Best Heroes Behind Headlines Podcasts (2024)

1
Damn the Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan 1:26:30

30m ago1:26:30

1:26:30

"Damn the Valley" is the mantra of every soldier from 2 Fury who fought in this infamous Taliban stronghold and is also the title of guest Will Yeske's memoir. Operating as the gateway to Kandahar, this area saw months of the fiercest combat—yielding a 52% casualty rate as coalition forces attempted to pacify this hotspot in 2009 and 2010. At one p…

1
3 Foot, 11 Inch Amish Man Seeks Freedom! 1:16:09

2h ago1:16:09

1:16:09

Elmer Miller was born in upstate New York into a large farming family that was part of a strict Amish community. Standing under four feet tall as a grown man, Elmer talks about the reality of life inside this group; how he confronted his own limitations and rebellious spirit; and ultimately his decision to leave and pursue life in the wider world w…

1
Is there Hope for the Younger Generation? With Moody President Mark Jobe 34:44

10d ago34:44

34:44

Cue Pomp and Circumstance! It's graduation time! Chances are someone in your life is graduating or will be graduating high school or college sometime in the near future. In this episode, we revisit a stellar interview between Doug, Brad, and Mark Jobe about the future of this generation. While Dr. Jobe has some instruction for graduates, he's full …

1
Solving Murder Cases with Forensic Anthropologist, Ryburn Dobbs 1:09:42

24m ago1:09:42

1:09:42

Ryburn Dobbs breaks down his work as a forensic anthropologist and scientist and separates fact from fiction, as in TV programs like "Bones," explaining how real forensic investigations work. He shares details from his cases, and how his examination of bones help revealed critical clues as the police worked to solve murder cases. Now retired, Rybur…

1
From Brutal Fighting in WWII's Huertgen Forest to Nuremberg Trials to Priest 1:11:40

4d ago1:11:40

1:11:40

Moritz Fuchs was a private in the 1st infantry division, 26th regiment, when he was sent overseas after D-Da,y to help fight German forces in the Huertgen forest, which saw some of the worst fighting in the whole war and claimed over 30,000 U.S. casualties. After being wounded and recovering, he later served in the Harz mountains of Germany. After …

1
Inside the Most Secret Unit of the U.S. Military 1:13:10

18h ago1:13:10

1:13:10

As part of a military unit so secret that its team members are not permitted to speak about it--except now for the first time ever!--Adam Gamal (not his real name) is not who you might expect to find in such a unit. But he's exactly the person who's most effective. Born in Egypt, he emigrated to the U.S. to avoid Islamic extremists; worked two jobs…

1
Unsung Hero: A Conversation with Producer Andrew Erwin 27:31

28d ago27:31

27:31

Welcome back to the show. Today’s episode is a doozy. If you’ve enjoyed movies such as “I Can Only Imagine,” “American Underdog,” “Jesus Revolution," and now “Unsung Hero,” you can thank our guest today, Andrew Erwin. Andrew, along with his brother Jon have been telling stories of redemption through film for the past decade. Doug and Brad chat with…

1
Bipolar General 1:00:35

24d ago1:00:35

1:00:35

U.S. Army Major General Gregg F. Martin (ret.) was the epitome of a successful military officer—an inspirational leader brimming with energy, intelligence and creativity. He shot up the leadership ranks of the U.S. military. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, he commanded the 130th Engineer Brigade as they cleared the way and rebuilt bridges to f…

1
5 Keys for a Stronger Marriage (Co-host: Sara Hutchcraft) 23:55

1M ago23:55

23:55

We've all been there - searching for the right way to communicate what we are thinking and feeling. This is especially important to land in a marriage. In this episode, we dive in and take a look at 'Five Keys to a Stronger Marriage', focusing in on how we communicate with each other. And good news - these are keys that can also help in just about …

1
An Exceptional American Journey: From Soldier to Humanitarian Aid Worker 1:38:52

29d ago1:38:52

1:38:52

David Holdridge served as a platoon leader in the U.S. Infantry outside of Chu Lai, Vietnam suffered a catastrophic injury, and has since devoted his life to delivering humanitarian aid to people suffering from starvation, exploitation, and in war zones around the world in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. From Saigon to Gaza, he relates his journe…

1
A WWII Nurse in Patton's 3rd Army 1:24:10

1M ago1:24:10

1:24:10

A different kind of war story and hero: Lt. Mary Balster was a charming Midwestern teenager (the apple of her father's eye) when she enlisted as a nurse at the outbreak of WWII. She proved invaluable on the front lines as a German-speaker, but was unprepared for the nonstop workload; the filth; the horrible injuries and desperation; the quickly for…

1
Breaking Down the Meth and Fentanyl Epidemic 1:17:55

1M ago1:17:55

1:17:55

Award-winning journalist Sam Quinones lays out the facts behind the meth and fentanyl drug crisis in the U.S.: He expertly describes how mass manufacturing has made these drug ubiquitous, cheap, and infinitely more potent, and thus unlike any other drugs--legal or illegal--ever consumed by human beings. Sam explains how today’s meth has triggered a…

1
Counterfeit Polish Countess Saved Thousands in WWII! 1:11:11

2M ago1:11:11

1:11:11

Janina Melberg was a brilliant mathematician posing as a Polish Countess Janina Suchodolska to hide her Jewish identity during the Nazi occupation in WWII Poland. She simultaneously joined the both the Polish Welfare Council (RGO)--and secretly the Polish Underground--and bravely organized food and relief supplies for Poles incarcerated in the infa…

1
The Power of Your Hope Story with Ron Hutchcraft 42:52

2M ago42:52

42:52

This new episode is something really special - we’ve got arguably our favorite Hutchcraft on the show today, Ron Hutchcraft. Did you know you have one of the best M.A.D. tools with you all the time? It’s your Hope Story, and it’s powerful in Jesus’ hands! Recently, Ron and Doug hosted a six-session video series called, “Your Hope Story.” “Your Hope…

1
MACV-SOG Warrior Lives a Life of Adventure and Service! Part II 1:21:24

1M ago1:21:24

1:21:24

Jim “Wild Carrot” Shorten-Jones served as a team leader (One-Zero) in MACV-SOG during the height of Vietnam War, and ultimately in the Army, Navy and Air Force. In another exciting chapter in America's "secret war" in Laos and Cambodia, Jim shares his adrenaline-fueled war stories as team leader of RT-Delaware, and also recounts the non-stop life o…

1
MACV-SOG Warrior Lives a LIfe of Adventure and Service! Part I 1:03:20

2M ago1:03:20

1:03:20

Jim “Wild Carrot” Shorten-Jones served as a team leader (One-Zero) in MACV-SOG during the height of Vietnam War, and ultimately in the Army, Navy and Air Force. In another exciting chapter in America's "secret war" in Laos and Cambodia, Jim shares his adrenaline-fueled war stories as team leader of RT-Delaware, and also recounts the non-stop life o…

1
Behind the Headlines (with Kristy Graham from Samaritan's Purse) 31:50

3M ago31:50

31:50

We are really excited about today’s guest - Kristy Graham from Samaritan’s Purse. Kristy is the host of the podcast, “On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse.” We had Kristy on the podcast way back in season 1. On today’s show, she updates Doug and Brad about the current state of things in Ukraine and Israel, what Samaritan’s Purse is doing to help, a…

1
Catching Predators with the FBI's Crimes Against Children Squad 1:09:47

2M ago1:09:47

1:09:47

When FBI Special Agent Nikki Badolato arranged a live meetup with a man looking to 'rent' her infant daughter as part of a sting, she was shocked to see how presentable and 'normal' this 30-something man was. Now, after a two-decade career, Nikki and Rolling Stone journalist Alex Morris lay out the state of domestic human trafficking, how pedophile…

1
The Heroics of U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers 1:09:41

3M ago1:09:41

1:09:41

U.S. Coast Guard Veteran Martha La Guardia-Kotite shares inspiring stories of bravery from her book, “So Others May Live—Coast Guard’s Rescue Swimmers: Saving Lives, Defying Death.” These brave men and women put their lives at risk to rescue people in the greatest peril. Among the stories is that of a baby rescued from a boat in the middle of a hur…

1
Truth from the Top: Media Leaders Share Their M.A.D. Tips 31:07

3M ago31:07

31:07

There’s an old saying that goes, “Show me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are.” If that’s true at all, things are looking pretty bright for Doug and Brad. Today’s episode features comments from some friends of the Hutchcrafts that were recorded at a recent conference. They were all given this question: “What’s one thing that Christia…

1
The Mind-Blowing Near-Death Experience of Gary Wimmer 54:09

3M ago54:09

54:09

One dark night in Austin, Texas, onlookers watched in horror as musician Gary Wimmer was struck head-on by a speeding car, ramming his head into the front grill and hurtling him into the air until he landed on the pavement. When he stood up minutes later, seemingly unharmed, people were confused and unbelieving at his lack of injury. So were the em…

1
Saving SOG Souls with the 101st Airborne: Part II 1:15:42

3M ago1:15:42

1:15:42

In part two of this interview, Roger Lockshier lays out his dramatic experiences as a helicopter pilot serving in Vietnam. In 1968, at the height of the war, he was routinely sent in on his Huey gunship to support or rescue MACV-SOG Green Beret soldiers secretly operating in Laos and Cambodia. Roger shares his 'birdseye' perspective on several miss…

1
Saving SOG Souls with the 101st Airborne: Part I 1:17:11

3M ago1:17:11

1:17:11

In this two-part interview, Roger Lockshier lays out his dramatic experiences as a helicopter pilot serving in Vietnam. In 1968, at the height of the war, he was routinely sent in on his Huey gunship to support or rescue MACV-SOG Green Beret soldiers secretly operating in Laos and Cambodia. Roger shares his 'birdseye' perspective on several mission…

1
RIP Chuck Mawhinney: The U.S. Marine Corp's Deadliest Sniper Speaks! 59:10

3M ago59:10

59:10

We've re-released this episode, as an homage to Chuck Mawhinney, who we learned passed away last week. Chuck was our guest in Season Two (September 2023.) We were honored to have had a chance to speak with him and hear his story...Here it is again in case you missed it.... *** Chuck Mawhinney grew up hunting in the Oregon woods on his grandfather's…

1
The "He Gets Us" Commercial: Ambassador Action Steps 34:15

3M ago34:15

34:15

The Super Bowl was one for the ages. If you watched it, you might have seen a commercial about Jesus with the tagline, “He gets us.” Not surprisingly, this commercial has been the center of a lot of talk, both positive and negative. The bros jump into the conversation, with this question in mind: how can we be Christ’s ambassadors concerning this a…

1
Invasion On! D-Day, the Press, and the Making of an American Narrative 1:05:19

4M ago1:05:19

1:05:19

Military veteran and author Stephen M. Rusiecki describes the process of how and why Americans developed a standing narrative of the WWII operation known as D-Day, based upon a common, press-enabled, thematically framed narrative. Steve describes how the radio and newspaper networks of the day cooperated in this effort, and how this version of even…

1
The Challenges of Serving in LA County's Sheriff's Department 1:35:25

4M ago1:35:25

1:35:25

Building a career in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was no easy feat: Danny Smith overcame different hurdles and became a detective, going on to solve some grisly cases, including the murders of an immigrant mother by her daughter, and a Native American man burned alive by skinheads. Danny describes how the mental toll of his relentles…

1
Next Level Romance (with Special Guests Doug and Brad's wives!) 35:57

4M ago35:57

35:57

On today’s show, Doug and Brad bring their better halves, Anna and Sara, into the studio to talk love languages. But first, Brad has to break out a box of that weird heart candy that only shows up in February and Doug conducts a very confusing game of two truths and a lie. The four Hutchcrafts leave us with some incredible advice about being Christ…

1
The Reporter Who Knew Too Much 1:10:45

4M ago1:10:45

1:10:45

In 1963, Dorothy Kilgallen was on top of the world, famous as a groundbreaking female journalist, with a nationally syndicated column and a panelist on the popular TV show, "What's My Line?" She was also an acquaintance of JFK and when he was killed, she never bought the official story. One of the only reporters to further investigate the assassina…

1
Canada's Psychopath Machine 1:36:44

4M ago1:36:44

1:36:44

When 18-year-old Steve Smith was sent to Oak Ridge Psychiatric Hospital in Ontario, Canada in the 1960s, (misdiagnosed due to an ill-timed LSD trip) he didn't expect the inmates to be running the asylum, or to be part of a control group in a government-sponsored experiment to try to control psychopaths and turn normal people, like Steve, into contr…

1
Three Life-Giving Resolutions for 2024 28:55

4M ago28:55

28:55

It’s 2024 and the bros are here to talk about the new year. Find out about the unprovoked coffee mug that attacked Brad and how Doug has been supporting Brad’s…resolution? Speaking of resolutions, you’ll hear no shaming from us about that gym membership you only used once so far - in fact we talk about three topics that just might be getting in the…

1
The Wraparound Roundtable Ext. Interview: Innovative Strides With Bill Near of Helios Hockey 23:43

4M ago23:43

23:43

Bill Near, who is the Founder and CEO of HELIOS, joins us this week on the roundtable to discuss how and why he started Helios, which is an advanced tracking system for players and coaches that also for next level statistics regarding performance. The system also syncs with all major game streaming services (I.e Livebarn, HockeyTV, etc) and will in…

1
The Wraparound Roundtable Extended Interview: The Story Behind All Black Hockey Sticks 22:54

4M ago22:54

22:54

Larry O, the founder of All Black Hockey Sticks and Just Hockey Jerseys, joins us this week on the roundtable to discuss how he started his very successful affordably prices stick company ten years ago as the result of a dare! He also goes into how his family owned business has grown over the years from “no frills” sticks, to additional offerings l…

1
The Operation Tailwind Scandal 1:12:14

4M ago1:12:14

1:12:14

On 11 September 1970, 16 U.S. soldiers and 110 Montagnards from Hatchet Company B were sent deep into the Laotian jungle in support of a CIA team, during the Vietnam War. Over the next four days, they were continually attacked by overwhelming numbers of NVA. If it wasn’t for the air support of helicopter pilots like Barry Pencek, they wouldn’t have…

1
Vote for Unsung in the 2024 Sports Podcast Awards! 2:00

5M ago2:00

2:00

Hello and Happy New Year! It’s Alexis here from Unsung with our first ever public service announcement. At the end of our last episode in December, I mentioned that you’d next hear from us in the Spring. But while we continue to work on series 2, forgive me for jumping on the feed a little earlier than planned. Because, like a school kid eager to s…

1
Arms Deals, Illegal Drugs, and Rare Animals: Going Undercover with ATF and U.S. Customs 1:24:46

5M ago1:24:46

1:24:46

The amazing life of undercover agent Frederick L. Gleffe is a nonstop series of adventures inside three of our nation's law enforcement agencies. His sometimes surreal, always perilous cases include breaking up a black market arms ring at a Special Forces armory and running an ongoing ‘sting’ during the Miami “Cocaine Wars” in the 80s, selling ever…

1
From Anzio to Dachau: A WW2 Infantryman Tells His Story 1:53:19

5M ago1:53:19

1:53:19

WW2 humble hero, Laurence "Sparky" Rector, was just a GI in the infantry when he was drafted as an 18-year-old. He ended up crossing Europe as "cannon fodder," including as part of Patton's army, participating in the battle of Anzio, and encountering the Siegfried Line. His unit was also the first to enter and liberate Dachau Concentration Camp. De…

1
Re-Examining the Battle of Gettysburg 1:28:55

5M ago1:28:55

1:28:55

The Battle of Gettysburg is a pivotal event in the history of our country, but not broadly understood. Attorney-turned-historian Allen R. Thompson digs into a Civil War controversy: How the decision-making of Generals Lee and Longstreet on July 2nd, 1863, resulted in the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg – and ultimately the loss of the war. In his …

1
A Woman Fights for a Medical Degree During the Grenada Revolution 1:06:33

5M ago1:06:33

1:06:33

In 1970, only ten percent of doctors were women. Living in Oklahoma, Cynthia Mackey was a young woman and mother who dreamt of becoming a doctor. Her first husband wouldn't let her go to school and then was killed flying cocaine for Pablo Escobar. Her second husband didn't approve either. Finally, as a single mom, she decided to finish medical scho…

1
Inside the 'House of Death' and the Juarez Cartel 1:36:13

6M ago1:36:13

1:36:13

Investigative journalist Bill Conroy shares his experiences covering the Mexican drug trade and the infamous Juarez Cartel. From his gripping book "Dispatches from the House of Death," Bill describes the site of numerous drug-related executions, and the flawed response of U.S. law enforcement agencies charged with combatting organized crime from ov…

1
Beyond Bethlehem: Living Like Shepherds this Christmas 29:58

6M ago29:58

29:58

The egg nog, the cookies, the fruitcake - barring an upset stomach from all that sugar, it’s the brothers’ favorite time of year: Christmastime! Today’s episode takes a deep dive into the story of the shepherds found in Luke chapter 2. Even if the closest you’ve ever been to a sheep is the wool in your ugly Christmas sweater, Doug and Brad break do…

1
The Many Challenges of U.S. Border Patrol with Vince Vargas 1:02:40

6M ago1:02:40

1:02:40

Today, Vincent Vargas is an actor, producer and writer, best known for his role in the hit TV series Mayans M.C. But several years ago Vincent Vargas was patrolling our southern border as a proud member of U.S. Border Patrol – one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States. The grandson of an undocumented immigrant himself, Vince …

1
Our Top Sports Stories of 2023: The Unsung Year in Review 40:56

6M ago40:56

40:56

With 2023 coming to a close, there’s something a little different for you in this rather frenetic episode of the Unsung podcast. In just 40 minutes, we rattle through the sporting year via the perspective of its unsung heroes, beginning way back in January at a boisterous and disbelieving darts crowd in Ally Pally, before ending with a tenuous refe…

1
FBI Undercover Penetrates the Real "Sopranos" 1:45:00

6M ago1:45:00

1:45:00

FBI agent Giovanni Rocco talks about life undercover as he went inside the real "Sopranos" crime family of New Jersey. In a case of life imitating art, Giovanni describes the real-life characters he dealt with; the deadly politics inside the 'family;' how they felt about the TV show; and how he managed to penetrate this closed society and use their…

1
The Great Giving Adventure with Guest Cohost Ron Hutchcraft 32:59

6M ago32:59

32:59

Well, the trees are going up and giant inflatables are filling your neighbors yard. That must mean it’s the Christmas season! And as the ringing of the bells outside of stores reminds us, it’s also the season of giving. But with so many people in need and what could also be a personally dry financial time, giving can come with challenges. On this e…

1
High-Stakes Gambler and Philanthropist Battles Corruption 1:04:34

6M ago1:04:34

1:04:34

R.J. Cipriani grew up on the hardscrabble streets of Philadelphia and at 10 years of age, he sold pretzels to factory workers everyday before he went to school. He became a gambler at the age of 16. Many years later, he cared for his beloved mother Regina for six years, who was stricken with Alzheimers. When Regina passed he was grief stricken and …

1
UK Power Couple Rescue People in Crises Around the World 1:09:13

7M ago1:09:13

1:09:13

UK-native Dean Stott, a former SBS-member, leverages his international experience as the British equivalent of a US Seal Team Six operative as he works with his wife Alana to aid governments, private groups, and individuals in dangerous situations around the globe. Now based in Southern California, they lay out how they started their very successfu…

1
Praising God in the Storms with Special Guest Blessing Offor 35:01

7M ago35:01

35:01

Thanksgiving is upon us and we can’t think of a better conversation to share with you than our interview with Grammy-nominated, Dove award winning Blessing Offor. This past summer, Doug and Brad got a chance to sit down with Blessing to find out what makes him tick. How does he maintain such joy in the midst of hardship? Blessing does not disappoin…

1
The Shocking Discovery about the Zapruder Film of the JFK Assassination 1:20:08

7M ago1:20:08

1:20:08

Thom Whitehead and Sydney Wilkinson are post-production experts in the film industry who used their skills to closely examine a forensic copy of the most famous amateur movie in history - one that captures the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. What they found is shocking - clear evidence that the film had been tampered with before it was …

1
Emeagwali Computer | Unveiling the Bee's Blueprint 5:55

7M ago5:55

5:55

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed scientists, and distinguished guests, It is with great honor and humility that I stand before you today, in these hallowed halls, to share with you the story of a journey that intertwines mathematics, physics, and computing in a symphony of innovation and inspiration. For half a century, I embarked on a quest, much li…

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