Best Veterans Breakfast Club Podcasts (2024)

1
WWII Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart 1:42:08

2d ago1:42:08

1:42:08

WWII P-51 Pilot and Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart shares his story with us on Greatest Generation Live. Stewart successfully completed 43 missions during World War II and is one of only four Tuskegee Airmen to have earned three aerial victories in a single day of combat. When the war in Europe ended, Stewart and his comrades expected to go to the P…

1
My Father, Marine 1:29:15

2d ago1:29:15

1:29:15

Brian Ahearn is the son of a Vietnam Marine veteran and author of a memoir, His Story, My Story, Our Story, a heartrending tale that illuminates the stark realities of war, from the battlegrounds of Vietnam to the emotional frontlines at home. Following a Marine veteran, the narrative intricately unravels his grapple with PTSD and the profound ripp…

1
WWII B-24 Pilot John Homan 1:29:03

5d ago1:29:03

1:29:03

Guest John Homan was a B-24 pilot in World War II. He recently published his memoirs, "Into the Cold Blue: My World War II Journeys with the Mighty Eighth Air Force" with Professor Jared Frederick, who also joins us. Into the Cold Blue is a riveting account of the air war over Europe, when hell was four miles above the earth. A born daredevil, John…

1
The Bloody 100th Bomb Group in World War II 1:27:07

6d ago1:27:07

1:27:07

Glenn Flickinger leads another conversation about Masters of the Air, this time with children and grandchildren of the Apple TV+ series’ main characters. Each is an expert on the 100th Bomb Group, and each will share their family members’ stories and their thoughts on the series. Rebecca Crosby Hutchinson, daughter of Navigator Harry Crosby, Sam Ro…

1
Army Helicopter Pilots Randy & Jackie Kluj 1:25:21

8d ago1:25:21

1:25:21

We welcome husband and wife duo, Randy and Jackie Kluj, who share their extraordinary journeys from Army helicopter cockpits to their work with Creek and Timber Legacy nonprofit. The Klujs bring a unique perspective on service, resilience, and the healing power of nature. Randy Kluj, a native of northern Maine, grew up with a profound love for the …

1
POW Spies at Stalag Luft III in World War II 1:29:05

9d ago1:29:05

1:29:05

Jim Keeffe and Carol Godwin join Glenn to share the history of Stalag Luft III. On the 8th of March 1944, during a bombing mission to Berlin, 19-year-old B-24 pilot James Keeffe was shot down over Holland, catapulting him into a world squeezed colorless by the ever-tightening fist of Nazi occupation. Moving from safe house to safe house with the he…

1
How Winston Churchill Waged War with Allen Packwood 1:02:04

13d ago1:02:04

1:02:04

Glenn welcomes distinguished historian Allen Packwood, director of the Churchill Archives in Cambridge to discuss Winston Churchill’s wartime leadership. Our travel “Masters of the Air” tour to England in September 2024 will include a presentation by Allen Packwood at Churchill College in Cambridge. Packwood’s book, “How Churchill Waged War,” delve…

1
Veterans Open Conversation 1:42:01

16d ago1:42:01

1:42:01

VBC Scuttlebutt is a virtual watering hole where camaraderie and connection flow as freely as laughter and shared stories. Join us to swap stories, good and bad, at home and overseas, old and new. At the VBC, veterans from every era and branch are drawn together by the warm glow of shared purpose. The stories bridge the gap and the years with veter…

1
Sons of Lt. Col. Everett Blakely on “Masters of the Air” 1:28:39

19d ago1:28:39

1:28:39

Everett Ernest Blakely was a highly decorated B-17 pilot with the “Bloody Hundredth” Bombardment Group of the 8th Air Force in Europe. In the Apple TV mini-series, “Masters of the Air“, is David Shields plays the role of Blakely. Tonight, we have his two sons, David and Jim, to discuss what they think of the series and to tell us about their father…

1
“Masters of the Air” Creator and Writer John Orloff 1:31:33

22d ago1:31:33

1:31:33

Writer John Orloff joins Glenn Flickinger to discuss how he brought “Masters of the Air” to television. Production was a meticulous process marked by deep research, careful storytelling, and an unwavering commitment to historical accuracy. John shares his background, influences, and the challenges he faced in crafting the series. Orloff’s fascinati…

1
American POWs in World War II 1:28:06

23d ago1:28:06

1:28:06

World War II POW and Eighth Air Force expert Marilyn Walton leads an expert conversation about the experiences of prisoners in Germany. The experts also discuss fact and fiction in the depiction of POW camps in the Apple TV mini-series “Masters of the Air.” In addition to Marilyn and the VBC’s own Glenn Flickinger, commenters include: Carolyn Clark…

1
Recovering WWII Normandy MIA Nathan Baskind and Memorial Day Conversation 1:44:58

23d ago1:44:58

1:44:58

We mark Memorial Day with the PFC Lawrence Gordon Foundation's Jed Henry (https://www.pfclawrencegordonfoundati...) who, along with Operation Benjamin (https://www.operationbenjamin.org/nat..., recently recovered the remains of 1st Lt. Nathan Baskind, who was killed in Normandy near Utah Beach in 1944. In June 1944, Baskind was assigned to Company …

1
WWII Ball Turret Gunner and POW Les Schrenk 1:37:45

27d ago1:37:45

1:37:45

Les Schrenk’s story as a World War II ball turret gunner is one of courage, resilience, and unexpected humanity amidst the chaos of war. He was assigned as a ball turret gunner to the 327th Bombardment Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force, stationed at RAF Podington. As a ball turret gunner, Schrenk inadvertently found himself in his posi…

1
Infantry Culture in the Global War on Terror 1:18:22

1M ago1:18:22

1:18:22

Marine Stew Blackwell joins us to talk about his new book, Savages: Infantry Culture in the Global War on Terror. In his debut book, Blackwell explores the complex culture, complete with its own value system, of the American warrior serving during the Global War on Terror, known as “GWOT.” The GWOT began after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the …

1
How to Shoot Down B-17 1:32:49

1M ago1:32:49

1:32:49

Experts Colin Heaton and Joe McCarthy join Glenn Flickinger to discuss the tactics of aerial combat in World War II, focusing especially on how the Luftwaffe attempted to bring down B-17 formations, and the defenses those formations used to get through to their targets. Glenn will also discuss his thoughts on the finale of the Apple TV mini-series …

1
WWII Veteran Yoshio Nakamura, 442nd Regimental Combat Team 1:24:09

1M ago1:24:09

1:24:09

“We had Japanese faces but American hearts.” So says our special guest Yoshio Nakamura, a Japanese-American born in California. Yoshio experienced first-hand the upheaval of World War II when Japanese-Americans were classified as enemy aliens. He endured internment at Tulare Racetrack and Gila River Camp, facing humiliation and loss of freedom. Des…

1
The Ninth Air Force in World War II 1:34:54

1M ago1:34:54

1:34:54

We turn our attention to the Eighth Air Force’s little brother, the Ninth Air Force which, among other things, played a crucial role in supporting the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy. Thomas Hughes, author of "Overlord: General Pete Quesada and the Triumph of Tactical Air Power in World War II" and our own P-47 pilot, Ed Cottrell, who tur…

1
The POW Experience at Stalag Luft III in World War II 1:23:58

1M ago1:23:58

1:23:58

Historian and technical advisor on the TV series Masters of the Air, Colin Heaton returns to the program to talk about the WWII POW experience in Europe. Joining him is fellow technical advisor, Marilyn Walton, an expert on the treatment and lives of American prisoners in Germany. We also welcome Anita Sybesma, historian and President of the 96th B…

1
Nurses in Vietnam and Other Subjects a part of Open Conversation on VBC Scuttlebutt 1:36:13

1M ago1:36:13

1:36:13

We have another fast-moving, free-for-all Open Conversation with the Veterans Breakfast Club. This is National Nurses Week, in honor of Florence Nightengale's birthday on May 12, so we discuss military nursing and ask our nurses about their service. We also ask veterans who were treated--and perhaps lives were saved--by nurses in battle zones aroun…

1
8th Air Force Expert Steve Snyder and B-17 Pilot “Lucky” Luckadoo on “Masters of the Air” 1:28:24

2M ago1:28:24

1:28:24

Steve Snyder is author of "Shot Down: The True Story of Pilot Howard Snyder and the Crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth," a poignant and meticulously researched account that delves into the untold stories of the B-17 Flying Fortress Susan Ruth and its crew during World War II. At the heart of the narrative is Lieutenant Howard Snyder, the author’s father, …

1
Vietnam Veteran Chuck Theusch and the Library of Vietnam Project on The Scuttlebutt 1:22:19

2M ago1:22:19

1:22:19

Vietnam Veteran Chuck Theusch discusses his transformative journey from the battlegrounds of Vietnam to the peaceful mission of building libraries in Vietnam and Cambodia. In 1969-70, Chuck served in the 4/3 Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division in Vietnam. Like many others, he experienced the harsh realities of combat, witnessing the …

1
Author Robert Matzen on “Masters of the Air” with Glenn Flickinger 1:11:09

2M ago1:11:09

1:11:09

What Does Author Robert Matzen Think of “Masters of the Air”? Robert Matzen is author of "Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe," a full account of the Hollywood star’s experiences and an 8th Air Force pilot and commander. In March 1941, a few months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Stewart enlisted as a private in the United States Arm…

1
Historian and USAF Veteran Robert Ehlers on Air Intelligence in World War II on Masters of the Air 1:29:47

2M ago1:29:47

1:29:47

Robert Ehlers on Air Intelligence in the Air War Over Europe Glenn welcomes Dr. Robert Ehlers, who draws on his own experiences as an Air Force Intelligence officer in writing "Targeting the Third Reich: Air Intelligence and the Allied Bombing Campaigns. " "Targeting the Third Reich"examines the pivotal role of air intelligence in the Allied bombin…

1
B-17 Co-Pilot John "Lucky" Luckadoo Discusses "Masters of the Air" 1:25:13

2M ago1:25:13

1:25:13

Glenn welcomes WWII veteran John “Lucky” Luckadoo, who survived 25 missions as a B-17 co-pilot in the 100th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force in World War II. Joining Lucky is his bestselling author biographer Kevin Maurer to talk about the Air War and the “Bloody Hundredth.” P-51 pilot Joe Peterburs and P-47 pilot Ed Cottrell join the conversation. A rare…

1
Five Historians Discuss "Masters of the Air" 1:18:43

2M ago1:18:43

1:18:43

In conjunction with the release of the highly-anticipated Apple TV+ series, Masters of the Air, VBC historian host Glenn Flickinger has created a 10-part livestream series that will recap and provide history discussion around each episode. Each week, Glenn will cover the action and background of the series in conversation with show producers and cr…

1
VBC Open Conversation: Manchu Regiment & Drug Use in Vietnam 1:33:32

2M ago1:33:32

1:33:32

A large group of Veterans gathered to discuss their military service for a Veterans Breakfast Club Open Conversation. We talked about the 4/9 24th Infantry Division "Manchus," the experience of PTSD, and the use of buttons vs. brass zippers on Army fatigues. But the most robust, disturbing, and important aspect of the conversation was a discussion …

1
Chloe Melas on Masters of the Air with Glenn Flickinger 1:11:35

2M ago1:11:35

1:11:35

One of the major characters in Masters of the Air is B-17 navigator Frank Murphy whose granddaughter, Chloe Melas, republished his memoir, The Luck of the Draw. As a navigator on a B-17, Murphy played a crucial role in guiding the aircraft through the treacherous skies over Europe. Navigators were tasked with plotting courses, ensuring precise loca…

1
How to do Military Records Research 1:18:40

3M ago1:18:40

1:18:40

Beth Reuschel is a professional military records researcher who helps families discover their legacies of service. She conducts research for people and also coaches them to do their own detective work. Through her expertise and guidance, dozens of people have tracked down service records of veteran parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, as …

1
German World War II Veteran Wolfram Forster 1:19:56

3M ago1:19:56

1:19:56

German World War II Wehrmacht veteran and US Army veteran Dr. Wolfram Forster joins VBC Happy Hour to tell us about his harrowing route from Hitler’s Germany to the United States. Wolfram shares his story in his memoir, Farewell, Berlin: My World War II Story of Surviving Hitler’s Germany and Embracing Life in America. Wolfram grew up in Berlin dur…

1
What Traveling in Vietnam is Like Today 1:35:43

3M ago1:35:43

1:35:43

In November and December last year, 21 of us—including five veterans who had served in-country during the war—traveled to Vietnam, from Hanoi and Halong Bay in the North to Saigon and the Mekong Delta in the South. Vietnam is a beautiful and often bewildering place, ancient in history and now yoked to American culture and memory. The country presen…

1
"Masters of the Air" Author Donald L. Miller 1:33:06

3M ago1:33:06

1:33:06

We are proud to welcome author Donald L. Miller to VBC Greatest Generation Live with Glenn Flickinger hosting. Donald’s book, Masters of the Air, is the inspiration for the major Apple TV+ series which premiered in January 2024! The riveting history of the American Eighth Air Force in World War II and the young men who flew the bombers that helped …

1
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus 1:01:33

3M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

Ray Mabus served as the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy, the longest to serve as leader of the Navy and Marine Corps since World War I. Secretary Mabus is a Navy veteran himself, having served two years in the Navy as a surface warfare officer from 1970 to 1972 aboard the cruiser USS Little Rock (CLG-4), achieving the rank of Lieutenant Ju…

1
The Tragic Failure of the M-16 in Vietnam 1:33:39

3M ago1:33:39

1:33:39

Author and Vietnam veteran Bob Orkand discusses what he calls the “tragic failure” of the M16 rifle in Vietnam, a story captured in his book, Misfire. The M16 rifle in the Vietnam War was marred by a series of critical problems that severely undermined its effectiveness and tarnished its reputation among soldiers. Initially introduced as a replacem…

1
War Movie – The American Battle in Cinema 58:43

4M ago58:43

58:43

War Movie is a five-part documentary series that examines not only the history of war in American cinema but how this medium has shaped our country's perspective on conflict, foreign policy, race, masculinity, and national identity. Cinematic depictions of military conflict have been common since the first crank of a shutter. From early films like …

1
Lioness The Origin Story Ep. 12 1:33:48

4M ago1:33:48

1:33:48

*This episode of Lioness The Origin Story was recorded live on Zoom during a VBC Monday night veteran's storytelling program. The VBC celebrates Women’s History Month with writer, filmmaker and VBC member Daria Sommers hosting a conversation with three remarkable veterans and leaders. Retired USAF Colonel Lorry Fenner, Director of Government Relati…

1
Dogs For Our Brave 1:04:16

4M ago1:04:16

1:04:16

Dogs for Our Brave’s mission is to provide professionally trained service dogs at no cost to veterans who have suffered debilitating injury or illness while in service to our country. Their goal is to use rescue dogs at every opportunity, thus saving two lives at once. In order to fully realize their mission without adding financial burden, they al…

1
Author and Poet Victoria Kelly 54:18

4M ago54:18

54:18

Victoria Kelly is the author of Homefront, Mrs. Houdini, and When the Men Go Off to War. Victoria graduated Summa Cum Laude from Harvard University. She received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and her M.Phil. in Creative Writing from Trinity College Dublin, where she was a U.S. Mitchell Scholar. Her fiction and …

1
Veteran and Social Anthropologist - Charles Warner III 1:15:56

4M ago1:15:56

1:15:56

Charles Warner is a veteran and social anthropologist studying at the University of Leuven, Belgium. His research interests primarily revolve around war veterans (a.k.a. the emerging field of “Veterans Studies”), strategic peacebuilding, and post-conflict dialogue/resolution in Southeast Europe. Within this research, he incorporates or centers visu…

1
US Armed Forces Chess Championship 1:02:59

5M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

This week on The Scuttlebutt we talk with the Chair of the Military Chess Committee and Navy veteran, Rob Getty about the upcoming 65th Annual US Armed Forces Chess Championship. Rob talks about his service, how chess launched his military career, beginner tips, and lessons learned. https://www.facebook.com/usafochess/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki…

1
Lioness The Origin Story Ep. 11 1:27:46

5M ago1:27:46

1:27:46

In this episode, we visit with two very special guests: retired Army Colonel Kate Guttormsen and Army Colonel Anastasia Breslow-Kynaston. The highest ranking women in the original Team Lioness group (Ramadi 2003-4), both were captains at the time making them the perfect guests for a look back at the Lioness experience. We discuss what it was like t…

1
What Happened to Japanese Americans During WWII 1:07:21

5M ago1:07:21

1:07:21

Dr. Mitchell T. Maki is the President and CEO of the Go For Broke National Education Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy and lessons of the Nisei (a person born in the US whose parents were immigrants from Japan) World War II veterans. The mission of GO FOR BROKE is to educate and inspire character and equality thro…

1
History and Stories of the Challenge Coin 44:44

5M ago44:44

44:44

Have you ever received a challenge coin and thought about its history? Who started this tradition? What is the etiquette of keeping them on hand? How are they made? Who designs them? The Scuttlebutt attempts to answer these questions and more with Vietnam Navy Veteran Donn Nemchick and longtime VBC member Henry Schoepke. We dive into the history an…

1
Veteran Al Smith talks about the Military & Veterans group Braver Angels 58:16

5M ago58:16

58:16

Al Smith was an Infantry Platoon Officer during the Vietnam War. He believes that his military service taught him how to work well with people from all backgrounds regardless of race, gender, or political beliefs. Today, he is a member of the Military & Veterans Group within the organization Braver Angels. The MV Group's mission is to bring togethe…

1
Navy SEAL Veteran Rick Kaiser Talks Frogman Stories and the Navy SEAL Museum 58:46

6M ago58:46

58:46

Joining me on The Scuttlebutt this week to kick off our ninth season is Navy SEAL Veteran Rick Kaiser. Born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Rick Kaiser joined the U.S. Navy at age 17. He attended Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUD/S) training Class 109 in Coronado, CA. Rick was assigned to SEAL Team TWO in Little Creek, VA in 1980. He served …

1
Emily Bleeker newest historical fiction book When We Were Enemies 49:48

6M ago49:48

49:48

Emily Bleeker is the best-selling author of seven novels. Combined, her books have reached over 2 million readers. She is a two-time Whitney Award finalist, a Wall Street Journal bestseller, Amazon charts bestseller and was recently listed as one of the top 100 Kindle authors “of all time.” Emily lives in the northern suburbs of Chicago with her fo…

1
Lioness The Origin Story Ep. 10 1:12:18

7M ago1:12:18

1:12:18

With 28 years of service behind her, Army Colonel Ellen Haring, a West Point graduate, realized she’d hit the brass ceiling. As a woman, she’d been excluded from combat arms specialties, a career requirement to reach the military’s senior ranks. Then, in 2011, she read about The Molly Pitcher project. Led by Professor Anne Coughlin at University of…

1
Pat D’Amico and the Importance of Strong Leadership 56:37

7M ago56:37

56:37

Pat D’Amico, is a Corporate Adviser to Fortune 500 Executives and the CEO of About-Face Development, LLC. From the explosive front lines of the battlefield to the high-stakes world of Fortune 500 companies, Pat D'Amico has mastered the art of leadership under fire. His story begins as a mere teenager, enlisting in the U.S. Army and, against all odd…

1
Lioness The Origin Story Ep. 9 1:01:09

7M ago1:01:09

1:01:09

Our guest today is retired USMC Sgt. Major Raquel Painter whose extraordinary nearly 27 year career landed her at some of the most pivotal moments in Marine Corps history. She has the rare distinction of serving as both an FET (Brigade Headquarters Female Engagement Team Leader) during her 2009 deployment to Afghanistan and as a Lioness during her …

1
WW2TV with Paul Woodadge 1:16:40

7M ago1:16:40

1:16:40

Paul Woodadge is a battlefield guide, historian, and YouTuber. He hosts the popular YouTube channel WW2TV which has nearly 900 videos. With 59,000 subscribers, he is one of YouTubes most popular historians. Growing up in Great Britain with a grandfather who was proud to discuss his time in service, Paul developed a passion for history. Eventually s…

1
What the Taliban Told Me Author Ian Fritz 1:03:45

8M ago1:03:45

1:03:45

When Ian Fritz joined the Air Force at eighteen, he did so out of necessity. He hadn’t been accepted into college thanks to an indifferent high school career. He’d too often slept through his classes as he worked long hours at a Chinese restaurant to help pay the bills for his trailer-dwelling family in Lake City, Florida. But the Air Force recogni…

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