The Great Guns Podcast

On this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, host James Scott sits down with Army veteran, author and researcher Gemma Gardner to talk about identity, medical discharge, transition, mental health and what can happen when the uniform that has defined so much of your adult life is suddenly taken away.

Gemma joined the British Army at just 17 and a half after walking into a careers office almost by chance.

What followed was a 15-year career that gave her education, opportunities, travel, friendships, family and a sense of belonging. She met her husband in the Armed...

On this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, host James Scott sits down with retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Scott Morris to talk about military transition, leadership, networking, resilience and finding purpose after more than two decades in uniform.

For Scott, military service was always somewhere on the horizon.

Raised in a family with a strong tradition of service across the US Armed Forces, he knew from an early age that he wanted to serve his country. What he didn't necessarily know was where that journey would take him.

After initially considering the...

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, host James Scott sits down with former British Army officer Daniel James to talk about transition, identity, leadership, family and what it really takes to build a meaningful life after service.

What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer fits the life you want?

For Daniel, leaving the military wasn't simply about finding another job. It meant questioning what success actually looked like, deciding what mattered most and having the courage to build a completely different life.

Daniel's journey to...

Leaving the military is one of the biggest decisions a serving person will ever make.

After 27 years in the British Army, Royal Signals Warrant Officer David Graham knows exactly what that feels like. At the time of this conversation, he's still serving, just months away from handing in his military ID card and beginning a completely new chapter in civilian life.

Unlike many conversations about transition that come with the benefit of hindsight, this episode captures something different. David is navigating the uncertainty right now. He speaks openly about the doubts, the excitement, the difficult...

Transitioning out of the military can feel daunting, but it doesn't have to be something you face alone.

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James Scott speaks with Andy Wilson, a former British Army officer who served for 23 years before transitioning into the corporate world with BT Defence.

Andy shares his journey from joining the Army as a 16-year-old apprentice with REME, commissioning through the ranks after ten years of service, and building a career centred on leadership, empathy and developing people.

When family life became the priority, Andy made the...

Joining the Army wasn't part of Fern Wise's plan.

As an international netball player, she joined for one reason: to continue playing the sport she loved while getting paid to do it. What followed was eight years in the British Army, representing the Army and Wales in elite sport, instructing new recruits and discovering strengths she never knew she had.

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, Fern shares the highs and lows of military life, from travelling the world through Army sport to navigating injury, leadership and the realities of life beyond the...

Behind every serving person is a family making sacrifices too.

In this special episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James Scott speaks with Lily Shelley, a military child, advocate and member of the Naval Children's Charity Youth Council, about what it's really like growing up in a military family.

Lily's father served in the Royal Marines from 2002 until 2014 and was medically discharged following PTSD related to operational deployments, including Afghanistan. While much of the conversation around military service focuses on those who wear the uniform, Lily shares the often-overlooked perspective of the children growing up...

Leaving the military can be daunting, especially when you've spent more than two decades in uniform. For Steven Mullan, however, transition wasn't something that happened overnight—it was something he had been preparing for years.

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, Steven shares his journey from joining the Army at 23, serving 24 years in the Royal Artillery, and eventually stepping into civilian life to build his own health and safety consultancy.

Steven talks openly about the pressures of military service, the leadership challenges that shaped him, and the moment he realised it was time to...

Leaving the Armed Forces is one of the biggest decisions anyone in service will make, yet many people approach it without fully understanding their value, their options, or the financial foundations they have already built.

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James Scott sits down with Major General Neil Marshall OBE, Chief Executive of the Forces Pension Society, to discuss leadership, transition, and the importance of planning for life beyond military service.

Neil shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the Scottish Highlands, where a passion for skiing first sparked his interest...

Leaving the military can feel like stepping into the unknown, but for former Royal Marine medic Ryan Watters, it was also the beginning of a new mission.

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, Ryan shares his journey from a young man with no military background to earning the coveted Green Beret and serving as a Royal Marine medic. He reflects on the challenges of training, the opportunities that military life provided, and the experiences that shaped him along the way.

Ryan also opens up about one of the biggest decisions many service leavers...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with former West Midlands Police officer Ian Cook, founder of Blue Light Lifestyle, to talk openly about policing, wellbeing and the realities of life behind the badge.

After serving for 18 years across neighbourhood policing, response teams and traffic, Ian shares the highs and lows of a career dedicated to public service — from chasing fast cars and thriving in specialist teams to witnessing burnout, broken systems and a culture that too often leaves people suffering in silence.

This is an honest conversation about identity, transition an...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with John Dailey, a US Marine veteran with over 20 years’ service, including time in US Special Operations Command and as part of the team that helped build the Marine Raiders from the ground up.

John shares his journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a sniper and leader in one of the world’s most elite military environments. But this conversation goes far beyond war stories.

It dives into something many don’t prepare for:

What happens when the uniform comes off.

F...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Fair Metcalfe — Army veteran, former Combat Medic, and now PhD researcher — for a powerful and fun conversation that spans military service, transition, education, and breaking down barriers around learning differences.

Fair shares her journey from joining the Army at just 16, serving on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, through to leaving service and stepping into academia — a transition that brought its own challenges and growth.

This is a conversation that goes beyond transition — it’s about confidence, communication, and ensuring people aren’t held back by some...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Symon Smith, an Army veteran with 14 years’ service, to unpack the realities of transition — from planning your exit to navigating life on the outside.

Symon shares a refreshingly honest take on his journey — not driven by a lifelong ambition to serve, but by a decision made in the moment when faced with an alternative path.

But where this episode really stands out is in its exploration of dyslexia in the military — a topic rarely spoken about openly.

Symon shares his own experien...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Jenny Roberts, RAF veteran turned coach, for a conversation about transition, identity, and stepping into a new chapter with confidence.

Jenny shares her journey from life in the RAF to building her own coaching business, and the realities that come with leaving a structured environment and stepping into the unknown.

This episode explores the internal side of transition — the mindset shifts, self-doubt, and growth that often go unseen.

Jenny brings honesty, clarity, and practical insight into what it really takes to mo...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Erika Morris for a powerful and honest conversation about identity, voice, and stepping into life after service.

Erika shares her journey of navigating transition, the challenges of being heard, and the importance of owning your story — even when it feels uncomfortable.

This episode cuts straight to the heart of what many veterans experience but don’t always say out loud:

What comes through loud and clear is this — your voice matter...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Jonny Ball — Army veteran, former Intelligence Corps NCO, Afghanistan veteran, Invictus Games competitor, and leading voice in the UK veteran community.

Jonny’s story isn’t a straight line.

From joining the Army Cadet Force at 13, serving as an infantry soldier during the closing phase of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, to later deploying to Afghanistan as a Pashto linguist, service has always been part of his DNA.

But the path wasn’t always smooth.

Rejected from commissioning, navigating civilian...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James speaks with Adam Walker, a retired U.S. Marine with 25 years of service, combat veteran of Iraq, Purple Heart recipient, and now published writer.

Adam shares his journey from growing up in rural North Carolina, joining the Marines at 17, and serving across multiple deployments — including intense tours in Iraq where he was wounded in combat.

But this conversation goes far beyond war stories.

Adam opens up about:

In this deeply personal episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Rachel Webster — 24-year Army veteran, former Military Police officer, commissioned officer, corporate business leader, and now advocate for veterans affected by lawfare.

Rachel shares her journey from:

…to the moment everything changed.

A 6am knock at the door.

Arrested as a civilian.

Unlawful detent...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Lisa Hodge, Commercial Officer within MOD and co-founder of the Defence Dyslexia Network (DDN).

Lisa isn’t a veteran — but she is making a serious impact within Defence.

What started as quiet conversations about dyslexia in a kitchen area has grown into an award-winning network supporting personnel across the Army, Navy, RAF and MOD civilians.

This conversation explores:

n this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Annette Berry — Army veteran, former Theatre Sister, brain haemorrhage survivor, and now Programme Lead for the Military Women Programme at the Forces Employment Charity.

Annette’s journey is anything but linear.

From joining the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, commissioning as a theatre sister, and loving life in uniform — to being medically forced out of nursing due to severe allergies — Annette opens up about the grief of losing not just a job, but an identity.

She shares candidly about:

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Paul Brenton — a 32-year Armed Forces veteran who now works with the Forces Transition Group, helping service leavers navigate life beyond uniform.

Paul shares his journey from joining at 16 years old (inspired by his father’s service), through decades in the Adjutant General’s Corps, to consciously planning and executing a smooth transition into civilian life.

But this conversation goes deeper than CV writing.

It explores:

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with John Stephenson, a 22-year Royal Signals veteran and founder of the Forces Transition Group (FTG).

John speaks candidly about:

This conversation goes beyond CV writing and job fairs. It’s about identity, ownership, responsibility and preparation.

If you are still serving, thinking about leaving, or already out —...

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James is joined by Kirk Davis, a serving soldier in the RLC and ambassador for the Defence Dyslexia Network (DDN), for one of the most honest conversations the podcast has hosted.

Kirk shares what it’s really like to serve with dyslexia — from leaving school feeling “stupid”, hiding behind humour, rank, and delegation, to finally finding a safe space where he could speak openly and receive support.

This is a powerful episode about fear, stigma, identity, leadership, parenting, and neurodiversity in the military. Kirk’s story challenges long-held...

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Stacey Denyer, a 19-year RAF veteran, and Invictus Games medallist, to talk honestly about identity, resilience, and what happens when the structure of military life disappears.

Stacey shares her journey through military service, competitive sport, MS, and transition — including the mental and emotional challenge of stepping away from the uniform while still chasing purpose, performance, and belonging.

This is a grounded, thoughtful conversation about discipline without structure, finding identity beyond rank, and why resilience isn’t about being unbreakable — it’s about adapting, again an...

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James is joined by Tom Burgess for a frank and necessary conversation about pressure, identity, mental health, and responsibility.

Tom opens up about life under constant scrutiny, and how easily struggles can be hidden behind strength, success, and status. He speaks honestly about moments of poor decision-making, accountability, and the importance of confronting issues head-on rather than burying them.

This episode isn’t about excuses — it’s about owning your actions, understanding mental health in high-pressure environments, and learning how to ask for help before things spiral.

...

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Matt Clayton, a US Navy veteran who’s moved into coaching, fitness, and mental resilience.

Matt shares the real story — joining the military instead of taking football scholarship offers, attempting the SEAL pipeline, life on a ship, and then landing in a riverine squadron where things got properly hands-on: fast boats, weapons, and becoming a marksman and coach for others.

From there, the conversation shifts into the grit behind the scenes: being forced out due to manpower decisions, building a life post-uniform, bodybuilding and...

What happens when the uniform comes off… and the “comfort blanket” disappears?

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Georgina Symonds (currently serving in the Army Reserve after a long regular career) to talk about the real transition journey — the identity shift, imposter syndrome, the mental load of “there’s loads of support… but it’s a minefield”, and why routine + community are the difference between drifting and thriving.

We also get into caring responsibilities in service — and why Georgina helped build the Army Carers Network, plus the Army Carers Guide as a practical...

She's been called a fairy, a fluffy dice distributor, and the woman with the dog—but what Natasha Hill actually is… is a force of nature. A 26-year veteran of the UK police service, Natasha’s lived through the frontlines of child protection, anti-terrorism, personal trauma, and full-on burnout. And she came back swinging—armed with compassion, EMDR, a cocker spaniel named Murphy, and a mission to rewrite the narrative on mental health in policing.

In this episode, host James Scott dives deep with Natasha about the sh*t that breaks you, the culture that buries it, and how...

You can’t fight if you can’t eat. You can’t move if there’s no fuel. And you can’t win if the supplies don’t get there.

In this episode, Frank Davis takes us deep into the beating heart of military operations — logistics. Forget the Hollywood image of combat; this is the real story of the people who make sure the frontline never runs dry.

From convoy runs through Iraq to building and adapting supply chains in hostile, unforgiving terrain, Frank reveals the unseen world of WES teams — the lifeline between the fight and the fu...

What happens when your partner serves — and you have to serve in your own way?

In this episode, Nic Galbraith-Conlan cracks open the hidden side of military life: the partners who hold the line at home, the emotional toll of deployments, the constant recalibration of identity, and what happens when the mission ends but the mental load doesn’t.

From the loneliness of service life to the messy transitions of civilian reintegration, Nic shares her raw and unfiltered perspective as a military spouse, coach, and creator of the Recalibrate Framework — a practical system for rediscovering balanc...

From dismantling explosives to dismantling limiting beliefs, Gabriel von Knorring joins James to unpack the explosive journey from Swedish military bomb tech to mental resilience mentor. With raw honesty and a hint of dark humour, Gabriel dives into the mental mechanics behind thriving in chaos — whether you're facing a war zone, an ultra-marathon, or your own damn inbox.

He reveals how mental toughness isn't built in the cold trenches of discomfort, but in the tiny moments when you choose courage over comfort. Plus, why “embracing the suck” might be keeping you soft.

Key Takeaways:

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, host James Scott speaks with Christian Albrecht, a former military officer turned aerospace professional. Christian shares his journey from growing up in Eastern Germany, joining the army, and transitioning to a civilian career in the aerospace industry.

He discusses the challenges of adapting to new roles, the importance of networking, and finding purpose after military service. Christian emphasises the value of preparation for transition and the need for a supportive environment for service members.

He also shares his aspirations to return to flying and teach others, highlighting...

In this episode James sits down with the author of "The Warfighter's Lounge", Jeff Bodell, a veteran whose journey through the forces and beyond is all about resilience, leadership, and the lessons that carry over long after the uniform comes off.

Jeff opens up about what service taught him, the challenges of stepping into civilian life, and the importance of brotherhood, honesty, and purpose. His story is a no-nonsense look at transition, growth, and building a meaningful life outside the wire.

Whether you’ve served, supported someone who has, or just want a masterclass in gr...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with Craig Mayville, a veteran whose journey through service, struggle, and self-discovery shines a brutal light on what it means to fight battles long after the uniform comes off.

Craig opens up about the challenges of transition, the weight of mental health, and the process of finding purpose again when the old mission ends. With raw honesty and a dash of humour, he reminds us that resilience isn’t about being unbreakable — it’s about finding the strength to rebuild, again and again.

Whether you’re...

In this raw and fearless conversation, James sits down with Si Hearn – a former police officer who turned personal collapse into an extraordinary new chapter.

Si doesn’t sugarcoat his story. From a tough childhood and years of bullying, to climbing the ranks in the police force and facing the darkest toll of the job, he opens up about the breaking point that forced him to stop, reset, and rebuild. What others might call a breakdown, Si calls a breakthrough – a circuit breaker that propelled him out of an institution that had drained him and into a world...

In this raw and unfiltered episode, James sits down with Isaac, a veteran who’s lived the highs of service and the lows of what comes after. From frontline missions to personal battles, Isaac lays bare the reality of life in uniform and the messy, uncertain road of transition into civilian life.

This isn’t a story of pity — it’s about grit, growth, and the power of brotherhood. Isaac speaks with brutal honesty about the struggles veterans face, the stigma around mental health, and how finding your tribe can be the difference between sinking and standing tall.

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast, host James Scott sits down with Jo-Anne Karlsson — psychotherapist, equine-facilitated practitioner, and director of LEAP Equine — to explore the remarkable intersection of horses, healing, and human connection.

Jo-Anne shares her journey from traditional therapy rooms to working in open fields alongside her herd, explaining how horses’ non-judgmental presence and innate sensitivity can help clients process trauma, navigate PTSD, and rebuild trust. From service personnel to corporate leaders, teenagers to families, she reveals why this approach works for such a wide range of people — and why sometimes, the most profound breakthr...

In this hard-hitting episode, James sits down with Ben Edwards, a former Royal Navy serviceman, ex-Met Police detective, and now Head of Global Physical Security. But Ben’s not just navigating the world of global corporate security — he’s changing the game for UK veterans trying to reintegrate into civilian life.

Ben shares his brutally honest take on what’s going wrong with the current resettlement process — from outdated systems to a lack of real, long-term support. And he’s not here just to talk; Ben is doing the work. Through his volunteer mentoring with the VETS programme, h...

Gary Hayes has seen it from both sides — the frontline and the fallout.

As a former soldier turned mental health professional, Gary brings a rare and powerful perspective to this episode of the Great Guns Podcast.

He knows what it means to serve.

He knows what it means to break.

And more importantly — he knows what it takes to rebuild.

In this raw, honest conversation, Gary talks about the deep mental wounds that follow service, the guilt that sticks, and the strength it takes to ask for help instead of h...