As the conflict stretches into its sixth month, Vice Admiral John Miller, U.S. Navy (Ret.), joins us to assess reopening the Strait of Hormuz, impacts on global maritime security, and how the conflict should end.
Aug 10
33 min
Host Emily Abdow sits down with Capt. Kristopher Ensley, commanding officer of USCGC Eagle (WIX-327), and Cadet First Class Finley Rauscher to explore the Eagle's remarkable history, the timeless value of sail training, and the unforgettable experience of participating in SAIL250 events up and down the East Coast. Discover how a ship built nearly a century ago continues to prepare the Coast Guard's future leaders while serving as one of America's most recognizable maritime ambassadors.
Aug 7
34 min
Bill Hamblet, Sam LaGrone, and Brian O’Rourke talk about the Navy’s budget, shipbuilding, Operation Epic Fury, and recruiting and retention.
Jul 31
57 min
Host Bill Hamblet interviews John Cordle about the Navy's new shaving policy and its potential impact on sailors affected by pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). They discuss the medical condition, readiness, retention, leadership, and whether changes to grooming standards could unintentionally affect recruiting, careers, and the fleet's overall effectiveness.
Jul 24
32 min
Host Bill Hamblet sits down with Captain Robert Niewoehner, U.S. Navy (Retired), and Jefferson D. Grubb, head of the Operations Research Division at the Naval Safety Command, to examine lessons from recent F-35 mishaps, the evolution of naval aviation safety, and how institutional learning can help build a safer, stronger fleet.
Jul 15
43 min
Host Bill Hamblet talks with the Honorable Ben Kohlmann, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, about the future of the fleet.
Jul 9
34 min
During the American Revolution, privateers prowled the Atlantic in search of British prizes—serving the Patriot cause while generating enormous profits for their investors. This episode explores the story of the privateer Oliver Cromwell, Captain Joseph Lee, and the high-risk business of Revolutionary War privateering. Was it a fight for independence, a business opportunity, or both?
Jul 9
24 min
Host Emily Abdow talks with five-term congressman and award-winning author Robert Mrazek about the life and writings of Bill Evans, the youngest pilot of the ill-fated Torpedo Squadron 8 at the Battle of Midway.
Jul 7
33 min
A new voluntary program at the U.S. Naval Academy is using Stoic philosophy to help midshipmen build resilience, moral clarity, and inner discipline during Plebe Summer. In this episode, we discuss how ancient ideas from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, and Vice Admiral James Stockdale are being applied to modern military leadership—and why spiritual readiness may need to evolve for an increasingly diverse and less religious force.
Jul 2
32 min
Host Emily Abdow talks to author Ed Offley about his article on the quest to award the unsung codebreaking hero of the Battle of Midway, Commander Joe Rochefort, the Distinguished Service Medal.
Jul 2
31 min
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