For our third annual Memorial Day episode, Gold Star Mother, Mrs. Christina Kazakavage, joins us in the studio to tell us about her son, Air Force Technical Sergeant Adam Ginnet, who was killed in Afghanistan by an IED.

We talk about her family’s long history of service, why Adam chose the Air Force and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and the things that he valued most. We also discuss the arduous process of bringing Adam home, the blessings that have come from his passing, Christina's work with the EOD and Gold Star communities, and her passion for remembering and honoring all those who have served their country.

God bless our Gold Star families.

Theme song by The Mountain via Pixabay.

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Our guest for this Quick Hit is Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Mark O'Loughlin, who has written a new book on leadership. With decades of leadership experience in both the military and civilian sectors, Mark has five simple rules that any leader at any level in any field can learn and implement to improve their team and themselves. Whether you're a CEO or a junior NCO, Mark's Validated Leadership is a great guide to better, more effective leadership.

https://validatedleadership.com/

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.

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Warrior Dad speaks
Old battles echo through smoke
We sit and listen.

Mr. TJ Baird, aka The Warrior Dad, stopped by the Tracer Burnout studio to tell us about his multiple decades in the Army - or at least some of that time. Willing to add another few decades to an already long lineage of service, TJ knew it wasn't going to be in the Navy, and it wasn't going to be as an infantryman.

From being a Spanish linguist bouncing around South America to lunch time selection interviews and from 16 years of constant hush-hush global deployments to leading a Military Intelligence Brigade into Afghanistan, TJ had a remarkable career. Plus, how to make a grown man cry in public, bombing runs with Cool Bear, a really gross story about yuca, and a whole lot more!

In the Free Fire Area, Dan and Roger discuss preferred recreation settings: mountains or beaches.

https://www.warriordadstories.com/

Theme song by The Mountain via Pixabay.

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“That’s where I got my callsign, Yoko, because I broke up the band.”

Navy veteran, history podcaster, and YouTuber, Mrs. Jenn Bennie (aka Yoko), joins us in our virtual studio for this episode to tell us about her time as a Navy helicopter pilot.

From growing up as a military brat to falling in love with aviation and from search and rescue missions to finding new passions in American history and motherhood, Jenn has made history of her own! Plus, Tom Selleck's bodyguards, being neighborly with Penn State legend LaVar Arrington, gymnastics at the Naval Academy, and so much more!

Jenn joins us in the Free Fire Area as we nerd-out about history, movies, and why France is terrible (except Normandy) - then she turns the tables to ask a Free Fire Area question of her own. How the turntables have turned.

https://walkwithhistory.net/

Theme song by The Mountain via Pixabay.

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Army veteran and veteran filmmaker, Mr. Erik Bernard, joins us from exotic Canada for this Quick Hit. We discuss what got him interested in filmmaking, the events that pushed him to pursue it as a second career, and some of the industry ups and downs that he's learned along the way. Plus diva directors, clueless film students, and so much more!

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.

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“Drugs and nurses, son.”

All he wanted to be when he enlisted was a "hard hat, torch burning diver,” but Navy veteran, Mr. Brenden McMullen, ended up doing everything else instead.

From a short stint in a hospital basement, to 1st Force Recon, to capturing enemy prisoners in Operation Desert Storm, to training disobedient dolphins to find enemy divers; Mr. McMullen's time in the Navy was the adventure he never knew he wanted.

In the Free Fire Area, Dan and Roger debate which fast food restaurant has the best fries and why it's not McDonalds.

Theme song by The Mountain via Pixabay.

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“You’re not gonna make it here.”

Army veteran and host of The Strategic Veteran Podcast, Mr. Adam Peters, swings through the Tracer Burnout studio to tell us all about the highs and lows of a military career cut short by injuries (and possibly malpractice). From growing up in rural Indiana and being rejected by other military branches to multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and from leadership challenges to overcoming his own inner struggles, Mr. Peters’ story of service is exciting and inspiring. Plus AI, Skynet, the van life, and a whole lot more!

In the Free Fire Area, Dan and Roger discuss tech advancements that were promised decades ago but still haven't been delivered. Who wants a flying car anyway?

Theme song by The Mountain via Pixabay.

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Army Veteran and fellow podcaster, Mr. Leo Bañuelos, joins us in the Tracer Burnout Studio for this Quick Hit - and he brought tequila! He tells us about the training exercise that ended his career prematurely, how he got into podcasting, some of the challenges of being a one-man operation, and why sometimes the only option is to “keep going in wet boots.”

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.

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https://tracerburnout.com/