podcast
details
.com
Print
Share
Look for any podcast host, guest or anyone
Search
Showing episodes and shows of
Christopher Paul Meyer
Shows
Profiles in Havok
Michael Devine (Part II)
Episode 116 with former NYPD detective and actor/singer Michael Devine. Mike, a native New Yorker, is an intrepid character actor recognized for his roles as Detective Paul O'Rourke on the Emmy-nominated "The Undoing" (HBO) and James Tech on "Limitless" (CBS). With various guest star appearances on network, streaming and pay cable television, he is no stranger to the camera. His work can also been seen on the big screen in dozens of A-List directed films such as The Wolf Of Wall Street, The Post, The Woman In The Window, Inside Man, etc.When not working on set...
2023-10-17
2h 37
Profiles in Havok
Michael Devine (Part I)
Episode 115 with former NYPD detective and actor/singer Michael Devine. Mike, a native New Yorker, is an intrepid character actor recognized for his roles as Detective Paul O'Rourke on the Emmy-nominated "The Undoing" (HBO) and James Tech on "Limitless" (CBS). With various guest star appearances on network, streaming and pay cable television, he is no stranger to the camera. His work can also been seen on the big screen in dozens of A-List directed films such as The Wolf Of Wall Street, The Post, The Woman In The Window, Inside Man, etc.When not working on set...
2023-10-12
1h 25
Savage Wonder
Michael Devine
Savage Wonder podcast, episode 87 with former NYPD detective and actor/singer Michael Devine. Mike, a native New Yorker, is an intrepid character actor recognized for his roles as Detective Paul O'Rourke on the Emmy-nominated "The Undoing" (HBO) and James Tech on "Limitless" (CBS). With various guest star appearances on network, streaming and pay cable television, he is no stranger to the camera. His work can also been seen on the big screen in dozens of A-List directed films such as The Wolf Of Wall Street, The Post, The Woman In The Window, Inside Man, etc.When not...
2023-09-25
3h 47
Battlefields
Christopher Paul Meyer: "I'm Here for the Fight"
Christopher Paul Meyer writes regularly at The Havok Journal and Savage Wonder. He is a former bouncer, firefighter, soldier, comic and prison chaplain. He started his writing career as a screenwriter, writing five screenplays, three of which were either optioned or commissioned. His first book was Icarus Falling, a memoir of his years as a nightclub bouncer. He has since edited his late father's short stories for the collection I Was a Champion Then. Chris was in New York City and near the World Trade Center on 9/11, an experience that ultimately led him to join the Army...
2023-04-03
1h 24
Profiles in Havok
Christopher Soucy
Army combat veteran Christopher Soucy is an actor, puppeteer, director, screenwriter, and playwright living in Savannah, Georgia. He has been writing for stage and screen for over 20 years.Read some of Chris' poetry on the Savage Wonder literary blog here.Chris tweets here.Follow Chris here.
2022-12-20
2h 05
Savage Wonder
Christopher Soucy
Army combat veteran Christopher Soucy is an actor, puppeteer, director, screenwriter, and playwright living in Savannah, Georgia. He has been writing for stage and screen for over 20 years.Read some of Chris' poetry on the Savage Wonder literary blog here.Chris tweets here.Follow Chris here.
2022-12-12
1h 40
Profiles in Havok
Paul Alkoby
Paul Alkoby is a Photographer & Filmmaker currently based in Orlando, FL. "Much of my work is primarily based in the fitness and tactical realms however, I truly believe in creating outside of my comfort zone. Starting as a street photographer, I rapidly realized my passion for using a camera to create images whether still or video. My work has taken me internationally shooting for a wide variety of brands as well as passion projects such as documentaries within the veteran community where my roots are tied. Upon separating from the military, I found myself working in the...
2022-08-23
1h 35
Savage Wonder
Katie Grugin
Katie Grugin is a Knoxville, TN native who served five years as a Field Artillery Officer and fell into art after injury. She is a pen and ink artist and has illustrated two books of poetry on family and grief. Katie is currently a graduate student in a Master of Science of Social Work program at the University of Tennessee. She has worked with victims of Intimate Partner Violence and is currently working with homeless veterans and men in recovery from substance use disorders. These experiences gave her perspective on the lasting effects of trauma and specific issues that...
2022-08-08
1h 17
Profiles in Havok
Paul Harrington, Part II
We're back. Sorry for the hiatus. I hate it when podcasts do that, and I became the thing I hated go figure. There are reasons of course, but we've put some plans in place to make sure we never disappear from the face of the earth again.There is a happy accident in all this, however. Our last episode was with Paul Harrington and our first episode back just so happens to feature Paul again as well, so you're getting back-to-back episodes for your binge listening ease. Air Force veteran Paul Harrington is the author...
2022-07-19
1h 41
Profiles in Havok
Paul Harrington, part I
Air Force veteran Paul Harrington is the author of the soon to be released Justice or Not: My Experiences as a State Corrections Officer in New York's Prisons.Paul was injured on the job due to workplace violence - violence committed by another officer. Paul and I discuss the toxicity of working in the prison system, the psychology of working in such an environment for so long and why you never hear of a really motivated corrections officer.Justice or Not Facebook page
2022-05-10
1h 27
Profiles in Havok
"Miggy" and the War in Ukraine
Scott Faith covers down for me and interviews "Miggy", a Ukrainian still in country about what he is seeing and hearing and feeling while under attack from the Russians.
2022-04-27
1h 21
Profiles in Havok
Thomas Schueman
Tom Schueman is an active duty Marine infantry officer with deployments to Afghanistan, Australia and a former English instructor at the Naval Academy. He has accumulated a large following through his Instagram account @kill.z0n3 where he touches on the philosophy, psychology, and intellectual framework of the modern day warfighter and the powers that govern him. In addition, Tom is the founder of PB Abbate, one of the most dynamic and impactful veterans nonprofit to emerge in the past year. Tom has also just launched Lethal Minds Journal. He may be moving the needle more than almost any...
2022-04-19
1h 59
Profiles in Havok
Geoff Dardia
Geoff Dardia couldn’t have been a better guest to have on this week. I realized, after the episode, that we had recorded it on the one-year anniversary of the show. Sure, we had a lot to talk about – Ukraine, the Afghan withdrawl, the state of military readiness in the event of war in Europe…or the South China Sea, the intersection of our kids and military service, but it was great to have Geoff on to discuss since he is exactly the kind of guest that makes Profiles in Havok (and the old Weekly Havok) so popular. In fact...
2022-04-12
1h 41
Profiles in Havok
Ben Buehler-Garcia
Ben Buehler-Garcia never served in the military – which is why he supports those who do.For over 25 years he has volunteered with various initiatives to support military families including the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve, USS Tucson 770 Club, the Tucson Community Cares Foundation and as the Honorary Commander for the 12th Air Force/Air Forces Southern.But almost a decade ago, Ben took over the still new American Warrior Radio and built it into a platform that advocates for veterans by giving them a platform on bo...
2022-04-05
1h 42
Profiles in Havok
JC Glick
A long time coming. Finally was able to sit down with JC Glick and Zoom to Zoom with one of the great thinkers and writers at Havok Journal. What a blast. We have more laughs than you would think as we cover everything from the origins of his suicidal ideations to the policy failures in Afghanistan. JC Glick served in two Ranger Battalions as well as Regimental Headquarters and has over 7 years in the Ranger Regiment and over 7 and a half years (90 months) of command time with operational and combat deployments to Haiti, Bangladesh, Iraq, and Afghanistan...
2022-03-29
1h 56
Savage Wonder
Ben Fortier
Benjamin Fortier's writing is not for everyone. It can be shocking, disturbing, wildly imaginative, jarring. There is no doubt it is well done, though. But much like understanding the history of a wine gives you an appreciation for it, understanding Ben's background - from his time in Iraq to his love of metal - gives you the context you need to enjoy his work. I can't wait to hear him read some of his selections at the Savage Wonder Festival - and after listening to his story, I think you'll look forward to it as well. Listen...
2022-03-28
2h 04
Profiles in Havok
Neville Johnson
Havok Journal writer Neville Johnson has lived a life of high adventure. And he has the scars to prove it. Always an articulate, humble, insightful and soulful interview, we start at his childhood in South Africa as the son of a police officer and follow him into the British Army, deployments to Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan and then into the realm of private military contracting in Iraq. I've always been fascinated with the Border Wars and the second- and third-order effects of the end of apartheid and Nev provides a fascinating window into day-to-day life in South Africa...
2022-03-22
2h 08
Savage Wonder
Jesus Daniel Hernandez
Jesus Daniel Hernandez may have the most Dickensian life story we have ever featured on the show. Jesus immigrated to the US at 14 from Mexico, found himself working a string of low-end jobs as a young father, enlisted in the Army, deployed to Iraq...and then magic happened. He was plucked from the military and thrust into the top tier of classical singers by Placido Domingo and Carlos Slim. It is an inspirational story that continues to unfold. A true pleasure to discuss everything from CBRNE school to the diva mentality of the singing elite. And at the end...
2022-03-21
2h 12
Profiles in Havok
Wesley Morgan
Wesley Morgan is a military affairs reporter who covered the Pentagon for two and a half years at Politico. He previously worked as a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., Iraq, and Afghanistan, contributing stories to The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Atlantic and other publications. He is an alumnus of Princeton University.In the wake of our withdrawl from Afghanistan, I - like many of you - have done a lot of soul-searching, navel gazing, and head-scratching about the war: our goals, our execution, our exit. That's why I was glad to have Wes Morga...
2022-03-15
1h 25
Savage Wonder
Stephan Wolfert
My guest this week was Stephan Wolfert. Stephan left a career in the military for a life in the theatre after seeing Shakespeare’s Richard III. Stephan Received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Trinity Repertory Conservatory in Providence, Rhode Island. On Broadway, Stephan created and directed the military segments for Twyla Tharp & Billy Joel’s Tony-Award winning production Movin’ Out and a character coach for Cirque du Soleil’s, Mystere. He also co-created a touring Shakespeare Company for Trinity Rep Company, directed and taught acting Shakespeare at Cornell University and at Antelope Valley College.Curren...
2022-03-14
1h 56
Profiles in Havok
Tom and Jen Satterly
Command Sgt. Major (ret.) Tom Satterly served in the Army for 25 years, 20 of those years were spent in the military’s most secretive and elite Special Operations unit, Delta Force. As an Operator and CSM, Tom fought in and lead countless high profile military missions including Operation Red Dawn (Saddam Hussein’s capture) and the Battle of Mogadishu (Black Hawk Down). Although the physical, mental, and emotional toll of war had compounded over the years, Tom never faced his Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms and in 2013 he nearly ended his life. Had it not been a text from his now wife, Jen...
2022-03-08
1h 54
Savage Wonder
Elize McKelvey
My guest this week was Elize McKelvey. Introvert. Art school graduate. Marine (makes Staff Sergeant in 6 years). Combat artist. Elize McKelvey managed to excel as a truly "martial artist" - capturing the stories of Marines as rendered by a Marine. There may be other introverts who became wildly successful freelance artists, but few, if any, did it through the Marine Corps. She and I chase shiny objects in a wide ranging conversation that goes from the technical - how many paintbrushes do you pack in your war belt? - to the emotional - capturing the aftereffects of an Osprey...
2022-03-07
1h 47
Profiles in Havok
Scott Mann
Scott Mann is a professional storyteller. His play Last Out is a full-spectrum treatment of our war in Afghanistan. It is not an anti-war play. It is not a pro-war play. It is simply a play about war and all its complications - the toll it takes on the warfighter; the way it impacts the warfighter’s family - both positively and negatively; the intersection of cultures in this particular war; finding - or failing to find - a strategic equilibrium that worked and was sustainable. It short Scott gives a 360-degree look at the micro and macro implications of...
2022-03-01
2h 17
Savage Wonder
Scott Mann
Scott Mann is a professional storyteller. His play Last Out is a full-spectrum treatment of our war in Afghanistan. It is not an anti-war play. It is not a pro-war play. It is simply a play about war and all its complications - the toll it takes on the warfighter; the way it impacts the warfighter’s family - both positively and negatively; the intersection of cultures in this particular war; finding - or failing to find - a strategic equilibrium that worked and was sustainable. It short Scott gives a 360-degree look at the micro and macro implications of...
2022-02-28
2h 14
Profiles in Havok
Toby Harnden
Toby Harnden's latest book is First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11. He is a winner of the Orwell Prize for Books. A former foreign correspondent for the Sunday Times of London and the Daily Telegraph who reported from thirty-three countries, Toby specializes in terrorism and war. Born in Portsmouth, England, Harnden was imprisoned in Zimbabwe, prosecuted in Britain for protecting confidential sources, and vindicated by a $23 million public inquiry in Ireland. A dual British and US citizen, he spent a decade as a Royal Navy officer before becoming a journalist. He holds a First...
2022-02-22
1h 51
Savage Wonder
Shairi Engle
Savage Wonder episode 21 with guest Shairi Engle. Our first veteran playwright - finally! There are a few reasons it took us a while to finally book a veteran playwright. The biggest reason is that I didn't want to book someone whose play was under consideration in our playwrighting competitions. Fortunately for this episode, Shairi has been too busy with residencies and work to submit any work, so I felt free and clear to book her for the show. And I'm glad I did.Shairi first came to my attention when I saw she won AITAF's Bridge Award...
2022-02-21
2h 03
Profiles in Havok
Hollie McKay
My guest this week was Hollie McKay. Hollie has worked on the frontlines of several major war zones and covered humanitarian and diplomatic crises in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Russia, Africa, Latin America, and other areas. She has written for Coffee or Die, the Wall Street Journal and many other publications where she has garnered a slew of foreign press and humanitarian awards for her writing. Today, I spoke with her about Afghanistan. She was in Mazar-e Sharif when it fell to the Taliban, she was evacuated by the Taliban to the Uzbek...
2022-02-15
1h 30
Savage Wonder
Keith Walter Dow
Savage Wonder, episode 20 with Keith Walter Dow. Probably no segment of western society over the past 10 years has seen a bigger spike in creative writing as the veteran community. So it makes sense that an entity like Dead Reckoning Collective exists to capture and publicize so much of that writing. But that spike is also a byproduct of folks like DRC bringing so much literary education to the veteran community - through workshops, writing prompts, peer groups, etc. I had a great time sitting down with founder and editor Keith Walter Dow to learn about the evolution of DRC...
2022-02-14
1h 30
Profiles in Havok
Terron Wharton
I am not exaggerating when I say that High Risk Soldier:Trauma and Triumph in the Global War on Terror may be the best first-person military memoir I've ever read. Culled from Terron Wharton’s personal journal and emails home, it captures so many sights, sounds, and emotions that come with a deployment that you will feel like you’re there – but even more than that, you will also read descriptions that you never have heard articulated so simply and so thoroughly. One example that moved me was:“You never really know how much a situation has affected...
2022-02-08
1h 53
Savage Wonder
Anthony Roberts
It's not every 30-year veteran that will leave the military as an equally pedigreed poet. But, with an MFA degree, multiple professorships under his belt and a Pushcart Prize-nominated debut book, that is just what Anthony Thomas is. Articulate, erudite and thoughtful, Anthony and I nerd out on the various forms of poetry, analyze the intersection of sobriety and art, and dive into what brought him to the brink of suicide. From the mechanics of poetry to the beauty of a life well lived, this is an episode you don't want to miss.Follow Anthony here.
2022-02-07
1h 40
Profiles in Havok
Brad Thomas
When I started the Weekly Havok it was supposed to be a roundtable discussion with the staff and writers at Havok Journal. You probably noticed it increasingly because one-on-one interviews. Honestly, it's just hard to wrangle three guests for a panel each week. That's why it started becoming more "spotlight" episodes where I did one-on-one interviews. So, after a little thinking, we've rebranded TWH into Profiles in Havok - which kind of fits the one-on-one interview theme a lot better. And it will still populate in your old TWH feed, so you can still listen to our old episodes...
2022-02-01
2h 00
Savage Wonder
Brad Thomas
Savage Wonder episode 19 with guest Brad Thomas. Army Ranger, veteran of the Battle of Mogadishu, Delta Force operator…guitarist and composer for metal band Silence & Light. There are a lot of reasons I couldn't wait to sit down and talk with Brad. For one thing, he embodies the warrior-artist characteristics we like to celebrate here. I've listened to Silence & Light's debut album a lot. We both spent time in Somalia - his was a lot more eventful. And like him, I was greatly influenced by a lot of early 90's bands. So I had high hopes for th...
2022-01-31
1h 57
Savage Wonder
Amy Sexauer
Amy's debut book, Poppies, covers a lot of ground - West Point, motherhood, war, loss, toxic relationships, femininity, and all the places she's peed...the list goes on. I could say Amy's work is unpretentious and brilliantly executed with real insight into so many personal moments and structured in enough of a chronological narrative to make it a page-turner. But what really struck me about her writing was her ability to surprise the reader almost every time with a misdirection or right-turn into a new conclusion or an unexpected summation. She also happens to be a great conversationalist and...
2022-01-24
1h 53
Profiles in Havok
Dave Campisano
Dave Campisano is the founder and president of 22 Mohawks. So it's no surprise we start talking about veteran suicide, the pros and cons of raising awareness about veteran suicide, the "dysfunctional veteran" narrative. But that is only the start. How much does sex and death fuel our life choices? How do you rebound when your hopes and dreams are denied?How did Dave manage to go through Special Forces Assessment and Selection as a junior enlisted soldier in a recruiting battalion? A great time talking with one of the most ambitious and dedicated minds in the veteran non-profit space. ...
2022-01-18
1h 46
Savage Wonder
Neville Johnson
From his bodybuilding ambitions in South Africa to writing poetry in his native Afrikaans while deployed to Helmand Province, Neville Johnson has lived enough to fuel his writing for as long as he wants. Still so early in his writing career, he has attracted a lot of attention in veteran poet community for his moving descriptions and honest memories. Our first Five Eyes veteran on the podcast, Neville opened up about everything from his father on the South African police force to when he knew it was time to quit the military...and what it took for him to...
2022-01-17
1h 38
Profiles in Havok
Spotlight: Ayman Kafel
Ayman Kafel is no stranger to the Weekly Havok, but every time he's been on he's managed to pique my interest with another personal tidbit that I don't have time to dive into during a roundtable discussion. Until now. From a childhood in spent in the Liberian and Lebanese civil wars to combat tours in Iraq to a prolific law enforcement career, Ayman has had an incredibly unique life. In a conversation that veers from the political to the personal to the biographical, we cover everything from the politics of law enforcement to the most fascinating warlord in African...
2022-01-11
1h 58
Savage Wonder
Sarah Rossetti
Savage Wonder, Episode 15 with artist Sarah Rossetti, or, as she is known on Instagram @_invadergirl_. Sarah finds a way to create mythic canvases that capture the nobility and struggle of military and first responder lives without becoming propagandistic or shallow. A former Air Force brat she comes to her admiration of the military and first responder community honestly. Her decade tending bar for troops transiting through Guam made her a witness to resilience and nobility of purpose that she captures in her work now. She and I have a great conversation that ranges from her butting heads with her...
2022-01-10
1h 40
Profiles in Havok
New Year, Same Afghanistan
This episode was recorded during the holidays, but no holiday spirit was harmed during the making of it. Well, actually, it was. Driven by a few text messages, I plunge into a recap of the past few months in Afghanistan and what it likely means for the rest of the world. Show Notes Second Mission Foundation Operation Recovery Save Our Allies Pars Equality Center Chinese mines at Mes Aynak
2022-01-04
49 min
Savage Wonder
Lani Hankins
Lani Hankins served for six years in the US Army, during which time she did one deployment to Afghanistan as a member of a female engagement team. A lot of veterans have experienced a significant amount of trauma that cannot help but infuse their art. That is certainly the case with Lani, but this episode felt a bit different. For one thing, Lani is an artist in many media – publishing books, poetry, starting a blog, hosting a podcast and creating visual art. But her art – so far – revolves around three significant traumatic events: the sexual assault she suffer...
2022-01-03
1h 49
Profiles in Havok
Holiday Movie - Zulu
Charlie and I end the year talking about Zulu, one of my favorite military movies of all time. If you haven't seen it, you owe it to yourself - and your kids. No, it's not politically correct. But then, what was in 1879? (That's when the Battle of Roarke's Drift occurred. Not the movie. That was 1964. But still not a super politically correct time.) What it lacks in neuroses, it makes up for in accuracy - not so much with the events, although they are largely correct - but in regards to leadership, discipline, and the nuances of life and...
2021-12-28
1h 05
Profiles in Havok
Holiday Movie - Red Dawn
It's the holidays, well, pretty much. So what, did you think we were going to knock ourselves out? It's not that we didn't want to - there is an AFG-focused episode or four coming up - but for the holidays, we wanted to do something a little lighthearted. Not to mention give you some inspiration for holidays movies to share with the family. Well, maybe. So this week, Charlie and I sat down to talk about one of his favorites, Red Dawn. We talk about its impact, its legacy and we overthink all of the meaning and significance we...
2021-12-21
44 min
Savage Wonder
William ”Buck” Bolyard
Savage Wonder, episode 13 with guest William "Buck" Bolyard. Had a great time getting to know Buck. From his early days in juvie to his time as an Army infantryman to his lonely New Year's Eve in Guatemala with a missing toenail, Buck has always been a writer and a wanderer. His life has become a seething cauldron of experiences from which he draws inspiration. He is resentful of poetry’s consistent intrusion into his life - not to mention, disruption of his novel writing. Yet, at the same time, he is fully burdened to wring as much writing out hi...
2021-12-20
1h 40
Savage Wonder
s.p. burke
s.p. burke has been one of the most prolific poets featured on the Savage Wonder literary blog - and for good reason. He has only just begun to deconstruct and unpack the significant emotional events of a 20-year Army career. I got the sense, in speaking with him, that his writing is just trying to catch a waterfall in a cup and he will be mining his life experiences for years. I was also struck by how nakedly partisan he is about poetry. He is a true aficionado of poetry - not just its poignancy and beauty, but also...
2021-12-13
1h 37
Profiles in Havok
The Army-Navy Game
It is on record. Mike Kelvington predicts: Army 31-17, with Army passing 5 times. Charlie Faint says: Army wins by two touchdowns. Marshall McGurk goes with: Army by 21 points or more. And I said: I was enlisted and can't play in these reindeer games. Now, you're probably thinking that since it was just a bunch of Army types, we must have conducted a very biased episode of the Weekly Havok. Apart from the predictions, I can honestly say no Navy personnel's feelings were harmed during the making of this episode. In fact, everyone went out of their way...
2021-12-11
1h 09
Profiles in Havok
The Role of Femininity in the Military
I sat down with Lani Hankins, Lori Buttieries and Dex for a frank conversation about not just women in the military, but femininity in the military - its uses, its problems - and how each of them personally wrestled with it. We cover a lot of ground - the cliquishness of female servicemembers, the need to never be the weakest link, the desire to be held to the same standards. The ladies were articulate, fearless and didn't shy away from their very personal insights and critiques of both themselves and others. This episode has a lot of food for...
2021-12-07
1h 12
Savage Wonder
Dexter
In a crowded field of veteran poets, Dex stands out. Sure, there are not a lot of former Marine MPs writing poetry, but that’s not what sets her apart. And she doesn’t just stand apart because of her eloquent, poignant writing. I think what makes her exceptional is the diversity of subjects she tackles: motherhood, family history, the expectations of being a wife, the expectations of being a woman - and the way they intersect, conflict, or harmonize with her warrior self. She was a rock star at the VetRep poetry reading last month. Have a listen and...
2021-12-06
1h 53
Profiles in Havok
Spotlight: Sam Jacobs
A brief summary of this episode
2021-11-24
38 min
Savage Wonder
David B. Meadows
Sure, he was a Navy SEAL. Yes, he's become an established actor and producer. But most of all, David B. Meadows is an articulate thinker, a trait cultivated after years of introspection and accumulated self-knowledge. What a conversation we had. His operating system - how he has managed to live two very different lives while blending the best of both together and avoiding the negativity - is more than worth hearing. By the end, our phones were buzzing with missed texts, emails and calls - our friends and family probably thought we were missing or being held hostage. It...
2021-11-22
2h 35
Profiles in Havok
Spotlight: Daniel Gade
Daniel Gade returned to the show for a spotlight episode about a month ago. As with all spotlight episodes, there's a long flash-to-bang before airing since these are evergreen episodes that we use to cover down on weeks I'm probably too busy with VetRep. Daniel is an American disability and veteran rights activist, political candidate, professor, and researcher. He is a West Point graduate. He became an amputee in 2005 while serving as a company commander in Ramadi, Iraq. Daniel wen't on to serve in the Army until 2017, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He was the Republican nominee for Virginia's s...
2021-11-16
1h 53
Savage Wonder
Luke Ryan
Luke Ryan was raised in the US, Pakistan and Thailand. He survived a school shooting. He was an Army Ranger. And instead of writing a memoir or three, he opted for post-apocalyptic fiction, authoring The First Marauder. Borrowing from the tradition of Hemingway, Joseph Conrad and George Orwell, Luke has somewhat intentionally sought to build a trove of adventurous life experiences from which he can now mine his fiction. We talk about the book, but we talk about so much more - everything from the craft of writing to pondering your own mortality. The First Marauder
2021-11-15
1h 20
Profiles in Havok
The Insult and Injury to ODA 3212
James Gordon Meek is an Emmy, SPJ and Overseas Press Club Award-winnng national security investigative reporter for ABC News. Previously he was Senior Investigator and Senior Counterterrorism Advisor to two chairmen of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. With LTC Scott Mann he created Task Force Pineapple, an ad hoc group of veterans who evacuated hundreds of Afghans after the fall of Kabul in August 2021. James was my guest this week as we dove into his 90-minute documentary feature "3212 Un-Redacted" which premieres on Hulu on November 11. Due to his heavy promotion schedule, we d...
2021-11-09
32 min
Savage Wonder
Roman Baca - Part II
Savage Wonder podcast, Episode 8 - part II of our conversation with Roman Baca. How does a Marine machine gunner transition from Fallujah, Iraq back to being a professional dancer? How does wartime experience in Iraq change Roman's purpose? How does dance help Roman return to Iraq? You don't want to miss this conversation. . . Exit12 Dance Company Veterans Repertory Theater
2021-11-08
2h 00
Profiles in Havok
What Do You Fear?
Show Notes Project Sapient Havok Journal Veterans Repertory Theater Savage Wonder
2021-11-03
1h 09
Savage Wonder
Roman Baca - Part 1
USMC machine gunner, veteran of Fallujah, Iraq in 2005...professional dancer. Yeah, you read that right. Roman Baca is neither an ordinary Marine nor an ordinary dancer. What makes a professional dancer want to join the Marine Corps? Does he tell anyone he's a dancer? What does Marine Corps fitness do for his dancing? So many questions and Roman had no shortage of humble, articulate, intelligent answers. Such an enjoyable, articulate interview that we couldn't finish it in one sitting. This is Part I. I, for one, can't wait for Part II. Exit12 Dance Company Veterans...
2021-11-01
1h 26
Profiles in Havok
Porn in the Military
This week got a little taboo. There's been a lot of stuff in the media lately about porn - including the resuscitation of the feminist/evangelical alliance against porn - so it made me think about porn in the military. I bounced the idea off of Charlie and Ben Varlese and Chris Otero came on the show to discuss porn in the military. The pros, the cons, the unintended consequences and the way porn intersects with wartime service. Before you ask, yes, we really wanted to have at least one female from the Havok family come on the show...
2021-10-26
1h 23
Savage Wonder
Doc Oliver
Doc Oliver is a Singer-Songwriter based out of the Central Coast of California. He is also a medically retired Navy Corpsman with two deployments to Afghanistan. On August 31, 2021 on the day the US pulled out of Afghanistan, Doc released his first record “Welcome Home” which is an autobiographical record about his life pre-, during, and post- Operation Enduring Freedom. The record was engineered by Grammy winner Mark Rains at his studio Station House in Los Angeles, and Mastered by multi Grammy Winner Pete Lyman in Nashville. Doc Oliver Doc Oliver on Instagram Welcome Home...
2021-10-25
2h 05
Profiles in Havok
What Should Masculinity Mean?
A few weeks ago, during our crossover episode with Project Sapient, I got to talking with 22 Mohawks founder Dave Campisano about masculinity and what it means, especially to veterans. I told him we needed to do a show on just that topic, so this was the week. We brought on former Marine and current poet Mason Rodrigue as well as Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint to talk about it. And Dave attempted to be the first guest to do the show from a moving vehicle (no spoilers, but it didn't really work out). But it was a good slightly-more-than-wavetops...
2021-10-22
1h 15
Savage Wonder
Mason Rodrigue
Mason Rodrigue is a former USMC machine gunner with multiple overseas deployments. He is currently a professional poet and writer about to finish his first poetry collection. Show Notes Support Mason Rodrigue here. Follow Mason Rodrigue here. Savage Wonder literary blog Veterans Repertory Theater @veteransrepertorytheater
2021-10-18
2h 12
Profiles in Havok
Spotlight: Greg Drobny
Our first ever Spotlight episode shines a light on Havok Journal writer Greg Drobny. Greg is a former Airborne Infantryman, PSYOP Team Chief, political consultant, professional mil blogger, and Code Platoon’s Student Outreach Coordinator. He holds a BA and MA in history, as well as a Masters of Science in organizational psychology. Show Notes Code Platoon Havok Journal Veterans Repertory Theater Savage Wonder
2021-10-12
1h 50
Savage Wonder
Nicholas Luchenbill
Nicholas Luchenbill is a photographer who has been featured in Dek Unu Magazine, The Esthetic Apostle, and Fraction Magazine. His photography has been juried at Crossland Gallery, El Paso, Texas, won first place at the New Mexico Veteran’s Art Show, won the Prix de Photographie at Salon International Art Résilience, Saint-Frajou Art Museum, France, and won People's Choice at the International Museum of Art. He is also an Army veteran who served 10 years on active duty, including three combat tours. He was medically retired and receives 100% disability for the trauma he endured from combat. Have a l...
2021-10-12
1h 58
Profiles in Havok
What Is Your Purpose?
This week, I sat down with Liz DeGraeve, Elana Duffy and Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint to talk about purpose. Liz has shifted from a colorful and accomplished 23-year career in Army intelligence into being a 6th grade teacher. Elana held an Ivy League master's degree before becoming an accomplished combat veteran who earned the Purple Heart and a medical discharge and has leveraged it all to become a successful entrepreneur. And of course, Charlie combines military service, entrepreneurship and scholastic accomplishment. It was a group that seems to have no lack of motivation and purpose - so it...
2021-10-06
1h 19
Savage Wonder
Lilla Faint
Lilla Faint is the Managing Director of the Veterans Repertory Theater. She served in the Army for a decade, including assignments with the 101st Airborne and JSOC. She is also a military spouse, a mother, and a lifelong, singer, dancer, and musician. Show Notes Veterans Repertory Theater @veteransrepertorytheater Savage Wonder literary blog
2021-10-04
1h 43
Profiles in Havok
Extra Episode - Marvel Meets DC: The Project Sapient/Weekly Havok Crossover Episode
On Monday, September 27 at Clerys in downtown Boston...the Weekly Havok and Project Sapient pulled off a massive 2.5 hour crossover podcast for Project Sapient's Vet2Vet event. Worlds collided. DC and Marvel together. Batman killed Thanos. Epic. There may have been alcohol involved. Big shout out to 22mohawks Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program and everyone that came out to talk #afghanistan #veteransuicide #ptsd #supportthetroops Show Notes Savage Wonder Veterans Repertory Theater Project Sapient
2021-10-04
2h 24
Profiles in Havok
Are the Kids Alright?
This week I talked with Charlie Faint and Jeff Marshburn about veterans in education – how education can impact veterans and how veterans impact the educational realm, whether as students or teachers. We talk about the tokenization of veterans, the cognitive dissonance felt by veterans immersed in academic culture and the particular culture of West Point. No, it never devolves into a West Point infomercial, but we were going to have to talk about it a little – Charlie still teaches there and Jeff taught there. Plus Charlie was wearing a very loud Army football jersey and we were recording the epis...
2021-09-28
1h 00
Savage Wonder
Dr. Donnelly Wilkes
Dr. Donnelly Wilkes, is the author of Code Red Fallujah: A Doctor's Memoir at War. He is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Wilkes obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine, and his medical degree from Tulane School of Medicine on a full Navy Scholarship. Following medical school, Dr. Wilkes was commissioned in the U.S. Navy, completed residency training in family medicine at the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, and served seven years on active duty. Wilkes served two combat tours in Iraq in 2004 and 2008 and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal wi...
2021-09-26
1h 34
Profiles in Havok
What Should the Layman Understand About National Security?
Some weeks, the Weekly Havok isn’t just the name of the show, it’s also the way the show comes together. This was one of those weeks. We threw every hiccup and technical glitch we could at Ben Varlese and Dax Mallory and they kept on ticking. Best of all – thanks to our producer Michael Neal – none of the glitches will even make it into the episode. So you will never know the landmines you dodged in your audio experience this week. Probably good to have a week like this every so often – keeps us humble. But if you think...
2021-09-21
1h 10
Profiles in Havok
What Does 9/11 Mean to You Now?
On 9/11, Ayman Kafel was an American college student of Middle Eastern descent and Marshall McGurk was a second-year cadet at West Point. How they interpreted 9/11 and how they responded to a nation suddenly at war didn’t just take them to the sharp tip of the spear in the War on Terror – it changed their lives irrevocably – but not regrettably. It was a privilege to sit down with these two thoughtful veterans and discuss what 9/11 should really mean for us as we commemorate the original attacks – even after everything that has gone on in the twenty years since. ...
2021-09-14
1h 40
Savage Wonder
Charlie Faint
Charlie Faint is an active duty Army intelligence officer, the owner of the Havok Journal, founder of Second Mission Foundation, and board member of the Veterans Repertory Theater. He is currently the Deputy Director of the Modern War Institute at West Point Military Academy. He served seven tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq and over the course of his career was assigned to units including the 101st Airborne Division, the 2nd Infantry Division, the 5th Special Forces Group, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and the Joint Special Operations Command. Widely published in a...
2021-09-12
1h 46
Savage Wonder
Introducing Savage Wonder
Savage Wonder is a podcast about warriors and artists. It features long-form, one-on-one conversations with people who have a foot in both the world of the artist and the world of the warrior. It is produced by the Veterans Repertory Theater, a creative hub for talented veterans and world-class performers to create compelling live theater and events. Show Notes Veterans Repertory Theater @veteransrepertorytheater
2021-09-12
04 min
Profiles in Havok
The 9/11 Special Episode
Consider this the first Tri-Weekly Havok episode. Now, we had a 9/11 episode planned as part of our regularly scheduled programming. But I did this solo recording for two reasons: I really wanted to post something that would go out on 9/11 itself especially on a 9/11 as significant as this one and I didn’t want to detract from our roundtable by diving too deeply into my personal 9/11 experiences. Thanks for indulging me in both the excruciatingly specific details and the vague recollections. Have a listen here. Show Alibis I really drop...
2021-09-11
53 min
Profiles in Havok
Extra Episode - Why Should We Still Care About Afghanistan?
We don’t want to bang the drum about Afghanistan to the point it is just white noise. And we have a lot of great guests and a lot of great subjects booked for the Weekly Havok. But events in Afghanistan are unfolding rapidly and with great significance for our national security, the future of the country and the future of terrorism. It’s important to note what’s happening along the way. And if we can do that without detracting from our regularly scheduled programming, all the better. So here’s an extra episode, catching you up to everythi...
2021-09-08
1h 11
Profiles in Havok
What Is Courage?
There is no way to do justice to a subject like courage in the space of an hour. But there is a way to hit some major wavetops, and that’s what we did this week. Combat vets Dave Hartmann and Douglas Dodge joined the show for a discussion about courage that ranged from the philosophical to the personal. And then Doug talked about Medal of Honor recipient SFC Al Cashe. If you don’t know about Al Cashe, you should. And if you haven’t heard Doug talk about Al Cashe, then you need to. Military guys do a lot...
2021-09-07
1h 14
Profiles in Havok
Veterans and Politics, Veterans in Politics
A brief summary of this episode
2021-09-01
1h 12
This American President
The Disaster in Afghanistan: How We Got Here with Christopher Paul Meyer
Over the past week, the world has seen and heard about horrible things coming out of Afghanistan. Decisions that were made in the White House over the past few administrations are now being scrutinized in light of these events, and as a podcast on presidents we wanted to provide some of that perspective given the news. To help to sift through all of this is Christopher Paul Meyer, a former Army intelligence soldier, recipient of a Bronze Star in Afghanistan, Artistic Director of Veterans Repertory Theater, and President of the Griesa Center for Veterans in the Arts.CHRISTOPHER PAUL...
2021-08-30
1h 44
Profiles in Havok
Extra Episode - Everything You Wanted Know About Afghanistan, But Were Too Afraid to Ask
Yes, the show is the WEEKLY Havok, but the nature of this week in Afghanistan made this the first Bi-Weekly Havok episode. I went solo only because I wanted to present some Cliff Notes on Afghan history as well as take a swing at some low-hanging fruit on the social media BS tree and none of our guests needed to be around for that. Fair warning – at the rate events are unspooling at HKIA, this may turn out to be the Tri-Weekly Havok. Show Notes Afghanistan by Thomas Barfield Ghost Wars by...
2021-08-26
53 min
Profiles in Havok
What Does Our Abandonment of Afghanistan Mean?
Of course we were going to talk about Afghanistan. On the best of weeks, it doesn’t take a lot for me to talk about Afghanistan. Even moreso now. Just for added variety and perspective, we imported two non-Havok Journal folks to talk about it – Dr. Paul D. Miller and “G” an active-duty NSW operator 20 years and 12 deployments into his career. HJ was well-represented with one of our most articulate civilian writers – Dr. Alice Atalanta – who – spoiler alert – bridged the civ-mil divide in an unsparing critique of civilian inattention to Afghanistan. Whether you’re still fuzzy on why Afghanistan matters or if you...
2021-08-24
1h 12
Profiles in Havok
Do Veterans Matter to the Media and Does the Media Matter to Veterans?
Do vets matter to the media and does the media matter to vets? The answer is of course, yes. But in what ways do vets matter to the media? As props? As confirmation of prior biases? And how do vets engage with the media? Does it give a voice to the voiceless? Does the media generate more heat than light in the veteran community? I discuss all this and more with American Warrior Radio’s Ben Beuhler-Garcia, author, columnist, music video director and Warfighter Rights leader Boone Cutler, and Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint. Show Ali...
2021-08-17
1h 03
Profiles in Havok
How Should Vets Maintain Their Mind, Body and Spirit?
This week, I discussed how vets should maintain their mind, body, and spirit with MSG Geoff Dardia and Meg Kelvington. In my experience, not many of my peers wanted to have conversations focused on the mind, the body, or the spirit. I mean we weren’t in church – or in yoga class. But when you boil down a lot of our conversations, they actually were about mind/body/spirit issues – from dealing with inter-personal issues to fitness regimens to coping with work/life demands. There’s something about the label “veterans’ health” that seems too vague to successfully capture its importance...
2021-08-10
1h 05
Profiles in Havok
What Do Guns Mean to You?
This week Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint steps in to cover for me while I was traveling and wifi was sketchy at best. His guests were Greg Drobny and Kevin Wilson - who moves into the lead as our most regular guest for those keeping score. The topic this week was all things guns, an episode I was sorry to miss. Show Alibis Charlie really stepped up this week. He found out he was solo hosting about three minutes before going live. So the least I can do is fill in a few de...
2021-08-03
55 min
Profiles in Havok
Who Cares About the Civilian-Military Divide?
The civ-mil divide is something we kind of always bring up in one way or another on the show. You might even say it’s a large part of why we even do the show. So it was probably overdue for us to do an actual episode about it. I spoke with retired Air Force/Air Guard Chief Master Sergeant Dave Chamberlin, Uriel Epshtein of the Renew Democracy Initiative, and Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint. We talked about what the military and civilian communities can learn from each other, the role pop culture plays in the perceptions/mis-perceptions about th...
2021-07-27
1h 04
Profiles in Havok
How Do You Feel About Death Now?
This week I spoke with Aaron Kirk, Dr. Donnelly Wilkes, and Charlie Faint about death – what did they think about it before they joined the military, during their time in service, and afterwards. Sure, it can be a dark subject – it certainly wasn’t hilarious – but it wasn’t as dark and depressing as you might think. It’s a conversation that is serious and positive. I think you’ll come away grateful for everyone’s well-spoken and thoughtful insights. And you will definitely want to buy The Hill and Code Red: Fallujah. Show Alibis Ch...
2021-07-20
1h 19
Profiles in Havok
Can the Military Have Intelligence?
This week I talk with Havok Journal owner (and current Army Intelligence Officer) Charlie Faint about all things Military Intelligence. It is an episode born of necessity – we had cancellations and technical issues which meant we had to find something Charlie and I could talk about relatively easily and with little preparation. I think it worked. I know I had a two-track conversation going on – one with Charlie and one with myself to vet my comments before opening my mouth – and I think Charlie probably had one as well. But we stay within the tearlines and hopefully manage to give y...
2021-07-13
1h 15
Profiles in Havok
Are Some Veterans Better Than Others?
This week I talk with Havok Journal’s editor, the elusive Mike Warnock, Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint, and Havok Journal writer Jeff Marshburn who came to us live from the front seat of a patrol car. Just in time for July 4th, we discuss how much it matters to have a combat patch, or a CIB, or be a SEAL/SF-type dude. How much should those kind of credentials matter to another vet? What about to a civilian? Are some veterans better than others? Show Alibis During the show, I tried to tel...
2021-07-06
1h 18
Profiles in Havok
Tolerance vs. Endorsement
This week I talked with a scintillating, fascinating, and stunningly good-looking guest – myself. I guess that between scheduling mix-ups, sketchy technical issues and general, well, havoc(k), it was bound to happen at some point. So there you go. I make the best of it, subjecting myself to a pointed interrogation about my positions regarding Azerbaijan-based pipelines and a lively debate about macroeconomics and Keynesianism in greater Oceania. That, of course, is a joke – there is no debate about macroeconomics and Keynesianism in greater Oceania. In reality, I use General Milley’s comments about critical race theory as a launch...
2021-06-29
42 min
Profiles in Havok
How Important is Pop Culture to the Military?
This week, I talk with the witty and erudite Kevin Wilson and Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint about the importance of pop culture to the military. We talk deployment shows, movies and TV that influenced us to join, why The Hurt Locker is so disappointing to Charlie and Kevin. This was a fun one. If you don’t understand pop culture’s role in the military, you don’t understand the military. Have a listen here. Show Alibis A little explainer on this week’s Easter egg. I thought H...
2021-06-22
1h 16
Profiles in Havok
The China Episode
For several weeks, Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint and I had discussed doing an episode all about China – its geopolitical rise, its potential threats and, of course the fallout from COVID-19. Then Havok Journal writers Matt Trevathan and Christopher Otero got into a collegial back and forth on the private Havok Journal writers’ forum about some COVID-19 theories. After hyperventilating that they were wasting a perfectly good opportunity to monetize an argument, I decided this was the week to do the China episode and have them on to discuss all things China. Unfortunately, Charlie couldn’t make it, but even s...
2021-06-15
1h 24
Profiles in Havok
A Life or Death Business
This week I talk with Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint and Andrew, a 18-year old firefighter on the East Coast. I know what you’re thinking – how much wisdom, insight and life experience are you really going to get from an 18-year old? I agree – but Andrew is not your typical 18-year old. The story he wrote for Havok Journal was jarring enough that I made the editorial decision to focus on it instead of any topical stuff this week. Your next question is probably about Andrew’s anonymity – how many firefighters hold top secret clearances and need to protect th...
2021-06-08
1h 03
Profiles in Havok
How Much Should We Blame China for COVID-19?
How Much Should We Blame China for COVID-19? This week, I talk with Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint and his father, retired Colonel Don Faint about the origins of COVID-19 and how much responsibility China should have for the outbreak and the spread of it. Spoiler alert: a lot. So this was one of those weeks where the subject fell into our lap because this is the week the lab leak theory gained a lot of mainstream attention, and then the guest fell into our lap because Charlie’s dad was in town. It was a pleasure to have Do...
2021-06-01
1h 12
Profiles in Havok
Should the Military Be Afraid of Karl Marx?
124 retired flag officers sign an open letter bemoaning the state of the US and its radical turn towards socialism and Marxism. Space Force Commander Matthew Lohmeier is removed from his post for self-publishing a book about Marxism in the military. It’s 2021 - should the US military be afraid of Karl Marx? I talk with retired Army officer and Havok Journal writer Christopher Otero about the threat – or lack thereof – that Marx plays in today’s military. We talked about Critical Race Theory and it’s Marxist origins, we talk about the Constitution, the Civil War, Jim Crow, the...
2021-05-25
1h 22
Profiles in Havok
What Do Pipelines and Rockets Tell Us About Our Enemies?
DarkSide hacks Colonial Pipeline and extorts 5 million dollars, thereby holding large parts of the East Coast gas supply hostage. Hamas rains rockets down on Israel for no good reason. How much is Russia involved? How about Turkey or Iran? Are these standalone stories or are they part of a geopolitical great game? What do pipelines and rockets tell us about our enemies? I discuss all this and more with Havok Journal writer and former Special Forces and DIA officer Richard Liebl and Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint. This episode covers everything from Special Forces humanitarian missions to the two-state...
2021-05-18
1h 24
Profiles in Havok
UFOs, Microwave Attacks, and the Long Con
UFOs. That’s right. This week Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint and his daughter Emily Faint help me dive into the newly released, alarming footage of UFO’s buzzing the USS Russell. That wasn’t the only deeply troubling topic – we also talked about the on-going microwave attacks of US diplomats both globally and, now, in Washington DC. And I also wanted to make sure we covered the leak of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s comments about the killing of Qassim Suleimani and John Kerry’s potential spillage of classified information. With topics like these, it’s hard not to go...
2021-05-11
1h 13
Profiles in Havok
Is the US Losing Faith in the Military?
Is the US Losing Faith in the Military? That was supposed to be the subject this week – and after about 30 minutes, it was. My guests were Coffee or Die Executive Editor Havok Journal founder Marty Skovlund Jr. and Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint. We had a lot of ground to cover with Marty - from the founding of Havok Journal to the latest on his new book - which explains why we took the scenic route to get on topic. But when we got there, we dove in headfirst: why are most parents patriotic up until their kid is ab...
2021-05-04
1h 07
Profiles in Havok
What Crisis Is Going to Blindside the US?
What crisis is going to blindside the US? That is the question I discuss this week with Havok Journal writer and IT expert Matt Trevathan. Matt does his best to shoehorn a cogent discussion of India, China, and Turkey into an hour-long podcast. For my part, I try to go full Foggy Bottom, using polysyllabic words (such as “polysyllabic”) while trying to manage a polished NPR-worthy voice throughout. Does it work? Well, Matt and I had fun. As for the rest of you…you’re gonna be smarter than you were an hour before, possessing just enough knowledge to be dange...
2021-04-27
1h 06
Profiles in Havok
Are We Right to Withdraw from Afghanistan?
It’s official, we’re pulling out of Afghanistan. This week, I talk with Havok Journal owner and camo net rolling expert Charlie Faint and the Havok Journal writer formerly known as Log Cinco about whether that is the right move. We scrutinize it from the counter-terrorism angle, the nation-building angle, the geo-political angle, and, most importantly for the guy glaring at me from his refrigerator box, the methamphetamine angle. Talk about Afghanistan withdrawl! I joke because the Afghanistan is too serious an issue to discuss without blowing off some steam. All three of us have done time in AFG...
2021-04-20
1h 15
Profiles in Havok
What Are the Three Best Ways to Become a Failed State?
Americans worry a lot that we are headed towards ruin – unsustainable spending, foreign adventurism, even civil war. How warranted is that concern? I sat down this week with Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint to discuss the three best ways to become a failed state. We take the scenic route to get there, which is very “on-brand” for us. Somehow The Sound of Music weaves its way into the episode…three times. Which may say more about us than we planned to reveal prior to the episode. Crumbling infrastructure, personal terror, lively musicals, this episode covers it all. Show...
2021-04-13
1h 15
Profiles in Havok
What Should the Military Know About the Civilian World?
When fewer than 1% of the country has ever served in the military, it is not surprising that veterans and current military members are acutely aware that they carry a significant and disproportionate burden in the country. This often creates the perception among military folks that the civilian world needs to understand the military better to bridge the civ-mil divide. But this week, we look through the other end of the telescope – what does the military need to know about the civilian world? I was joined by author Dr. Alice Atalanta, Havok Journal writer Kathy Livermore, and Havok Journal Chief Ma...
2021-04-05
1h 34
Profiles in Havok
Where is Our Next War?
Where is the next war going to be? Havok Journal writer Kerry Patton and HJ owner Charlie Faint came on the show to discuss. We talked about a lot of interesting things - who are the closest friends to the US, is the US racist and how does China conduct information operations - but no one gave me a satisfactory, unpredictable, novel answer about where our next war will be. So, I’ll tell you now - the answer is “Turkey...the Indian Ocean...with a candlestick.” What do you want accuracy or a cool answer? Show...
2021-03-29
57 min
Profiles in Havok
Is the Military Becoming Too Political?
Tucker Carlson. The Guam National Guard. A 60-day standdown so DoD can look for extremists in its ranks. Is the military becoming too involved in domestic politics? Christopher Paul Meyer speaks with Havok Journal writers Steven B. Lewis, Dave Hartman and Kevin Wilson. Show Alibis -- Dave Hartmann hit me up after the episode because he was worried that, in the course of telling us about the virtues of hunting, he had advised us all to "play with our meat." I didn't remember him saying it, and I was kicking myself for missing it...
2021-03-22
1h 17
Profiles in Havok
Prince Harry and Aimless Masculinity
Christopher Paul Meyer speaks with James A. Gagliano, Ayman Kafel, and Charlie Faint about the Prince Harry/Meghan Markle interview with Oprah. Where others see the Royals’ soap opera through the lens of celebrity culture, we wonder if Harry is just another military vet without a mission. In true Havok Journal fashion, we use the interview as a jumping off point to talk about toxic masculinity, the loss of purpose, and calls to defund the police. Show Alibis - What I'm about to tell you is something I've never told anyone before. And it is abs...
2021-03-15
1h 09
Profiles in Havok
Let Them Hate, So Long As They Also Listen
In this pilot episode of The Weekly Havok, Christopher Paul Meyer talks to the owner of The Havok Journal, Charlie Faint, and its chief marketing officer, Alyssa Sudermann, about the origin story of The Havok Journal. Havok Journal Violence of Action: Untold Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror by Marty Skovlund Jr. "A 'Rip-It Ranger' Looks Back" by Shane Snell "Empty Chairs" by Anonymous "We Are the Useful Idiots" by Alice Atalanta "The Morning After I Killed Myself" by Meggie Royer
2021-03-08
38 min