Best Usa Ret Podcasts (2024)

1
This Army Vet Wants to Fund Your Business 32:58

4h ago32:58

32:58

After leaving the Army in 2010, Tim Hsia wasn’t quite sure what to do next, but he had an itch to become an entrepreneur. His path took him to Stanford University, where he found some inspiration, and now his Context Ventures has poured millions into veteran-led startup companies. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down …

1
107. Hybrid Intelligence: Sustaining Adversary Overmatch with Dr. Billy Barry, LTC Blair Wilcox, & TIM 58:52

5d ago58:52

58:52

[Editor’s Note: Army Mad Scientist continues our series of blog posts and podcasts in the run up to our Game On! Wargaming & The Operational Environment Conference, co-hosted with the Georgetown University Wargaming Society, on 6-7 November 2024 — additional information on this event and the links to the conference agenda and registration site may …

1
Once-Classified Con Artists Receive the Spotlight 41:26

7d ago41:26

41:26

Inflatable tanks. Phony uniforms. Fake radio traffic. In early 1944, the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the “Ghost Army,” was founded, and its ragtag collection of artists, Soldiers and engineers oversaw almost two-dozen “deception missions” that saved the lives of an estimated 30,000 Soldiers. In March of this year, their work was reco…

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106. Whipping Wargaming Into NATO SHAPE with COL Arnel David 24:44

13d ago24:44

24:44

[Editor’s Note: Army Mad Scientist continues our series of blog posts and podcasts in the run up to our Game On! Wargaming & The Operational Environment Conference, co-hosted with the Georgetown University Wargaming Society, on 6-7 November 2024 — additional information on this event and the link to our registration site may be found at the end of …

1
A Memorial Day Miracle at “The Wall” 38:42

1M ago38:42

38:42

On Mother’s Day, 1968, Army Medic SPC Allen Hoe watched 18 of his friends die in battle during the Vietnam War. In the five decades since then, he has devoted his life to helping the families of those fallen Soldiers and the Army community. And it was at a 2005 Memorial Day event in Washington that he met a nurse who returned the favor by giving Al…

1
105. Taking the Golf Out of Gaming with Sebastian Bae 50:41

1M ago50:41

50:41

[Editor’s Note: Army Mad Scientist continues our series of blog posts and podcasts in the run up to our Game On! Wargaming & The Operational Environment Conference, co-hosted with the Georgetown University Wargaming Society, on 6-7 November 2024 — additional information on this event and the link to our registration site may be found at the end of …

1
Finding Strength Through Tragedy: The Gold Star Mothers’ Story 47:31

2M ago47:31

47:31

Almost 100 years ago, a mother grieving the loss of her son in battle brought together other mothers who were coping with similar losses; in the process, she started American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. Over the past century, the organization has grown and continues to aid mothers—and families—through the grieving process, inspiring its members to cont…

1
104. Achieving Victory & Ensuring Civilian Safety in Conflict Zones with Andrew Olson 31:11

2M ago31:11

31:11

[Editor’s Note: Army Mad Scientist first introduced Andrew Olson to our community of action with his insightful submission to our Calling All Wargamers crowdsourcing effort entitled Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) Considerations in Wargaming LSCO. In today’s episode of The Convergence podcast, we sit down with Mr. Olson to learn more a…

1
Saving Lives After Hurricanes and Political Coups 36:50

2M ago36:50

36:50

When he was a young boy growing up in Puerto Rico, two relatives of Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez inspired him to enter the field of medicine. And an Army program led him to a 45-plus-year career saving lives, overseeing global medical innovation and preventing outbreaks, all culminating in his current position as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for…

1
103. On the Ground and In the Air in Ukraine with Wolfgang Hagarty 29:41

2M ago29:41

29:41

“I don’t think America, or the West in general, is prepared in any sort of way to fight a static war like we’re seeing over there in Ukraine.” [Editor’s Note: One of the twelve key conditions driving the Operational Environment (OE) in the next ten years is its increased lethality. According to the TRADOC G-2‘s recently published The Operational En…

1
Is the Pen Mightier Than the Tank? 38:34

2M ago38:34

38:34

One of the most important elements of any large organization is to ensure free and clear communication between all levels and people. In the 1930s, the U.S. Army recognized this and relaunched Infantry Journal, which many attribute to helping craft tactics and technologies leading into World War II. Ninety years later and with new technologies and …

1
102. War, Inc: The Private Sector in Contemporary Conflict with LTC Kristine Hinds 20:50

3M ago20:50

20:50

[Editor’s Note: The Mad Scientist Laboratory featured LTC Kristine M. Hinds‘ assessment of private sector involvement in future conflicts in “Sixth Domain” – Private Sector Involvement in Future Conflicts last June. While some Army purists have taken exception to the Atlantic Council Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security‘s use of the term “Six…

1
How the U.S. Army Trains Olympic Athletes 27:45

3M ago27:45

27:45

In Paris this month, SSG Leonard Korir competed in the challenging Men’s Marathon event at the 2024 Olympics. He completed the August 10th race with a time of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 45 seconds. Also fortunate to take part in the 2016 event in the 10,000-meter category, this year’s Olympic qualification is the culmination of an impressive career th…

1
101. Precursor to Victory: Understanding the Operational Environment with Mr. Ian Sullivan 37:30

3M ago37:30

37:30

[Editor’s Note: Army Mad Scientist is pleased to publish its 500th post! Since its inception on 09 November 2017, the Mad Scientist Laboratory has continuously sought to explore the Operational Environment (OE) and the changing character of warfare on behalf of the U.S. Army. Given this enduring mission, it’s fitting that this milestone post featur…

1
How the Army Got Its Own “Bone Marrow Guy” 29:10

3M ago29:10

29:10

In the summer of 2021, SPC Christian Sutton reluctantly attended a punk rock concert and was intrigued by a bone marrow registration table there. Inspired, he created Operation Ring the Bell, a series of donor drive events that has taken place at multiple Army bases and led to thousands of new possible bone marrow donors—and saved lives. Hosts LTG …

1
100. The Dictator's Dream: A Conversation with COL John Antal (USA-Ret.) 52:41

4M ago52:41

52:41

[Editor’s Note: Last week’s Mad Scientist Laboratory blog post featured a timely “what if?” nightmare scenario by COL John Antal (USA-Ret.), set in a not-too-distant-future — imagining an Operational Environment where today’s National Defense Strategy threat members, colluding as a coalition of autocracies, launched simultaneous surprise strikes ag…

1
From West Point to Stanford to Miss USA 34:05

4M ago34:05

34:05

2LT Alma Cooper will be representing Michigan at the Miss USA Pageant this August, but she’s definitely NOT your traditional contestant. A 2023 graduate of West Point, she is a Knight-Hennessy Scholar currently completing a graduate degree in data-science at Stanford University, focusing on body mass index research that could aid the Army’s recruit…

1
How Lieutenant Dan Continues to Help the Army 35:17

4M ago35:17

35:17

Thirty years ago, audiences around the world were introduced to Forrest Gump and his Army commander, Lieutenant Dan Taylor. For Gary Sinise, who played Lt. Dan, it was not only a major moment in his acting career but also in his relationship with the Army and the military. Since then, he’s raised millions of dollars for veterans, met with Wounded W…

1
Leave No Soldier Behind: Part II 33:20

5M ago33:20

33:20

It’s a simple yet powerful creed: “Leave no Soldier behind.” At the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), every single employee takes this to heart and spends their days trying to find and identify the remains of American Soldiers who have been lost overseas. In this emotional second episode of a two-part series on the DPAA, we speak to researc…

1
Leave No Soldier Behind: Part I 33:31

5M ago33:31

33:31

In September 2021, Medal of Honor recipient Father Emil Kapaun was finally buried near his Kansas home, seventy years after his death in a North Korean POW camp. It took years of research and work to discover and identify his remains, and it was the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) that made it all possible. This group of resear…

1
99. Blending: The Art of Hiding in Plain Sight with LtCol Erik Keim 21:01

5M ago21:01

21:01

[Editor’s Note: Last week’s Mad Scientist Laboratory post featured an assessment by U.S. Army War College student LtCol Erik Keim (USMC) that “militaries will blend with civilian transmissions instead of relying solely on the specific military electromagnetic spectrum by 2030 due to the availability of Software Defined Radios (SDRs) and the proven …

1
“I Lived A Full Life Because of Him”: A Memorial Day Moment 4:20

6M ago4:20

4:20

A teaser for our two-part series on the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency coming out in June.By Assn. of the United States Army

1
How the Army Corps is Leading Baltimore’s Bridge Clean-up Effort 33:33

6M ago33:33

33:33

On March 26th, a cargo ship slammed into and destroyed Baltimore’s Key Bridge, killing six people, and creating unimaginable chaos. One of the key responders to this event has been the Army Corps of Engineers, led by COL Estee Pinchasin; it has devoted all waking hours to clear the federal waters and to aid in the recovery and investigation process…

1
98. The OSINT Odyssey: Unmasking Digital Clues with Mr. Shawn Nilius 28:33

6M ago28:33

28:33

[Editor’s Note: The TRADOC G-2 appreciates the value of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) in informing us about emergent trends across the Operational Environment (OE). For almost two years, analysts within the G-2 ACE collated insights on Russia’s on-going “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine to learn about the contemporary Russian way of war, u…

1
Army, Hip Hop and Entrepreneurship 31:28

6M ago31:28

31:28

In 2020, Army Special Forces veteran and entrepreneur Ruben Ayala realized that a lot of top military-themed retail brands had become politically polarizing. So, he—along with three fellow vets—decided to create Triple Nikel Clothing, a military and hip-hop-inspired line that embraces community and diversity. Four years later, the company is thrivi…

1
97. Threat #49: I Think There's Trouble Brewin' with Dr. James Giordano and Dr. James Canton 1:17:13

6M ago1:17:13

1:17:13

[Editor’s Note: Humanity is entering an era of hyper-innovation as the potential of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Neurocognitive Sciences are harnessed to revolutionize human endeavors. As these exponential convergences of technologies spin ever faster cycles of adaptation and innovation, the quest for dominance and advantage will favor th…

1
The Importance of the Bataan Death March 30:12

7M ago30:12

30:12

As a child, MG (Ret.) Antonio Taguba knew his father had been involved in the Bataan Death March – but it wasn’t until the older man’s dying days that General Taguba learned the full extent of it. That conversation inspired him to play a leading role in shining a spotlight on this dark moment of WWII, eventually leading to veterans of the battle an…

1
96. Calling All Wargamers and Mad Sci Update! 12:06

7M ago12:06

12:06

[Editor’s Note: Crowdsourcing remains an effective tool for harvesting ideas and concepts from a wide array of individuals, helping us to diversify thought and challenge conventional assumptions. Army Mad Scientist seeks to crowdsource the intellect of the Nation (i.e., you — our community of action!) with two concurrent opportunities this Spring. …

1
Sisterhood of the Traveling Gowns 23:41

7M ago23:41

23:41

In 2015, five Army spouses at Fort Bliss decided to organize a dress swap that would provide women with gowns they could wear to functions that were often cost prohibitive, like military balls. That swap turned into a huge event, and now the organization, Operation Deploy Your Dress, has a home in thirteen Army bases in the United States and German…

1
95. African Skies: Space Exploration and National Security Perspectives with Selina Hayes 32:17

8M ago32:17

32:17

“China sits in INDOPACOM, but the playground is Africa.” [Editor’s Note: Regular readers of the Mad Scientist Laboratory will recall that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) reported, “Relatively poor countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia will account for almost all global population growth during the next two decade…

1
Winning A War Against Bipolar Disorder - One General's Story 33:37

8M ago33:37

33:37

MG (Ret.) Gregg Martin had a distinguished career, serving in various deployments and eventually heading the National Defense University. But, over the course of that career, he slowly started to develop manic tendencies, which became more and more pronounced, eventually leading to his forced resignation, staying at a VA psychiatric ward, and recei…

1
94. A surprise Interview With a Mystery Guest 22:36

8M ago22:36

22:36

This is a special off-schedule episode of The Convergence where we talk with a mystery guest, possibly for the last time!By The Army Mad Scientist Initiative

1
93. Insights from the Israel-Hamas War with LTC Kenneth Hardy 36:15

8M ago36:15

36:15

[Editor’s Note: It has almost been a decade since U.S. forces and coalition partners assisted Iraqi government forces in dislodging ISIS fighters from Mosul in what some observers described as the toughest urban battle since World War II. With the Islamic Resistance Movement’s (aka Hamas) October 7, 2023 cross-border terror attacks on Israel and su…

1
From Army Brat to SMA 25:10

8M ago25:10

25:10

After a career undertaking secretive operations in the Special Forces, in August of 2023, SMA Michael Weimer was sworn into his new position and took his turn in the spotlight as Sergeant Major of the Army. What, in the first six months of his term, has been his most difficult assignment? Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey s…

1
92. Know Your Enemy: Army Doctrine Starts with the Threat 56:06

9M ago56:06

56:06

[Editor’s Note: Grizzled readers of the Mad Scientist Laboratory will recall their well-thumbed copies of the forty-year-old FM 100-2 series, The Soviet Army. U.S. Army Soldiers and Leaders from the Cold War-era were expected to know their Soviet adversaries’ Operations and Tactics; Troops, Organization, and Equipment; and Specialized Warfare and R…

1
Is There an Army Doctor in the House? 26:04

9M ago26:04

26:04

LTG Telita Crosland decided at the age of five she was going to be a doctor, and her later studies at West Point became her first official step into the field. Her thirty-year Army career has involved a great number of highlights and appointments, and she now heads the Defense Health Agency (DHA), overseeing the healthcare for almost 10 million cit…

1
What Do Batman and Ruben Rivers Have in Common? 26:46

9M ago26:46

26:46

Comic book writer Chuck Dixon has produced more issues of comic books than any other living author today, most notably telling the stories of superheroes Batman, Robin, The Punisher and John Rambo. But his work on AUSA’s Medal of Honor comic series has allowed him to bring actual historical heroes to life to incredible effect. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Lesl…

1
91. Building Beyond: Preparing the Army for Lift-Off featuring Dr. Olga Bannova 43:09

9M ago43:09

43:09

[Editor’s Note: As longtime readers of the Army’s Mad Scientist Laboratory know, our adversaries are deploying capabilities to fight the U.S. Joint Force through multiple layers of stand-off in all domains – space, cyber, air, sea, and land. Per the Defense Intelligence Agency‘s Challenges to Security in Space 2022: Space Reliance in an Era of Comp…

1
The Man Who Died Six Times—and Then Became a Superbowl Champion 30:54

9M ago30:54

30:54

COL (Ret.) Greg Gadson originally attended West Point to play football, but quickly realized he wanted to be a Soldier for Life, and he was commissioned upon his graduation in 1989. His 25-year military career saw him serve in every major conflict of the past few decades, bringing him to many places, including Kuwait, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Afghanista…

1
90. NeuroNudge: The Science Behind Brain Manipulation with Dr. Guosong Hong 31:02

10M ago31:02

31:02

[Editor’s Note: Regular readers of the Mad Scientist Laboratory are familiar with the potentially disruptive effects of cognitive and neurowarfare. As guest blogger Robert McCreight observed, “Most non-kinetic threats — or the NKT spectrum — consist of silent, largely undetectable technologies capable of inflicting damaging, debilitating, and degra…

1
How a Bus Crash Improved the Lives of Countless Veterans 29:35

10M ago29:35

29:35

While stationed in Germany in 1980, Dr. Rory Cooper was hit by a bus and paralyzed from the waist down. Responding to his condition, he decided he would devote his life to helping veterans and disabled individuals worldwide through the invention of new wheelchair technologies. Host SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey and guest co-host LaSherryn Duncan sit down w…

1
89. Live From D.C., it's Fight Night! (Part Two) 22:41

10M ago22:41

22:41

[Editor’s Note: Regular consumers of Army Mad Scientist content — via this blog site and The Convergence podcast — understand how wargaming can enhance Professional Military Education (PME), hone cognitive warfighting skills, and broaden our understanding of the Operational Environment. Wargaming removes hierarchies and encourages players to attemp…

1
Can Uncle Sam Become a Gen Z Hero? 35:14

10M ago35:14

35:14

Matthew Weiss had a successful business career but wanted more, so he gave it all up to join the Marines. Curious as to why so few of his Gen Z cohorts were doing the same, he did some research for a better understanding and developed it into a book titled, We Don’t Want You, Uncle Sam. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit…

1
Get Inspired by Army Matters 0:58

11M ago0:58

0:58

AUSA's Army Matters podcast amplifies the voices of the Total Army – one story at a time. Join hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey every other Wednesday as they interview the modern chroniclers of the Army experience to discuss inspiring leadership stories, current issues faced by soldiers, and our military families’ journeys…

1
The Creative Minds—and the Experiences—Behind Call of Duty 30:25

11M ago30:25

30:25

Call of Duty is one of the largest ever video game franchises; one of the reasons for its success is its attention to detail—which is thanks to the military veterans behind it. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III creative director, Dave Swenson, and military consultant, Mitch Hal…

1
Games, Esports and the Army Way 27:05

11M ago27:05

27:05

Over the last decade, Esports has grown into a billion-dollar business, with gamers and fans all over the world. Tapping into this popularity is the Army’s Esports Call of Duty team; these Soldiers not only go up against other gamers—they also spread the word in that community about their lives as Soldiers and the benefits of service. Hosts LTG (Re…

1
88. Metamaterial Magic: Demystifying the Science of Cloaking with Dr. Andrea Alù 35:08

12M ago35:08

35:08

[Editor’s Note: As we reported earlier this month, “The Operational Environment is increasingly lethal with the ubiquity of sensors and proliferation of battlefield automation facilitating effective precision and massed strike capabilities. Forces that can be sensed are targeted, and if targeted, are destroyed or rendered inoperable. ” This increas…

1
How Does a Wreath Symbolize Freedom? 30:41

12M ago30:41

30:41

Every December, thousands of volunteers from around the country place wreaths on millions of graves of fallen servicemembers—in cemeteries across the United States—thanking each one individually. This initiative was started by Morrill and Karen Worcester in 1992; from there, it has grown to include an annual event, a radio station, an educational g…

1
No Tall Tales from this Tall Medal of Honor Recipient 38:38

1y ago38:38

38:38

In 1963, LTG (Ret.) Robert F. Foley graduated 497th in a class of 504 students at West Point Academy. Only a few years later, however, he was valiantly saving his battalion’s troops in the middle of the Vietnam jungle. That act of bravery earned him the prestigious Medal of Honor, the first of countless highlights over his 30-plus years in service.…

1
87. Live from D.C., it's Fight Night! (Part One) with the Hon. Mac Thornberry 18:41

1y ago18:41

18:41

[Editor’s Note: Regular consumers of Army Mad Scientist content — via this blog site and The Convergence podcast — will understand how wargaming can enhance Professional Military Education (PME), hone cognitive warfighting skills, and broaden our understanding of the Operational Environment. Wargaming removes hierarchies and encourages players to a…

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