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Hello Youtube Members, Patreons and Pacific War week by week listeners. Yes this was intended to be an exclusive episode to join the 29 others over on my Youtube Membership and Patreon, but since we are drawing to the end of the Pacific War week by week series, I felt compelled to make some special episodes to answer some of the bigger questions. Why did Japan, or better said, why did Emperor Hirohito decide to finally surrender? It seems obvious on the face of it, but there is actually a lot more to it than bombs or Soviet invasions. I guess you can call this episode a teaser or a shameless plug for going over to my Youtube Membership or Patreon. There's honestly a lot of interesting subjects such as ‘why was the japanese army so brutal”, “Hirohito's war time responsibility”, “the 4 part Kanji Ishiwara series”. Thus if you liked this one please show some love and check out my other stuff on my Youtube Membership or over at www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel.   Stating all of that lets just jump right into it.   We first need to start off briefly looking at Emperor Hirohito.    Upon taking the throne, Emperor Hirohito in 1926 Hirohito inherited a financial crisis and a military that was increasingly seizing control of governmental policies. From the beginning, despite what many of you older audience members may have been told, Hirohito intensely followed all military decisions. Hirohito chose when to act and when not to. When the Kwantung Army assassinated Zhang Zuolin, he indulged their insubordination. This emboldened them to invade Manchuria in 1931, whereupon Hirohito was furious and demanded they be reigned in. Attempts were made, but they were heavily undermined by radicals. Hirohito could have put his foot down, but he chose not to. On September 22nd, at 4:20pm Hirohito said to the IJA Chief of General staff, Kanaya Hanzo “although this time it couldn't be helped, the army had to be more careful in the future”. Thus Hirohito again acquiesced to the military, despite wanting them to stop or at least localize the conflict. The military had disregarded his wishes, they should have been severely punished. Why did Hirohito not take a firmer stance?    Again for older audience members you may have heard, “hirohito was a hostage at the whim of his own military”. This narrative made it seem he was some sort of hostage emperor, but this is not the case at all. In fact Hirohito was instrumental in many military decisions from 1931-1945. The reason this, I will call it “myth” , went on was because after Japan's surrender, the US basically rewrote the Japanese constitution and covered up the Emperor's involvement in all the nasty stuff, to maintain control over Japan. Yeah it sounds a bit conspiracy esque, but I assure you it was indeed the case. This narrative held firm all the way until Hirohito's death, when finally meeting notes and personal accounts from those close to him came out, illuminating a lot. Though to this day, many records are still red -tapped.   The reason Hirohito did not stamp his foot down has to do with the Kokutai.    The Kokutai   So before I carry on, I have to explain what exactly is the Kokutai.    The Kokutai, loosely translated as "national essence," refers to the qualities that distinguish the Japanese identity. However, this concept is remarkably vague and poorly defined; even Japanese historians acknowledge this ambiguity. In contrast to Kokutai is seitai, or "form of government." While the Kokutai embodies the eternal and immutable aspects of Japanese polity—rooted in history, traditions, and customs centered around the Emperor—Japan's seitai has evolved significantly throughout its extensive history. For instance, shoguns governed for over 700 years until 1868, when the Meiji Restoration reinstated direct imperial rule.   Nevertheless, Emperor Meiji's direct authority came to an end with the adoption of the Meiji Constitution in 1889, which established a constitutional monarchy, introducing significant complexities into the governance system.   Article 4 of the constitution declares: “The Emperor is the head of the Empire, combining in Himself the rights of sovereignty, uniting the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, although subject to the consent of the Imperial Diet.” Under this framework, the Emperor alone possessed the power to appoint or dismiss ministers of state, declare war, negotiate peace, conclude treaties, direct national administration, and command the army and navy.   A glaring flaw in this arrangement is the inherent ambiguity of the Meiji Constitution. While it established a democratic parliament, it simultaneously afforded the Emperor absolute authority to usurp it. The document failed to clearly define the relationships between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and its language was intentionally vague. Most critically, the military—the army and navy—were not directly accountable to the civilian government.    So with the kokutai, the Emperor is a divine figure who embodies the state's sovereignty. It was not necessarily the Emperor's job to surrender on behalf of the official government of Japan, but he most certainly could do so, given the Japanese people still remained faithful to the kokutai.    Now Hirohito did not live an ordinary life. According to the imperial custom, Japanese royals were raised apart from their parents, at the age of 3 he was placed in the care of the Kwamura family who vowed to raise him to be unselfish, persevering in the face of difficulties, respectful of the views of others and immune to fear. One thing that was absolutely indoctrinated into him was to defend the kokutai. It became his top mission as a monarch, it was the only mission in many ways. At the very core of how he saw the world and how he acted, it was always to protect the kokutai.    So when the Japanese military began these insubordinate acts, Hirohito's primary concern was to the kokutai, ie: anything that threatened his imperial authority and the imperial institution itself. Although the military usurped his authority, the operations had been successful. Hirohito was not at all opposed to seeing his empire expand. He understood the value of manchuria, he was fully onboard with the military plans to eventually seize control over it, but these radicals were accelerating things to quickly for everyone's liking. He turned a blind eye, dished light punishments and carried on. However the local conflict escalated. It traveled to Shanghai by 1932 and here Hirohito took action. He understood Shanghai was full of western powers. Nations like Britain and America could place economic sanctions on Japan if things were allowed to get out of hand here. So he ordered General Yoshinori Shirakawa to bring the Shanghai expedition to a close.    During this period, two factions emerged within the Japanese military: the Kodoha, or “Imperial Way,” and the Toseiha, or “Control” faction. The Kodoha was founded by General Sadao Araki and his protégé, Jinzaburo Masaki. Their primary objective was a Shōwa Restoration aimed at purging Japan of corrupt politicians and businessmen, especially those associated with the zaibatsu. Composed mainly of young army officers, the Kodoha espoused a romanticized and radical interpretation of Bushido, idealizing pre-industrial Japan, which Araki believed had been tainted by Western influences. To achieve their goals, they resorted to assassinations and planned a coup d'état.   In response, the Toseiha faction was formed, initially led by Lt. General Tetsuzan Nagata and later by Hideki Tojo. Like the Kodoha, the Toseiha sought a Shōwa Restoration but adopted a more moderate and conservative approach. They recognized the importance of preserving traditional values while integrating Western ideals, advocating for a balanced perspective. The Toseiha promoted pragmatic military strategies to navigate the complexities of modern warfare. Although they acknowledged the existence of corrupt politicians and zaibatsu, they preferred to work within the existing political system, anticipating that future total wars would necessitate a strengthened industrial and military capacity. Their ranks primarily included promising graduates from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Academy, Army Staff College, and select naval members. The most significant distinction between the two factions was that the Toseiha explicitly rejected the use of a coup d'état in pursuit of their goals.   Between 1932-1936 radical officers, mostly of the Kodoha faction assassinated politicians and military leaders trying to usher in a showa restoration. You might be led to believe this was in the interest of Hirohito, you would be mistaken. Hirohito did not want a military dictatorship at the whim of the cult of the emperor. Ironic to say, given how WW2 turns out mind you. This really would have been a hostage situation. Hirohito wanted to maintain the exact ambiguous situation that was Showa Era Japan pre 1945. He saw this as the most ideal structure to defend the kokutai, because blame could not be placed solely upon his shoulders. He always maintained a get out of jail free card one could say.    The February 26 incident of 1936, was the climax of the Kodoha faction. They performed a mutiny trying to usher in a SHowa restoration. They assumed when their messenger came to the emperor he would join them and take direct rule. Instead Hirohito was furious. His first thought was the mutineers were trying to enlist his brother Chichibu to overthrow him. He dragged his brother who was a fraternizer amongst the kodoha members mind you, into a meeting, demanding he never associate with them again nor attempt to challenge him. Then Hirohito furious demanded the mutineers be dealt with. At one point he even threatened to lead the imperial guards to put them down. The coup failed, the kodoha faction was destroyed. Ironically the toseiha faction were the ones to do it and thus they became the defacto ruling clique.    The military, especially the kwantung army did not stop with their insubordination.    On July 8th of 1937 the Kwangtung army performed the Marco Polo Bridge incident, ushering in the second sino-japanese war. This was one of many false flag operations they had pulled off over the years. Upon being told about this Hirohito's first response was whether the USSR would invade Manchukuo over the matter. This is what he said to Prime Minister Konoe and army minister Sugiyama “What will you do if the Soviets attack us from the rear?” he asked the prince. Kan'in answered, “I believe the army will rise to the occasion.” The emperor repeated his question: “That's no more than army dogma. What will you actually do in the unlikely event that Soviet [forces] attack?” The prince said only, “We will have no choice.” His Majesty seemed very dissatisfied. Hirohito furious demanded to know what contingency plans existed and his advisors told him before he gave his red seal of approval to invade northern china.   Henceforth he micromanaged a lot of the military decisions going forward and he oversaw the forming and dissolving of numerous cabinets and positions when things went his way or did not in the military and political scene.  Emperor Hirohito was presented with several opportunities to cause cease-fires or peace settlements during the war years. One of the best possible moments to end it all came during the attack on Nanking when Chiang Kai-sheks military were in disarray. On July 11 of 1938, the commander of the 19th division fought a border clash with the USSR known to us in the west as the battle of Lake Khasan. It was a costly defeat for Japan and in the diary of Harada Kumao he noted Hirohito scolded Army minister Itagaki “Hereafter not a single soldier is to be moved without my permission.” When it looked like the USSR would not press for a counter attack across the border, Hirohito gave the order for offensives in China to recommence, again an example of him deciding when to lay down the hammer.   By 1939 the US began threatening sanctions for what Japan was doing in China. Hirohito complained to his chief aide de camp Hata Shunroku on August 5th “It could be a great blow to scrap metal and oil”. Hirohito was livid and scolded many of his top officials and forced the appointment of General Abe to prime minister and demanded of him “to cooperate with the US and Britain and preserve internal order”.   Fast forward a bit, with war raging in Europe Hirohito, on June 19th of 1940 Hirohito asked if chief of staff Prince Kan'in and Army Minister Hata “At a time when peace will soon come in the European situation, will there be a deployment of troops to the Netherlands Indies and French Indochina?” This question highlighted Hirohito's belief at that time that Germany was close to achieving victory, which led him to gradually consider deploying troops to French Indochina and the Dutch East Indies since neither of those parent nations was in a position to protect their territories and vital resources. Regarding the war in China, the Japanese aimed to stop the flow of materials entering China from places like Hong Kong. Hirohito received reports indicating that Britain would not agree to block the shipment of materials into China via Hong Kong. The military recognized that an invasion of Hong Kong might be necessary, which would mean declaring war on Britain. When this was communicated to him, Hirohito responded, “If that occurs, I'm sure America will enforce an embargo, don't you think?” In response, Kido, the lord of the privy seal, reassured him by stating, “The nation must be fully prepared to resist, proceeding with caution and avoiding being drawn into events instigated by foreign interests.”   Hirohito went through countless meetings, but eventually signed order number 458 authorizing the invasion of French Indochina, knowing full well the consequences. The US,UK and Netherlands began embargoes of oil, rubber and iron. In the words of Admiral Takagai “As time passes and this situation continues, our empire will either be totally defeated or forced to fight a hopeless war. Therefore we should pursue war and diplomacy together. If there is no prospect of securing our final line of national survival by diplomatic negotiations, we must be resolved to fight.” Hirohito understood the predicament full well, that each day Japan was wasting its oil reserves, if they were to strike it had to be quickly.   On October 13th Hirohito told his closest advisor Koichi Kido “In the present situation there seems to be little hope for the Japan–U.S. negotiations. If hostilities erupt this time, I think I may have to issue a declaration of war.”   The reason I am bringing up all this stuff is to solidify, Hirohito had agency, he was micromanaging and forming decisions. After the war broke out with the west, Hirohito did have the ability to stamp his foot down. Of course there could have been wild repercussions, his military could have usurped him with Chichibu, it was definitely possible. But you need to keep this mind set, as far as why Hirohito acts or doesn't, its always to protect the Kokutai. Thus one of the levers for peace, solely rested on Hirohito's perception if the kokutai could be retained or not.    From the outset of the Pacific War, Hirohito believed Germany was going to defeat the USSR. In line with his military leaders, they all believed Japan had to seize everything they could in the asia-pacific and thwart off the US until a negotiated peace could be met. Hirohito committed himself to overseeing the war, determined to achieve victory at any cost. He was a very cautious leader, he meticulously analyzed each campaign, anticipating potential setbacks and crafting worst-case scenario predictions. He maintained a skeptical view of the reports from his senior officials and was often harshly critical of high commanders.   While he did not frequently visit the front lines like other commanders in chief, Hirohito wielded significant influence over theater operations, shaping both planning and execution whenever he deemed necessary. Similar to his approach during the war in China, he issued the highest military orders from the Imperial Headquarters, conducted audited conferences, and made decisions communicated under his name. He regularly welcomed generals and admirals to the imperial palace for detailed briefings on the battlefront and visited various military bases, battleships, and army and naval headquarters. His inspections encompassed military schools and other significant military institutions, adding to his comprehensive involvement in the war effort.   Now the war went extremely well for Japan until the battle of Midway. This was as major setback, but Japan retained the initiative. Then the Guadalcanal campaign saw Japan lose the initiative to the Americans. Upon receiving the initial report of the Ichiki detachment's destruction, Hirohito remarked, “I am sure it [Guadalcanal] can be held.” Despite the numerous reports detailing the devastating effects of tropical diseases and starvation on his troops, he persistently demanded greater efforts from them. Hirohito exerted continuous pressure on his naval and land commanders to retake the island. On September 15th, November 5th, and November 11th, he requested additional Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) troops and aircraft to be allocated to the cause.   General Sugiyama expressed concerns about dispatching more IJA pilots due to their inexperience in transoceanic combat, preferring to reinforce the North China Army for an attack on Chongqing instead. Hirohito pressed the issue again, but Sugiyama responded that the IJA had diverted its air resources to New Guinea and Rabaul. Undeterred by the objections from senior commanders, Hirohito persisted in his demands. By late November, it became evident that Guadalcanal was a lost cause.   At an Imperial Headquarters conference on December 31st, 1942, the chiefs of staff proposed canceling the attempts to recapture Guadalcanal. Hirohito sanctioned this decision but stated, “It is unacceptable to just give up on capturing Guadalcanal. We must launch an offensive elsewhere.” He insisted on this point, leading to the selection of new strategic targets in the Solomons, north of New Georgia, and in the Stanley Range on New Guinea. Hirohito even threatened to withhold authorization for withdrawing troops from Guadalcanal until a new plan was established. He later opposed the withdrawal from Munda Airfield, as it contradicted the newly defined defensive line.   As the defensive perimeter in the central and northern Solomons began to crumble, Hirohito continued to insist that the navy engage in decisive battles to regain the initiative, allowing for the transport of supplies to the many soldiers trapped on various islands. When he learned of the navy's failure to reinforce Lae on March 3rd, he asked, “Then why didn't you change plans immediately and land at Madan? This is a failure, but it can teach us a good lesson and become a source of future success. Do this for me so I can have peace of mind for a while.” The phrase “Do this for me” would come to be his signature rallying cry.   After Guadal canal, it was loss after loss for Japan. By February of 1944, Hirohito forced Sugiyama to resign so Hideki Tojo could take his position as chief of the general staff, note Tojo was prime minister and army minister at this point. Hirohito worked alongside Tojo to plan some last ditch efforts to change the war situation. The most significant one was Operation Ichi-Go. As much damage as they did to China with that, Chiang Kai-Shek's government survived. Hirohito watched as island by island fell to the Americans. When the Americans were poised to take Saipan he warned Tojo “If we ever lose Saipan, repeated air attacks on Tokyo will follow. No matter what it takes, we have to hold there.” Saipan fell, so Hirohito stopped supporting Tojo and allowed his rivals to take down his cabinet by june 18th of 1944.    Hirohito remained resolute in his determination to wrest victory from the Allies. On October 18th, the Imperial Headquarters ordered a decisive naval engagement, leading to the Battle of Leyte Gulf. After the war, Hirohito publicly stated, "Contrary to the views of the Army and Navy General Staffs, I consented to the showdown battle at Leyte, believing that if we launched an attack and America hesitated, we might find an opportunity to negotiate." Leyte Gulf didnt work. The military began the kamikaze program. On new years day of 1945 Hirohito inspected the special last meal rations given to departing kamikaze units. Iwo Jima fell. Okinawa remained, and Hirohito lashed out “Is it because we failed to sink enemy transports that we've let the enemy get ashore? Isn't there any way to defend Okinawa from the landing enemy forces?” On the second day of Okinawa's invasion Hirohito ordered a counter landing by the 32nd army and urged the navy to counterattack in every way possible. It was a horrible failure, it cost the lives of up to 120,000 Japanese combatants, 170,000 noncombatants. The Americans lost 12,500 killed and 33,000 wounded. An absolute bloodbath.    The Surrender time   Now we come to the time period where Japan seriously began looking for ways to surrender. In Europe Germany was heading to its defeat and Japan knew this. As for Japan, their army in Burma had been annihilated. Their forces in China were faring better after Operation Ichi-go, having opened up a land corridor along the main railway from Beiping to Wuhan and from throughout Guangdong but still stuck in a deadlock stalemate, facing a guerrilla war that was costing them 64% of their military expenditures. They deeply feared once the Soviets finished up with Germany, they would undoubtedly turn east against Manchuria. With the Soviets attacking from the north, the US would attack from the south, perhaps landing in Shanghai and the home islands. The Kamikaze tactics were proving formidable, but not nearly enough. By 1945, 43% of the IJA were now stationed in Japan, Korea and Formosa, bracing for the final stand. Former prime minister Reijiro Wakatsuki came out of retirement in may of 1945, having heard Germany collapsed, to urge Hirohito and the Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki to open negotiations with the US as soon as possible. However he also said “the enemy must first be made to see the disadvantages of continuing the war”. To this Hirohito's chief counselor Makino Nobuaki said that “the ultimate priority is to develop an advantageous war situation.” Advisor admiral Kesiuke Okada said Japan should wait for “a moment favorable for us,” then make peace. Advisors Kiichiro Hiranuma and Koki Hirota advised the emperor to fight on until the end.   Now I want to bring in a key player to the surrender decision, that of Prince Konoe. Konoe was very close to Hirohito and understood the emperors mentality, especially how he viewed things in relation to the kokutai.    The senior statesman Prince Konoe had been consulting with Hirohito for over 18 months at this point trying to convey the message that if the war continued it would threaten the kokutai. Many months prior, he confided in the emperor's brother, Prince Takamatsu, that the army was suffering from “a cancer” in the form of the Toseiha faction. However, he noted that “Kido and others” did not share his perspective, while “his Majesty is relatively unconcerned with ideological issues.” For the past four years, he continued, the emperor had been advised and still believed that “the true extremists are the Kodoha faction.” In reality, the greater threat to the kokutai arose from the Toseiha faction. Konoe further asserted that if the war escalated, they would attempt to alter the kokutai.   Konoe speculated that whether the threat originated from communists within the nation, primarily referring to left-wing radicals in the Toseiha faction, or from the “Anglo-American enemy,” both would seek to preserve the emperor while pushing towards the country's communization.In his written report to the emperor on February 14, which Kido listened to attentively, Konoe elaborated on his conspiracy theory. He asserted that the Soviet Union regarded Japan as its primary threat in East Asia. The Soviets had allied with the Chinese Communists, the largest and most formidable Communist party in Asia, and were collaborating with the United States and Britain to drive Japan out of China. He warned that they would enter the war when the opportunity arose.   Defeat, he cautioned the emperor, was inevitable if the conflict persisted. However, he emphasized that a far greater fear was the potential destruction of the kokutai. The ongoing war was eroding the domestic status quo, unleashing forces that threatened Japan and its imperial institution from within as much as from external adversaries. The real danger lay in the emperor's and Kido's trust in the generals of the Toseiha faction, who were unintentionally facilitating the communization of Japan. Konoe implored for a swift peace settlement before a Communist revolution emerged, making the preservation of the kokutai impossible. Hirohito agreed with Konoe but stated “ To end the war would be “very difficult unless we make one more military gain.” Konoe allegedly replied, “Is that possible? It must happen soon. If we have to wait much longer, . . . [a mere battle victory] will mean nothing.” Hirohito replied “If we hold out long enough in this war, we may be able to win, but what worries me is whether the nation will be able to endure it until then.”   On February 15th of 1945, Hirohito's intelligence warned the Soviet Union would likely abrogate its Neutrality Pact with Japan. Even Tojo conceded there was a 50/50 chance the USSR would invade Manchuria. In March, the US began B-29 incendiary bombing raids over Tokyo, turning 40% of the capital into ash. On March 18th, Hirohito with some aides drove around the capital to witness the devastation. The civilians looked exhausted and bewildered to Hirohito. Factory production was collapsing, absenteeism was rising, instances of lese majeste were running rampant. For the next 5 months imperial family members and senior statesmen all began speaking to Hirohito about the “crises of the kokutai”. The threat Konoe had warned about for months was becoming the main talking point. It seemed like the Japanese people within the countryside and urban areas remained steadfast in the resolve to obey their leaders, work and sacrifice for their nation, but for how long would they feel so?    It was only after the battle for Okinawa was lost and 60 Japanese cities had been leveled by American incendiary bombs that Hirohito openly indicated he wanted to negotiate a surrender.   Kido's diary reveals the first clear indication that the emperor might be urged to consider an early peace on June 8, 1945, when Kido drafted his “Draft Plan for Controlling the Crisis Situation.” This marked a pivotal moment. It followed the unintentional bombing of the Imperial Palace, the complete loss of hope for saving Okinawa, and coincided with the day the Supreme War Leadership Council adopted the “Basic Policy for the Future Direction of the War.” With the fighting in Europe concluded, Japan found itself entirely isolated. Kido's plan, although vague, proposed seeking the Soviet Union's assistance as an intermediary to help Japan gain leverage in negotiations with its adversaries. By drafting this plan, Kido signaled the end of his long alliance with the military hard-liners. Hirohito's acceptance of it indicated his readiness for an early peace.   Hirohito was moved to an underground bunker in the mountains of Matsushiro in Nagano prefecture where upon those around him noted he fell into a deep depression. On June 22nd  Hirohito informed the Supreme War Leadership Council he wanted them to open diplomatic maneuvers to end the war. In early July Soviet Ambassador Jacob Malik broke off inconclusive talks with Hirota. Hirohito stepped in immediately and ordered a new special envoy be sent to Moscow. However Hirohito nor the Suzuki government had concrete plans on how to mediate a surrender through the Soviets. The only things they did prioritize was a guarantee of the emperors political position and retainment of the imperial system, ie the kokutai. This was taken into consideration rather than ending the war as quickly as possible to save the lives of millions.    From April 8, 1945, until Japan's capitulation, the Suzuki government's chief war policy was “Ketsugo,” an advanced iteration of the “Shosango” (Victory Number 3) plan for defending the homeland. The hallmark of this strategy was a heavy reliance on suicide tactics, including deploying a massive number of kamikaze “special attack” planes, human torpedoes launched from submarines, dynamite-stuffed “crash boats” powered by truck engines, human rocket bombs carried by aircraft, and suicide assaults by specially trained ground units.   While preparations for Operation Ketsu progressed, the Imperial Diet convened on June 9 to pass a Wartime Emergency Measures Law, along with five additional measures aimed at mobilizing the entire nation for this final battle. On the same day, the emperor, who had yet to initiate efforts to end the war, issued another imperial rescript in conjunction with the Diet's convocation, instructing the nation to “smash the inordinate ambitions of the enemy nations” and “achieve the goals of the war.” Concurrently, the controlled press launched a daily die-for-the-emperor campaign to foster gratitude for the imperial benevolence and, from around mid-July onward, initiated a campaign to “protect the kokutai.”   The Americans countered with their own propaganda aimed at breaking Japan's will to fight. B-29 bombers dropped millions of leaflets written in Japanese, announcing the next scheduled targets for bombing raids and urging surrender, while using the emperor to challenge the militarists. Leaflets bearing the chrysanthemum crest criticized the “military cliques” for “forcing the entire nation to commit suicide” and called on “everyone” to “exercise their constitutional right to make direct appeals [for peace] to the Emperor.” They asserted that “even the powerful military cliques cannot stop the mighty march for peace of the Emperor and the people.” One notable batch of seven million leaflets conveyed the terms of the “joint declaration” issued by the United States, Great Britain, and China. “Today we come not to bomb you,” they stated. “We are dropping this leaflet to inform you of the response from the United States government to your government's request for conditions of surrender.... Whether the war stops immediately depends on your government. You will understand how to end the war if you read these two official notifications.”   Amid pressures from imperial edicts to continue preparations for a final battle and focus solely on victory, the Japanese people were also subjected to an intense American psychological warfare campaign in addition to aerial bombardment. During late July and August, prefectural governors, police chiefs, and officers of the “special higher police” submitted reports to the Home Ministry detailing the rapidly deteriorating national morale.    Now on the other side, Roosevelt made it known back in January of 1943 at the Casablanca conference, the allies would only accept unconditional surrender. By 1945, the allies understood the predicament this left Japan with. On May 8th of 1945, Truman added “Japan's surrender would not mean the extermination or enslavement of the Japanese people” trying to indicate a non vindictive spirit. However the Kokutai question always remained ambiguous. State Department Joseph Grew, the former ambassador to Japan, began arguing to Truman they needed to make public a clear definition of the terms to persuade Japan to surrender. As he argued to Truman: Emperor Hirohito was seen as the key figure in Japan's surrender, likened to a "queen bee in a hive... surrounded by the attentions of the hive." Throughout the war, he was characterized in various ways—as a “puppet” of the militarists, a constitutional monarch, and a pacifist. Grew had immense faith in the influence exerted by what he referred to as the “moderates” surrounding the Japanese throne.    However many of Grew's colleagues argued the future existence of the monarchy was intolerable as it was akin to fascism. Many wanted to punish the emperor. Truman was in a tug of war. The Potsdam declaration issued on July 26th of 1945 came in the form of a ultimatum aiming to quicken japans surrender. Truman clarified the terms for the unconditional surrender at the end of its terms: "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction." Zero mention of the emperor. Grew had argued to add “this may include a constitutional monarchy under the present dynasty.” But it was deleted from the article. The status of the emperor was not guaranteed, the kokutai was thus up in the air.    The next day, the Suzuki cabinet rejected the terms. The Japanese leadership and Hirohito were still banking and awaiting Soviet replies to their terms.    Lets talk about the Soviet talks now   Back on July 12th ambassador Naotake Satō sent this message to the Soviets: “His Majesty the Emperor, mindful of the fact that the present war daily brings greater evil and sacrifice upon the peoples of all the belligerent powers, desires from his heart that it may be quickly terminated. But so long as England and the United States insist upon unconditional surrender, the Japanese Empire has no alternative but to fight on with all its strength for the honor and existence of the Motherland”.  However the Soviets had made commitments to their allies, promising in fact to invade Japan to aid them.    As for the Soviets their primary objective was to ensure unrestricted access to the Pacific Ocean. The year-round ice-free areas of the Soviet Pacific coastline, particularly Vladivostok, could be blockaded by air and sea from Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Islands. Securing these territories to guarantee free access to the Soya Strait was their main goal. Secondary objectives included acquiring leases for the Chinese Eastern Railway, the Southern Manchuria Railway, as well as gaining control over Dairen and Port Arthur.   To achieve these aims, Stalin and Molotov prolonged negotiations with the Japanese, creating a false sense of hope for a Soviet-mediated peace. Simultaneously, in their discussions with the United States and Britain, the Soviets insisted on strict adherence to the Cairo Declaration, which had been reaffirmed at the Yalta Conference. This declaration stipulated that the Allies would not accept a separate or conditional peace with Japan; thus, the Japanese would need to surrender unconditionally to all the Allies. The Soviets aimed to prolong the war by opposing any efforts to dilute this requirement. This approach would provide the Soviets with the necessary time to complete the transfer of their troops from the Western Front to the Far East and to conquer Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, northern Korea, South Sakhalin, the Kuriles, and potentially Hokkaidō, starting with an assault on Rumoi. AUGUST 1945   Thus we come to at last the critical point, August of 1945.    The Americans prepared for the deployment of atomic bombs and for an invasion of southern Kyushu, known as Operation Olympic, scheduled to commence on November 1. At 8:15 A.M. on August 6, a single B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay dropped little boy, devastating much of the undefended city of Hiroshima, instantly killing an estimated 100,000 to 140,000 people and leading to the deaths of possibly another 100,000 over the next five years. At the epicenter of the explosion, “a light appeared 3,000 times brighter than the sun,” creating a fireball that emitted thermal radiation capable of “instantly scorching humans, trees, and houses.” As the air heated and rushed upward, cold air surged in to ignite a firestorm. Hours later, a whirlwind escalated the flames to their peak until more than eight square miles were virtually reduced to cinders. Subsequently, black, muddy rain filled with radioactive fallout began to fall. Two days later, using Japan's rejection of the Potsdam Declaration as a pretext, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. Then on August 9, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, resulting in the immediate deaths of approximately 35,000 to 40,000 people and injuring more than 60,000.   Meanwhile, in Tokyo, during the critical period between the Potsdam Declaration and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Emperor Hirohito remained silent about accepting the Potsdam terms. However, on July 25 and 31, he explicitly conveyed to Kido that the imperial regalia must be defended at all costs. The three sacred objects—a mirror, a curved jewel, and a sword—symbolized the legitimacy of his rule through the northern court and were integral to his identity as the divine sovereign. Hirohito's focus was on protecting these symbols of office, as he insisted on having them brought to the palace. This fixation on maintaining his symbols occurred during a pivotal moment when the pressing issue was whether to accept immediate capitulation. Reflecting on this, he was unprepared to seize the opportunity to end the war himself.   Prime Minister Suzuki, following his initial rejection of the Potsdam ultimatum, also saw no need for further action. His Cabinet Advisory Council, which included the president of Asano Cement, the founder of the Nissan consortium, the vice president of the Bank of Japan, and other representatives from the nation's leading business interests that had profited significantly from the war, convened on the morning of August 3. They recommended accepting the Potsdam terms, arguing that the United States would permit Japan to retain its non-military industries and continue participating in world trade.    Here are some reactions to the two bombs and invasion of Manchuria.    Yonai Mitsumasa said to admiral Takagi Sokichi, on August 12, that “I think the term is perhaps inappropriate, but the atomic bombs and the Soviet entry into the war are, in a sense, gifts from the gods [tenyu, also “heaven-sent blessings”]. This way we don't have to say that we quit the war because of domestic circumstances. I've long been advocating control of our crisis, but neither from fear of an enemy attack nor because of the atomic bombs and the Soviet entry into the war. The main reason is my anxiety over the domestic situation. So, it is rather fortunate that we can now control matters without revealing the domestic situation”.    Konoe's characterized the Soviet involvement in the war as “a godsend for controlling the army,”. Kido viewed of both the atomic bombings and the Soviet entry into the conflict as “useful” elements for ensuring a smooth transition. A nascent power struggle was unfolding, rendering the potential death toll—whether one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand—immaterial to those involved, as long as their desired outcome was achieved: an end to the war that would leave the monarchy intact and capable of managing the discontent that defeat would inevitably provoke. Throughout the final acts of this wartime drama, the Japanese “moderates” found it easier to capitulate to external pressures than to take decisive action on their own to conclude the war.   Another illuminating looks at Japan's elite's perspective on surrender terms was the document titled “Essentials of Peace Negotiations” (wahei kosho no yoryo). Drafted by Konoe and his adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Sakai Koji, after Konoe had reluctantly accepted a mission to Moscow, this document, stipulated the preservation of the emperor system, along with most of the imperial prerogatives, as the absolute minimum condition for peace. It defined the “original” or “essential homeland” as including the southern half of the Kurile Islands but showed a willingness to concede all overseas territories to the enemy, including Okinawa and the American-occupied Bonin Islands, as well as the southern half of Sakhalin. The “Essentials” also accepted complete disarmament for an unspecified period, thereby compromising on the issues of demobilizing and disarming the armed forces. More significantly, an “explanation” attached to the “Essentials” emphasized that “the main aim is to secure the imperial line and maintain the political role of the emperor.”    Why Japan surrendered   We come to it atleast after a long podcast. Why did Japan ultimately surrender?   The twin psychological shocks of the first atomic bomb and the Soviet entry into the war, combined with Kido's and the emperor's concern over escalating public criticism of the throne and its occupant, fueled an almost paranoid fear that, sooner or later, the populace would react violently against their leaders if the war persisted much longer. These factors ultimately led Hirohito to accept, in principle, the terms of the Potsdam Declaration.   At the first meeting of the six member constituents of the Supreme War Leadership Council, held from 10:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on August 9, Army Minister Anami Korechika, Chiefs of Staff Umezu Yoshijiro, representing the army, and Yonai, representing the navy, along with Tōgō, from the Foreign Ministry, were expected to discuss the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. Instead, the conversation revolved around whether to attempt a conditional surrender—specifically, should they insist on one condition, the preservation of the kokutai, or four?   After Suzuki addressed the assembly regarding the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the Soviet attack, Yonai, as recounted by Navy Chief of Staff Toyoda, was the first to speak, framing the issue in terms of four conditions. “Let's start to talk, Do we accept the Potsdam Declaration with no conditions? If not, and we wish to insist on attaching hopes and conditions, we may do so this way. First, preservation of the kokutai; then for the rest, the main items in the Potsdam Declaration: treatment of war criminals, method of disarmament, and the matter of sending in an army of occupation.” Thus, the participants identified what they perceived to be the ambiguous points within the Potsdam Declaration and used them as the foundation for their discussions.   The army insisted on four conditions: First, the preservation of the kokutai, which they considered distinct from the Potsdam Declaration itself. The other conditions proposed were, second, that the Imperial Headquarters assume responsibility for disarmament and demobilization; third, a prohibition on occupation; and fourth, the delegation of the punishment of war criminals to the Japanese government. The army equated the kokutai with the emperor's right of supreme command. Their self-serving desire for autonomous war crimes trials was based on the belief that the Allies would use such trials to politically indict the military. Consequently, army leaders aimed to preempt the activities of any international tribunal by conducting their own trials—similar to the approach taken by the uninvaded and unrepentant Germans after World War I.   Supporting the military's views during cabinet meetings that day were three civilian members of the Suzuki cabinet: Justice Minister Matsuzaka Hiromasa, Home Minister Yasui Toji, and Minister of Health Okada Tadahiko. At the imperial conference that night, which extended into the early hours of the tenth, Foreign Minister Tōgō's interpretation of the “preservation of the kokutai” referred solely to the safeguarding of the Imperial House or dynasty, rather than the continuation of Hirohito's reign.   Hiranuma, another advocate for the single condition, interpreted the kokutai as the “emperor's sovereign right to rule the state [not] deriving from national law. Even if the entire nation is sacrificed to the war, we must preserve both the kokutai and the security of the imperial house.” This discrepancy illustrated that there was no completely unified understanding of what the kokutai entailed; the debate over one condition versus four represented conflicting visions for the future of the Japanese state and masked the competition for political power that was already unfolding.   It remains doubtful whether the emperor and Kido initially sided with Tōgō against the four conditions proposed by the senior military leaders. A more likely inference is that both men retained sympathies for the hardliners, both military and civilian, who preferred to continue the futile war rather than surrender immediately and unconditionally. This may explain why, on August 9, Konoe had Hosokawa Morisada approach Navy General Headquarters to urge the emperor's brother, Prince Takamatsu, to pressure Hirohito (through Kido) to accept the Potsdam terms. Later that afternoon, Konoe enlisted the help of diplomat Shigemitsu Mamoru to persuade Kido to reconsider his stance on the four conditions. Ultimately, at the urging of Takamatsu and Shigemitsu, Kido did shift to support Tōgō's position.   At the end of the war, as at its beginning and throughout every stage of its progression, Emperor Hirohito played a highly active role in supporting the actions carried out in his name. From the very beginning of the Asia-Pacific war, the emperor played a significant role in the unfolding events around him. Prior to the Battle of Okinawa, he consistently advocated for a decisive victory. Afterward, he acknowledged the necessity of pursuing an early peace, although he did not favor an immediate cessation of hostilities. Instead, he wavered, steering Japan toward ongoing warfare rather than direct negotiations with the Allies. When the final crisis fully unfolded, the only option left was unconditional surrender. Even then, he continued to procrastinate until the atomic bomb was dropped and the Soviets launched their attack. The wartime emperor ideology that once sustained morale made it exceedingly difficult for Japan's leaders to accept the act of surrender. Aware of their objective defeat, yet indifferent to the suffering the war inflicted on their own people—as well as on the populations of Asia, the Pacific, and the West whose lives they had disrupted—the emperor and his military leaders sought a means to lose without appearing to lose. They aimed to mitigate domestic criticism following surrender while preserving their power structure.   Blinded by their fixation on the fate of the imperial house and committed to an overly optimistic diplomacy toward the Soviet Union, Japan's leaders missed several opportunities to end their lost war. Would Japan's leaders have surrendered more promptly if the Truman administration had “clarified” the status of the emperor before the cataclysmic double shocks of the atomic bomb and the Soviet entry into the war? Probably not. However, it is likely they would have surrendered to prevent the kokutai from being destroyed from within. The evidence suggests that the first atomic bomb and the Soviet declaration of war led Hirohito, Kido, and other members of the court to believe that continuing the war would inevitably result in that destruction. They recognized that the populace was war-weary and despondent, with rising hostility toward the military and the government, accompanied by increasing criticism of the emperor himself. More specifically, Kido and Hirohito were privy to Home Ministry reports, which contained information from governors and police chiefs nationwide. These reports indicated that citizens were beginning to label the emperor as an incompetent leader responsible for the deteriorating war situation.   This is the third variable, never spoken about. Many first look at the atomic bombs. Bigger brain people turn to the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria. But hardly anyone reads about how the collapse of Japan's social fabric, scared the shit out of the Emperor and his closest advisors. You can't have a kokutai, without a populace that worshiped you.    When the emperor expressed in February, “What worries me is whether the nation [could] endure” long enough to achieve victory, he was not merely voicing concern for the suffering of his subjects; rather, he feared that such suffering could lead to social upheaval—in short, revolution. At that time, he referred to the ordinary, war-related hardships of food shortages, air raids, devastated cities, destruction of homes, and the omnipresent grief from the loss of loved ones. The atomic bomb escalated death, pain, and suffering to unimaginably higher levels, intensifying the threat from within. After the bombings of Japan and two atomic bombs, Hirohito was in a dark way, given a golden get out of jail free card. Hirohito could now save his suffering people from further anguish by surrendering, allowing him to deflect responsibility for leading them into misery while adopting an air of benevolence and care. Indeed, Hirohito did care—though not primarily for the Japanese people, but rather for the survival of his own imperial house and throne.   After the bombing of Hiroshima, Hirohito delayed for a full two days before instructing Kido, shortly before 10 A.M. on August 9, to “quickly control the situation” because “the Soviet [Union]” had declared war. Kido immediately communicated with Prime Minister Suzuki, who began arrangements for an Imperial Conference scheduled for later that night. Following the seidan of August 10, Chief Cabinet Secretary Sakomizu took charge of drafting the “Imperial Rescript Ending the War” based on Hirohito's directives. Assisted by two scholars of the Chinese classics, Kawada Mizuho and Yasuoka Masahiro, Sakomizu worked tirelessly for over three days before submitting a version of the rescript to the Suzuki cabinet. After six hours of contentious discussion on the night of August 14, the cabinet modified and approved the document. Hirohito promptly signed it, and Shimomura and Kido persuaded him to record a suitably opaque final version for broadcast to the nation.   On the night of August 14, the Suzuki government notified the United States and other Allied nations that it had accepted both the Potsdam Declaration and the Byrnes letter of August 11. Accelerating the emperor's actions during this climactic moment of the unconditional surrender drama was the American psychological warfare campaign. When a leaflet dropped from B-29 bombers came into Kido's possession on the night of August 13 or the morning of the fourteenth, he conferred with the emperor and explained the gravity of the situation. The latest enemy leaflets were informing the Japanese people of the government's notification of surrender under one condition, along with the full text of Byrnes's response. If this continued, it would undermine the imperial government's reliance on secrecy to obscure the true nature of the lost war and the reasons for the prolonged surrender delay.   Given Kido's and the emperor's concerns about rising signs of defeatism, including criticism of the throne, immediate action was necessary to prevent the populace from acting on their own initiative. Thus, the second seidan was convened. At noon on August 15, the Japanese people gathered around their radio receivers and heard, for the first time, the high-pitched voice of their emperor telling them:    “After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure. We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration. To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors and which lies close to Our heart. Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement. But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone—the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people—the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest. Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers... The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable”.   Clearly Hirohito sought to justify his decision to surrender by citing the dropping of the atomic bombs. He wanted to become the saviour of the Japanese people. Hirohito wanted to obfuscate the issue of accountability, to prevent expressions of strife and anger and to strengthen domestic unity around himself, to protect and raise the kokutai.  Interestingly, the surrender declaration to the civilian population was not the same one sent to the military. On August 17th Hirohito issued a second “rescript to soldiers and sailors” throughout the asia-pacific.   “ Now that the Soviet Union has entered the war against us, to continue . . . under the present conditions at home and abroad would only recklessly incur even more damage to ourselves and result in endangering the very foundation of the empire's existence. Therefore, even though enormous fighting spirit still exists in the Imperial Navy and Army, I am going to make peace with the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union, as well as with Chungking, in order to maintain our glorious national polity”.   The lesser-known August 17 rescript to the army and navy specified Soviet participation as the sole reason for surrender, while maintaining the kokutai as the primary aim. Dissembling until the end—and even beyond—it was noted that the emperor presented two different justifications for his delayed surrender. Both statements were likely true.   Months later Hirohito's said this about his decision to surrender “The main motive behind my decision at that time was that if we . . . did not act, the Japanese race would perish and I would be unable to protect my loyal subjects [sekishi—literally, “children”]. Second, Kido agreed with me on the matter of defending the kokutai. If the enemy landed near Ise Bay, both Ise and Atsuta Shrines would immediately come under their control. There would be no time to transfer the sacred treasures [regalia] of the imperial family and no hope of protecting them. Under these circumstances, protection of the kokutai would be difficult. For these reasons, I thought at the time that I must make peace even at the sacrifice of myself.”    There exists this sort of childish argument today whether it was the atomic bombs or the Soviet Invasion that caused Japan to surrender. However, this overlooks as I think I've explained in 9000 words jeez, the influence of the kokutai. Defending the kokutai was Hirohito's number one priority. The Soviets threatened it. Communism threatened it. What Japan perceived to be “democracy” threatened it. American victory threatened it. And the destruction of Japan's social fabric threatened it. I love this one piece of history, that I have only come across in one book, that being the main one I am using here.   On August 12th, Hirohito came to the imperial family to tell them he had made the decision to surrender. His uncle Prince Yasuhiko Asaka asked him whether the war would be continued if the kokutai could not be preserved. Hirohito replied “of course”.

A former Defence Minister is commending the Navy Chief's stance on irresponsible drinking. A directive from Rear Admiral Garin Golding points to multiple alcohol-related incidents in the past month at various levels, domestically and internationally. It says alcohol undermines health, wellbeing and decision-making across the Navy. Current Defence Minister Judith Collins says no Chief should have to deal with it. Wayne Mapp says this order will tackle the issue at its core. "Changing expectations, giving briefings, giving counselling - getting the things done that actually reduces these problems." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textThis episode is a masterclass in grit, growth, and god-level resilience. Navy Chief, father, and powerlifter William Alexander shares his journey from paralysis to purpose. His story will light a fire under anyone pushing through physical or mental setbacks.William talks weight loss, mental health, racial dynamics in the Navy, and building a legacy through his podcast and clothing line. Don't miss this one.

Asserting that no place in Pakistan remained safe for terrorists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told soldiers at the Adampur air base in Punjab that India's drones, and missiles gave sleepless nights to Pakistan. His speech came a day after his first public address since India launched Operation Sindoor. PM Modi also reiterated the new 3-point doctrine he had unveiled a day earlier, including that New Delhi will no longer tolerate nuclear blackmail. During his early morning visit to Adampur, the Prime Minister hailed the Indian Air Force personnel, saying that they made every Indian proud, and had created history. Modi got briefed by the Air Force personnel on the situation, and also interacted with jawans. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a key briefing with military chiefs on Tuesday, with the CDS, Army Chief, Navy Chief, Vice Air Chief and Defence Secretary in attendance.India's Operation Sindoor precision strikes destroyed nearly 20% of Pakistan Air Force infrastructure and multiple fighter jets, official sources said Tuesday. The strikes targeted key bases like Sargodha and Bholari, which housed F-16s and JF-17s, in retaliation to Pakistani drone and missile attacks. Over 50 people, including Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf, were killed in Bholari. India also hit ammunition depots and several other airbases across Pakistan. Satellite imagery confirmed major damage. The strikes mark a significant strategic and psychological blow to Pakistan's military capabilities.In a verdict six years in the making, the Mahila Court in Coimbatore on Tuesday convicted all nine accused in the 2019 Pollachi sexual assault case and awarded them life imprisonment. The nine men were found guilty of multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, sexual harassment, rape, gangrape, and extortion. The incident, which came out just weeks before the 2019 general elections, led to Tamil Nadu's then ruling AIADMK getting politically cornered with allegations of inaction and links to the accused. President Droupadi Murmu has sought the Supreme Court's opinion under Article 143(1) on whether timelines can be legally imposed on the President and Governors for acting on state Bills. This comes after the Court, in April, set a three-month deadline for the President to act on Bills referred by Governors, despite no such timeline existing in Article 201 of the Constitution. The Court stated that delays beyond this period must be explained to the concerned state. The President now seeks clarity on whether these directives are justiciable.Following India's move to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan has shown willingness for talks for the first time. Pakistan's Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza has reportedly responded to India's notification and offered to discuss New Delhi's specific objections. India's decision came in response to the attack, which heightened diplomatic tensions. The IWT, signed in 1960, governs water sharing between the two nations. Pakistan's response marks a rare shift, potentially opening the door to dialogue amid ongoing hostilities.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 13th of May and here are the headlines.Asserting that no place in Pakistan remained safe for terrorists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told soldiers at the Adampur air base in Punjab that India's drones, and missiles gave sleepless nights to Pakistan. His speech came a day after his first public address since India launched Operation Sindoor. PM Modi also reiterated the new 3-point doctrine he had unveiled a day earlier, including that New Delhi will no longer tolerate nuclear blackmail. During his early morning visit to Adampur, the Prime Minister hailed the Indian Air Force personnel, saying that they made every Indian proud, and had created history. Modi got briefed by the Air Force personnel on the situation, and also interacted with jawans. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a key briefing with military chiefs on Tuesday, with the CDS, Army Chief, Navy Chief, Vice Air Chief and Defence Secretary in attendance.At least three militants have been killed in the ongoing encounter in the upper reaches of Shopian in South Kashmir. Gunshots were heard Tuesday morning after which senior police officials confirmed the presence of militants in the area. In the contact, there was an exchange of fire between security forces and militants. However, with the operation ongoing, officials have refrained from divulging further details at this point.In a verdict six years in the making, the Mahila Court in Coimbatore on Tuesday convicted all nine accused in the 2019 Pollachi sexual assault case and awarded them life imprisonment. The nine men were found guilty of multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, sexual harassment, rape, gangrape, and extortion. The incident, which came out just weeks before the 2019 general elections, led to Tamil Nadu's then ruling AIADMK getting politically cornered with allegations of inaction and links to the accused. Judge R Nandhini Devi pronounced the sentence Tuesday afternoon, following arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) declared the Class 12 results 2025 today (May 13). The result of Class 10 will also be announced soon. In Class 12, there is a minor increase in pass percentage as compared to the previous year. In the CBSE Class 12 examinations, a total of 17,04,367 students were registered. Out of these, 16,92,794 students appeared, and 14,96,307 students passed the exam. Students can check their results on the official websites — cbse.gov.in, cbseresults.nic.in, and results.cbse.nic.in. The CBSE Class 10 board exams were conducted by the board from February 15 to March 18, 2025, in a pen and paper format. This year, 24.12 lakh CBSE Class 10 students appeared for the exams in 84 subjects.US President Donald Trump has arrived in Saudi Arabia, in what will be the first stop of a three-day tour that will also see him visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, has greeted Trump upon arrival in Riyadh. US President Donald Trump was greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the sounds of a 21-gun salute and trumpets. The two leaders then headed to the Royal Court where a lengthy procession of dignitaries, officials, business figures waited their turn to shake hands with them. The Saudi-US Investment Forum has also begun, with the two leaders expected to take part later today. Saudi Arabia is the first leg of Trump's regional tour that also includes stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.That's all for today. This was the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

Pavneet Singh is an author and educator who teaches aspirants for the Indian Civil Services Examination. He has deep knowledge of international relations and runs a YouTube channel ‪@SpyGamesPavneet‬ . Pavneet has authored 23 books, such as R&AW in Saudi Arabia, Passport to LBSNAA, Internal Security, and many more.In this episode, Vinamre and Pavneet discuss:- How the Western media twists the narrative by painting India as Israel and Pakistan as Palestine- The real reason behind Pakistan's drone attacks, ceasefire violations, and why it keeps collapsing internally- Trump's unexpected intervention—and America's deeper agenda in an India-Pakistan war- India's covert ops, the BrahMos missile, and what the Navy Chief meant when he said “We're ready to attack Karachi”- Why China can't actually fight a war, and how India should act in the next 3–4 months- The biggest threat to India is not external—but festering right withinFrom Pakistan's drone attacks to China's bluff, BrahMos strikes, ceasefire violations, and America's silent role—this episode breaks down India's real war.Timestamps:00:00 – Coming Up01:30 – The narrative of "India is Israel and Pakistan is Palestine" by Western media03:40 – What is the Frankfurt School?05:50 – Problems of Pakistan12:20 – Reason for Pakistan's ceasefire violations16:39 – Significance of the Noor Khan Airbase hit22:25 – Reason for Trump's intervention25:55 – Purpose of Pakistan's drone attacks28:18 – Significance of the BrahMos missile29:15 – Future of India's arms exports30:20 – “We are ready to attack Karachi” – Navy Chief32:24 – India's plausible deniability operations34:00 – America's agenda in an India-Pakistan war40:50 – The future of India, China, and the USA47:40 – Reality of the Chinese army50:57 – What India can do in the next 3–4 months53:25 – Will India expand its territory?54:40 – Who really runs Pakistan?57:25 – The China-Pakistan relationship59:30 – China's Belt and Road Initiative01:01:34 – Russia's stance against America01:04:15 – Narrative warfare in the future01:06:10 – Turkey's ambitions to lead the Muslim world01:12:32 – The growth of Saudi Arabia and UAE01:18:25 – Why Qatar created Al Jazeera01:22:05 – Consequences of the India-Pakistan conflict01:32:24 – India's biggest internal problem01:39:14 – Conclusion====================================================================This is the official channel for Dostcast, a podcast by Vinamre Kasanaa. Connect with meLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinamre-kasanaa-b8524496/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinamrekasanaa/Twitter: https://twitter.com/VinamreKasanaaDostcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dostcast/Dostcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dostcastDostcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557567524054====================================================================Contact UsFor business inquiries: dostcast@egiplay.com

Cyber warfare is no longer something that happens behind closed doors or in some far-off digital corner. It's happening now—and reshaping the rules of conflict in real time. Drone strikes controlled by apps, ransomware attacks on hospitals—today's battleground is just as likely to be online as on the ground. That science fiction scenario is now a critical, constant threat-the kind that affects us all globally. I'm really excited to introduce you to Dr. Chase Cunningham. He's a retired Navy chief cryptologist with a wealth of experience in cyber operations for the NSA, CIA, FBI—and more. He's the one who pioneered zero-trust security strategies and advises top decision-makers in government and private industry. That gives him a front-row seat to how digital warfare is evolving—and what that means for all of us. He's also the author of Cyber Warfare and the gAbriel Series, where his real-world expertise comes to life in stories that are chillingly plausible. We talk about how cyber conflict is already playing out in Ukraine, how different threat actors operate—and why critical infrastructure is such a tempting target. Chase shares practical advice on what individuals and small businesses can do to better protect themselves. We also look at what governments are doing to defend against these growing threats. That conversation is eye-opening-and urgent. You won't want to miss it. Show Notes: [01:21] Chase is a retired Navy Chief and a cryptologist. He also worked at the NSA. He also put Zero Trust in the formal practice at Forrester research. [03:24] We learn how Chase got involved with computer work and cryptology. [05:29] We're seeing cyber war play out in real time with Russia and Ukraine. [07:13] We talk about the future of war and drones. [08:31] Cyber warfare is just the natural evolution of conflict in the digital space. It's the bridge between espionage and kinetic activity. [09:40] Chase talks about the different actors in the cyber warfare space and their primary targets. [12:05] Critical infrastructure includes oil and gas, piping, water systems, healthcare, and even schools. [14:12] Some of the unique issues with dealing with the attacks from cyber criminals. [19:20] How the CCP plays 3D chess. [22:26] Reducing risk and protecting ourselves includes following best practices.  [25:10] What the government is doing to try to mitigate cyber risk. [27:23] Chasing money and finding cyber crime. [32:04] A lot of valuable assets are being developed in the context of war. [35:06] Chase talks about some of the things he covers in his book.  Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Chase Cunningham - Dr. Zero Trust Dr. Chase Cunningham - LinkedIn Cyber Warfare – Truth, Tactics, and Strategies gAbrIel: A Novel in the gAbrIel Series Unrestricted Warfare: China's Master Plan to Destroy America

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 17-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,215on turnover of 4.1-billion N-T. The market moved higher on Tuesday, extending momentum from a session earlier as a technical rebound continued. Buying focused on non-tech stocks, while the electronics sector saw its gains capped after reports that Huawei Technologies is ready to test its newest artificial intelligence chip to rival Nvidia. Narwhal faces sea trial testing delay Navy Chief of Staff Qiu Chun-rong has admitted the first domestically built submarine prototype willl likely miss the date that sea trials were scheduled to begin. The Ministry of National Defense's timeline for the Narwhal to carry out sea trials was supposed to begin in April month and be completed by late September. However, Qiu says the Navy is currently still working on improvements and focusing on reaching the "technology readiness level" required for the vessel (船隻) to carry out sea trials. That statement followed reports of potential testing delays due to voltage surges from a land-based power supply used in testing causing some components in the submarine to fail. CDC warning of rise in COVID cases The Centers for Disease Control is warning in a rise in the number of COVID infections. According to the C-D-C, infections have now risen for three consecutive (連續的) weeks and are likely to peak between May and June. Figures show the number of people visiting hospitals with COVID symptoms increased by 19-per cent last week from the previous (前) week. While 21 cases of severe COVID and seven deaths have been confirmed over the past seven days. C-D-C Deputy Director-General Philip Luo is advising people to get vaccinated and more than 3-million doses of government-funded COVID vaccines are currently available. Canada PM Warning on Trump Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has just won re-election to officially replace former leader Justin Trudeau has warned that the US president is trying to break Canada. Kate Fisher reports from Washington EU Urges Serbia Reforms The European Union's enlargement commissioner has urged Serbia's new government to push forward democratic reforms (改革，改進) needed for membership in the bloc, saying that the Balkan nation's protesting citizens have been seeking similar changes. Marta Kos says the EU wants to embrace Serbia and other candidate countries in the Western Balkans. But she said Serbia must first reform the judiciary in order to fight corruption, ensure freedom of the press and free and fair elections. Marta Kos spoke after meeting Serbia's new prime minister who has taken over the government earlier this month facing monthslong anti-corruption demonstrations triggered by a train station concrete canopy collapse that killed 16 people in November. Many in Serbia blamed the crash in the northern city of Novi Sad on alleged rampant (猖獗) corruption in the government's infrastructure deals with China, staging almost daily street protests demanding justice for the victims. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ ✨宏匯廣場 歡慶璀璨女王節✨

Send us a textIn this episode, we sit down with Captain Gervy Alota, a decorated Surface Warfare Officer, Naval Academy graduate, and proud son of a Navy Chief. He shares his journey from playing Navy football to commanding multiple amphibious warships and pioneering the Navy's first LCS Mine Countermeasures Mission Package Detachment. With over two decades of service, Captain Alota reflects on the leadership lessons he's learned, the role of mentorship and family in his career, and how he stays mission-driven. Now serving as Director of Community Outreach at Navy Recruiting Command, he's focused on shaping the future force and inspiring the next generation of Navy leaders. Key Topics: • Growing up in San Diego as the son of a Navy Chief • Leadership lessons from the Naval Academy and Navy football • Life and command at sea: USS Comstock, USS Harpers Ferry, USS John P. Murtha • Standing up the first LCS MCM Mission Package Detachment • Influencing the future force from Cheyenne Mountain to Navy Recruiting Command • Building resilient teams and winning multiple command excellence awards • Balancing legacy, service, and mentorshipAwards and Recognition:Captain Alota's teams have earned the Battle “E” for excellence, Golden Anchor Retention Excellence, and the CNO Safety Award. His personal decorations include: • Defense Superior Service Medal • Legion of Merit • Meritorious Service Medals (multiple) • Navy and Army Commendation & Achievement MedalsConnect & Learn More:Stay tuned for more stories of leadership, service, and the people shaping the future of the Navy.Connect with Gervy - https://www.instagram.com/captaingerv...His previous S.O.S. episode - https://www.youtube.com/live/p9wBbr4w...Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

Bill Hoopes is a coach, speaker, entrepreneur, and former Navy Chief dedicated to empowering individuals through mental health performance development, mindset training, and leadership excellence. As the founder of Lead Your Journey, he combines his formal education in psychology, child development, and juvenile policy development with over 15 years of experience working in sports and military recruiting. His work extends beyond athletics, mentoring student-athletes, business owners, and high-performing individuals striving for personal and professional growth.Learn More About Bill: Leadyourjourney.com/about

In this episode of the Leadership Loading Podcast, host Jason McClaren welcomes Jason Holden, Chief Operating Officer at Joni and Friends and retired Navy Chief Master Chief. They discuss Jason's inspiring journey from military service to leading impactful nonprofit initiatives. Jason shares insights into his 20-year Navy career, where he managed global construction projects and honed leadership skills that seamlessly transitioned into his current role at Joni and Friends—a ministry dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities. They dive into the organization's vital work, including evacuations during the Ukraine crisis, and its unique warrior programs supporting veterans and their families. Tune in to hear Jason's powerful advice for leaders: embracing continuous learning, adjusting to new challenges, and leveraging experiences to outpace competition. Whether you're a military professional, nonprofit leader, or aspiring executive, this episode offers practical wisdom for leading with purpose and compassion.

Ever wondered what it takes to go from a structured military life to building financial independence?

Keisa is a retired Navy Chief who served more than 20 years. She shares her career and life successes and failures, lessons learned and triumphs through hardships.

NEWS: President tells new Navy chief: Lead with integrity | November 16, 2024Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.netFollow us:Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebookInstagram - https://tmt.ph/instagramTwitter - https://tmt.ph/twitterDailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotionSubscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digitalSign up to our newsletters: https://tmt.ph/newslettersCheck out our Podcasts:Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotifyApple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcastsAmazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusicDeezer: https://tmt.ph/deezerStitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcherTune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein#TheManilaTimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this week's episode of the PEBCAK Podcast!  We've got four amazing stories this week so sit back, relax, and keep being awesome!  Be sure to stick around for our Dad Joke of the Week. (DJOW) Follow us on Instagram @pebcakpodcast   Kids steal $240 million in crypto then get caught https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/suspects-behind-230-million-cryptocurrency-theft-arrested-in-miami/  https://x.com/zachxbt/status/1836753423317848422  https://www.audemarspiguet.com/com/en/watch-collection/royal-oak-offshore/26238BC.OO.2000BC.01.html   Navy chief gets caught installing Starlink on warship https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/09/03/how-navy-chiefs-conspired-to-get-themselves-illegal-warship-wi-fi/  https://darknetdiaries.com/episode/149/    Verizon nationwide outage https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/10/01/nationwide-verizon-outage-restored-but-not-explained  https://www.fox9.com/news/verizon-outage-network-down-monday-september-30    Bad occupations for serious relationships https://recouple.com/for-couples/relationship-basics/setting-boundaries-in-relationships/coping-with-a-partners-constant-work-travel-maintaining-connection-from-afar/   Dad Joke of the Week (DJOW)   Please share this podcast with someone you know!  It helps us grow the podcast and we really appreciate it!   Find the hosts on LinkedIn: Chris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chlouie/ Brian - https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandeitch-sase/ Glenn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennmedina/ Victor - https://www.linkedin.com/in/victordeluca/

Ready to redefine leadership? In this heartfelt episode of the Leading with Heart Podcast, we dive deep with Navy Chief Petty Officer Candy Franklin, a seasoned Navy leader whose story is nothing short of inspirational. Candy's leadership philosophy, centered around CARE—Communication, Accountability, Respect, and Empathy—breaks the mold of traditional military hierarchy and brings a refreshing approach to guiding teams.From Candy's journey of independence at just 14 years old to her remarkable 20-year career in the Navy, this episode shares her growth and the priceless wisdom she's gained. We discuss the importance of mentoring, how to effectively communicate within teams, and the essential role of self-awareness in leadership.Listen in as Candy shares the challenges she faced in a male-dominated environment, her struggle to balance personal life with duty, and her transformational leadership style that positions empathy and respect at the forefront. Whether it's leveraging the ‘Do Not Disturb' function for better work-life boundaries or embracing failures as learning opportunities, there's a takeaway for every listener.In this episode we cover:- Candy Franklin's CARE leadership philosophy- Overcoming personal and professional obstacles- The importance of mentorship and self-awareness- Strategies for effective communication and setting boundaries- Embracing and learning from failure- Post-retirement plans and maintaining lifelong connectionsRESOURCES:Connect with Candy:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candy.franklin.7/Instagram: @candys_side_quests Join the Strong and Resilient Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/336774597179247SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode53Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogiMore about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart PodcastHey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast — your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

TW: Eating Disorders Today's episode features guest Leah Stiles, who is a 20 year retired US Navy Senior Chief and the founder of the nonprofit SEA WAVES which focuses on a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for, educating, and supporting active duty service members, veterans, and their families who are dealing with disordered eating, eating disorders, and body dysmorphia. This episode discusses the experience of going through "chief season" and the traditions and significance of the chief's mess. Leah also opens up about her personal struggles with eating disorders during her military career, and how she has founded the non-profit organization SEA WAVES to provide support and education around this important issue affecting the military community. The conversation highlights the need for greater awareness and support around mental health and eating disorders within the armed forces. Find and support SEA WAVES here: https://www.sea-waves.org/ ___________________________________________________ If you are experiencing suicidal ideations or have experienced sexual assault and need help or someone to talk to, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673** **Any views discussed in this episode are strictly personal views and not views of the United States military. This podcast is in no way affiliated with any branch of the United States military. Some names have been changed in order to protect the identities of speakers and/or names mentioned throughout episodes. Subscribe to the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ysdeh.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign the petition for Better Mental Health Care in the United States Navy here: h⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ttps://chng.it/z2M6WR2WcM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Your Story Doesn't End Here on IG at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/_ysdeh/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ysdeh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Download Chris's FREE E-Book on “How To Find Ultra High Net Worth Clients" from ⁠⁠⁠https://UHNWC.com/ ⁠⁠⁠ Prince Dykes (https://www.linkedin.com/in/princedykes/), is a retired Navy Chief, Registered Investment Advisor, Host, and Author. Prince shares his unique journey into financial advising, starting from his early career on a nuclear-powered submarine to launching his own independent advisory service. He discusses how he grew his client base through word-of-mouth and social media, particularly leveraging platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Prince also delves into building a loyal client base and using digital platforms to educate and influence. In this episode, Chris and Prince discuss: 1- The Power of Social Media in Financial Advising 2- Content Creation Strategies for Financial Advisors 3- Engaging with Clients and Building Trust 4- Focusing on a Niche Market: Military Clients Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Theinvestorshow/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-investor-show/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/princedykes/ Website: https://www.gcflf.org/ http://www.royalfinancials.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/princedykes1/ Books: https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/wesleylearnstoinvest Maximize your marketing, close more clients, and amplify your AUM by following us on:  Instagram:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ultrahighnetworthclients⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/ultrahighnetworthclients⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@uhnwc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UHNWCPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/uhnwcpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  iTunes:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ultra-high-net-worth-clients-with-chris-brodhead/id1569041400⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4Guqegm2CVqkcEfMSLPEDr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uhnwc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Work with us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://famousfounder.com/fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  DISCLAIMER: This content is provided by Chris Brodhead for the general public and general information purposes only. This content is not considered to be an offer to buy or sell any securities or investments. Investing involves the risk of loss and an investor should be prepared to bear potential losses. Investment should only be made after thorough review with your investment advisor considering all factors including personal goals, needs and risk tolerance.

This special Girls On The Air Memorial Day Weekend Show Features Navy Chief Melanie Taylor who honors those who gave their lives for our country along with highlighting the the benefits of serving your country and what services are available for active duty women & men along with our Veterans.  The podcast includes Alex Ramirez, an expert on VA Financing, who talks about the value of a VA loan along with the opportunity for Veterans who are eligible for Disability benefits, a must listen for those who have served our country.  Shelly Wells The Reverse Mortgage Queen emphasizes the advantage of going with someone who has one focus, reverse mortgages, Shelly is the one and explains the advantages of a reverse mortgage. Veronica Johnson invites everyone listening to The service's celebrating Memorial Day in Ojai with music and speakers at Libbey Bowl on Monday.  Shannon Vasquez, owner of Float Reiki located in the peaceful Ventura harbor invites you to her studio, where she uses her skills for relaxation and healing.  Another excellent Girls On The Air Podcast!

A suicide bomber took the life of Senior Chief Petty Officer & Cryptologist, Shannon Kent (U.S. Navy), on her 5th overseas deployment in 2019. Now, her husband and father of two, Green Beret Joe Kent (11 deployments), tells her story with Marty Skovlund, Jr., Army Ranger & Editor of Task & Purpose. Shannon Kent was an incredible linguist, patriot, and mother. This story is inspiring and uplifting notwithstanding the tragic circumstances of Shannon's death in Syria on an intel mission. Joe and Marty talk to host Jim Fausone.

Learn more about the artist behind the Art of Immortalizing Heroes. Retired Navy Chief, award winning artist, martial arts instructor, and veteran's advocate, Joe Pisano. Take a break with us and join the conversation.

Chief Fire Controlman Bryce Steven Pedicini faces eight espionage charge specifications for alleged crimes that occurred between November 2022 and May.

Ex U.S. Navy chief turned police officer has a face-to-face encounter with a demon-possessed man. This is a great example of what demonic possession actually looks like and how demons can operate through people in today's day and age. Website ► https://almostfalse.net/

Camron Phillips, Farrell native and Navy Chief, joins us this week on the New Generation podcast to discuss growing up in foster care and what he has learned and achieved in the Navy.

What does a retired Navy Chief, a dedicated educator, a passionate writer, and a resilient cancer fighter have in common? They're all the facets of our extraordinary guest, Jason Stone. Jason's journey is nothing short of inspiring - a whirlwind of two decades in the Navy, a transition into teaching, and a recent battle against stage four prostate cancer. His story serves as a testament to human resilience, adaptability, and an unyielding spirit to learn and grow.We kick off this episode with Jason's military tale that threads from his decision to join the Navy to his tenure as a nuclear machinist mate. He paints a vivid picture of life aboard a ballistic missile submarine, the unique rhythm of night shifts without sunlight, and the adrenaline of carrying 24 ICBMs onboard. The narrative doesn't end there, though. Jason opens up about his shift from the Navy to a teaching role in Minnesota and his passion for writing. His love for learning and sharing knowledge shines through as he recounts his transition from the military to academia.However, it's not all smooth sailing. Jason's recent fight against stage four prostate cancer takes center stage as he delivers a raw account of his diagnosis, treatment, and the emotional rollercoaster that follows. He doesn't shy away from the fear, the waiting, and the toll it took on him. He takes us through his journey, shedding light on his coping strategies and his proactive approach towards mental health. Tune in for an enriching conversation that transcends military life, cancer battles, and personal growth, leaving you with pockets full of inspiration and newfound perspectives.Produced by Phil Ewert Productions Theme Music: Hero's JourneyJoel Loopez Tunepocket.comLicensed by: Phil Ewert Productions

No Tisha on this one as Damon and Damo start this episode talking about RA duty. Damo has an update on the five year old feedback report that he's been dealing with. The two discusses their most embarrassing moments as Chiefs, that happened in front of junior Sailors. It's about time to finally address why you always see Chiefs hanging out at the places that they tell you to stay away from. Do Better - Damon: Taskers with unrealistic timelines. Government travel cards with unrealistic timelines. Damon gets personal when discussing his source of pride. Should SKED, OMMS and RADM be prerequisites to making Chief. A Navy Chief attacks his girlfriend at his promotion dinner. Is the Navy headed in the right direction with mandatory leadership training as a prerequisite before being promoted. The guys answer a question from a listener about CSEL packages and their experiences with the process. The guys finally discuss the relationship between the CPO Mess and the Wardroom. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely' podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.   Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely' podcast on our social media and Youtube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast     Links and more from this Episode:   Florida Navy Chief Punches Girlfriend - https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/florida-navy-chief-drunkenly-punches-girlfriend-3-times-at-his-own-promotion-dinner-deputies-say     Damo's Book of the Week:   Dichotomy of Leadership (Jocko Willink and Leif Babin) - https://echelonfront.com/books/dichotomy-of-leadership/     Additional Credits: PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

** Originally released 23 February 2022** On this episode, Damo sits down with one of his longtime friends and business partner, Wesley Pinkney. Wesley Pinkney is a retired Navy Chief with a really interesting story. He talks about it all from what made him join the Navy, how he was able to retire in only 13 years, and his inspiration behind the Pizza Restaurant in which he founded and owns; Plank Owner Pizza Bar. The two served at three commands together so they quickly breeze through shipboard shenanigans, wax poetic about getting fired from K-Mart, and how hard it was to go to high school when Bow Wow was running the game. There is so much more in this episode, but of course, they talk pizza! If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to review, like, subscribe, comment, and share.   All social media for the Fan Room: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast   Links and more from this episode:   Plank Owner Pizza: Instagram - https://instagram.com/plankownerpizza?utm_medium=copy_link Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/plankownerpizza Email (For serious inquiries only) - info@plankownerpizza.com Wesley Pinkney: IG - https://instagram.com/wespink86?utm_medium=copy_link

On today's Zero Limits Podcast I chat with Ewen Jenkins 21 year Royal Australian Navy Chief Petty Officer Boatswain Mate aka Seamanship and Small Arms Specialist.Ewen having served in several operational theatres including multiple deployments conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Middle East and many years Protecting Australia's Maritime Sovereign Border's domestically. He also  did and MEAO Deployment 2014, Counter Narcotics Ops off the horn of Africa.  Ewen now runs @tap_n_rack_industries  incorporating military-inspired designs and slogans onto these everyday items, Ewen aimed to create a sense of connection and pride for those who have served, as well as those who support the military.Website - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=en

Erica Keels is a remarkable individual with a life full of diverse experiences. As a devoted single mother, she pours her heart into raising her children, providing love and guidance with unwavering dedication. Her journey in the Navy spans an impressive 22 years, reflecting her discipline, commitment, and sense of duty as a Navy Chief in the JAG Corps. Beyond her military career, she finds solace and empowerment in bodybuilding, she epitomizes resilience and determination. Despite a busy life, she cherishes precious moments with her family and take pride in balancing her roles as a mother, Navy Chief, and fitness enthusiast. Instagram: @eymprettyfitness Website: www.eymprettyfiness.com

Erica Keels is a remarkable individual with a life full of diverse experiences. As a devoted single mother, she pours her heart into raising her children, providing love and guidance with unwavering dedication. Her journey in the Navy spans an impressive 22 years, reflecting her discipline, commitment, and sense of duty as a Navy Chief in the JAG Corps. Beyond her military career, she finds solace and empowerment in bodybuilding, she epitomizes resilience and determination. Despite a busy life, she cherishes precious moments with her family and take pride in balancing her roles as a mother, Navy Chief, and fitness enthusiast. Instagram: @eymprettyfitness Website: www.eymprettyfiness.com

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports on Navy-First Woman Chief.

This week we talk with one of my close friends, Chris Roberts. Chris is a retired Navy Chief and retired police officer. We have been buddies for over a decade and we decided to get together and talk about his twenty years in the Navy and some of our conversations before he moves out of the Southern California area. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the show! 

In this podcast episode, Kenny welcomes special guest Michael Little from Iron Valley Real Estate. They discuss Michael's background in the Navy and his journey in real estate. They also talk about Iron Valley Real Estate and why Michael decided to open a brokerage with them. They emphasize the importance of treating clients well and celebrating agents' individual goals and successes. They discuss the need for agents to prioritize their goals and identify their "why" in order to stay motivated. They also touch on the concept of accidental real estate and the importance of providing excellent service to clients. They highlight the value of collaboration, respect, and support within the real estate industry.

This edition features stories on a visit by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and the Navy Chief of Operations, and a behind-the-scene look at flight line operations at Bagram Air Field. Hosted by Tech. Sgt. Gene Taylor.

dgutspodcast.com/seeds-of-triumph dgutsapparel.com https://soundcloud.com/usailorwillis/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/dgutspodcast Facebook: Don't Give Up The Ship Podcast / Apparel Instagram: @dgutspodcast / @dgutsapparel Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DontGiveUpTheShipPodcast Email: dontgiveuptheshippodcast@gmail.com Store: dgutspodcast.com/shop Substack: https://dguts.substack.com Reddit: r/dgutspodcast u/dgutspodcast Discord: @dgutspodcast Weekly podcast for the professional and leadership development of junior enlisted Sailors and military members. Episode 2 – Mindfulness and Resiliency The host talks to Navy Chief and licensed marriage and family therapist Toy Harris about mindfulness and resiliency through the lens of military service. Contact us! (dontgiveuptheshippodcast@gmail.com) DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by the speaker and all guests are not those of the Department of Defense, United States Navy or any other government agency. They are strictly those of the speakers who do not speak for any other organization or entity. DISCLAIMER: The speaker(s) are NOT mental health professionals and do not intend any of the content of this podcast as mental health advice. If you need professional mental health advice, please seek out your closest military or civilian mental health providers immediately.

In 2004, an American fighter plane from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz encountered and engaged with a UFO over the open ocean. The official U.S. government video of this encounter is possibly the most popular "official" UFO video ever released to the public. In this exclusive Members-Only episode we bring on a now-retired Navy Chief who was aboard the USS Nimitz as a naval intelligence officer on the day of the infamous tic-tac encounter. He spoke with the pilots after they landed and had been debriefed on their UFO encounter. His account is not one that has yet been shared publicly and his retelling of this day is chilling. To listen to this episode and others like it, you must be a Blurry Creatures member. www.blurrycreatures.com/members

About Today's GuestAbby Malchow is the Sr. Business Development Manager of Small Business Partnerships for Small Business Empowerment at Amazon helps drive the success of small businesses and underserved business populations (including minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses). Additionally, Abby serves on the Global Board of Directors at Amazon for Mental Health & Well-Being (MHW) as the Director of Corporate Strategy. Abby helped launch MHW in April 2020 as Amazon's 13th Affinity Group and in nine months MHW grew by a rate of 600% and currently has over 18K members from 27 countries across the globe. Prior to joining Amazon, Abby worked at Intel Corporation and is a retired U.S. Navy Chief and combat veteran, serving more than 20 years in the military.Abby has been a passionate advocate for veteran suicide prevention since 2014 when she was one of the 22 veterans selected by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to advocate to Congress for support of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for America's Veterans Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on February 12th, 2015. Additionally, she is a 2018 alum of the inaugural cohort of President George W. Bush's Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program where she worked in collaboration with Intel's “AI for Good” team on developing Machine Learning (ML) models on social media platforms to provide targeted suicide prevention to veterans. More recently in 2020, she led a project at Amazon in collaboration with the AWS ML Solutions Lab which built a ML model for RallyPoint that will allow them to quickly identify posts that indicate a high risk of self-harm to enable potentially life-saving intervention.Abby is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business, where she earned a Master of Business Administration degree. She also holds a B.B.A. (cum laude) in Business Administration from the University of San Diego.  Links Mentioned In This EpisodeAmazon Small Business Partnerships Contact EmailAmazon Small Business Impact ReportAmazon Small Business StorefrontsAmazon Small Business AcademyAmazon Seller UniversityPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThe PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor course, Supporting Veteran-Owned Businesses: Supplier Diversity, In this course, you will learn strategies and best practices to implement Veteran supplier diversity in your business or organization. You can find a link to the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Supporting-Veteran-Owned-Businesses  This Episode Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor 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  

On today's episode we are joined by Heath Britt, one half of the outstanding E14 podcast and retired Navy Chief.   We  have a #dram of #whiskey and discuss his #service in the #Navy.  E14 PodcastContact Chance via linktree linkShow WebpageSupport the show

"I will let you fail, but I won't let you be a failure." You only fail if you don't learn from your mistakes and the lessons it teaches you. Mike Soto is a Navy Chief who shares with us his experience going up the ranks to becoming an senior enlisted, genuine leader. He shares with us the challenge of being a young leader and the proudest moments of his career where sailors and peers are able to lean on him for his level headed approach. Book Recommendation: The 50th Law This podcast is brought to you by Fortis Et Fidelis. Honoring the brave and faithful service of our fallen by creating and providing memorial coins for families of the fallen . The free will never forget! Join our Community at Brave and Faithful Visit our website Fortis Et Fidelis Follow, Like, Subscribe to Fortis Et Fidelis: Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube Listen to the Brave and Faithful Podcast: Amazon Apple Spotify Google --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fortis-et-fidelis/support

Brandon Webb (@brandontwebb) is a combat-decorated Navy SEAL sniper turned entrepreneur who has built two brands into an eight-figure business. As a U.S. Navy Chief he was head instructor at the Navy SEAL sniper school, which produced some of America's most legendary snipers. Webb founded SOFREP.com ( Special Operations Forces Report ) a leading military news and entertainment site. SOFREP Media Group is part news and part entertainment (editorial, podcasts, and video). But most importantly, they have formed a strong online community. Webb is multiple New York Times bestselling author and is now focused on a new thriller series with his writing partner John David Mann. The first in their series, Steel Fear, is a high-seas thriller that follows the Navy's first serial killer and the origin story for their future hero Finn. You can find Webb & Mann books here: https://www.amazon.com/Brandon-Webb/e/B00411DEKW/ You can join the SOFREP community at https://sofrep.com/subscribe-plus/ Please like and subscribe for more content. Your support means the world to us. ♥️ Jenny Link to our socials: https://linktr.ee/miamilit #booktube #authortube #bookstagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/miami-lit-podcast/support

So what is this episode really about? Who knows? Damon is working on Evals. Damo is ranting about what he would rant about if he could go about ranting without Damon which causes Damon to rant about being an SEL and not knowing that a member of his command had a baby. Where them deployment pics at? We wanna see those. Just leave the body shot videos in your hidden folder. Damo compared DJ Khaled to the Marvel Universe. “Text Etiquette” makes a triumphant return to the pod. Another “Do Better” segment. This one featuring a retired Navy Chief who took advantage of a trusting Facebook group. How does a fighter jet fall off a ship due to unexpected heavy weather? But don't worry we are still mission capable. Really, what is this episode about? There is so much more but we'll let you digest it all for yourself on this episode of ‘PTSF.' Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely' podcast on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.     Link to all Social Media and our Youtube page: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast   Links and More Information From This Episode:   US Waterpark Accused of Fat-Shaming 13 Year Old - https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/waterpark-fat-shaming-slide-attraction-teenager-b2125717.html   Retired Navy Chief charged with fraud - https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2022/07/28/retired-navy-chief-charged-over-fraudulent-scheme-targeting-sailors-vets/#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Securities%20and%20Exchange,and%20personal%20expenses%2C%20the%20agency   Home Invader Suspects Chose Wrong Home - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfVePZrecJc&t=57s&ab_channel=FOX5Atlanta   Bonhomme Richard Punishments - https://news.usni.org/2022/07/15/navy-announces-punishments-for-bonhomme-richard-fire-secnav-censures-former-swo-boss   Hero of The Week:   LTJG Thomas Jerome Hudner Jr. https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/thomas-j-hudner-jr   Damo's Book of the Week:   The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck https://markmanson.net/books/subtle-art   Half-assed Review of the Week:   The Terminal List | EP 1 | The Engram https://www.amazon.com/The-Terminal-List-Season-1/dp/B09HYNH8TK/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=eb6664bd-9bf4-4d23-800d-f22f5dd9c240   Intro Music Produced by: Lim0

The way society communicates in the age of social media has transformed our lives. There are those rare military leaders among us who get that and have found a way to use innovative approaches to reach diverse audiences. Some do this by having fun, but more importantly, showcasing ship life through the work and dedication of our amazing Sailors. Meet Capt. Gervy Alota. Taking a non-traditional approach to a unit social media presence, he decided to start his own Instagram account using a personal, intimate touch. He now commands a massive audience with more than 70k followers. On his @coussjohnpmurtha page, you will see shipboard operations, sporting events, morale-building contests, and Sailors excited about the Surface Warfare Navy. Join us this Tuesday as he reflects on his time in command and how using Instagram aided in communicating the mission of the ship and the stories of his crew. Captain Gervy Alota is a Surface Warfare Officer and the son of a Navy Chief.  He is a native of San Diego, CA, a proud graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and was named team Captain of the Navy Football team his senior year.  He holds a Master's degree from Webster University.At sea, he deployed on USS John A. Moore (FFG 19), USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), and USS Comstock (LSD 45).  He served as the OIC and Commissioning Officer of the very first LCS MCM Mission Package Detachment, and commanded the USS Comstock (LSD 45) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). His staff assignments include Joint War Plans Officer for Third Fleet, Instructor for the Sea Combat Command Syndicate at Tactical Training Group Pacific, Chief Staff Officer for Amphibious Squadrons One and Five, Deputy Chief of Staff for Expeditionary Strike Group Three, Deputy Director for Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center Sea Combat Division and Deputy Executive Assistant for the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He has served on teams that have been recognized with numerous awards including Battle Efficiency, Golden Anchor Retention Excellence, and the CNO Safety awards. He is the recipient of multiple Meritorious Service Medals, Navy Commendation and Achievement Medals, and the Army Achievement Medal.Find out more about his efforts here - https://www.instagram.com/coussjohnpmurtha/

IN THE NEWS: Welcome to the Bud Abbott edition of The Digression Podcast; Space Force HQ finally has a home; USS George Washington moving sailors off the ship; More money for Ukraine and cracks in EU resolve; Milley worries about medics; Space Force National Guard fixes bureaucracy with more bureaucracy; So long to the REAL Space Force; What happened to the Pilot Protection Program?; Army General vexed by "hoopdies"; Navy Chief gives “mission first” a try; RIP Medal of Honor recipient, Marine Sgt Maj John L. Canley. Show notes at https://thedigressionpodcast.com/79 Sound Off! With a comment or a question at https://thedigressionpodcast.com/soundoff Like the show? Leave a 5-star rating and review: https://thedigressionpodcast.com/review Become a Patron or support the show in other ways at: https://thedigressionpodcast.com/donate Or just share our podcast with a friend! It's the best way to grow the show!! NOTES Listen to Sgt Maj Canley's story at Christof Ambrosch's Tales of Honor Podcast FOLLOW UP No foul play in moving Space Command to Alabama, Pentagon watchdog says Report: Hundreds of USS George Washington sailors living aboard ship to be moved off UKRAINE UPDATE Roadblocks to Concerted EU Sanctions on Russian Oil Biden Wanted $33B More For Ukraine. Congress Quickly Raised it to $40B. Who Benefits? https://greenwald.substack.com/p/biden-wanted-33b-more-for-ukraine Yellen says U.S. to give Ukraine another $500 mln to keep government running BREAKING: Senator Rand Paul Stalls Uniparty Bill Giving $40 Billion in More Funding to Ukraine PENTAGON Medical Forces Could Be Shorthanded During War Due to Planned Cuts, Milley Says SPACE FORCE Senators introduce legislation to create Space National Guard ‘Space Force' Canceled By Netflix After 2 Seasons AIR FORCE Air Force disciplines C-130 crew for ‘unplanned' landing to pick up motorcycle in Martha's Vineyard ARMY Hawaii Army commander implores soldiers to help curtail abandoned-vehicle blight NAVY US Navy Chief Removes Woke and CRT Books From Professional Reading Program List MARINES Vietnam Medal of Honor Marine dies after decade-long battle with cancer

On today's ZBT we've got 5 rounds in the magazine ... LIBERTY IS SECURED THIS WEEKEND ROUND 1: update the safety brief: if you're going to political rallies, look alive. There might be dangerous fruits being tossed and that shit could kill you. ROUND 2: Remember when Ukraine shot down that Russian transport plane killing hundreds of soldiers in the early days of the invasion? Turns out U.S. intel paved the way for that, along with much more ROUND 3: Navy Chief tells ship full of demoralized, traumatized Sailors, “At least you're not in the trenches like Marines!” ROUND 4: Two oddball fellas were living in D.C.'s Navy Yard, impersonating federal agents, & buying friendships by paying the rent and gifting high tech toys to several Secret Service & Homeland Security folks… who somehow did not find that weird in any way… ROUND 5: Liberty is secured. Everybody say thanks, Madison Cawthron.

Mark Schleef is a retired Navy Chief, Deep Sea Diver, and part of the Submarine rescue/escape unit. He is currently working in the same capacity for a private company with assignments around the world.