Final episode of Military Matters. Its been an amazing couple of years and I can't thank you enough, the listener, for your support and listernship. Hopefully we'll meet again! Rod out. ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart R...
Sep 28, 2023•9 min
You've probably heard the term "quantum" now at some point in your life from the dizzying numbers of film, television, and podcasts describing worm holes, multi-verses, and time travel. But there is REAL work happening right now at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that is set to change the way we live. This isn't one of those 50 years from now deals, its happening now! Quantum living could be knocking at your front door sooner than you think! ______ This episode is brought to you by...
Sep 19, 2023•38 min•Season 7Ep. 11
Rod Rodriguez explores the aftermath of Vanessa Guillen's murder, such as the legal changes to a commander's involvement in sexual assault/harrassment investigations, the Fort Hood independent report, and "cover up" culture in the military. Did anything really change? ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m....
Sep 12, 2023•14 min
In light of recent developments in the Vanessa Guillén case, we're revisiting our Season 2 episode. Host Rod Rodriguez talks with Natalie Khawam , the lawyer for Vanessa Guillén’s family, and Stars and Stripes reporter Rose Thayer , who had been covering the case since its start. We discover how Guillén’s family first suspected something was wrong the very day she disappeared and how their first push for help the following day included an interaction with her killer. We also discuss how the more...
Sep 05, 2023•43 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Rod Rodriguez talks bidding farewell to Jack Murphy, the end of the season, and potentially the end of the show! ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps....
Aug 29, 2023•11 min
As we wrap up this season of Military Matters we bid a fond farewell to my co-host Jack Murphy. In this episode I sit down with Jack and talk about his career in Special Operations, his journey into journalism, and what's next for Jack Murphy and his podcast the Team House. ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at ...
Aug 22, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss last week's interview with Dr. Paul Scharre about the world of defense and artificial intelligence. We also discuss Jack Murphy's foray into showing civilians the SOF side of life as well as our thoughts on AI on the battlefield. All that and more on this Fast Take. ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear M...
Aug 15, 2023•32 min
Artificial intelligence is now a tool millions of people are using every day. What does this mean for not only our military but for the militaries of our adversaries and allies? Dr. Paul Scharre, former U.S. Army recon Ranger and now the executive vice president and director of studies at CNAS, talks about his experience with AI, where the military stands on the cutting edge, and what the REAL risks are when using AI. All that and more on this episode of Military Matters! ______ This episode is ...
Aug 08, 2023•43 min
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy talk about last week's episode with the folks at Task Force Dagger. We talk charities, PTSD treatment, and you can listen to Rod get 'mythbusted' by Jack in real time! All that and more on this Fast Take! Also, check out this interview with Task Force Dagger founder Stephen Thompson from USSOCOM's official podcast SOFcast! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s4-e6-mark-stephens-retired-smu-operator-and-chairman/id1541155036?i=1000588132887 ______ This episode is b...
Aug 01, 2023•18 min
Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation provides assistance to wounded, ill or injured U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) members and their families. They respond to urgent needs, conduct rehabilitative adaptive events (RAE) and provide next-generation health solutions for issues facing our service members. We talk with Director of Operations, Jessica Houlihan and Marketing/Fundraising Director Courtney Snyder about the work Task Force Dagger is doing with PTSD, stellate ganglion ...
Jul 25, 2023•35 min•Season 7Ep. 9
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss last week's episode on the CBS News coverage of veterans seeking discharge upgrades from the "don't ask, don't tell" era. They talk military attitudes toward LGBTQ+ service members, witch hunts, agendas and what the DADT era did to the modern military. All that and more on this Fast Take! ___________ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more inf...
Jul 18, 2023•29 min
CBS Chief Investigative Correspondent Jim Axelrod and his CBS Producer Jessica Kegu have been covering the story of veterans who were separated from service with dishonorable discharges during the 'don’t ask, don’t tell era' and are now fighting to have the character of their discharges changed. A dishonorable discharge carries with it an unwavering stigma that has cost those veterans jobs, benefits, and some their lives. Is it time to fix what some call a terrible injustice? Links to CBS storie...
Jul 11, 2023•48 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy talk about last week's interview with author Don Bentley, the joy of seeing good people accomplish great things, Jack asserts he's ALSO a writer, and Rod laments he hasn't written a damn thing. All that and more on this Fast Take! ___________ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET...
Jul 04, 2023•22 min
Don Bentley is the bestselling author of the Matt Drake series and the man behind the two latest Jack Ryan Jr. books. Like the protagonist from one of his own works, Bentley has lived a pretty interesting life having spent a decade as an Apache pilot, serving as an FBI special agent focusing on foreign intelligence and counterintelligence, then as a SWAT team member, and now he’s not only writing about his own original characters but he’s also charged with shaping parts of the Tom Clancy univers...
Jun 27, 2023•48 min•Season 7Ep. 6
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss last week's interviews with NPR's Graham Smith and Tom Bowman. It all comes down to why do government offficials and military leaders think a cover-up is ever a good idea? Listen to "Taking Cover" today, https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510368/taking-cover ___________ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information....
Jun 20, 2023•17 min
Was there a cover-up of the worst Marine-on-Marine friendly fire incident in modern history? We're talking with NPR investigations senior producer Graham Smith and NPR Pentagon reporter Tom Bowman about their podcast "Taking Cover," which delves into the story of the truth behind the deaths of Marines in Fallujah, the families seeking justice, and just how far some people went to hide the truth. Listen to "Taking Cover" today, https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510368/taking-cover ___________ This epi...
Jun 13, 2023•54 min•Season 7Ep. 4
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy talk about Jack's interview with Dr. Daniel Green and his book "Front Toward Enemy: War, Veterans, and the Homefront." ___________ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information.
Jun 06, 2023•28 min
With over 2 million post 9/11 veterans in America, the voice of this generation of vets is getting louder and more pronounced in television, film, theater, and in literature. What does this all mean for those vets transitioning back to a society they don't feel understands them? How do they make peace with wars that never really ended? Jack Murphy talks with Dr. Daniel Green about his book "Front Toward Enemy: War, Veterans, and the Homefront". This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Tro...
May 30, 2023•54 min•Season 7Ep. 3
Military Matters hosts Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss Jack's interview with Dr. David Walton, the trauma of the Sand Man, VC bros at SOF Week, and what's coming up next week! This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9-11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information.
May 25, 2023•34 min
Jack Murphy talks with Dr. David Walton, retired US Army Green Beret, about his new book " Ruck Up or Shut Up: The Comprehensive Guide to Special Forces Assessment and Selection ." Walton and Jack discuss what it takes to get through the rigorous assessment and selection process, some Green Beret history, and why you shouldn't spend thousands of dollars on "prep courses." You can find Walton's book on Amazon or follow the link above. This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonp...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 7Ep. 2
It's the first Fast Take of the new season! Jack and I talk about my discussion with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, his pespective on tech and defense, and next week's episode! This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9-11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information.
May 09, 2023•23 min
We're kicking off this new season of Military Matters with a conversation with the co-author of "Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military," Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. We discuss the intersection between science and war, why we're racing to the moon once again except this time against China, and whether humanity has learned anything about exploring and colonizing as we venture past our own solar system. This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a n...
May 02, 2023•47 min•Season 7Ep. 1
While we're in pre-prodction for next season we're re-releasing episode from our archive, in case you missed its (ICYMI). This week we're revisiting the Bowe Bergdahl story. Thirteen years ago Army infantryman Bowe Berghdal walked off of Observation Post Mest near the town of Yahya Kheyl in the Paktika Province of Afghanistan. He was held captive for almost five years. Jack Murphy talks with Michael Ames, co-author of "American Cipher: Bowe Bergdahl and the U.S. Tragedy in Afghanistan." Is there...
Apr 13, 2023•49 min
Military Matters hosts Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss the two part interview with investigative journalist Seth Harp, new names for old forts, Chinese influence, and we recap this season, which comes to an end. We'll be back in May with a brand new season! Send us your comments, tips, and story ideas to http://linktr.ee/militarymatters or email us directly at militarymatters@stripes.com This is episode is sponsored by Sabio! If you’re considering a career in software engineering, we recom...
Mar 30, 2023•34 min
Jack Murphy continues his conversation with investigative journalist Seth Harp about their shared coverage of the stories that have recently come out of Fort Bragg. In part two, Seth and Jack talk about the fentanyl crises affecting Ft. Bragg soldiers, drug smuggling, and other issues that need to be addressed. This is part 2 of 2. You can follow Seth Harp on Twitter @sethharpesq This is episode is sponsored by Sabio! If you’re considering a career in software engineering, we recommend checking ...
Mar 21, 2023•43 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Jack Murphy talks with investigative journalist Seth Harp about their shared coverage of the stories that have recently come out of Fort Bragg. From human trafficking and drugs to mysterious deaths, these stories reveal a darker side of a fort rich in military legacy and prestige. This is part 1 of 2. You can follow Seth Harp on Twitter @sethharpesq This is episode is sponsored by Sabio! If you’re considering a career in software engineering, we recommend checking out Sabio, a coding boot camp a...
Mar 14, 2023•35 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Military Matters hosts Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss last week's interview with Dr. Richard Meehan, the military's "No Data, No Problem" issue, and Jack shares his thoughts on the the Chinese balloon crises! This is episode is sponsored by Sabio! If you’re considering a career in software engineering, we recommend checking out Sabio, a coding boot camp and developer community that’s trained veterans since 2013. Visit https://sabio.la/MILITARY for more information!...
Mar 02, 2023•17 min
If you think because you don't smoke and you weren't near a burn pit during your deployment that you're safe from dangerous lung diseases, think again. Dr. Richard Meehan is a rheumatologist at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colo., co-director of the Post Deployment Lung Health Center , and a U.S. Navy veteran. Meehan talks with us about hidden dangers in the air you were breathing while deployed and what you need to know about your future health. This a MUST listen for anyone at all concerne...
Feb 21, 2023•34 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Jack Murphy and Rod Rodriguez discuss the two-part story about domestic abuse in the military. They also discuss why sociopaths don't make for good soldiers and how this story isn't about Special Forces but about a military problem as a whole. This is episode is sponsored by Sabio! If you’re considering a career in software engineering, we recommend checking out Sabio, a coding boot camp and developer community that’s trained veterans since 2013. Visit https://sabio.la/MILITARY for more informat...
Feb 14, 2023•36 min
This is Part 2 of the story of Celina, who escaped an abusive marriage to a Special Forces service member. From victims advocates to her ex-husband's chain of command, we listen to the firsthand account of the military's actions and inactions as she struggled to stay safe. *Warning: this episode contains descriptions of domestic violence, cruelty towards children, and animal abuse. Listener discretion is advised.* This is episode is sponsored by Sabio! If you’re considering a career in software ...
Feb 03, 2023•39 min•Season 6Ep. 8
