What a Hell of a Way to Dad

This was supposed to be an episode with a detailed, thought-out script. However, we got on the topic of bad weather and the state of Alaska, and by the end of it we found we'd devoted 40 minutes to The Last Frontier. So, it's more of a DadChat than anything else! We do discuss a recent video of terrible CQB training at 10th Mountain, and why you should probably stop training if it looks like your soldiers are going to shoot each other (this conversation starts at 39:43). You can watch the video yourself here: https://twitter.com/woobie_1_kenobi/status/1363529993788272646?s=19 For this week's bonus, we've got Carey and Joe back to have yet another zoo crew session, this time to discuss (among other things) the way that video games become popular representations of American military history. This (and all DadChat / Zoo Crew episodes) are available on the Patreon for $1 a month. Get it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/47841741 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

For any of this to make sense, it must be understood that Texas has a power grid comprised of 95% fossil fuel and nuclear sources. And yet somehow, in the minds of the chuds and Republicans, those wind farms are the reason that Texas' extremely libertarian grid cannot function in a winter storm. Nate and Francis get to the bottom of this conundrum, to include a Marine Todd reading of a recent Texas mayor's public statement. For this week's bonus, you get a full hour of Francis, Shocks, and Joe Kassabian discussing a variety of topics -- but with special emphasis on the Insane Clown Posse and what it means to Midwesterners. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/47556191 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

We took the time to discuss a recent Washington Post article about the military doing a stand-down day for combating white nationalism in the ranks. However, it took us about 30 minutes to get there, because we decided to talk about the weather, '90s alt-rock, the military's secret plan for a 'gay bomb,' and much more. DadChat / fun chat ends at 27:56 You can read about the gay bomb here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bomb You can get Francis' '90s suburban white kid alt-rock playlist here: For this week's bonus, Francis is chatting with Army veteran, actual medic, EMT, and antifascist Scotty Blue (@blue_scotty). They discuss becoming a 68W, what it's like to try and be a medic outside of the military, what the hell is up in Portland, and what to expect if you do in fact want to protest. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/47281844 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Why on earth were 11 soldiers hospitalized at Fort Bliss, Texas for drinking ethylene glycol? Well, there's a whole extended universe of 'things soldiers do to get hammered in the field / on deployment', and who better to examine this phenomenon than a huge nerd officer who never did anything illegal and the NCO who made gallons of prison wine in Iraq. We do a bit of DadChat at the beginning, but the main section starts at 7:27. This week's bonus features Francis discussing bootleg Barts and other Gulf War memorabilia with NY Magazine writer Matt Stieb. You can get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/46928239 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

It is the opinion of this show that the whole Tom Cotton Ranger thing is not a big deal or worth caring about. However, for the benefit of the doubt, Nate explains this in the episode with Milo Edwards (@Milo_Edwards), in which they also cover the types of British veteran politicians and why they're weird and different to American eyes. Hope you enjoy! This week's bonus episode features Francis in discussion with a Navy veteran about the topic that has so long puzzled us: what is the Navy, and what does it do? Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/46611804 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Let us state for the record that we hate Trump and we are happy he's gone. But we also feel it's important to recount some the highlights/lowlights of his tenure, how absurd it's all been, how much older and more exhausted we feel after 4 years, and so much more. Because here is a president who hates sharks, stares at eclipses, is obsessed with badgers, and is easily the dumbest man to ever breathe air. For this week's bonus, Francis is talking anti-war organizing in military towns with David Parsons, a historian and the author of 'Dangerous Grounds: Antiwar Coffeehouses and Military Dissent in the Vietnam Era.' The episode is available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/46382926 David is also the cohost of the Nostalgia Trap podcast, which you can check out here. *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Well, we're a bit late to the party, as we were recording our episode last Wednesday prior to The Event. But you can rest assured that we were not surprised to discover that the mob on Capitol Hill included lots of veterans and active duty military. In this episode, we talk about what 20 years of war have done to the American psyche, and why we think the people who count themselves as 'not part of the problem' are simply mistaken. This week's bonus is a special treat of labor history, as Francis forced Joe Kassabian and Carey Shockey to watch the 1992 Disney musical NEWSIES. You will most definitely enjoy their reactions. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/46083542 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, we discuss the election results in Georgia, have a long aside about what America did in Central America in the 1980s, and genuinely predict that the Dems' worst nightmare has come to pass: now they have to govern! We also had a bonus DadChat/New England Chat this week with Shocks and Joe Kassabian, and you can get it on the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/45820091 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

We're off this week, but we've unlocked a bonus episode from earlier in the year. Francis speaks with journalist Jasper Craven about the right-wing veteran mythos and why ex-SEAL Carl Higbie will probably survive the Trump administration and factor in our lives for a while, despite being a huge piece of garbage. Jasper has a substack and you should absolutely sign up for it: https://battleborne.substack.com/people/2318067-jasper-craven If you want more bonus content like this, access it on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

We're off this week, but we've unlocked a bonus episode from March in which Francis speaks with Jared and Elizabeth Kilmer from Game to Grow, an organization that uses tabletop gaming in therapy. Specifically, they discuss how they've seen tabletop gaming work to support therapy for veterans, and how roleplaying can be therapeutic in a variety of contexts. Hope you enjoy! If you want more bonus content like this, access it on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

The word on the street (by which we mean the feeds of extremely Q-pilled individuals on twitter) is that the Chinese PLA tried to invade Maine via New Brunswick but were stopped when their entire force was killed by one 14-ton bunker buster that left no trace. 50,000 PLA troops dead with all evidence obliterated. To assess the military significance of this, we decided to report on it. For this week's bonus, we've brought on our Zoomer correspondent Kevin Frint (@ItsAll_Bullshit) to discuss a full playthrough of the recent Call of Duty release with Nate. You might not like it, but this is the way that people are going to assume the actual Cold War went down. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/45005019 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

The Army released a report into the handling of sexual assault prevention at Fort Hood, TX, and it's proof that the institution doesn't care about anything besides protecting itself. We offer our thoughts and why we feel it underscores our previous point: don't enlist. You can read the report in its entirety here: https://www.army.mil/e2/downloads/rv7/forthoodreview/2020-12-03_FHIRC_report_redacted.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0JrfDs8rT-Y7OYdtvsT7FM2JORabaPIctk2Y-b35Le5AXdz8ftFqCRQgs We also talk about a recent claim by a former Israeli government official that there is a secret alien confederation and bases on Mars. Probably safe to doubt this one? This week's bonus is a TroopChat/DadChat with Joe Kassabian, Carey Shockey, and Francis. Have you ever heard about the British academic who really loved the Khmer Rouge? Learn about his story and more: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44668830 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, we read a Task and Purpose article about how 2nd Division Marines are apparently really into doing LSD. Which, quite frankly, we support: for one because we think that by and large drugs are fine, and for another because this is the logical consequence of the military's actual drug policy, which makes it almost impossible to use cannabis without getting caught, but makes it much easier to take harder drugs. Here is the article in question: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-lsd-problem/ We do a bit of DadChat in this episode, but the main segment starts at 7:59. For this week's bonus, Shocks and Joe Kassabian join Francis to discuss the Rudy Giuliani phenomenon: why is he so insane? What's happened to him since the days of being the 9/11 mayor, and how did he go from anti-Mafia Republican prosecutor to… this? Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44381527 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, we're discussing the recent fall from grace that Black Rifle Coffee Company has experienced in the opinions of insane MAGA freaks--its core audience--because it refused to endorse or sponsor a 17-year-old accused of murdering BLM protesters. That's right! The Big Racist Coffee Company wasn't right-wing enough. The story we read from is available here: https://www.thedailybeast.com/black-rifle-coffee-was-maga-royalty-until-it-turned-on-kyle-rittenhouse Here is a link to Ka'u Coffee Mill, which Nate mentioned: https://kaucoffeemill.com/ And here is a link to the Coffee Fool: https://coffeefool.com/ In this week's bonus, Francis and Bryan from the Street Fight Radio podcast discuss all sorts of dadchat issues -- watching movies with your spouse, whether or not the Army trains you on knives, better qualities of weed available in 2020, and much more. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44228023 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Why did the Marines make a video that basically says you should join in order to be less online? Why did the Army arrest a chaplain in Kuwait for wearing headphones? Why do we think it's unlikely that anyone will ever fully withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan? This week, we dive into all of these, and more. Here is the article about the Kuwait arrest: https://www.armytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2020/11/17/army-national-guard-chaplain-deployed-to-kuwait-detained-by-mps-for-wearing-headphones/?fbclid=IwAR0bF14CqriZpJ0qQD-271NPWderXAe1erHyTXk4FZvyhl41uCY2R_TqtRs For this week's bonus, Francis brought Joe and Shocks back on to discuss Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Despite being a sci-fi author, Joe had never watched it -- so now we get to talk all about it, to include the weird tropes that the Ferengi represent, Chief O'Brien's constant use of creative slurs for the Romulans, and much more. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43938028 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Well, it seems Biden won and we're settling back into the usual run of being outraged at the Dems being bad (while never forgetting that the Republicans are basically comic book villains). However, since we recorded this episode on the most troop-respecting of days, we decided to discuss Veterans Day and its British counterpart, Armistice Day. We brought on friend of the show Milo Edwards (@milo_edwards) of the Trashfuture podcast to discuss it. This week's bonus features Francis, Shocks, and Joe Kassabian discussing the 2019 documentary TREAD, a long-form exploration of the Killdozer saga. What made a guy go crazy in Colorado and build an armored bulldozer that he used to destroy his home city? Find out by listening here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43728821 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

No one knows what happened! We recorded this the morning after the election and we give our thoughts on what's next given the tentative results of the election. This will either be a preview of things to come or a snapshot of a more innocent era. Hope you enjoy! The video from the Intercept that we mentioned about Black organizers in Philadelphia is here: https://theintercept.com/2020/10/29/philadelphia-black-voters/ For this week's bonus, Francis speaks with Peter Lucier -- fellow St. Louisian, Marine veteran, and law student -- about his recent piece on the topic of angry veterans and veteran writing. What happens next as the world moves on? Do we all start podcasts? Where do we form our communities? Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43476032 Peter's recent article that gets discussed in this episode is available here. *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

It's hard riding a tiger. It's even harder if you're McHooyah the 'I Shot Bin Laden' guy and the Trump/QAnon people decide that actually Bin Laden is still alive because of a conspiracy theory. However, this does in fact dovetail into Francis' theory that--due to the preponderance of cop-worship in the Trump era--troops are playing second fiddle to cops in the eyes of bonkers Americans. We do a little bit of DadChat/BritainChat at the beginning, but the regular episode starts at 8:26. For this week's bonus got Carey Shockey on with Joe Kassabian to discuss the 2000 George Clooney film 'The Perfect Storm'. We don't talk enough about boats, or the coast guard, or New England, so we needed an expert in all three. There are some serious spoilers in this episode so please be advised. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43141041 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Well, a lot of things are going away: the NYT's 'At War' section, the Bombshell podcast from War on the Rocks, and the previous editorial direction of Task and Purpose (where Nate and Francis both got their starts, in different ways). Is America simply tired of respecting the troops? Well, apparently Troy Aikman and Joe Buck are. To which we can only say: this is a good thing. For this week's bonus, Francis speaks with Marine veteran Di'Rico Baker (@rico_rants) on the topic of the poverty draft, why people can't escape the shadow of the Military Industrial Complex, why the military can sometimes seem like the only option for social advancement, and much more. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42798803 Check out Di'Rico's YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXvG1LpSPYGp8GP-MnJi7aQ *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Francis wrote a radio play about the Kandahar Giant. It's deeply stupid, but that's what you signed up for. We brought on Joe Kassabian and Carey Shockey to read some of the parts, but before we get to the play, we just do a lot of war stories TroopChat. So, we hope you enjoy. If you want the whole thing, get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42455226

Maybe you've encountered GruntStyle. Maybe you've been vicariously embarrassed by it. This week we do a deep dive (courtesy of a great article from the San Antonio Express News) about GruntStyle's founder being an idiot. There is a big reveal that you will enjoy a lot! (source: https://www.expressnews.com/sa-inc/article/A-Reckoning-Grunt-Style-An-inside-look-at-San-15629615.php) This week's bonus massively expands the DadChat format to include Joe Kassabian and Carey Shockey, plus we do a fake radio play about the Kandahar Giant. You will love it. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42455226 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

What does the future hold? What can we say about this final month of the US Presidential election? Why does it feel weirdly appropriate that Trump got covid after basically pretending it isn't real and getting people to cough in his mouth to prove it? Well, we're assessing it. We're talking about him having the virus. We can't get enough of it. We do some Britain Chat at the beginning—the episode starts in earnest at 10:30. For this week's bonus, The TroopsChat circle has expanded again and features Francis, Joe, and Shocks on the topic of the 2008 film WAR, INC. Why was Bush-era political commentary so flat-footed? And why does it seem hopelessly optimistic compared to now? Find out in this special movie review episode at the $3 tier here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42380745 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

The internet is a wonderful thing. It lets us podcast, lets us make friends, and lets us share the 100 percent true and verified story about how, in 2002, the US Army did battle with a biblical giant. Who was the Giant of Kandahar? Why do people seem to think this is real? Should we rebrand as a military crypto-zoology podcast? All this and more, in this week's episode. The absurd article we quote from is here: https://www.thexplan.net/article/378/The-Giant-of-Kandahar-And-The-Lost-Race-Of-The-Nephilim/it We do some garden chat at the beginning—the episode starts in earnest at 8:43. This week's bonus is another DadChat. It's available at the $1 tier and covers topics like: Nate's brother speaking German like a German redneck, residents of small states being like yappy dogs in Francis' opinion, the huge gulf of cultural differences between northern and southern Missouri, and much more. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dadchat-reloaded-42105076 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, Nate and Francis are joined by sci-fi author and technologist Cory Doctorow (@doctorow) to discuss his new book ATTACK SURFACE. Are you getting spied on by your smart washing machine? Is your out-of-date WiFi printer going to hack the Gibson? Learn more about it on this episode. You can pre-order ATTACK SURFACE from your local bookstore here: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250757531 This week's bonus features a solemn topic: Steve Bannon got arrested by the law enforcement arm of the US Postal Service. How is that even possible? To discuss the ill-understood aspect of the law, we brought on labor lawyer and Coast Guard vet Carey Shockey (@shocks) to discuss. He also talks a lot about Boston sports, Curt Schilling's video game company that bankrupted Rhode Island, and much more. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41852582 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, Francis is on vacation and Nate is joined by the What a Hell of a Way to Die official zoomer correspondent Kevin Frint (@kevin_frint) to discuss the Call of Duty franchise. Didn't we just discuss this on a bonus episode with Brock? Yes, but we're not good at scheduling things. Anyway, in anticipation of the new COD installment, Kevin takes us through the storied and increasingly fascist story arcs of the entire series. This week's bonus features Nate and Francis in combination with the Well There's Your Problem podcast on the topic of technicals. Have you ever wanted to know what constitutes a technical? Have you ever wanted to weld a machine gun to a zamboni and declare yourself the rightful lord of the manor? If so, get the episode on Patreon at the $5 tier here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41575118 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

It's a combo episode of What a Hell of a Way to Die and Well There's Your Problem, in which we discuss the history of the technical and have a debate about what actually counts as one. You will love it hopefully as much as Uday and Qusay Hussain loved technicals. If you want to hear the whole thing, get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41575118

Donald Trump is at war with the generals. Well, not really, but he's a big idiot and is lashing out at anyone he thinks is criticizing him -- which has led him to make the statement that the military rank-and-file love him, but the top brass don't because they just want to go to war in order to make money for defense contractors. Now, we're not saying we agree with him, and we don't endorse him in any capacity, but this is perhaps an example of why our big wet baby leader is right for the wrong reasons. Because yes, when you get down to it, it does all seem like one big money-making enterprise. We do a bit of a DadChat at the beginning, but the regular discussion starts at 9:26 This week's bonus features Francis and extreme friend of the show Brock Wilbur discussing the Call of Duty series. It's got a lot of war crimes! You can learn about it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41248364 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

You know what's bad? The general concept of 'military TikTok.' You know what's even worse? An active duty Army lieutenant posting a Holocaust joke on his TikTok with 3 million followers. But, as we point out in our discussion, he's only telling the kind of jokes that anyone who grew up in a majority white and Christian part of America grew up hearing. We argue that the true reckoning should be asking yourself why people think jokes like that are funny. The story about said lieutenant is here: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/08/31/fort-bragg-investigating-army-officer-crass-holocaust-joke-tiktok.html We do a bit of a DadChat at the beginning, but the regular discussion starts at 13:35. This week's bonus features Nate and Milo from the Trashfuture podcast discussing British war movies about WWII, the deep national psychosis that springs from them, and why A Bridge Too Far is just a stone-cold classic. Get it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41037380 Get the trans rights AK pin! $5 from each pin goes to support Trans Lifeline: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/product-page/transgender-ak-pin *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Why is it that there's one particularly online SEAL, the guy who shot Bin Laden, and he won't stop talking about it? Have you ever read his book? Well, Nate and Francis dug through the McHooyah story and have brought out some choice quotes for you to examine. We explore the deeply unwell psychology of the Navy SEALs and why this particular guy is just so much all the time. We do a bit of a DadChat at the beginning, but the regular discussion starts at 11:43. This week's bonus features Francis speaking with Air Force legal guy Pat about Guantanamo Bay, the absurd lack of any real judicial process there, and why it's basically becoming a geriatric home for people we're hoping to have die before they get to stand trial. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40698677 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

We did a joint episode with the cast of the Well There's Your Problem podcast (@wtyppod), covering the checkered history of the V-22 Osprey. We're going to do another bonus episode with WTYP soon, so check out the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

The DNC platform didn't exactly make a strong impression on us, so we decided to discuss it in detail -- with specific emphasis on the stuff that pertains to America's wars. We're both really excited about 'right-sizing' our presence in combat zones! For this week's bonus, Francis speaks with journalist Jasper Craven (@Jasper_Craven) about the right-wing veteran mythos and why ex-SEAL Carl Higbie will probably survive the Trump administration and factor in our lives for a while, despite being a huge piece of garbage. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40598382 Jasper has a substack and you should absolutely sign up for it: https://battleborne.substack.com/people/2318067-jasper-craven *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week features a story that very few people outside of Oregon have seen fit to cover. The story of what appears to be an ex-Navy SEAL chucking pipe bombs at protestors in Portland and then bragging about it on LinkedIn. A tale as old as time: what is wrong with the Navy. (Source: https://www.opb.org/article/2020/08/10/man-seen-in-area-of-homemade-explosive-at-portland-protest-ided-as-ex-navy-seal/?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true) This week's bonus features Francis speaking with defense reporter Kelsey Atherton (@AthertonKD) about the usage of nuclear weapons, the reasons for mushroom clouds, the weird fixation on drones as a solution to everything, and much more. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40276380 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, Nate and Francis are joined by special guest and friend of the show Ken Klippenstein (@KenKlippenstein), a reporter for the Nation who has become the master of leaks. We discuss his recent reporting about DHS's "Fusion Cells" in Portland, their presence as masked goons disappearing people into rental vans, and how the entire structure of the agency is a holdover of Bush-era paranoia. This week's bonus is a DadChat, and it's available on Patreon at the $1 tier. Get it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40020160 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, Nate and Francis discuss the amendment put forth by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez to defund the military's recruiting on Twitch and similar platforms. We talk about how recruiting worked when we were in school, how people get assigned to be recruiters, and why (once again) the correct position is Do Not Join. (source: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/budget-appropriations/509218-ocasio-cortez-calls-for-end-to-federal-funding-for) This week's bonus features Joe Kassabian of the Lions Led by Donkeys podcast on the topic of the '90s TV series Young Indiana Jones. Get it at the $3 tier on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39746069 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, Francis speaks with an Air Force reservist paralegal named Pat who takes us through the way that the military approaches sexual assault cases. As you might expect, it leaves an inordinate amount of leeway for commanders' discretion. But we hope that this episode gives you a better idea of why things don't seem to be getting better. Our bonus this week features Milo and Alice from Trashfuture on the topic of Britain's peculiarities, and folks… you will like this one. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39492812 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

No, we're not Grover Norquist. Far from it -- we want to raise taxes on the rich and to eliminate all the absurd loopholes, never mind the ridiculous levels of pain that everyday taxpayers go through in the US. But, what do we get for our taxes? If this recent meltdown has taught us anything, it can be boiled down to one thing: cops (for this argument, the troops are also lumped in with cops). As an example we discuss a recent story that explains how the US spent $14.4 million on one specific tracking system for the Afghan military. Except it requires electricity and internet access. Whoops! (source: https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/us-weapons-vehicles-afghanistan-audit) This week's bonus is another DadChat. It's priced at the $1 tier and features a discussion between Nate and Francis on the topic of cooking, gardening, bad British weather, and much more. Get it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39243075 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, Francis and Nate discuss the recent DOD actions to ban the Confederate flag (a good thing to do) and rename bases named for Confederate generals (why we have these is a mystery). We also discuss the recent, horrific case of the murder of Specialist Vanessa Guillen, killed by a soldier in her own unit and buried in the desert near Fort Hood, TX. (source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53325925) As we mention in the show, we want to hear from women and femme veterans about their experiences with SHARP and the threats they faced from their own fellow soldiers. We can absolutely guarantee confidentiality and we're happy to signal boost any other shows covering a similar topic. Please reach out to us on twitter or at [email protected]. In this week's bonus episode, Francis interviews fellow St. Louisan, Marine veteran, and writer Peter Lucier (@PeterLucier) on the topic of the 2005 Keanu Reeves film CONSTANTINE. Peter and Francis are both products of St. Louis Catholic schools and have some thoughts on the film's overall themes, never mind the iconic role of Tilda Swinton as the archangel Gabriel. Get it on Patreon at the $3 tier here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39007009 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, we're doing a deep dive into Francis' hometown of St. Louis -- discussing the heavily armed couple with the huge weird mansion, the mayor of St. Louis doxxing protestors on a FB Live event, and why a blue dog Democrat resurgence is in fact bad. The bonus features an interview in which Francis speaks to St. Louis activist and historian Umar Lee (@umarleeiii) about the recent uprising, why The Gateway Pundit is trying to lead protests to protect statues of medieval French kings, and what's changed since the 2014 protests in Ferguson. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38768117 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

On today's episode, Nate speaks with author Matt Gallagher (@MattGallagher0) about his new novel 'Empire City'. Matt's an Army veteran of the war in Iraq and has also written two other books, the novel Youngblood and the memoir Kaboom: Embracing the Suck in a Savage Little War. We talk about incrementalism versus radicalism, how to write dystopian fiction when we already live in a dystopia, and much more. You can buy Empire City (and support local bookstores) here: https://bookshop.org/books/empire-city/9781501177798 This week's bonus is a DadChat featuring Nate and Francis. It's available at the $1 tier here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38335982 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, Nate and Francis discuss revelations that Louisville restauranteur David McAtee was killed by National Guard soldiers, how it relates to the Louisville PD's unwillingness to prosecute or even release the most basic details related to the murder of Breonna Taylor. We also talk about why MPs act the exact same as cops. Here's a piece about David McAtee's murder: https://eu.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2020/06/13/david-mcatee-killed-kentucky-national-guard-remembered-funeral/3182348001/ Here's a piece about Breonna Taylor's murder: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53021249 This week's bonus features us reviewing and discussing the 2006 Bong Joon-ho film THE HOST. Get it at the $3 tier here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38243148 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, Nate speaks with journalist Vincent Bevins (@vinncent) on the topic of his new book, 'The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program That Shaped Our World.' The book covers clandestine Cold War operations in countries like Indonesia, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, and elsewhere in the world in which the US aligned itself with forces of reaction to exterminate leftist political organizations. It's a phenomenal work and we recommend you get it. The book is available here: https://vincentbevins.com/book/ This week's bonus features Francis, Joe Kassabian (@jkass99) of the Lions Led by Donkeys podcast, and friend of the show Carey Shockey (@shocks) in a discussion of the 2019 veteran-themed horror film VFW. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38036544 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week's episode focuses on the current uprising, our takes on whether or not the military will turn on Trump, and much more. This week's bonus is a DadChat, which can be yours for only $1 a month on Patreon. Get it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37738952 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, Nate and Francis discuss a recent story that reveals the culprit beyond former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn's escape from the Japanese court system: he paid a former Green Beret and extremely Boston cop-seeming guy to smuggle him out in a case. It turns out this patriotic human trafficker has his own incredible story, which we've cribbed from Military Times (https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2020/05/21/ex-green-beret-nabbed-in-nissan-execs-escape-has-lived-on-the-edge/) For this week's bonus, Francis speaks with Defense News reporter Valerie Insinna (@ValerieInsinna) about the selling points of the F-35, what it's like to fly in a fighter jet, her favorite old-timey aircraft, and some premium St. Louis food banter. Get it on the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37526656 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

We started out this episode with the intention of talking about a recent story in which someone tried to catfish a civilian by pretending to be a senior general in the U.S. Army. But then we went down the rabbit hole of trying to reconcile they ways in which the military is portrayed versus how we experienced it, and we wound up spending a lot of time talking about the utterly bizarre donations we used to receive while deployed. Here's the original story we found on Task and Purpose: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/fake-us-army-general-catfish-gmail This week, Francis speaks with friend of the show Brock Wilbur (@brockwilbur) on the topic of the junior senator from Missouri, a right-wing freak who's smarter than Trump and represents the kind of fascist future trajectory of the Republican Party. It's bad, folks! You can get the episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37221570 Check out Brock's work at the independent Kansas City paper The Pitch: https://www.thepitchkc.com/ *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

No matter how much bleach you drink or inject, you may suffer permanent lung damage if you contract covid-19. But don't ask us -- ask the US military, who have decided that a positive covid-19 test may be ground to bar enlistment. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main/2020/05/people-hospitalized-for-coronavirus-may-not-be-able-to-join-the-military/ We also discuss the military's plans to raise the age for on-post tobacco purchases to 21. Our position is perhaps a less libertarian one: we're fine with it, so long as you also raise the minimum enlistment age to 21. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/05/07/army-bases-prepare-new-ban-under-21-tobacco-sales.html This week's bonus features Riley Quinn and Alice Caldwell-Kelly of the Trashfuture podcast, who help us break down the particularly online insanity of the recent Venezuela mercenary debacle. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/36973145 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier. We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, Francis and Nate react to an incredible, incredible article in the AP about the gang of morons who tried to do unconventional warfare in Venezuela and wound up getting arrested. It's such an unbelievable story that we had to read it, line by line. The original article is here: https://apnews.com/79346b4e428676424c0e5669c80fc310?fbclid=IwAR1tOM0KKh7Jy3Ja5QTbvhhXdj0bIvh3x__HhCOGb195OsUAsx058ZiJ_XM This week's bonus is another DadChat, and you can get it for merely $1 a month on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/36712168 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier. We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

This week, we're discussing the fact that President Trump wants to recall West Point cadets from their home of record and transport them all to their campus in the Hudson Valley of New York in order to make them listen to him give a speech. There is nothing the military can do to prevent this, which means young people from basically all 50 states and a bunch of US territories will be traveling into the absolute center of the epidemic for no good reason, and then going straight back. Sad! https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/04/donald-trump-is-making-west-point-cadets-return-to-campus-so-he-can-give-a-speech This week's bonus features Francis interviewing journalist Jasper Craven (@jasper_craven) on the topic of the VA and its attempts to respond to the pandemic. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/36355326 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier. We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

For this unlocked bonus episode (originally recorded in September 2017), Nate speaks with Reggie Bell, a former enlisted infantryman and two-time combat veteran of the war in Afghanistan. They discuss Reggie's transition, the experience of trans people in the military, what life was like before and after the repeal of the DOD's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and more. If you want to get other bonus episodes like this one, sign up for the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie

This week, Nate and Francis chat about the recent uprisings across America, by which we mean a few dozen astroturfed morons protesting their right to die in a pandemic. However, as we recorded it on 4/20, we also discuss weed, the Army's decision to reopen basic training, and the sub-contingent of right-wingers protesting the lockdown who want to blame the Jews for it somehow. This week's bonus features an interview between Francis and Rich Madrid (@richjmadrid), a leftist Navy veteran and a subject matter expert on that most confusing of military vehicles: the boat. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/36180331 *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier. We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Did you hear the one about the Twitch streamer who said mean things about Rep. Dan Crenshaw? Well, it turns out that the story's a bit more complicated than that, and we decided to get to the bottom of it by bringing TYT host and general internet superstar Hasan Piker (@hasanthehun) on to the show. We also get into a discussion about the ways in which the military discards people when they're no longer useful, the sheer insanity of the defense budget, and why socialism offers a way out of our current malaise. This is an unlocked bonus episode that we've released for our fans currently in quarantine. If you want more bonus episodes like this, sign up for our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie You can view Hasan's Twitch stream here: https://www.twitch.tv/hasanabi