Tracer Burnout

Air Force veteran, host of the Welcome Home podcast, and Director of Culinary Services for Willing Warriors, Mr. Larry Zilliox, joins us in our virtual studio to tell us all about the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run. 

Larry has been with the organization pretty much from the start and knew right away that he wanted to contribute to this organization that is dedicated to helping, not just the service member, but their family and extended family as well. 

But what could he contribute? How about a list of fantastic chefs that gladly volunteer their time an...

Army veteran Mr. Dale Knollinger didn't have many options that appealed to him after graduating high school in a small Ohio town. A persistent recruiter convinced him to try the Army, and life has never been the same. Assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, he deployed to Afghanistan before he was even given a barracks room.

Upon returning stateside, a new chain of command with a new approach shook things up in the unit in order to prepare for a deployment to Iraq. However, a change of mission sent Dale and men of 2 Charlie back to Afghanistan...

The new Executive Director of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation, Mrs. Margaret Britten, joins us to tell us a little bit about herself and some exciting projects that she and the Foundation are working on. Long overdue renovations, upcoming family events, fundraising for projects, and a special bourbon inspired by Iron Mike!

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.

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Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Evan Eldridge, was home sick from school watching the 2003 invasion of Iraq and felt like he was missing out on something that would shape his generation. Not only did that change his immediate plans for college, but it changed his whole life.

Over the next decade, Evan would have jobs in the Corps that he hated and jobs that he loved. He would deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as a little jaunt to Ghana. Many of his goals and ambitions went unrealized, but after meeting his wife, starting a family, and...

The VA's Suicide Data Report was released back in 2012 and was instrumental in raising awareness of the epidemic plaguing service members and veterans, but it's been more than a decade and the issue persists. We're all aware of the problem, but why hasn't anything gotten better? 

We asked the President of America's Warrior Partnership and Air Force veteran, Mr. Jim Lorraine, to return for this Quick Hit so we could get some answers. Jim and AWP have put an exhausting amount of time and energy into trying to help veterans in crisis, so we asked him to s...

Rashon Walker wanted to play college football at Louisiana State University, but when an offer didn't arrive, he chose to serve his country like many other members of his family. Enlisting in the Army as a Logistics Manager, Rashon was given the guidance and mentorship he hadn't received elsewhere. 

His leadership qualities developed, and they would be sorely needed in the years ahead. A last-minute deployment to Poland at the outset of the Russia-Ukraine War, feeling abandoned when the deployment was extended, mental health struggles after coming home, and the ending of a serious relationship would test h...

As a young man, Anthony Bongi had two choices: pursue acting and modeling in New York City or accept a last-minute opportunity to West Point. He chose West Point, and there he began a whirlwind military career that would see him booted from West Point, enlisted in Alaska, deployed as a member of the Air National Guard, and it only gets wilder from there.

Over a decade later, Anthony achieved his dream of being an infantry platoon leader in combat and, despite the twists and turns, he wouldn't have it any other way. From demerits at USMA...

Founder and owner of Vestibular Training Services (VTS), Mrs. Sheila Thelen, joins us for this Tracer Burnout Quick Hit to tell us all about VTS and how she and her team are helping improve the lives of veterans, athletes, and everyday people. 

She tells us all about the vestibular system, how the treatment affects everything from sleep to your sense of humor, and some of the future outlooks for medical possibilities in the vestibular field. 

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.

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After a failed college experiment, David Mueller wasn't happy with where he was in life, so he decided to enlist. Knowing full well there were two wars going on, David wound up as an infantryman in the 3rd Ranger Battalion and never looked back.

For the next 20 years, David threw himself into the profession of arms, deployed to combat zones numerous times, and faced every challenge head-on. From blistering training and multiple setbacks at Ranger School to working as a dog handler and broadening horizons at Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), David's experiences are as vast as...

“When times get hard and people crumble, it shows you who they are.”

Army veteran, public speaker, and author, Mr. Greg Archbold, was headed down a rough path in life until a couple of veterans saw his potential and convinced him to enlist. The desire to improve his life led Greg to a career of more than three decades and from an enlisted medic to a Military Police officer.

He treated POWs during Operation Desert Storm, commanded the only US military prison in Europe, and spent nearly a decade in Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). From...

In this Quick Hit, we chat with Army veteran, actress, nurse, and author, Ms. Mindy Dougherty. Mindy tells us about her book, A Dragon's Voice, helping children learn valuable life lessons as well as learning to read. She also tells us about some of her childhood struggles, why she's unsure of writing a follow-up, and how Dan and Roger may get involved in the audio version!

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.

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“Know a vet? Tell a vet.”


Air Force veteran, Mr. Jim Lorraine, always knew he wanted to serve, but he didn't know exactly how until his mother told him to be a nurse. So that's what Jim did, and he's never looked back. 


As a flight nurse, the Air Force took Jim all over the world: caretaker flights in Europe, combat zones in the Middle East and Africa, and renditions anywhere and everywhere! Jim's drive to serve saved lives, helped generations of veterans win the healthcare battle, established SOCOM's Care Coalition, and so much...

In this episode, Navy veteran Tim Eliopoulos joins us in the virtual studio to tell us about his journey from college dropout to SWAT officer.

The Navy was the beginning of his journey, but certainly not the end, as Tim became a gym manager, a mortgage broker, a government contractor, and a campus cop - then made his way through the law enforcement ranks to achieve his dream of being on a SWAT team. 

Not all of the decisions were easy and not all of them were right, but Tim was determined to leave a p...

Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Joe "Bulldog" Adcox had a lot going on when he came to the studio for a quick chat! He just attended the annual gathering of Leathernecks Motorcycle Club, got married, and is in the middle of a road trip to get together with several Bulldog Essential Fitness (BEF) clients. 

Our second returning guest, Joe tells us about his history with the Leathernecks, the charitable work they do for their communities, and how important they were in helping him transition from the Corps and into "The Wild". He also brings us up to date o...

Just a few months into her retirement, Navy veteran Candace Esquivel joins us to battle her allergies and tell us about her career as a Navy cryptologist (not cryptozoologist). 

Leaving the "freakshow" of Twinsburg, Ohio, to follow her interest in military intelligence, the Navy took Candace across the world to gather intelligence on America's adversaries. She chased new challenges everywhere she went; from the fleet to Special Operations (DEVGRU), from Capitol Hill to Cyber Command, until the only challenge remaining was life after service.

Rock climbing in Oman, the Captain's Mast, shaping policy, confirming Navy s...

Special Forces veteran, Mr. Kevin "Edge" Edgerton, joins us in the virtual studio to tell us a bit about his own personal fitness journey, how his Special Forces experience helped him find his niche, and why 18A Fitness is the place to go if you want to be physically prepared for Army or Air Force Special Operations selection. 

Whether you want to be an operator or you're just getting off the couch, Kevin has a program for you. Bonus: he has "yoga on crack", too!

https://www.18afitness.com/

Theme song by EduardBykovets v...

"That was the first time I saw anti-aircraft artillery getting shot up at us."

With a legendary military family history going back to the Revolution, it's almost as if Air Force veteran, nurse, and writer, Ms. Mary Howe, was genetically predisposed to service. She tells us about choosing enlistment over college, the extensive training pipeline to become an AC-130 gunner, her multiple deployments, and the one mission that convinced her to leave the Air Force.

We also discuss some of the difficulties she faced once back in the civilian sector, finding her nursing niche, reconnecting...

For our third annual Memorial Day episode, Gold Star Mother, Mrs. Christina Kazakavage, joins us in the studio to tell us about her son, Air Force Technical Sergeant Adam Ginnet, who was killed in Afghanistan by an IED. 

We talk about her family’s long history of service, why Adam chose the Air Force and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and the things that he valued most. We also discuss the arduous process of bringing Adam home, the blessings that have come from his passing, Christina's work with the EOD and Gold Star communities, and her passion for rem...

Our guest for this Quick Hit is Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Mark O'Loughlin, who has written a new book on leadership. With decades of leadership experience in both the military and civilian sectors, Mark has five simple rules that any leader at any level in any field can learn and implement to improve their team and themselves. Whether you're a CEO or a junior NCO, Mark's Validated Leadership is a great guide to better, more effective leadership.

https://validatedleadership.com/

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay. 

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Warrior Dad speaks
Old battles echo through smoke
We sit and listen.

Mr. TJ Baird, aka The Warrior Dad, stopped by the Tracer Burnout studio to tell us about his multiple decades in the Army - or at least some of that time. Willing to add another few decades to an already long lineage of service, TJ knew it wasn't going to be in the Navy, and it wasn't going to be as an infantryman. 

From being a Spanish linguist bouncing around South America to lunch time selection interviews and from 16 years of c...

“That’s where I got my callsign, Yoko, because I broke up the band.”

Navy veteran, history podcaster, and YouTuber, Mrs. Jenn Bennie (aka Yoko), joins us in our virtual studio for this episode to tell us about her time as a Navy helicopter pilot. 

From growing up as a military brat to falling in love with aviation and from search and rescue missions to finding new passions in American history and motherhood, Jenn has made history of her own! Plus, Tom Selleck's bodyguards, being neighborly with Penn State legend LaVar Arrington, gymnastics at the Naval A...

Army veteran and veteran filmmaker, Mr. Erik Bernard, joins us from exotic Canada for this Quick Hit. We discuss what got him interested in filmmaking, the events that pushed him to pursue it as a second career, and some of the industry ups and downs that he's learned along the way. Plus diva directors, clueless film students, and so much more!

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.

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“Drugs and nurses, son.”

All he wanted to be when he enlisted was a "hard hat, torch burning diver,” but Navy veteran, Mr. Brenden McMullen, ended up doing everything else instead.

From a short stint in a hospital basement, to 1st Force Recon, to capturing enemy prisoners in Operation Desert Storm, to training disobedient dolphins to find enemy divers; Mr. McMullen's time in the Navy was the adventure he never knew he wanted.

In the Free Fire Area, Dan and Roger debate which fast food restaurant has the best fries and why it's not Mc...

“You’re not gonna make it here.”

Army veteran and host of The Strategic Veteran Podcast, Mr. Adam Peters, swings through the Tracer Burnout studio to tell us all about the highs and lows of a military career cut short by injuries (and possibly malpractice). From growing up in rural Indiana and being rejected by other military branches to multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and from leadership challenges to overcoming his own inner struggles, Mr. Peters’ story of service is exciting and inspiring. Plus AI, Skynet, the van life, and a whole lot more!

In t...

Army Veteran and fellow podcaster, Mr. Leo Bañuelos, joins us in the Tracer Burnout Studio for this Quick Hit - and he brought tequila! He tells us about the training exercise that ended his career prematurely, how he got into podcasting, some of the challenges of being a one-man operation, and why sometimes the only option is to “keep going in wet boots.”

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.

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Our first Korean War veteran, Mr. Bobby Lambert, joins us in-studio to tell us about his experiences in the Forgotten War. 

He tells us about being rejected by the Navy, his mother signing him up for the Army, cold weather training in Japan, and freezing his tail off in Korea. 

From sniper fire to Pork Chop Hill and from checking for booby traps to delayed onset PTSD and dreaming of becoming an engineer, Mr. Lambert has lived his life to the fullest.

In the Free Fire Area, Roger inquires about the greatest living sc...

“I made that decision to live my life in his honor.” 

In this episode, Army veteran and country music star, Mr. Ryan Weaver, joins us in our virtual studio. He tells us how he followed the family tradition of service and following his brothers' example to transition from analyzing intelligence to piloting helicopters. 

He also discusses the upside to getting to see the 'big picture' as a young soldier, getting busted for cheating (but not really cheating) as a Warrant Officer candidate, becoming a two-time Gold Star family, and how he went from small karaoke compet...

In this Quick Hit, Army veteran, Mr. JP Lane, joins us in our virtual studio to tell us about his devastating injuries in Afghanistan, how faith and music helped him recover physically and mentally, and why he doesn't have the voice for country music.

https://www.jpsjourney.com/

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.

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“Marine Corps bootcamp is the funniest place that you are not allowed to laugh.”

Marine Corps veteran, Mr. JP Sircy II, sits down with us in the Tracer Burnout studio to tell us about his impulsivity leading him to follow a family tradition of service. From monthly training as a Reservist to full-time chaos in Fallujah, Iraq, to a surprising exit from the Corps - Mr. Sircy's time in uniform was full of memorable and painful experiences. He wouldn't have it any other way.

In the Free Fire Area, we discuss the one thing we coul...

In this Quick Hit, we are celebrating two years of Tracer Burnout and all of the lessons learned the hard way since we began. There are many of them; from our origin story to embarrassing failures to “Kevin McAllister” trying to rip us off, we cover quite a few things to give the listener a little peek behind the curtain. 

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay. 

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“No flag - no bag.”

*Content Warning: In this episode, we discuss sexual assault, which may be distressing for some. Listener discretion is advised.*

Air Force veteran and artist, Mrs. Yelizaveta “Liz” Taylor, joins us in our virtual studio for this episode to tell us about her service in not one, but two different career paths she had while in service. 

From immigrating from Ukraine to the US, to serving food in the Dining Facility and from transferring service members’ remains with Mortuary Affairs to scrambling fighter jets in Korea, Mrs. Taylor's time in uniform...

Inventor, author, entrepreneur, and Army and law enforcement veteran, Mr. Steven Ferrell, joins us in the virtual studio for our first Quick Hit of 2026! Steven tells us about how his injury led him to an invent a unique piece of fitness equipment (BenchBlokz), start his own business, and continue to invent more fitness related gear. 

He also tells us about the flood of copycats and knock-offs that have hit him since finding success and how that frustration led to him writing his upcoming book, Legion of 22. 

https://benchblokz.com/

Theme song by EduardBykovets vi...

"I was a product of the Cold War." 

Army veteran, Mr. Bob Charles, joins us in-studio for this episode to tell us about his journey. From joining the Army Reserves and mobilizing for Desert Storm, to slinging pizzas and concrete after separation; rejoining after 9/11 and deploying to Iraq, joining the Civil Affairs Corps; golfing with 2-star generals, angry mothers-in-law, and pink soju near the DMZ, Mr. Charles has had quite the ride, and he's happy to share the details.

In the Free Fire Area, Dan and Roger discuss their favorite fictional universes: Star Wars and s...

We're kicking off 2026 with our first Navy SEAL! Mr. Tommy Richardson joins us in studio to tell us about being bullied as kid, following the family tradition of service into the Marine Corps, and getting issued riot gear after the September 11th attacks.

The Corps may have sent him to the Philippines, Iraq, and Haiti, but the fun really started when he decided to become a SEAL. From a busted pelvis in BUDS to many, many trips to Afghanistan to the Home Base program and Divine Savagery, Mr. Richardson's mission isn't even close to...

It's the final episode of 2025! We begin with a little bit of self-reflection, a lot of thanks for our audience and guests, and the obligatory gift exchange. 

Then it's time for another international Christmas journey as Dan leads Roger through the traditions and cuisines that people may encounter if they can't be home for the holidays. 

Afterwards, we return home to relax with a tasting and review of 13 Heroes bourbon and our final thoughts to close out another great year!

https://www.thirteenheroes.com
https://flagsofthefallen.org

Merry Christmas!

...

Mrs. Lisa Kalkes joins us for this Quick Hit to tell us about Veteran Benefits Guide, how they help veterans get the benefits they deserve and how they’re different from so-called “claim sharks”, and a little advice for veterans looking to file their first claim.

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay. 

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“I’m angry at God and so if I can just convince myself I don’t believe in Him, maybe I don’t have to feel this anymore.”

In this episode, we are joined in-studio by Army veteran and pastor, Mr. John Murphy. John tells us about his family's long line of aviators, his mom trying to discourage him from joining the military, some sobering experiences in Afghanistan, his struggles to adjust after coming home, and how a bad training jump prematurely ended his career before it could really begin.

His struggles didn't end after his time i...

It’s a pie-stravaganza and our second annual Thanksgiving Special! In this episode, we talk about the town that canceled the holiday, the woman responsible for everyone's favorite Thanksgiving dish, the best post-banquet libation - plus stabbing parade floats, Roger's pumpkin pie woes, Dan doubles down on cranberry sauce, and so much more!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The theme song for this episode is provided by The Mountain via Pixabay.

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For this Quick Hit, we're talking with Mr. Mike Morgan, the founder of Flags of the Fallen and Thirteen Heroes, about what stirred his passion for veterans and first responders, why the spirits business is fueling his charitable works, and his outrageous belief that you can do great things for others and have fun doing it!

https://flagsofthefallen.org/

https://www.thirteenheroes.com/

Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay. 

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We're back in the Tracer Burnout studio and sit down with Army veteran, Mr. Joe Campbell. He started his career in the National Guard watching over bunkers in the Utah desert and then decided to go active Army so the fun could really begin! 

From Idaho to Germany, to saving lives as a flight medic in combat zones; from surviving a MEDEVAC helicopter crash to never leaving anyone behind; and reuniting with those he saved to being medically retired at the Soldier Recovery Unit; Joe's story is an incredible story of perseverance. 

Special thanks to Pr...