Podcasts about west point

Our guest Colonel Douglas MacGregor is a retired US Army colonel. He has had a distinguished military career having held important operational roles during the Gulf War and was a top strategic planner for General Wesley Clark as NATO's commander during the invasion of Yugoslavia. More recently Col. Macgregor has been the president and CEO of The National Conversation -- a non profit organization for "the politically homeless" with a mission to restore civic dialogue in America that challenges the duopoly ruling Washington and hopefully to lead to a new and viable political party.   Since retiring Col Macgregor has been an author, consultant and media commentator who appears regularly on Judge Napolitano's Judging Freedom and Dialogue Works.  Colonel MacGregor has written several books on military strategy and the history of warfare. He is a graduate of US military academy at West Point and later received a doctorate in international relations from the University of Virginia. His websites are DouglasMacgregor.com and TheNationaConversation.org, and you can read his writings on his substack at MacgregorWarrior. substack.com

My guest today is Cait Conley. Cait is running for Congress in NY District 17, determined to stop Donald Trump and cowards like Mike Lawler who enable him. Cait was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, graduated at the top of her class at West Point, served 16 years as an Army officer, and broke barriers as one of the first and only women in Special Operations leadership and was awarded three Bronze Stars. Cait's career as a public servant continued at home, protecting security and democracy while serving as Director of Counter-Terrorism on the National Security Council at the White House. She later helped safeguard our critical infrastructure and election systems at CISA, defending our democracy by standing up directly to Trump's big lie that the 2020 election was stolen.  Cait is dedicated to bringing dignity and courage back to Congress. She is fighting to lower costs, clean up corruption, reign in ICE, address climate change as a national security crisis, protect our elections and stop Trumps' unlawful and authoritarian agenda. I am impressed with her strength, courage and proven leadership and have been motivated to have as many people as possible hear from Cait directly, so they can make an informed decision when voting in the primary. Early voting started June 13th and the primary is Tuesday, June 23rd. This is a critical election, so please spread the word and get out and vote!  Check out the Show Notes for Cait's conversation with Ali Velshi on MSNOW as well as Cait's website. There you will find links to donate, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Enjoy the podcast! Links: Cait Conley's Website Ali Velshi-MSNOW

Celebrate America's aviation heroes:

Henry Ossian Flipper made history on June 14, 1877, when he became the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. His achievement came despite years of isolation and racism and remains a powerful symbol of perseverance and breaking barriers. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The first African American cadet graduated from West Point on this day in 1877. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gen. George Washington returned to New York City from a visit to Philadelphia to consult with the Continental Congress. On June 7, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution to Congress: "Resolved, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." Concerned about the strength of Loyalist sentiment, the provincial congress in New York advised its delegates in Philadelphia to abstain from voting on the resolution, which was tabled until July 2. On June 28, a five-man drafting committee in Philadelphia asked Thomas Jefferson to present the Declaration of Independence for debate. It was read aloud and tabled. On June 30, British Maj. Gen. William Howe and his 9,000 troops began disembarking on Staten Island. The case against Fanny Hay, 8, accused of stealing a breast pin from Mrs. Butterfass, was dismissed by Justice Coe because he felt the girl did not understand the nature of an oath. The Cold Spring Recorder's editor called it "a sad commentary on our Christian institutions that this child did not know how to read, was ignorant of the sin of and the penalty for lying or stealing; had not been taught that there was any future state, that she had an immortal soul; or that there was a Supreme Ruler, the source of all things and the judge of mankind!" A new street near the depot, Railroad Avenue, was completed; Stone Street was furnished with a paved gutter on its west side; and a "great improvement" was made to Kemble Avenue on the slope south of the Rock Street corner. The Recorder editor noted complaints about a Putnam Valley man who, once or twice a week, left his team of horses in the heat near the post office for hours without food or drink. James Finnin of Garden Street was working in the boiler shop at the West Point Foundry when a piece of steel from his hammer pierced an artery in his left wrist. The bleeding was stopped with difficulty by compression with a handkerchief. Assisted by a comrade, Finnin walked to Dr. Murdock's office on Fair Street. A company of Republicans visited Philipstown on a Saturday night to congratulate Rep. William Wheeler, who had been nominated to be the vice-presidential candidate alongside Rutherford Hayes in the 1876 election. Wheeler was staying with his brother-in-law, Henry Belcher, at Garrison's Landing. About 11 p.m. on a Saturday, an intoxicated laborer, said to be employed at the Garrison quarry, stumbled down Main Street. He was warned that the dock was unlit and dangerous, but several bystanders soon heard the splash. Jerry Delany jumped in after him, and a boat was rowed to the rescue. Because the cadets would be in Philadelphia for the Fourth of July centennial, the West Point fireworks were shot off on a Wednesday night in mid-June. Soon after 1 p.m. on a Monday, four young men marched up Main Street wearing what appeared to be baseball uniforms with knapsacks and tin drinking cups. "No one seemed to know where they came nor what place was their destination," The Recorder observed. Three young men from a New York canoe club drew a crowd when they stopped at the wharf on a Sunday afternoon wearing strange outfits. They left at 7 p.m., saying they planned to travel to Poughkeepsie, about 22 miles. The trip took longer than expected, as the Poughkeepsie News reported the men didn't arrive until Monday night and immediately booked hotel rooms. Workers excavated the rocky ground near the District 3 schoolhouse to install a much-needed outhouse. The flagging stones arrived for an "experimental" sidewalk between Kemble Avenue and Furnace Street. The Recorder said a newly constructed railroad fence that followed the rocks and curves "reminds one of the Great Wall of China." At 10 a.m. on a Friday morning, a crowd on Market Street armed with sticks, stones ...

Where in the brain is that little something that makes top performers feel so confident in their ability? Can that confidence be developed in someone who is naturally more timid? Dr. Nate Zinsser, director of West Point's Performance Psychology Program and author of The Confident Mind, explains how a sense of mastery develops, and why butterflies in your stomach are a signal from the brain when you're about to do something great. Plus… why Ted Lasso wants us all to be a little more like goldfish.   For transcript and further information, use this link:  https://bit.ly/4ocC0cE 

Mike Schopp and the Bulldog discuss Alex Tuch's contract negotiations and a recent conversation with Marty Biron before sharing stories about exploring various sports stadiums and campuses. They recount experiences of walking onto fields and into rinks at places like Notre Dame, West Point, and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 01:00 - Alex Tuch Contract Talk 03:48 - Visiting Notre Dame Campus 09:04 - Las Vegas Racetrack Story

This episode of the Armed Forces & Society AI podcast series is a conversational-style AI summary of Morten G. Ender, Ryan Kelty, and Irving Smith's article entitled, 'Sociology at West Point'. All podcasts, videos, and content listed below are AI-generated adaptations of scholarly articles originally published in Armed Forces & Society. These derivative products are intended solely as supplementary means of engaging with academic research. The content was generated using Google's NotebookLM and does not constitute an authoritative or complete representation of the original article. While care has been taken to reflect the themes and arguments of the source material, AI-generated summaries may contain omissions, simplifications, or inaccuracies. Use the original articles to verify all claims and to cite the work. The AI-generated media is not for citation. Audiences seeking a full, accurate, and nuanced understanding of the research should consult the original published work. The authors have elected to give permission for Armed Forces & Society to derive AI-generated videos and podcasts from their work. Because of the possibility for AI to misconstrue or misrepresent the author's original work, Armed Forces & Society and Sage absolve the authors from all responsibility for the AI-generated statements and inferences. All rights to the original articles and any derivative media are reserved by the authors, Armed Forces & Society, and Sage Publishing.

Five Democrats compete to face Lawler A lot has changed since the November 2024 general election, when Republican Mike Lawler defeated Democrat Mondaire Jones to win a second, 2-year term representing U.S. House District 17, which includes Philipstown. The Democratic president, Joe Biden, was unpopular, a regular gallon of gas in New York state averaged $3.09, inflation stood at 2.7 percent and 39,000 people were being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, nearly two-thirds of them arrested at the borders with Canada and Mexico. Less than two years later, Republican Donald Trump is the unpopular president, a regular gallon of gas averages $4.38, inflation hit 4.2 percent and 60,000 people were being held by ICE as of April, 85 percent of them arrested at their homes and workplaces, on the street and during routine check-ins with the agency. A Marist poll released in May found that more than half of 1,322 adults surveyed rated their cost of living as "not very affordable" (44 percent) or "not affordable at all" (12 percent); 63 percent did not believe the economy benefited them; and 81 percent felt either a "major" strain on their household budget (33 percent) or a "minor" one (48 percent). Trump's unpopularity, higher gas prices and other costs, and the unpopularity of the conflict with Iran and the president's immigration crackdown are some of the factors bolstering five Democrats competing in a June 23 primary to take on Lawler in November. The district is one of the most scrutinized in the country amid the Democratic Party's efforts to flip the House to its control. The Republicans have a 218-212 majority, with four seats vacant and one independent. Cait Conley has received high-profile endorsements and raised the most campaign funds. A graduate of West Point who earned master's degrees from Harvard and MIT, she spent 16 years on active duty in the U.S. Army before directing counterterrorism for the National Security Council and joining the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Both the Dutchess and Putnam Democratic Committees have endorsed her. Beth Davidson has also received notable endorsements, including from the Rockland Democratic Committee, where she is a county Legislator. Davidson, whose fundraising totals are only bested by Conley's, spent two years on the Nyack school board and has held board seats on local organizations such as Leadership Rockland and the Children's Shakespeare Theatre. A third candidate, Effie Phillips-Staley, is serving her third term as a Tarrytown village trustee. She has also held roles as vice president of strategic advancement at the Hispanic Federation in New York City, where she led a fundraising effort that netted more than $30 million for Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria; executive director of the Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns; and director of capital and institutional advancement for The Kitchen, an art space in the city. Questions for Candidates Ahead of the Democratic primary on June 23, we gave each candidate 500 words to answer three questions. Their responses are posted at highlandscurrent.org/house-primary-17. John Cappello and Mike Sacks are the final two candidates. Cappello is an Air Force Academy graduate and bomber pilot who retired from the service and is president of the Halyard Mission Foundation, which commemorates the rescue of more than 500 U.S. airmen from Serbia during World War II. Sacks is a lawyer and journalist who covered law and politics for the MeidasTouch media network and Fox 5 in New York City, where he won an Emmy for his coverage of the protests following the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis. There have been four polls, but each was commissioned by a candidate or supporter, surveyed a relatively small sample and found large swaths of likely voters undecided. VoteVets, a political action committee backing Conley, commissioned a poll of 500 people in May showing he...

In this inspiring episode of The Greatness Machine, host Darius Mirshahzadeh sits down with legendary author Steven Pressfield to discuss his newest novel "The Arcadian" and dive deep into the creative process. Pressfield, author of over 20 books including "The War of Art," "The Legend of Bagger Vance," and "Gates of Fire," shares his journey from a 30-year struggle to published success at age 52. The conversation explores the spiritual and practical aspects of creativity, the concept of resistance, and the warrior mindset needed for artistic achievement. In this episode, Darius and Steven will discuss: (00:00) Introduction to Steven Pressfield (01:05) Steven's Origin Story and Journey to Writing (04:02) Reflections on Past Struggles and Regrets (06:57) The Creative Process and the Role of the Muse (10:02) Uncovering Ideas: The Artist's Journey (12:08) The Impact of 'The War of Art' and Resistance (15:01) Understanding Self-Sabotage and Resistance (18:00) The Spirituality of Creativity vs. Blue Collar Work (21:06) The Importance of Grit and Hard Work (23:54) Expectations vs. Reality in Creative Work (27:05) The Process of Writing and Overcoming Perfectionism (29:54) The Long View: Building a Body of Work (33:02) Channeling Creativity and Letting Go of Outcomes (34:21) The Power of Surrender and Channeling Creativity (37:34) Warrior vs. Mother: The Duality of Creative Virtues (41:58) The Arcadian: A Journey Through Time and Identity (46:31) Striving for Agency: The Artist's Quest (49:41) Making the Unconscious Conscious: The Role of Art (53:10) Reincarnation and Relationships: A Storytelling Device (55:05) Mortality and Legacy: Reflections on the Creative Journey (57:50) AI and Authenticity: The Future of Creativity (59:26) The Grind: Overcoming Barriers to Greatness Steven Pressfield is the bestselling author of The War of Art, with over a million copies sold worldwide. His historical novel Gates of Fire is required reading at West Point and on the recommended reading list of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The author of more than 18 books, Pressfield lives and writes in California. Connect with Steven: Website: https://stevenpressfield.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven_pressfield/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StevePressfield/  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a decorated combat veteran survives war, an 18-hour brain surgery, and a successful corporate career—yet still finds himself battling invisible wounds nobody can see?In this powerful inspirational episode, Reginald D sits down with decorated Army veteran, West Point graduate, finance executive, mental health advocate, and author Omar Ritter for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, PTSD, mental health, resilience, purpose, and personal growth.Omar shares his incredible journey from growing up as a military child and attending five different high schools to earning acceptance into the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point and leading soldiers during the initial invasion of Iraq. He opens up about combat leadership, split-second life-and-death decisions, and the realities of serving under extreme pressure.Omar also shares insights from his powerful book, West Point to Wall Street: My Journey to Mental Wellness and explains why mental health conversations are more important now than ever before.The conversation takes a powerful turn as Omar discusses surviving an 18-hour brain surgery, learning how to walk again, transitioning into high-level corporate leadership roles at major financial institutions, and silently battling PTSD, anxiety, and mental health challenges for years while appearing successful on the outside.In this motivational and inspirational conversation, you'll discover:Leadership lessons from combat and corporate AmericaThe truth about PTSD and mental health strugglesHow trauma can hide behind achievement and successWhy asking for help is a sign of strengthThe importance of resilience and self-awarenessHow to overcome adversity and rebuild your lifeLessons learned from military service and leadershipThe power of vulnerability and authentic growthWhy mental wellness matters for everyoneHow purpose can emerge from life's hardest challengesPress play now to hear this powerful motivational and inspirational conversation and discover how resilience, leadership, mental wellness, and purpose can help you overcome life's greatest challenges.Omar's Contact Info:Website: https://www.omarritter.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-ritter-cpa-sphr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omar.ritter.9Send us Fan MailSupport the showFor daily motivation and inspiration, subscribe and follow Real Talk With Reginald D on social media:Instagram: realtalkwithreginaldd   TikTok: @realtalkregd  Youtube: @realtalkwithreginald  Website:  https://www.realtalkwithreginaldd.com Real Talk With Reginald D  -  MerchandiseReal Talk With Reginald D is a faith-based globally ranked inspirational and motivational podcast designed to motivate, empower & transform lives through powerful motivational speeches, authentic conversations, and real-life inspirational stories. Each episode delivers motivational and inspirational coaching focused on self improvement, leadership, healing, resilience & purpose. Rooted in faith and motivation, this Christian-based platform blends practical growth strategies with biblical wisdom, helping listeners strengthen their mindset, deepen their faith, and walk boldly in their calling.  Check out Reginald D's powerful motivational speeches today!`

In this episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we are joined by investigative journalist Jasper Craven to discuss his new book, *God Forgives, Brothers Don't: Inside the Violent, Hypermasculine World of America's Military Schools*. The conversation ranges far beyond military academies to explore how the US military has become the defining institution of American manhood – and what that means for democracy, violence, and the soul of the nation.**Jasper's journey into this subject began with a tip about a dysfunctional military school near Philadelphia, rife with abuse and corruption. That story opened a window onto a broad network of military education – from elite officer training at West Point to reform schools for troubled boys – all peddling the same promise: that rigid hierarchy, discipline, and violence can forge a real man. The military, Jasper argues, has filled a void left by the collapse of other pathways to meaning and middle‑class security.We trace the historical roots of America's uneasy relationship with standing armies – the founders' distrust of a professional military versus the lionisation of the revolutionary war veteran. That tension has been resolved decisively in favour of the soldier. Today, militarism permeates American culture, from a defence budget larger than the next ten countries combined to the reflexive adoration of anyone in uniform. This “secular faith” has produced a generation of veterans who feel their sacrifices are acknowledged only in hollow, abstract gestures – never in a genuine willingness to confront the ugliness of war.The conversation turns to Pete Hegseth, Trump's defence secretary and a walking embodiment of hyper‑performative masculinity. Jasper traces Hegseth's own insecurities – shame at his “soft” father, a desperate need to prove himself – and shows how the military offered him a ready‑made identity. But that identity is brittle, built on a foundation of alcohol abuse, misogyny, Islamophobia, and a deep fear of being seen as weak. Hegseth, Jasper argues, is not an aberration but the “inevitable conclusion” of decades of imperial blowback.We also discuss the role of military schools in channelling working‑class boys – disproportionately white, often struggling with learning disabilities or juvenile justice issues – into a system that promises redemption through submission. The long‑term consequences are devastating: high rates of suicide, PTSD, domestic violence, and extremist radicalisation. Jasper notes that the mob that stormed the Capitol on 6 January was composed largely of military veterans – a fact that was briefly discussed, then quietly forgotten.Topics covered:- Jasper's investigative journey from a single dysfunctional military school to a national network- The economic and social drivers of military recruitment- How military schools weaponise masculinity as a recruiting tool- America's historic tension between distrust of standing armies and adoration of soldiers- The failure of post‑9/11 wars to deliver meaning or victory- Pete Hegseth as a case study in fragile, performative masculinity- The 6 January insurrection and the role of radicalised veterans- The hollow abstraction of veteran worship- Graham Platner's Senate campaign as a test of whether voters can face the real wounds of war---*Jasper Craven's *God Forgives, Brothers Don't* is out now. Please consider buying from an independent bookshop or directly from the publisher.**If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting us – we are migrating from Patreon to Substack. Details in the show notes.*Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secretary of Defense (or ‘War’, as he prefers) Pete Hegseth is a poster child for the way military education likes to inculcate recruits and students into a macho culture of masculinity.  The Pentagon has a vast educational network through which to teach these lessons.  It includes basic training, service academies like West Point, JROTC, ROTC and dozens of military schools and war colleges.  This has given the military brass outsized power in shaping our young men and, by extension, society at large.  In “God Forgives, Brothers Don’t: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood,” investigative journalist Jasper Craven explores how the military formed and fuels increasingly volatile strains of American masculinity. While many people benefit greatly from the structure and discipline of military training, others have scars from it having been cut off from the development of the other traits that define men, like empathy and caring for others.  It’s provocative exploration of men in our society as the messaging about the training and service focuses more and more on a warrior culture.

For years, healthcare organizations focused on securing digital channels while treating phone calls as a trusted service channel. That assumption no longer holds true.  In this episode, Sandy sits with Jason Barr, the Vice President of Strategic Sales for Healthcare at Pindrop, who explains how AI-powered voice cloning, deepfakes, and synthetic identities are transforming the cybersecurity landscape. Jason shares how healthcare organizations can defend against AI-driven fraud, verify identity in real time, and protect patients, providers, and employees in a world where even a familiar voice may not be what it seems. In this episode, they talk about: AI has transformed the phone from a trusted service channel into a rapidly growing cybersecurity threat vector for healthcare organizations. Cybercriminals can now use AI-powered tools to launch thousands of voice-based attacks per day, dramatically increasing the scale and efficiency of fraud attempts. Many attackers use voice channels not for immediate theft, but for reconnaissance, collecting sensitive information that can later be used to target providers, payers, and patients. Traditional identity verification methods such as knowledge-based questions and one-time passcodes are becoming increasingly vulnerable to modern fraud tactics. Continuous identity verification is emerging as a new security model that validates users throughout an interaction rather than only at the point of authentication. Pindrop analyzes thousands of signals during voice interactions to determine whether a caller is who they claim to be, whether they pose a risk, and whether they are even human. Healthcare organizations are facing a growing challenge in distinguishing between legitimate automation and malicious AI-powered bots. Deepfake technology is now sophisticated enough to mimic both voices and video, creating new risks across hiring, workforce management, and patient-facing operations. Help desks and support centers remain attractive targets because attackers often use social engineering tactics to pressure employees into resetting credentials. Voice-based security solutions can reduce fraud while simultaneously improving operational efficiency and the customer experience. One healthcare organization achieved a 90% reduction in fraud after implementing voice authentication and risk detection technology. Healthcare leaders must begin evaluating voice security as part of their broader cybersecurity strategy, as AI-enabled attacks continue to grow at an unprecedented pace.  A Little About Jason: As a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Officer, Jason brings the operational rigor, discipline, and leadership foundation of combat-tested command into the boardroom and the GTM arena. He thrives where GTM transformation is mission-critical: aligning strategy to investor outcomes, building high-performing teams, and delivering predictable growth.

This episode of the Armed Forces & Society AI podcast series is a conversational-style AI summary of Morten G. Ender, Ryan Kelty, and Irving Smith's article entitled, 'Sociology at West Point'. All podcasts, videos, and content listed below are AI-generated adaptations of scholarly articles originally published in Armed Forces & Society. These derivative products are intended solely as supplementary means of engaging with academic research. The content was generated using Google's NotebookLM and does not constitute an authoritative or complete representation of the original article. While care has been taken to reflect the themes and arguments of the source material, AI-generated summaries may contain omissions, simplifications, or inaccuracies. Use the original articles to verify all claims and to cite the work. The AI-generated media is not for citation. Audiences seeking a full, accurate, and nuanced understanding of the research should consult the original published work. The authors have elected to give permission for Armed Forces & Society to derive AI-generated videos and podcasts from their work. Because of the possibility for AI to misconstrue or misrepresent the author's original work, Armed Forces & Society and Sage absolve the authors from all responsibility for the AI-generated statements and inferences. All rights to the original articles and any derivative media are reserved by the authors, Armed Forces & Society, and Sage Publishing.

Veterans, corporate burnout survivors and anyone who has ever confused suffering in silence with being strong will find something worth hearing in this one. This episode is for the people who are fine, totally fine, definitely fine... and haven't slept properly in three months.More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/omar-ritterOmar Ritter has lived more than most people will ever face in a lifetime. West Point graduate, Bronze Star recipient, combat veteran from Iraq and Kosovo, twenty-year Wall Street executive, brain tumor survivor. He's also someone who spent years hiding the fact that he was falling apart on the inside while everything looked great from the outside. In this episode of Even Tacos Fall Apart, Omar sits down to talk honestly about PTSD, burnout, identity loss and what it actually took to get better.Omar's breaking point didn't come on a battlefield. It came in boardrooms, in sleepless nights at JP Morgan, in a moment when he left his wife home alone with their week-old baby to go deliver documents to his boss at 3am. He was the guy who always got things done, no matter what it cost him. And that identity, the guy who never cracks, is exactly what nearly killed him.He opens up about his gunner from Iraq, a man who appeared fine on Facebook, who was chatting and checking in, and who then took his own life and the lives of his children after an untreated mental health crisis hijacked everything he was. Omar doesn't sugarcoat it. He calls PTSD what he believes it is: a hijacker in the cockpit of your brain, making you do things the real you never would.The conversation covers what burnout actually looks like versus just being tired or stressed, and why veterans in particular are so reluctant to get help. Omar is blunt about the stigma, but he's equally blunt about the excuses. TriCare covers treatment. Corporate benefits packages cover therapy. You can schedule a session on your lunch break and nobody needs to know. The resources exist. The harder part is deciding you're worth using them.One of the most powerful threads in this episode is the difference between powering through and real resilience. Omar held a gun to his own temple while powering through a job he hated in a city he never wanted to live in. He knows the difference from the inside. Resilience, he says, is bouncing back. Powering through with an untreated mental health condition is just damage accumulating until your body or your brain forces the issue.He also talks about the identity crisis that hits veterans when they leave service and walk into corporate America leading with their rank and their medals, only to find out nobody in the room knows what a combat action badge is or why it should matter to them. The reframe he had to learn was painful but necessary.Omar now teaches accounting and finance at UNC Charlotte, sits on veteran entrepreneur boards, and wrote the book West Point to Wall Street: My Journey to Mental Wellness. His audiobook just dropped. His message is simple: raise your hand, make the call, and deal with the rest once you're healthy. Everything else can wait.

THE REPUBLIC HAS ALWAYS HAD CHARLATANS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE NOW IS THEY HAVE PODCASTS, CABLE NEWS CONTRACTS, AND MILLIONS OF FOLLOWERS. Today on Wake Up America, we trace the charlatan problem from the founding era to the modern media machine. Dr. Benjamin Church spied for the British. Benedict Arnold was grifting before West Point. The Conway Cabal tried to remove George Washington through anonymous attacks. James Wilkinson commanded the U.S. Army while secretly taking Spanish money. Then we bring the pattern forward to Hunter Biden, Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, Scott Pelley, Ro Khanna, and the modern system that rewards the costume long after the record has fallen apart.

Where in the brain is that little something that makes top performers feel so confident in their ability? Can that confidence be developed in someone who is naturally more timid? Dr. Nate Zinsser, director of West Point's Performance Psychology Program and author of The Confident Mind, explains how a sense of mastery develops, and why butterflies in your stomach are a signal from the brain when you're about to do something great.

This week on the podcast, we sit down with Hope MacGregor for a powerful conversation about music, resilience, and the unexpected paths that lead us back to our purpose.Hope's story is anything but ordinary—she went from growing up in the Midwest with a love for singing and songwriting, to serving as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot after graduating from West Point. Life took another turn when she transitioned out of the military, attended law school, and then found herself in the middle of personal loss and major life change. In that season, an old guitar resurfaced—and with it, a return to writing music that was honest, healing, and deeply personal.Today, Hope is carving out her place in the country and Americana scene with songs that blend heartbreak, humor, and hard-earned wisdom. We talk about her journey from the cockpit to the courtroom to the stage, the stories behind her music, and how she turned some of life's hardest moments into art that connects with people everywhere.Follow Hope MacGregor:https://www.hopemacgregormusic.comEpisode Sponsors:Double B Hat Co.https://doublebhatcompany.comCH Lonestar Promohttps://chlonestarpromo.comDeep Eddy Vodkahttps://deepeddyvodka.comIron Monk Brewing Companyhttps://ironmonkbeer.comCertified Hustlerhttps://thecertifiedhustler.comStilly Vintagehttps://stillyvintage.com

Martha Raddatz, ABC News' chief global affairs correspondent and 'This Week' co-anchor and the author of The Hero Next Door: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 2026), highlights the courage and heroism of members of the U.S. military.Photo: Kyle Osterhoudt, U.S. Military Academy, Celebration Time: Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy celebrate as the Army's newest officers during a commencement ceremony at West Point, N.Y., May 24, 2025. For the Class of 2025 Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Show Notes: In this episode of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, Max shares his lifelong affection for ferries — the working boats that move commuters, islanders, day‑trippers, and football fans with the same steady indifference. Ferries don't pamper or preen, but they offer something better: a front‑row seat to the water and the most democratic view in travel. Whether you drive a G‑wagon or a beat‑up Volvo, everyone waits in the same line for the same ramp to drop.Max reflects on the magic of that first engine shudder as the boat pulls away from the dock, the wind on deck, and the shared horizon that briefly unites a crowd of strangers. No TSA, no overhead bins, no seat assignments — just the shoreline sliding by and the slow reveal of a destination coming into focus.This episode also explores the explosion of ferry service across New England and beyond. On Cape Cod, the Steamship Authority is preparing to open its long‑awaited new terminal in Woods Hole, a modern stone‑and‑glass gateway to Martha's Vineyard. The arrival of the M/V Monomoy marks another milestone, bringing a quieter, larger, more reliable freight vessel into service.Boston's ferry network is growing fast, with new weekend service from Lynn, expanded Winthrop and Quincy routes, and system‑wide contactless payment. The MBTA's new F‑10 line launches this June, connecting North Station to the Aquarium, the Seaport, and Logan Airport for just $2.46 each way — a rare moment of true transit progress on the waterfront.Amesbury is preparing a small‑vessel shuttle on the Merrimack River for 2026, linking its waterfront to downtown Newburyport with quick, car‑free hops designed to ease summer traffic. And in New Jersey, Seastreak is running special Hudson River trips to West Point for Army football games — a floating tailgate party complete with a bar, snacks, and big‑screen TVs.New York City is expanding too, with a brand‑new Staten Island–to–Brooklyn route, the first passenger ferry to make that crossing since 1964. Commuters are already embracing the traffic‑free ride and the chance to start and end their day on the water.Through all these stories, Max returns to the same truth: ferries are the great equalizer. Once you're on board, you're just another traveler watching the horizon. And that's why he keeps coming back.CreditsWritten and narrated by Max Hartshorne, Editor of GoNOMAD Travel. Produced by the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast team.Subscribe to the GoNOMAD Travel PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoNOMAD Travelhttps://www.gonomad.comVoyascapehttps://www.voyascape.com

Matt Louis, is one of the nation's leading experts in career transition for members of the military community. He coaches individuals on their transition efforts and advises employers on hiring programs designed to successfully assimilate this valuable talent pool. He is the author of the award-winning and best-selling HarperCollins book, Mission Transition, a practical guide for veterans in career transition, their families, and their employers. His second book, Hiring Veterans, is a practical guide for organizational leaders on how to build programs to successfully assimilate veterans and military spouses. He is a Member of Louis Advisors LLC, a veteran-owned small business, was President of Purepost, Inc. and spent 17+ years at Deloitte where he became a Senior Manager and Practice Leader. Matt is a retired officer, US Army Active Duty and Reserve, 1991 to 2012. He graduated from the Military Academy at West Point and received his MBA at Indiana University – Kelly School of Business. Matt in discussion with Don Hutcheson:  "On average, today's transitioning veterans will be unemployed for 22 weeks before they find a job. And when they do, they are simply looking to replace a revenue source. They'll take a job to get any job – and it is usually not the right one. They'll rotate out of that job within the first year and a half, and they'll continue to job hop and job hop and job hop. So much so that by their sixth post-military job, 50 percent, yes, half of transitioning veterans are still not in their optimal career field. I would peg that their sixth job is between three to five years from when they re-entered civilian life.  That's alarming." "Why would I raise my right hand and enlist if today's service members are not finding full-time employment? And suicide rates continue to be at unacceptable levels. There is a direct correlation with all of these things."

Joined on this episode by the one and only Tom Richardson, retired FDNY Chief of Department!Chief Richardson walks the walk, serving 42 years with the FDNY, rising through every rank to lead as the top uniformed officer in the busiest fire department in the nation. A lifelong firefighter, he's been a volunteer in Deer Park since 1978 (serving as Chief of Department there in 1999-2000 and 2009-2011) and currently serves on the Board of Fire Commissioners. He holds a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School - Center for Homeland Defense and Security, along with extensive leadership training including the FDNY Advanced Leadership Course, Fire Officers Management Institute, and West Point's Combating Terrorism Center. We're going deep into leadership in the fire service - everything from command presence, to the critical importance of trust in the firehouse and on the fireground, building crews that operate with implicit authority (no constant micromanaging), the make-or-break role of the first hoseline, staffing and response challenges facing the volunteer fire service, and effective communication with the troops. Hard-earned lessons from the highest levels of command, and practical wisdom that applies to every firefighter and officer out there. As always, the live audience one hundred percent light this one up with questions, and we go wherever the conversation takes us. Because we all know that's what makes The Scrap the absolute best live firefighter podcast out there!  

Preston Stewart is a highly successful YouTube host, who makes videos about the military, national security and foreign affairs. His desire is to make these topics more accessible and easier for the public to understand. He studied International Relations and Terrorism at West Point and from there entered the Army as a Field Artillery officer. Today, he calls Murfreesboro, Tennessee home.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@PrestonStewart https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonstewart1/ https://x.com/prestonstew_https://www.patreon.com/prestonstewhttps://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstewhttps://x.com/prestonstew_https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_ UNCLASSIFIED Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPodhttps://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=917d2d83cea844f6&nd=1&dlsi=afc05340aab14acc----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Send us Fan MailWhat if the tools patients use between therapy sessions mattered more than the sessions themselves?In this clip from our episode “Fixing the Access Crisis In Mental Health”, host John Driscoll and Mark Frank, Co-Founder and CEO of SonderMind, break down how a fully integrated platform combining 80 digital interventions with an AI coach is producing outcomes up to 275% better than traditional therapy alone.Listen to the full episode here

Kenny O'Mary is the Assistant AD – Director of Sports Performance at Sacramento State. Prior to relocating to the west coast, O'Mary served in a similar role as the associate athletics director/director of student athlete high performance at William & Mary since 2021. Before joining the Tribe, he was the director of strength & conditioning at Howard University for three and a half years. O'Mary primarily worked with the football, volleyball, track & field, and women's soccer programs in addition to overseeing the 19 Bison varsity programs. O'Mary began his career at his alma mater, Eastern Kentucky University, as an intern coach from 2009-2010 before being promoted to graduate assistant, from 2010-2012 and eventually full-time assistant from 2012-2013. Additionally, O'Mary garnished experience as an intern coach at Louisville in 2011 between his roles at EKU and later joined the staff at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he worked from 2013-2017. O'Mary is active himself in the weight room and continues trains while balancing the rigors of the collegiate coaching schedule. He is an avid lifter and enjoys golfing and hanging out with his dog, Coach, when he is not training in the weight room. Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

This episode delves into the historical significance of three esteemed stadiums in college football, each named in honor of remarkable individuals whose contributions to the sport and their respective programs are profound. We explore Michi Stadium at West Point, paying tribute to Dennis Michi, the visionary who established the Army football program and made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Furthermore, we investigate Nile Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa, named after a celebrated Heisman Trophy winner whose legacy extends beyond the gridiron. Lastly, we reflect on Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech, which honors a transformative coach who revolutionized the game through his innovative approach to training and player welfare. Through these narratives, we aim to illuminate the enduring impact of these legends on college football history.Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.*OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-StarsDrop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.comMiss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. A profound exploration of the historical significance of college football stadiums, this episode delves into the remarkable stories of three iconic venues and their namesakes. Each stadium is not merely a structure of brick and mortar but rather a monument to individuals who have transcended the realm of sports to become legends in their own right. The discussion begins with Michi Stadium, named in honor of Dennis Michi, a pioneering figure who laid the groundwork for the Army football program. Michi's unwavering determination in the face of institutional skepticism regarding the sport culminated in the establishment of a program that would foster camaraderie and resilience among cadets. His untimely sacrifice during the Spanish-American War immortalized him in West Point lore, ensuring that his legacy would forever resonate within the walls of Michi Stadium. The discourse then transitions to the illustrious Nile Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa. Kinnick was not only a Heisman Trophy winner but also a heroic fighter pilot whose life was tragically cut short during World War II. The narrative recounts how the student body, in a heartfelt tribute to Kinnick's contributions to both football and the military, voted to honor him through the renaming of the stadium. This act of remembrance underscores the deep connection between sports and national pride, encapsulating the essence of Kinnick's legacy, which continues to inspire generations of athletes and students alike. Lastly, the episode pays homage to Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech, a venue that serves as a testament to Dodd's revolutionary approach to coaching. Dodd's philosophy emphasized the enjoyment of the game, contrasting sharply with the militaristic training prevalent during his time. His commitment to player welfare and innovative strategies led to a remarkable record and an enduring legacy that transformed the landscape of college football. Each of these stadiums is a living tribute to the indelible impact of these remarkable individuals, whose stories continue to inspire and shape the ethos of American football. Through these narratives, we gain a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of college football history, celebrating the men who have made it possible.

Are you a business owner feeling like the biggest bottleneck in your own company? Do you dream of financial freedom but find yourself buried in 20−an−hourtasks?InthisinsightfulepisodeoftheSpeakingPodcast,wesitdownwithBlazMarolt,anex−militaryofficerandWestPointgraduatewhohastransitionedhishigh−stakesleadershipexperienceintoamissionforbusinesssystematization.Blazhelpsentrepreneursscalingpastthe20-an-hour tasks? In this insightful episode of the Speaking Podcast, we sit down with Blaz Marolt, an ex-military officer and West Point graduate who has transitioned his high-stakes leadership experience into a mission for business systematization. Blaz helps entrepreneurs scaling past the 20−an−hourtasks?InthisinsightfulepisodeoftheSpeakingPodcast,wesitdownwithBlazMarolt,anex−militaryofficerandWestPointgraduatewhohastransitionedhishigh−stakesleadershipexperienceintoamissionforbusinesssystematization.Blazhelpsentrepreneursscalingpastthe500k mark to build robust operational infrastructures, allowing them to stay in their "zone of genius." We discuss the "two-week vacation test," the 80/20 rule of profitability, and why even the most successful companies often operate in a state of hidden chaos. Whether you're a solopreneur or leading a team of 20, Blaz provides actionable strategies to fix your systems, empower your team, and finally achieve the freedom you started your business for.     Timestamps Timestamp Topic Description 0:00 Welcome & Introduction to Blaz Marolt 0:45 Blaz's Mission: Helping business owners stay in their zone of genius 1:56 The Bottleneck Founder: Why things break down after $500k 2:43 Military Roots: Graduating from West Point and the Slovenian Military 3:42 Transitioning to Business: Boosting production by 50% in electronics 4:34 The IT Leap: Getting hired with only Excel, PowerPoint, and Word skills 5:21 Scaling a Food Delivery Giant: Growing 59x in the Balkans 6:22 The Chief of Staff Role: Doubling revenue for a US coaching company 7:03 The Young Founder Challenge: Overcoming perceptions in leadership 8:16 Military vs. Business Organization: The shocking reality of corporate chaos 9:53 The 80/20 Rule in Sales: Identifying loss-makers vs. profit-makers 11:37 Minimum Order Quantities: Why selling 100 components can be a disaster 12:54 Educating the Sales Team: Making them suffer through the production process 14:13 The Key Person Risk: Why your business shouldn't depend on one individual 15:52 The Soviet Machine Analogy: Planning for capacity and quality 31:19 The 250-Page SOP Trap: Why simple, one-page processes win 33:05 AI in Business: Using it as an assistant, not a replacement for thinking 35:01 The Amazon AI Mistake: Why quality assessment still requires humans 38:42 The 90-Day Operational Audit: What to expect in the first three months 40:53 Educating Employees: Why change management takes longer than system setup 42:52 The 20-Time Rule: Why you have to repeat instructions to be heard 60:42 Blaz's Final Advice: Defining your goals as a founder 61:16 Where to Find Blaz: LinkedIn and networking conversations 61:42 Outro: RoyCoughlan.com and the PodFather Network      

Fifty thousand troops. Zero reporters on a ship. Zero reporters on a base. That's the reality of the Iran deployment under Trump and acting secretary of culture war Pete Hegseth — and it's the kind of information vacuum that's never existed in modern American conflict. Paul is joined by ABC News chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz, one of the most respected and trusted voices in military journalism, for a no-BS briefing on what happens when the Pentagon shuts the press out of a shooting war. This is a conversation about more than access. It's about trust — the trust the American public places in a non-political military, the trust troops place in journalists who actually show up, and the trust that gets shredded when a defense secretary turns a West Point graduation into a culture war rally. Paul and Martha walk through the Memorial Day lines that got crossed, why embeds matter, what the rank and file actually think about the politics being shoved down their throats, and why the easiest way to stop the truth is to never let anyone see it in the first place. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Presented by StrangeBrew Coffeehouse, Cannon Ford of Starkville/Cannon Chevrolet GMC of West Point, Pip Printing and Signs of Ridgeland - State gets a tremendous outing from Tomas Valincius, and the offense starts rolling in the middle innings.

Audio Transcript How are we this morning? Excellent. All right. It's my privilege to bring the word to you this morning, so let's get into it. Recently I read a story about a young man who never wanted to be a soldier. He had no visions of fame or ambitions of glory. When his father announced that he'd secured him an appointment to West Point, the boy protested. He wanted to be a farmer or perhaps work the river trade. But his father was not a man to be argued with, and so the 17 year old boarded a coach east. Sick with dread, he got off to a rough start. Through a clerical error, his name was copied incorrectly and it would stick permanently. He hated the academy. He finished 21st of 39 cadets, distinguished only in horsemanship and mathematics. The Mexican War found him a reluctant quartermaster, competent, but unnoticed afterward posted to lonely garrisons on the Pacific coast. Far from his wife Julia and the children he barely knew, he began to drink. In 1854, facing either court martial or resignation over his drinking, he resigned his commission in disgrace and went home with empty pockets. What followed were the worst years of his life. He tried farming on land his father in law gave him outside St. Louis, and the crops failed. He hauled firewood through the city streets in a worn army overcoat, occasionally passing former West Point classmates who looked away embarrassment. He pawned his gold watch one Christmas to buy presents for his children. He tried bill collecting and was terrible at it. He tried real estate and failed at that, too. By 1860, at 38 years old, he was working at a clerk in his younger brother's leather goods store in Galena, Illinois, earning $800 a year. He was a man whose life, by every visible measure, had failed. Then Fort Sumter fell. The quiet clerk who couldn't sell harnesses turned out to understand something that most West Point polished generals did not. The war was not about elegant maneuvers or reputation, but about pressing forward relentlessly, accepting losses and refusing to stop. Donaldson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, the Wilderness, Appomattox. The failures had taught him things that successful men never learned. What it was to be underestimated, to be written off, to keep moving even when the odds looked long. The boy who didn't want to be a soldier, the the lieutenant who resigned in shame, the farmer who failed, and his brother's store. Hiram Ulysses Grant, or as the West Point Clerk mistakenly wrote, U.S. grant, ended the war as General of the armies, the man who had saved the Union and later President of the United States. It turned out that the long road had been the training. Weeks before his death, Grant wrote the preface to his personal memoirs, saying, man proposes and God disposes. There are but few important events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice. Most of us at some point will know what it is to be in our own wilderness. We will know what it is to wait, to wait through years that seem to lead nowhere, to feel forgotten by God, to look out at a landscape that gives no sign that he is at work. And we will be tempted in those years to conclude that nothing is happening, that God has misplaced us, that our life is being spent in vain. This morning, as we come to a passage in the Book of Exodus that speaks directly into that experience. It is the story of 40 silent years in the life of Moses and 400 silent years in the life of Israel. It is the story of a God who appears to all human eyes to be doing nothing. And it is the story of how, beneath that silence, he was doing everything. So if you would with me open your Bibles, please, to the Book of Exodus. And this morning we're going to finish chapter two, verses 11 to 25. One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, why do you strike your companion? He answered, who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? Then Moses was afraid and thought, surely the thing is known. When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well. Now, the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. The shepherds came and drove them away. But Moses stood up and saved them and watered their flock. When he came home to their father, Reuel, he said, how is it that you have come home so soon today? They said, an Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and even drew water for us and watered the flock. He said to his daughters, then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him that he may eat bread. And Moses was content to dwell with the man. And he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he Said I have been a sojourner in a foreign land. During those many days. The king of Egypt died and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God, and God heard their groaning. And God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel and God knew. Let's pray. Father. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts this morning be acceptable in your presence. Lord, I pray, after my words are long forgotten, that your word would be remembered. Jesus name. Amen. Exodus is an epic of God's love and redemption of his people. Every scene reads like an action novel. The baby in the basket, the burning bush, the plagues, the angel of death. The parting of the Red Sea, the thunder and lightning around Mount Sinai, the covenant with the Almighty. Before we dive into our text, we must read Exodus rightly. We have to read it Christologically, that is, in relation to Jesus Christ, who is our perfect sacrifice, who saved us out of our bondage to sin and delivered us into a right relationship with God. When Jesus appeared to his disciples on the road to emmaus in Luke 24:27 Records beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. If Jesus started with Moses when describing himself, perhaps we can also we also read it historically. Scholars debate whether the Exodus took place around 1446 BC or around 1260. Good evidence exists for both dates and ancient Israel did not work with an absolute calendar the way we do. But what matters for us this morning is not the precise year, but the fact that it is history, not myth. The renowned Old Testament scholar Nahum Sarna observed that no nation would invent for itself and then faithfully transmit for thousands of years an inglorious origin story of slavery, grumbling and and idolatry. Israel did not flatter itself into existence. This happened. Exodus 2:11 to 25 sits at 1 of the great hinge moments of redemptive history. The book opens with the sons of Jacob settling in Egypt under the protection of Joseph. But there arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph. What begins as refuge becomes bonding. Hebrews multiplied, and Pharaoh, fearing them, enslaved them and decreed that every male child be cast into the Nile. Into that decree Moses is born. Wes laid out for us last week that Moses mother hides him, his sister watches over him, and then Pharaoh's daughter draws him out of the water. He grows up in the palace, Stephen tells us in Acts 7:22 that he was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in his words and deeds. And that is where our passage begins. The structure that we will use this morning breaks down into four movements. Verses 11 to 14 Moses takes matters into his own hands. Verses 15 to 17 Moses flees and is shaped at a well. 18:22 Moses is welcomed and becomes a sojourner. 23 To 25 While Moses tends sheep, Israel groans and God acts. Start with 11 to 14. Moses has grown. Now the infant in the basket has become a man in Pharaoh's court, raised as Egyptian royalty. How much did he know about his true background growing up? Wes mentioned last week that Moses mother was allowed to nurse him. So did they still have a relationship? Certainly possible. There are so many unanswered questions. Did he live with a divided heart for years? Did he spend endless nights pleading with Pharaoh? Was he embarrassed by his background and didn't want to believe it? We have no idea. What we do know is that he was raised to be a prince of Egypt. But by the time he was 40, he knew exactly who he was and who his brothers and sisters truly were. Were. One day he goes out to his brothers, the Hebrews, and he looks on their burdens. And what he sees he cannot unsee. An Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own. He looks this way and that, and when he sees no one watching, he strikes. Strikes the Egyptian down and buries him in the sand. Now this raises a nagging question for me. If Moses was a member of Pharaoh's household in the royal family, so to speak, why would he have feared killing someone? Wouldn't a royal be able to kill a lowly Egyptian taskmaster with little to no reprisal? This goes into the historical context at the time. Exodus 1:8 says, now there arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph. Commentators note that this likely indicates a dynastic change. A new royal house with no political or familial loyalty to the previous regime. In fact, during either time period, you believe royal houses at that time were very politically unstable, with different factions having different claims to the crown. The princess who had adopted him was almost certainly aging or dead. And the reigning pharaoh would have viewed an adopted Hebrew with suspicion, not affection. And the man Moses killed was not a slave. He was an Egyptian official, a representative of Pharaoh's economic and political authority. This is crucial. In ancient Egypt, killing a Hebrew slave was something an Egyptian could do with little consequence. But a member of the royal household killing one of Pharaoh's taskmasters. This probably would not have looked so much like murder. It would have looked like the potential beginning of an insurrection. The next day, Moses goes out and this time he finds two Hebrews fighting each other. He steps in to make peace, and the man in the wrong rounds on him with words that must have cut deeply. Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill us as you killed the Egyptian? And Moses is afraid. The secret is out. Beneath these interactions is something deeper that the New Testament helps us understand. The writer of Hebrews tells us this whole episode began in faith. By faith. Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the Reward. That's Hebrews 11:24-26. When Moses walked out of the palace, he was not slumming, he was choosing. He looked at the gold of Egypt on the one hand and the suffering of God's people in the other. And he chose the suffering. That is faith. So what went wrong? Well, it can be summed up in the next phrase. He looked this way. That a long line of preachers have lingered over those words and noticed what was missing. As Chuck Swindoll says, he looked east, he looked west, he looked over his shoulder, but he didn't look up, did he? He looked in both directions horizontally, but he left the vertical completely out of it. Moses was a man with a true call, but a glance still fixed on the ground. Here is the heart of the problem. Moses tried to bring about by his own hand what God had promised to bring about by his covenant. The deliverer was right, the cause was right, the method was wrong, and the time was not yet. And the proof is what he is in what he does next. He hides the body in the sand, as if sand could keep a secret from God. Within a day, the rumor was loose. Within a week, Pharaoh wants him dead. Three things to take from these opening verses. First, a true call from God does not exempt a man from from the discipline of God's timing. Moses had the right cause and the right collar. But he ran ahead. And it will take 40 years in the desert to refine him. Second, hidden sin is a poor investment. Sand is a thin grave. What God means to expose, no man can keep buried. Third, there is mercy for those with juvenile or immature faith. John Calvin's pastoral word on this passage is really helpful. Even the obedience of the saints, stained as it is by sin, is still sometimes acceptable to God through his mercy. So Moses runs, but God was not finished with him. He was only beginning verses 15 through 17. Verse 15 begins with collapse. However noble Moses motives may have been, when he took matters into his own hands, he was outside the will of God. And yet God still had a plan for him. This is one of the great promises of Scripture. God uses sinners for his glory. It's the only kind he has to work with. When you read the heroes of the faith, they read a lot more like a Alcoholics Anonymous meeting than a catalog of superheroes. I can almost see them in a church basement, sitting in a circle on folding chairs, sipping bad coffee, introducing themselves. Hi, I'm Abraham and I'm a liar who pimped out my wife. Hi, I'm Jacob. I'm a deceiver and I'm a thief. How? Hi, I'm Samson and I'm a lust addicted vow breaker. Hi, I'm David. I'm an adulterer and a murderer. Hi, I'm Jonah and I'm a racist runaway. Hi, I'm Peter and I'm a coward who denied my Savior. Hi, I'm Moses and I'm a murderer. When Janet and I lived in Atlanta, we had a pastor who was fond of saying that God doesn't look for ability, he looks for availability. God uses broken people because it's his strength, it's his wisdom, it's his power, and it's for his glory. God would be using Moses, but he had some seasoning yet to experience. Verse 15. When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. There's no firm consensus on where exactly Midian was, but the traditional and most widely accepted location is in northwest Arabia, east of the Gulf of Agapa, in what is now northwestern Saudi Arabia. The Midianites appear to have been a semi nomadic people, so Midian may refer to an area where the tribe ranged rather than a specific location. Calvin, commenting here, sees in Moses flight not cowardice, but the sovereign hand of God, breaking a man down before he builds him up. Calvin's instinct is that the Lord put his servant through a long banishment precisely so that he would learn humility and dependence, because the work for which he was designed was greater than human strength could compass. 40 Years of palace training had to be matched by 40 years of desert undoing. Augustine, in a different connection, spoke of being in the region of unlikeness that far country, where the soul learns who it is by losing what it had. Moses, sitting by that well is in the region of unlikeness. Verse 15 ends noting that Moses, obviously exhausted, sat down by a well. One of the beauties of Scripture is the inclusion of what so often to us seems like pointless details. But wells, as it turns out, is an important location in the Bible, specifically, if you are looking for a wife. In Genesis 24, Abraham's servant meets Rebekah, Isaac's future wife, at a well. In Genesis 29, Jacob meets Rachel at a well. This time, who is Moses going to meet? Verses 16 and 17. Now, the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up to save them and watered their flock. Moses is once again faced with injustice. Has he learned anything? A group of young women have come to the well to draw water, and a group of shepherds is going to give them a hard time. Moses, again courageously rises to their defense. Already we see clues that he is learning from his past mistakes. The text does not record that he killed the shepherds, and not only that he served the young women by watering their flock. For the first time, he was learning what it was to be a deliverer. He stands firm for what is just and begins to practice true leadership, which is born out of service. It would have been unthinkable at the time for a man to perform a menial task for women. But Moses stooped to serve. And by learning to serve, he was learning to lead. For all God's leaders are servants. He, in time, the one who is the true and better. Moses would himself kneel and wash 12 pairs of dirty feet and tell his disciples that whoever wants to be great must be a servant of all. Service is always one of the first courses in God's leadership training. Anyone who aspires to spiritual leadership, especially in the church, should begin by finding a place of humble service. If you travel to my alma mater, Wheaton College, one of the most striking little buildings on campus is the Marion E. Wade center, which houses the largest collection of C.S. Lewis writings in the world. Its namesake, Marian Wade, was an American businessman and founder of the large company Servicemaster. Wade was a man of deep faith who established a tradition called six weeks on the front lines. Every future executive at the company would spend six weeks scrubbing floors on hands and knees, doing the work of those they would later lead. Wade believed that those who refused to serve had no business leading. One of the other blessings of servant leadership is that when kids watch authentic service from their parents, it has a tendency to be passed down through the generations. The other founder of Service Master was a gentleman by the name of Ken Hanson. Ken's son, Walter Hanson, when he grew up, would move to Cleveland. He started a little church in his living room. And it grew, and it grew to about a thousand. In 10 years, the church would grow into what is now called Parkside Church. And if that name rings a bell, it would be because it's the church that Alistair Begg just retired from. It's amazing how these things pass down. Moses is being molded. Though he must feel lost and alone, God is right there, directing the most salient detail, refining his champion. God creates this dress rehearsal. The stage is a backwater. Well, the cast is seven anonymous girls, but the script is the same script that would one day be played out at the Red Sea. This is how God so often works. CS Lewis, in his collected letters, wrote that the great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's own or real life. The truth is, of course, that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life, the life God is sending one day by day, Moses thought his real life had ended at the border of Egypt. In fact, his real life was just beginning in Midian. There are seasons of our lives where it seems to have been derailed, where the calling we thought we had has collapsed and we find ourselves sitting by a well in some unfamiliar place. The temptation is to read those seasons as God's absence. But this text invites us to read them as God's curriculum. The God who is going to deliver Israel is at this very moment teaching his deliverer how to stand up for seven helpless women at a watering trough. Nothing in your wilderness is wasted. Turn to verses 18 to 22. The daughters return home and their father called Ruel here or Jethro elsewhere, most likely the same man. So don't get confused. Very common at the time for there to be multiple names for somebody. And he asked why they're early, and they say, an Egyptian delivered us. It's a quietly ironic line. Moses has gone out to deliver Hebrews and was rejected as a meddling Egyptian. He flees to Midian and is received as a generous Egyptian. The man cannot escape his identity, and yet his identity is not what God will make of it. Ruel rebukes his daughters for leaving the man unhosted. Call him that. He may eat bread and Moses is brought in. Verse 21 simply says Moses was content to dwell with the man. The Hebrew verb here ya all carries the sense of consenting, of being willing, even of resigning oneself. Moses is not striving anymore. He has come to the end of his striving. He sits down and he stays. The Book of Acts tells us that 40 years passed between Moses flight to Midian and his encounter with God at the burning bush. D.L. Moody is often quoted as saying Moses spent 40 years in Egypt learning to be something. 40 Years in the desert learning to be nothing. And 40 years in the wilderness proving God to be everything. Philip Reichen notes that whenever we are tempted to grow impatient with God's timetable for our lives, we should remember Moses, who spent two years of preparation for every year of ministry. Zipporah is given to Moses as a wife and a son is born. Moses names him Gershom new meaning I have become an alien in a foreign land. The name comes from the Hebrew verb garash, which means to drive out or expel. It may refer to Moses own experience of being driven out of Egypt. It also sounds like the Hebrew words ger and sham, which is a pun that means an alien there. Every time Moses speaks his son's name, he confesses that he does not belong. Midian is not home. Egypt is not home. He is a man between worlds. The Puritans loved this theme of sojourning. John Owen described the believer as a stranger and a pilgrim traveling through a country not his own, with his heart fixed on a city whose builder and maker is God. Jonathan Edwards preached a famous sermon called the Christian Pilgrim, in which he said that the true Christian travels on through this world as a wayfaring man and looks not upon any of the enjoyments of this world as his own. GK Chesterton, with his usual paradox, put it this way. How can we contrive to be at once astonished at the world and and yet at home in it? The answer of Scripture is that we cannot. Not fully, not yet. We are pilgrims. Gershom is the name of every saint. But notice Moses, sojourning is not a punishment, it is a preparation. RC Sproul emphasized that the entire 40 year sojourn in Midian was God's way of thinking. Moses for leadership, a man trained only in Pharaoh's court could not lead Israel through Pharaoh's wilderness. But a man who had himself become a shepherd of sheep in that very wilderness could one day shepherd God's people through it. The geography of Midian is the geography of the Exodus. Route. The skills Moses learned watering Reuel's flock are the skills he would use leading Israel's flock. God was not killing time. God was forging an instrument. And Moses doesn't know he names his son after his displacement. He doesn't name him soon to be deliverer or heir of promise. He names him Sojourner. The man cannot see what God is doing. Alistair Begg has spoken movingly of how God's people are very often in the dark about the brightness of God's plan for them. Moses is in the dark, but the brightness is gathering. If you are a Christian, you are a Gershom. You are a sojourner in a foreign land. The disquiet you feel, the restlessness, the sense that this world is not home is not a defect of your discipleship. It is a feature of it. CS Lewis spoke of this often when he talked about the pilgrim longing in Mere Christianity. He wrote, if we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. The long ordinary years in which it seems nothing of eternal weight is happening to you are very likely the years in which God is doing his deepest work. Verses 23 and 20 through 25. And now the camera pulls back, just like in a movie. We get a break from the action in Midian and the screen flashes. Meanwhile, back in Egypt. Verse 23. During those many days, the king of Egypt died and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. 40 Years have passed. A Pharaoh has died, another has come. Nothing has changed for Israel. They are still in chains. Bricks still must be made, whips still fall. And from those brick fields raises a sound. The text uses the strongest words in Hebrew for it. A groaning, a crying, a shrieking that goes up out of the dust. Where does the cry go? To all human eyes, the cry goes nowhere. Pharaoh doesn't hear it. The Egyptians don't hear it. Moses doesn't hear it. And then come four of the most precious verbs in the Old Testament. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God, and God heard their groaning. And God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel, and God knew. God heard. God remembered. God saw. God knew. John Piper has called these four verbs the Gospel before the Gospel, the announcement hundreds of years before Bethlehem that the God of heaven is not a deistic clock maker, but a covenant father who hears the groaning of his enslaved children. Each verb carries a war world. God heard, not merely overheard, the Hebrew implies attentive, responsive, hearing the cry that no human ear answered, the cry that seemed to die in the air over the Egyptian sky. The cry arrived at the throne of heaven. The silence of God is never the deafness of God. When his people cry, he hears with the ears of a father. God remembered. This does not mean that God had forgotten and now recalled. To remember in the covenantal sense is to act upon a prior commitment. When Scripture says God remembered Noah, the next thing is that the waters subside. When it says he remembered Hannah, the next thing is that she conceives. When it says he remembered his covenant with Abraham, the next thing is the Exodus. God's remembrance is the prelude to his deliverance, the covenant he made 400 years before. I will be a God to you and to your offspring after you has not faded. He was about to honor it. God saw. The verb is the same verb used in Genesis 1. And God saw that it was good. It is the verb of attentive, evaluating, sight. He saw the bruises, he saw the broken backs. He saw the widows, the unburied babies. There is no suffering of his people that is hidden from him. The Scottish divine Samuel Rutherford, writing from his imprisonment in Aberdeen, often returned to the image of God as the watchman over Israel, who never slumbers, whose people's tears are gathered in heaven long before they fall to the ground. God sees and God knew. Interestingly, the verb stands alone in the Hebrew. There is no object God knew. Some translations may supply one. God knew their condition, but the Hebrew leaves it bare. Why? Perhaps because what God knows here is larger than any object can contain. He knows their pain, he knows their bondage, he knows their names, and he knows what he is about to do. Jonathan Edwards taught that every act of God in history is the unfolding of a purpose conceived before time began. God knew. While Moses sits in Midian thinking he had been forgotten, and while Israel cries in Egypt, thinking that they have been forgotten, neither has been forgotten. God is doing two things at once. In Midian, he is shaping his deliverer. In Egypt, he is hearing their cries. The two threads are converging towards a burning bush in the next chapter. But neither Moses nor Israel can see it. Yet Augustine in his Confessions, wrote this sentence. Thou, O Lord, wert more inward to me than my most inward part and higher than my highest. That is the God of Exodus 2. He is closer to Israel's groaning than the chains on their wrists. He is closer to Moses weariness than the dust on his sandals. He is not far off. He is not distracted, he is at work. Four thoughts to close. First, be still and know that he is God. What we are very often is people who run ahead of God. Moses is not alone in this. Abraham had the promise of a son and and couldn't wait until he took Hagar. And the household of faith has lived with the consequences ever since. Jacob had the blessing already promised to him, but couldn't wait, and so he stole it with a goatskin and a lie. Peter had a lord he loved and couldn't bear to see him arrested. So he drew a sword in Gethsemane and cut off a man's ear. The pattern is older than Moses, and it is as new as this morning. The right cause can be pursued in the wrong way and the wrong time. Bradley Gray puts it bluntly. Nothing good happens when you get ahead of God and take matters into your own hands. Second, the silence of God is not the absence of God. 40 Years passed in Midian and 400 years in Egypt before God spoke from the bush. But not one of those years was empty. God was hearing, he was remembering. He was seeing, he was knowing. If your life feels like a wilderness right now, if you have been sitting by your own well in Midian waiting for a word from heaven that just doesn't come, take this passage and press it to your heart. The silence is not absence. The God who shaped Moses in obscurity is shaping you now. In his 1967 book Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders quoted this anonymous poem. When God wants to drill a man and thrill a man, and skill a man. When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part, when he yearns with all his heart to create so great and bold a man that all the world shall be amazed. Watch his methods, watch his ways, how he ruthlessly perfects whom he royally elects. How his hammer he hammers him and hurts him and with mighty blows converts him into trial shapes of clay which only God understands. While his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands, how he bends but never breaks when his good he undertakes, how he uses whom he chooses and with every purpose him by every act induces him to try his splendor out. God knows what he's about. Third, your sojourning has a destination. Moses named his son Gershom because he felt the foreignness of his life. But the foreignness was not the end of the story. It was the prelude to a calling. The writer of Hebrews tells us that all the saints acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. They desired a better country. That is a heavenly one. Your pilgrimage is not a pointless one wandering. It is a movement towards a country God has prepared for you. Fourth, and most importantly, the God who heard Israel has heard you in a fuller way still. The end of Exodus 2 is a foreshadowing. The four verbs heard, remembered, saw new, find their final fulfillment not at Sinai, but at Calvary. There the Father heard the cries of his people. There he remembered the covenant he had made before the foundations of the world. There he saw his Son lifted up between heaven and earth, bearing the groaning of every enslaved soul in his own body. And there he knew in a way only the triune God could know the cost of redeeming a people for himself. If God heard Israel groaning under Pharaoh and he sent Moses, how much more has he heard your groaning and sent his son? The exodus from Egypt is the shadow. The exodus from sin and death is the substance. And the same four verbs hover over the cross. Today God hears your cries that come up from the dust of this fallen world. God remembers his covenant with you. God sees you right now in this room, in your struggle, in your brokenness. And God knows exactly what he's doing. Let's pray. Father, thank you for this text. Father, thank you for your covenant with us. That you know us, that you love us, that you see us, that no prayer goes unheard, no silence is a waste. And that wherever we are in our life, whatever burdens we are carrying, that you're right here. That you are molding us and you are creating us in just the way that you had planned for us before the creation of the world. Thank you for who you are. In Jesus name, amen. The post Moses Flees to Midian – Exodus 2: 11-25 appeared first on Red Village Church.

Drama on a Sunday First, a look at the events of the day.Then, Screen Directors Playhouse, originally broadcast May 31, 1951, 75 years ago, Beyond Glory starring Alan Ladd.  An adaptation of the 1948 drama, which also starred Ladd.  A former soldier thinks he may have caused the death of his commanding officer in Tunisia. After visiting the officer's widow, they fall in love, and she encourages him to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.Followed by  Dragnet starring Jack Webb, originally broadcast May 31, 1951, 75 years ago, the Big Bindle.  Sergeant Friday pretends that he's from Phoenix. He goes undercover to crack a narcotics ring operating out of one of the nicest hotels in Los Angeles. Then, Let George Do It, starring Bob Bailey, originally broadcast May 31, 1948, 78 years ago, The Island in the Lake.  George visits the Shelby Friendship Club for a clue to the missing Mrs. Angela Phillistin, a lady with a past from exclusive Tuxedo Lake.Finally, Claudia, originally broadcast May 31, 1948, 78 years ago, Lunch with Victoria Manners.  Kathryn Bard and Paul Crabtree star.Thanks to Debbie B. for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamCheck out Professor Bees Digestive Aid at profbees.com and use my promo code WYATT to save 10% when you order! If you like what we do here, visit our friend Jay at http://radio.macinmind.com for great old-time radio shows 24 hours a day

Sun, May 31 12:24 AM → 2:43 AM West Point Shooting 530 Radio Systems: - Davis County Simulcast P25 - Kaysville

Indy Duggan Out of Mich Gov Race. New Indy in Illinois Gov race. QB Jaxon Dart Endorsed Trump. Trump Attacks Colbert. Hochul Misses a Layup. Lander & Mamdani Attack Open Primaries in NYC. RIP, Rob Base.  It's episode 535 and Paul Rieckhoff is flying solo on a Friday — no guest, just a no-BS rapid-fire briefing on a week where the wheels kept coming off. Trump is still dangling a tentative Iran deal that looks suspiciously like the Obama agreement he tore up, while the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, the regime stays in place, and the nukes stay unsecured. Fourteen wounded American troops are at Walter Reed. The president walked the same halls for his own physical and didn't stop in. Meanwhile, a Russian drone hit an apartment building in Romania — NATO territory — and the silence from this White House has been deafening. From there Paul takes the briefing into Pete Hegseth's culture-war speech at West Point and his cheesy green-screen propaganda videos pitching a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget, Trump's jealous AI dumpster video attacking Stephen Colbert, Jaxon Dart's locker-room-dividing endorsement, and a revealing sidewalk confrontation outside his kids' public school with Brad Lander — who openly admitted he opposes open primaries. This is the rigged two-party system in full color, and the Angry Middle is the story. Paul closes with what's still working: game sevens, the Spurs, 500 kids headed to a Mets game, and the reminder that joy is still a form of resistance. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.showThe ‘Broadview Six' case was one of the Trump administration's prominent prosecutions of anti-ICE protesters. Federal prosecutors in Chicago brought felony charges to fanfare, then curiously dropped them, keeping only misdemeanor counts. Now we know why: they engaged in egregious misconduct to obtain the felony indictments, which they then sought to conceal from the judge, who is not amused.For all subscribers, we discuss that and US Attorney Andrew Boutros, who issued a weird memo promising reform, and the news that his office is apparently running a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, examining whether she lied in a deposition hundreds of miles from Chicago.For paying subscribers (upgrade your subscription now at serioustrouble.show) this week, there's also:* Kilmar Abrego Garcia's big and unusual win on vindictive prosecution, which is already inspiring the Southern Poverty Law Center.* A sordid case involving an Eleventh Circuit judge whose sofa cushion required forensic testing after clerks asserted she was noisily carrying on an affair in chambers.* A free speech win for West Point faculty.* An interesting new insider trading case involving Polymarket.* A probably-too-clever motion attacking the “anti-weaponization fund,” and* More bad news for ex-JP Morgan banker Chirayu Rana.

Our A2A Course is live and at 40% off until Friday, May 29th at 1pm ET. Visit https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course to sign up NOW!!Marcus Aurelius said it nearly two thousand years ago: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own. On this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, hosts Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider sit down with Andy Riise... army officer, mental performance coach for NFL athletes including the Chicago Bears, and host of the Skull Sessions podcast... to break down the approval trap and why it's quietly running most men's lives.Will lays the biological foundation. Fear of negative evaluation, FNE, is one of the most studied patterns in clinical psychology. Your brain processes social rejection through the same neural circuits it uses for physical pain. Getting dismissed in a meeting registers the same way getting punched does. That's evolutionary wiring, not weakness.The guys get into the spotlight effect (Cornell research showing people overestimate how much others notice them by roughly double), Andy's story of deliberately sitting with a different group at the West Point prep school mess hall, and Alyssa Liu's gold medal comeback after quitting figure skating to rediscover why she loved it in the first place.Jon, Will, and Andy walk through how FNE shows up in daily life: the yes-man pattern at work that stalls careers, the reassurance-seeking in relationships that erodes attraction, the Disney dad trap of buying approval instead of earning respect, and the deepest layer... the ghost. Most men are performing for one or two specific people from their past, and they've been doing it for decades.Andy teaches the BASS framework he uses with NFL athletes for real-time emotional regulation. Will adds a values audit and a spotlight effect experiment. And Jon talks about how purpose is the single biggest antidote to approval-seeking, which ties directly into the A2A (Awareness to Action) course launching through Focus Now Training.What you'll hear in this episode:Why social rejection activates the same brain circuits as physical painThe spotlight effect: half as many people are watching you as you thinkAndy's West Point mess hall story and why crossing social lines is the real macho moveAlyssa Liu's gold medal run and the next-play mindsetHow FNE shows up at work, in relationships, with kids, and in communityThe ghost concept: who you're still performing for decades laterBASS framework: Breathe, Accept, Separate, ShiftMotivational interviewing basics: OARS (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summarizing)Purpose as the antidote to approval-seekingAndy's podcast: Skull Sessions (available everywhere) Andy's TEDx talk: Fight to Win the War from WithinFull episode: https://pod.fo/e/3abd25Text MTM to 33777 for updates on new episodes, the A2A course, and resources from Focus Now Training.Jon's book, DIAL in Your Leadership: 4 Non-negotiables for Leading with Clarity, Trust, and Purpose, is available now on Amazon. https://a.co/d/0hYwI2SzFollow Men Talking Mindfulness, Jon Macaskill, and Will Schneider for more.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Send us Fan MailMore than 160 million Americans live in federally designated mental health provider shortage areas. Even those with insurance often spend months searching for a therapist who takes their plan and has availability.Mark Frank, Co-Founder and CEO of SonderMind, joins host John Driscoll to discuss why fixing the provider infrastructure had to come before solving patient access, and how a fully integrated platform combining measurement-based care with AI-powered tools between sessions is producing outcomes up to 275% better than traditional therapy alone.

This is the Man who Would be Khan.  While a first-year Russian student at West Point, then Major Mark Derber dropped an article from The Atlantic on my desk, Robert D. Kaplan's "The Man Who Would Be Khan". It changed my life. 20 years later, you get to hear my interview with the Man himself. COL (R) Tom Wilhelm shares his path from West Point (commissioned infantry in 1980) through a dual-track infantry/aviation start, declining the new Aviation Branch, and entering the FAO program in the mid-1980s as a Soviet/Russian FAO. Wilhelm recounts an extensive Cold War-era pipeline (FAO course, DLI Russian—joined fully by his wife—graduate school, a summer in Leningrad, and the US Army Russian Institute/Marshall Center), then FAO work with OSIA conducting arms-control inspections (Vienna Document, INF, CFE) and the Provide Hope humanitarian mission in Tajikistan amid civil war. He describes a “knife fight” to regain infantry key jobs during post–Cold War drawdowns, deployments in Macedonia and Bosnia, being imbedded with a Russian airborne brigade, a later Tajikistan attaché tour with family hardships and evacuation, Marshall Center faculty/FAO mentorship, Mongolia as dual-hatted defense attaché/security cooperation chief, an Afghanistan/Pakistan tour, retirement, and directing the Foreign Military Studies Office. He emphasizes FAO risk-taking, networking, access, and conveying what partners think, not what Americans want to hear. To read the original Robert D. Kaplan article you can find it on The Atlantic's website.  If you don't have a subscription, the WayBack Machine is your friend: https://web.archive.org/web/20121020120633/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/03/the-man-who-would-be-khan/302899/   COL(R) Tom Wilhelm's Recommended Reading List: GENERAL FMSO https://oe.t2com.army.mil  Look for FMSO stuff but many products from T2Com G2 are useful for FAOs. Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training https://adst.org Exceptional repository of detailed interviews that provide unparalleled country and regional backgrounds over eras. Red Team Handbook https://home.army.mil/wood/application/files/6115/8222/0759/RedTeamHB.pdf  There are actually ways to approach alternative, critical thinking—very helpful to cross-cultural communication and telling us how “they” think. Culture Shock: Leadership Lessons from the Military's Diplomatic Corps (ed. Graham Plaster, Jason Criss Howk—Book by FAOs for FAOs)  The Worldly Philosophers (Robert Heilbroner; entry level book into developing an understanding of economics and society—a baseline subject for all FAOs. Try also The Mystery of Capitalism by Hernando deSoto) The Cave and the Light: Plato Versus Aristotle, and the Struggle for the Soul of Western Civilization (Arthur Herman—before you can tell us what we think they think, you should probably want to know how “we think.”)    RUSSIA The Russian Way of War (Les Grau and Charles Bartles—on FMSO website [above] or just Google it.) How Russia Fights https://www.army.mil/article/286922/how_russia_fights (Ted Donnelly, Jeff Hartman, Tom Butler, et.al.) Swimming the Volga: A US Army Officer's Experiences in Pre-Putin Russia (Peter Zwack) The Leviathan (Movie; award winning Russian film has good representation of the individual's relationship to power in Russia, among other cultural and political-social insights. Made me feel that I was back in Russia, drinking vodka and shooting bottles with an AK47.) The Trauma Zone (Seven-part series on YouTube; for a sense of post-Cold War chaos in Russia. “Chaos” conjures something tangible in Russia; it's not just an adjective.) Seventeen Moments of Spring (12-part series on YouTube; addresses the question: Why a 2025 statue to this 1973 Soviet spy thriller television series was recently installed in Moscow. Part of the answer has to do with those untrustworthy Americans in secret alliance with Nazis against Russia—a once and current theme.)   WHILE YOU LAYOVER AT THE SERRAI The Empire of the Steppes (Renee Grousset—dense but essential for anybody that thinks they are a Eurasianist, and mandatory for all Silk Road FAOs.) Mission to Tashkent (F.M. Bailey) News From Tartary (Peter Flemming) Eastern Approaches (Fitzroy Maclean) The Great Game (Peter Hopkirk) Some Far and Distant Place (Jonathan Addleton) Across Mongolian Plains (Roy Chapman Andrews—American FAO archetype, 1916-17) The Wilder Shores of Love (Lesley Blanch—Isabel Burton, Jane Digby, Amiee Dubucq, and Isabelle Eberhrdt join my long-suffering bride, Cheri, in FAO-like misadventures abroad)   00:00 Meet Tom Wilhelm 01:28 The Man Who Would Be Khan 02:24 West Point to Dual Track 07:11 Choosing the FAO Path 11:05 Soviet FAO Pipeline 14:01 Leningrad Language Adventure 19:12 Russian Institute and IRTs 23:33 Wall Comes Down Up Close 27:02 Echo Network and Mentorship 31:04 First FAO Job Arms Control 35:32 Provide Hope in Tajikistan 40:31 Back to Infantry in Europe 42:39 RIF Era Career Knife Fight 44:36 FAO Cuts and Reassignments 45:54 Branch Qualifying Knife Fight 46:08 Macedonia to Bosnia Pivot 48:42 Self Deploying to Bosnia 50:27 Joint Commission in War Zone 53:03 Inside the Russian Brigade 55:11 How Russians Command 58:48 FAO Lesson on Mission Command 01:06:51 Tajikistan Arrival and Isolation 01:09:17 Embassy Life and Local Allies 01:13:29 Surviving Dushanbe Living Conditions 01:18:15 Civil War and Afghan Spillover 01:23:55 Family Evacuation and Zinni Meeting 01:28:28 Soft Power And Access 01:28:51 Peacekeeping Expertise Built 01:31:20 FAO Track And Command List 01:34:19 Marshall Center Fellowship 01:37:03 Mongolia Dual Hat Role 01:44:32 9/11 And Mongolia Pivot 01:46:33 Building Mongolian Peacekeeping 01:55:10 Mongolian Curse Artifact 02:01:27 Back To Marshall Center 02:04:43 Afghanistan To Pakistan Liaison 02:07:23 Retirement And FIMSO 02:09:16 Hall Of Fame And Farewell

“PLEASE do not suffer in silence…”After graduating from West Point, Omar Ritter's rock-solid military career plan took an abrupt turn when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor during a routine Army physical. This turn caused Omar to pursue and obtain his MBA, begin his Doctorate, and make a career pivot to Corporate America - ALL WHILE quietly battling PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety for over 2 decades.Tune in, as Omar & Aubrey talk about:Overcoming the stigma of military leaders fighting PTSD and DepressionThe importance of advocating for yourself to doctors when you don't feel quite right.Omar's lessons learned in his switch to working in Corporate AmericaOmar's urge for Mental Health conversations to become an everyday topic; and urge for Veterans to not suffer alone.Insights from his book, “West Point to Wall Street: My Journey to Mental Wellness”.To connect with Omar, learn more about his great work, and pick up a copy of his book, visit www.omarritter.com

Themulti-talented West Point native musicians Dennis Cockerham and Jason Rabbassof Trailer Park Country talk about their music and careers including  “Dirt Rich Dirt Poor”, “Church Me Up”. “GravelRoad” and the popular “Tailgate Crazy” played at many tailgates throughout thecountry! Dennis began his career as a kid living with his grandparents whilehis Dad is a gifted musician and began the group with 3 talented musicians(Jay, Deon, Jason Rabbass) from Norfolk that accompanied him throughout hismusical journey now settled in Sioux Falls, SD plus sharing the stories behindthe music and more! Check out the amazing Trailer Park Country and all their releaseson all major platforms and www.trailerparkcountry.net today! #denniscockerham#trailerparkcountry #westpoint #singer #jasonrabbass #deonrabbass #jayrabbass #tailgatecrazy#dirtrichdirtpoor #churchmeup #gravelroad #siouxfalls #southdakota #spreaker#spotify #iheartradio #spotify #apple #youtube #anchorfm #podbean #bitchute#rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnertrailerparkcountry#themikewagnershowtrailerparkcountry 

Themulti-talented West Point native musicians Dennis Cockerham and Jason Rabbassof Trailer Park Country talk about their music and careers including  “Dirt Rich Dirt Poor”, “Church Me Up”. “GravelRoad” and the popular “Tailgate Crazy” played at many tailgates throughout thecountry! Dennis began his career as a kid living with his grandparents whilehis Dad is a gifted musician and began the group with 3 talented musicians(Jay, Deon, Jason Rabbass) from Norfolk that accompanied him throughout hismusical journey now settled in Sioux Falls, SD plus sharing the stories behindthe music and more! Check out the amazing Trailer Park Country and all their releaseson all major platforms and www.trailerparkcountry.net today! #denniscockerham#trailerparkcountry #westpoint #singer #jasonrabbass #deonrabbass #jayrabbass #tailgatecrazy#dirtrichdirtpoor #churchmeup #gravelroad #siouxfalls #southdakota #spreaker#spotify #iheartradio #spotify #apple #youtube #anchorfm #podbean #bitchute#rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnertrailerparkcountry#themikewagnershowtrailerparkcountry 

Get Weekly Leadership Blueprints in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/mcfaglobal/leadership-blueprints-newsletter Every leader has that one person on the team. The one showing up halfway. The one quietly setting the ceiling for everyone else. And most leaders tolerate it longer than they should.Matt Crespino refused to. After taking over the Princeton men's swim team, he inherited what his assistant called an opt-in culture, where the committed thrived and the disengaged got to coast. Matt blew it up. He made the team write their own core values, told the roster it was all in or out, and just won his second straight Ivy League championship doing it.In this conversation, Matt and BJ get into what it actually takes to raise the standard without losing your people. Why he had to coach against his own instincts to let the team have fun. How relationship building, not X's and O's, is the real work. And why the best coaches are the last line of defense for what sports are supposed to teach. If you lead anything, a team, a company, a family, this one is going to hit.Topics discussed:00:00 - Why your least committed person sets the ceiling01:00 - Launching the Friendly Strife Foundation segment07:00 - Coaching at West Point in the shadow of war10:00 - Realizing the job is bigger than coaching swimming13:00 - Why sports is the most powerful leadership classroom17:00 - Recruiting for culture not just talent18:00 - Shifting Princeton from opt-in to all-in20:00 - The five core values the team built together24:00 - Why fun became their unlock for winning26:00 - Coaching against your own instincts27:00 - Trust and inspire over command and control30:00 - How NIL and the transfer portal are reshaping coaching32:00 - Why failure has to be a safe place to land37:00 - Why they will not come to you if you have not built the relationship43:00 - The legacy of a coach who caredConnect with Matt Crispino:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mattcrispino/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-crispino-a26b5239/

In this episode we have a conversation with reporter Jasper Craven about his new book, God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood, which is a made-for-KYE feat of research that offers a fascinating way into perennial themes of this show: masculinity, U.S. empire, the relationship between violence and civilization, and the surprising camp of conservatism. Along the way we discuss Donald Trump, the mob, Peter Brian Hegseth, Graham Platner, and more. Sources: Jasper Craven, God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood (2026) — "Battle of the Sexes: Pete Hegseth's War on Women," The Baffler, Sept 2025 Dan Gilgoth, The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America Are Winning the Culture War (2007) Dr. James Dobson, Dare to Discipline: A Pyschologist Offers Urgent Advice to Parents and Teachers (1970) ...and don't forget to subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon for access to all of our bonus episodes!

The U.S. State Department reached a new settlement committing to strictly enforce the Taylor Force Act, a measure Congress first passed in 2018, which bans U.S. economic aid to the Palestinian Authority until they end their "pay-for-slay" policies that compensate imprisoned terrorists or their families. The Palestinian Authority "Pay-for-Slay" policy gained wide public attention when Taylor Force, a West Point graduate who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, was savagely knifed to death by a Palestinian terrorist on March 8, 2016, while on a tour of Israel. This new settlement is to remain in effect for 10 years. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Stuart Force, father of Taylor Force, who says his son would be proud of the efforts to stop American taxpayer money from getting to terrorists. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Jasper Craven joins Francis to discuss his latest book "God Forgives, Brothers Don't". Pick up Jasper's book here in either Hard Cover or Audiobook format - https://bookshop.org/a/25702/9781668087190  When investigative reporter Jasper Craven first dug into Valley Forge Military Academy five years ago, he uncovered an acrid strain of masculinity that was raw, violent, fiercely hierarchical, and quickly mutating out of control. Initially, he had assumed that military education was a dying, outmoded brand. But as he looked deeper, he found a sprawling, well-funded network featuring dozens of military schools, like Valley Forge and West Point, plus thousands of ROTC programs in public colleges and high schools that allowed the Pentagon to wield outsized power on education. Check out the store, and sign up for our twice a month email updates  https://whatahellofawaytodad.com/  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hellofawaytodad/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hellofawaytodad/   

In this story episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, Sam and Mason interview Cam, a BYU construction management student preparing to commission as a combat engineer officer. He tells how his porn addiction grew out of achievement pressure, comparison with high-achieving siblings, and deep shame. After moving frequently and living in a high-performance community, Cam internalized “you're stupid,” then attended a harmful youth program that taught him to see sexuality as evil and God as vengeful. Family stress, his dad losing a job, not getting into West Point, and later COVID intensified depression and escalated acting out, including on his mission. Through honest disclosure, therapy, sponsors, and “rescuing little Cam” with connection, self-care, and patience, Cam's view of God shifted to a loving, patient healer, and with support from his wife he now reports 15 months sober and a renewed sense of purpose.Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! contact@unashamedunafraid.comTimestamps:00:00 Welcome and UCAP Update01:41 Meet Cam02:31 Pressure and Shame Growing Up04:23 Porn Exposure and Toxic Program06:22 Family Stress and West Point Collapse08:55 Rock Bottom and Escalation09:42 Mission Struggles and God Image12:28 Therapy and Finding Little Cam16:04 Healing Through Pain and Self Care19:41 Relationships and Marriage Safety22:18 A New View of God25:19 Your Own Recovery

It's Memorial Day weekend. Americans are visiting Arlington, honoring generations who stepped forward with integrity, sacrifice, and honor. And days before that solemn marker, the President of the United States floated cash payouts to the domestic terrorists who violently attacked the Capitol on January 6th. Not a pardon. A payout. Paul Rieckhoff and the panel break down why this isn't a tantrum or a distraction — it's strategy. Call it Plan C: when the military won't move and ICE is uncertain, you incentivize the insurrectionists themselves. You signal to every desperate, despised foot soldier that violence against the government will be rewarded. From there the conversation pivots to the other sucking chest wound of the week: House Republican leaders scrapping the Iran war powers vote because they didn't have the votes. Congressman Pat Ryan, a West Point grad and combat veteran, says out loud what veterans across the country are feeling — a generation of chicken hawks is sending other people's kids to die again, with Cuba teed up next and an aircraft carrier already in position. The panel maps the fracture lines: Massie carving out an anti-war, anti-tariff, pro-transparency lane; the manosphere abandoning the regime-change crowd; and the 45% of Americans who are independent and unaffiliated, looking for someone — anyone — who will speak for the angry middle. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Presented by Cannon Ford of Starkville/Cannon Chevrolet GMC of West Point, Maroon & Company, and EyeCare Professionals - Mississippi State will host Lipscomb, Cincinnati, and Louisiana in the Starkville Regional. The Bulldogs will open at 1:00 on Friday with a matchup with Lipscomb.

In a commencement address to the West Point class of 2026, Pete Hegseth urged graduates to reject "woke" ideology and DEI initiatives, declaring them an "American army" focused on lethality rather than identity politics. The speech, which dismissed military diversity efforts, sparked significant debate, drawing praise from conservatives for restoring discipline while prompting criticism over politicizing the ceremony.