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This week, we chat with game developer and producer Phil Gaskell, whose career spans from typing BASIC on a ZX81 to shaping titles at Psygnosis, Sony Playstation and Warthog. Phil shares behind-the-scenes tales of early PlayStation days, cancelled games, missed payrolls and mafia connections at Gizmondo, and rebooting iconic games like Lemmings and Super Stardust HD. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 36:41 - Phil Gaskell Interview Our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroHourPodcast/videos Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you'd like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes: Atari beats ChatGPT: https://tinyurl.com/54pr4bxw PS1 custom motherboards: https://tinyurl.com/mtrdfb3j Head Over Heels sequel: https://tinyurl.com/4whtcrnn Mario Kart 64 on Dreamcast: https://tinyurl.com/jjk8uhyt Discord on Windows 95: https://youtu.be/wxdn30G2LE8
It's Friday, June 13, 2025 and The Ward Scott Files are back! Ted Yoho and John Martin take helm of our show to carry on the legacy and tradition of the Warthog. Join us every week on Facebook - or listen later on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube Podcast, wherever you find your favorite shows!
In this episode, we unpack the legendary role of the A-10 Warthog in the battlespace, the irreplaceable bond between pilots and JTACs, and the critical missions led by Air Force Combat Controllers. Col. Oaks shares insights from his time in the cockpit, what ordnance the A-10 can carry, when a show of force is necessary, […]
In part two of a two part podcast, Artist and Author, Sue Stolberger chats with me about her nearly 40 years living in a tent in the Ruaha National Park in East Africa. Sue says that “nature is the greatest teacher” and she shares with me so many of her experiences from that special time including Winkie the Warthog, Mr and Mrs C, Romeo the giraffe, Mrs Reedbuck and the cycle of life, her encounter with a lion, falling trees, climate change, gender equality and her wonderful life with the world renowned sculptor, her very special Rob Glen. All of these stories are captured in her beautiful book, ‘Nature Speaks' , which in many ways is as much a book about life as it is about nature. Sue has done lots, but there is lots more to come… Podcast Production by Greg Canty Greg's blog Greg on Twitter Greg on LinkedIn Email Greg with feedback or suggested guests: greg@fuzion.ie
In Part V of the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) series, host Mike “Flash” McVay sits down once again with A-10 pilot Ridge "Kelso" Flick to dive deep into the critical role the Warthog plays in SEAD and close air support operations. Drawing from his extensive experience flying the A-10 in hostile environments, Kelso shares insights into how low-level tactics, survivability, and precision targeting come together in the face of modern air defense threats. From Cold War-era training to post-9/11 combat deployments, this episode explores how A-10 pilots adapted to evolving SAM and AAA threats while maintaining their mission to protect ground forces. Kelso's perspective offers a unique look at the intersection of close air support and SEAD, highlighting the courage and coordination required in every mission.Stay tuned and subscribe for more frontline stories and tactical lessons from the world of combat aviation and special operations.
Guests Paulee Bow Magical Synth Adventurer Robin Vincent Molten Music Tech Richard Nicol founder and product designer Pittsburgh Modular For preshow and Ad free version and much more: Patreon.com/sonicstate YouTube video version: www.youtube.com/embed/7oQq5-X6zBU iZotope Cascadia -Discover intelligent delay without distraction. Reinforce your rhythms and create deep echoes, tight slapbacks, and creative textures – all while keeping instruments and vocals focused in the mix with easy, adaptive unmasking. Komplete 15 bundles have everything you need to make the music that matters to you. With an unparalleled range of plugins designed to take your productions from start to finish, explore what's new in the latest version. 00:00:09 SHOW START 00:02:12 Tubbutec Competition - Win Modular Hardware 00:02:55 AD: SonicState Patreon 00:12:19 Warthog Modular With Recall 00:26:31 AD: iZotope Cascadia 00:27:39 MPE OR Not To MPE 00:36:15 Synclaiver ORK II 00:42:49 Clank Uranograph Prototype 00:51:26 AD: Komplete 15 00:52:31 Baby Audio Smooth Operator Pro Where to Watch/Listen - We now stream the live show to Youtube Live, Twitch, Facebook Live as well as at Sonicstate.com/live every Weds at 4pm UK time- please do join in. Preshow available on Twitch. You can also download the audio version from RSS FEED
-Kim Campnell is a retired Colonel who served in the Air Force for over 24 years as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. She has flown 1,800 hours in the A-10 Warthog, including more than 100 combat missions protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan.-In 2003, she was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism, the third highest military decoration for aviators, after successfully recovering her battle-damaged airplane after an intense close air support mission.-Her Air Force assignments include leadership roles as a Group Commander, responsible for over 1,000 Air Force personnel in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Kim also served as the Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, advising the number three civilian official in the Department of Defense on national security and defense policy formulation.-She is a distinguished graduate from the United States Air Force Academy. As a Marshall Scholar, she earned an MBA from the University of London and a Master of Arts in International Security Studies from the University of Reading in England. She is a best selling author, detailing scenarios from her military career in her book ‘Flying in the Face of Fear'.FirstNet Built with AT&T:http://www.firstnet.com/healthandwellnessBuilding Homes for Heroes:https://www.buildinghomesforheroes.org/Download the O2X Tactical Performance App:app.o2x.comLet us know what you think:Website - http://o2x.comIG - https://instagram.com/o2xhumanperformance?igshid=1kicimx55xt4f
In this episode we WadeOutThere with Jarob Ortiz, from Arlington, Virginia. Jarob started fly fishing in 3rd grade, after being drawn to the delicate cast and presentation portrayed in the popular book and movie, A River Runs Through It. He learned to cast from his uncle from Montana, and when he signed up for the Air Force out of high school, Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska was at the top of his list. When he wasn't working in the A-10 Warthog's electronic warfare shop, he was spending all his free time traveling to fishing destinations throughout Alaska. After separating from the Air Force, Jarob used his G.I. Bill to pay for photography equipment and education, to start his second career. Jarob spent several years being a commercial photographer and fly fishing on the side, before making a last ditch attempt to keep his passion for photography alive, applying for a dream job, shooting our National Parks in the style and technique of famous photographer Ansel Adams. Today, Jarob is THE large format photographer for the national park service, tasked to capture the historic architecture and engineering projects throughout our country. We discuss how becoming engrossed in the systems we commit to, whether they be fly fishing or photography, create a balance in our lives, and Jarod shares stories and tips from some of his most memorable fly fishing adventures in our National Parks.Learn More:Instagram: @heritagedocumentationnpsVisit WadeOutThere.com/art for 10% off your first original painting or limited edition print from show host and artist Jason Shemchuk Visit TacticalFlyFisher.com and use Promo Code: wade15 at checkout for 15% off you next tactical gear purchase.Newsletter Sign-Up . Sign up for emails with new podcast episodes, blog articles, and updates on artwork from Jason.
It's Monday, March 10, 2025 and The Ward Scott Files are back! Ted Yoho and John Martin take helm of our show to carry on the legacy and tradition of the Warthog. Join us every week on Facebook - or listen later on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube Podcast, wherever you find your favorite shows!
Buckle up for a wild ride with A-10 Warthog pilots T-Dub and Quintana! From dodging bureaucracy to dodging bullets, these two bring hilarious and jaw-dropping combat stories straight from the cockpit. Hear about strafing tanks in Iraq, the legendary Kandahar Unicorn, and why British Special Forces will obliterate anyone who messes with their dog. Expect fighter pilot pranks, piddle pack nightmares, and some highly questionable call signs. Oh, and did we mention an explosion of 200 barrels of oil? If you love aviation, military humor, and tales of airborne mayhem, this episode is guns hot!
Wheels of Fire is the third studio album by the British rock band Cream, released in 1968. It is a double album, with one disc featuring studio recordings and the other containing live performances. The album blends blues, psychedelic rock, and hard rock, showcasing the virtuosity of Eric Clapton (guitar, vocals), Jack Bruce (bass, vocals), and Ginger Baker (drums, vocals).The studio disc includes iconic tracks like "White Room", a dramatic psychedelic anthem with haunting lyrics and a signature wah-wah guitar riff, and "Politician", a bluesy, satirical take on political figures. Other highlights include "Pressed Rat and Warthog", an offbeat spoken-word track by Ginger Baker, and "Deserted Cities of the Heart", a high-energy song with intricate instrumentation.The live disc, recorded at Fillmore West and the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, captures Cream's electrifying stage presence. The 16-minute version of "Spoonful" (originally by Willie Dixon) showcases Clapton's masterful blues improvisation, while "Crossroads", a cover of Robert Johnson's classic, features one of rock's most celebrated guitar solos.Wheels of Fire was the first double album to be certified Platinum, solidifying Cream's legacy as one of the greatest rock power trios. It remains a landmark release in psychedelic and blues rock history.Listen to the album on SpotifyListen to the album on Apple MusicWhat did you think of this album? Send us a text! Support the showPatreonWebsitePolyphonic Press SubredditFollow us on InstagramContact: polyphonicpressmusic@gmail.comDISCLAIMER: Due to copyright restrictions, we are unable to play pieces of the songs we cover in these episodes. Playing clips of songs are unfortunately prohibitively expensive to obtain the proper licensing. We strongly encourage you to listen to the album along with us on your preferred format to enhance the listening experience.
Tell us what you think!Explore the exhilarating journey of our guest, who grew up amidst the vibrant aviation culture of Larkspur, Colorado, with a family legacy of flying. This episode promises a deep dive into his transformation from dreaming of a civilian aviation career to navigating the complex pathways of military aviation, particularly within the Air National Guard. Inspired by a family friend's experience, he shares the hurdles and triumphs inherent in pursuing a fighter pilot position.Listeners are taken through the rigorous training process at Vance Air Force Base, from mastering the basics in a T-6 Texan to the adrenaline-pumping experience of handling an F-16. Our guest opens up about the unique challenges and high stakes of the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals course, known for its high washout rate, and the intense G-force training that prepares pilots for the demands of combat. He vividly recounts the transition to flying the F-16 and the strategic intricacies of real-world combat missions, highlighting the crucial role of aircraft like the A-10 Warthog in providing close air support.In the latter part of the episode, we delve into the shifting landscape of modern warfare and the future of military aviation. From the strategic coordination required in combat missions in Syria and Iraq to the potential phase-out of the A-10 aircraft in favor of newer technologies like the F-35, our conversation touches on the enduring necessity of ground troops and the irreplaceable support of close air missions. Whether it's maneuvering through the fog of war or making split-second targeting decisions, the complexities of a pilot's world are laid bare, offering invaluable insights into both the thrill and responsibility that come with the skies.Follow Wild Chaos on Social Media: Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wild-chaos-podcast/id1732761860Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KFGZ6uABb1sQlfkE2TIoc?si=8ff748aa4fc64331 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildchaosshowYoutube: https://youtube.com/@wildchaos2308?si=8aj6bb-GgcsMhJw7TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildchaospodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/thewildchaosMeta (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/wildchaos/LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/wildchaos
The show opens with Adam talking about a text he received from Jay Leno about one of his bits, the auction for Jerry Seinfeld's Steve McQueen Porsche 917, why people & animals yawn, and longsnapping. Next, they play a new segment “A.I. vs. Ace”, where they compare the opinions of real Adam with those of an artificial intelligence version of him, on such topics as: fake boobs, Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, and the Kansas City Chiefs relationship with the refs. Then, Jason “Mayhem” Miller reads the news including stories about Trump slamming a sermon asking him to show “mercy” toward LGBTQ people, the new administration shutting down White House Spanish-language page, Tracy Morgan saying he felt “culturally isolated” at SNL, and Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg revealing they sneak off to have sex in public. Finally, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Mark Dubowitz joins the show to talk about how the U.S. is handling Iran, how the Trump administration will change how we deal with the issues in the Middle East, and why Obama sent $400 million in cash to Iran. For more with Mark Dubowitz: TWITTER/X: @mdubowitz INSTAGRAM: @mdubowitz WEBSITE: fdd.org Thank you for supporting our sponsors: http://Homes.com Shopify.com/carolla
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Food, fog, and a farting warthog. Keep Listening tell your friends. Music from this episode is Sequelibrium from Cole's on 5/18/24. Thats the show Captain came to and their party bus broke down. Discussed in episode 136 - https://on.soundcloud.com/UsuXz1WGEiL11td46 Sequelibrium: Smidge: Drums Dan Gagliardi: Guitar Brian Whipple: Bass Sean Thurman: Guitar www.montikingu.com
Bhad Bhabie: Bhad Bhabie is back with more drama as she talks about her boyfriend beating her up and cheating on him with Chief Keef. Birthday Break: Mike and Jeff take over to discover some Nightcore Bhad Bhabie and we have cake for Jim's birthday! Dr. Pepper Guy: First we get a visit from the editor of Corey Feldman Artist: The Man Behind The Love and then we get a new video featuring Dr. Pepper Guy! FUCK YOU WATCH THIS!, THE BEAR!, KANYE WEST!, CLIPSE!, KENNY G!, USE THIS GOSPEL!, PRINT OUT GUNS!, HALO!, BATMAN!, WARTHOG!, BATMOBILE!, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!, BIRTHDAY CAKE!, RIZZLER CAKE!, COREY!, CALLER!, JESSICA!, HIPPOPOTAMUS!, HOOKING UP!, COREY FELDMAN!, THE BIRTHDAY!, BHAD BHABIE!, DR PHIL!, CASH ME OUTSIDE!, CHIEF KEEF!, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!, GHETTO!, BEAT UP!, ERIK!, CELEBRITIES!, BEING FAIR!, HI BITCH!, ELO!, NIGHT CORE!, EDM!, BHAD BHABIE REMIX!, NIGHT COURT!, BON JOVI!, GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW!, COCO BUNS!, NBA CARD PACKS!, DONRUSS!, ADAN GONZALES!, EDITOR!, MASTERS!, FOOTAGE!, DON DOKKEN!, STAUNCH!, JAKE PERRY!, 2020-DEAD!, BOX SET VERSION!, DR PEPPER GUY!, THE DARK KNIGHT!, PREDATOR HUNTERS!, PUMPKIN HEAD!, STALKING!, ABUSE!, ATTACK!, PUNCH!, KICK! You can find the videos from this episode at our Discord RIGHT HERE!
General Michael "Johnny Bravo" Rowley, a true living legend in the Air Force. From his humble beginnings as a military brat to his rise through the ranks, this decorated pilot shares his remarkable journey - from navigating the fog of war in the A-10 Warthog to leading at the highest levels of the Pentagon. Discover the leadership lessons he learned under fire and the mental resilience he developed in combat, Hear how his chance encounter with leadership guru Simon Sinek shaped his approach to guiding airmen, and learn why the brotherhood of ground and air forces is so vital to mission success. 0:00 - Intro 02:55 - Connection with Simon Sinek and leadership development04:25 - Josh's experience meeting Simon Sinek at Whiteman Air Force Base08:40 - Josh's Airman of the Year experience and breakfast with Simon Sinek12:25 - General's TED Talk experience and leadership philosophy14:40 - Hesitation to do the TED Talk and Simon Sinek's encouragement18:00 - Generational shift and personal reflections on feeling "old"20:10 - Josh's transition to civilian life and the challenges of adapting22:40 - General's upbringing as a military brat and journey through the Air Force26:25 - Significant events in the General's career, including 9/1130:10 - The General's experience at AFOTECH and the team dynamics33:00 - Importance of relationships and communication at AFOTECH35:00 - General's combat experience and the mission discussed in his TED Talk38:10 - Navigating through weather and engaging enemy forces42:10 - Importance of mental resilience and combat stress management45:00 - Role of informal support systems and having a "wingman"48:25 - Balancing high-level decisions and staying connected to airmen52:00 - Communicating the "why" behind decisions to the team54:40 - General's message to airmen about adaptability and resilience1:00:10 - Challenges and responsibilities in the global context1:04:00 - Emphasis on leadership development and professional competence1:08:00 - Josh's firsthand experience and observations in Israel1:10:25 - General's call sign story and personal anecdote1:13:40 - Closing remarks and gratitude A 1996 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Maj. Gen. Drowley is a command pilot with more than 2,400 flight hours in the iconic A-10 Warthog, including over 200 combat hours. His combat experiences, particularly in close air support, exemplify the deep bond between air and ground forces. Throughout his career, he has commanded at every level—flight, squadron, group, and wing—while also holding pivotal roles at the United States Air Force Academy, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Beyond his operational excellence, Maj. Gen. Drowley is a passionate advocate for leadership, mental resilience, and teamwork. From delivering a TEDx talk to collaborating with Simon Sinek, he has inspired countless individuals within and beyond the military.
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Welcome to the Ballad of the Seven Dice. It's time for some good old fashioned noir detective action. Get ready for break ins, fist fights, and DRAMA! Michaela - @Metaphysicaal Fatuma - Noor @Fatumaaaa_ Tenzin - Mauve @tenzindays Drea - Fable @DreaSilvertooth Jak - Guy @jak_true Check out our YouTube Want to join in on the conversation? Join Our Discord Show Notes Conspiracy Unravel, Closing In, A Bad Outcome - Monument Studio Neon God, Experiment 4, Snowfield, Time, In This Time, - Dark Fantasy Studio Italian City Streets, Urban Night - Michaël Ghelfi
Mateo was found and no one was harmed.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Retired USAF Col. “KC” shared incredible moments from her journey as an A-10 pilot, showcasing bravery, determination, and grit. Some highlights include: The Lucky Rabbit's Foot and a Baghdad Mission KC recounts a harrowing close air support mission over Baghdad in 2003. Battling poor visibility, she and her flight lead responded to a desperate call for help. Diving under the clouds, she targeted enemies beneath a bridge amid chaos. Her A-10 was hit by a surface-to-air missile, forcing her to fly in manual reversion. Despite the damage, she safely returned to base, demonstrating her skill, training, and the resilience of the Warthog. Why She Chose the A-10 KC explains her decision to fly the A-10, the “Warthog,” drawn to its low-level mission focus and dedication to ground troops. Her story highlights the critical role of close air support and her pride in helping soldiers return home safely. Reflections That Save Lives KC shares how lessons from Desert Storm veterans and her training shaped her actions during crises. These stories became a lifeline in her most challenging moments. KC's vivid storytelling reveals what it means to serve with courage and commitment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine Legate)
On the latest NFL Players: Second Acts podcast. Former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Chad Hennings joins Peanut and Roman. Chad is the first guest on the show who's second act is playing in the NFL. He shares incredible stories from his first act; serving the country as a fighter pilot in the Air Force. Chad describes why he relished being a pilot, catching G-Forces in A-10 Warthog jets and the dangers of combat missions. And we hear how that Air Force experience helped him transition to the NFL in 1992 as a 27-year-old rookie playing for none other than Jimmy Johnson's Dallas Cowboys. What was it like inside the locker room of the ‘90s Cowboys dynasty? Chad tells us in a conversation you won't want to miss. The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Radio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On the latest NFL Players: Second Acts podcast. Former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Chad Hennings joins Peanut and Roman. Chad is the first guest on the show who's second act is playing in the NFL. He shares incredible stories from his first act; serving the country as a fighter pilot in the Air Force. Chad describes why he relished being a pilot, catching G-Forces in A-10 Warthog jets and the dangers of combat missions. And we hear how that Air Force experience helped him transition to the NFL in 1992 as a 27-year-old rookie playing for none other than Jimmy Johnson's Dallas Cowboys. What was it like inside the locker room of the ‘90s Cowboys dynasty? Chad tells us in a conversation you won't want to miss. The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Radio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dale Stark, a retired Lieutenant Colonel and accomplished A-10 Warthog pilot, served nearly 24 years in the Air Force, initially enlisting as an aircraft mechanic before commissioning as an officer. Known for his skill in close air support (CAS), Stark deployed to Afghanistan in 2006, 2010, and 2014, becoming a trusted squadron commander in 2018. His leadership style emphasized teamwork and discipline, values that guided his ascent through the ranks and earned him the respect of his airmen during critical missions in the Global War on Terror. Returning to, Oregon, Stark and his wife Amanda established a small-scale cattle ranch, inspired by his love for agriculture. They aim to produce and provide healthy, local beef for their community, combining sustainable practices with a commitment to wellness and quality food. Stark also hosts his own podcast "The Dale Stark Show," a show dedicated to telling the stories of those who served. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://moinkbox.com/srs https://bubsnaturals.com/shawn - USE CODE "SHAWN" https://betterhelp.com/srs https://trueclassic.com/srs https://ShawnLikesGold.com | 855-936-GOLD #goldcopartner Dale Stark Links: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dalestarka10 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DaleStarkA10 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleStarkA10 X - https://x.com/DaleStarkA10 The Dale Stark Show - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dale-stark-show/id1767833354 Ranch - https://7barrelranch.com Please leave us a review on Apple & Spotify Podcasts. Vigilance Elite/Shawn Ryan Links: Website | Patreon | TikTok | Instagram | Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, G. brings listeners along a remarkable journey from piloting the A-10 Warthog to operating drones in combat. One story that stands out is the transition to remotely piloted aircraft after a neck injury. When introduced to the world of RPAs, she faced the unique challenges of flying remotely and adapting to drone camera interfaces, something very different from a traditional cockpit. Her experience highlights the adaptability required in military aviation and the evolving role of drones in modern warfare. She also shares her time at the prestigious Air Force Weapons School. Despite the odds — pregnant with her second child and the first-ever RPA student at the school — she navigated this demanding program, emerging as a skilled instructor. Her dedication and resilience shine, inspiring those around her. Wrapping up with insights into "Cross-check Mental Performance" training, she emphasizes the importance of mental agility for pilots. Through her stories, listeners gain a firsthand look at the courage, adaptability, and mental fortitude of military aviators.
On this week's episode I spoke with Colonel Kim “KC” Campbell DFC “Retd” served in the Air Force for 24 years as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. Kim is a keynote speaker sharing her story about a life changing combat experience while weaving in ideas and lessons about leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and decision making in stressful environments. Kim has flown 1,800 hours in the A-10 Warthog, including more than 100 combat missions protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. She is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy and has a Master of Arts in International Security Studies and a Master of Business Administration from the University of London. She has served as a Squadron Commander, Operations Group Commander, Air Force Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defence for Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defence. Most recently, Kim served as the Director for the Centre for Character and Leadership Development at the United States Air Force Academy. In 2003, Colonel Campbell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism after successfully recovering her battle-damaged airplane after an intense close air support mission in Baghdad. In 2023 Kim published her bestselling book FLYING IN THE FACE OF FEAR A fighter Pilot's Lessons on Leading with Courage. Kim is a mum a wife and now travels around America speaking and helping veterans transiting out of the military. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Kim “KC” Campbell Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway
Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links Boost theSignal with a $5 monthly donation! Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content! #emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices -------------An iconic line from the award-winning drama, “The West Wing” perfectly describes this week's guest on the Disaster Tough Podcast.“This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars.”As a retired Colonel in the US Air Force, Kim “KC” Campbell flew 1,800+ hours and 100+ combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan during 24 years of service as a fighter pilot and senior military leader.Her efforts earned her the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism in 2003 after recovering her battle-damaged A-10 Warthog aircraft during an intense support mission.Since retiring from the Air Force, Colonel Campbell has focused on family life and helping build future leaders as an author and keynote speaker. Her best-selling book, "Flying in the Face of Fear: A Fighter Pilot's Lessons on Leading with Courage" shares vital lessons for organizations about leadership and decision-making.In this episode, she shares some of the insights from the book along with other leadership and service lessons learned during her time in the military and beyond.Colonel Campbell's book can be found online at https://kim-kc-campbell.com/book/ and other websites and stores where books are sold.------------------*Major Endorsements:L3Harris's BeOn PPT App.Learn more about this amazing product here: https://www.l3harris.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by Professionals for Professionals: https://www.dobermanemg.com/impulseEmergency Management for Dynamic Populations (DyPop):Hot Mess Express: An emergency management leadership course focusing on response tactics during terrorist attacks. Hot Mess Express includes an immersive exercise during an intentional train derailment scenario. Register for DyPop here:https://www.thereadinesslab.com/shop/p/dynamicDoberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com
David Waldman is back, atoned, rested and ready to take on another big news week with us. Greg Dworkin tells us to take a deep breath as the horses enter the back stretch, as the smell will only get worse from now on. Experts do agree, the presidential race outlook is… hazy. Check back with them as long as your cash holds out. Face it, if the corporate media had told you that it was a blowout earlier, you'd be reading the sports page this month, and millions of dollars would have just slipped through their fingers. Internal polling is maybe a different story, but could be just as wrong. Mass media's efforts to continually relevel the playing field does create a fertile environment for more news stories, such as armed militia gathering to challenge FEMA forces. Some of that is Elon's doing, of course, but Greg is determined to quote them until their last post. MAGA will not like hearing who discovered America. Their cognitive dissonance is assimilated into rationalizations, conspiracy theories, or simply repressed. Donald Trump needs to act crazier each day to keep anyone's attention... Except, he's not acting. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, could solve all of the world's problems, but if that widened rather than tightened the horse race, why would the news be interested? Therefore, the news is Trump's latest assassin. Although he isn't. Boy, If only Donald had an A-10 Warthog at Coachella, those things wouldn't keep happening. At least this time Trump wasn't embarrassed by people leaving his rally early. Nationalism is still an increasing threat in America, but the latest good news is the impact a Nazi recently made back in Germany.
In this episode of Heroes of Reality, Dylan Watkins sits down with KC Campbell, a retired Air Force colonel, fighter pilot, and leadership expert. KC shares her remarkable journey, including her experience flying the A-10 Warthog in over 100 combat missions and the lessons learned along the way. She opens up about how these high-stakes situations shaped her approach to leadership, decision-making, and facing fear head-on.KC discusses:Combat Lessons in Leadership: How flying combat missions provided the framework for making difficult decisions in both life and business.The Power of Visualization: How "chair flying" and mental preparation can reduce fear and lead to success, whether in combat or in the boardroom.Facing Fear with Action: The importance of acting in the face of fear and why giving yourself grace for feeling fear is crucial—but not an excuse to avoid taking action.Building a Strong Team Culture: The role of trust, humility, and feedback in fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and excellence.Handling Tough Decisions: KC reflects on making difficult calls, whether it's firing a team member or flying a damaged aircraft home.With a career spanning over 24 years in the Air Force, KC brings a wealth of leadership experience, offering valuable advice for entrepreneurs, executives, and anyone striving to be a better leader.Key Takeaways:Preparation and visualization are essential to overcoming fear and improving performance.High standards and compassionate leadership can coexist in a thriving team culture.
In this episode of 'The Crux True Survival Stories,' hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen delve into the riveting story of Austin Riley, a ranch hand in Texas Hill Country who narrowly survived a vicious attack from his pet warthog, Waylon Jennings. Raised on a ranch with a variety of exotic animals, Austin faced a life-threatening ordeal when his beloved 250-pound warthog turned on him unexpectedly. The hosts explore Austin's unique bond with animals, particularly Waylon, and the subsequent tragic incident that raises questions about human-animal relationships and the risks of keeping exotic pets. The episode also reflects on other harrowing stories of exotic pet attacks, shedding light on the unpredictable nature of wild animals and highlighting the importance of responsible pet ownership. 00:00 Introduction to The Crux True Survival Stories 00:18 A Harrowing Tale of Survival Begins 01:03 Meet Austin Riley and His Beloved Warthog 02:21 Understanding Warthogs 03:49 Austin's Unique Upbringing 06:29 The Bond Between Austin and Waylon 09:33 The Brutal Attack 11:11 Austin's Fight for Survival 18:17 Austin's Road to Recovery 18:40 The Heartbreaking Decision 19:02 Reflecting on Exotic Pets 19:25 The Fable of the Farmer and the Snake 20:47 Shocking Exotic Pet Statistics 24:52 Travis the Chimpanzee Incident 28:36 The Tragic Case of Kelly Waltz 31:07 Gerald Rushton's Fatal Encounter 33:35 Concluding Thoughts on Exotic Pets 34:14 Final Words and Listener Engagement References https://factanimal.com/warthog/ https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/warthog-attack-texas-exotics/ https://www.livescience.com/58337-warthog-facts.html https://pangovet.com/statistics/exotic-pets-statistics/#:~:text=Around%2017.6%20million%20exotic%20pets%20are%20currently%20owned%20in%20the https://allthatsinteresting.com/charla-nash https://www.poconorecord.com/story/news/2009/10/06/saylorsburg-woman-kept-bear-who/51843642007/ https://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/exotic-deer-mauls-keeper-in-waskom/article_e420bd02-d640-5aae-8ac2-7269dd2f5c27.html#:~:text=WASKOM%20-%20A%2067-year-old%20Waskom%20man%20died%20Friday%20after%20his https://www.ktbs.com/news/man-mauled-to-death-by-deer/article_623d0c15-41bb-5b47-853a-5930d5f56557.html#:~:text=An%20East%20Texas%20man%20who%20raised%20exotic%20deer%20was%20mauled Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/
Knuckles Metallix drawn by Bob & Dobbyn, what else do you want? How about hoop ignorance? A breaded Man shape? A topic so serious that we probably shouldn't have covered it except STC and the format of the podcast forced our hand? You get all that!
HEYYY Y'ALL !! Today we will be talking about how much I can't stand my neighbor (the b*tch who owns the dogs that attacked me in 2022) which made me think about the beautiful kids playing outside. Whyyyyy can't I be 8 again??? This question brought me to talking shiii about my aint shiii uncle (my fave thing to do) We then get into how people get away with being trash just because of money and access. Then OF COURSE we talk about the Menendez Brothers doc on NetFlix... we are everywhere today girls! BUSINESS INQUIRIES CONTACT: ALWAYSAJA1995@gmail.com FOLLOW ME ON: INSTAGRAM & TIKTOK: @AJAMYQUEEN @ASURBIGSISTER WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/IJxF-malMeY
Welcome the eighty-second episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit show! I'm your host Mark Hasara, aviation and conflict history expert. Colonel Ray “Donk” Strasburger began his flying career as a Navigator in the B-52, qualifying for a pilot slot when his initial eye test was determined to be wrong! Donk and his wingman were awarded Silver Stars for destroying major elements of the Special Republican Guard Hammurabi Division assaulting Task Force 2-69th Armor at the Muthanna Bridge, called Objective Monty, during the sand storm sweeping through Baghdad on 6 April 2003. The ground controller for 2-69th callsign ADVANCE 33 was a voice Donk recognized immediately! This and previous episodes of the Lessons from the Cockpit show are financially sponsored by Wall Pilot, custom aviation art for the walls of your home, office, or hanger. These four, six, or eight foot long aircraft profiles printed on vinyl peel off and stick to any flat surface. They are also water proof. There are 149 Ready-to-Print and ship profiles of aircraft from WWII to fifth generation fighters. We can also do custom aircraft profiles of your favorite aircraft. Go to www.wallpilot.com and purchase one or two of these highly detailed aircraft profiles for you or your kids. This A-10 Warthog belongs to the 163rd Fighter Squadron "Black Snakes" from the Indiana Air National Guard and represents an A-10 like Donk flew over Iraq. This print is available from Wall Pilot at the link here. This F-16CG Block 40 Fighting Falcon was deplooyed to Al Udied Air Base in the United Arab Emirates during the 2003 Shock and Awe air campaign. It is the flagship of the World Famous Highly Respected (WFHR) 555th Fighter Squadron out of Aviano Air Base Italy. This F-15E Strike Eagle flagship represents the 335th Fighter Squadron "Chiefs" deplooyed to Al Udied Air Base in Qatar and flew missions in both the first and second Gulf Wars. Thanks for downloading this and previous episodes of the Lessons from the Cockpit show found here on my YouTube channel and at www.lessonsfromthecockpit.show. Become an All Ranks Club member and receive unpublished chapters of my book Tanker Pilot, pictures taken during my KC-135 career, and soon a Lessons from the Cockpit coin for the Virtual Bar Nights. I set up personal Zoom calls for All Ranks Club members just so we can talk aviation. Thanks again for listening and we'll talk again next week on the Lessons from the Cockpit show!
Retired Air Force Colonel Martha McSally made history as the first woman in the United States to become a Top Gun fighter pilot. Her impressive military career was marked by incredible achievements, honors and awards, but she also endured harassment, abuse and assault by a senior officer. In this episode, Martha shares her journey of overcoming trauma and adversity by rising above all of her fears, facing them head on, and proving the Air Force wrong. When she was told no she couldn't be a fighter pilot because she was a woman, that ignited a fire in her belly to make it happen. “...They told me, ‘You can't do this because you're a girl, and it is against the law.' I never had been told that in my life….It was like, ‘Nope, I am a fighter pilot and I am going to will this into existence'…I kept the dream in my heart…I wouldn't take ‘No' for an answer. I refused to give up...”Martha was deployed six times to the Middle East, and Afghanistan, flying more than 350 combat hours in an A-10 Warthog and earned the Bronze Star. Her book, "Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up" can be found on her website: www.marthamcsally.com. Be the first to know of new episodes by subscribing to this show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And, if you enjoy this episode or any previous episodes, be sure to give us a star rating and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.Have a guest idea or want to learn more about Brunner Communications? Contact us at info@LizBrunner.comFor more:Lizbrunner.comBrunnerAcademy.comFacebookTwitter: @lizbrunnerInstagram: @lizbrunnerLiz's best-selling book: Dare to Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams Into Your Next Chapter Liz's Keynote Sizzle ReelLiz's Podcast Guest Comments#liveyourbestlifepodcast #liveyourbestlifewithlizbrunner https://lizbrunner.com/live-your-best-life/Produced by Peoples Media
Wes "The Warthog" Larson tells the sad and violent story of Austin Riley and his pet Waylon, a warthog who decided one day to turn his tusks on his caretaker and friend. Jeff reveals a somewhat tragic nickname he had when he was younger, and Mike might have made up a word. ~~ To advertise on the show, contact us! ~~ Tooth & Claw is brought to you by QCODE. Support the show and get access to an extensive library of exclusive episodes like this by supporting the show on Patreon or joining the Grizzly Club on Apple Podcasts. For the latest updates on the show and all things wildlife, follow us at toothandclawpod.com and social: Instagram: @ToothandClawPodcast Twitter: @ToothandClawPod Wes: @GrizKid Jeff: @jefe_larson Mike: @mikey3ds
A conversation with Sam Eckholm '18 about his unique path and work to inspire the next generation of military leaders through social media and content creation.----more---- SUMMARY In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99, is talking with Sam about his journey from the three times he landed on the “footprints” on in-processing day through the challenges he faced as he learned to lead his peers, side-stepping career advice that might have left him in obscurity, his relentless perseverance pursuing his dreams, graduation in 2018, the history he's making now and Sam's continuing support of the Air Force Academy. SOME OF OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "Putting yourself in other people's shoes is big." "If you have an end goal in mind, it's not going to be easy to get there. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it." "What you see as a finished polished video, the behind the scenes is crazy." "Don't lose sight of that end goal." "Dig deep down and realize what you want. And just relentlessly go after that." SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN CHAPTERS 00:00 - Putting Yourself in Other People's Shoes 21:13 - The Terrazzo Gap: Challenges and Perceptions 23:49 - Finding Passion in Clubs and Sports 27:40 - From Photography to Public Affairs 30:05 - Inspired by the F-22 Demo Team 31:00 - Pursuing a Career in Public Affairs 32:24 - Learning and Growing as a Young Lieutenant 33:22 - Challenges and Rewards of Public Affairs 34:22 - Maintaining Motivation and Finding Balance 35:44 - Leading Others and Finding Personal Outlets 38:41 - Transitioning to Entrepreneurship 41:49 - Impactful Moments and Inspiring Others 46:49 - Overcoming Challenges and Pursuing Dreams 53:31 - Supporting the Academy and Creating Impactful Content 56:19 - Final Thoughts and Message to Listeners TAKEAWAYS - Putting yourself in other people's shoes is important for effective leadership - The Terrazzo Gap between intercollegiate athletes and non-athletes at the Academy is a unique challenge - Being involved in clubs and sports at the Academy provides valuable experiences and friendships - Passion for photography and social media can lead to a career in public affairs. - Don't lose sight of your end goal and relentlessly pursue it. - Advocate for yourself and trust in your own decisions. - Creating meaningful impact requires hard work and dedication. - Inspire others by sharing your journey and experiences. - The Academy Blueprint program helps level the playing field for aspiring cadets. - Expand your knowledge and learn from various sources of inspiration. - Don't be discouraged by challenges and setbacks; they can lead to growth and success. ABOUT SAM Deep down, Sam Eckholm always knew the Air Force Academy was where he belonged. As the son of an Air Force pilot and Academy graduate, he was brought up on the blue and silver. After graduating high school in Dallas, Texas, he followed in his dad's footsteps, attending the U.S. Air Force Academy as a member of the class of 2018. Following graduation, Sam was selected as a member of the F-22 Raptor Demonstration team, where he traveled the world as a Public Affairs Officer, documenting the 5th generation stealth fighter jet at air shows across the globe. After separating from active duty in 2022, Sam's passion for military service has not changed, but his ability to share that passion with an even larger audience has. His videos have accumulated over 100 million views online, with over 1 million followers across his social media platforms. Attending the Air Force Academy is what started it all, and Sam's goal is to help others achieve their dreams of throwing their hat in the air and graduating from the Academy. The Air Force Academy Blueprint is the culmination of almost two years of pouring his heart and soul into a singular project, and he can't wait to bring it to you. - Image and copy courtesy of Sam Eckholm CONNECT WITH SAM LINKEDIN | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER LINKS WE MENTIONED ACADEMY BLUEPRINT SAM'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates! SAM'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS: Guest: Sam Eckholm '18 | Host: t. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99 Sam Eckholm Putting yourself in other people's shoes is big. It's kind of hard to remember that because you're getting information from your leader, right, your boss, they're telling you one thing, it's hard for them to see kind of two layers down how that's going to impact everyone else. So, I mean, I would always just try to put myself in other people's shoes. Okay, if I do this, what's that gonna… how's that going to make this person feel? Naviere Walkewicz My guest today is Sam Eckholm, USAFA class of 2018 and Air Force captain turned full-time entrepreneur and storyteller, the third in his family's Long Blue Line. Sam is the son of a 1989 graduate and the nephew of a 1993 graduate. All three hail from Cadet Squadron 28, the Blackbirds. We'll talk with Sam about his Dallas roots to the day he stood on the footprints at the Academy. We'll ask him about how he made his way from the wing to the F-22 Raptor demonstration team, then public affairs, out of the Air Force in '23, and now an entrepreneur, content creator and social media influencer. Sam's father and uncle were his main sources of inspiration for becoming a member of the profession of arms. And he has stayed close to the Air Force and the Academy ever since. He leads hopefuls to reach for their dreams and shares his passion for all things Air Force with the world. As we move through the conversation, we'll talk about lessons he's learned in being a leader, and what advice he would give to those aspiring to become leaders and leaders who want to be better. Sam, I'm really looking forward to this conversation. Welcome to Long Blue Leadership and thank you for being here today. Sam Eckholm Naviere, it's always great to see you. It's always great to be back at the best school in the world. Naviere Walkewicz Yes, it is. And I mean, I think what's so great about your story, Sam, and what's so unique for our listeners is they feel like they know you because you have such an incredible presence. But today, they're really going to get a chance to understand how you got here. And I think that's what's so fascinating for people. Sam Eckholm Yeah, that means a lot. It's always fun to sit down and kind of talk a little bit more in depth. You know, with the videos I do, I'm trying to focus on highlights and showing some action and keeping the viewer's attention. But this is just kind of laid back. Naviere Walkewicz Let's talk and relive some fun, exciting , you know, stories from the Academy and beyond. Yes, this is about you now. So, you get to be the spotlight and I'm really excited to take everyone on this journey. So, let's roll it back a little bit. We'll start with a journey of Sam as a little boy, you know. I know you shared you kind of grew up in Dallas after third grade. We had a little bit of a chat, but you did some bouncing around before that. Let's hear about your childhood. Sam Eckholm Yeah, so my dad, an '89 grad, like you said went off to pilot training ended up flying KC-135s. So I was actually born at McConnell Air Force Base, right, and so Wichita, Kansas. Fun fact: little full-circle moment for me, I'm gonna' be headed out there in two weeks to do a KC-46 video with the unit there and first time I'll have been back since I was born. So that'll be really fun to see. But yeah, growing up I mean, I don't consider myself an Air Force brat because my dad did separate when I was young, but we bounced around every two years but Dyess McConnell, it was fun. Definitely have some early memories of him and his flight suit walking out on the flight line. And that probably sparked the initial interest in wanting to serve. I think I shoved that to a side for a little bit until I was a bit more mature and could realize what that actually meant. Kind of around the second or third grade, he got out, transitioned to the airline world settled on American Airlines, and moved to Dallas, Texas. And that's really where I call my home. That's where I grew up. And as you know, Dallas is a super not just for Academy athletes and future cadets. It's just seems like a hot hub, right, for a lot of people move there. So, I had a great experience. When it came time to applying to the Academy I knew I was going to have to have my ducks in a line because it's competitive. There's a lot of people trying to get in. But looking back I mean, I've been all over the world now at this point, but Texas always feels like home. Naviere Walkewicz I love that you have your roots. So talk about what you were like as a kid. Were you really active in sports? Where are you — you kind of have the social media side, so, are you really interested in some of the dramatic arts? Like, tell me about what that looked like? Sam Eckholm Yes, sports were always a big part of my family. My dad was actually a basketball player here at the Air Force Academy. My uncle played on the football team as well. So, they were huge athletes. I was always, growing up, I was playing tennis, basketball, golf with my dad, my brothers. I have two other brothers as well. We're all super competitive. Probably, I think what also helped me just realize the Academy was a great school because you know, what other college do you go into where everyone's so competitive and athletic, and sports are built into the curriculum? So yeah, I mean, I would say that was an important part of growing up. My dad especially instilled a lot of values he learned at the Academy in serving. And it's just so cool looking back now, because I didn't realize at the time what those were, and then you go through four years here, you go through five years active duty, and you're like, “OK,” that's why he was the way that he was. When I was actually here at the Academy, I had this mental checklist of stories, he told me, and I will try to like check them off as I also accomplished them. So, you know, his basic training experience, right? Him jumping off the 10-meter board and water survival; him going through survival training and getting some of that experience and jumping out of an airplane. It's really fun for me to experience those as well because those were the stories I had grown up with back home in Texas. Naviere Walkewicz Wow. So, a house of three boys. Where were you in the lineup? Sam Eckholm I was a middle child. Naviere Walkewicz And so did your other brothers want to go to the Academy as well or that wasn't... Sam Eckholm So my older brother Ben, he originally was interested. In fact, you know, he's only a year and a half older. So, we were only one grade apart. And I remember he went to one of those service academy, congressional just learn more about it, right. And he went with a couple of his buddies, and I think they turned him off from it, because they came back and said, “Oh, I ain't doing that. We're going to Texas A&M. We're gonna' have fun.” But I remember he came back and had this pamphlet he got from it. And I stole it from his bedroom. And then I started looking at it. And I was like, “OK, if he's not going to do that, I think this is something I want to do.” And we can talk more about that, obviously, but my brother did end up going a different route. He went to Texas A&M, not in the core there, just kind of a normal student. Little brother, he's like seven years younger than me. He was always interested in the academies, but you know, as he grew up, I think he navigated a little bit more towards another route as well. So, to answer your question, I was the only one who ended up going into an academy and serving, but they're still incredibly close to me. And I actually have this hilarious photo of my older brother. He came to visit during Parents Weekend. I was like a junior. And during Parents Weekend here at the Academy, my family would actually like stay at the Academy because all the other kids and their parents would go to Boulder, go to Garden of the Gods or the Broadmoor, whatever. And so, the Academy was completely empty. And so, it was kind of like this country club for my family. So, like, we would go down... And then you got like the golf course to yourself. You got these beautiful greens… Naviere Walkewicz I could see you've got your stretch view… Sam Eckholm Right, exactly. So, we would go down to like the athletic facilities and play tennis and just hang out and have fun. Anyway, there's this funny photo of my older brother. I gave him my PT uniform, the ringer tee and the shorts. And he like blended in as a cadet for the weekend. And it was really funny one day because retreat played and he was saluting. I'm like, “Well, they're gonna' think you're a cadet.” So, everyone's super close to me and the Academy, and they loved coming to visit. And I think in an alternate world, they would have all tried to come here too. But yeah, very close with the family. Naviere Walkewicz That is outstanding. We love, hearing about the dynamics of kind of what your support network was like, what those influences were like in your life. You mentioned something about your dad sharing stories. What were those initial nuggets? I know you talked about the experiences they had, but what was he instilling with you and your brothers at that time when you were in those impressionable years? Sam Eckholm Well, my dad is just one of the most like regimented individuals I know. He's very, very focused, you know. And now looking back, I think I just attribute so much from the Academy, and especially back in the '80s, you know, the way things were run and like how he did it, but you don't know that when you're a kid, right? Like, I heard the stories of the Academy. And I don't know, I think when I was young, I didn't think they were cool. And then as you get a little older, they are kind of cool, but you don't want to tell him they're cool, kind of like shove that in the back of your head. And then now I'm like, “Wow, that was really, really cool.” So yeah, I remember there was this photo we had in our house. I don't know if it was above our piano are just on some dresser and it was him in pilot training and his flight suit standing next to T-38. And I thought that was the coolest thing growing up. I mean, he looked like Tom Cruise from Top Gun. And so I literally to go to my room, I would walk past that every single day. And that photo is just like, I don't know, it's cemented in my mind of, “Wow, that was so cool.” And, you know, at the time, I did think “Hey, I'm going to be a pilot. I'm going to do this,” and learned obviously down the road there's so many opportunities to serve in the Air Force. But yeah, I mean, it was just such a cool thing to be able to say, “My dad went to the Academy. My dad's a pilot,” you know? Other people's parents, whatever they did, you know, still interesting. But to be able to say that was always so cool. I just wanted to be able to experience that, wanted to be able to do something different from my friends in high school, being able to have my dad actually, which I know a lot of applicants don't have someone who served in the Army. I'm trying to change that with the work I do to make everyone feel like they understand what they're getting into. But that was huge for me. And it was fun. I still remember I would text him through every milestone we had at the Academy, whether it was Recognition or Ring Dance or commitment. And he would kind of share where he was back then or a photo he had. And yeah, it was cool. Naviere Walkewicz That's really beautiful. And, and it makes me think about how we capture now, and I think this might have been, this was happening during your class as well, but we had WebGuy, the WebGuy team actually capturing moments. And so, it's probably neat that he actually sees some of those while you're texting him. And those you know, those listening, the texting ability is not something we had back in the day when I was there. We just had the red phone booth to try to get your like five minutes to call. Sam Eckholm I can't imagine that. Naviere Walkewicz Yeah, it's wonderful. I think we preserve so much of the experience for our cadets. Sam Eckholm Yeah, there's still a bit now where the family almost gets to feel a little bit of that assurance with us. Why are they still writing like letters home? Pen to paper. Yeah, and you know, stamp. And yeah, WebGuy, I think was my mom's like, saving grace during basic as many moms out there. Yeah, shout out, Mom. I know you liked WebGuy. I always tried to smile when I saw a camera. So, she knew I was I could see how I was doing even though I sometimes was not that I was like, yeah. Naviere Walkewicz So let's talk about life at the Academy. So, you were direct entry. Were you an intercollegiate recruit or just kind of in and started? Sam Eckholm No, yeah, I was direct entry. I was very, very fortunate to get the principal nomination from my congressman who did that method out of Dallas. It was an incredibly competitive area. I mean, there were like 60 kids just from my area trying to get in and oh man, I was so stressed going in because I knew how bad I wanted it. I knew I looked great on paper. But the problem was 60 other kids also look really good on paper. So, the interviewer really helped me out there. I was able to talk about family experiences got the principal nomination, so I knew I was going to have my shot. So yeah, direct entry got here. And it's kind of funny because having a dad and uncle who went here, I thought I knew everything right? I had probably watched every single video and read every article, looked at everything on the Academy, I was obsessed. The second I got here, day one or Day Zero as they call it, like the bus ride here. Naviere Walkewicz Tell me about your experience on the bus. Sam Eckholm Oh, man, this is a lot different. Well, the bus is, I mean, I knew what was coming. I'd seen every single video, but it hits you different when you're there and they're screaming in your face. The footprints was really rough for me. I've told this story before, because then — I don't know what they do now — but they broke it up by your basic flights and your squadron. So, Cobras is what I was in. And so, all my future flight members were with me and we're on the footprints. And an upperclassman is — [there's a] crazy photo; I can send it to you guys — but just someone screaming at me, right? And I don't know what happened. But I think they lost track of me. So [I'm on the] footprints when the rest of my squadron was sent up the ramp to begin their in-processing, I got sent to the back of the footprints line to kind of do it again. Naviere Walkewicz Really? Sam Eckholm Yeah. And so, they did that for a few cadets. So, I got sent to do it again. And the crazy part is I went through that, I got sent a third time. But, and this is like the whole footprint spiel again. The whole “Get on attention.” So, I had like triple the footprints experience and then for the rest of the day because my squadron had already in process, I was so far behind. It was now like, “Are you lost, basic!” Like, I was that guy the whole time in the morning. So, it's just when I finally got there, at the end of the day, like to my squadron, I was already known and had the reputation, like the lost basic. You know it was for next six weeks, which turned into the next year, I was trying to get rid of that reputation that I was the lost basic, but hopefully now I've gotten rid of that. Naviere Walkewicz All right. We'll leave that one alone. That's a fantastic story. Yeah. Wow. All right. So, let's talk about your life at the Academy. I know where you graduate from Squadron 28, legacy squadron, right? Let's talk about some of your experiences, both from the cadet perspective — athletics, academics, wherever you'd like to take us — but also let's weave in a little bit of some lessons you've learned about yourself during that time in leadership. Sam Eckholm Yeah, I started out in CES-14 Baby Cobra. I don't know, I think what they're now doing like one and then three years. One and three. Yeah. I always knew that's what I wanted to do. Because like, literally, even when I was growing up, my dad had his A-jacket, and I saw the Blackbirds patch. And that was really cool. But yeah, I mean, my first two years were definitely different from my last two years, I always tell people, the first two years, I was discovering who I was both as a person but as a cadet, right? Like, you come in thinking you're going to do something and have a path and major in this and do this when you graduate. But it was so much information coming at me of here's what you can do, here are all the opportunities. And that's one thing, I'm really proud of myself for that — I didn't feel like I had to follow a certain path. You know, when I came in, I thought I was gonna' fly, I was gonna' be an engineer, I'm gonna' do this. And that's amazing for all the cadets who want to do that and are excited about it. But I knew I was excited about other stuff, too. You know, you mentioned kind of social media photography, that sort of stuff. I had that kind of in the back of my head, I just had to figure out a way how to make that work in the Air Force, right? Because I had no idea when I came in that was something you could kind of do. So the first two years were a lot of discovery, right? I did not, and this was kind of strategically, do any clubs or anything the first two years. I kind of regret that looking back, but I thought I just needed to be in the squadron with my flight. Versus now, I always encourage people at the Academy take advantage of the clubs, take advantage of the extracurricular stuff, because, I mean, you've formed so many friendships there. Naviere Walkewicz I don't know if you agree, because you did a lot, right? And I definitely agree, I was not a recruited athlete. And so, I think I explored a lot of different lanes. But you know, one of the things that when you were talking, I was thinking about this, because when people see you and hear you now, you just have so much confidence. Did you always have that? Or is there a time when maybe that was not the case as a cadet? Sam Eckholm Yeah, in high school, you know how it goes, right, you're at the top of the top in high school, especially someone going into the Academy. To go to the Academy., most students are presidents of their classes, or whatever. And so, you go from the top, and then you're dropped very quickly and humbled when you get to the Academy. So, I think I definitely lost a little bit of that. But then I built it back up. And I think that's kind of the goal of the Academy, right? They're trying to build back up leaders; you start as a follower. So, by the time I left, we can get to that, I was a squadron commander of CES-28. And that is, to this day, one of the most rewarding experiences. I learned the most about myself and talk about confidence. Getting up there every morning, talking to over 100 of your peers as their quote-unquote, cadet leader. I mean, that right there to this day, I'm like, if I can do that, and be able to tell other students my age, what they have to be doing, I can do anything. Naviere Walkewicz Peer leadership is definitely a challenging type of leadership. What did you learn about yourself in that? Can you share a story where you're like, well, am I really cut out for this? Sam Eckholm Well, it's hard because you have all different types of cadets, all different types of classes. Everyone has their thing that interests them. And let's be real, I mean, you're up here, right? You're not in the real Air Force, yet. You've been appointed this position. And so, some cadets are like, OK, come on. I mean, literally, two weeks ago, he was just, you know, Sam, and now he's like, oh, cadet first class at home squadron commander, cadet lieutenant colonel. So, with the younger classes, it's easier, because the rank structure, they kind of understand, but to your senior class, it's your peers. So, my mentality for that is that I was just going to try to be someone that everyone could relate to, that had everyone's best interest in mind. So, I would take so long for any decision or working with my AOC, just trying to advocate for what everyone wanted. I didn't see myself as higher, better, above anyone. It was just, I'm going to be the spokesperson for everyone. And I'm gonna' work as hard as I can to make sure everyone's happy. And I think there's a lot of lessons you can take from that approach. Of course, not every leadership position, you have the ability to do that. But at the Academy, I don't know, I think that was just a really cool opportunity to kind of explore and find out how that works. And I learned a lot from that. And because I've had opportunities to lead in my Air Force career and beyond, I still pull from those experiences. I'm like, “Well, this would maybe work here.” But yeah, I don't know. Did you have any opportunities to do the leadership stuff, the higher level here? It's so unique, there's nothing else like that. Naviere Walkewicz No, it really is unique. And I think one of the things that, when our listeners are always looking for are those little nuggets. So you learn so much, you know. What is one takeaway from a pure leadership perspective that you could say, “I've leaned back into multiple times?” What would that be? Putting yourself in other people's shoes is big. Sam Eckholm It's kind of hard to remember that because you're getting information in from your leader, usually from your leader, right, your boss, they're telling you one thing, it's hard for them to see two layers down how that's going to impact everyone else. So I would always just try to put myself in other people's shoes. “OK, if I do this, how's that going to make this person feel?” But the other thing is you can never make everyone happy. And I had to come to grips with that. And that's hard for me because I'm the type of person — it like messes me up if I know someone's mad at me or upset or doesn't think I'm doing the right thing. But you learn real quickly, you grow up really quickly and realize that if 90% is good, I mean, that might even be because that might be the best 99 whatever number you want. 15 a year and I'm like, well, this is working. You can't make everyone happy. And I still struggle with that, because you want everyone to be happy, especially with what I'm doing now on social media, when there's millions of people watching what I'm doing, and you look at comments, and you're kinda' like, “Man, I tried so hard on this, and I could have done it differently.” But then if you change it for one person, and someone else isn't gonna' be happy… so thick skin, that's the biggest thing I had to realize I wouldn't be where I am today if I let that bother me. And I remind myself that that's better to be where I am today and have thick skin then be hiding in the corner because I was scared. I couldn't make everyone happy. Naviere Walkewicz So that is a great lesson. Thank you for sharing that. So, the Academy was great. You had some wonderful leadership experiences. Can you share maybe one of your favorite things about the Academy while you were a cadet? Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, you asked about clubs. Oh, and I mentioned I didn't do anything really the first two years, which is true. That completely changed. When I switched squadrons, I got super involved, still within the squadron, but also within the Academy. I was on the mock trial team. That was so fun. Gave me an opportunity to travel on the weekends. I ended up being a legal studies major because of that and really enjoyed just everything that came from that. You know, I love talking. I don't know if you knew that I love speaking and talking with other people, communicating. And in mock trial and legal studies, our exams were literally us standing at a podium delivering a fake appellate speech or like you're talking to a judge and that was really cool. And then being able to compete and travel by talking and being a lawyer was fun. And then I also had the opportunity to be on the women's basketball practice team, the scout team. So I was a basketball player in high school, not at the level they play at the Academy. But I was like, “Well, how can I continue doing this?” And so someone, one of my classmates, is like, well, the women's team they look for former high school players to come into rugby, the scout team, run their upcoming opponents' defensive and offensive plays against them. And I tried out for that and made it and that was such a blast. I never knew we do that. And I had a schedule. I was able to go down there — we got the merch, the swag bag. It was fun. So, I tell everyone I was on the women's basketball team. Some kind of laugh, but it was the most amazing opportunity I had. And there's so many things like that at the Academy. By the time I was a firstie — people ask if I had any experience with photography, video, social media while here. One answer I say is “I started the CS 28 Blackbirds Instagram account,” which is still running strong, right? But then I actually worked with my then-physics instructor to start a photography class for the Academy. So as part of the Fine Arts Department, is the first time it was ran. And it was an elective I was able to sign up for when I was a first-year. And yeah, I mean, we literally had like 30 cadets take this course and raised enough money that we were able to get everyone a camera. Our professor, Col. Maddox at the time, she's still in, but she was amazing. She taught us and instructed us because she had her own business doing wedding photography and stuff like that. And that was so cool. I remember going to class, it felt like I was at a normal school. I was taking a photography class. And so that was when I was graduating going into public affairs, as my career, realized that I'm going to keep this up. And it was just cool to be able to do something like that, that you don't think the Academy has. We've got some cool classes that you might not expect. Naviere Walkewicz No, that's wonderful. And I think our listeners are really excited to hear that too. And before we go on to your career in the Air Force and that transition, I wanted to go back to a little bit about the intercollegiate experience because I think you have a really unique perspective, right? You are not a recruited athlete, but you experienced really diving into the Academy from that aspect. And then you got to have the schedule and understand the rigors of what our intercollegiate athletes experience and you will hear this term: “Teezo Gap.” What's your perspective on that? You know, for people that are just listening, I think that's a fascinating topic that we haven't really explored. Sam Eckholm Yeah, was a cadet for the first two years not being an intercollegiate athlete, the Teezo Gap, as you mentioned, it's a completely different perspective. And I'll be honest, sometimes you buy into it, you're like, I mean, these athletes are having an easier — they get to go do this and travel and wear civilian clothes as freshmen with their team, you know, miss all the mandatory squadron events and the training sessions and so I'll be honest, you do have some of that perception. Now flashing forward, that completely changed when I got a taste of it. And this was a small taste of it. I mean, I was a scout team player. And it wasn't every day, I had to go down half the week because we had two different teams that did it. But even then, I can't imagine what they have to go through. Because you go down there, your schedule is modified to where you don't have afternoon classes. So, after lunch, you're kind of going down there. And then it is practice meetings, dinner, sometimes meetings again, and then homework, and then rinse and repeat. And at the same time, sure, maybe they're missing some squadron stuff, but you know what, they're not missing anything academically, that's the same. So I have so much appreciation for all of the intercollegiate athletes at the Academy and experiencing that gave me more of an appreciation. And I just, again, it's something you can't fully appreciate until you have done it yourself. But for those students that can be so successful on the field and then still graduate from this. I mean, I know I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. So, to answer your question, it is something that I think people who aren't aware, or who are listening and you know, might have that perception that it exists. I think we need to work to change that a little bit. Because these people are incredible. Naviere Walkewicz And again, it's just I mean, you can probably share more. So, you went through that. Like, it's fascinating. I really appreciate you sharing that. Yeah. I think that's a wonderful thing for people to hear. You know, some of the perceptions versus realities. So, let's talk about when you were in the military. So, you graduated the Academy, what AFSC did you get? Yeah, so public affairs? Sam Eckholm Yes. 35P1. When I was a firstie, I kind of knew I was going to not do the pilot thing. Multiple reasons. People asked me why. Couple: I wasn't even fully medically qualified at the time. I had some color vision stuff. Probably could have gotten a waiver for that eventually. But you know, there was a long process. So that's where I first started to think, “Hey, maybe there's something else I can do, too. I just loved being on the ground talking to people, there was more I wanted to do than just fly. And so, I was trying to find a career field that allowed me to still be around aircraft, still be bebop and buzzing around and doing my thing but also having an impact. So, after my sophomore year, when we went on ops Air Force, I went to Travis Air Force Base and part of that trip, I got to shadow the public affairs career field. And while I was there, I still remember the feeling of like walking through the doors at the PA building, which was right by the wing staff,. They had like a full suite of Apple MacBook computers, airmen on Lightroom and Photoshop and editing videos. The San Francisco 49ers were in town to do a base visit and PA was out there escorting them. I got to interview the commander who was about to PCS and write a story on him. This was all in the span of like three days. And I was like, “What other career field is there where you can do all of this?” It's like kind of a jack-of-all-trades job. And so that visit, I was like, “Wow, this is really, really cool. I want to do this!” Now the next part was like, “Well, how do I do this?” So, I came to find out there was only five slots. Since I've graduated, I've heard some years they have had no slots, some years a couple slots. So, I don't really know how it works anymore. But I would go up to Harmon Hall, literally every day the first semester of my first year, second of my two-degree year, and I would just talk with, then at the time Lt. Col. Allen Herritage, who is the PA director. Now it'd be like, “Sir, how can I learn more about this job?” I was like, “How can you help me? How can you help me get this?” It's all about connections. And regardless of whether or not that actually did help, I know two things are true. I went up there every day and I talked. And then I also got public affairs. So, I just, I worked really hard, though. I mean, I worked so hard in school, and I had a good class ranking. And that definitely helped me and just networking as much as I could to let a FPC know that this is something that I want. So yeah, I dropped public affairs. I was so excited. I remember our squadron put on this awesome AFSC drop release with Nerf guns and blindfold maze stuff. And when I saw that, I was like, “This is gonna' be fun five years, or longer.” Yeah, I didn't know looking back. I mean, you know, we can get into that too. But it's a career field that is fun for life and I'm so glad I got it. Naviere Walkewicz Wonderful. So let's talk about that. And let's talk about that career field and some of your experiences both from the experience perspective, but maybe where there was some leadership lessons you took as a public affairs officer. Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, I was kind of thrust right into it. So, I got stationed at Langley Air Force Base. I was, I think the only one from my class, maybe one other who even got sent there. So, it's not like pilot training or a lot. You know, if you got your buddies, it's kind of like a little reunion and you run it back for the next couple years. I was off on my own, so to learn quickly what life was like, to be just Sam as an officer, as a lieutenant, it's like the first week when I was out there we were doing unit PT with my PA shop, running around the base track, which those who have been to Langley, it's a beautiful ride on the coast on the running ground. It's amazing running the flightline. And out of nowhere an F-22 took off just full-burner. But it wasn't a normal takeoff. It started doing maneuvers and rolls and just putting on this spectacle of a show. I mean, my ears were like, “Oh my gosh,” and I turned to my boss at the time. I was like, “What is going on right now?” She's like, “Oh, Sam, that's the F-22 demo team. They travel the air shows around the world just like the Thunderbirds, and they put on shows and help recruit and they actually take one PA person from our office to travel with them each year.” It was at that second I knew that's what I want to do. That right there, is what I want to do. And flash forward a few months, the opening came up. I was completely inexperienced at the time, but I pitched myself and sold myself and the commander at the time, Lt. Col. “Loco” Lopez, who's now out in Hawaii, is the squadron commander for the F-22 unit. And he's been a big inspiration to me. I interviewed with him and I was showing him a YouTube channel. “Look, I can edit, see, like, I can take photos, look at my Instagram.” And he hired me in for the next two years. And every year I was like, “What is real life?” I mean, we were at shows all over the world. I went to Dubai, Singapore, Chile, Hawaii, I mean, Alaska, pretty much every base here in the U.S. got to meet my classmates who were stationed there, got to run all the social media, do all the videos for the team, the coolest jet in the world. It's the F-22 — blew up their social media, just made it my goal to do what I called “no life.” Literally, for two years it's all I did was live, breathe F-22 demo team, and just really wanted to give it my all. And that was so fun. Now to go back to the leadership side of things: Imagine being a butter bar, a second lieutenant now thrust on a team, which has national-media-level attention. I remember I was at a show in Chicago andI just got called in to do an interview because our pilot wasn't available. And I'm literally in front of thousands and thousands of people having to just talk about the Air Force mission and these high-level questions that I was like,”Oh my gosh,” so back to your question of being confident. Like, that's probably where it came from. I just had to learn and had to fake it ‘till I made it. But what a fun experience for a young lieutenant and just something I'll never forget. Naviere Walkewicz Wow. Well, I think something I took from what you said as well as you identify very quickly, when there's something that you really want to do and you make a path to get there. And I think in your relentless pursuit, in a way that is really convincing. And I think that's a lesson right? You have to put in the work, you obviously can't just only be talk, you have to be able to show like, you can put some cred behind it. And I think that's a lesson where you're able to share with folks, “Hey, if you're really interested in something, go all in for it.” And to your point, “and then live it.” Yeah, do that. soak it all in. So I think that's really inspirational. Were there any tough times you had as a public affairs officer? Sam Eckholm Tons. PA, it's not always the good side of things, too, right? We really exist for the most part for the crisis communication, right? When something bad happens, to communicate that as well. And so, it doesn't matter if it's the highs or the lows, you still gotta' get out there and talk to people and make things happen. So, luckily, when I was on the team, you know, we didn't have anything catastrophic, any mishaps like that, but I know people who have right I mean, [I've] had mentors, PA world or former Thunderbird PAs when they've had crashes and there's a lot that goes on there. So, we always have to be prepared for that. And even though I didn't have to necessarily be thrust in that environment, that's still on your mind, you just have to be prepared. Now, the other thing was just tough with being in this lifestyle for two years is that when you're constantly gone, so we are TDY I mean, like, literally 300 days a year. And so, it's hard to continue to have the same motivation every single day when it's just the same show, monotonous, like doing everything day in and day out. And I think that's a lesson anyone can learn in the Air Force or beyond, you know, because a lot of the times it, it is repetitive. So, I would always look for ways to make it not repetitive. And for me if we're going to a different show, as a photographer, videographer making content, I would always try to do something different. I would always try to focus in on a different element of the story. So instead of just focusing on the pilot in the jet every time, I would tell behind-the-scenes stories of our maintainers, of our aircrew flight equipment specialists, of the fans who came and traveled across the country to watch and, doing tours with them and I would arrange a ton of school visits and talk to Civil Air Patrol units in JROTC and really just focus on the community relations and the recruiting side of things. And there's a lot I had to work with and that was really fun for me to mix and match and that was the way I just stayed motivated and still had fun with it. And even to this day, I'm always trying to one-up the last thing I did and branch out and evolve and just make everything interesting. And I think the viewers kind of understand that and appreciate it. And that's always my goal is for no one to ever click on a video of mine or see what I'm doing and be like, “Oh, that's kind of the same thing.” I want it to always be exciting. Naviere Walkewicz I can absolutely appreciate that. And it seems like that kind of pace is, I mean, how do you maintain that? So maybe my question would be for you, Sam, what is your outlet? Because if you live, breathe as a leader, right, if you you expect a lot from your people, and you always want the best and you want something new, how do you maintain that level of give? And so, what's your outlet? Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, kind of the first part of what you asked, I also had to realize that just because I'm this way doesn't mean everyone's this way, right? So, if you're a leader, and you are 100% committed and want it to be your entire life, that doesn't mean everyone's going to be that way. And I had to realize that because at times that can be frustrating, if you're leading a team and you're gung-ho about it, but like, OK, maybe they aren't, well, that's OK, you know, you need to, again, put yourself in their shoes and see what motivates them. And I learned that lesson as well, even back to when I was a squadron commander, I'd pitch an idea and I was so excited. And I can tell him that everyone's [not] gonna' be as excited as you, Sam. But yeah, my outlet, I mean, a lot of different stuff at the time, you know, I was just so excited about doing what I was doing. So as weird as it sounds, my outlet was my work. And that's something not everyone understands. But I actually felt depressed if I wasn't continuing to work, because I knew there was a time limit on how long I would have this opportunity. So, I was like, “Well, I'm going to keep working hard now.” And as I've moved on, I have found a healthy balance between work and other things. So, you know, friendships are incredibly important, especially other people in the space with what I'm doing, being able to talk with them and how they are handling stress levels. Because not everyone can relate especially to what I was doing and am doing. So other people in the space, in the industry, we're all dealing with the same things. So that's something I tell people all the time is, “Other people who are in your world — those are some awesome friendships you can have, because they understand what you're going through. Not everyone does.” That's a classic example of when people talk about the Academy, you go home on a winter break, none of your friends understand what you're going through. It's really, really hard, you know? Who does? Your classmates at the Academy. You go through that with them. And so that has been a huge thing for me: other people who have gone through what I have, like, we're in it together. And those are some times when I really feel like I can sit back, relax, and the stress is taken off. Naviere Walkewicz Now that's really helpful. And I think I did chuckle in my head a little bit when you said, you know, “Actually, my outlet is my work.” But I think when you're doing your thing that you're wired to do and your passion, that makes sense. Sam Eckholm Yeah, it's both fulfilling and exhausting. I mean, I love to travel to like, I do normal things as well. But in some way, even then I battled the whole, like, well, what can I be doing, especially when you're a full-time, have your own company entrepreneur. That was a huge adjustment for me. Because it's not like you have a salary job where there is some end at some point to kind of go home. It's like, well, you could always be doing more, right? You could always be working. And I've had to struggle with that sometimes, because it's like, I could keep working, keep working. So that's something I've learned and doing better at still to this day. But yeah, it's interesting. Naviere Walkewicz So, let's talk about that transition. You know, you knew there was a time period on that F-22 demo team, and the PA role. But when did, you know, “I think I'm going to be moving out of this into my own kind of work.” Sam Eckholm Yeah, so once I finished the F-22 team, I had to move on with my career. They don't let you do something in the Air Force forever, totally understood that. But I wasn't done personally inspiring, making content. I had developed kind of a following along the way of people who were just interested in what I was doing. So, I would kind of take my free time. I always made it my goal — I was like, I'm going to stay focused on the PA job. I never want anyone to be able to look at lieutenant at home and be like, “He's not locked in on this PA job. He's not focused. He's interested in these other things.” So, I would make that my goal. But my free time, my leave, my time on the weekends, instead of normal hobbies people do, I would make videos. That was my thing. And so, my next assignment, I went to Scott Air Force Base, I was 375 Air Mobility Wing, and that was a demanding and fun job. And I kind of still had this thing going on the side. It got up to the point where it's at the end of my Academy commitment, and I had a tough decision to make, right? I loved being in the Air Force. I was a captain at the time. I was excited. But as you rank up, you get more responsibilities, understandably, and I knew that I did not want to let that lack if I was going to stay in the Air Force. I did not want my airmen — I did not want people to think I was distracted doing something else. But I loved this other thing as well. So really, what I had to decide is, “Where am I having the biggest impact in the Air Force?” And as weird as it sounds, right, because you think of serving — most of the time people think like, in uniform active duty. Well, I think of service in many different ways, right. And I actually felt, and I know this is true, that I could serve the Air Force, the military, our country, better on the outside, continuing to inspire people by doing these videos, making this content, showing people what life was like, inspiring all these kids on the outside, being able to go at that with 100% of my time. And luckily, that wasn't just a personal decision I made. I was having conversation with like, the highest levels of leaders in Air Force recruiting and public affairs explaining this as well. And that's just what I decided I wanted to do. And it was scary. It's very scary going from a job, one that I had worked since I was a freshman in high school to get to in the Air Force, to now kind of giving that up to do this other thing. But we're really helping the viewers, it wasn't giving it up to me, it was just doing it in a different way. I would say I'm still connected now more than I was even when I'm in with what I'm doing. I'm not in uniform, you know, I don't have my CAT card anymore. But I am serving more than I ever thought I would be around the units traveling to bases every single week filming what I'm doing. So that's kind of what helped me make that decision. And it was the right decision. And to this day, the comments I see from kids, the people I've been able to help and resonate with, it's crazy. And it's something that probably wouldn't have been able to happen if I stayed in just with the amount of you know, stuff I would have had to do on the normal job side. Right? Naviere Walkewicz Wow. So, you talked about impact. And that was really important to you. What's one of years or maybe a couple of your most favorite, impactful moments that you've had since moving into the entrepreneurial side of things? Sam Eckholm Yeah, I mean, it's hard sometimes when you're like a video creator, because what you see is numbers on a screen, right? You see views, you see comments, which can be really inspiring too. But sometimes, you know, you miss the in-person interactions because you're traveling and it's the videos people see. But I always, even to this day, a couple times a year, I do like in-person events, I just went out to an airshow and was in San Antonio and I did a couple of these previous years. And it's a different feeling when you're out there. And there's tens, dozens of people, who are like literally waiting in line just to say hi, to take a photo to tell me that like, hey, these videos are the reason they want to join or have joined or have inspired them. It's crazy. And that to me keeps me going. And that was so, so impactful. And you know, I have a folder on my computer. On my phone I have like screenshots of all the messages I've gotten, because when I'm having a hard day or when I'm like, “Man, this is tough,” I can look back at those and be like, “Well, this is why it's all worth it. And this is why I do the things that I do.” And yeah, it's cool being a creator who's not just in it for themselves. And I try to tell people that really what I'm doing is to inspire other people. It's tough. It probably looks really cool when you see all the things I'm doing. And that is fun. But it is a lot. But I know the impact that's possible. I remember when I was a freshman in high school looking for content online, and there wasn't too much of it. And I wanted to change that. And I know Naviere, we've worked so much together and you've seen the stuff I've done and you know how much it means to me. So just being able to see and hear from people, it means everything. Naviere Walkewicz Yeah, so what's your, is there a story, a video that you've done that just, it just kind of sits right into your heart like this one is just so special? I mean, we probably have so many, but is there one that you just feel has really resonated with, you know, youth or just that level of impact? Is there one you can speak to? Sam Eckholm Yeah, well, I'll give, I'll give kind of two. So, one that is incredibly special to me in a personal way. I actually got to go back and do a video on the KC-135 and I brought my dad out there for that. Yeah, that was something I always wanted to do. And he's great. I was a little nervous. I was like, “How is he going to be on camera?” But he knocked it out of the park to the point where some comments were like, “He needs to come to every video like that. You need to take over the channel at this point. Everyone loves you so much.” But it was so fun. I mean, he studied for weeks on the facts of the aircraft. He was an instructor for the instructors at the schoolhouse. It took him a few minutes, but literally after half an hour, he knew his way around that aircraft so well and was teaching the current pilots out there some things that they didn't know. Anyway, so I look back — that video is like a full-circle moment for me. And that resonated with a lot of people too, who just enjoyed seeing my inspiration and have some people who look at me as their inspiration. Like it's just really, really cool to see outside of that. I mean, I would say a really personal project of mine was when I actually got to come out here to the Academy and do a complete tour of the grounds and the campus and facilities. With the audience I've been able to build, a lot of people know me as an Academy grad. And so they reached out asking me questions about the Air Force Academy. “What it's like to apply?” How they can get in. And it's hard to answer all of those questions because that's all I'd be doing if I did it. So, I was like, “Well, what's a way I can put this message out to everyone?” And so, you know, I worked with your team, worked with the Academy team, and we came out here for a week and filmed what I think is the most beautiful school ever. And I just wanted to show that and that video to this day is, I don't know, 1.2-something million views. And you go scroll through those comments, the amount of people who didn't know it exists — which probably sounds crazy to us, right? — that now know and can see all of these cool things you would have access to and can do if you're cadet, I mean, I think that video is going to have returns and just inspire people for years to come. That was such a big project I wanted to do to get back to my school and to show other people, “This school did this for me. You guys need to understand what it can do for you, too.” So, I'm really proud of that one. I have a lot of people reaching out to me about that still to this day. Every single week, you know, “Hey, Sam, I want to go here. I watched this video. How can I do it?” And I'm like, “Alright, well, let's talk. Here's what you need to start doing. You need to do this.” Naviere Walkewicz I love that. So, it's really unique, your journey, right? Because you have been a leader of peers, of people, of airmen, etc. You've also been, I think, a leader of yourself, and you know, in part of how you navigate that. One of the ways I think our listeners really feel connected with our guests is, you know, life is pretty imperfect. What are some challenges you've experienced along the way in your life, just in your professional and personal life, that you have has felt as evolved you as an influencer as a leader, as someone who inspires you to share any with a group that makes them feel like, okay, Sam, I'm in? You know, I'm kind of like, Sam, you know, in some way, what would that be? Sam Eckholm Yeah, I mean, like I said, it's one of the things I sometimes struggle with when you have an online presence is you kind of gravitate towards only showing the highlights. And that's just how the business works, right? I mean, I don't want to be putting out negative content all day. But then, you know, you're right. I mean, some people kind of see like, “Oh, everything seems to be going well.” I mean, that's not the case. Absolutely not, especially with what I was doing. There's a reason it's very hard to get into this space, especially being in the Air Force. I made some decisions that some might have said would hurt my career, right? Even going back to the demo team, that was a job that typically you don't do as a lieutenant, right. And I was told, “Hey, this might hurt your career going forward.” But I also knew that this was something I wanted to do. And I had goals in mind. And I was young and I just hated the idea that a decision I made when I was 23 years old would ruin my career. I was like, “There's no way that can be true. I'm so young, I've got so much opportunity.” And so, I'm glad I kind of listened to myself. And that was a big decision. But even along the way, making videos while being in the Air Force, I was writing the rules, because there weren't regulations for what you can and can't do. And I was having a lot of tough conversations with people. I'm like, “I'm trying to do the right thing here. You guys gotta help me, I see a lot of potential in this.” So that kind of lesson can be applied to, I think, anyone. A lot of people, I feel, want to do certain things or have dreams and goals. And neither one get talked out of it. To talk themselves out of it. Three, you just look at the negatives, and it gets in your head. And it makes it hard for people to kind of pull the trigger and do it. And I completely understand that. “Comfortable rut” — I kind of use that phrase — you get comfortable in thing and it's hard to break away from that. And so, I don't know, for me, that's the biggest advice I give people: If you have an end goal in mind, it's not going to be easy to get there. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, right? I mean, especially being an entrepreneur. It's hard, it's a gamble, it's a risk. And you've got to prepare yourself. I never say, “Hey, just go take this without any plan or backup plan.” And I always had that in place. But you know, I guess I kind of am a risk taker in some world. And I know I have good intentions at heart. And I know what I'm trying to do. And I think that was really important is just having the backup plans, having a good background, having things set in place to where I'm able to do this and — I don't know, coming across as a good person has been huge. So, people hopefully watch my stuff and, like, “Sam's good. He's doing the right thing.” Naviere Walkewicz So, I don't know, it's hard. If you have any specific advice on that, because you've done so much. But when people look at your stuff, hopefully you can kind of resonate and don't think it's all good all the time. But I think you'll come across as very approachable. I think it's lovely for them to hear in your own words some of the struggles that you have when you're thinking about your content when you're thinking about the delivery of it. They maybe don't get that glimpse, right? They just see the final product. I think it's good for listeners to hear that you've kind of had to advocate for yourself, trust in yourself. And I think you've shown a path of what belief and grit and, going back to your core of, “My intention is to create meaningful impact and do great things for our Air Force and for the future leaders,” right? I think you can always hang your hat on that with pride. Sam Eckholm Yeah, and I always tell people like what you see as a finished polished video — like, the behind the scenes is crazy. It's like, cameras everywhere, months and months of coordination for the shots and for these approvals. We plan videos — like I'm planning now that you will see six months from now. That's how long it takes. And things change. When I first started out, and it was fun, it was a hobby, it was just what I was doing. And then now when it becomes like, a full-time job, and you have a team now I've got employees who rely on me, like things kind of changed with that. And, you know, definitely the advocating for yourself is something that sometimes hard to do. But it's, it's necessary. And so yeah, it's a lot of lessons I've learned, and I'm still learning. But I'm not going anywhere. I'm gonna' keep going hard. Naviere Walkewicz So, love that. So, your dad and uncle were inspirations to kind of get you into the profession of arms, the Air Force Academy, who inspires you now? Do you listen to any particular leaders? Are there books you read when you have time? You know, what, what kind of fills your inspiration bucket, Sam? Sam Eckholm Yeah. You know, it's crazy. It sounds, there's not necessarily like a, like a one specific person who inspires me. And that's just because I try to consume so much different stuff and take the best from all of those. So yeah, I'm constantly learning, right? If I'm not creating content, I'm watching other content for inspiration, listening to a ton of podcasts, like this one here. So yeah, there's so much we can take from different people and different leaders. It is hard a little bit in my case to find someone who's exactly done what I've done. But there's a lot of people who have done other things and kind of made it, like Col. Kim Campbell, I've been listening to her actually, like what she's been doing with her Air Force career and then afterward and like, I've actually never met her. Naviere Walkewicz You feel like you've met her, right? Sam Eckholm I actually tried to. Same thing with Michelle Karen-Mace. You know, she's not Academy grad, but she's all over the world. And we did similar things in our careers. And so, she's been awesome to talk to as well, in pretty much any Academy grad. And that's something that I really enjoy. Being a member of the Long Blue Line, we come from the same roots. And everyone's very intelligent and understands things. And I've just been able to have so much support with what I've been doing through the grad network, especially when I go out to different bases and units like grads, like, “Hey, Sam, what's up? I'd love to work with you.” And that's been really cool. So, yeah, I mean, a ton of different inspiration from a lot of different people. And, you know, hopefully, I can eventually be that inspiration for someone else who wants to do something similar to what I'm doing. That's exciting to draw inspiration not just from people, but experiences. And what you see, just you're constantly looking for, yes, kind of pieces. Naviere Walkewicz That's pretty special. So, you know, let's talk about right now what is, you know, how are you in support of the Academy through what you're doing? Maybe kind of share with our listeners what that looks like. Sam Eckholm I'm always trying to further the Academy mission with literally every video I produce. I'm always doing something else. So I had the awesome opportunity to partner with Air Force recruiting and we did a six-video series exploring different aircraft, different career fields, — one of my favorite videos we did is actually went down and experienced Air Force Special Tactics officer training for a week in Hurlburt. And I was literally hands and feet behind my back bobbing through the pool like going through selection that normal people train for years for, I had like a week of advance to go out there and do that. So I tried to put myself in uncomfortable situations to show other people what that's like. It was extremely brutal. And I think there's more of that coming down the road as well. As you know, one of the huge goals was to give back to people trying to go to the Academy and honestly level the playing field in my mind with people who maybe don't have graduates or parents who went to the Academy and worked extremely hard work with you guys on the Air Force Academy blueprint program to just have a resource out there where anyone can navigate the Academy application can know what they need to be doing in high school, and to know what to expect once they actually get to the Academy too, and that's been incredibly successful. I mean, we have over 300 atudents enrolled — over two dozen who've been accepted this past class. Naviere Walkewicz I was going to ask: Have you seen any of those come through? Sam Eckholm Yeah, we have. Well, this will be the first year. so they haven't entered yet because we launched last August, right? So yeah, I'm excited. There will be a little mafia of Blueprint students here at the Academy as well. And like I said, that was something — you get so man
Bacchus, our first Warthog driver and retired CT ANG Brigadier General shared stories from his extensive career as an A-10 pilot, air traffic controller / supervisor and a major airline pilot. Learn about his combat deployments and the challenges and rewards of air traffic control, as well as his deep-rooted love for aviation. The conversation highlighted the intricacies of air traffic control, the camaraderie among controllers, and the importance of clear communication between pilots and controllers. We also delved into the A-10 ‘Hog's combat capabilities, discussing missions over Iraq and personal experiences with the aircraft. The episode featured humorous anecdotes and insightful reflections, blending technical aviation insights with personal narratives. Additionally, we spotlight our sponsor, Flight Training International, and their pilot training programs. Towards the end, Bacchus recounted a memorable low-fuel mission, explained the origin of his call sign inspired by the Greek god, and shared experiences from Aviano and the National Military Airspace Command. CT ANG Warthog Warthogs in Flight F-100s Original Sqn Aircraft
Former college and pro football player turns Warthog? Do you know about the lick and stick story? You might wanna listen in and find out what stories these brothers share with me during part two. This part includes interviews from Train, Happy Feet, Berm, Codeman, and Bird Legs. These stories and interviews are something you don't want to miss. Its that time guys. Lets Get Wobbled together shall we?
In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, we dive into the possibility of replacing the A-10 Warthog with the F/A-18 Super Hornet. This episode is hosted by John "Rain" Waters who is joined by Patrick "Burt" Brown, an experienced A-10 pilot and Weapons School Instructor. "Burt" has presented the idea (see article link below) of replacing the A-10 with the F-18 Super Hornet in the United States Air Force. He makes the case for the Super Hornet, highlighting its asymmetrical capabilities, austere field capability, weapons loadout, and joint outside platform. The discussion also touches on the concept of agile combat employment and the importance of retaining the knowledge and skill set within the A-10 community. The conversation explores alternative options such as the Super Tucano, T-7, and F-15EX, but ultimately concludes that the Super Hornet is the best choice. The conversation explores the viability of using F-18 Super Hornets as a replacement for the A-10 Warthog. The main themes discussed include the need to preserve the knowledge and skill set of the A-10 community, the importance of maintaining production capacity for fighter jets, and the potential advantages of the Super Hornet in terms of versatility and asymmetry. The conversation also touches on the possibility of the Air Force acquiring Growlers and the challenges of organizational change and specialization within the F-35 program."Burt's" article: https://www.twz.com/a-10-pilots-compelling-case-for-replacing-warthogs-with-super-hornetsFollow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AfterburnPodcastSupport The Afterburn Podcast for on Patreon and gain early access and AD Free episodes. Plus access to “There I was…” stories. https://www.patreon.com/theafterburnpodcast
In this installment of TPS Reports the Squares discuss the presidential debate, white sweatsuits, Rick Ross getting jumped in Canada, fingerboard sponsors, stolen pennies, naked bums & Sophie Hunter. Outro song: "Simply Business" by Little Stranger Smoochie Gang Playlist Term's Album of the Week Playlist Please send questions, stories & whatever else to tpsreportspodcast@gmail.com and feel free to leave us a voicemail at 708-797-3079. The Palmer Squares on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Patreon & more Shop for Official TPS Merchandise
In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, John "Rain" Waters and Mike "Flash" McVay sit down with Hal Sundt, author of "Warplane: How the Military Reformers Birthed the A-10 Warthog." https://amzn.to/3VC9B3iJoin us as we dive into the story behind the A-10's development, its impact on modern warfare, and the key figures who championed its creation. Hal shares insights from his extensive research and interviews, revealing the challenges and triumphs that led to the birth of this iconic aircraft. Whether you're an aviation enthusiast or a history buff, this episode offers a deep dive into the world of military aviation and the legacy of the A-10 Warthog.Warplane: How the Military Reformers Birthed the A-10 Warthog : https://amzn.to/3VC9B3i
In tonight's bedtime story for kids, we head to Sleepy Forest, where a new shop is opening - Heavenly Hats! It's owned by a Warthog and a Peacock, Winnie and Patrick, who are dedicated to finding the perfect hat for every animal of the forest! Relax, get sleepy, and let's begin! Upgrade to Koko Club Today!
Today's episode pulls together a few different important topics, from performing cognitively in crisis situations to how we develop character and leadership in the military. We also discuss the impact of human performance programs among pilots. But mostly this episode is a story of how a pilot handled being hit by an anti-aircraft missile and the lessons learned she walked away with after surviving. Kim “KC” Campbell is a retired Colonel who served in the Air Force for over 24 years as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. She has flown 1,800 hours in the A-10 Warthog, including more than 100 combat missions protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2003, Kim was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism after successfully recovering her battle-damaged airplane after an intense close air support mission. You'll hear plenty about that story in the episode, but let's just say she has a proven ability to perform in a crisis. Kim knew she wanted to fly from a young age, making her first solo flight in a civilian aircraft over San Jose at age 17. She went to the United States Air Force Academy where she was the cadet wing commander (the highest position a USAFA cadet can achieve), as was her father during his time as a cadet; the first time that a father and daughter both served as cadet wing commander. She holds a degree in International Security Studies from the University of Reading, and a Master of Business Administration from Imperial College London, which she undertook while on a Marshall Scholarship. Her final assignment on active duty was back at the United States Air Force Academy as the Director of the Center for Character and Leadership Development. Learn more about Kim or schedule her as a speaker on her website. She also wrote a book diving deeper on much of what we discussed here. If you've never heard the SR-71 Blackbird "ground speed check" story, then check it out here.
Today's BMP:Hackride got taken down by youtube!Mark Normand makes Richard Jefferson uncomfortable.Sex Pest sadly tries to take down Shane Gillis?WAR MODE!Planktonrules correspondent Warthog, slides us the doss.blindmike.netwww.verygoodshow.org
Hal Sundt author of Warplane, How the Military Reformers Birthed the A-10 Warthog describes the origination story of the close air support aircraft the U.S. Air Force never wanted but pilots and ground troops came to love.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
Justin joins Kirk in studio as Gus answers for his trip to last night's Rydercon. (03:00) Gus plays the videos he took last night. (12:50) Kirk's tweet last night got to Gus. (22:00) Justin explains why he sent the Rydercon idea to Gus. (25:50) Gus details what plans for content he had for today. (45:50) It all comes back to Warthog and donuts. (52:05) Kirk plays a song to relax. (58:15) Calls. (1:03:45) Jeff D. Lowe calls in. (01:50:40) Gus plans to go back to the drawing board. (1:52:00) Kirk questions Justin on his loyalty if faced with producing Zero Blog Thirty. (01:59:00) Gus gives his final statement before tomorrow's show with Mick.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/kminshow
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