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Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Her stepmother called them "the Three Amigos." Her ex-boyfriend says the stepbrother was obsessed with her. Eighteen-year-old Anna Kepner was found dead under a bed on the Carnival Horizon — wrapped in blankets, covered with life vests, in a cabin directly across the hall from her father. Nearly sixteen hours passed before anyone checked on her. The Broward County Medical Examiner ruled it homicide by mechanical asphyxiation — reportedly a bar hold restraint. Her sixteen-year-old stepbrother is the sole suspect. He appeared in sealed federal juvenile proceedings and was released to guardian custody. The exact charges remain unknown. Everything is sealed. This episode breaks down what we know and what two versions of this family reveal. Custody testimony showed the stepbrother had been in therapy for over a year. A travel advisor recommended separate rooms. That recommendation was overruled. The night before Anna's body was found, her ex-boyfriend alleges the youngest sibling was locked out of the cabin while chairs were thrown and the stepbrother screamed at Anna. The suspect reportedly claims he doesn't remember anything. Testimony indicated he'd been diagnosed with ADHD and was on insomnia medication he allegedly hadn't taken for two nights. Defense attorney Bob Motta explains what sealed federal juvenile proceedings look like, why the FBI kept this case federal, and whether memory loss or medication non-compliance could factor into a defense strategy. He addresses the contradictions in family statements — Anna's father confirming charges while her biological mother initially claimed first-degree murder then retracted it. This episode also examines the psychology of blended families — the pressure to present harmony, the confirmation bias that filters out red flags, and how children inside these dynamics stay silent to keep the peace. Anna was supposed to graduate in May and join the Navy. She got a family that believed in the story they were telling — and a night no one checked on her until it was too late.#AnnaKepner #CarnivalHorizon #CruiseShipDeath #BobMotta #BlendedFamily #FBIInvestigation #SealedProceedings #JuvenileJustice #TrueCrime #HiddenKillersJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
So, is this the time to make battleships great again?I would be hard-pressed to think of a better guest to help us explore that question than returning guest, Rob Farley. A starting point for our conversation will be his article from December, The Trump-Class Battleship Summed Up In 1 Word.Show LinksThe Battleship Book, by Robert Farley'sPatterson School of Diplomacy and International CommerceLawyers, Guns, and Money Dr. Robert Farley's X ProfileDr. Robert Farley's Blue Sky ProfileMy thoughts on SLCM-NSummaryIn this episode, Dr. Robert Farley discusses the concept of battleships, their historical significance, and the strategic considerations for modern naval warfare. The conversation covers technological challenges, political implications, and future force structure planning.Chapters00:00: Introduction to the Battleship Debate02:31: Historical Context and Modern Relevance of Battleships07:44: Survivability and Modern Warfare Challenges13:11: The Role of Nuclear Capabilities in Battleships20:11: Political and Strategic Implications of Battleship Armament23:15: Technological Innovations and Future of Naval Warfare32:36: Design Philosophy and Size of Modern Warships39:32: Historical Lessons and Future Capabilities46:03: Political Implications of Naval Procurement52:30 Shipbuilding Challenges and Future DirectionsDr. Robert Farley has taught security and diplomacy courses at the Patterson School since 2005. He received his BS from the University of Oregon in 1997, and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 2004. In addition to the book of the moment, The Battleship Book (Wildside, 2016), Dr. Farley is the author of Grounded: The Case for Abolishing the United States Air Force (University Press of Kentucky, 2014), and Patents for Power: Intellectual Property Law and the Diffusion of Military Technology (University of Chicago, 2020). He has contributed extensively to a number of journals and magazines, including the National Interest, the Diplomat: APAC, World Politics Review, and the American Prospect. Dr. Farley is also a founder and senior editor of Lawyers, Guns and Money.
Damon, Damo, and Aaron are joined by NC1 Alex Sewell. Damo opens with smoke for Aaron over the lack of coverage on the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson before the guys take a moment to honor his legacy and impact. They also give flowers to retired CSCM William Foster for the run of the “Don't Give Up The Ship” podcast as he transitions the platform to Chief Ariana LaChuisa. The conversation shifts to communication flow and how newly announced information is being pushed out. Aaron doubles back on “FCPO Package Rodeos,” and Alex reflects on crossrating from Naval Aircrewman Mechanical to Navy Career Counselor. The guys highlight the “new guy dump” and talk through recent Veterans Affairs updates. Things take a turn when they react to a viral video of police raiding a frat house, which leads Alex into sharing his life before the Navy as a 10th grade biology teacher. He talks about joining later in life, accepting the possibility of going past 20 years, and the role mentors played in shaping his path. Damo dives into “expectation politics,” and the crew revisits the debate of a young first class versus a senior FCPO competing for the LPO role, breaking down the difference between the exception and the standard. NC1 Sewell shares what keeps him grounded, what he wants people to understand when working with him professionally, and which rank group gives him the hardest time. The “Do Better” segment hits moving companies that fumble military household goods. Damon calls out base traffic lights. Aaron has words for people putting sugar where it does not belong. Damo closes with his full review of It by Stephen King. The guys catch up on television and discuss the recently released documentary about America's Next Top Model. They end by acknowledging Seaman Apprentice Joshua Jones, who was found deceased in Great Lakes. These and more topics are covered in this episode. Do you have a “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at ptsfpodcast@gmail.com Stay connected with the PTSF Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast Links and more from this episode: Sailor Found Dead in Great Lakes - https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2026/02/20/sailor-found-dead-at-naval-station-great-lakes/ Picks of the Week: Damo: It (Stephen King) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/830502.It Alex: Unlearn (Humble The Poet) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153840454-unlearn Aaron: Dota: Dragon's Blood - https://www.netflix.com/title/80994336 PTSF Theme Music: Produced by Lim0
Eighteen-year-old Anna Kepner found dead under a bed on the Carnival Horizon. Homicide by mechanical asphyxiation. Her sixteen-year-old stepbrother — the sole suspect — appeared in sealed federal proceedings and was released to guardian custody. Nearly sixteen hours passed before anyone checked on her. Her father slept across the hall. This episode combines the legal and psychological breakdown of the Kepner case. Bob Motta explains what sealed juvenile federal proceedings look like, why the FBI kept jurisdiction, and what the suspect's claimed memory loss and alleged medication non-compliance could mean for a defense strategy. He addresses the family's contradictory public statements and what we can actually learn from a case this locked down. The psychological dimension is just as critical — a blended family where the stepmother called them "the Three Amigos," a travel advisor recommended separate cabins, therapy had been ongoing for over a year, and witnesses allege violence the night before Anna was found. The warning signs were there. The story the family was telling filtered them out. Anna planned to graduate and join the Navy. Instead she got a night nobody checked on her.#AnnaKepner #CarnivalHorizon #BobMotta #CruiseShipDeath #BlendedFamily #SealedProceedings #FBIInvestigation #JuvenileJustice #TrueCrime #HiddenKillersJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
Ahead of a likely US strike against Iran, Steve Schmidt sits down with Malcolm Nance, a military and intelligence community veteran and retired Navy senior chief cryptologist, and Ken Harbaugh, a former Navy pilot and veteran advocate, to discuss the escalating situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This daily comedy show really asked the big questions this week. Like… are we broadcasting live? Or are we just four confused old men screaming into bananas inside a dementia facility somewhere in Wisconsin?It all started with a story about a real dementia village concept gaining traction in the U.S. — and Rafe did what Rafe does: immediately spiraled into an existential crisis and created a fake commercial for “Dementia Village™” that somehow managed to be compassionate, unhinged, and disturbingly comforting all at once. We're talking fake Navy deck inspections, rotary phones that call nobody, and a radio studio where traffic is always light and the weather is always perfect. You know… paradise. (Inspired by the show transcript )Then we pivot — because why wouldn't we — to the Olympic Village running out of condoms. That's right. The only thing breaking records faster than the athletes were apparently supply chains. We break down what happens when 11,000 world-class bodies + international unity + DJ music = “horizontal lambada.” It's sports commentary. Technically.As if that wasn't enough, three cosmic “portals” opened and Rafe declared himself and Rizz the prophesied Horse Boys of destiny. Earth Horse meets Fire Horse. Sponsors tremble. Enemies get bucked off. It's astrology with absolutely zero scientific backing and 100% confidence. Which, honestly, feels very on-brand for a daily comedy show.And then — plot twist — things get weirdly thoughtful. The crew debates profanity, Lent, emotional regulation, and whether clean comedy is actually superior. Rafe delivers an unexpectedly sharp (and slightly poetic) breakdown of why context matters more than vocabulary. Turns out, science says people who swear more might actually have higher verbal fluency. So basically, we're scholars.We wrap it up with real RIPs, Simpleton Trivia chaos, and ticket giveaways because nothing says “existential dread” like a chance to win Black Keys tickets.This episode of the daily comedy show is a rollercoaster of dementia hypotheticals, Olympic chaos, horse prophecies, profanity philosophy, and grade-school trivia panic. If you like your pop culture commentary with a side of sarcastic humor and mild emotional whiplash, welcome home.Follow The Rizzuto Show → https://linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → https://1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Peace Through Strength, America's Navy with LCDR Steve Rogers USN (Ret) – The Secretary of War and his department have helped lead America out of serious danger, addressing the consequences of policies that critics promoted in previous years and still advocate for today. And I mean out of grave danger. I salute, along with millions of Americans, the work the team at America's War Department is...
(00:00-12:11) A new navy caps on the road banger. Tim started a girl band. Joe Lunardi's newest bracketology has Mizzou as one of the last four in. Travel safely, Tim.(12:19-17:38) E-Mail of the Day(17:48-27:31) And the winner of the Design Aire Heating & Cooling EMOTD is...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Stoney and Rico have a conversation about whether they like the new Tigers' alternate jerseys.
Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman join our podcast to discuss how psychedelic policy is actually moving in Washington, DC. Lavasani leads Psychedelic Medicine Coalition, a DC-based advocacy organization focused on educating federal officials and advancing legislation around psychedelic medicine. Kopelman is CEO of Mission Within Foundation, which provides scholarships for veterans and first responders seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy retreats, often outside the United States. The conversation centers on veterans, the VA, and why that system may be the first realistic federal pathway for psychedelic care. Early Themes Lavasani describes PMC's work on Capitol Hill, including hosting events that bring lawmakers, staffers, and advocates into the same room. Her focus is steady engagement. In DC, progress often happens through repeated conversations, not headlines. Kopelman shares his background as a Marine and how his own psychedelic-assisted therapy experience led him to Mission Within. The foundation has funded more than 250 scholarships for veterans and first responders seeking treatment for PTSD, mild traumatic brain injury, depression, and addiction. They connect this work to pending veteran-focused legislation and explain why the VA matters. As a closed health system, the VA can pilot programs, gather data, and refine protocols without the pressures of private healthcare markets. Core Insights A recent Capitol Hill gathering, For Veteran Society, brought together members of Congress and leaders from the psychedelic caucus. Lavasani describes candid feedback from lawmakers. The message was clear: coordinate messaging, avoid fragmentation, and move while bipartisan interest remains. Veteran healthcare is not framed as the final goal. It is a starting point. If psychedelic therapies can demonstrate safety and effectiveness within the VA, broader adoption becomes more plausible. Kopelman raises operational realities that must be addressed: Standardized safety protocols across providers Integration support, not medication alone Clear training pathways for clinicians Real-world data beyond tightly screened clinical trials They also address recent negative headlines involving ibogaine treatment abroad. Kopelman emphasizes the need for shared learning across providers, especially when adverse events occur. Lavasani argues that inconsistency within the ecosystem can slow federal confidence. Later Discussion and Takeaways The discussion widens to federal momentum around addiction and mental health. Lavasani notes that new funding initiatives signal growing openness to innovative treatment models, even if psychedelics are not named explicitly in every announcement. Both guests stress that policy moves slowly by design. Meetings, follow-ups, and relationship building often matter more than public statements. For clinicians, researchers, operators, and advocates, the takeaways are direct: Veterans are likely the first federal pathway Public education remains essential Safety standards must be shared and transparent Integration and workforce development need attention now If psychedelic medicine enters federal systems, infrastructure will determine success. Frequently Asked Questions What do Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman say about VA psychedelic policy? They argue that veteran-focused legislation offers a realistic first federal pathway for psychedelic-assisted care. Is ibogaine currently available through the VA? No. They discuss ibogaine in the context of private retreats and future possibilities, not an existing VA program. Why do Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman emphasize coordination? Lawmakers respond more positively when advocates present aligned messaging and clear priorities. What safety issues are discussed by Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman? They highlight the need for standardized screening, monitoring, integration support, and transparent review of adverse events. Closing Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman provide a grounded look at how psychedelic policy develops inside federal systems. Their message is practical: veterans may be the first lane, but long-term success depends on coordination, safety standards, and sustained engagement. Closing This episode captures a real-time view of how federal policy could shape the next phase of the psychedelic resurgence, especially through veteran-facing legislation and VA infrastructure. Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman argue that coordination, public education, and shared safety standards will shape whether access expands with credibility and care. Transcript Joe Moore: [00:00:00] Hello everybody. Welcome back to Psychedelics Today. Today we have two guests, um, got Melissa Sani from Psychedelic Medicine Coalition. We got Jake Pelman from Mission Within Foundation. We're gonna talk about I bga I became policy on a recent, uh, set of meetings in Washington, DC and, uh, all sorts of other things I'm sure. Joe Moore: But thank you both for joining me. Melissa Lavasani: Thanks for having us. Jay Kopelman: Yeah, it's a pleasure. Thanks. Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, Melissa, I wanna have you, uh, jump in. First. Can you tell us a little bit about, uh, your work and what you do at PMC? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, so Psychedelic Medicine Coalition is, um, the only DC based Washington DC based advocacy organization dedicated to the advancing the issue of psychedelics, um, and making sure the federal government has the education they need, um, and understands the issue inside out so that they can generate good policy around, around psychedelic medicines. Melissa Lavasani: [00:01:00] Uh, we. Host Hill events. We host other convenings. Our big event every year is the Federal Summit on psychedelic medicine. Um, that's going to be May 14th this year. Um, where we talk about kinda the pressing issues that need to be talked about, uh, with government officials in the room, um, so that we can incrementally move this forward. Melissa Lavasani: Um, our presence here in Washington DC is, is really critical for this issue's success because, um, when we're talking about psychedelic medicines, um, from the federal government pers perspective, you know, they are, they are the ones that are going to initiate the policies that create a healthcare system that can properly facilitate these medicines and make sure, um, patient safety is a priority. Melissa Lavasani: And there's guardrails on this. And, um, you know, there, it's, it's really important that we have. A home base for this issue in Washington DC just [00:02:00] because, uh, this is very complicated as a lot of your viewers probably understand, and, you know, this can get lost in the mix of all the other issues that, um, lawmakers in DC are focused on right now. Melissa Lavasani: And we need to keep that consistent presence here so that this continues to be a priority for members of Congress. Joe Moore: Mm. I love this. And Jay, can you tell us a bit about yourself and mission within Foundation? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, sure. Joe, thanks. Uh, I, I am the CEO of Mission within Foundation. Prior to this, most of my adult life was spent in the military as a Marine. Jay Kopelman: And I came to this. Role after having, uh, a psychedelic assisted therapy experience myself at the mission within down in Mexico, which is where pretty much we all go. Um, we are here to help [00:03:00] provide, uh, access for veterans and first responders to be able to attend psychedelic assisted therapy retreats to treat issues like mild TBI, post-traumatic stress disorder, uh, depression, sometimes addiction at, at a very low level. Jay Kopelman: Um, and, and so we've, we've been doing this for a little more than a year now and have provided 250 plus scholarships to veterans and first responders to be able to access. These retreats and these, these lifesaving medicines. Um, we're also partnered, uh, you may or may not know with Melissa at Psychedelic Medicine Coalition to help advance education and policy, specifically the innovative, uh, therapy Centers of Excellence Act [00:04:00] that Melissa has worked for a number of years on now to bring to both Houses of Congress. Joe Moore: Thank you for that. Um, so let's chat a little bit about what this event was that just, uh, went down, uh, what, what was it two weeks ago at this point? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Yeah. It's called For Veteran Society and it's all, um, there's a lot of dialogue on Capitol Hill about veterans healthcare and psychedelics, but where I've been frustrated is that, you know, it was just a lot of. Melissa Lavasani: Talk about what the problems are and not a lot of talk about like how we actually propel things forward. Um, so it, at that event, I thought it was really important and we had three members of Congress there, um, Morgan Latrell, who has been a champion from day one and his time in Congress, um, having gone through the experience himself, um, [00:05:00] at Mission within, um, and then the two chairs of the psychedelic caucus, uh, Lou Correa and Jack Bergman. Melissa Lavasani: And we really got down to the nitty gritty of like w like why this has taken so long and you know, what is actually happening right now? What are the possibilities and what the roadblocks are. And it was, I thought it was a great conversation. Um, we had an interesting kind of dynamic with Latres is like a very passionate about this issue in particular. Melissa Lavasani: Um, I think it was, I think it was really. A great event. And, you know, two days later, Jack Bergman introduced his new bill for the va. Um, so it was kind of like the precursor to that bill getting introduced. And we're just excited for more and more conversations about how the government can gently guide this issue to success. Joe Moore: Hmm. Yeah. [00:06:00] That's fantastic. Um, yeah, I was a little bummed I couldn't make it, but next time, I hope. But I've heard a lot of good things and, um, it's, it sounded like there was some really important messages in, in terms of like feedback from legislators. Yeah. Yeah. Could you speak to that? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, I mean, I think when, uh, representative Latrell was speaking, he really impressed on us a couple things. Melissa Lavasani: Um, first is that, you know, they really kind of need the advocates to. Coordinate, collaborate and come up with like a, a strategic plan, you know, without public education. Um, talking to members of Congress about this issue is, is really difficult. You know, like PMC is just one organization. We're very little mission within, very little, um, you know, we're all like, kind of new in navigating, um, this not so new issue, but new to Washington DC [00:07:00] issue. Melissa Lavasani: Um, without that public education as a baseline, uh, it's, it's, you have to spend a lot of time educating members of Congress. You know, that's like one of our things is, you know, we have to, we don't wanna tell Congress what direction to go to. We wanna provide them the information so they understand it very intimately and know how to navigate through things. Melissa Lavasani: Um, and secondly. Um, he got pretty frank with us and said, you know, we've got one cha one chance at this issue. And it's like, that's, that's kind of been like my talking point since I started. PMC is like, you have a very limited window, um, when these kind of issues pop up and they're new and they're fresh and you have a lot of the veteran community coming out and talking about it. Melissa Lavasani: And there's a lot of energy there. But now is the time to really move forward, um, with some real legislation that can be impactful. Um, but, you know, we've gotta [00:08:00] be careful. We, we forget, I think sometimes those of us who are in the ecosystem forget that our level of knowledge about these medicines and a lot of us have firsthand experience, um, with these drugs and, and our own healing journeys is, um, we forget that there is a public out there that doesn't have the level of knowledge that we all have. Melissa Lavasani: And, um. We gotta make sure that we're sticking to the right elements of, of, of what needs to happen. We need to be sure that our talking points are on track and we're not getting sideways about anything and going down roads that we don't need to talk about. It's why, um, you know, PMC is very focused on, um, moving forward veteran legislation right now. Melissa Lavasani: Not because we're a veteran organization, but because we're, we see this long-term policy track here. Um, we know where we want to get [00:09:00] to, um. Um, and watching other healthcare issues kind of come up and then go through the VA healthcare system, I think it's a really unique opportunity, um, to utilize the VA as this closed system, the biggest healthcare system in the country to evaluate, uh, how psychedelics operate within systems like that. Melissa Lavasani: And, you know, before they get into, um, other healthcare systems. What do we need to fix? What do we need to pay attention to? What's something that we're paying too much attention to that doesn't necessarily need that much attention? So it's, um, it's a real opportunity to look at psychedelic medicines within a healthcare system and obviously continue to gather the data. Melissa Lavasani: Um, Bergman's Bill emerging, uh, expanding veteran access to emerging treatments. Um, not only mandates the research, it gives the VA authority for this, uh, for running trials and, and creating programs around psychedelic medicines. But also, [00:10:00] one of the great things about it, I think, is it provides an on-ramp for veterans that don't necessarily qualify for clinical trials. Melissa Lavasani: You know, I think that's one of the biggest criticisms of clinical trials is like you're cre you're creating a vacuum for people and people don't live in a vacuum. So we don't necessarily know what psychedelics are gonna look like in real life. Um, but with this expanding veteran access bill that Bergman introduced, it provides the VA an opportunity to provide this access under. Melissa Lavasani: Um, in a, in a safe container with medical supervision while collecting data, um, while ensuring that the veteran that is going through this process has the support systems that it needs. So, um, you know, I think that there's a really unique opportunity here, and like Latrell said, like, we've got one shot at this. Melissa Lavasani: We have people's attention in Congress. Um, now's the time to start acting, and let's be really considerate and thoughtful about what we're doing with it. Joe Moore: Thanks for that, Melissa and Jay, how, [00:11:00] anything to add there on kind of your takeaways from the this, uh, last visit in dc? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, I, I think that Melissa highlighted it really well and there, there were a couple other things that I, I think, you know, you could kind of tie it all together with some other issues that we face in this country, uh, and that. Jay Kopelman: Uh, representative Correa brought up as well, but one of the things I wanted to go back and say is that veterans have kind of led this movement already, right? So, so it's a, it's a good jumping off point, right? That it's something people from both sides of the aisle, from any community in America can get behind. Jay Kopelman: You know, if you think about it, uh, in World War ii, you know, we had a million people serving our population was like, not even 200 million, but now [00:12:00] we have a population of 330 million, and at any given time there might be a million people in uniform, including the Reserve and the National Guard. So it's, it, it's an easy thing to get behind this small part of the population that is willing to sign that contract. Jay Kopelman: Where you are saying, yeah, I'm going to defend my country, possibly at the risk of my l my own life. So that's the first thing. The other thing is that the VA being a closed health system, and they don't have shareholders to answer to, they can take some risks, they can be innovative and be forward thinking in the ways that some other healthcare systems can't. Jay Kopelman: And so they have a perfect opportunity to show that they truly care for their veterans, which don't, I'm not saying they don't, but this would be an [00:13:00] opportunity to show that carrot at a whole different level. Uh, it would allow them to innovate and be a leader in something as, uh, as our friend Jim Hancock will say, you know. Jay Kopelman: When he went to the Naval Academy, they had the world's best shipbuilding program. Why doesn't the VA have the world's best care program for things like TBI and PTSD, which affects, you know, 40 something percent of all veterans, right? So, so there's, there's an opportunity here for the VA to lead from the front. Jay Kopelman: Um, the, these medicines provide, you know, reasonably lasting care where it's kind of a one and done. Whereas with the current systems, the, you know, and, and [00:14:00] again, not to denigrate the VA in any way, they're doing the best job they can with the tools in their toolbox, right? But maybe it's time for a trip to Home Depot. Jay Kopelman: Let's get some new tools. And have some new ways of fixing what's broken, which is really the way of doing things. It's not, veterans aren't broken, we are who we are. Um, but it's a, it's a way to fix what isn't working. So I, I think that, you know, given there's tremendous veteran homelessness still, you know, addiction issues, all these things that do translate to the population at large are things that can be worked on in this one system, the va that can then be shown to have efficacy, have good data, have [00:15:00] good outcomes, and, and take it to the population at large. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Brilliant. Thanks for that. And so there was another thing I wanted to pivot to, which is some of the recent press. So we've, um, seen a little bit of press around some, um, in one instance, some bad behavior in Mexico that a FI put out Americans thrive again, put out. And then another case there was a, a recent fatality. Joe Moore: And I think, um, both are tragic. Like we shouldn't be having to deal with this at this point. Um, but there's a lot of things that got us here. Um, it's not necessarily the operator's fault entirely, um, or even at all, honestly, like some medical interventions just carry a lot of risk. Like think, think about like, uh, how risky bypass surgery was in the nineties, right? Joe Moore: Like people were dying a lot from medical interventions and um, you know, this is a major intervention, uh, ibogaine [00:16:00] and also a lot of promise. To help people quite a bit. Um, but as of right now, there's, there's risk. And part of that risk, in my opinion, comes from the inability of organizations to necessarily collaborate. Joe Moore: Like there's no kind of convening body, sitting in the middle, allowing, um, for, and facilitating really good data sharing and learnings. Um, and I don't, I don't necessarily see an organization stepping up and being the, um, the convener for that kind of work. I've heard rumors that something's gonna happen there, and I'm, I'm hopeful I'll always wanna share my opinion on that. Joe Moore: But yeah. I don't know. Jay, from your perspective, is there anything you want to kind of speak to about, uh, these two recent incidents that Americans for Iboga kind of publicized recently? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, so I, I'll echo your sentiment, of course, that these are tragic incidents. Um, and I, [00:17:00] I think that at least in the case of the death at Ambio, AMBIO has done a very good job of talking about it, right? Jay Kopelman: They've been very honest with the information that they have. And like you said, there are risks inherent to these medicines, and it's like anything else in medicine, there are going to be risks. You know, when I went through, uh, when I, when I went through chemo, you know, there were, there are risks. You know, you don't feel well, you get sick. Jay Kopelman: Um, and, and it. There are processes in place to counter that when it happens. And there are processes and, and procedures and safety protocols in place when caring for somebody going through an ibogaine [00:18:00] journey. Uh, when I did it, we had EKG echocardiogram. You're on a heart monitor the entire time they push magnesium via iv. Jay Kopelman: You have to provide a urinalysis sample to make sure that there is nothing in your system that is going to potentially harm you. During the ibogaine, they have, uh, a cardiologist who is monitoring the heart monitors throughout the ibogaine experience. So the, the safety protocols are there. I think it's, I think it's just a matter of. Jay Kopelman: Standardizing them across all, all providers, right? Like, that would be a good thing if people would talk to one another. Um, as, as in any system, right? You've gotta have [00:19:00] some collaboration. You've gotta have standardization, you know, so, you know, they're not called standard operating procedures for nothing. Jay Kopelman: That means that in a, you know, in a given environment, everybody does things the same way. It's true in Navy and Marine Corps, air Force, army Aviation, they have standard operating procedures for every single aircraft. So if you fly, let's say the F 35 now, right? Because it's flown by the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force. Jay Kopelman: The, the emergency procedures in that airplane are standardized across all three services, so you should have the same, or, you know, with within a couple of different words, the same procedures and processes [00:20:00] across all the providers, right? Like maybe in one document you're gonna change, happy to glad and small dog to puppy, but it's still pretty much the, the same thing. Jay Kopelman: And as a service that provides scholarships to people to go access these medicines and go to these retreats, you know, my criteria is that the, this provider has to be safe. Number one, safety's paramount. It's always gotta be very safe. It should, it has to be effective. And you know, once you have those two things in place, then I have a comfort level saying, okay, yeah, we'll work with this provider. Jay Kopelman: But until those standardized processes are in place, you'll probably see these one-off things. I mean, some providers have been doing this longer than others and have [00:21:00] really figured out, you know, they've, they've cracked the code and, you know, sharing that across the spectrum would be good. Um, but just when these things happen, having a clearing house, right, where everybody can come together and talk about it, you know, like once the facts are known because. Jay Kopelman: To my knowledge, we still don't know all the facts. Like as, you know, as horrible as this is, you still have to talk about like an, has an autopsy been performed? What was found in the patient's system? You know, there, there are things there that we don't know. So we need to, we need to know that before we can start saying, okay, well this is how we can fix that, because we just don't know. Jay Kopelman: And, you know, to their credit, you know, Amio has always been safe to, to the, to the best of my knowledge. You know, I, [00:22:00] I haven't been to Ambio myself, but people that I have worked with have been there. They have observed, they have seen the process. They believe it's safe, and I trust their opinion because they've seen it elsewhere as well. Jay Kopelman: So yeah, having, having that one place where we can all come together when this happens, it, it's almost like it should be mandatory. In the military when there's a training accident, we, you know, we would have to have what's called a safety standout. And you don't do that again for a little while until you figure out, okay, how are we going to mitigate that happening again? Jay Kopelman: Believe me, you can go overboard and we don't want to do that. Like, we don't wanna just stop all care, but maybe stop detox for a week and then come back to it. [00:23:00] Joe Moore: Yeah. A dream would be, let's get like the, I don't know, 10, 20 most popular, uh, or well-known operators together somewhere and just do like a three day debrief. Joe Moore: Hey, everybody, like, here's what we see. Let's work on this together. You know how normal medicine works. And this is, it's hard because this is not necessarily, um, something people feel safe about in America talking about 'cause it's illicit here. Um, I don't understand necessarily how the operations, uh, relate to each other in Mexico, but I think that's something to like the public should dig into. Joe Moore: Like, what, what is this? And I, I'll start digging into that. Um, I, I asked a question recently of somebody like, is there some sort of like back channel signal everybody's using and there's no clear Yes. You know? Um, I think it would be good. That's just a [00:24:00] start, you know, that's like, okay, we can actually kind of say hi and watch out for this to each other. Jay Kopelman: It's not like we don't all know one another, right? Joe Moore: Yes. Jay Kopelman: Like at least three operators we're represented. At the Aspen Ibogaine meeting. So like that could be, and I think there was a panel kind of loosely related to this during Aspen Ibogaine meeting, but Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: It, you know, have a breakout where the operators can go sit down and kind of compare notes. Joe Moore: Right. Yeah. Melissa, do you have any, uh, comments on this thread here? And I, I put you on mute if you didn't see that. Um, Melissa Lavasani: all right, I'm off mute. Um, yeah, I think that Jay's hits the nail on the head with the collaboration thing. Um, I think that it's just a [00:25:00] problem across the entire ecosystem, and I think that's just a product of us being relatively new and upcoming field. Melissa Lavasani: Um, uh, it's a product of, you know. Our fundraising community is really small, so organizations feel like they are competing for the same dollars, even though their, their goals are all the same, they have different functions. Um, I think with time, I mean, let's be honest, like if we don't start collaborating and, and the federal government's moving forward, the federal government's gonna coordinate for us. Melissa Lavasani: And not, that might not necessarily be a bad thing, but, you know, we understand this issue to a whole other level that the federal government doesn't, and they're not required to understand it deeply. They just need to know how to really move forward with it the proper way. Um, but I think that it. It's really essential [00:26:00] that we all have this come together moment here so we can avoid things. Melissa Lavasani: Uh, I mean, no one's gonna die from bad advocacy. So like I've, I have a bit of an easier job. Um, but it can a, a absolutely stall efforts, um, to move things forward in Washington DC when, um, one group is saying one thing, another group is saying another thing, like, we're not quite at a point yet where we can have multiple lines of conversation and multiple things moving forward. Melissa Lavasani: Um, you know, for PMC, it's like, just let's get the first thing across the finish line. And we think that is, um, veteran healthcare. And, um, I know there's plenty of other groups out there that, that want the same thing. So, you know, I always, the reason why I put on the Federal Summit last year was I kind of hit my breaking point with a lack of collaboration and I wanted to just bring everyone in the same room and say like, all right, here are the things that we need to talk about. Melissa Lavasani: And I think the goal for this year is, um. To bring people in the same room and say, we talked about [00:27:00] we scratched the surface last year and this is where we need to really put our efforts into. And this is where the opportunities are. Um, I think that is going to, that's going to show the federal government if we can organize ourselves, that they need to take this issue really seriously. Melissa Lavasani: Um, I don't think we've done a great job at that thus far, but I think there's still plenty of time for us to get it together. Um, and I'm hoping with these two, uh, VA bills that are in the house right now and Senate is, is putting together their version of these two bills, um, so that they can move in tandem with each other. Melissa Lavasani: I think that, you know, there's an opportunity here for. Us to show the federal government as an ecosystem, Hey, we, we are so much further ahead and you know, this is what we've organized and here's how we can help you, um, that would make them buy into this issue a bit more and potentially move things forward faster. Melissa Lavasani: Uh, at this point in time, it's, I think that, [00:28:00] you know, psychedelics aren't necessarily the taboo thing that they, they used to be, but there's certainly places that need attention. Um, there's certainly conversations that need to be had, and like I said, like PMC is just one organization that can do this. Um, we can certainly organize and drive forward collaboration, but I, like we alone, cannot cover all this ground and we need the subject matter experts to collaborate with us so we can, you know, once we get in the door, we wanna bring the experts in to talk to these officials about it. Melissa Lavasani: So I. I, I really want listeners to really think about us as a convener of sorts when it comes to federal policy. Um, and you know, I think when, like for example, in the early eighties, a lot of people have made comparisons to the issue of psychedelics to the issue of AIDS research and how you have in a subject matter that's like extremely taboo and a patient population that the government [00:29:00] quite honestly didn't really care about in the early eighties. Melissa Lavasani: But what they did as an ecosystem is really organized themselves, get very clear on what they wanted the federal government to do. And within a matter of a couple years, uh, AIDS research funding was a thing that was happening. And what that, what that did was that ripple effect turned that into basically finding new therapies for something that we thought was a death, death sentence before. Melissa Lavasani: So I think. We just need to look at things in the past that have been really successful, um, and, and try to take the lessons from all of these issues and, and move forward with psychedelics. Joe Moore: Love that. And yes, we always need to be figuring out efficient approaches and where it has been successful in the past is often, um, an opportunity to mimic and, and potentially improve on that. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Jay Kopelman: One, one thing I think it's important to add to this part of the conversation is that, [00:30:00] you know, Melissa pointed out there are a number of organizations that are essentially doing the same thing. Jay Kopelman: Um, you know, I like to think we do things a little bit differently at Mission within Foundation in that we don't target any one specific type of service member. We, we work with all veterans. We work with first responders, but. What that leads to is that there are, as far as I've seen, nothing but good intentioned people in this space. Jay Kopelman: You know, people who really care about their patient population, they care about healing, they are trying to do a good job, and more importantly, they're trying to do good. Right? It, it, I think they all see the benefit down the road that this has, [00:31:00] pardon me, not just for veterans, but for society as a whole. Jay Kopelman: And, and ultimately that's where I would like to see this go. You know, I, I would love to see the VA take this. Take up this mantle and, and run with it and provide great data, great outcomes. You know, we are doing some data collection ourselves at Mission within foundation, albeit anecdotal based on surveys given before and after retreats. Jay Kopelman: But we're also working with, uh, Greg Fonzo down at UT Austin on a brain study he's doing that will have 40 patients in it when it's all said and done. And I think we have two more guys to put through that. Uh, and then we'll hit the 40. So there, there's a lot of good here that's being done by some really, really good people who've been doing this for a long time [00:32:00] and want to want nothing more than to, to see this. Jay Kopelman: Come to, come full circle so that we can take care of many, many, many people. Um, you know, like I say, I, I wanna work myself out of a job here. I, I just, I would love to see this happen and then I, you know, I don't have to send guys to Mexico to do this. They can go to their local VA and get the care that they need. Jay Kopelman: Um, but one thing that I don't think we've touched on yet, or regarding that is that the VA isn't designed for that. So it's gonna be a pretty big lift to get the right types of providers into the va with the knowledge, right, with the institutional knowledge of how this should be done, what is safe, what is effective, um, and then it, it's not just providing these medicines to [00:33:00] people and sending them home. Jay Kopelman: You don't just do that, you've gotta have the right therapists on the backend who can provide the integration coaching to the folks who are receiving these medicines. And I'm not just talking, I bga, even with MDMA and psilocybin, you should have a proper period of integration. It helps you to understand how this is going to affect you, what it, what the experience really meant, you know, because it's very difficult sometimes to just interpret it on your own. Jay Kopelman: And so what the experience was and what it meant to you. And, and so it will take some time to spin all that up. But once it's, once it's in place, you know, the sky's the limit. I think. Joe Moore: Kinda curious Jay, about what's, what's going on with Ibogaine at the federal level. Is there anything at VA right now? [00:34:00] Jay Kopelman: At the va? No, not with ibogaine. And, you know, uh, we, we send people specifically for IBOGAINE and five MEO, right? And, and so that, that doesn't preclude my interest in seeing this legislation passed, right? Jay Kopelman: Because it, it will start with something like MDMA or psilocybin, but ultimately it could grow to iboga, right? It the think about the cost savings at, at the va, even with psilocybin, right? Where you could potentially treat somebody with a very inexpensive dose of psilocybin or, or iboga one time, and then you, you don't have to treat them again. Jay Kopelman: Now, if I were, uh, you know, a VA therapist who's not trained in psychedelic trauma therapy. I might be worried [00:35:00] about job security, but it's like with anything, right? Like ultimately it will open pathways for new people to get that training or the existing people to get that training and, and stay on and do that work. Jay Kopelman: Um, which only adds another arrow to their quiver as far as I'm concerned, because this is coming and we're gonna need the people. It's just like ai, right? Like ai, yeah. Some people are gonna lose some jobs initially, and that's unfortunate. But productivity ultimately across all industries will increase and new jobs will be created as a result of that. Jay Kopelman: I mean, I was watching Squawk Box one morning. They were talking about the AI revolution and how there's gonna be a need for 500,000 electricians to. Build these systems that are going to work with the AI [00:36:00] supercomputers and, and so, Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: Where, where an opportunity may be lost. I think several more can be gained going forward. Melissa Lavasani: And just to add on what Jay just said there, there's nothing specific going on with Ibogaine at, at the va, but I think this administration is, is taking a real look at addiction in particular. Uh, they just launched, uh, a new initiative, uh, that's really centered on addiction treatments called the Great American Recovery. Melissa Lavasani: And, um, they're dedicating a hundred million dollars towards treating addiction as like a chronic treatable disease and not necessarily a law enforcement issue. So, um, in that initiative there will be federal grant programs for prevention and treatment and recovery. And, um, while this isn't just for psychedelic medicines, uh, I think it's a really great opportunity for the discussion of psychedelics to get elevated to the White House. Melissa Lavasani: Um, [00:37:00] there's also, previous to this announcement last week from the White House, there's been a hundred million dollars that was dedicated at, um, at ARPA h, which is. The advanced research projects, uh, agency for healthcare, um, and that is kind of an agency that's really focused on forward looking, um, treatments and technologies, uh, for, um, a, a whole slew of. Melissa Lavasani: Of issues, but this a hundred million dollars is dedicated to mental health and addiction. So there's a lot of opportunity there as well. So we, while I think, you know, some people are talking about, oh, we need a executive order on Iboga, it's like, well, you know, the, the president is thinking, um, about, you know, what issues can land with his, uh, voting block. Melissa Lavasani: And I think it's, I don't think we necessarily need a specific executive order on Iboga to call this a success. It's like, let's look at what, [00:38:00] um, what's just been announced from the White House. They're, they're all in on. Thinking creatively and finding, uh, new solutions for this. And this is kind of, this aligns with, um, HHS secretaries, uh, Robert F. Melissa Lavasani: Kennedy Junior's goals when he took on this, this role of Health Secretary. Um, addiction has been a discussion that, you know, he has personal, um, a personal tie to from his own experience. And, um, I think when this administration started, there was so much like fervor around the, the dialogue of like, everyone's talking about psychedelics. Melissa Lavasani: It was Secretary Kennedy, it was, uh, secretary Collins at the va. It was FDA Commissioner Marty Macari. And I think that there's like a lot of undue frustration within folks 'cause um, you don't necessarily snap your fingers and change happens in Washington dc This is not the city for that. And it's intentionally designed to move slow so that we can avoid really big mistakes. Melissa Lavasani: Um. [00:39:00] I think we're a year into this administration and these two announcements are, are pretty huge considering, um, you know, the, we, there are known people within domestic policy council that don't, aren't necessarily supportive of psychedelic medicine. So there's a really amazing progress here, and frustrating as it might be to, um, just be waiting for this administration to make some major move. Melissa Lavasani: I think they are making major moves like for Washington, DC These, these are major moves and we just gotta figure out how we can, um, take these initiatives and apply them to the issue of psychedelic medicines. Joe Moore: Thanks, Melissa. Um, yeah, it is, it is interesting like the amount of fervor there was at the beginning. You know, we had, uh. Kind of one of my old lawyers, Matt Zorn, jumped in with the administration. Right. And, um, you know, it was, uh, really cool to [00:40:00] see and hopeful how much energy was going on. It's been a little quiet, kind of feels like a black box a little bit, but I, you know, there was, Melissa Lavasani: that's on me. Melissa Lavasani: Maybe I, we need to be more out in public about like, what's actually happening, because I feel like, like day in and day out, it's just been, you gotta just mm-hmm. Like have that constant beat with the government. Mm-hmm. And, um, it's, it's, it's not the photo ops on the hill, it's the conversations that you have. Melissa Lavasani: It's the dinner parties you go to, it's the fundraisers you attend, you know? Mm-hmm. That's why I, I kind of have to like toot my own horn with PCs. Like, we need to be present here at, at not only on the Hill, not only at the White House, but kind of in the ecosystem of Washington DC itself. There's, it's, there are like power players here. Melissa Lavasani: There are people that are connected that can get things done, like. I mean, the other last week we had a big snow storm. I walked over to my friend's house, um, to have like a little fire sesh with them and our kids, and his next door neighbor came over. He was a member of Congress. I talked about the VA bills, like [00:41:00] we're reaching out to his office now, um, to get them, um, up to speed and hopefully get their co-sponsorship for, uh, the two VA bills. Melissa Lavasani: So, I mean, it, the little conversations you have here are just as important as the big ones with the photo ops. So, um, it, it's, it's really like, you know, building up that momentum and, and finding that time where you can really strike and make something happen. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Jay, anything to add there? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, I was just gonna say that, you know, I, I, I think the fervor is still there, right? Jay Kopelman: But real life happens. Melissa Lavasani: Yes, Jay Kopelman: yes. And gets in the way, right? So, Melissa Lavasani: yeah, Jay Kopelman: I, I can't imagine how many issues. Secretary Kennedy has every day much less the president. Like there's so many things that they are dealing with on a daily basis, right? It, we, we just have to work to be the squeaky wheel in, in the right way, right. Jay Kopelman: [00:42:00] With the, with the right information at the right time. Like just inundating one of these organizations with noise, it's then it be with Informa, it just becomes noise, right? It it, it doesn't help. So when we have things to say that are meaningful and impactful, we do, and Melissa does an amazing job of that. Jay Kopelman: But, you know, it, it takes time. You know, it's, you know, we're not, this is, this is like turning an aircraft carrier, not a ski boat. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. Um, and. It's, it's understandably frustrating, I think for the public and the psychedelic public in particular because we see all this hope, you know, we continue to get frustrated at politics. It's nothing new, right? Um, and we, we wanna see more people get well immediately. [00:43:00] And I, I kind of, Jay from the veteran perspective, I do love the kind of loud voices like, you're making me go to Mexico for this. Joe Moore: I did that and you're making me leave the country for the thing that's gonna fix me. Like, no way. And barely a recognition that this is a valid treatment. You know, like, you know, that is complicated given how medicine is structured here domestically. But it's also, let's face the facts, like the drug war kind of prevented us from being able to do this research in the first place. Joe Moore: You know? Thanks Nixon. And like, how do we actually kind of correct course and say like, we need to spend appropriately on science here so we can heal our own people, including veterans and everybody really. It's a, it's a dire situation out there. Jay Kopelman: Yeah. It, it really is. Um, you know, we were talking briefly about addicts, right? Jay Kopelman: And you know, it's not sexy. People think of addicts as people who are weak-minded, [00:44:00] right? They don't have any self-control. Um, but, but look at, look at the opioid crisis, right? That Brian Hubbard was fighting against in Kentucky for all those years. That that was something that was given to the patient by a doctor that they then became dependent on, and a lot of people died from that. Jay Kopelman: And, and so you, you know, it's, I I don't think it's fair to just put all addicts in a box. Just like it's not fair to put all veterans in a box. Just like it's not fair for doctors, put all their patients in a box. We're individuals. We, we have individual needs. Our, our health is very individual. Like, I, I don't think I should be put in the same box as every other 66-year-old that my doctor sees. Jay Kopelman: It's not fair. [00:45:00] You know, if you, if you took my high school classmates and put us all in a photo, we're all gonna have different needs, right? Like, some look like they're 76, not 66. Some look like they're 56. Not like they're, we, we do things differently. We live our lives differently. And the same is true of addicts. Jay Kopelman: They come to addiction from different places. Not everybody decides they want to just try heroin at a party, and all of a sudden they're addicted. It happens in, in different ways, you know, and the whole fentanyl thing has been so daggum nefarious, right? You know, pushing fentanyl into marijuana. Jay Kopelman: Somebody's smoking a joint and all of a sudden they're addicted to fentanyl or they die. Melissa Lavasani: I think we're having a, Jay Kopelman: it's, it's just not fair to, to say everybody in this pot is the same, or everybody in this one is the same. We have [00:46:00] to look at it differently. Joe Moore: Yeah. I like to zoom one level out and kind of talk about, um, just how hurt we are as a country, as a world really, but as a country specifically, and how many people are out of work for so many. Joe Moore: Difficult reasons and away from their families for so many kind of tragic reasons. And if we can get people back to their families and back to work, a lot of these things start to self-correct, but we have to like have those interventions where we can heal folks and, and get them back. Um, yeah. And you know, everything from trauma, uh, in childhood, you know, adulthood, combat, whatever it is. Joe Moore: Like these things can put people on the sidelines. And Jay, to your point, like you get knee surgery and all of a sudden you're, you know, two years later you're on the hunt for Fentanyl daily. You know, that's tough. It's really tough. Carl Hart does a good job talking about this kind of addiction pipeline and [00:47:00] a few others do as well. Joe Moore: But it's just, you know, kind of putting it in a moral failure bucket. It's not great. I was chatting with somebody about, um, veterans, it's like you come back and you're like, what's gonna make me feel okay right now? And it's not always alcohol. Um, like this is the first thing that made me feel okay, because there's not great treatments and there's, there's a lot of improvements in this kind of like bringing people back from the field that needs to happen. Joe Moore: In my opinion. I, it seems to be shared by a lot of people, but yeah, there's, it's, it's, IGA is gonna be great. It's gonna be really important. I really can't wait for it to be at scale appropriately, but there's a lot of other things we need to fix too, um, so that we can just, you know, not have so many people we need to, you know, spend so much money healing. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: Yeah. You ahead with that. We don't need the president to sign an executive order to automatically legalize Ibogaine. Right. But it would be nice if he would reschedule it so that [00:48:00] then then researchers could do this research on a larger scale. You know, we could, we could now get some real data that would show the efficacy. Jay Kopelman: And it could be done in a safe environment, you know? And, and so that would be, do Joe Moore: you have any kind of figures, like, like, I've been talking about this for a while, Jay. Like, does it drop the cost a lot of doing research when we deschedule things? Jay Kopelman: I, I would imagine so, because it'll drop the cost of accessing the medicines that are being researched. Jay Kopelman: Right? You, you would have buy-in from more organizations. You know, you might even have a pharma company that comes into this, you know, look at j and j with the ketamine, right? They have, they have a nasal spray version of ketamine that's doing very well. I mean, it's probably their, their biggest revenue [00:49:00] provider for them right now. Jay Kopelman: And, and so. You know, you, it would certainly help and I think, I think it would lower costs of research to have something rescheduled rather than being schedule one. You know it, people are afraid to take chances when you're talking about Schedule one Melissa Lavasani: labs or they just don't have the money to research things that are on Schedule one. Melissa Lavasani: 'cause there's so much in an incredible amount of red tape that you have to go through and, and your facility has to be a certain way and how you contain those, uh, medicines. Oh, researching has to be in a specific container and it's just very cumbersome to research schedule one drugs. So absolutely the cost would go down. Melissa Lavasani: Um, but Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. Less safes. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Joe Moore: Yes. Less uh, Melissa Lavasani: right. Joe Moore: Locked. Yeah. Um, it'll be really interesting when that happens. I'm gonna hold out faith. That we can see some [00:50:00] movement here. Um, because yeah, like why make healing more expensive than it needs to be? I think like that's potentially a protectionist move. Joe Moore: Like, I'm not, I'm not here yet, but, um, look at AbbVie's, uh, acquisition of the Gilgamesh ip. Mm-hmm. Like that's a really interesting move. I think it was $1.2 billion. Mm-hmm. So they're gonna wanna protect that investment. Um, and it's likely going to be an approved medication. Like, I don't, I don't see a world in which it's not an approved medication. Joe Moore: Um, you know, I don't know a timeline, I would say Jay Kopelman: yeah. Joe Moore: Less than six years, just given how much cash they've got. But who knows, like, I haven't followed it too closely. So, and that's an I bga derivative to be clear, everybody, um mm-hmm. If you're not, um, in, in the loop on that, which is hopeful, you know? Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. But I don't know what the efficacy is gonna be with that compared to Ibogaine and then we have to talk about the kind of proprietary molecule stuff. Um, there's like a whole bunch of things that are gonna go on here, and this is one of the reasons why I'm excited about. Federal involvement [00:51:00] because we might actually be able to have some sort of centralized manufacturer, um, or at least the VA could license three or four generic manufacturers per for instance, and that way prices aren't gonna be, you know, eight grand a dose or whatever. Joe Moore: You know, it's, Jay Kopelman: well, I think it's a very exciting time in the space. You know, I, I think that there's the opportunity for innovation. There is the opportunity for collaboration. There's the opportunity for, you know, long-term healing at a very low cost. You know, that we, we have the highest healthcare cost per capita in the world right here in the us. Jay Kopelman: And, and yet we are not the number one health system in the world. So to me, that doesn't add up. So we need to figure out a way to start. Bringing costs down for a lot of people and [00:52:00] at the same time increasing, increasing outcomes. Joe Moore: Absolutely. Yeah. There's a lot of possible outcome improvements here and, and you know, everything from relapse rates, like we hear often about people leaving a clinic and they go and overdose when they get home. Tragically, too common. I think there's everything from, you know, I'm Jay, I'm involved in an organization called the Psychedelics and Pain Association. Joe Moore: We look at chronic pain very seriously, and IGA is something we are really interested in. And if. We could have better, you know, research, there better outcome measures there. Um, you know, perhaps we can have less people on opioids to begin with from chronic pain conditions. Um, Jay Kopelman: yeah, I, I might be due for another Ibogaine journey then, because I deal with chronic pain from Jiujitsu, but, Joe Moore: oh gosh, let's Jay Kopelman: talk Joe Moore: later. Jay Kopelman: That's self inflicted. Some people would say take a month off, but Melissa Lavasani: yeah, Jay Kopelman: I'm [00:53:00] not, I'm not that smart. Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, but you know, this, uh, yeah, this whole thing is gonna be really interesting to see how it plays out. I'm endlessly hopeful pull because I'm still here. Right. I, I've been at this for almost 10 years now, very publicly, and I think we are seeing a lot of movement. Joe Moore: It's not always what we actually wanna see, but it is movement nonetheless. You know, how many people are writing on this now than there were before? Right. You know, we, we have people in New York Times writing somewhat regularly about psychedelics and. Even international media is covering it. What do we have legalization in Australia somewhat recently for psilocybin and MDMA, Czech Republic. Joe Moore: I think Germany made some moves recently. Mm-hmm. Um, really interesting to see how this is gonna just keep shifting. Um Jay Kopelman: mm-hmm. Joe Moore: And I think there's no way that we're not gonna have prescription psychedelics in three years in the United States. It pro probably more like a [00:54:00] year and a half. I don't know. Do you, are you all taking odds? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. I mean, I think Jay Kopelman: I, I gotta check Cal sheet, see what they're saying. Melissa Lavasani: I think it's safe to say, I mean, this could even come potentially the end of this year, I think, but definitely by the end of 2027, there's gonna be at least one psychedelic that's FDA approved. Joe Moore: Yeah. Yeah. Melissa Lavasani: If you're not counting Ketamine. Joe Moore: Right. Jay Kopelman: I, I mean, I mean it mm-hmm. It, it doesn't make sense that it. Shouldn't be or wouldn't be. Right. The, we've seen the benefits. Mm-hmm. We know what they are. It's at a very low cost, but you have to keep in mind that these things, they need to be done with the right set setting and container. Right. And, and gotta be able to provide that environment. Jay Kopelman: So, but I would, I would love, like I said, I'd love to work myself out of a job here and see this happen, not just for our veterans, [00:55:00] but for everybody. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, so Melissa, is there a way people can get involved or follow PMC or how can they support your work at PMC? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, I mean, follow us in social media. Melissa Lavasani: Um, our two biggest platforms are LinkedIn and Instagram. Um, I'm bringing my newsletter back because I'm realizing, um, you know, there is a big gap in, in kind of like the knowledge of Washington DC just in general. What's happening here, and I think, you know, part of PC's value is that we're, we are plugged into conversations that are being had, um, here in the city. Melissa Lavasani: And, you know, we do get a little insight. Um, and I think that that would really quiet a lot of, you know, the, a lot of noise that, um, exists in the, our ecosystem. If, if people just had some clarity on like, what's actually happening or happening here and what are the opportunities and, [00:56:00] um, where do we need more reinforcement? Melissa Lavasani: Um, and, and also, you know, as we're putting together public education campaign, you know. My, like, if I could get everything I wanted like that, that campaign would be this like multi-stakeholder collaborative effort, right? Where we're covering all the ground that we need to cover. We're talking to the patient groups, we're talking to traditional mental health organizations, we're talking to the medical community, we're talking to the general population. Melissa Lavasani: I think that's like another area that we, we just seem to be, um, lacking some effort in. And, you know, ultimately the veteran story's always super compelling. It pulls on your heartstrings. These are our heroes, um, of our country. Like that, that is, that is meaningful. But a lot of the veteran population is small and we need the, like a, the just.[00:57:00] Melissa Lavasani: Basic American living in middle America, um, understanding what psychedelics are so that in, in, in presenting to them the stories that they can relate to, um, because that's how you activate the public and you activate the public and you get them to see what's happening in these clinical trials, what the data's been saying, what the opportunities are with psychedelics, and then they start calling their members of Congress and saying, Hey, there is this. Melissa Lavasani: Bill sitting in Congress and why haven't you signed onto it? And that political pressure, uh, when used the right way can be really powerful. So, um, I think, you know, now we're at this really amazing moment where we have a good amount of congressional offices that are familiar enough with psychedelics that they're willing to move on it. Melissa Lavasani: Um, there's another larger group, uh, that is familiar with psychedelics and will assist and co-sponsor legislation, but there's still so many offices that we haven't been able to get to just 'cause like we don't have all the time in the world and all the manpower in the world to [00:58:00] do it. But, you know, that is one avenue is like the advocates can speak to the, the lawmakers, the experts speak to the lawmakers, and we not, we want the public engaged in this, you know, ultimately, like that's. Melissa Lavasani: Like the best form of harm reduction is having an informed public. So we are not, they're not seeing these media headlines of like, oh, this miracle cure that, um, saved my family. It's like, yes, that can happen psychedelics. I mean, person speaking personally, psychedelics did save my family. But what you miss out of that story is the incredible amount of work I put into myself and put into my mental health to this day to maintain, um, like myself, my, my own agency and like be the parent that I wanna be and be the spouse that I wanna be. Melissa Lavasani: So, um, we, we need to continue to share these stories and we need to continue to collaborate to get this message out because we're all, we're all in the same boat right now. We all want the same things. We want patients to have safe and [00:59:00] affordable access to psychedelic assisted care. Um, and, uh. We're just in the beginning here, so, um, sign up for our newsletter and we can sign up on our website and then follow us on social media. Melissa Lavasani: And, um, I anticipate more and more events, um, happening with PMC and hopefully we can scale up some of these events to be much more public facing, um, as this issue grows. So, um, I'm really excited about the future and I'm, I've been enjoying this partnership with Mission Within. Jay is such a professional and, and it really shows up when he needs to show up and, um, I look forward to more of that in the future. Joe Moore: Fantastic. And Jay, how can people follow along and support mission within Foundation? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, again, social media is gonna be a good way to do that. So we, we are also pretty heavily engaged on LinkedIn and on Instagram. Um, I do [01:00:00] share, uh, a bit of my own stuff as well. On social media. So we have social media pages for Mission within Foundation, and we have a LinkedIn page for mission within foundation. Jay Kopelman: I have my own profiles on both of those as well where people can follow along. Um, one of the other things you know that would probably help get more attention for this is if the general public was more aware of the numbers of professional athletes who are also now pursuing. I began specifically to help treat their traumatic brain injuries and the chronic traumatic encephalopathy that they've, uh, suffered as a result of their time in professional sports or even college sports. Jay Kopelman: And, you know. I people worship these athletes, and I [01:01:00] think that if more of them, like Robert Gall, were more outspoken about these treatments and the healing properties that they've provided them, that it would get even more attention. Um, I think though what Melissa said, you know, I don't wanna parrot anything she just said because she said it perfectly Right. Jay Kopelman: And I'd just be speaking to hear myself talk. Um, but being collaborative the way that we are with PMC and with Melissa is I think, the way to move the needle on this overall. And like she said, if she could get more groups involved in, in these discussions, it would, it would do wonders for us. Joe Moore: Well, thank you both so much for your hard work out there. I always appreciate it when people are showing up and doing this important, [01:02:00] sometimes boring and tedious, but nevertheless sometimes, sometimes exciting work. And um, so yeah, just thank you both and thank you both for showing up here to psychedelics today to join us and I hope we can continue to support you all in the future. Jay Kopelman: Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. It's a pleasure being with you today and with Melissa, of course, always Melissa Lavasani: appreciate the time and space. Joe Moore: Thanks.
"They were best friends. The Three Amigos."That's what Anna Kepner's stepmother testified under oath. But her ex-boyfriend says Anna was uncomfortable at home—because her stepbrother was allegedly obsessed with her.On November 7th, 2025, 18-year-old Anna Kepner was found dead under a bed aboard the Carnival Horizon. Her body was wrapped in blankets, covered with life vests, in a cabin she shared with her 16-year-old stepbrother and 14-year-old brother. The cause of death: mechanical asphyxiation—reportedly a bar hold restraint.Her stepbrother is now the sole suspect. But how did the warning signs allegedly get missed?Custody court testimony reveals the stepbrother had been in therapy for more than a year. A travel advisor recommended separate rooms for the step-siblings. On the night before Anna's body was found, her ex-boyfriend alleges the youngest sibling in that cabin was locked out—and heard yelling, chairs being thrown, and the stepbrother screaming at Anna.The adults' cabin was directly across the hall. Shauntel Hudson testified she last saw the teens at 7:30pm. Nearly sixteen hours passed before anyone checked on Anna.This episode examines the psychology of blended families—the pressure to present harmony, the confirmation bias that filters out concerning behavior, and why children often suppress their own distress to avoid breaking the family narrative. People outside the household allegedly saw patterns. The custody-battling father raised alarms. The ex-boyfriend reported obsessive behavior. But the family sailed off on vacation anyway.The stepbrother appeared in sealed federal juvenile proceedings on February 6th, 2026. Anna's father confirmed he was arrested, charged, and released. He said he's "pissed off" that the suspect walks free.Anna was supposed to graduate in May. She planned to join the Navy. She got a night no one checked on her until it was too late.#AnnaKepner #CarnivalHorizon #CruiseShipHomicide #CustodyTestimony #BlendedFamily #FBIInvestigation #TrueCrime #FamilyRedFlags #CarnivalCruise #TrueCrimeTodayJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Two versions of the same family. One told to a judge. One allegedly lived by the girl who's now dead.On November 7th, 2025, Anna Kepner—an 18-year-old cheerleader from Titusville, Florida—was found dead under a bed on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. Wrapped in blankets. Covered with life vests. Her death was ruled mechanical asphyxiation. Her 16-year-old stepbrother, who shared that cabin, is now the sole suspect.Under oath, Anna's stepmother described the three teenagers sharing that room as "best friends" and "the Three Amigos." But Anna's ex-boyfriend told reporters a different story: he claims the stepbrother was obsessed with her. He alleges that nine months before the cruise, the stepbrother climbed on top of Anna during a FaceTime call and ran when confronted.Custody hearings revealed the stepbrother had been in therapy for over a year. A travel advisor recommended separate rooms for the step-siblings. That recommendation was apparently overruled. On the night before Anna's body was found, her ex-boyfriend alleges the youngest sibling in that cabin was locked out—and heard yelling, chairs thrown, and the stepbrother screaming at Anna.The adults' cabin was directly across the hall. Shauntel Hudson testified she last saw the teens at 7:30pm. Nearly sixteen hours passed before anyone checked on Anna.This episode examines the psychological traps of blended families—the pressure to present harmony, the confirmation bias that filters out concerning behavior, and why children often suppress their own distress to avoid breaking the family narrative. People outside the household allegedly saw patterns. The custody-battling father raised alarms. The ex-boyfriend reported obsessive behavior. But the family sailed off on vacation anyway.The stepbrother appeared in sealed federal juvenile proceedings on February 6th, 2026. Anna's father confirmed he was arrested and released to a guardian. He told reporters he was "pissed off."Anna was supposed to graduate in May. She planned to join the Navy. She got a night no one checked on her until it was too late.#AnnaKepner #CarnivalHorizon #CruiseShipDeath #BlendedFamilyDynamics #FBIHomicide #TrueCrime #CustodyHearing #RedFlags #CarnivalCruise #HiddenKillersJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
Tim is a humble Navy Reservist, attorney, and pharmacist keen to serve his community (he's already president of the Del Ray Citizens Association and chair of the Alx Economic Opportunities Commission) and full of hope for a systems change approach to Alexandria's future. Fun facts - his dogs are named after hawaiian islands (Maui and Kona), and his substack is named “deep dive” like wholesome a Navy pun. His policy corners:Fiscal responsibility through growthAffordability - housing, childcare, environmental action, transitConnectedness - he wants to be the “glue”Equity through engagementLiberally Social Podcast collaborates with Ryan Belmore of The Alexandria Brief for a special collaboration series of interviews for this Firehouse City Council Primary!Vote in the Democratic Party volunteer-run firehouse primary on Saturday, February 21st from 8:30am-7pm at Cora Kelly Rec Center + Beatley Central Library OR Online if you register in advance by Friday Feb 20th at 5pm! Visit alexdems.org for more information.Want to watch this as a video? https://www.alexandriabrief.com/podcast Want to check out Tim's campaign? https://www.timforalexandria.com/
An international manhunt is underway for the cold-blooded killer who slayed his spouse & then stuffed her body in the freezer. Officials say the Navy vet knows how to stay undetected & they need your help to find him! A monster is arrested for murdering a teenage girl after her rotting remains turn up near his home. Plus, talk about a blue light special! Jennifer Gould reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Dorothea N Buckingham, author of the book Code Name Rascal. Dorothea “Dee” Buckingham is a seasoned author, retired librarian, and dedicated historian who has called Hawaiʻi home for over 30 years. Her profound interest in the daily lives of women during World War II in Hawaiʻi has been the cornerstone of her literary work. Dee's commitment to uncovering and narrating these often-overlooked stories has established her as a respected voice in historical fiction. Her notable publications include My Name is Loa, a historical novel set on Molokaʻi, and Who Murdered Jane Stanford?: An Answer Imagined, which delves into the mysterious death of Stanford University's co-founder in 1905 Hawaiʻi. Additionally, she co-authored World War II Hawaiʻi with her husband, retired Lieutenant Colonel John Buckingham, offering a pictorial history that captures the transformative impact of the war on the islands. Dee's passion for storytelling extends beyond writing; she is an Author Accelerator certified book coach, providing guidance to aspiring writers. Her engaging talks and workshops have been featured on west coast radio and television in Hawaiʻi, and she has presented to diverse audiences, sharing her insights on writing and historical research. Her latest work, Code Name Rascal, continues her mission to illuminate the vital roles women played during wartime, weaving a narrative that is both historically rich and emotionally resonant. Dee enjoys connecting with readers and is available to meet with book clubs and reading groups, both in person and via Zoom, to discuss her work and share insights into her writing process. In my book review, I stated Code Name Rascal is a wonderful historical fiction. This story takes place in Hawaii immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor. We quickly meet four women, all very different from one another, who join a classified radar operation known as WARD, with the code name Rascal. One of the things I loved best about this story is that I was completely unaware of WARD or even the issues in Hawaii after the initial bombing. I'm not sure where I was during school, but there is a lot more to what happened than I realized! Code Name Rascal helped fill in so many of the blanks. I also really loved Dorothea's characters. CJ is a strong, newly-married journalist. Ruth is a quiet Navy officer wife. Jane is a pilot going through divorce. And Eve is a Honolulu socialite. Imagine all these women thrust into tiny quarters, working grueling hours, keeping war secrets, and still trying to figure out their own lives. It's like a historical soap opera, full of determination, grief, danger, and disappearing dreams - and it's one you won't want to miss! Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1 Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290 You can follow Author Dorothea N Buckingham Website: https://dorotheabuckingham.com/ Substack: https://dorotheanbuckingham.substack.com/ Purchase Code Name Rascal on Amazon: Paperback: https://amzn.to/3LrHJMU Ebook: https://amzn.to/49sTwUx Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1 Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors #dorotheanbuckingham #codenamerascal #historicalfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Leadership is nothing new to Brenda Johnson. She served her country for 22 years in the Army and retired as a Major. Now that she's retired, she's doing things she enjoys like traveling, foraging for natural remedies and serving her community as the current president of the NAACP in Lackawanna County. Brenda joins me this week, along with her daughter and friend/frequent guest of the podcast Amber Viola, who also served her country. Amber has been a guest on this show before talking about her career in the Navy, her book "72 Hours of Hell: My Time in VA," and most recently about her and her daughter's experience with the Scranton Girls Rock summer camp. This week Amber talks about the importance of getting involved with the NAACP and promotes the upcoming Community Talent Show by NAACP that's being hosted by Black Scranton on Feb. 21.If you would like to perform in the Community Talent Show, complete the Google form here. Follow NAACP Lackawanna on Facebook.Thank you to my podcast sponsors Reinvented Threads with Gabby Lynn and Healthy Lifestyle Management with Lisa Rigau for supporting valuable conversations like this one each week. Check out Gabby's unique, ecofriendly fashion accessories at ReinventedThreads.com and learn about Lisa's wellness services at EatBreatheMoveLive.com. If you would like to support this podcast, please reach out to Jeannine.Luby@gmail.com for a list of the affordable podcast sponsorship packages. Remember that you can also show support by sharing an episode; telling a friend, foe or anyone you know about the podcast; and rating the podcast and writing a review. Be sure to follow Funny Wine Girl Jeannine on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with online and in-person events and enjoy some laughs.
//The Wire//2300Z February 17, 2026////ROUTINE////BLUF: MASS SHOOTING REPORTED IN RHODE ISLAND. IRANIAN FORCES CONTINUE NAVAL DRILLS AS AMERICAN FORCES BEGIN MASS MOVEMENT INTO MIDDLE EAST.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -International Events-Caribbean: American forces continue airstrikes on narco vessels, with three fastboats sunk overnight in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. Two strikes were carried out in the Pacific, and the third in the Caribbean. A total of 11x EKIA were reported as a result of the strikes.Middle East: This morning Iranian forces continued naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz. These drills, dubbed the "Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz" exercise by the IRGC-N, has involved various show-of-force targeting drills involving various naval platforms. These exercises involved the brief closure of a section of the Strait for a few hours today, as live-fire drills were conducted throughout the day.Europe: This morning, the mass movement of US military aircraft was observed throughout the continent as American forces begin the surge of forces into the Middle East. Overnight, multiple flights of F-16's, F-22's, F-15's and F-35's were all observed maneuvering toward the region, totaling several dozen aircraft. Command and Control aircraft were observed staging as well, alongside several Airborne Early Warning platforms.-HomeFront-Rhode Island: Yesterday afternoon a mass shooting was reported at a skating rink in Pawtucket as one assailant began firing in the stands at a high school hockey game. The shooter has been identified as Robert Dorgan, who was targeting his ex-wife and children during the attack. Concerning casualties, two fatalities have been reported, along with multiple wounded.Analyst Comment: This appears to be a domestic incident, in which a transgender individual murdered his family in the middle of a crowded venue. Based on the shooter's social media pages, this individual was very obviously mentally ill and had made threats openly for some time, including one post which directly threatened violence one day before the shooting.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: So far, the mass mobilization of equipment to CENTCOM looks like the Real McCoy, once again. As of this afternoon, this is the largest migration of military aircraft into CENTCOM in many years, and differs from the last time the US struck Iranian facilities in that fighter aircraft are moving into theater much moreso than the previous one-and-done, single-sortie mission that was Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER. Of course, moving aircraft is comparatively cheap when it comes to the manipulation that these actions provide, which in this case is very obviously intended to pressure the Iranians into accepting whatever deal is put before them. This afternoon Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi departed Geneva, with the past two weeks of talks more or less being a stalemate. As must always be noted, the forces that are being staged right now can always turn around and go home without a shot being fired. However, even taking this into account (and adding in the wider geopolitical context), it's very likely that cratering Iranian facilities is on the menu once more.Probably the best form of warning for the Iranians is the minor detail that the main aircraft carrier in the region (the USS *ABRAHAM LINCOLN*) has not transited the Strait of Hormuz. This foreboding detail is likely due to long-standing doctrine; any serious actions taken in Iran will require more maneuverability (and range) than the Gulf can provide. As a result, a common rule of thumb has been that the United States holding position in the Arabian Sea (without transiting the Strait) is an indicator that the US is serious. If the US just wanted to posture, the Navy would have sailed through the Strait just to flex on the Iranians brown-water navy, and since a CSG
Julie Roland's background is impressive and remarkably varied. She's a retired naval aviator, magician, a law school graduate, a political staffer, and founder of the community-building nonprofit Just Tryna Make Friends. In this Blue Sky episode, Julie spreads her infectious optimism about how the arts can be used to connect people at a time when so many forces are pulling us apart. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Julie Roland Bill Burke introduces Julie Roland, highlighting her diverse background as a Navy Lieutenant Commander, helicopter pilot, and founder of a community-building nonprofit. Julie shares how 'The West Wing' inspired her patriotism and Harry Potter sparked her interest in flying and magic, leading her to ROTC and a career in the Navy. 05:00 Just Trying to Make Friends Julie discusses the genesis of her nonprofit, Just Tryna Make Friends, which she co-founded to foster community and promote the arts. She explains how the organization grew from backyard shows into a larger movement, especially after COVID-19 heightened the need for connection and live performances. 11:24 The Power of Art and Connection Julie elaborates on her broad definition of art and why it effectively brings people together, emphasizing vulnerability and authentic expression. She describes the diverse acts featured at 'Just Tryna Make Friends' shows, from music and comedy to fire sword dancing and crochet, all aimed at creating a welcoming stage for creative expression. 17:04 Restoring Faith in Humanity through Art Julie reflects on how art restores her faith in humanity, highlighting its unique ability to inspire wonder and beauty. She describes the grassroots setup of 'Just Tryna Make Friends' shows, designed to be free, accessible, and foster a childlike sense of community and connection among strangers. 25:57 Creative Outlets in the Navy Julie shares how she integrated her playful and creative side, including magic and music, into her regimented Navy career, even performing on aircraft carriers. She recounts anecdotes like painting a mural in her squadron and doing magic tricks for admirals, showcasing her consistent pursuit of creative outlets. 35:30 Future Endeavors and Community Engagement Julie discusses her future plans, including potentially taking the bar exam and her current role as a District Director for a New York State government official, focusing on community engagement.
First-year head coach Jon Perry joins the Anchors Aweigh podcast to discuss what is becoming a historical season for Navy men's basketball. The Midshipmen are one win away from capturing their first outright Patriot League regular season championship since 1997. We also talk to Navy women's lacrosse senior attacker Anna Gotterup, whose older brother is a rising star on the PGA Tour.
Tonight on Late For Changeover, we move from courtroom crackdowns to covert tradecraft… and tip our cover to legends who lived louder than jet engines. (06:25) California just dropped the hammer on predatory “claim shark” companies circling veterans like vultures with clipboards, passing a law that severely limits who can charge for helping vets file VA disability claims. The message is clear: if you're profiting off those who already paid in blood and time, the state is coming with receipts and handcuffs.
Send a textIn this episode Maria sits down with Navy veteran, actress, and advocate Jennifer Marshall, you may know her from Netflix's Stranger Things and as the host of Mysteries Decoded on the CW. They discuss Jennifer's journey from a challenging childhood to her military service in the Navy, her transition to civilian life, and her experiences with cancer. Jennifer shares her insights on mental health, the importance of cancer awareness, and her advocacy for the veteran community. The conversation highlights her resilience, the challenges of navigating life after the military, and her passion for acting and helping others.Support the showClick here to support Behind the Warrior Podcast today! https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E110509&id=354
HEADLINE 1: More countries are planning to contribute troops to the International Stabilization Force in Gaza.HEADLINE 2: The Lebanese government provided an update on disarming Hezbollah.HEADLINE 3: Qatar is taking some heat right now from an unlikely place: the Israeli left.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Andrew Tabler of The Washington Institute.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces:"Allies, Adversaries, and the Axis" - Bradley Bowman and LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, Foreign Podicy"Did Iran Use Chemical Weapons on Protesters?" - Andrea Stricker (writing with Gregory D. Koblentz), The National Interest"Trump could be missing the opportunity to rebuild the Navy efficiently and quickly" - RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, New York Post
Mini podcast of radical history on this date from the Working Class History team.Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/todayBrowse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/dateCheck out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.comCheck out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.comIf you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History
Send a textPeaches runs a solo Daily Drop Ops Brief and this one's got everything: an Army Futures and Concepts Command elevation, a retired colonel sentenced for sharing classified war plans with a honeypot, and a battalion leader getting four years for secretly recording guests. The Navy manages to collide two ships in the Caribbean, debates doubling ship procurement, and asks for historic funding levels—while the Pentagon eyes a $1.6 trillion defense budget increase. A Marine is declared lost at sea, the Marine Corps passes another clean audit, and an Afghan adoption case survives court. The Air Force wrestles with healthcare access and collaborative combat aircraft software, Space Force pushes quality-of-life fixes, the Coast Guard uses an anti-drone laser near El Paso, and SECDEF skips a NATO meeting while POTUS leans on military leaders for diplomacy. No conspiracy. Just context.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and sponsor plug 01:10 Army Futures & Concepts Command elevation 02:45 Retired colonel sentenced in honeypot case 04:10 Battalion leader sentenced for secret recordings 05:15 Two Navy ships collide in Caribbean 06:30 Potential increase in ship procurement 07:00 Historic funding push and budget debate 09:30 Marine declared lost at sea 10:10 Marine Corps clean financial audit 11:00 Afghan adoption ruling upheld 12:00 OTS Alabama plug 13:00 Air Force healthcare access complaints 14:20 Collaborative Combat Aircraft advancement 15:20 Coast Guard anti-drone laser use 16:00 SECDEF skips NATO meeting 16:45 POTUS using military leaders in diplomacy 17:30 Syria base handover 18:00 Ongoing counter-narcotics strikes 18:30 Wrap-up
Actor comic and writer Jamie Kaler talks about trying to manage a career while still making dinner for his girls, how's staying home to be a dad forced him to find other outlets, how podcasting in social media is the next big hurdle, how the navy helped him be funny, how stand up comedy has changed, and how to survive the wild ride of show business. Bio:Jamie Kaler An accomplished actor, comic, host, voice-over artist and podcaster, Jamie Kaler is probably best known for his starring role as “Mike” on the hit TBS show, “My Boys”. His prolific acting career includes appearances on Friends, Will and Grace, How I Met Your Mother, Parenthood, King of Queens, The Middle, My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, NCIS, Shake it Up, That 70's Show, and American Housewife, as well as numerous films including, The Family Stone, The Wicked, Aftermath, and over 200 commercials. He is currently recurring on ”Tacoma FD” on Netflix, and is the host of both “America: Facts vs. Fiction” and “Haunted Live” on Discovery Plus. As a Dad Influencer, he has created extensive content for The Dadlands, the web series, Dads in Parks, the podcast, “Father Time”, and his current weekly live virtual show, podcast and personal brand, “The Parent's Lounge”. As a voiceover artist, his credits include the “Bloopers Host” on Robot Chicken, "Travis the Announcer" on Loud House, Fallout 4, and numerous commercial campaigns. As a comedian he was one of the New Faces at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal and has appeared on Chelsea Lately, The Late Late Show, Live at Gotham, Mock-pocalypse, and World's Dumbest. His two albums “Happy Father Daze”, and “HomeSchooled” (on youtube) hit #1 on iTunes. His new Dry Bar Comedy Special, “Father at 50!” was just released. Originally from New Hampshire, Jamie graduated from Boston University on an NROTC scholarship and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for 5 years before beginning his career as a performer. When not working, he is obeying every command of his wife, Kate, and two daughters, Hannah and Claire. Full list of credits. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0435695/ Check him out on: https://jamiekaler.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/jamiekaler https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJamieKaler Twitter/Instagram/Tik Tok @jamiekaler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Frank Weisser is a two-time Blue Angels Pilot who was deployed in combat three separate times, including to Afghanistan and Iraq. He has accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours and nearly 500 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include multiple Meritorious Service Medals, Strike Flight Air Medals and various personal and unit awards. Because of his experience flying at extreme low altitudes and inverted, he was the pilot for the most complex and memorable air combat scenes in Top Gun: Maverick. His book is titled Lead Solo: Learning Life's Vectors from an F/A-18 Blue Angel Aviator. Summary Frank Weisser's career sits at a rare intersection: Navy fighter pilot, two-time Blue Angels pilot, combat deployments, and the low-altitude stunt flying that helped make Top Gun: Maverick feel real. Early in the conversation, Frank reframes what looks like "crazy risk" from the outside into a disciplined craft: aviation is inherently dangerous, but the real skill is identifying known risks and systematically mitigating them through the right people, the right preparation, and the right standards. The episode then rewinds to a formative disappointment: Frank entered the Naval Academy intent on becoming a SEAL, didn't get selected, and had to confront a painful identity-level failure. What changed his trajectory wasn't a new goal, but a reframing of motivation from "how I serve" to "that I serve," even if the role wasn't what he originally wanted. That lesson becomes a through-line for everything that follows: mission first, ego second, and meaning found in the sacrifice itself. From there, Frank breaks down what makes the Blue Angels such a high-functioning team. "Glad to be here" isn't a slogan; it's a culture-building mechanism rooted in gratitude, humility, and the idea that the work is bigger than the individual. The team reinforces that culture through small, repeatable behaviors and through the "great equalizer" effect of an environment that demands confidence without cockiness. Finally, the conversation translates elite aviation into practical leadership. Frank shares specific approaches to focus (compartmentalizing distractions), decision-making under pressure (the discipline to "underreact in the extreme"), trust-building (earned trust through vulnerability and consistency), and learning velocity (a debrief culture that prioritizes what went wrong so tomorrow gets better). Woven through it all is his definition of excellence: pushing past comfort, taking measured risks, being willing to fail, and then rebuilding smarter. Takeaways · Risk isn't eliminated in high-stakes work; it's acknowledged upfront and managed through preparation, expertise, and process. · "Mission first" is a practical operating system, not a motivational poster. It keeps ego from quietly taking over. · Gratitude can be engineered into culture through small rituals, and those rituals compound into trust and performance. · Confidence is required, but cockiness is actively corrected by a team that refuses to let anyone go rogue. · Compartmentalization is a skill: name the distraction, surface it with the team when needed, then "do not disturb" your mind for the task. · When you're solo, focus comes back to priorities: stop saying "I didn't have time" and tell the truth about what wasn't a priority. · Fear shrinks when you're properly prepared: know the systems, memorize the critical failures, rehearse in simulation, then execute. · The best operators train themselves to underreact. Even one second of composure can be the difference between solving the right problem and making it worse. · Trust is built fastest through earned vulnerability and consistency, not "blind trust." · Excellence, in Frank's words, is helping yourself and others attempt what feels out of reach, being willing to fail, and restarting with better intelligence. Notes: Book: Lead Solo: Learning Life's Vectors from an F/A-18 Blue Angel Aviator Frank Weisser leadership consulting: https://frankweisser.net/
Dr. Tommy Rhee is a nationally featured sports chiropractor, regenerative medicine innovator, author and speaker. He is known for challenging conventional healthcare while introducing non-invasive, needle-free solutions for healing and performance. Dr. Rhee is the founder and CEO of Rhee-Gen, a patent pending cell-free regenerative platform focused on topical biological signaling rather than injections. His work sits on the intersection of sports medicine, biotechnology, and the future of human performance. He is the author of the book titled "The Future of Regenerative Medicine: Unlocking the Potential of Topical Stem Cell Therapy" as well as a United States Navy Aircrew Veteran. Dr. Rhee has been in clinical practice since 2006 and has spent over 20 years in the regenerative medicine field, where he is widely regarded as an expert in topical regenerative therapies. With a background spanning elite sports medicine, clinical innovation, and service as a U.S. Navy aviator, Dr. Rhee offers a rare perspective on performance, recovery, and the future of regenerative care. Dr. Rhee shares his experience and expertise along with his extensive research that went in to creating a product which can be applied topically by the patient to promote natural healing and recovery for people of all ages, from elite professional athletes to the senior weekend warrior without the risk of potential side effects of injections. He explains complex science and biology in clear, concise terms which is easy to understand and apply to practical applications for the listeners, as he gives hope to anyone who would love to experience the healing power of topical stem cell therapy. Download this uplifting and positive episode which is full of great information for anyone who would like to enjoy the benefits of stem cell therapy without the risk, the cost, and time spent in an office receiving injections. Such a fascinating conversation! Connect with Dr. Tommy: https://rheegen.com/ https://www.facebook.com/PhysicalChiropractic/ https://www.youtube.com/@physicalchiropractictampabay https://www.instagram.com/dr.tommyrhee/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtommyrhee/ Want to be a guest on TheFemiNinjaProject? Send Cheryl Ilov a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1620842117560x116520069523704300
Episode 213: The Murder of Sidney WellsSidney Wells was headed into his senior year of college with the world at his feet. He had dreams of becoming a journalist and maybe enlisting in the Navy. His life was cut short when he was murdered in the condo he shared with his brother Sam and their roommate, Thayne Smika. The investigation led to Thayne, but by the time they had enough evidence, he was in the wind. A Hollywood connection brought Sid's case to the national media, but his case is still open. If you have any information as to Thayne Smika's whereabouts, please call Boulder Police Department (303) 441-3333 , your local FBI field office, or your nearest American embassy or consulate. Tune in to this episode to learn more!Email us at: abouttime4tc@gmail.comFollow us on IG: @about.time.for.true.crime.pod LinktreeDon't forget to rate, follow, download, and tell a friend!Sources:12345678
Navy tracks objects moving 200+ knots underwater at impossible depths. USO database reveals centuries of submerged UFO encounters.This week's Fringe News Briefing covers four major stories: A groundbreaking study found 944 cases where Bigfoot and UFO sightings occurred within 72 hours of each other. Skinwalker Ranch Season 6 documented invisible phenomena, mysterious 1.6 gigahertz signals, and heat-resistant ceramic buried underground. A former Bank of England analyst publicly urged the institution to prepare for financial collapse in the event of alien disclosure. And new research suggests human consciousness arises from the brain resonating with the quantum vacuum's zero-point field.Then we dive deep into Unidentified Submerged Objects. Commander David Fravor's famous 2004 Nimitz encounter wasn't just about the Tic Tac in the air—USS Princeton tracked objects underwater for two weeks before that encounter. Objects dropping from 80,000 feet to sea level in less than a second, continuing into the ocean without any change in momentum. The Enigma database documents centuries of these encounters, from medieval chronicles to modern military sonar data. Objects moving at 200+ knots underwater, diving to 27,000 feet, transitioning between water and air with no splash or disturbance. Geographic hotspots near the Puerto Rico Trench, the Pacific Northwest, and the Gulf of Mexico show consistent activity. If the U.S. Navy has decades of classified USO data, and if these objects exhibit the same physics-defying capabilities as aerial UAPs, we need to talk about what that actually means for humanity's understanding of what's operating in Earth's oceans.
Show SummaryOn this episode, we have a conversation Today we're having a conversation with Michael Witt, Community & State Outreach Manager for the DirectEmployers Association. DirectEmployers is a non-profit member association built by employers, for employers, and we talked about how they support their member employers to better serve the military and veteran population as well as how DirectEmployers has worked to become a PsychArmor Veteran Ready OrganizationProvide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who've served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor StoriesAbout Today's GuestMichael Witt is the Community & State Outreach Manager for DirectEmployers Association (DE). DE is a non-profit member association built by employers, for employers. After 21 years of service with Iowa Workforce Development, including Division Administrator of Field Operations, oversight of WIOA federal programs and state workforce programs, he works closely with DE's 1k+ Member companies to implement strategies for improved recruitment and retention of skilled talent across the country.Links Mentioned During the EpisodeDirectEmployers Association WebsiteDirectEmployers VetCentral Webpage PsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the Behind the Mission Podcast episode with Lori Adams, in episode 122. During this conversation, Lori and I talk about the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, the national organization representing all 50 state workforce agencies, D.C. and U.S. territories. These agencies deliver training, employment, career, business and wage and hour services, in addition to administering the unemployment insurance, veteran reemployment and labor market information programs. You can find the resource here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/lori-adams Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Senator Mark Kelly is a former astronaut, a Navy pilot, and was almost Kamala Harris VP pick. Now he's weighing up a run for the presidency himself in 2028. He came into the News Agents studio this lunchtime to tell us why Trump is helping his cause by threatening to have him “hanged“ and why it's important for European leaders, including Starmer, to push back on Trump's bullying.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
With everything happening in the news regarding U.S.-Venezuela relations, I wanted to clear the air on one of the most misunderstood pieces of foreign policy in history: The Monroe Doctrine.Is the U.S. just a "big bully" in the neighborhood, or has the original intent of James Monroe been lost to time? We're diving into the 1820s, a time when the U.S. had no real Navy and was actually standing in solidarity with newly independent Latin American nations against European royals.Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/XzxiZE4ekH8Read more at Finance Colombia: https://www.financecolombia.com/Subscribe to Finance Colombia for free: https://www.fcsubscribe.com/More about Loren Moss: https://lorenmoss.com/writeContact us: https://unidodigital.media/contact-unido-digital-llc/Read more at Finance Colombia: https://www.financecolombia.com/ Subscribe to Finance Colombia for free: https://www.fcsubscribe.com/ Read more at Cognitive Business News: https://cognitivebusiness.news/ The place for bilingual talent! https://empleobilingue.com/ More about Loren Moss: https://lorenmoss.com/write Contact us: https://unidodigital.media/contact-unido-digital-llc/
In this episode of The Strong Stoic, I sit down with an active-duty Navy submarine officer to explore Stoicism through the lens of military leadership, conflict, and responsibility.We discuss:Why Stoicism isn't emotional suppressionThe role of anger in leadership and combatHow virtue makes you more effective — not softerWhy roles matter more than feelingsThe connection between strength training and moral disciplineWhat Marcus Aurelius can teach modern leaders about conflictThis is not a romanticized conversation about war.It's a grounded exploration of responsibility under pressure.If you've ever felt the weight of leadership…If you've ever questioned how to handle conflict…If you're trying to be dangerous — but disciplined —This one's for you.
Josh Perschbacher joins the VET S.O.S. Network to dive into why connection—not duplication—is the missing link in military transition. As a Navy veteran and founder of VetWork, Josh shares how regional ecosystems, mentorship, and smarter coordination help veterans move from service to purpose-driven civilian careers.In this episode, we explore:• Why veterans shouldn't have to choose between jobs, education, and mental health support• How VetWork deconflicts veteran programs to maximize impact• The importance of building skills before transition, not after• Why mentorship and community are critical long after TAP endsIf you're transitioning, supporting veterans, or building veteran-serving organizations, this episode offers clear guidance, lived experience, and practical next steps.Josh Perschbacher is a U.S. Navy veteran, veteran education advocate, and founder of VetWork. With years of experience helping veterans navigate GI Bill benefits and workforce pathways, Josh focuses on connecting people, organizations, and opportunities to create stronger veteran outcomes nationwide.The VET S.O.S. Network connects veterans, spouses, and service members with real resources and real people who want to see you thrive.VET S.O.S. VET S.O.S. – Operation StartupVET S.O.S. – Learning LifelineWebsite: vetsospodcast.comX/Twitter: @vetsospodcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcastYouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcastFacebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcastInstagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcastTikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast#VETSOS #VeteranTransition #VetWork #MilitaryLeadership #VeteranCommunity #ItsOurTurnToServe #TheMilitaryEffect #VeteranResources #Mentorship #GrabTheLifeline
Former Under Secretary of the Navy Vic Minella shares his remarkable 38-year journey from enlisted sailor in rural Mississippi to the Department of the Navy's second-highest civilian position. We discuss how 9/11 rewired his approach to leadership and personal responsibility just three months into his naval intelligence career, what it was like managing dual Pentagon roles during a presidential transition, and the moment he found out about his promotion while sick in bed. Vic offers hard-earned lessons on self-care, delegation, staying in your lane, and why showing up every day with energy and a willingness to contribute is the real recipe for advancement. He closes with a powerful message: take the oath seriously, don't be afraid to make that first step, and find a way to contribute no matter what your job is. As always, thank you to the supporters on Supercast who help keep Moments in Leadership ad-free and sustainable. GUEST BIO LINKSVic Minella on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-minella/ FOLLOW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SUPPORTJoin the Moments in Leadership Supercast communityhttps://mil.supercast.com/ Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moments-in-leadership/id1547856712 Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1hQl53NzCiJwlWS9xQZFw9 YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@MomentsinLeadership Official Websitehttps://www.momentsinleadership.com
Need a moment to recover from Valentine's Day? Of course you do!ShowlinksTruxtun-Supply CollisionSecretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security ConferenceMaritime Action PlanSummaryIn this episode of Midrats, Sal and Mark discuss various topics related to national security, starting off with the Truxton-Supply collision. They also delve into Secretary Rubio's speech regarding NATO relations, the decline of the international order, and the challenges posed by China's global influence. Additionally, they explore the Maritime Action Plan and its significance for the future of shipbuilding and economic policy in the U.S.Chapters00:00: Introduction02:10: The Truxtun-Supply Collision11:55: Operational Tempo and Navy Readiness17:24: Secretary Rubio's Speech and NATO Relations27:18: The Decline of the International Order37:03: China's Global Influence and Fishing Practices45:51: Maritime Action Plan and Economic Policy57:59: Strategic Capabilities and Future of Shipbuilding
The Steve Gruber Show | Peace, Power & Political Momentum: The Forces Shaping 2026 --- 00:00 - Hour 1 Monologue 18:58 – Richard Battle, award-winning author and media commentator. Battle discusses why Presidents' Day replaced Washington's Birthday and how the holiday evolved over time. He reflects on the historical significance of America's first president and what the change represents today. 27:51 – Joe Rieck, Vice President of Sales at Longevity Wellness. Rieck explains how simple it is to incorporate a daily longevity shake into your routine and outlines the wide-ranging benefits of the protein formula. Visit longevitywellness.co and use promo code GRUBER. 37:54 - Hour 2 Monologue 46:50 – Anne Schlafly, Chairman of Eagle Forum. Schlafly reacts to a New York Times acknowledgment of cannabis risks and renewed calls for regulation. She discusses whether legalizing marijuana has created unintended public health consequences. 56:54 – George Moraitis, Florida congressional candidate and Navy submarine warfare veteran. Moraitis discusses President Trump's proposed naval blockade on Cuba's oil imports as a national security strategy. He explains how energy policy intersects with foreign policy and regional stability. 1:15:31 - Hour 2 Monologue 1:24:26 – Noelle Kahaian, Representative for Georgia's 81st State House District in Henry County. Kahaian shares what keeps her optimistic about Georgia's future. She highlights economic growth, community strength, and legislative priorities. 1:34:17 – Aric Nesbitt, Michigan Senate Minority Leader. Nesbitt criticizes the governor's proposed budget and outlines Republican concerns ahead of the State of the State address. He discusses spending priorities and the direction of Michigan's economy. 1:43:01 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses ongoing concerns about men competing in women's sports, including a reported high school wrestling incident that is now under investigation. The conversation focuses on safety, fairness, and the broader policy debate. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... The First Episode is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/LcYYLfQWCY0
Chanda Coston is a business strategist and Navy veteran whose work is grounded in lived experience, successful pivots, disciplined execution, and building businesses that support the season of life you're in. With a background in complex project leadership and execution, she helps women design sustainable, profitable businesses that grow without burnout. She joins us today on the Profit Your Knowledge Podcast to talk about turning experience into income with clarity and staying power.Visit Chanda Coston's Website: Chanda-co.com & @chanda__co
In this episode of Gulf War Side Effects, Guy shares what it was really like aboard a guided missile cruiser just miles off the coast of Kuwait. From Tomahawk missile launches to minefields, sea snakes, chemical alarms, and life inside a combat zone at sea this is the Navy side of Desert Storm that rarely gets told.Gulf War Illness Study : https://ucsd.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8kroz7Jamr365hQGet access to past and bonus content with exclusive guest. Please help support the podcast and veterans so we can keep making the show - patreon.com/GulfWarSideEffects▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Life Wave Patches: https://lifewave.com/kevinsimon/store/products*Here is my recommendations on what patches to get and what has helped me.Ice Wave - this helps with my neuropathy.x39 - this helps me with brain fog and my shakesx49 - helps with bone strengthGludifion - helps get rid of toxinsMerch: https://gulfwar-side-effects.myspreadshop.com/Contact me with your questions, comments, or concerns at kevinsimon@gulfwarsideeffects.com
Faith Driven Investor Podcast - Episode 216Join hosts Richard Cunningham and Luke Roush as they sit down with Steve Cook, Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, for a deep dive into the state of US manufacturing and the reshoring revolution transforming American industry. From the deck of an aircraft carrier to the shop floor to private equity boardrooms, Steve brings a unique perspective on what it takes to build manufacturing companies that strengthen both portfolios and national security.Key Investment Topics:The economics of reshoring: Why major manufacturers are bringing supply chains back to the USLFM Capital's operator-led approach to buyout private equity in manufacturingHow tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping investment opportunitiesWhy aerospace, defense, and B2B manufacturing offer compelling risk-adjusted returnsThe role of leadership and operational excellence in driving EBITDA margins and enterprise valueInterest rates, deal flow, and the creative structuring required in today's PE marketPowerful Quotes:"We won World War One and Two predominantly because we had a strong industrial base that could step up and pivot when the country needed it. We're woefully unprepared for World War Three." - Steve Cook"It costs more to hire an English-speaking manager in China than it does in the US today. Labor cost equilibrium is happening faster than anyone expected." - Steve Cook"The absolute worst form of ownership I've ever seen is 50/50. Someone has to make the final decision - that's true in a company and true in a marriage." - Steve CookEpisode Description:What does it take to rebuild American manufacturing in an era of global uncertainty? Steve Cook knows firsthand. As a former Navy fighter pilot who flew combat missions during Desert Shield, then an operations leader at Dell managing 2,200 manufacturing employees, Steve brings unparalleled shop floor DNA to private equity investing. Now leading LFM Capital - a buyout firm exclusively focused on US manufacturing - he's witnessing the early stages of a reshoring revolution that could reshape both the American economy and investment portfolios.This episode cuts through the headlines to reveal what's really happening on the ground with US manufacturing. Steve explains why companies are finally bringing production back home, which industries offer the most compelling opportunities, and how LFM's operator-first approach generates returns by elevating leadership and operational excellence rather than financial engineering. From the impact of Liberation Day tariffs to the quiet convergence of global labor costs, from AI's limited role on today's shop floor to the creative deal structures emerging in a higher interest rate environment, this conversation delivers actionable insights for investors seeking exposure to the manufacturing renaissance.Steve also vulnerably shares lessons from Genesis on leadership, partnership, and the biblical principles that shape both his marriage and LFM's investment philosophy - including why 50/50 ownership structures consistently fail and what that reveals about decision-making authority in both business and family.Guest Background:Steve Cook is Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, a Nashville-based private equity firm investing exclusively in US manufacturing companies. A graduate of the US Naval Academy and MIT's Leaders for Manufacturing program, Steve flew F/A-18s off aircraft carriers for seven years before transitioning to operations leadership roles at Dell and venture-backed technology companies. At LFM, he leads a team of operators and engineers who partner with manufacturing CEOs to build enterprise value through operational excellence, not financial engineering. Steve and his wife Shannon live in Nashville and are active members of Long Hollow Church.
A member of Congress just claimed President Eisenhower met aliens aboard a UFO.In February 1955, Ike vanished from public view for nearly 36 hours. The official explanation? A “minor illness.”But according to researcher Art Campbell, something very different may have happened at Holloman Air Force Base.Did a UFO land on the runway?Did the president meet non-human beings?In this episode, we present the full 1955 Holloman account — the timeline, the base, the witnesses, and what was allegedly observed that day.Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NVQkkkPI30I Subscribe to All Things Unexplained on YouTube: @allthingsunexplained Links: Sasquatch Coffee Company: https://squatchcoffee.com/ Roswell UFO Tour: https://roswellufotour.com Red Panda Koala on X: https://x.com/RedPandaKoala Orbit by Lee Starks: https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxx2_EYXLFUcGt1HkpvWdEntE-LWb6OgGJ?si=ICn9ZVy8PCUv65PNSpectra by Lee Starks: https://www.amazon.com/Spectra-Intensity-Wavelength-Special-Adventures-ebook/dp/B0G5SSJ4B3?ref_=saga_ast_ss_dsk_dp Mercury News "Why did President Dwight Eisenhower disappear during a 1954 Palm Springs visit?": https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/09/13/why-did-president-dwight-eisenhower-disappear-during-a-1954-palm-springs-visit/ Retired Teachers article "President Eisenhower, A Dental Emergency, and the (Potential) Alien Cover-Up" https://www.retiredteachers.org/index.php/blog/President-Eisenhower-dental Watch Travis Walton on ATU: https://www.youtube.com/live/88q8Lm1_hi4?si=quVGxJgQVBVr-6ut ATU on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@allthingsunexplained Shop: https://all-things-unexplained-shop.fourthwall.com Website/support: https://allthingsunexplained.com Video podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUBNCmjIGgJjFeGxSZgrtDeW_TjIV4XHp Watch Dr. Mounce in Episode 0 of Beast Games by @MrBeast : https://youtu.be/gs8qfL9PNac?si=whD290YawP8WBSTH Watch Larry as #76 on @MrBeast : https://youtu.be/9WEQts7b8Pw?si=yVDRYlUcirHi-Pmx Guest list: https://allthingsunexplained.transistor.fm/people _______________________Hosted by Dr. Tim Mounce—best-selling author, Audible narrator, and Beast Games (by @MrBeast ) Season 1 contestant #718—alongside cohosts CJ and Smitty.Featured in Patricia Cornwell's New York Times Bestselling Novel Identity Unknown:“Earth was plan B. It's where the Martians escaped thousands of years ago when their own planet was about to be destroyed,” Marino replies as if it's commonly known.No doubt he learned this and more from All Things Unexplained, Ancient Aliens or one of his other favorite podcasts and TV shows. He and my sister both tune in religiously, and it makes for lively dinner conversations when all of us are together.— Identity Unknown, p. 164_______________________Follow All Things Unexplained: Twitter https://twitter.com/atunexplained IG https://instagram.com/allthingsunexplainedpodcast TikTok https://tiktok.com/@allthingsunexplained FB https://facebook.com/allthingsunexplainedpodcast Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-unexplained/id1518410497 Top 15 Science & Society Podcast.People's Choice Podcast Award Nominee.Ranked among the Top 40 UFO Podcasts and Top 30 Bigfoot Podcasts by MillionPodcasts.Email us: allthingsunexplained@yahoo.com Music Credits sourced via YouTube Audio Library.Hashtags:#Eisenhower#UFOHistory#HollomanAFB#UFO#Disclosure ★ Support this podcast ★
Vancouver City Council will hold public hearings on redevelopment of the 800 block of Granville and the old Army and Navy department store on Hastings, as well as a proposal for a 25-storey hotel a block from Stanley Park. Also this week, OneCity has chosen their candidate for mayor, Vancouver's auditor general comes down hard on the real estate department and lots more in City Beat with Ian Mass.
Send a textKarl Ross and his sister, Cheryl, were born at the U.S. Navy Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. Theyspent their early years in Kentucky until their father was discharged from the Navy, after which thefamily moved to New Jersey to be closer to his mother's side of the family. During Karl's earlyyears, his parents divorced and went their separate ways. Karl was raised on welfare and foodstamps until his mother, through hard work and dedication while attending college, graduated fromBergen Community College and secured a position with the county elections office.In the early 1980s, Karl began coaching while also becoming involved in the fire department. Duringthis time, he met his wife, Nancy, at their high school while she was still a junior. Karl and Nancyhave been married for 41 years and have three children and six grandchildren.Karl went on to serve in the fire department, retiring in 2007 after many years of service.Throughout his fire service career, he held numerous officer positions and ultimately rose to therank of Chief of the Department in 1997.Karl began coaching football at the local recreational level in 1983 and eventually served as bothhead coach and president of the program for several years. During that time, he coached in 14Super Bowls, winning eight. He later advanced to the high school level, where he coached teams tosix state sectional titles in football and baseball, winning five of them, in addition to capturing sevenleague championships.Karl retired from his professional career in 2020 after 34 years of service with the CarlstadtDepartment of Public Works. In his later years, he has faced significant personal challenges,including cancer affecting his immediate family beginning in 2014. He lost his younger sister,Cheryl, in 2019, followed three months later by his stepfather, Richard, in August 2019. InNovember 2019, his mother, Barbara, was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2021. InDecember 2023, Karl himself was diagnosed with cancer and continues to battle the disease today.Find Karl RossInstagramInstagramFind The Suffering PodcastThe Suffering Podcast InstagramKevin Donaldson InstagramTom Flynn InstagramApple PodcastSpotifyYouTubeSupport the showThe Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram TikTok YouTube
The National Security Hour with Major Fred Galvin – Unmanned aerial systems now provide persistent surveillance, precision strikes, and loitering munitions that are cheap, lethal, and disposable. During the Biden years, Houthi rebels repeatedly launched low-cost drones at U.S. Navy ships, forcing America to respond with multi-million-dollar missiles—a losing economic and strategic equation...
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Newly released text messages between the parents of Anna Kepner's sixteen-year-old stepbrother reveal what they were really focused on in the hours after her body was found — and it wasn't grief.According to court filings in an ongoing custody battle, the suspect's mother texted that her son "just keeps repeating over and over he can't remember anything." The messages show discussions about keeping things quiet, damage control efforts while an eighteen-year-old girl lay dead. A former sheriff's detective who reviewed the texts said the family ran their own PR department. Both of the suspect's parents have acknowledged in court documents that he is a suspect in the FBI investigation.Anna Kepner was found on November 7th, 2025, stuffed under a bed on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests. Her death has been ruled a homicide by mechanical asphyxiation. Three months later, her stepbrother appeared at Miami's James Lawrence King Federal Justice Centre facing multiple federal charges. Anna's father told the Daily Mail he was "unable to confirm or deny" that the charges include murder and rape — directly contradicting preliminary November findings indicating no signs of sexual assault.Behavioral evidence has taken on new weight in light of the potential charges. Court documents reference allegations of obsession, prior physical incidents in the home, and skipped medication on the cruise. Anna's ex-boyfriend's father has stated she was scared of her stepbrother. Her family has publicly accused the suspect's father of interfering with the investigation. Subpoenas have targeted Temple Christian School and Florida DCF.Anna wanted to join the Navy. She went on a family vacation and never came home. Prosecutors reportedly intend to seek adult charges. If granted, the sealed records open.#AnnaKepner #CarnivalHorizon #HiddenKillers #CruiseShipMurder #FamilyTexts #FBI #JusticeForAnna #HomicideInvestigation #CarnivalCruise #TrueCrimeJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
Tenure of Office: January 1, 1819 - August 31, 1823 Explore the life of Smith Thompson, a transitional figure in American political history who served as Secretary of the Navy under U.S. President James Monroe before ascending to the Supreme Court. This episode analyzes his leadership style, contrasting his role as a trusted lieutenant focused on political patronage with his independence as a jurist who often challenged Chief Justice John Marshall. Discover how Thompson's principled dissents and persistent political ambitions shaped the evolving legal landscape of the Early Republic. Sources used for this episode can be found at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Karalee Picard, a Navy veteran and former defense intelligence analyst turned leadership consultant, shares experiences and lessons from her service, what leadership looks like, and how she is charting a new empty nest chapter of life, personally and professionally.Dr. Karalee Picard is an organizational and leadership expert with a deep background in defense intelligence, where she built her craft around high-stakes decision-making in complex, information-limited environments. A Navy veteran, Picard now serves as principal of Insight Leadership Consulting, helping teams strengthen culture, clarity, and belonging through coaching, strategy, and leadership development. In recent reflections on retiring from federal service, Picard emphasizes a next chapter shaped less by noise and more by discernment: pausing, listening, and choosing what matters.*************************Today's show and others are supported by the generous membership of Amy and Tom Trenolone.*Bonus content* for Lives members only features exclusive content and more. Find a Lives membership tier that fits you - support link here.
Welcome back to Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu! In this electrifying continuation of his conversation with geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan, Tom dives into the forces shaping the next era of global power. From the much-debated Thucydides' Trap and the real state of China's future to America's political and demographic crossroads, this episode is a masterclass in understanding the seismic shifts rocking our world. Peter Zeihan makes a compelling case for why China's rise might not be the threat many fear, citing geopolitical bottlenecks, demographic crises, and internal political strife. The conversation then takes a sharp, honest look at America's own challenges—from aging demographics and political party chaos to the hard realities of reindustrialization and immigration reform. Along the way, Tom Bilyeu and Peter Zeihan examine the impact of social media on truth, the lessons (and perils) of historical mass migrations, and whether technology can rescue countries facing population decline. Get ready to have your assumptions challenged and your worldview expanded with practical insights on what's really at stake for the future of nations. Whether you're interested in economics, politics, or the fate of entire civilizations, you won't want to miss this wide-ranging, thought-provoking discussion! Website: https://zeihan.comFree Newsletter: https://zeihan.com/newsletterTwitter: https://twitter.com/PeterZeihanYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZeihanOnGeopolitics What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business: join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER: https://tombilyeu.com/zero-to-founder?utm_campaign=Podcast%20Offer&utm_source=podca[%E2%80%A6]d%20end%20of%20show&utm_content=podcast%20ad%20end%20of%20show SCALING a business: see if you qualify here.: https://tombilyeu.com/call Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: sign up here.: https://tombilyeu.com/ ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu Quince: Free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/impactpod Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impact Ketone IQ: Visit https://ketone.com/IMPACT for 30% OFF your subscription order Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code IMPACT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/impact Blocktrust IRA: Get up to $2,500 funding bonus to kickstart your account at https://tomcryptoira.com Netsuite: Right now, get our free business guide, Demystifying AI, at https://NetSuite.com/Theory Huel: High-Protein Starter Kit 20% off for new customers at https://huel.com/impact code impact Thucydides' Trap, China collapse, U.S. global power, demographic decline, Xi Jinping purges, Chinese military, First Island Chain, U.S. Navy, Japanese alliances, one-child policy, population overcount, industrialization, Han Chinese, civilizational collapse, warlords, agricultural dependence, U.S.-China relations, globalization, reindustrialization, NAFTA, industrial policy, political chaos, American demographics, immigration reform, labor shortages, party realignment, social media impact, media regulation, assimilation, European immigration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Send a textPeaches runs a solo Daily Drop Ops Brief and this one's got everything: an Army Futures and Concepts Command elevation, a retired colonel sentenced for sharing classified war plans with a honeypot, and a battalion leader getting four years for secretly recording guests. The Navy manages to collide two ships in the Caribbean, debates doubling ship procurement, and asks for historic funding levels—while the Pentagon eyes a $1.6 trillion defense budget increase. A Marine is declared lost at sea, the Marine Corps passes another clean audit, and an Afghan adoption case survives court. The Air Force wrestles with healthcare access and collaborative combat aircraft software, Space Force pushes quality-of-life fixes, the Coast Guard uses an anti-drone laser near El Paso, and SECDEF skips a NATO meeting while POTUS leans on military leaders for diplomacy. No conspiracy. Just context.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and sponsor plug 01:10 Army Futures & Concepts Command elevation 02:45 Retired colonel sentenced in honeypot case 04:10 Battalion leader sentenced for secret recordings 05:15 Two Navy ships collide in Caribbean 06:30 Potential increase in ship procurement 07:00 Historic funding push and budget debate 09:30 Marine declared lost at sea 10:10 Marine Corps clean financial audit 11:00 Afghan adoption ruling upheld 12:00 OTS Alabama plug 13:00 Air Force healthcare access complaints 14:20 Collaborative Combat Aircraft advancement 15:20 Coast Guard anti-drone laser use 16:00 SECDEF skips NATO meeting 16:45 POTUS using military leaders in diplomacy 17:30 Syria base handover 18:00 Ongoing counter-narcotics strikes 18:30 Wrap-up
PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY Guest: Captain James Fanell. Fanell discusses whether Iran or Venezuela possess "carrier killer" missiles and the potential threat hypersonic weapons pose to U.S. Navy vessels in the region.1954