Hazard Ground

Our guest this week is one we like to call a special veteran guest. It isn’t necessarily a story of combat and survival in the traditional sense. But it is the story of a man who served his country in the Army, during the Cold War, and then went on to inspire millions through his career as a wrestler, and then as an Ultimate Fighting Champion and mixed martial artist. He is a six-time World Champion and Hall of Famer in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Outside the octagon, he’s also a successful businessman, bestselling author, and actor on the rise. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s a founding member of MVP (Merging Vets and Players), an organization dedicated to helping veterans and pro athletes find purpose together, when they’ve taken off the uniform. He is Randy Couture on HAZARD GROUND! www.vetsandplayers.org | “Becoming the Natural: My Life In and Out of the Cage” Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon ban

Marissa Strock joined the Army seeking a sense of direction in life. She knew the military and going to war would present challenges, but what she experienced on Thanksgiving Day 2005, was furthest from her mind when she signed on the dotted line with her recruiter a relatively short period before. On that day in 2005, Marissa, an MP, was the gunner in a Humvee as part of a convoy that was hit with a massive IED in “The Triangle of Death” near Baghdad. The explosion occurred nearly under her feet while standing in the gun turret. Marissa would eventually lose both legs as a result of the blast, and face immense challenges that have nearly taken her to the brink of death. And she has faced those challenges with an attitude and grace that are nothing short of inspiring! Hear her complete story on this very powerful episode of HAZARD GROUND! Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do yo

Circumstances beyond his control brought him to the 75th Ranger Regiment. But once he made it in and earned the coveted scroll and beret, retired Sergeant First Class Jeremy Tindell found a home. So much so that he stayed in the Regiment after suffering a severe back injury in a training accident. Tindell retired from the Army after 13 combat deployments. And has now found a new passion as an active member of Merging Vets & Players – an organization designed to help both combat veterans and pro athletes transition from battlefield and playing field to new careers and new beginnings. Hear all about this Ranger’s journey from working in a machine shop to becoming an elite combat veteran in this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll

As we mark our 2-year anniversary, it is an honor and treasure to have retired Sergeant First Class and Green Beret, Michael Rodriguez on the show for our 100th episode! Rodriguez, his wife, and son are all combat veterans. Between the three of them they have 16 deployments, with Michael serving 9 of those in combat. He was medically retired after 21 years of service, and continues to serve to this day as as a member for President George W. Bush’s Military Service Initiative Advisory Council; and most notably he is the president and CEO of the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation. Rodriguez has also contributed significantly to research on Traumatic Brain Injuries and Post Traumatic Stress, so much so that he was inducted as a Fellow into the lauded “Explorers Club” based in Manhattan, NYC. Hear all about Michael’s journey from his first combat deployment with the 10th Mountain in Somalia to what he’s doing today to help veterans across the globe, on our 100th episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.gwotmemorialfou

Her job as a combat photographer was to chronicle war, combat, human strife, and disaster relief efforts among other significant moments in history. But over time it became a much, much more weighty task. One that she was passionate about executing, but one that would ultimately take a heavy toll on her body and mind. Stacy Pearsall is one of the most decorated combat photographers in the U.S. military’s history. During three combat tours, she earned the Bronze Star Medal and Air Force Commendation with Valor for combat actions in Iraq. She is also one of two women to win Military Photographer of the Year and the only woman to win it twice. She has sacrificed so much for service to her country and her fellow servicemembers. But, most importantly she has given immensely to ensuring history won’t forget some of its most pivotal sagas and those that have served before and after her. Hear all about it, and the incredible work she’s doing now, on the latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.stacypearsall.com | www.vet

We are extremely excited to have two very special guests on the show this week! On the heels of the premier of their new movie, “Sgt. Will Gardner” which hits select theaters, On Demand & Digital outlets January 11, 2019, actors Max Martini and Michael Hagerty join us to talk about the film, the importance of helping veterans when they come home from war, and war’s effect on the human condition. “Sgt. Will Gardner” tells the story of Iraq War veteran Will Gardner, played by Martini, who is struggling with the lingering effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from his time in combat. A cross-country motorcycle trip provides the journey for Will to ultimately make the important move toward finding peace. Martini wrote and directed the film which Hagerty produced. The two partnered up to make the film and give back to veterans by not only telling a much needed story, but also donating a portion of the film’s proceeds to three charities which support veterans suffering from TBI, PTSD and veteran homelessness. C

He had no intention of making the Air Force a career when he entered the service as a graduate of the San Diego State College ROTC program in 1957. But, Merrill “Tony” McPeak would go on to become the 14th Chief of Staff of the Air Force and retire as a 4-star general, closing out a career that included flying 269 combat missions in Vietnam and flying with the Air Force’s elite aerobatic team, the Thunderbirds. His experience in Vietnam is well-chronicled in the recent Ken Burns documentary, “The Vietnam War,” on which General McPeak worked as a technical advisor, ensuring utmost accuracy throughout the film and that the documentary told the complete story of all sides affected by the war in Vietnam. In this episode, General McPeak speaks to that roll, as well as some of the lighter-hearted moments flying combat missions in Vietnam, and his encounter with President George H.W. Bush when he was in office. Check it all out on our 2019 inaugural episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.generalmcpeak.com | “Hangar Flying” |

Stuart “Stu” Steinberg has lived an adventurous life to say the least. Enlisting in the Army during the Vietnam War, he would eventually serve as an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialist from 1967-1971. During his 18 months in Vietnam, he would have one of the most dangerous jobs in the services, and his experience there would eventually paint the picture his recently published book, “This is What Hell Looks Like” so vividly describes. Following Vietnam, Steinberg would go on to earn his law degree, an advance law degree, and eventually teach at the Georgetown University Law Center. For several years as a capital defense investigator he would experience cases whose disturbing nature was innately characteristic of the hell seen in war. Hear how Stu Steinberg survived that hell, and has now gone on to live a life of service helping other veterans, on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! “This is What Hell Looks Like: Life as a Bomb Disposal Specialist During the Vietnam War” ??Do your holiday shopping w

Col Kim Campbell's story is one of perseverance, and living proof that shutting down the urge to quit or give up, will ultimately lead to what others told you wasn’t possible. At a young age she set her sights on attending the U.S. Air Force Academy to ultimately put herself on a path to become an astronaut. Several "No's" and a few roadblocks later, Kim Campbell earned her way to becoming an A-10 pilot. And that "no-quit" attitude is exactly what she needed in probably her most jarring moment as a fighter pilot: the day she was nearly shot down in combat over Iraq. Her plane was so badly damaged that she had to pilot it using manual controls. When it was all over, she would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. It’s one thing to fly and engage the enemy in combat, but it takes a special kind of composure to safely land a badly damaged aircraft in a war zone. Col Kim Campbell’s story is truly inspiring, and it was an honor to have her on the show! Do your holiday shopping with us, and give back to veter

Feeling an obligation to serve his country and fight for those lost, especially the first responders, after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Dave Burton went into a Marine Corps recruiting office on 9/12. To his surprise, there wasn’t another person in line to sign up. He wasn’t dissuaded though, and he enlisted that day. He left for boot camp at the age of 25. Following boot camp and the School of Infantry, Burton first deployed to Iraq in 2003 as part of the initial invasion force. There he would fight in the battle of An Nasiriyah as part of Task Force Tarawa. Burton would go on to deploy three more times as an Infantry Marine between Iraq and Afghanistan, before leaving the Marine Corps. In this episode, he shares what those deployments meant to him, the permanence of war and its violence, and the indelible memories of going to war as a United States Marine. www.shootoutforsoldiers.com We are very excited to announce our newest sponsor, Combat Flip Flops! If you go back into the early HAZARD GROUND archives

Anthony Swofford joined the Marine Corps in 1988, setting in motion a series of events that would put him on the front lines of the liberation of Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Storm, and eventually help launch his career as a writer and producer. He’s probably best known for writing the book, “Jarhead” – a very honest memoir of a Marine’s life on and off the battlefield. The book would eventually be released as a major motion picture under the same name in 2005, with Swofford being played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Swofford takes us back to the uneasy days on the “berm” in the desert, and candidly recounts his time at boot camp and going through scout sniper training in the Marine Corps. It’s not often we get the chance to speak with veterans of Desert Storm, especially someone who has done so much with the experience. So sit back, and enjoy this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND, with writer, producer, Marine – Anthony Swofford. “Jarhead” We are very excited to announce our newest sponsor, Combat Flip Flops! I

In a matter of seconds Marine Cpl. Todd Nicely’s life was changed forever. After the blast and while he was flying through the air, he knew “they” had finally got him. On March 26, 2010, while leading his patrol back to base camp in Afghanistan, Cpl. Nicely stepped on a pressure plate mine. The blast almost instantly took all four of his limbs, forever changing how he would live his life, if he would live at all. Nicely would survive the blast, becoming a quadruple amputee, as well as an inspiration for others. He considers himself lucky and fortunate that he and all of his men came home from that fateful deployment alive, and would get to be with their families and friends once again – a testament to his warrior spirit that lives on to this day. Hear how Todd Nicely survived more than just the explosion that nearly took his life over 8 years ago, on this very inspirational episode of HAZARD GROUND! If you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Ama

Jim Reese spent a good part of his military career in 1st SFOD-Delta, and has been called "one of the finest special operators in the modern military” by the Commander of Coalition Forces of Iraq and Afghanistan. He played a pivotal role in the first stages of the Global War on Terror, right after September 11, 2001. His initial role was to bridge the gap between the Department of Defense and the CIA leading up to and through the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. And from there he was instrumental in leading the hunt for Osama bin Laden in the early days after the invasion. From these efforts and his time working in Special Operations, Jim Reese understands leadership in combat...leadership in times when it matters most! Hear his unique story, and what it's like to lead at the highest levels, on this follow-up to Veterans Day episode of HAZARD GROUND! If you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it

In this special Veterans Day edition of HAZARD GROUND, Mark talks with United War Veterans Council (UWVC) Executive Director, producer of the NYC Veterans Day Parade, and Marine veteran of the Panama Invasion and Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Mark Otto. Otto only spent four years in the Marine Corps, but he packed a lot into those four years, playing a key role in two large military operations, among other special work. Following his time in the Marine Corps, he went on to become a regular trader on the floor of the NY Stock Exchange. Today, Otto continues to support veterans by leading multiple veterans' advocacy volunteer events and programs through the UWVC. He even shares with us an incredible story of his connection with the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, and how the circumstances surrounding that event came back to visit him decades later after his involvement in Desert Storm! www.uwvc.org This episode is once again brought to you by our latest sponsor, Cabela's - the world's foremost outfitter of hu

Sometimes it’s the invisible wounds from war that are the most difficult to diagnose and treat. The indicators are subtle, if ever apparent. There’s more mystery than science, and the wounded are left with the burden of proof and most often hopeless for a cure. That’s exactly what happened to Carolyn Furdek. A former NCAA Division 1 swimmer, graduate of West Point, four-time Ironman athlete, and a seasoned combat veteran and leader with multiple combat deployments between Afghanistan and Iraq, Furdek began suffering from severe mental health issues during one of those deployments. She effectively “shut down” and for several years, doctors were baffled by her illness. Eventually Carolyn found the path that led to an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, taking her life and career back from the invisible wounds. Hear how she did it in this very inspiring episode of HAZARD GROUND! “Locked-in: A Soldier and Civilian’s Struggle with Invisible Wounds” This episode is once again brought to you by our latest sp

Following in the footsteps of family members who had served before him, Zach Iscol earned his commission after graduating from Cornell University in 2001. He actually passed up a flight contract and joined the infantry so he could get to combat sooner, fearing he might miss the war while working his way through a lengthy flight school. In 2004, he eagerly volunteered to re-deploy to Iraq and fight in Fallujah shortly after returning from his initial combat deployment there. All of these actions speak volumes about the person Zach Iscol is to his very core. It doesn't take long to understand that he's a man of fortitude and a critical thinker who understands the necessity of selfless service. He has carried those attributes beyond his time in the Marine Corps, founding such organizations as Hire Purpose - a company that helps veterans find meaningful employment - and co-founding Task and Purpose, a news site for veterans, by veterans. Hear his inspirational story of combat, survival, and service in this episod

What an absolutely insane story we have for you this week! On April 21st, 2007, Joshua Mantz was shot and killed by a sniper in Iraq. The exceptionally large bullet that killed Josh initially passed through a senior NCO standing next to him, and then severed Josh's femoral artery. After losing a significant amount of blood, Josh was dead for a full 15 minutes before a military trauma team resuscitated him, bringing him back to life. Mantz’s journey from graduating West Point as an Infantry Platoon Leader to ultimately surviving a sniper’s deadly shot in combat, and recovering through the mental highs and lows of such an uncommon ordeal is absolutely incredible. Hear about it all in this very introspective episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.asymmetricmind.com | "The Beauty of a Darker Soul" We are still running our Amazon promotion, so if you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show ou

Steve Kiernan joined the Marine Corps when he was 17. He attended his high school graduation as a Marine fresh out of boot camp. The discipline and drive that the Marine Corps instilled in Steve are what ultimately got him through some of his darkest days – the by-product of becoming a Marine and heading off to war. Just a few weeks into his first tour in Iraq in 2008, Steve was walking point on a security patrol heading back to base in Fallujah when he was hit by an IED. The blast ended up taking both of his legs. The recovery process for Steve was long, grueling at times, and something he almost didn’t make it out of. A desire to forge a new path in life significantly different from the one he knew before his injury, gave Steve new hope and a reason to keep living. He’s now a short story and essay writer, pursuing an MFA at the University of Oregon. This is another inspirational story of combat and survival you don’t want to miss! www.steven-kiernan.com This episode is also brought to you by our latest spon

Despite the darkness of combat, there always seems to be moments of levity that surface from time to time. Paul Szoldra, whether he believes it or not, is a master at finding those moments. Whether it was Marine boot camp, or the unforgiving landscape of Afghanistan, Szoldra found humor to get him through the boredom, frustration, and nervous anticipation of combat. A near miss from an IED blast that most certainly would have taken his life, was all that was needed to make Szoldra all-too aware of the horrific realities of combat. But none of the darkness, including life-altering and life-ending IEDs, would have been overcome without humor. And so Paul Szoldra eventually left the Marine Corps and started the “Duffel Blog,” an online military satire publication that has seen over one million unique readers each month. The Duffel Blog has been praised by everyone from Defense Secretary Mattis, to former Pentagon spokesman George Little, and The Onion’s founding editor Scott Dikkers! Check it out on this rather

Retired Marine Staff Sgt. John Jones loved being a Marine. So much so that after the vehicle he was riding in was blown up by an IED in Iraq on January 3, 2005, one of his primary concerns was if he would be able to continue to serve in the Marine Corps. A twist of fate had put him in the target vehicle: he had made a last minute decision to switch into the vehicle that was hit, just prior to rolling out in his convoy. The blast from the anti-tank mine IED eventually took both of his legs. So his concern was real. But now, over a decade later, John Jones has found a different way to serve his country – through a non-profit called Workshops for Warriors, which trains, certifies, and helps place Veterans, Wounded Warriors, and Transitioning Service Members into advanced manufacturing careers. Hear all about this incredible journey on this incredibly inspiring episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.wfw.org This episode is also brought to you by our latest sponsor, Knife Country USA. Knife Country USA has the largest sele