Best America Non Issues Podcasts (2024)

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225: Gear vs Skill Issue 29:42

18m ago29:42

29:42

Can one solve a skill issue with better gear? A Stepping stone to maturity in Gun Culture, this topic may come across as both eye rolling and attention gathering. On the one hand, a better ruck sack will not get you up the mountain. On the other hand, it sure helps. Parachutes, plates, and powder all come into play as we consider how and when we lo…

1
224: How Conspiracy Theories Harm You 28:26

29m ago28:26

28:26

People don't believe in conspiracy theories because they find them rationally compelling. Rather, these ideas hijack an individual's need for a sense of purpose and belonging. They prey on our desire for the world to be thus regular and make sense. However, the consequences of a conspiracy theory tend to be more personal than what the media would l…

1
223: Women In Combat // Quotas Hurt The Whole Team 26:37

37m ago26:37

26:37

Should Women serve in combat roles in the military? The recent attempt on President Trump's life brings up the old debate about women in the military and women in combat roles. Framing tends to drive this conversation, and we continually get bogged down in redundant questions. Can women do the job? Are women capable of the achieving the standards? …

1
222: Red Teaming and Gathering Threat Intel with Rob Rawson 2:11:07

7d ago2:11:07

2:11:07

From Private Military Contractors to Mall Cops, the field of security is full of misconceptions, egos, and opportunities to find yourself hung out to dry for other's safety. But when we look behind the curtain into what goes in to threat prevention, we see a much deeper picture. Rob Rawson of Rozin Security joins the show to teach us about the idea…

1
221: Why Didn't Guns Come Up in the Debate? 24:30

12d ago24:30

24:30

The recent debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden covered a series of topics both relevant and otherwise to the American People. Among them included abortion, the economy, and illegal migration. What didn't come up, was Gun Control. And the silence spoke volumes as this divisive topic wouldn't have helped either candidate appear reasonable or kn…

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220: Reclaiming the First Amendment with Radios with Jake Knight of Gridbase 54:26

25d ago54:26

54:26

If owning and becoming proficient with a firearm continues the Second Amendment, owning and becoming proficient with radios may just be securing the First. Jake Knight of Gridbase.net reports on his first off-grid radio course and presents an argument that radios and their extension: mesh networks, strengthen our independence through the ability to…

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219: It May Not Be Your Fault, But It Will Be Your Responsibility 27:17

19d ago27:17

27:17

You do not have control over the circumstances that surround you. However, you may have a moral obligation to how you live through them. Which are you? Born too late to explore the world, or born too early to explore the stars? Which are you? One who sees your generation as the one who squandered their potential, or the generation that has to pay f…

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218: The End of Celebrity and the Return of State Religions 24:00

24d ago24:00

24:00

The Secular Age can be marked as one where mechanism of belief commonly assumed considers religion one option amongst many. We may find a sense of freedom in not being bound politically or nationally to a Religion, but the cost reduces the legitimacy of a belief to authenticity and thus, merely a fashion statement. What you believe about right and …

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217: Identity Before, During, and After Ranger Regiment with Cameron Fath 1:47:09

29d ago1:47:09

1:47:09

Many of us grew up in a world where to join the military meant to serve our country. Baked into that ideological pie was a hierarchy where, the more special your operations, the more value you might have, at least on social media. Cameron Fath tells about how he joined the Ranger Regiment, what it was like to enter and then leave that arena, and wh…

251
EP. 400: The Melting Point: An Interview with Former CENTCOM Commander General McKenzie, USMC 49:16

29d ago49:16

49:16

Host Bill Hamblet interviews former CENTCOM Commander General Frank McKenzie Jr., U.S. Marine Corps (Retired), about his latest book from the Naval Institute Press.For more information on "The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century," visit: www.usni.org/press/books/melting-pointBy U.S. Naval Institute

1
216: Why Men Go Off To War 29:26

1M ago29:26

29:26

Why do men go off to war? Is it for Glory? Honor? The GI Bill? The war/violence/conflict in Ukraine illustrates how some men go to war, regardless of the big picture. While pundits and politicians opine about how America's influence, military support, and participation in Eastern Europe paints a picture of the next forever war, individuals travel t…

1
EP. 399: June Review 50:18

1M ago50:18

50:18

Bill Hamblet and Brian O'Rourke discuss highlights from the June issue of Proceedings.By U.S. Naval Institute

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Reflections on D Day and America's Future 7:07

1M ago7:07

7:07

"As we paused to look back four score, to honor and reflect on the brave allied soldiers that liberated a continent, my mind advanced to November evaluating the reality that lies ahead for America’s future. I am battling to find the right words to express my concern for the governing institutions of our nation." Commentary from Roger Rickard, Presi…

1
215: The Fall of Minneapolis and its Consequences with Peter Johnson 1:56:35

1M ago1:56:35

1:56:35

Even during the 2020 Black Lives Matter Summer of Love, news agencies hesitated to report on the destruction taking place in Minnesota. Few poeple outside of Minneapolis know that the rioting continued well into 2021, and few people who live there are willing to admit it. To this day, the city of Minneapolis suffers the consequences of what took pl…

1
EP. 398: Operation Neptune: Liberating Europe 37:13

1M ago37:13

37:13

Host Eric Mills and author Ed Offley discuss Operation Neptune, the most epic undertaking in the annals of amphibious warfare that unleashed a tidal wave of manpower onto France’s shores that marked the beginning of the end for the Third Reich.By U.S. Naval Institute

1
214: How Might Makes Right and When it Doesn't 29:48

1M ago29:48

29:48

Might Makes Right. No Truth but Power. History is written by the Victor. These phrases often say one thing, but try to communicate another. When we casually say that might makes right, we aren't typically saying that morality comes from greater strength. When it comes to disputes, it often sounds like a shortcut to some form of solution, or a criti…

1
EP. 397: Another Historic Year for the PLA Navy 44:38

1M ago44:38

44:38

Retired Navy Captain Jim Fanell—noted expert on the Chinese Navy, former Director of Intelligence for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and frequent Proceedings contributor—provides an update on the PLA Navy and their operations.By U.S. Naval Institute

1
EP. 396: May Issue Review 41:24

1M ago41:24

41:24

Bill Hamblet and Brian O'Rourke review highlights from the May issue, and preview the June issue of Proceedings.By U.S. Naval Institute

1
Ep. 395: America's First Carrier 34:42

1M ago34:42

34:42

Host Eric Mills talks with author David Winkler about his new book on the U.S. Navy's first aircraft carrier the USS Langley.By U.S. Naval Institute

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213: How to Start or ReStart training in Self Defense 29:12

1M ago29:12

29:12

When it comes to gear, play the long game. When it comes to training, get what you can, when you can get it. When it comes to practice, it's better to start with what you have, than wait for the perfect opportunity. Gear, Training, and Practice are three sore subjects when it comes to gun culture. How is this the case for a community that is center…

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212: Peter Ildefonsa on Gun Culture, Industry, and the Second Amendment 1:38:39

1M ago1:38:39

1:38:39

The difference between what can be called the Gun Culture, the Industry, and those in support of the Second Amendment isn't a single overlapping circle of a Venn Diagram. Instead, we have disparate groups of Gun Culture, a market space of the Firearm Industry, and the broadest term of 2nd Amendment Supporters. Peter Ildefonsa brings all of this to …

1
211: Why We Train for Both Proportionality and Utility 28:52

2M ago28:52

28:52

In violence, as in war, two concept stand in tension with one another: proportionality and utility. McMahan identifies one understanding of proportionality as "a constraint on action that causes harm." (Killing in War Pg 19). Utility, on the other hand, often functions as the context for informing one part of strategy, tactics, and techniques. We p…

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210: Ruben Alverez of Paradox Training: ECQC vs Jiu Jitsu 2:02:41

2M ago2:02:41

2:02:41

Self Defense isn't what it used to be. Jiu jitsu has become mainstream. But what if you were to discover that no-gi training wasn't as realistic as you wished? Ruben Alverez traces a tale of growing up in the world of Jiu Jitsu, only to discover it wasn't all that he needed. ECQC or Extreme Close Quarters Concepts takes the idea of a violent encoun…

1
209: The Trouble with LARP 28:26

2M ago28:26

28:26

What if the true LARP is the assumption that we can be credited as being part of the community without participation? When the term LARP (Live Action Role Playing) is used as an epitaph, it accuses the target of living in a fantasy. With analysis, we look at what it is that is considered dishonorable about so-called LARP-ing. What we find out is th…

1
208: Composure: One Measure of a Man 29:30

2M ago29:30

29:30

Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" often finds home on the wall and in the minds of great men. It leads the reader through a series of character traits that make a man, opening with the line "If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their …

1
207: Beyond the Gun: More than Marksmanship 47:43

2M ago47:43

47:43

There's more to being a warfighter than shooting. On the US Army webpage it is stated that the Ranger Battalions encompass the "Big 5 Philosophy" of Marksmanship, Physical Training, Medical Training, Small-Unit Tactics, and Mobility. Breaking down each of these, we look at what they might entail. In order to put to rest the cultural conversation in…

1
EP. 394: Solve Amphibious Shipping Shortfall with ESDs and ESBs 40:41

2M ago40:41

40:41

Bill Hamblet talks with Retired Marine Corps Major Carl Forsling about developing a more capable and versatile fleet with ESDs and ESBs.By U.S. Naval Institute

1
EP. 393: Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Escape: Lt. Charles Klusmann's Story 40:50

2M ago40:50

40:50

Lieutenant Charles Klusmann was shot down over Laos sixty years ago. After escaping from his POW camp, he endured a grueling trek through the jungles to freedom. Author Ed Marolda shares his story.By U.S. Naval Institute

1
206: Communication Lessons from the George Floyd Riots 27:59

2M ago27:59

27:59

The George Floyd Riots were a strange time. On the ground, the narrative level politics fell to the wayside. Information Warfare was not about which political party was effectively harnessing the energy of the street, but about if their house was going to be looted or burned down in the next few hours. We live in the post information age, were it's…

1
EP. 392: Maintaining Maritime Security: An Interview with VADM Peter Gautier 41:46

2M ago41:46

41:46

Bill Hamblet talks with Vice Admiral Peter Gautier about the Key Bridge incident, the Maritime Transportation System (MTS), and managing the complex global mission set of the Coast Guard.By U.S. Naval Institute

1
205: Small Mindedness - The Mechanism of Control 28:55

2M ago28:55

28:55

Which is better? To Bug Out or to Harden Your Position? Which is better? Train in Recce or CQB? Which is better? A DMR or a MK18? Which is better? 9mm or 45acp? These questions represent different decision that go awry when we attempt to answer them at the wrong level of analysis. There is a strange hope that, if it were to come to brass tacks, the…

1
204: Name Dropping and Clout Chasing 21:44

3M ago21:44

21:44

Sure, we all hate name dropping and clout chasing, especially in Gun Culture, but why? what is it about this kind of activity that we find so distasteful, and should we? It's not good enough to complain about the subject, and although it takes a little time to get into it, in this episode we compare it to writing an academic paper. It's not good en…

1
203: Jake Knight from GRIDBASE: Don't Quit, Decentralize 1:43:27

3M ago1:43:27

1:43:27

Decentralization might sound good on paper, but how does it work in the real world? When we look around, from media to the news to politics to culture in general, it looks like things are falling apart. And the just might be. But what happens when you shift your mindset away from the doom and gloom of how corrupt our politicians really are, and sta…

1
202: Bad Philosophy and the Problem of Evil 34:30

3M ago34:30

34:30

What makes someone a pseudo-intellectual? If we treat philosophy like a trade, what does it look like when done poorly? In this episode, we review two arguments by public intellectuals who present two different arguments regarding God. Žižek compares God to a video game developer, and Neil deGrasse Tyson brings up the Problem of Evil. Some argument…

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201: Kaleb Irving on Gun Culture on the Ground Level, Repenting America 1:43:03

3M ago1:43:03

1:43:03

While it can be fun to try to analyze Gun Culture at the 20,000 league above view, Kaleb Irving brings the conversation down to earth. We look at what Gun Culture looks like on the ground level, and then rise higher into moral frameworks, and discuss what it might mean for the Church to repent. Gun Culture isn't so much politically aligned to moral…

1
EP 391: A Conversation with Royal Canadian Navy Commander VADM Topshee 33:53

3M ago33:53

33:53

Bill Hamblet talks with Vice Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, about the future of the fleet and global operations.By U.S. Naval Institute

1
200: Marksmanship vs Fighting 28:23

3M ago28:23

28:23

Don't like a guy? Say he can't shoot. Although this will not put the argument to death, it will bring context to move past the ego game and into a professional approach. Shooting is a skill, and fighting requires a collection of skills. One of the most uncomfortable scenes in A24's Civil War is the firefight between men in Hawaiian shirts and unifo…

1
199: Civil War Review with Gypsy Walters 50:03

3M ago50:03

50:03

Gypsy Walters rejoins the show to talk about the movie "Civil War" by A24 Studios. The spoiler-free beginning covers tone and politics of the movie. After that, we dig into key scenes and take them apart both tactically and culturally. A surprisingly apolitical movie, with references to multiple sub-cultures present in America. Follow Ethan "Gypsy"…

1
198: Brett Kleypas of Huxwrx 1:49:13

3M ago1:49:13

1:49:13

With Suppressor Form 4 wait times measuring in mere days, we are witnessing the further normalization of owning a silencer. Huxwrx brought a fresh take by presenting suppressors as safety equipment. Beyond sound and flash reduction, flow through cans help reduce the amount of gasses in the shooter's face. Brett Kleypas joins the show to talk about …

1
EP. 390: George Galdorisi on How to Excel at Writing 29:41

3M ago29:41

29:41

Bill Hamblet talks with Retired Navy Captain George Galdorisi about his writing career, his latest book, and tips for aspiring writers.By U.S. Naval Institute

1
EP. 389: Littoral Combat Ships: How the Navy is Employing Them 43:16

3M ago43:16

43:16

Bill Hamblet talks with Rear Admiral Ted LeClair, Deputy Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Director, Task Force Littoral Combat Ship; Captain Marc Crawford, Commander, LCS Squadron One; and Captain Mark Haney, Commander, LCS Squadron Two, about the current LCS program and plans for the future.…

1
EP. 388: USNI News Update 28:35

3M ago28:35

28:35

Sam LaGrone and Bill Hamblet discuss the latest news from the Sea Services, and the new member-exclusive news offering from USNI News.By U.S. Naval Institute

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197: Open Carry vs Concealed Carry, A False Dichotomy 29:25

3M ago29:25

29:25

Few debates within gun culture draw more ire and passion than whether a person should or should not open carry in public. The arguments back and forth, tribal and otherwise, rarely produce the satisfaction of solid victory, but why? In this episode we look at the rhetoric and logic behind two of the loudest arguments, one for each side, and see whe…

1
196: Stolen Valor, School Shootings, and Inverse Proportionality 25:21

3M ago25:21

25:21

Although not a hard and fast rule, a heuristic can be applied to both stolen valor claims, and individual violence. Stolen Valor, when a person claims to have held a position in the military that they never achieved, comes in a few different forms. However, in Gun Culture large cases often explode into a witch hunt for similar offenders. The amount…

1
Complimentary Partnerships Drive Advocacy Support for Patients and Families 33:38

4M ago33:38

33:38

Running a medical association comes with many challenges. Today’s guest confronts these challenges head on while leading this community with advocacy in an ever-changing world. "The voices of those affected by cleft and craniofacial conditions are really the strongest in the room, without a doubt." - Adam Levy, CAE ABOUT the GUEST Adam Levy is the …

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195: Colonize, Contradict, Condemn / Non-Citizens with Guns 28:27

3M ago28:27

28:27

Two events in recent history share a common thread. The White House loudly declares the 31st of March to be the Transgender Day of Visibility, and on Easter nonetheless. Not long before, an Obama appointed Judge adheres to the Second Amendment, but for a man who entered the United States Illegally. What do these two events have in common? Strategy.…

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194: Marcus Singletary on Launching Community Days 1:41:44

4M ago1:41:44

1:41:44

In this conversation with Marcus Singletary of Cloaked Entry Co, we start with inconsistencies in the culture when it comes to Chinese Optics and using your job as an excuse to act immorally. The scathing first half is contrasted by a conversation about community days, with Marcus providing an after-action review of their most recent community even…

1
193: Reviewing The Warrior Poet Way 58:36

4M ago58:36

58:36

John Lovell, former Ranger and founder of the Warrior Poet Society has produced a book, but is it any good? After reading The Warrior Poet Way, some arguments fall flat, where others stick the landing with effective writing and a strong thesis. John Lovell is no philosopher, or at least that's what a reader might take from his chapter on philosophy…

1
EP. 387: From Yeomanettes to Fighter Jets 50:19

4M ago50:19

50:19

Naval History Editor-in-Chief Eric Mills interviews Retired Navy Commander Randy Goguen on her book, "From Yeomanettes to Fighter Jets: A Century of Women in the U.S. Navy," from the Naval Institute Press.By U.S. Naval Institute

1
192: PSA SABRE-10 Commentary 27:55

4M ago27:55

27:55

Calling it a review wouldn't be sufficient, and besides, there's plenty of places to go for that, some of which I may have even had a hand in. The SABRE-10 by Palmetto State Armory deserves recognition for presenting itself as two very different concepts, pulling each of with relative success. The first for a Sub-$2000 rifle, you get quite a bit. F…

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