef appearance, and speeches about ‘leading with vulnerability. Plus, why journalists were rejected from Meghan’s ‘girls’ retreat’ in Sydney. Associate editor Jenna Clarke joins us. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Vintage Prince Harry reminds us who the real star of the Sussex show is Harry and Meghan begin Australia tour with warm welcome in Melbourne Harry and Meghan down under put Hyacinth Bucket to shame ‘Don’t wait until you’re lying on the floor’; Harry’s advice to new dads This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Tiffany Dimmack. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eight years ago, they were the world’s most famous newlyweds visiting our shores as senior working royals. This week, Harry and Meghan have touched down in Australia for a four-day visit that looks very different. From charitable engagements to a high-priced wellness retreat; the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are walking a fine line between charity and commerce. But with reports that Aussie taxpayers are footing a hefty security bill despite the trip being 'private', is the public sentiment starting to sour? We're joined by Mamamia Out Loud host and royal expert Holly Wainwright to decode the 'quasi-royal' tour, the impending arrival of Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever, and whether Australians actually care about the ex-royals anymore.

New claims suggest Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may see the 2027 Invictus Games as a potential path back toward royal life, but insiders say any reconciliation remains unlikely. Tensions with Queen Camilla resurface amid fresh allegations tied to Tom Bower's book, while debate grows over Harry's long-term role with Invictus. Experts weigh in on Meghan's brand challenges, and a lively television exchange highlights the ongoing divide in public opinion.Get episodes of Palace Intrigue by becommming a paid subscriber on Apple Podcasts. Click the button that says uninterrupted listening.  Just $5 a month, and that includes many ofther shows on the Caloroga Shark network.Our royal newsletter written by Deep Crown is available for free.Royal Books:Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors by Tom BowerWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside StoryThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

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

Join Phil and Mark as they discuss Peace keeping in Croatia, Roto5, the Invictus Games, Service dogs, Phil's story of being shot multiple times and surviving and much more!MERCH: ⁠https://www.wgy6.ca/Operation-Tango-Romeo.html⁠Sponsored by ShopVeteran.ca by Canadian Legacy Project- Support Veteran owned businesses and register your Veteran owned business for free. All opinions expressed by the guest belong to only the guest and are not always reflected by the host. The OTR podcast: The Trauma Recovery Podcast for Veterans, First Responders, and their families.Creator and Host Mark MeinckeSponsored by ⁠ShopVeteran.ca⁠ by Canadian Legacy ProjectProduced by Jessika DupuisSupport a Hero ⁠HERE⁠Recover Out Loud!Book your Guest Appearance ⁠HERE⁠ Find the OTR podcast onFacebookInstagramSpotifyYoutube#Croatia#UN#NATO#Peacekeeping#Veterans

Send a textFive days into deployment as a Marine infantry officer, a live-fire training accident severed Captain Patrick Nugent's sciatic nerve and paralyzed his right leg. What most people called “the worst thing that could ever happen” became the turning point for everything that came next.Patrick is a Marine veteran, Invictus Games athlete, Harvard Kennedy School and Wharton grad, Boston Consulting Group consultant, and future Paralympic hopeful. And in this episode of Consequence of Habit, he joins JT to talk about grit, habits, and cognitive reappraisal: the ability to literally rewrite the story you tell yourself about adversity.Patrick walks through the injury, the brutal recovery at Walter Reed, and the decision to treat his situation not as an ending, but as an opening. They dig into keystone habits, goal-tracking, stoic philosophy, and why believing “this might be the best thing that ever happened to me” changed his life. If you're facing something that feels defining or impossible, this conversation will give you a new lens, and a roadmap. - - - - - - - - - - -Support Consequence of HabitSubscribe: Apple Podcast | SpotifyCheck us out: Instagram | Twitter | WebsiteThe show is Produced and Edited by Palm Tree Pod Co.

Kim Kardashian confirms that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle personally asked for photos of them at Kris Jenner's Beverly Hills birthday party to be taken down after realizing the images clashed with Remembrance Day, triggering a brief Hollywood “photo-gate.” Ben Mulroney offers a rare update on where things stand between Meghan and his wife Jessica Mulroney after years of fallout rumors. Meanwhile, reports say Meghan's long-anticipated return to the UK is being carefully engineered around the Invictus Games to avoid uncomfortable royal encounters, even as her As Ever Valentine's Day jam relaunch draws criticism online, prompting a quick pivot to a new chocolate partnership.Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Kurt Ludke. Kurt was born in Invercargill, NZ, and later moved to Western Australia. Kurt joined the army in 1998. After basic training, he was posted to 1 RAR in Townsville. Kurt faced adversity early in his career looisng his Mum to an aneurysm. Kurt took a compassionate posting for a few months before posting back to 1 RAR. Kurt deployed on multiple overseas deployments include multiple trips to East Timor, Afghanistan & Iraq. In 2005, Kurt applied and was selected for selection in 4 RAR Commando. After passing selection, Kurt moved into the reo cycle, where he was successful and posted into the regiment. Kurt served on SOTG Rot 4 in Afghanistan in 2007, Rot 8 in 2008, and Rot 12 in 2010. In the lead-up to Rot 12, Kurt and his company lost a good friend, Mason Edwards, in a prep deployment exercise. This was the start of several losses for the Company.  Kurt was involved in the Battle of Shah Wali Kot. Only a few days later, on the 21st of June, three Australian Commando's were killed in a Blackhawk helicopter. Kurt talks about being on the ground that day when he arrived at the crash.  Kurt went on to serve on TAG EAST, and the Special Forces Training Centre SFTC Kurt also served in Iraq. Kurt talks about burnout and suffering from PTSD, losing mates, and, after 19 years of service, having an administrative discharge. Like all veterans and first responders, Kurt struggled with the transition back to civilian life. He found purpose again, completing his MBA in 2022 and representing Australia at the Invictus Games in 2023. This is a powerful chat about the cost of serving at the elite level and finding purpose again after service. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Kurt Ludke  Editor: Kyle Watkins

Prince Harry returns to England’s high court for what may be the final time this week. Could it open the door to reconciliation with his royal family? Read more about this story, plus see photos, videos and additional reporting, on the website or on The Australian’s app. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Our regular host is Claire Harvey and our team includes Tiffany Dimmack, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New claims suggest Meghan Markle tightly controls Prince Harry's daily life, as commentators debate whether her return to the UK would overshadow the Invictus Games. Questions are raised over the Sussexes' withdrawal from a high-profile initiative, the continued silence toward Kate on her birthday, and fresh revelations from a new royal biography. Plus, rising security concerns and headlines involving friends from Harry's past.Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

From the RAF to the Invictus Games: Leadership, Resilience & Reinvention with Vicky Gosling OBE. This powerful episode of the Brave.Bold.Brilliant Podcast, Jeannette Linfoot sits down with Vicky Gosling; former Royal Air Force service member, Invictus Games competitor, and now Chief Strategy Officer at Auden. This is a conversation about far more than career success. Vicky shares her journey through service, challenge, and transformation; and how the lessons forged under pressure now shape her leadership in the boardroom.

Marine Corps Veteran Gabby Wake was injured when a vehicle hit her motorcycle at a red light, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and damage to her back. Through the Wounded Warrior Battalion, she tried numerous adaptive sports. Gabby would medal at the DOD Warrior Games and Invictus Games in track and field as well as cycling events. But it is the sport of sled hockey that has really clicked and she is the goalie for the U.S. Women's National Team.

FOR PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS: If you're a Premium subscriber and having trouble accessing your Apple Podcasts subscription this morning, it appears there's a temporary platform issue. Nothing has changed on our end, and your episodes should appear once the issue is resolved.  (1/2/266 10am EST)Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have confirmed another senior departure from their charitable organisation, with longtime adviser James Holt stepping back from his day-to-day role at Archewell.In statements published by People, Holt and the Sussexes praised their years of collaboration, with Holt citing family reasons for returning to London. However, sources speaking to Page Six claim the foundation has been dramatically scaled back, with staff numbers reportedly reduced by more than eighty percent and Archewell Philanthropies described as “essentially shuttered.”The development follows a string of recent exits and renewed scrutiny of the Sussexes' working environment. Commentators and former aides have pointed to repeated staff turnover, while PR experts argue that the coming year may require Meghan to redefine her public identity with greater focus and consistency.We also revisit claims that Prince Harry's deep mistrust of the media dates back to the earliest days of his relationship with Meghan, following their first public appearance together at the 2017 Invictus Games.Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

First, we tell you the factors that led to the city entering into 2026 with a budget deficit. Then, a KPBS analysis found a big change and shift between Imperial County's last two elections. Also, San Diego is one of three cities bidding to host the 2029 Invictus Games. Lastly, we speak to KPBS reporter & anchor John Carroll for this week's Pod Behind the Package.

Tina Brown tells Katie Couric about a revealing lunch with Jane Goodall, including Harry's early vision for fatherhood and why royal officials expected him to leave the institution — but not for a celebrity life in Montecito.We also cover Prince Harry's surprise appearance at snow polo in Aspen, Meghan's reaction from home, and the possibility of the Invictus Games returning to California in two thousand twenty nine.Plus, claims that Meghan and Harry viewed Kris Jenner's birthday party as a key Hollywood networking opportunity, allegations Meghan sought more prestigious royal accommodation in the UK, and commentary questioning how differently things might have unfolded with her wider family.After the break, we look at Meghan's evolving watch collection — from a Timex to Princess Diana's Cartier — and compare it with Prince William's far more modest Omega Seamaster, a deeply personal gift from his mother.Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

The Thomas Markle saga takes another surreal turn as The Royalist reveals claims that someone on Meghan's team suspected his leg amputation might be a hoax — a charge Thomas's friends call “disgraceful.” Meanwhile, commentator Melanie McDonagh unleashes a blistering broadside, accusing Meghan of abandoning her father in his hour of need and comparing her behavior to King Lear's most heartless daughters. Elsewhere, Prince Harry reportedly courts Jennifer Lopez for an Invictus Games cameo, while biographer Andrew Lownie suggests even the King and Princess of Wales' health woes may be worsened by the strain caused by the monarchy's “spares.” And over at Sandringham, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor digs in with an eyebrow-raising list of demands, sparking new scrutiny of royal housing perks and who pays what.Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

First, new trash bins started rolling out Monday to residents in the city of San Diego. Then, what's next now that Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill creating a state Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery. And, Poway residents in District 2 will vote in November on recalling councilmember Tony Blain. Plus, a small group of veterans and local boosters are working to get the 2029 Invictus Games to San Diego.