Podcasts about tucson arizona

A conversation with Brent Armstrong, pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Tucson, ArizonaA seismic shift is underway in global missions. We're rethinking how we fulfill the Great Commission, moving from a costly deputation model to a more effective, biblical approach. It's time to invest in national pastors.Connect with Bryan at https://BryanSamms.comConnect with Luke at https://jlukeclayton.comThis episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠https://ServeHQ.Church⁠

What happens when curiosity about a historic home turns into a fight for survival? In today's chilling story, a listener from Tucson, Arizona, shares what happened after they toured a strange house from 1916 with staircases that led nowhere and doors that opened into nothing. They insisted on spending three nights inside before committing to buy—a decision that unleashed something terrifying. Soon after, a dark entity followed them home. Nightly attacks at 3 a.m. began. Friends staying over were slapped in the face. The roof shook violently, objects flew in the garage, and even the pets refused to enter certain parts of the house. One cat saw something so frightening it literally ran out of the home—never to return. The terror didn't stop there. A friend was pinned to her bed by the spirit after offering advice. The man our storyteller was seeing woke to his arms being yanked into the air, suffering painful shocks. Worst of all, the entity seemed alive, following them even outside the house as streetlights went dark while they drove away. Sometimes, haunted houses don't just keep their ghosts inside—they send them home with you. #RealGhostStories #HauntedHouse #TucsonHaunting #ParanormalActivity #TrueGhostStory #HauntedArizona #ScaryStories #GhostEncounters #Supernatural #CreepyTales Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

ADOT 's Doug Nintzel sits down with Garin Groff to discuss the ADOT projects in the Southern District.

There are a lot of birding sites in and around Tucson.  While guiding at the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, we had the opportunity to check out some new spots and revisit some favorite locations.Adventure begins at: 11:20 Show notes Southeast Arizona Birding Festival Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival Morro Bay Birding FestivalSpring ChirpeBird October Global Big Day ; Team Trip ReportBarrio Brewery Eegee'sCatalina State ParkMt LemmonNaturalist JourneyseBird Trip Report Birds/Animals mentioned Blue-throated Mountain-gemBerylline HummingbirdIntro Bird Call: Chihuahuan Meadowlark (Recorded: August, 2025, Arizona)Outro Bird Call: Botteri's Sparrow (Recorded: August, 2021 Arizona) Support the showConnect with us at... IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @ErikgoesbirdingFacebook: @HannahandErikGoBirdingEmail us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.comVenmo: @hannahanderikgobirdingGet a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Joel Chorny, a veteran criminal defense attorney and former public defender now running a solo practice in Tucson. Joel discusses his transition to solo work, the emotional toll of public defense, and the challenges of building a client base. He shares insights on self-care, mental health, setting boundaries, and the value of coaching and community. Joel also highlights the importance of culturally informed advocacy and honest client communication, offering practical advice for lawyers seeking a more fulfilling and sustainable legal career.Joel Chorny is a veteran criminal defense attorney and former public defender who has spent over a decade standing up for individuals caught in the harshest corners of the criminal system. Fluent in Spanish and committed to culturally informed advocacy, he now runs a thriving solo practice in Tucson. Joel also teaches trial advocacy at the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, where he trains future lawyers in the art of compelling courtroom storytelling. Outside of his legal work, he's a devoted husband and father, an avid cyclist, and a student of improv comedy—skills that sharpen both his presence in the courtroom and his perspective on life.Joel's Background and Transition Catalyst (00:01:06)Emotional Toll and Decision to Leave (00:03:06)Mentorship and Planning the Transition (00:05:01)Accelerated Transition and Office Opportunity (00:06:11)Starting Without Clients and Early Advice (00:07:36)Building a Caseload and Court Appointments (00:08:29)Cultural Background and Language Skills (00:09:42)Managing Emotional Weight and Self-Care (00:11:00)Accepting Limits and Caseload Realities (00:13:12)Choosing Clients and Setting Boundaries (00:14:19)Control, Outcomes, and Client Expectations (00:16:14)Challenges of Attracting Clients and Marketing (00:19:49)Doubts, Optimization, and Imposter Syndrome (00:21:12)Dealing with Career Anxiety and Support (00:22:07)Work-Life Balance and Transition Rituals (00:24:41)Quality Time and Family Anchors (00:26:54)Teaching Trial Advocacy (00:27:52)Value of Coaching and Seeking Support (00:31:08)Breakthroughs from Coaching (00:33:42)Advice for Lawyers: Support and Community (00:39:27)Giving Back and Building Community  (00:41:57)Would you like to learn what it looks like to become a truly Free Lawyer? You can schedule a courtesy call here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-callWould you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-free

  At Tucson Comic Con we were treated to an excellent cosplay panel by Sapphire Nova and Midas Touch! Open up your cosplay opportunities by using Semi-Homemade Costumes! Please follow and check out these awesome Cosplayers! Sapphire Nova  https://www.facebook.com/SapphireNova https://www.facebook.com/SapphireNovaCosplay/ https://www.threads.com/@sapphirenovacosplay   Midas Touch https://www.facebook.com/MidasTouchart https://linktr.ee/Midastouchart     Please checkout more Tucson Comic Con shenanigans at  https://tucsoncomic-con.com/ Official Tucson Comic Con Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/400494039482865 https://www.facebook.com/TucsonComicCon Check out our previous Tucson Comic con coverage for this year and previous ones at #Tucsoncomiccon | Creative Play and Podcast Network https://creativeplayandpodcastnetwork.podbean.com/category/tucsoncomiccon and https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsWPaNcS-w6ajTdrjFw6EXvAA3WvGwSiu&si=Ay2CRszAmR0rHIMj   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

The Girl from Devil's Lake: A Brady Novel of Suspense (Joanna Brady Mysteries) by J. A Jance https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Devils-Lake-Gripping-Mysteries/dp/0063252635 Arizona County Sheriff Joanna Brady solves her biggest case yet, from a body in the desert to crimes spanning decades and countries, in the thrilling latest installment in the New York Times bestselling suspense series. Sheriff Joanna Brady is looking forward to the holidays with her busy family, and to celebrating her daughter Jenny's graduation from the police academy. But the family is interrupted when a body is discovered beneath a flooded bridge in the Arizona desert, and Joanna is called onto the case. A young boy was murdered, and the details of the crime scene tell Joanna two things: This was not the killer's first murder. And it's only a matter of time before he kills again. As Joanna digs deeper into the case, she begins to understand this murder is just one piece of a much, much bigger puzzle. She uncovers unlikely connections between cases of mysterious deaths and missing persons, having long since gone cold, that extend far beyond the confines of her small town and include the discovery of a body near Devil's Lake, North Dakota. To get justice for the victims and to save the town of Bisbee from a predator, Joanna must chase down every dangerous lead. Meanwhile, as a dogged journalist is circling the case and privileged information is leaked, Joanna can't be sure who to trust. Could a prolific killer be hiding in plain sight? And how far will that person go to keep his many crimes hidden? About the author J.A. Jance is the New York Times best selling author of 46 contemporary mysteries in four different series. A voracious reader, J. A. Jance knew she wanted to be a writer from the moment she read her first Wizard of Oz book in second grade. Always drawn to mysteries, from Nancy Drew right through John D. McDonald's Travis Magee series, it was only natural that when she tried her hand at writing her first book, it would be a mystery as well. J. A. Jance went on to become the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family, and Edge of Evil. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona. Jance is an avid crusader for many causes, including the American Cancer Society, Gilda's Club, the Humane Society, the YMCA, and the Girl Scouts. A lover of animals, she has a rescued Dachshund named Bella.

Send us a textBrian and I met while playing Flag football in the police olympics every year, he played wide receiver for the University of Arizona back in the Dick Tomey days!Later on we worked together in Operations Division South!He started his career in Ops West Patrol where he made the SWAT team and became involved pretty heavy into the Police Union...He promoted to Sergeant, holding a variety of assignments from Patrol, the Air Unit, and Burglary to name a few! Now he teaches Law and Public Safety for the Sahuarita School District, warping young minds!It was great catching up, I hope you enjoy this week's episode as well.Come see me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/choir.practice.94 or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cp_sfaf/

Send us a textIn this episode of the Healing the City podcast, Pastor Mark and Pastor Eric sit down to talk about what it actually means to belong. They explore how the Village understands membership, not as signing a line or joining a club, but as stepping into responsibility, stability, and shared life. Drawing from the Village's neo-monastic approach, they reflect on how true belonging always demands something of us: showing up, carrying one another's burdens, and submitting ourselves to a larger story. This isn't about chasing ideal community; it's about committing to walk with real people, in all their beauty and brokenness, and letting that shape us into something stronger and more whole.Support the show"Healing the City" is a profound and dynamic weekly podcast that dives into the complexities of creating healthier communities. Featuring the voices and perspectives of the esteemed members of the Village Church, each episode is thoughtfully crafted to address the challenges and opportunities for meaningful change in our cities. With a holistic approach to healing, the podcast explores a wide range of topics, from soul care and spiritual direction to mental health and community involvement. It provides listeners with insightful and thought-provoking perspectives on the issues facing our cities, as well as practical steps they can take to make a difference. Join hosts Corey Gilchrist, Eric Cepin, Ashley Cousineau, Jessica Dennes, Michael Cousineau, Mark Crawford, and Susan Cepin as they navigate the complexities of our communities with wisdom, grace, and a deep commitment to positive change. Through their engaging discussions, listeners will be inspired to become active participants in healing the city and creating a brighter, healthier future for all. The Village Churchvillagersonline@gmail.comThe Village Church meets at 10a and 5p on Sundays1926 N Cloverland Ave, Tucson AZ 85712Mail: PO Box 30790, Tucson AZ 85751

A new solution for some of Tucson's homeless; Prisoners want a receiver to take over their health care; A Tucson lunch legend prepares to close its doors; and more...

Support the sponsors to support the show! With Square, you get all the tools to run your business, with none of the contracts or complexity. Andwhy wait? Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/soder That's S-Q-U-A-R-E dot com slash G-O slash [soder]. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today https://squareup.com/us/en/campaign/audio Get breathable clothes you can feel comfortable in all summer. Go to MackWeldon.com and get 20% off your first order of $125 or more, with promo code DAN20 https://mackweldon.com/ The Golden Retriever of Comedy Tour is coming to your city! Get tickets at https://www.dansoder.com/tour Sep 25 Los Angeles, CA Sep 26 Seattle, WA Sep 27 Portland, OR OCT 3 Tucson, AZ Oct 4 Denver, CO Oct 9 Knoxville, TN OCT 10 Atlanta, GA Oct 11 Louisville, KY Oct 24 Providence, RI OCT 25 Nashville, TN NOV 7 San Antonio, TX NOV 8 Austin, TX NOV 13 Iowa City, IA Nov 14 Minneapolis, MN NOV 15 Madison, WI NOV 21 Kansas City, MO NOV 22 St. Louis, MO DEC 5 Vancouver, BC DEC 6 Eugene, OR DEC 12 Columbus, OH DEC 13 Royal Oak, MI Follow Rob Thomas https://robthomasmusic.com/ https://www.instagram.com/robthomas/?hl=en PLEASE Drop us a rating on iTunes and subscribe to the show to help us grow. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soder/id1716617572 Connect with DAN Twitter: https://Twitter.com/dansoder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dansoder Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dansodercomedy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dansoder Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@dansoder.comedy #dansoder #standup #comedy #entertainment #podcast Produced by  Mike Lavin      @homelesspimp   https://www.instagram.com/thehomelesspimp/?hl=en

Send us a textToday on The Prather Point LIVE at 2 pm ET on:https://rumble.com/v6z18x0-breaking-good-news-amidst-gloom.htmlTEAM AMERICA IOWA ANTI-TRAFFICKING & TRANSHUMANISM TRIUMPH!MOH GOLD STAR SISTER LORI CHAPMAN'S SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!ARMY VETERAN & LEO MATT CUBBLER ON SEAL 6'S STOLEN VALOR!USSS COUNTER SNIPER JOHN ON CHARLIE'S ASSASSINATION!PATEL'S KIRK KILLING SCRIPT COLLAPSES COMPLETELY!MY LAST SHOOTING SEMINAR OF 2025 TUCSON 10/18!

How do you heal trauma in yourself and in your relationship? Tarah and E.J. Kerwin, founders of Relationship Renovation in Tucson, Arizona, help couples build stronger, healthier connections through therapy and online programs. They co-host the Relationship Renovation Podcast and a YouTube channel, sharing actionable tools rooted in intentional communication and empathy to support couples worldwide.  In this episode of Last First Date Radio:Subtle signs that past trauma is influencing someone's current relationship, even if they feel they've ‘moved on' from itHow to define emotional safety in a relationship, and why is it the foundation for lasting connection?A few key tools from your Relationship Renovation Model that couples can use to navigate trauma-related triggersThe very first mindset shift to start healingConnect With Tarah and EJWebsite https://relationshiprenovation.com/relationship-renovation-at-home/ Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfb8I3evBi7aZcVnmvN_yPw FB https://www.facebook.com/relationshiprenovationcounseling IG https://www.instagram.com/relationship_renovation/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@relationshiprenovation►Please subscribe/rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts http://bit.ly/lastfirstdateradio ►If you're feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to find your last first date, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application ►Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate ►Get Sandy's books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love https://bit.ly/womanofvaluebook , Choice Points in Dating https://amzn.to/3jTFQe9 and Love at Last https://amzn.to/4erpj7C ►Get FREE coaching on the podcast! https://bit.ly/LFDradiocoaching ►FREE download: “Top 10 Reasons Why Men Suddenly Pull Away” http://bit.ly/whymendisappear ►Group Coaching: https://lastfirstdate.com/the-woman-of-value-club/ ►Website → https://lastfirstdate.com/ ► Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lastfirstdate1/ ►Get Amazon Music Unlimited FREE for 30 days at https://getamazonmusic.com/lastfirstdate  

In this special episode, join Theresa Cesare as she sits down with two powerhouse leaders, Dr. Monicia Porter and Pastor Donna Walker, to explore how women are rising together, embracing service and faith, and creating lasting ripples of change in their communities and beyond. These inspiring women share the backstory and impact of their upcoming event, “Boo'd Up With a Boo! Conference Tucson,” designed for women empowering women as they prepare for life's next level—through connection, purpose, and support.Get an inside look at the mission and heart behind Do Mo Training LLC, how the “Boo'd Up With a Boo” concept was born, and what attendees can expect at this transformational gathering. Hear personal stories of empowerment, purpose-driven leadership, and how taking action alongside other women can fuel your journey.Event DetailsREGISTER HERE for the Boo'd Up With a Boo! Conference TucsonOctober 25th, 20259:00 AM to 2:00 PMMorgan Event Center, 2308 S. Park, Tucson, AZ 85713Presented By: Do Mo Training LLC featuring Dr. Monicia Porter & Pastor Donna WalkerUse link in the show notes to register and be part of a day devoted to growth, connection, and women uplifting one another.Support the show

Could the water you drink impact your gut health? In this episode, Dr. Greg Nigh discusses deuterium-depleted water, sulfur metabolism and hydrogen sulfide SIBO and their relationship with digestion, energy and overall health. You'll also hear practical insights on ketogenic and carnivore diets, plus emerging therapies like peptides and infrared light. Lindsey Parsons, your host, helps clients solve gut issues and reverse autoimmune disease naturally. Take her quiz to see which stool or functional medicine test will help you find out what's wrong. She's a Certified Health Coach at High Desert Health in Tucson, Arizona. She coaches clients locally and nationwide. You can also follow Lindsey on Facebook, Tiktok, X, Instagram or Pinterest or reach her via email at lindsey@highdeserthealthcoaching.com to set up your free 30-minute Gut Healing Breakthrough Session. Show Notes

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Robin and CB, the new owners of The Ninth House shop in Tucson, are building community through their extension called The Eleventh House, a space for gatherings, classes, and healing modalities designed to be inclusive and educational.• The Eleventh House provides a safe gathering space for metaphysical practitioners of all traditions• Sound healing forms a cornerstone of their practice with tools like hand pans, chimes, and tuning forks• The shop curates products from various lineages including Northern European pagan, West African, and Afro-Caribbean traditions• Monthly "Power Hours" teach accessible skills like pendulum usage in just one hour• Ecstatic dance events offer powerful somatic release of accumulated energies• New Halo Therapy (Himalayan salt therapy) services help with lung conditions and inflammation• Their Patreon grimoire offers weekly spells designed to be affordable using common household items• Combat metaphysical misinformation with trusted, ethical practices and education• The space can be rented by teachers for classes, or for private gatherings like coven meetings• Plans to expand virtual offerings to reach communities beyond TucsonVisit us at theninthhouseshop.com, on Instagram @theninthhouseshop, on TikTok @therealninthhouseshop, and visit The Eleventh House at theeleventhhouse.space to learn more about our classes and community events.Support the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

As the Charlie Kirk assasination has America on edge, a deputy comes under scrutiny for threats on social media; More about Tucson's troubled water; UA researchers may have found a way to extend eyesight for some; and more...

Following an eventful show in Phoenix, Doug and Andy meet up with Bingo in Tucson, get updated on the outcome of her undercarriage surgery, and share their own stories from the road. Bid on Stanhope's deep red sport coat now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/236327371603 Support the show - visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/STANHOPE and use code STANHOPE to get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup.Support the show: http://www.Patreon.com/stanhopepodcast

Parables: Rich Fool | Luke 12:13-21Dave Goffeney | September 14, 2025Redemption Tucson Church

It's a Tucson Crime Free Dumpster Fire Monday! 1st Hour: Weekend Recap. When you politics become your religion, it's a problem, then you become a zealot. 2nd hour: hour: Tucson Crime Free Coalition steering member Josh Jacobsen talks about a a special press conference about the City of Tucson's STAR village. 3rd hour: Brother Joe DeSimone makes his Monday visit to talk politics, horses and the economy. Only on the Live the Dream Media network.

Demand for computing power is fueling a massive surge in investment in data centers worldwide. McKinsey estimates spending will hit $6.7 trillion by 2030, with more than $1 trillion expected in the U.S. alone over the next five years. As this boom accelerates, public scrutiny is intensifying. Communities across the country are raising questions about environmental impacts, energy demands, and the broader social and economic consequences of this rapid buildout. To learn more about these debates—and the efforts to shape the industry's future—Justin Hendrix spoke with two activists: one working at the national level, and another organizing locally in their own community. Vivek Bharathan is a member of the No Desert Data Center Coalition in Tucson, Arizona.Steven Renderos is executive director of MediaJustice, an advocacy organization that just released a report titled The People Say No: Resisting Data Centers in the South.

Since their first detection, powerful bursts of X-rays from distant galaxies, known as fast X-ray transients (FXTs), have mystified astronomers. FXTs have historically been elusive events, occurring at vast distances away from Earth and only lasting seconds to hours. Einstein Probe (EP), launched in 2024, is dedicated to observing transient events in the X-ray and is changing the game for astronomers looking to understand the origin of these exotic events. In this podcast, Dr. Robert Eyles-Ferris discusses a recent FXT and what it reveals about the deaths of massive stars.    Bios:  - Rob Sparks is in the Communications, Education and Engagement group at NSF's NOIRLab in Tucson, Arizona. - Dr. Rob Eyles-Ferris is a research associate at the University of Leicester who works on high energy transients to understand the largest explosions in the universe. His particular research interests include tidal disruption events, fast X-ray transients and gamma-ray bursts.   Links: NOIRLab press release University of Leicester press release Northwestern press release   NOIRLab social media channels can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/NOIRLabAstro https://twitter.com/NOIRLabAstro https://www.instagram.com/noirlabastro/ https://www.youtube.com/noirlabastro   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations.  Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

TUCSON, Arizona — The GoPowercat Powercat Postgame Podcast unwinds Kansas State's 23-17 road loss at Arizona on Friday night at Arizona Stadium. This edition of the Postgame Podcast features GoPowercat's Cole Carmody, as well as GPC football analyst Brien Hanley. The Powercat Podcast is part of the 247Sports Podcast Network at Megaphone.fm. Become a GoPowercat VIP: CHECK OUT TODAY'S OFFER!Make sure you subscribe to the Powercat Podcast from your favorite podcast provider, including Apple, Spotify, or Amazon.Are you subscribed to the GoPowercat YouTube channel? Come check out our original programming at YouTube.com/GoPowercat To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tonight we will tell the stories of two very haunted hotels; the Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago IL, and Hotel Congress in Tucson, AZ. both are lavish hotels known for guests both famous and infamous, but also for a number of guests who never left and continue to haunt these locations to this day. Welcome to episode 164 of "What In The...Podcast!"

Jack Johnson in Soren's chair today, and we talk Chiefs/Eagles to open! Then, we transition to the Royals and what the season accomplished. Finally, Ryan Gilbert of GoPowercat.com joins us from Tuscon to preview K-State vs Arizona!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Drive explained how tonight in Tucson is a must win game for Kansas State to keep any hope of a bowl game.

Dan SwansonColossiansfalseChrist in You The Hope of Glory

Meet Frankie Elkin, a vigilante investigator working on missing persons cold cases. She picks up where law enforcement officials leave off, going the extra (and unorthodox) mile to find missing people and bring closure to their families. In her latest case, Frankie is called to Tucson, Arizona to find a missing Afghan refugee, whose friend suspects she is in grave danger. All she left behind is a series of riddles. Sabera Ahmadi is a young mother haunted by war and determined to make a fresh start in the United States. But despite the distance she's put between herself and her home country, the past has come back to haunt her. Local police have yet to open a case on her disappearance, and her older, domineering husband seems unconcerned. Sabera's closest friend, however, is convinced she would never willingly leave her four‑year old daughter. At her insistence, Frankie agrees to take up the search through the broiling streets of Tucson. Just in time for a video of the Sabera to surface—showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Kellis Robinett, Kansas State beat writer for the KC Star, joined The Drive to discuss Kansas State matchup with Arizona on Friday.

The Star's Justin Spears and Michael Lev are joined by Jordan Hamm from Sports360AZ to preview the Arizona-Kansas State matchup in Tucson, along with other notable games in the Big 12. 

Comic Book Creator and LEGEND!  (Recorded live at Tucson Comic Con Sunday, August 31, 2025) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Crow, Heavy Metal Magazine Born in Portland, Maine in 1962 Kevin Eastman began drawing at a very young age, copying children's books, and reading comics. Inspired by master storyteller Jack Kirby, and later by self-publishing creators Richard Corben, creating his own characters and comics became an obsession. Born in Portland, Maine in 1962 Kevin Eastman began drawing at a very young age, copying children's books, and reading comics. Inspired by master storyteller Jack Kirby, and later by self-publishing creators Richard Corben, creating his own characters and comics became an obsession. In the late 70's and early 80's, self-published “Mini Comics” became a main artistic outlet, and while soliciting illustration work from local fanzines in Northampton Massachusetts, he met like-minded creator Peter Laird and the partnership studio, Mirage Studios was formed. Less than a year later in the middle of a late-night drawing session, Eastman doodled a new character he dubbed a “Ninja Turtle” to make Laird laugh—several sillier sketches and a final drawing of four characters later “Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” had officially entered the universe! Self-published in May of 1984 the first issue sold out of its 3000 copies overnight and quickly became a fan favorite. Catching the eye of Merchandising Agents and Hollywood Producers, Eastman and Laird maintained full control of their creations while guiding them through Toy Licensing, TV Series adaptation, as well as Feature Films, and by early 1990 the TMNT's were number one in all three categories. In between TMNT projects, Eastman launched a creator friendly publishing company, “Tundra Publishing” where projects like “The Crow” “From Hell” “Madman” and “Understanding Comics” first flourished, as well as purchased and published the world renowned “Heavy Metal Magazine” for more than twenty-five years. In 2020 based on an original 1987 concept by Kevin and Peter, Kevin adapted and launched The Last Ronin with longtime TMNT Writer/Co-Writer Tom Waltz. The epic tale quickly became the TMNT publishing event of the decade, both a critical success, and a New York Times Best Seller. The series continued with The Last Ronin: Lost Years in 2023 and 2024The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution. When not having way too much fun writing and drawing on new TMNT projects, he launched a new maxiseries with Image Comics entitled, Drawing Blood as well as companion limited series the Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls, with co-creator David Avallone, and artists Ben Bishop and Troy Little.   Thanks to “THE BEST FANS ON THE ENTIRE PLANET!” according to Eastman, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continue to find their way into the hearts and imaginations of kids, large and small more than four decades later. Cowabunga! In 2025 Kevin, his wife Courtney and Team Eastman will be visiting comic conventions and signings around the world, ensuring they are always accessible and able to connect with fans as we all continue to Shellebrate the awesome legacy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. For complete details keep up with Kevin Eastman at: www.KevinEastmanStudios.com Facebook: Kevin B. Eastman Twitter: kevineastman86 Instagram: kevineastmantmnt Popular Hashtags for Kevin: #TMNT #LastRonin #TMNT40 #Shellebrate40 #TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles #TeamEastman #KevinEastman #Cowabunga Please checkout more Tucson Comic Con shenanigans at  https://tucsoncomic-con.com/ Official Tucson Comic Con Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/400494039482865 https://www.facebook.com/TucsonComicCon Check out our previous Tucson Comic con coverage for this year and previous ones at #Tucsoncomiccon | Creative Play and Podcast Network https://creativeplayandpodcastnetwork.podbean.com/category/tucsoncomiccon and https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsWPaNcS-w6ajTdrjFw6EXvAA3WvGwSiu&si=Ay2CRszAmR0rHIMj   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com

Check out all the fun of Tucson Comic Con at https://tucsoncomic-con.com/ The Ninja Turtles themselves from the Movie made it out to Tucson Comic Con this year! David Forman  David Forman is a stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and actor known for his role as Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and his ongoing list of stunt work. His credits range from James Bond films to Star Wars. Recent works include A Quiet Place: Day One, Andor, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and F9: The Fast Saga. (Sadly, David had to cancel his appearance this year) Leif Tilden Leif Tilden is from Boston, Massachusetts and left for NYC to study at NYU at Tisch School of the Arts where he studied Experimental Theatre, Dance and film. He has worked on several projects with the Jim Henson Company such as the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' 1 & 2 (‘DONATELLO), and the TV series ‘Dinosaurs' (ROBBIE SINCLAIR). His other character credits include ‘Ace Ventura 2', ‘George of the Jungle', ‘Born to be Wild' and ‘Buddy' – playing a Gorilla in all four. He also performed the Cyclops character in ‘Monkeybone', as well as the evil alien Invader in ‘Life Form'. Recently, Leif directed a feature film entitled, ‘Life at These Speeds' starring Tim Roth, Billy Crudup, Stefanie Scott, Peter Coyote, Melanie Lynsky and Graham Rogers. Michelan Sisti (Micha) Michelan Sisti (Micha) is thankful to have a long and varied career as musician, actor, director and puppeteer. From Broadway to Hollywood, his favorite performances include: Michaelangelo, in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I & II”, Charlene Sinclair, in the television series “Dinosaurs”, all of his work with the Muppets, and Tol, in the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” episode, “Bloodlines”. Yes, Micha was a Ferengi! How cool is that? Josh Pais Josh grew up in NYC's infamous Alphabet City, 7th Street between C&D. His father was a theoretical physicist who worked with Einstein, his mother a poet and painter. His first lead in a movie was playing Raphael in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Often referred to as, “That guy,” Josh has acted in over a hundred movies and TV shows. He is known for his many recurring TV roles including Showtimes' Ray Donovan as Stu Feldman, Netflix's Maniac, Younger, Law and Order as Hank Abraham, as well as such shows as High Maintenance, The Good Wife, Damages, Star Trek Deep: Space Nine, The Sopranos, and early on as the Modelizer on Sex and The City. He is currently on HBO's new series, Mrs Fletcher with Kathryn Hahn. Josh is well known for his stand out performances in independent and mainstream films. Currently he can be seen in the record breaking Joker as Hoyt Vaughn – Joaquin Phoenix's character's boss. Also in theaters now he stars opposite Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Alec Baldwin and Willem Dafoe in Warner Bros Motherless Brooklyn, directed by Edward Norton.   Please checkout more Tucson Comic Con shenanigans at  https://tucsoncomic-con.com/ Official Tucson Comic Con Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/400494039482865 https://www.facebook.com/TucsonComicCon Check out our previous Tucson Comic con coverage for this year and previous ones at #Tucsoncomiccon | Creative Play and Podcast Network https://creativeplayandpodcastnetwork.podbean.com/category/tucsoncomiccon and https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsWPaNcS-w6ajTdrjFw6EXvAA3WvGwSiu&si=Ay2CRszAmR0rHIMj   Please support our shows at www.patreon.com/cppn and even join us in some games! Also keep an eye at the new things on our now affiliated Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/creativeplayandpodcast Also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativePlayandPodcastNetwork Enjoy our older streamed games and other episodes on our Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@creativeplayandpodcastnetwork Would you be interested if we hosted D&D and Edge of Empire games on Roll20 for you to join? Email us at Creativeplaypodcastnet@Gmail.com  

September 10th: Jared Lee Loughner Born (1988) You never know what can trigger a person. What can turn them into a monster. On September 10th 1988 a man was born who would go on to commit a devastating shooting. One that, even today, the motivation isn't quite clear and the triggering moment remains a bit of a mystery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tucson_shooting, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Lee_Loughner, https://tucson.com/news/local/2011-tucson-mass-shooting-victims/collection_859a2d50-a92c-11e0-b122-001cc4c002e0.html, https://www.kvoa.com/news/remembering-the-victims-killed-in-2011-mass-shooting-in-tucson-11-years-later/article_1e1c452a-6fee-11ec-850b-b7b4e7e1ff91.html, https://www.kold.com/2022/01/07/reflecting-january-8th-tucson-shooting-11-years-later/, https://www.cbsnews.com/tucson-tragedy/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Internet 9-10-2025 … The Kerminator …Are They Banning Gingers in Tucson? …He needs to apologize to the wife for walking on the carpet …Top 3 Ways to Wrap Up a Conversation

There are many things you can do in your home to increase efficiency and air quality. But, is cleaning your ducts one of them? Today we tackle a listener question about duct cleaning. Is it necessary? Is it DIY friendly? Is it worth the time and money? We cover all of that and more in this episode.If you have a question about your home, let us know! Email us at thetradepros@doneritesvcs.com or leave us a voicemail at 1-833-805-0167 and we may feature your home question in a future episode.Need to call in a trade pro? At Done Rite Services, we can help you with your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical needs in Tucson, Arizona. Find out more at www.doneritesvcs.com.This episode was produced by Rachel Simpson Media. Learn more at www.rachelsimpson.media.

Looking for a fun and informative way to make sense of all the latest education news? The Education News Comedy Quiz -- Some of the Above is a new podcast you may enjoy. It's co-hosted and produced by one of the producers of Budgeting for Educational Equity.On each episode, two special guest contestants from the world of public education take the quiz and discuss key questions and topics in the news. This month you can play alongside high school senior and student advocate Luisa Sanchez and former big city schools' superintendent Richard Carranza. Both are inspiring leaders and change makers who aren't afraid to challenge the status quo to improve educational systems. Previous episodes to date have featured educators who are leading on equity, including one that focused on School Funding and featured WestEd CEO Jannelle Kubinec at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2505092/episodes/17415760Visit the Education News Comedy Quiz -- Some of the Above website.Follow the show directly on Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-education-news-comedy-quiz-some-of-the-above/id1816289605?i=1000725043370“If you're an educator looking for some laughs, a sense of ‘I feel so seen' via comedy and real talk on news and policy, THIS is the podcast for you!”ABOUT THE RECENT GUESTSLuisa Sanchez is a senior at Boyle County High School in Danville, Kentucky. She serves as board president of the Kentucky Student Voice Team, a statewide organization that empowers students to use their voices to build up an educational system that values and serves them. She is also a journalist and part of her school's academic team and arts academy. Luisa is one of 12 courageous plaintiffs in a lawsuit students in her state have filed to improve opportunities for all students. Richard Carranza is an acclaimed educator who has served in virtually every role, including as Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, the largest school system in the nation. He also served as Superintendent of the Houston Independent and San Francisco Unified school districts. Richard began his career as a high school bilingual social studies and music teacher, and then as a principal in Tucson, Arizona. Throughout his career, he has championed numerous initiatives to empower students, educators, and parents. He currently serves as the chief of strategy and global Development at IXL. ABOUT THE SHOW'S HOSTSAlex Kajitani is a California Teacher of the Year and author of several books for educators, including Owning It, and You're A Teacher Now. He is an inspiring and engaging speaker, the Rappin' Mathematician, coach, and creator of programs for students and teachers, including Multiplication Nation, Math Success Camp, and the "New Teacher Success" video series.Paul Richman is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist who...Wait, hold on -- that's someone else. Actually, Paul is an all-purpose education policy guy who has served as a leader for several statewide education associations, coalitions and policy initiatives. He also produced the "Adventures in Ed Funding" and "Budgeting for Educational Equity" podcasts, and currently serves as an executive producer of the Inside California Education statewide TV series.  

Support the sponsors to support the show! Eat smart at FactorMeals.com/soder50off and use code soder50off to get 50 percent off plus FREE shipping on your first box. That's code soder50off at FactorMeals.com/soder50off  for 50 percent off PLUS free shipping. Get delicious, ready-to-eat meals delivered—with Factor. https://www.factor75.com/pages/podcast?c=SODER50OFF&mealsize=1-8&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=cpm&utm_campaign=podcast50off&discount_comm_id=ae97cdba-b315-4752-8023-6a6a77bae942&utm_content=act_podcast_podcastads As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Talk it out, with Betterhelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp dot com slash SODER That's BETTERhelp.com/SODER https://www.betterhelp.com/get-started/?go=true&slug=soder&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=1378&utm_term=soder&promo_code=soder&landing_page_img=https%3A%2F%2Fd3ez4in977nymc.cloudfront.net%2Faffiliate_images%2Fc8f1e33eccfdd97908db536def2e7dbd2d9ae59240ff77c0f1ee89f46ed7f544.png&aff_channel=podcast&discount_rate=10&discount_period=P1M&date_interval=P1M&percentage_off=10&amount=1&amount_spelled_out=one&unit=month&gor=start The Golden Retriever of Comedy Tour is coming to your city! Get tickets at https://www.dansoder.com/tour Sep 25 Los Angeles, CA Sep 26 Seattle, WA Sep 27 Portland, OR OCT 3 Tucson, AZ Oct 4 Denver, CO Oct 9 Knoxville, TN OCT 10 Atlanta, GA Oct 11 Louisville, KY Oct 24 Providence, RI OCT 25 Nashville, TN NOV 7 San Antonio, TX NOV 8 Austin, TX NOV 13 Iowa City, IA Nov 14 Minneapolis, MN NOV 15 Madison, WI NOV 21 Kansas City, MO NOV 22 St. Louis, MO DEC 5 Vancouver, BC DEC 6 Eugene, OR DEC 12 Columbus, OH DEC 13 Royal Oak, MI Follow Matt Ross https://www.instagram.com/mattrosscomic/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@mattrosscomic?lang=en https://www.youtube.com/@mattrosscomic PLEASE Drop us a rating on iTunes and subscribe to the show to help us grow. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soder/id1716617572 Connect with DAN Twitter: https://Twitter.com/dansoder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dansoder Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dansodercomedy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dansoder Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@dansoder.comedy #dansoder #standup #comedy #entertainment #podcast Produced by  Mike Lavin     @homelesspimp   https://www.instagram.com/thehomelesspimp/?hl=en

Writer Peter Murrieta talks about how teachers pushed him to a better life, riding in the car with his grandparents, baseball, creating TV, college training him to be a showman, being a rare latino at Second City, Danny Trejo, collecting baseball cards, loving writing, and becoming a teacher to give back. Bio: Peter Murrieta is a two-time Emmy Award winning producer and writer who has contributed his voice to multiple projects that have expanded and further legitimized the entertainment value of telling stories about diverse cultures. After moving to Los Angeles, Peter was accepted into the esteemed ABC Writing Fellowship. His success during the fellowship led to writing positions on Jesse, Three Sisters and All About the Andersons, before he created the critically acclaimed series Greetings from Tucson, which tells the story of an upwardly mobile bi-racial. The series' Latino cast is a perfect example of how he's been able to bring the lighthearted examination of his culture to the predominantly white television landscape. As a producer, Peter is dedicated to ensuring that diverse and underrepresented persons have opportunities in the industry on both sides of the camera, as evidenced by his work on the Emmy Award winning, Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place.Peter has produced and written on NBC's Welcome to the Family, ABC's Cristela, TV Land's Lopez, Norman Lear's Netflix re-boot of One Day A Time and CBS' Superior Doughnuts. He was an Executive producer and writer on the Imagen Award winning Netflix series, MR. IGLESIAS, starring comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias. And most recently, he is a writer and an Executive Producer on the Amazon FreeVee series, “Primo,” for Universal. And wrote on the staff of the drama for Peacock, “Field of Dreams.” Peter was honored in 2018 with the Imagen Foundation's Norman Lear Writer's Award for his dedication to broadening the diversity of the entertainment industry. He was just named a member of the 2024 Influential Latinos in Media by the Imagen Foundation as well. Having taught at the prestigious American Film Institute, Peter is now a professor of Practice at Arizona State University, and is happy to have a foot back in his home state of Arizona, excited to serve as Deputy Director for The Sidney Poitier New American Film School.

People matter more than position, and leadership starts with taking care of others. Doing that right means a million acts. SUMMARY Those are lessons Lt. Col. Steven “Meathead” Mount '08 shares with listeners in the Season 4 premier of Long Blue Leadership. For Col. Mount, becoming a pilot was a major milestone, but becoming a husband and father had the biggest impact. Don't wait, listen today and become a better leader tomorrow.   SHARE THIS PODCAST FACEBOOK  |  LINKEDIN   COL. MOUNT'S TOP LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Adoption shaped my understanding of support and love. Leadership is about lifting others to achieve their best. Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal and professional growth. Balancing family and career is a continuous challenge. It's important to have tough conversations as a leader. Resilience is key to overcoming setbacks in life and career. Listening more than talking is essential for effective leadership. Recognizing the importance of support systems can enhance leadership effectiveness. Leadership is defined by consistent, everyday actions. The military community thrives on teamwork and mutual support.   CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Leadership Lessons 06:43 The Impact of Adoption on Leadership 14:53 Navigating Challenges at the Academy 22:49 Career Path and Opportunities in Aviation 33:31 Balancing Family and Military Career 44:18 Continuous Improvement as a Leader     ABOUT COL. MOUNT BIO Lt. Col. Steven “Meathead” Mount is a decorated officer in the United States Air Force with a career marked by leadership, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation. A command pilot with thousands of flight hours, he has served in a variety of demanding roles across multiple aircraft and theaters, bringing a wealth of experience in both combat and peacetime operations. Beyond the cockpit, Lt. Col. Mount is widely recognized for his ability to lead diverse teams through complex challenges, foster innovation, and develop leaders at every level. His career reflects not only technical expertise but also a people-first leadership philosophy that emphasizes accountability, resilience, and service. Known by his call sign “Meathead,” he brings both humility and humor to the serious business of leading Airmen. His story is one of dedication to mission and country, but also of shaping culture, inspiring others, and leaving a lasting impact on the Air Force community.   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org    Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org      ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     TRANSCRIPT SPEAKERS Guest, Lt. Col. Steven Mount '08  |  Host, Lt. Col. Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz Welcome to the first episode of Season 4 of Long Blue Leadership, the podcast where we share insights on leadership through the lives and experiences of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. We're kicking off this season with a story that shows how our earliest experiences can shape the kind of leaders we become. Lt. Col. Steve Mount, Class of 2008, call sign “Meathead,” didn't fully realize that truth until later in life. Adopted as an infant, he came to understand that love and support aren't guaranteed. They're gifts. Over his 17-year career, Col. Mount has flown missions across a wide range of aircraft, from the C-130 to special operations to the U-2. And today, he's in command. But through every stage, one belief has stayed with him: People succeed not only through their own efforts, but because someone believed in them. In this conversation, we'll talk about how those early lessons have shaped criminal mom's approach to leading airmen, mentoring the next generation of pilots, balancing mission and family and building teams that are rooted in trust. His story is a powerful reminder that leadership isn't about the me game, it's about lifting others so they can achieve their best. So what better way to start our new season? Col. Mount, welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Lt. Col. Steven Mount Thank you so much, ma'am for having me. I really do appreciate this opportunity to at least try to share some of my stories, experiences and honestly, if anything touches base with those who listen in and resonates, that's why I'm glad to be here. Naviere Walkewicz Well, let's start right with a way for them to connect with you. You mentioned your call sign is Meathead. Let's start there. Lt. Col. Steven Mount OK, I'll do my best to tell the story as quickly as I can. And the fun thing about being a pilot — but also I think this plays true in any type of storytelling environment — is, you know, only 10% of the story has to be true when it comes to your call signs. So to start… Oh my gosh— I know there's some friends out there who are going to laugh at this, especially of mine. Going through pilot training… The last part of the pilot training, when I was in the T-1s, when you get to that last part, you know, after you've gone through all the ups and downs, you kind of celebrate a little bit more. And that's what I've done. I had gone out with a couple of my rugby brothers that I played with at the Academy, and we'd gone out to just a country, a little country dance hall, and, you know, we're just enjoying and celebrating. And one of my rugby brothers introduced me to one of his friends through his wife, and this individual, who I didn't know much about at the time, had said— I said, “Yeah, I'm starting T-1s here and all that good stuff. And I immediately, immediately — especially in the celebratory mood I was in — thought, “Oh, this is another awesome student that's coming through. Like, hey, let me start giving you the tidbits. Let me start laying out what to expect.” And that's how I treated this individual for the rest of that evening. You know, we're dancing and having fun and just talking it up. And it was a good evening. It was really good evening. Come Monday morning, I get the word I'm flying with this new instructor in the T- 1s. And I had no idea who this individual was. I did not recognize the name at all. And I asked our flight schedule, like, “Who's this?” Is like, “Oh, it's a new person coming in. I think you're one of his first flights back in the T-1s training wise.” And I was like, “Well, OK, I'm ready to go.” And I sit down, and then this instructor sits down right across from me, and it's a major and sure enough, it's this, the person I thought was a student at the Texas dance, the country dance hall that we were at.   Naviere Walkewicz Oh boy!   Lt. Col. Steven Mount He looks me up and down. Oh, it was one of those moments of shock, of like, “What do I… Where do I go from here?” And he looks me up and down, he goes, and he laughs, and he goes, “Man, you are just such a meathead.” And so that's where it started. And call signs and nicknames— sometimes, some people like, wanna try change it throughout their careers and try to like, “No, that's not who I am. I don't want that to define me.” So as I'm leaving pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, I'm heading towards my first assignment in Tucson, Arizona for the EC-130 and I'm like, “OK, here we go. I'm gonna start fresh. I'm not that meathead that went through the Academy playing rugby. I'm not that meathead in pilot training to I just like to have fun. Just like to have fun. I do my own thing, and I'm gonna start fresh.” And I get out, and one of the very first meetings I had in the new squadron was with the DO, Lt. Col. Reimer. He sits down with me, and he says, “Come on in, because I'm in blues. He goes, come on in. Sit down. And then he's just quiet. I'm like, this is interesting. He looks me up and down and goes, “Yeah, you definitely look like a meathead.” And I'm like, “Whoa.” So sure enough, the major that I flew with was really good friends and had flown with this squadron, told this DO about me, and the DO got through his spiel, introduced me to my first flight commander before I deployed in Afghanistan, and goes, “Hey, this is Meathead. Take care of him. He's a good one.” I was like, “No, no, everyone, please, let's stop.” And then throughout the years, things kept happening that just reinforced the call sign, Meathead. I got into U-2s, me and a buddy, also pilots. We popped both tires on a T-38 at Long Beach Airport, and we closed down the airport for about five hours. It was on the local news. Not happy about that. And then there were multiple times where I tried to, like, get rid of the Meathead persona, the callsign, but I think it was finally solidified on a CNN interview on one of my U-2 deployments, where the lady interviewing us goes, “OK, we can't use your real name. So what name should we use? And before I could even say anything, one of my buddies just pops up and goes, “ It's Meathead.CNN lady, use Meathead.” And I was like, “OK.” And then international news in that interview, I am Capt. Meathead. And I never got away from the call sign, Meathead.   Naviere Walkewicz We are gonna find that clip of Capt. Meathead.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount It is out there, just U-2… I think the article under CNN: “U-2 spy plane carries out the mission against terrorist organizations.” You know, not that I didn't remember what it was called.   Naviere Walkewicz Well, I would say you heard it here first, but you didn't. You heard it maybe, if you heard it in the U-2 world or what have you. But we're gonna find it again. And so we're gonna resurrect here first, but we're so glad you're here. Yes, yes, this is awesome. And you know, I think one of the things I really enjoyed in our early conversation, and what we're gonna share today is how you kind of look back and you are very grateful and thankful for the upbringing you have. And so let's kind of go back to the fact, you know, not a lot of our guests share kind of their background, and the fact that you share that you were adopted. What did that kind of, what role did that play in your life? And, you know, was it insignificant? Or, you know, what did you glean from that? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yeah, I really appreciate that question. And honestly, I really appreciate you giving the opportunity to kind of share that. It has played a huge role in my life. Adopted 11 months. And what it did for me is set the foundation of the family. It may not necessarily be one you have, it's the one who who's there for you, who supports you, who loves you. And then, honestly, the other part about being adopted, which I kind of— there were struggles, like, it wasn't perfect, but there were struggles in my mind where I wanted to show that those who adopted me, I wanted to show them that I could be more and thank them, you know, on a daily basis, for everything they had done for me, supporting me. So that drove me, that motivated me to get into the Academy, or even— back up, even like, do well in high school, get into the Academy, become a pilot. All of that was the basis of— I want to show that in a weird way, I want to show that your investment was worth it. You know, you found me, you gave me the love and support. So I'm going to give back to you by showing you what you were able to, you know, give a second chance, small, little child. And then the— but the other side of that, and I don't know how many of those who are adopted, who feel like this sometimes. Can't be the only one, but I can at least convey it here. There's a sense of, you know, “Why? Why was I adopted?” You know, what really happened in the sense that those who biologically brought me into this world, was I not worthy enough? Was I just a bad situation. And so there's that part I keep motivational wise to be like, “Well, I'm going to show them what they're missing out on.” And I know that's more of the negative kind of side of the whole internal conflict of being adopted. But I would be lying if I didn't say that that was part of the drive that kept me going throughout those years.   Naviere Walkewicz Something that came to my mind when you were saying that was, you know— when did you find out? And how old were you to kind of start having those, those thoughts and questions, you know, not only why, but how do I show that I am worthy?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, so my mother and father did an amazing job of, I remember, I can't remember the name of this particular book, but there was a book that she had given me that she read to me, and that, throughout the years, as I she utilized, helped me start reading and whatnot. And the basis of the book was, you know, cartoon with a little bit of words, is, “You were not purchased, you know, you were not bought at a store. You know you were, you were brought in and chosen and to be a part of a family.” So she, she wanted to have this idea that I always knew, that was adopted. She never wanted to surprise me, or she never wanted to be like, one day, like, “Hey, just so you know…” She did an awesome job of leading into that, Hey, you were adopted. But don't look at it as this, ‘We went to the store and we picked out the one we liked.' It's more of a, ‘We wanted you in our family.' And that's where it started.” It started, “We wanted a bigger family.” Whether they were, at the time, not able to grow or have themselves, they decided that, “We still want to grow a family. So let's look through adoption as a means.” So she had that book, I remember that book, and then the other book, which I still love to this day, and I got a copy for my kids, I Love You Forever, and how she would read that book to me every single night with the words, “…and I love you forever, like you for always. As long as you're living, my baby, you'll be.” That showed me that it didn't matter where I came from. This was my mom, you know, this was my family. So she did a really good job laying that foundation for me, for who I've become to be.   Naviere Walkewicz So would you put your parents in that bucket of inspirational leaders for you that have shaped you? And are there others?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount One-hundred percent. Like I said, the foundational piece of being that inspirational leader, to me in the sense of working on it all the time, right? It's not simple but accepting people for who they are. Where they're at in life. Accept them for their faults, accept them for the things that they don't like about themselves, but just accepting them and giving them the support, giving them the love that they need to show them, that they can do anything, I like to think for the most part, I'm an example of that because of what my parents did for me.   Naviere Walkewicz So, as a young boy, and you talked a little bit about this, you wanted to prove to them. So Was that something you feel over time, you continue to develop this desire to show your worth? And where have you seen that show up I guess even throughout your going— maybe even at the Academy, how has that kind of formed you as a leader individually?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, yes. So the showing the worth, the showing the value, or paying it back and showing my parents, once again, I use the word “investment” like it was good— I was good investment. Like I was a good return on investment. But it's helped when I've gone through those struggles, when I've gone— because the first time I put in for the Academy and… back up just a little bit. My dad likes to tell a story that I even told my fifth-grade teacher that she was, you know, “What do you want to do?” I was like, “I'm gonna be a pilot.” I said nothing else. Like, I want to be pilot. I want to fly. And then I had had an awesome mentor whose son, at the time, was going through the process of the Academy, sophomore year in high school, and she helped me with that. Good ol' Mrs. Williams, amazing. When I first initially applied for the Academy, I did not get it. I got a “Sorry, you are not competitive at this time.” Here starts some of those moments in your life to where, like, “OK. How can I bounce back? Do I accept the rejection, or do I find another means?” And even when that happened, that first time, my parents, they were like, “It's OK, it's OK. You don't need to…” They were always like, “You don't need to prove anything else. We love you, regardless.” I was like, “No, I need to prove this.” So I found other means, and I was, I will say, blessed in the sense that at that time, my running back coach for the high school reached out to the Academy. This happened early my senior year, and reached out and was like, “Hey, we have, I have someone who I think might do well for your program.” And then, sure enough, I got invited to come out for a football recruiting visit and I sat down with Fisher Deberry, and he just goes, “Would you like to play for this program?” And once again, I was like, “Wait a minute. No, no. I already got rejected. You know, I already gotten the…” But obviously I was going through my head, but all I said was, “Yes, sir, I would love to play for this program. I'd love to go the Academy.” And he made it happen. And I got recruited, and I got the invite to come out, to go the United States Air Force Academy. Wow. And once again, that only happened because my parents, they said, “Hey, we don't care what happens. We love you. Support you. You make the decision and we're here behind you.” And then I had a coach who was like, “I got you. I've seen what you do. I support this.” And went out on a limb for me. And then, in a sense, I guess Fisher DeBerry was also like, “I'm taking this football recruit, I hope he makes it through the Academy. So the love and support is, was there throughout.   Naviere Walkewicz What a path, I mean, that is quite unique. And, yeah, that's something to just kind of sit in a little bit, right? You know, the path of to your point, it just comes from support. And obviously you have to do the things to make sure that when the opportunity presents itself, you're ready to take that step, but what an incredible story of those who have supported you. Let's talk about a little bit before we kind of get into I think, what I think is the next real moment in your life — when you talk about becoming a father in your family. But while you're at the Academy, I'm just curious what more you learned about yourself as a leader, because you no longer had to prove to your parents that you were worthy of their investment, right? Like this is investment, right? Like this is a new season of your life. What did that look like for you as a leader?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount The challenges and the experiences I had the Academy — and I know I talked about this in one of my interviews previously with the foundation — was that I had to I went through my sophomore year and the rigors of academics, of the military side, of sports. It was taking this toll. I will say this many times. I'll continue to say I'm not the smartest crayon in the shed.   Naviere Walkewicz Wait, did you say crayon in the shed?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount I did. A little mixture of the sharpest tool in the box, exactly. I love it! I'm glad someone caught it. That's perfect! But yes, hard work was probably the foundation of what the Academy taught me was you persevere by hard work. You do the day in; you do the day out. You get after it. Because I was not getting after it after sophomore year. My GPA was not the best, and I had to approach my sophomore year, which very fortunate, because I had done my best to put in the time with the football program. But obviously I was losing ground in the academic side and that came back to almost biting, in the sense that I could have failed out. So I had had one of those— Once again, my father being an amazing mentor himself, whether he knows it or not. And I talked to him, and I said, “Dad, I think I have to quit football. I don't think I can continue with this, the rigors of all of this with the Academy.” And he goes, “Well, what was your dream?” I was like, “My dream was to fly.” He goes, “Well, did you go there to play football? Or did you go there to fly?” And that was an easy answer. But then I was thinking about all those coaches and mentors and those who helped me get to where I was, and I never really quit at something, and that's what it felt like. It really felt like I was quitting. I was quitting my teammates. I was quitting my coaches. And that weighs heavy on your soul, for all those out there who just are struggling, like, “Should I continue?” But my dad was right. My priorities weren't to become a football player, because I wasn't gonna be. I wasn't going to be. I wasn't going to become, you know, some — who can I name drop? — Chad Hall, you know, going to the NFL, doing amazing things. I wasn't going to be out there starting on, maybe third if they still have fourth string… maybe fourth string. So my dad helped me with those priorities by, once again, just being supportive. He never said one way or the other. He said, “What do you want to do?” And so I had that hard conversation with him, and went down to the Field House, and I said, “I apologize. I have to quit so I can concentrate on what I want to do for my dreams.” And once we had that was hard, that was very difficult. So that was one of the challenges at the Academy presented, and how I bounced back from that was you always go two ways. You always go into the woe is me and you know, just kind of beat yourself up and just hold on to that, that pride and ego being shattered. Or you can find a community, a support group, that will be there with you. And I found that almost immediately with my rugby brothers. They're just like me. They're like, “Hey, we just like to hang out at our own little table at Mitchell Hall. We like to just come out, play the sport, do what you love to do, athletic wise, and you'll have some more free time, obviously, for academics.” Not that I'd utilize that correctly still, but that's what it took to get me through those next couple years, that and my amazing roommates. I think all of us Academy grads and those who are going through right now, a support of a good roommate is huge. I that, uh, I appreciate the question, because now it's just dawning on me how much I just really appreciate my roommates at the Academy for their support as well. Very similar to my parents, it's like, “Hey, I don't care what you do, but I'm here to support you, love you regardless.” So I got a lot of that the Academy, and that's what helped get me through.   Naviere Walkewicz That's amazing. I think there's a couple of things I want to dig into a little bit. The first one is, you know, I think deciding to have that tough conversation where, one, you felt like you're already prideful, and you're having to, I'm putting in air quotes, “quit.” Can you talk about how you approached that, other than, I know you went and did it. But I think sometimes one of the most challenging things we can do as leaders is have a tough conversation when it involves us either stepping back or taking a step down from what seems to be the trajectory of what's next. And so I'm just— if you could just share a little bit more about that, I think that would be helpful.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount So, and I just want to clarify: As leaders, we have to recognize and we have to have the courage to have the tough conversations, because that wouldn't be the first time that I'd have to make a decision in that regard, or have the tough conversations to where it was gonna affect me personally or those around me. You deal with it understanding, one, give yourself a little bit of grace. Give yourself a little bit of grace in the sense that whatever tough decision you have to make, you're not alone. And I imagine you might not always be the first person who had either to make that decision or was going through something like that. I was not the only one going through something at that time like that. I didn't know that. And so I've had other conversations where others were like, “Yeah, I also, you know how to make that type of call to not play anymore or give up something, because my priority was this...” You know, what was driving me to succeed was something else, and that followed me well throughout my career, because I've had many, many tough conversations. I've had the tough talk as a leader. I've had to tell someone that, “I'm sorry, your dreams to become a pilot…” It's not going to happen because of their performance. I've had conversations on how to get through those tough moments and said how to get on the other side. And I know it's like a broken record, but it just comes through with the support of being there for that individual or being there to guide them to the next step. And I had that. I had that when I made that tough decision. I had someone want to give myself grace. Two, I realized I was not alone. And three, I had the support to get from this side of that tough decision bridge to the other side. And because that support was there, I learned that, and I learned to pass that on from all my leadership opportunities, to be like, “Let me be the one who guides you over this bridge. It's not gonna be fun. There's gonna be parts are gonna hurt. It's gonna be painful. But I will be next to you to get to the other side, to where we can get back to a good place. We get back to what really matters and get back to succeed in maybe another sense.” So the tough convos as leaders, you have to have those tough convos. Do not shy away from them. They're gonna happen, whether you like it or not.   Naviere Walkewicz I'm really glad you shared it that way, because I think it created a pathway to how to approach it, to your point. You know, it they're not comfortable, they're not designed to be that way. But if you start it with, you know, being that support in mind, and how to get someone, even if you're giving the worst news, the worst news where, “This was your dream, you're not gonna be able to do it because of this. And here's now where we're at, and how can I help you succeed through that?” I think that's what a wonderful lesson you just shared. And so I want to dive now into your career, because you had a really broad career, one that's not a traditional path, and I want to understand why it looked that way. So C-130, EC-130, Special Ops, you— talk a little bit about how you navigated that and what was the driving reasons behind that navigation?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, ma'am. So something you said earlier, which I really liked, I really love to try to convey to those around me, and actually, I've gone through some of these conversations over the last month and a half with younger instructor pilots. Luck is just the crossroad of opportunity and being prepared, and I'm pretty sure someone super smarter than me said that. I barely remembered. But the opportunities that present themselves to me for what I wanted to do, for my goals in the Air Force. So thankfully, even getting through pilot training, that was, in itself, amazing, transformational. Getting those wings, right? Getting those wings because pilot training, just like my Academy career, I had some ups and downs and some challenges but was able to get through because the sense of me becoming a pilot was first and foremost to fly. I want to be up there in the sky. I want to rush past the clouds. I want to touch the highest point I can. I want to be a pilot's pilot. And then right behind that was I want to accomplish the mission for whatever platform or whatever weapon system I'm given, aircraft wise. So those are my two biggest priorities. And that helped me understand that I had some failures of pilot training when I got to my first assignment, EC-130s. But that was perfect for me. That was— I never knew that. I never knew that in pilot training, that the EC-130 would fulfill me in that sense of my sense of purpose as much as it did. And I'm and getting out there, like said, four or five deployments to Afghanistan, as well as multiple TDYs. I was doing the mission, and I was happy, because I was— that's exactly what I wanted to do. That's exactly what young Meathead Mount was built for. But there were parts of me that still wanted to do more. Like, I felt like I could do more. I could be— I could help out more. I could— it's just itching, or not itching, but just burning in the back. It's like, “Hey, you are built for so much more. You can do more. Let's look for those opportunities.” So, funny enough, the first opportunity I had at that time, or I thought I had, was I reached out to— it's no longer around — but the 6th Special Operations Squadron at Duke Field. It was a combat aviation advisory mission. These individuals got to travel the world. I got to learn languages. Literally, they were sent to school to learn languages, to embed with other nations, to build those relationships, to be on the ground but still flying multiple different aircraft. I was like, “That's awesome. That sounds like me. That sounds like something I can do, and I can bring value to the table, and all the above.” So I put in my application; it was immediately rejected. In their eyes, I did not have the experience yet. I did not have what they were looking for, understandable. So here I am in another situation to where, like, “OK, well, what do I— is there any other means or ways that I can continue to fulfill my purpose as a pilot and get after the mission? Because that's what I really wanted to do, get after mission, whatever that looks like. I thought the sticks was an opportunity. They had said no to me, that's fine. And then I had an amazing friend reach out. He goes, “Hey, I heard you're getting a little long winded out there at EC-130s. You should put an application in for the U-2.” And I was like, “What are you talking about? I have no jet experience, other than the T-1. I don't have that background to be that type of caliber pilot.” He goes, “Nope, nope. They're looking for good guys and girls. They're looking for those who are motivated to do the mission. And if you could fly, you can fly, if you can't, well, you know, they'll figure that out, and they'll send you home.” And I was like, “OK.” And so I submitted for the U-2, put my application in, they call me out, and it's a two-week interview. The first week they have you in service dress, and you meet all the leadership, and you meet all the other pilots, and just have conversations. That's all, they just wanna get to know you. You know, “What's your true motivation for being here?” And I explained it, just like I've explained to you: “I wanna fly. I wanna do the mission. I wanna be a pilot's pilot. I wanna do all the cool stuff.” And they go, “OK.” Well, week two, they put you in U-2, a two-seater. They have two-seater trainers. They put you in a U-2. They give you all the weekend prior to study, and they say, “Cool, let's see what you got.” And they have an instructor, he instructs, he does his best to give you tidbits on how to safely land the U-2. And you have three days. You have two training flights and then a sort of assessment evaluation flight on that third day, and oh my gosh, did I ever humble myself as a pilot when I realized how horrible I truly was. I felt like I could not land the U-2 safely. I felt like I was messing everything up. I felt like— as soon as we got done with that third day of flying, and we got back into the squadron, and I remember the IP just being like, and then, you know, walks away because they have to talk to the squadron commanders. They have to go talk to the other leadership there. And once again, I find myself like, “OK, I 100% failed. I mean, I gave it my best. I gave it everything I had. But, you know, here I am gonna fall short again.” And they do this. And I realized this afterwards, that they do this, they do that like wait game, you know, they keep you in suspense for a reason. And I waited, it felt like hours and hours and hours. I imagine it probably might only be like hour, hour and a half. And a squadron commander called me in. He goes, “Yeah, the IP definitely didn't like some of this, some of these, these type of landings, some of this airmanship you're showing. I didn't really like this. But overall, he says you're a nice enough guy, so do you want the job?” And I was like, “Whoa.” And it blew my mind. And that was awesome. That was awesome because once again, leading up to that moment, it was the support of my friend who reached out. It was the support of my wife being like, “Yeah, I think you can do this.” And I had even called, my parents were like, “I had this opportunity to fly this really unique aircraft. It's going to be challenging. What do y'all think?” They're like, “Hey, we love you. Go get it.” And I was like, no other words of advice, no other like, inspiring — you know, my dad, a Florida farm man, was just like, “No, I think he'll do fine. We love you and just let us know how it goes.” I was like, man, I'm really missing out in motivational speeches. But you know what? The sentiment is there, and that's all I need. So I got that position, did a few years with the U-2. And then towards the end of the U-2 career, I got word from another friend saying the 6th Special Operations Squadron is growing. “We are looking for readily qualified and experienced people.”   Naviere Walkewicz And this is the one that rejected you.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes, ma'am, I got rejected last time. He goes, “It's OK. Put in another application. You know, you're a little more experienced now, you've got a little bit more under your belt.” And I said, “OK,” and I put in an application, it got rejected again, and here I am, like, “What is going on?” My buddy reached out to me—   Naviere Walkewicz Your name is blacklisted in that group across the board. Like, “Oh, there's that Mount guy. Cross it out.”   Lt. Col. Steven Mount But I think that ended up being somewhat of a blessing. It was like, “Wow, This guy is motivated to come out here.” Because they had seen the last application years ago. They'd seen this one. And I think the word finally got around that's like, “Hey, he's actually really motivated to come try out, at least for this mission.” And so once again, from good mentors, they're like, “Go ahead, try it out. Put the application in one more time, see what happens.” I did, got picked up for assessment selection. It's another week, week and a half interview. They challenge you mentally, they challenge you physically. They put you in situations to see how you react. I don't wanna give too much away for that process, even though, you know, unfortunately that process is not there anymore. But after that grueling week, they once again, here I am in front of another squadron commander, and here they are opening my life in front of them, and they're saying, “Well, we don't like this. We definitely don't like this. Tell us a little more about this,” you know. And that was about an hour interview, sit down, and it's not just the squadron commander. It was leadership — four or five individuals. It was an Army lieutenant colonel's flight doc behind them, you know, kind of doing that very watching, waiting, assessing, and another one of the situations, I'm like, oh, “Here we go. I don't think it's gonna happen.” But then at the end of that interview, they sit down, squadron commander stands up and goes, “Welcome to the 6th.” And the only things I can think of — and I know a lot of listeners or viewers out there do the same thing, and I tell this to my young when they get their wings, I tell them this as well — think of that first person, or persons, that when something amazing happens to you, you immediately reach out to them and you tell them, “Thank you for the support, thank you for the love, thank you for believing in me when others didn't.” And that's exactly what I did after that one. I called my wife, and I called my parents. I said, “It happened. We got it. I got it,” you know, because it wasn't just me, and I know those experiences going from one mission to the next, and those setbacks have— I get to share these stories all the time with these young instructor pilots that I'm with, as well as students, because I get to utilize it as a leadership tool to be like, “Don't give up on yourself. That's first and foremost. And then even if you believe you might give up on yourself, trust me, there's someone like me or your family members or your squadmates, they won't give up on you. And just remember that.” And that's why I get to share these stories throughout my career, of like, “Hey, I failed at this. Look where I'm at now, because I had the support and because I kept going, Hey, I failed at this. Look how it played out. I'm here.” So a lot of my transition from different platforms and different experiences has helped shape that leadership side of me to say, simply put, “It's OK to fail, all right?” I mean, you're never going to succeed if you have this tried and failed a couple times, right? So, right,   Naviere Walkewicz Wow. Well, I want to go into— because you've mentioned this a couple times. We've talked about your parents, but you know, to have a career that's successful and to navigate that, you talked about your wife. So I'm curious if you can share with listeners who have to maybe the word is not choose between. But how do you navigate the importance of your marriage and that relationship with your profession, and trying to succeed in that trajectory, whatever that trajectory is for you. So maybe you can talk a little bit about how that, how that worked throughout all of those transitions.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Oh, OK. I usually do better at this from a better half nearby, which she is, in a sense. She's trying to work out and give me her working space right now, which I love. I'm gonna start with this. It's not easy. It is work. It is reps, the day in, the day out. It's not easy. I don't believe I've ever had a convo with someone when they're trying to balance the work and family life to where it's like, “Oh, that was easy, you know, I just do this and they do this, and we're good to go.” No, it is constant conflict of schedules. It is sharing what's going on. It's the ups and downs. So I'd like to start with that: It's not easy. And if anyone ever tells you it is easy, please ask them how they're doing it, and then spread their wise words of wisdom to all of us. Because that's probably the first thing: It's not easy. Once you recognize that you can get past understanding like, “OK, I'm not alone in this, that this is not easy, and I can start talking and sharing my experiences and seeing from those who seem to have it together. What are they doing to make it work? So I start there. It's not easy. Second, you have to be a team. I think there's a lot of us that think that, and my wife definitely did initially, and that was on me, that she thought that my career was the most important, that what I did and how I executed the mission and where I was going, that that was the No. 1 priority. And I found it that's not the case. I found that's not the case, because, sure, when we didn't have kids yet, and we were in Tucson, it's a little easier, because I would go on my deployments, and she would go to the job, she would go to work, and she had and she supported that, because I was out there, you know, fighting the good fight, accomplishing a mission, doing everything the Air Force needed me to do. And that's what she knew was important for me. So she supported that through and throughout, and she supported it to where I imagined, to the sense of she didn't feel like she could speak to say things that maybe I would like in the sense of me doing my mission, or coming home from Afghanistan with some of my experiences. Ahe felt that maybe sometimes, that she didn't have a word to convey to like, “Hey, this really scared me.” Or, “Hey, when you were gone, I saw the news and I was frightened. And you know, when I saw this happen, I just wanted to reach out to you, and I just want to make sure you're OK.” And she never felt initially like that she could convey those feelings, because it might affect me. It might affect my, you know, mentality while being overseas and down range. So she held that in, she held it in. She kept strong. She put on the “I'm here to support you” and I feel bad, you know, thinking back on that, that I should have given her the space to like, “Tell me what you're feeling. Tell me what you're going through. I don't want you to, I don't want you to struggle in silence. If you know you see something or there's something that scares you, let me know.” And unfortunately, I didn't learn that lesson until way, way later in my career, because she'd always kept that strength in and even when we started having kids, she still did. I kick myself all the time now that— we got to California, in the U-2s, we had an incident down range to where they needed me to bump up my deployment out there, to get out there to take care of the situation. And I'd asked, I was like, “Well, how much sooner do you need me?” Because we had just had our first son. You know, the dynamic's changing. The family dynamic is changing, and especially with your first born. And they said, “We need you to leave in about a week.” Here I was once again. And I know we have kind of kind of mentioned that I was I was in the mean mentality I was in. I was gonna be a pilot's pilot. I was gonna get the mission done. I was going to do everything I could to prove myself, and if my country needs me to be out there in a week to take care of this mission, that my family and my wife will understand. And that was that was not the way I should look at it. It really wasn't. But because I was not seeing her as a teammate, and she held it in — and thank goodness we had her mother-in-law. We had some family come out and support with a new baby. But I could tell that was one of the first times to where looking back on it now that maybe I could have said, “Can you find someone else?” You know, maybe I should have what I'm doing, hopefully you're doing now and teaching others. You have to balance that family with mission and the prioritize what is truly important at that moment. And that's something I failed to do at that time. It would happen again later on, but thankfully— so when I got to the 6th Special Operations Squadron, and at this time, especially after we had our second child in California, the wife had mentioned more. She started coming out of the shell like, “Hey, I do need you a little bit more now. I need you, and I need to be able to express and convey what I do and don't like.” And I was listening, but I was not listening the way she needed me to listen. I was not being that teammate on my side. So I heard, “Hey, I just need more support with the family. So whatever career decision we make next, let's align that.” And I was in my head, I was like, “Yes, you're absolutely right.” That's why the 6th Special Operations Squadron, when I got that interview and I picked up, it was so important, because I had family in that area, and family could get to us easier. So I was thinking, “Awesome. I have the support system for you there. I got the assignment. You're going to be taken care of.” I can tell that's not yet what she was wanting. And I will credit good old Col. Valentino. I was spinning up to go to Lebanon with the team, and we're about to have our third child. And here I was once again, like, “Yep, gotta get back to the mission. Gotta show my value. Gotta get in there, do it.” And the wife understands. We have two kids already. We're gonna have a third. So we've already had two. We kind of know how this goes. We're good to go. But I could tell, once again, looking back, everything's— that she wasn't happy, but she was ready to put up that wall again, to be like, “OK, I have to support him. Have to support what he does, and I have to, because that's what the military is asking me. That's what this new community…” And then Col Valentino, he came down. He goes, “Hey, are you about to have another child?” And I was like, “Yes, sir.” He goes, “When?” And I gave him the date. And he goes, “Your deployment date is like, a month after that.” I was like, “Yes, sir. This is our third child. We'll be good to go. I have the support system for the wife now, and she'll be taken care of. Good to go.” And he goes, “No, you're staying home. I don't need you.” He goes, “Did you want to ask me if there's anyone else wants to go so you can be there for your wife and your family?” And that blew my mind, that just, I don't know. It came out of nowhere for someone in a leadership role to say, “No, I'm not gonna send you on this deployment. I want you to be there with your family.” And that held in tight, and from then on, everything changed, and how I led and how I would push the mission. But I wouldn't do it to the extent of, could I not help someone balance their family life with their mission? And that took too long for me to realize. So what I say to everyone out there, it's not easy, but you come home from a long day and you're mentally exhausted and the mission is not going good, or you're getting ready for deployment, take a moment, sit down and just talk with your teammate at home. You have to look at it as teammates. They are your partner. They will be just like I mentioned before. They will be your support system through thick and thin, because they've probably seen you at your worst, and they want you to be at your best. But you can't do that unless you take care of that home front and treat them as your teammate. Because I am still, to this day, trying my best to become the man that I hope that she sees in me and that she wants me to be one day, but I had to fail in seeing it back then so that could see it now. And I think that's one of these things I want to convey. Not easy, and they have to be your teammates.   Naviere Walkewicz Thank you for sharing that. And I think to have a leader that showed you that, which is, now you've imprinted that in your leadership style. You're thinking about the airmen that you come across and how to help them navigate some of those tough choices, but doing it with a, you know, a bigger view of not just the mission, but, like, how do you fit in that with your family? I think that's so powerful, and I'm really glad you shared that, because I know that some of our listeners and our viewers, that's gonna resonate with them as well, because they're gonna remember a time when, “Wow, I didn't even ask if I didn't have to go, or if I didn't have to do this, just because I'm so used to jumping when you say, jump,” right? And I think sometimes it's OK. It's OK. Just a question, like, I'm willing and ready to jump. I just want to make sure is someone else able to do it too because of these reasons, right? So I love that you share that.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount And those leaders have to know their people enough in that regard to also know because ultimately, when you get the mission, then yes, that's what we signed up for, yes. But those leaders know their people, and they know what situation they're in. For example, there's a few times in Special Operations to where we're going on another deployment. But we knew our people, and we knew that some did not have the balance at home, and things were not looking the best they could. “Hey, we can help you out. We can give you all the resources you need. We don't need you on this deployment.” But that takes good leaders, recognizing and taking care of their people and understanding that these individuals cannot be effective down range or where they go if their home life is not taken care of. So, I know that is something that's been talked about for all my leadership training for all the years, but actually applying it is going to start with our future leaders coming up to realize, know your people, know where you can take care of them so that they can take care of the mission.   Naviere Walkewicz That's right. That's right. So this has been incredible. I think the underlying lesson that you shared with us is, obviously having belief in yourself and doing the work and proving your worth, so to speak. But I think it's also recognizing that support network. So if I may ask, you, I have two questions. The first one is, what are you doing to be a better leader every day? Yourself, like, what is something you are actually doing to be a better leader?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Oh my gosh. Well, I'm recognizing I know I'm not doing it right. Knowing that I'm about taking command already has the underlying nervousness and anxiety, and I realized taking command, why I have these emotions is because I'm afraid to fail, which that makes sense. That makes sense to any logical human being out there. That's like, yeah, I get that. But I have to realize, in that same token, it's OK to fail. It's OK to make mistakes. It's OK that some days you go in there, you're not gonna get it all right. This last year as a director of operations, I've walked out of that building, and there's days been like I didn't accomplish anything. I've messed things up. I didn't do this right. Why am I here? They could have found someone better. And then there were days where, like, yes, I did it, right? I got something accomplished. And on those days, I realized it's because I was taking care of the people and people's needs. And once again, when that happened, they were able to take care of the mission. And that's one of the things that every day I go into work and I ask myself, “Who can I help out? Who needs the motivational kick? Who needs someone to just talk with them? Who needs to share their story?” Because that's what leaders, ultimately, are. We take care of the people. And if I can go in there and just help one person every single day, I would like to think that that's a small success. So that's one thing I'm constantly working on. And it is an effort. It's not easy. It's not easy because you are taking so much and leaders, I don't care what level you're on, all the way from your very first flight command, all the way to your mission command, aircraft commander, all the way to where I am now. You're going to take a lot on your shoulders. You're going to bear, you know, the burden of others, pains, their grief, their successes, their failures. So I guess that's also answer that question. Get ready for that. OK? Because a good leader will do that. They will bear they will help hold the weight. They will support those who need it the most. And we got to do it day in, day out, the reps they have to. So I think I answered the first question, I apologize, was it was.   Naviere Walkewicz The second question is coming. So you're good, you're good. OK. What's something that you know now after having your 17-plus years in the in the military, but also just your life experience — but what's something you know now that you would share with a leader to kind of shorten that timeframe of, like learning those painful things to be better, right? So what would be something you'd share?   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Something I'd share to close that learning gap? Because once again, my call sign is Meathead— I learned lessons the hard way. Do your best to listen more than you talk. Do your best to just take the experiences of others, talk to others, but just listen. Just hear them. Just hear them. I believe that a lot of the things that I could have prevented may have already been told to me, or may have already been, you know, mentored to me, but I just didn't listen. Maybe they said something and “I was like, well, that doesn't jive with being cool or being a pilot, so I'm not gonna listen to that.” I'm pretty sure all of these lessons that hopefully either conveying or passing on, in a sense, I think I learned them early on. I just, I just didn't listen. So for all the leaders out there, do your best to listen, listen more than you talk. It will be wonders. Naviere Walkewicz Oh my gosh, that's just outstanding. And I what I really appreciate about that is, you know, you talked about how you're doing things to get better every day, but even just in the moment, you recognize like that's such an important piece of that is taking the time to listen and reflect so that you can actually really pick up on those cues, maybe, that someone needs your support. So yes, well, this has been incredible. As we wrap up today's episode, I keep coming back to something you said, which was all someone needs to do is just support you. Yeah. So here's the takeaway, leadership is found in how we show up for our people and how we believe in them, and how we remind them that they are capable for more than what they think they are. The question we can always ask ourselves today is, who needs me to believe in them right now? And you actually said that really well. So Col. Mount, I just want to thank you for joining us for this episode of Long Blue Leadership. Is there anything else you want to leave with our listeners today? Lt. Col. Steven Mount Yes. I don't think I'll ever be that leader that does one great act, and everyone's like, that's a great leader. I don't think I'll ever be that leader that gives like, one great speech, like, that's it. He nailed it. He's a great leader. No, if I'm gonna leave something with all of those you know at the Academy and the leaders in the Air Force now — which, by the way, thanks all of you. Me too, man, thank you for your service. You have no idea how much the world needs us right now, so you get out there and see it. So sorry. That was an aside. But thank you to everyone who's at the Academy now, who have served, whose families have served and will continue to serve. But one thing I'll leave to all those young leaders: Your leadership is defined by the acts, the million acts every day, not just by one act, not just by, like I said, not just by one amazing thing that you do. It's defined on you being there, and a million acts per day over a lifetime of your career, of showing up, showing that you care. That's huge, showing that you're fair and consistent. And they will see that your people will see that that those million acts day in day out, of how you treat them, and how you present yourself as a leader. And they will watch. They will watch, and if they can see that you care, and if they can see that you are doing those million acts day in, day out, and you're in there and you're in the grind and you're in the mud with them, they will give you everything, they will, and it's amazing to see, it really is, but that starts with you as the leader. So yeah, that's it, it's those million acts every day of a lifetime career that shows that you're a leader.   Naviere Walkewicz Well, we are so glad that you're out there leading and influencing so many. We're grateful for all of your years and more that you will do. Thank you so much.   Lt. Col. Steven Mount Thank you so much for the opportunity. I really, really enjoyed this. Thank you.   Naviere Walkewicz Good. Thank you for joining us for this edition of Long Blue Leadership. The podcast drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on all your favorite podcast apps. Send your comments and guest ideas to us at socialmedia@usafa.org, and listen to past episodes at longblueleadership.org.   KEYWORDS Leadership, Resilience, Mentorship, Adoption / Family Foundation, Support Network, Perseverance, Tough Conversations, Mission & Family Balance, Trust, Listening       The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation      

Mount Graham (called in Ndee biyati' (Western Apache) Dził Nchaa Sí'an – 'Big Seated Mountain') is a mountain in Graham County, Arizona, United States, approximately 70 miles northeast of Tucson. The mountain reaches 10,720 feet in height. It is the highest elevation in Graham County, Coronado National Forest and the Pinaleño Mountains. In 1989 construction of the Mount Graham International Observatory began which was followed by controversy including the inclusion of a near infrared telescope called Lucifer. Billy Bond from Permaculture P.I.M.P.cast joins Joel on a journey to discover the true secrets of where the Apache Tribe claims to meet with the Ga'an mountain spirits. They look at the evidence of how several institutions and countries were able to procure the top of the peak to build the observatory. They then lay out the findings of Tom Horn and Chris Putnam and the discoveries of the Vatican's future outlook of extraterrestrial life. Lastly, Billy tells his personal experience on Mount Graham and how he almost disappeared by prying into the hidden knowledge of the VATT. Perma Pastures Farm: https://permapasturesfarm.com Free The Rabbits Merch: https://freetherabbits.myshopify.com Buy Me A Coffee: Donate Website: https://linktr.ee/joelthomasmedia Follow: Instagram | X | Facebook Watch: YouTube | Rumble Music: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music Films: merkelfilms.com Email: freetherabbitspodcast@gmail.com Distributed by: merkel.media Produced by: @jack_theproducer INTRO MUSIC Joel Thomas - Free The Rabbits YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify OUTRO MUSIC Joel Thomas - Imposter YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

What if the scariest night of your life only had to happen once to ruin sleep forever? This true story from Tucson, Arizona, isn't just another haunted house tale—it's something far more sinister. A teenager, excited to move into his family's dream home, soon realized something inside the walls had been waiting… and watching. The house was beautiful, custom-built, and seemingly perfect. But beneath that clean exterior, a presence hid in silence. And it only needed one night to make itself known. Late one evening, while alone in a dark, windowless bedroom he called "the cave," he woke to a bone-chilling cold—and the overwhelming sense that something enormous was in the room with him. Then came the pressure, like a vice crushing his chest. A towering, shadowed figure appeared in the doorway—massive, faceless, hateful. What happened next defies logic: he was choked, held down, and nearly lost consciousness. And when it was over, it left no explanation—just silence… and a red ring around his neck. Was it a demonic entity? A real haunting tied to the mysterious couple who lived in the home before them? Or something older, more ancient, feeding off fear? He tried to warn his parents. They didn't believe him. They told him to pray. But prayer didn't make the figure disappear. Avoidance did. He never set foot in that room again. This is more than a ghost story. It's a paranormal encounter that never needed to repeat itself to leave a permanent mark. The signs were all there—the strange shuffling footsteps, the oppressive dread, the detached former owners. And in one horrifying moment, it all came together. Sometimes hauntings don't happen over time. Sometimes they come for you once—and it's enough. If you've ever woken up gasping, if you've ever felt eyes on you from the dark, you already know: not every haunting leaves a trail—some leave a scar. #RealGhostStories #TucsonHaunting #TrueHaunting #ParanormalExperience #SleepParalysisOrNot #DemonicEncounter #HauntedHouse #ShadowPeople #GhostStory #ChokedByAGhost #TerrifyingTrueStory #HauntedArizona Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

What if the scariest night of your life only had to happen once to ruin sleep forever? This true story from Tucson, Arizona, isn't just another haunted house tale—it's something far more sinister. A teenager, excited to move into his family's dream home, soon realized something inside the walls had been waiting… and watching. The house was beautiful, custom-built, and seemingly perfect. But beneath that clean exterior, a presence hid in silence. And it only needed one night to make itself known. Late one evening, while alone in a dark, windowless bedroom he called "the cave," he woke to a bone-chilling cold—and the overwhelming sense that something enormous was in the room with him. Then came the pressure, like a vice crushing his chest. A towering, shadowed figure appeared in the doorway—massive, faceless, hateful. What happened next defies logic: he was choked, held down, and nearly lost consciousness. And when it was over, it left no explanation—just silence… and a red ring around his neck. Was it a demonic entity? A real haunting tied to the mysterious couple who lived in the home before them? Or something older, more ancient, feeding off fear? He tried to warn his parents. They didn't believe him. They told him to pray. But prayer didn't make the figure disappear. Avoidance did. He never set foot in that room again. This is more than a ghost story. It's a paranormal encounter that never needed to repeat itself to leave a permanent mark. The signs were all there—the strange shuffling footsteps, the oppressive dread, the detached former owners. And in one horrifying moment, it all came together. Sometimes hauntings don't happen over time. Sometimes they come for you once—and it's enough. If you've ever woken up gasping, if you've ever felt eyes on you from the dark, you already know: not every haunting leaves a trail—some leave a scar. #RealGhostStories #TucsonHaunting #TrueHaunting #ParanormalExperience #SleepParalysisOrNot #DemonicEncounter #HauntedHouse #ShadowPeople #GhostStory #ChokedByAGhost #TerrifyingTrueStory #HauntedArizona Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story: