Military Matters

Stars and Stripes

Military Veterans and hosts Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy bring you stories and topics affecting our military, servicemembers, and veterans. Listen to the stories that matter, this is Military Matters.

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20 episodes
Avg 35 min
English

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Sep 28, 2023 · 9 min
Military Matters Series Finale
Final episode of Military Matters. Its been an amazing couple of years and I can't thank you enough, the listener, for your support and listernship. Hopefully we'll meet again! Rod out. ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
S7 · E11
Sep 19, 2023 · 38 min
Quantum Leaps and Bounds
You've probably heard the term "quantum" now at some point in your life from the dizzying numbers of film, television, and podcasts describing worm holes, multi-verses, and time travel. But there is REAL work happening right now at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that is set to change the way we live. This isn't one of those 50 years from now deals, its happening now! Quantum living could be knocking at your front door sooner than you think! ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
Sep 12, 2023 · 14 min
Fast Take — Legacy of Vanessa Guillen
Rod Rodriguez explores the aftermath of Vanessa Guillen's murder, such as the legal changes to a commander's involvement in sexual assault/harrassment investigations, the Fort Hood independent report, and "cover up" culture in the military. Did anything really change? ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
S7 · E10
Sep 5, 2023 · 43 min
The murder of Vanessa Guillén, revisited
In light of recent developments in the Vanessa Guillén case, we're revisiting our Season 2 episode. Host Rod Rodriguez talks with Natalie Khawam, the lawyer for Vanessa Guillén's family, and Stars and Stripes reporter Rose Thayer, who had been covering the case since its start. We discover how Guillén's family first suspected something was wrong the very day she disappeared and how their first push for help the following day included an interaction with her killer. We also discuss how the more questions the family asked about the whereabouts of their daughter, the more roadblocks to answering those questions the Army put down. ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
Aug 29, 2023 · 10 min
Fast Take — Farewell to Jack, we barely knew him
Rod Rodriguez talks bidding farewell to Jack Murphy, the end of the season, and potentially the end of the show! ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
S7 · E10
Aug 22, 2023 · 1 hr 4 min
Jack Murphy — SOF veteran, author, journalist and podcaster
As we wrap up this season of Military Matters we bid a fond farewell to my co-host Jack Murphy. In this episode I sit down with Jack and talk about his career in Special Operations, his journey into journalism, and what's next for Jack Murphy and his podcast the Team House. ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
Aug 15, 2023 · 32 min
Fast Take — SOF LARPing with Jack Murphy and AI vs the world
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss last week's interview with Dr. Paul Scharre about the world of defense and artificial intelligence. We also discuss Jack Murphy's foray into showing civilians the SOF side of life as well as our thoughts on AI on the battlefield. All that and more on this Fast Take. ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
Aug 8, 2023 · 43 min
The risks and rewards of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is now a tool millions of people are using every day. What does this mean for not only our military but for the militaries of our adversaries and allies? Dr. Paul Scharre, former U.S. Army recon Ranger and now the executive vice president and director of studies at CNAS, talks about his experience with AI, where the military stands on the cutting edge, and what the REAL risks are when using AI. All that and more on this episode of Military Matters! ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
Aug 1, 2023 · 17 min
Fast Take — Task Force Dagger, PTSD treatment, and getting the story right
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy talk about last week's episode with the folks at Task Force Dagger. We talk charities, PTSD treatment, and you can listen to Rod get 'mythbusted' by Jack in real time! All that and more on this Fast Take! Also, check out this interview with Task Force Dagger founder Stephen Thompson from USSOCOM's official podcast SOFcast! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s4-e6-mark-stephens-retired-smu-operator-and-chairman/id1541155036?i=1000588132887 ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
S7 · E9
Jul 25, 2023 · 35 min
Task Force Dagger — changing lives of SOF veterans
Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation provides assistance to wounded, ill or injured U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) members and their families. They respond to urgent needs, conduct rehabilitative adaptive events (RAE) and provide next-generation health solutions for issues facing our service members. We talk with Director of Operations, Jessica Houlihan and Marketing/Fundraising Director Courtney Snyder about the work Task Force Dagger is doing with PTSD, stellate ganglion block treatment, and more! To learn more about TASK FORCE DAGGER, go to https://www.taskforcedagger.org/ ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
Jul 18, 2023 · 29 min
Fast Take — Dishonorable discharges, agendas, and DADT
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss last week's episode on the CBS News coverage of veterans seeking discharge upgrades from the "don't ask, don't tell" era. They talk military attitudes toward LGBTQ+ service members, witch hunts, agendas and what the DADT era did to the modern military. All that and more on this Fast Take! ___________ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
S7 · E7
Jul 11, 2023 · 48 min
Dishonorably Discharged — The legacy of 'don't ask, don't tell'
CBS Chief Investigative Correspondent Jim Axelrod and his CBS Producer Jessica Kegu have been covering the story of veterans who were separated from service with dishonorable discharges during the 'don't ask, don't tell era' and are now fighting to have the character of their discharges changed. A dishonorable discharge carries with it an unwavering stigma that has cost those veterans jobs, benefits, and some their lives. Is it time to fix what some call a terrible injustice? Links to CBS stories: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-veterans-dont-ask-dont-tell-white-house-vows-reevauluate-process-dishonorable-discharges/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/navy-veteran-discharged-over-her-sexual-orientation-33-years-ago-cant-clear-her-record/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/air-force-veteran-imprisoned-being-gay-endures-stigma-felony-record/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-gay-lesbian-service-members-denied-honorable-discharges/ ______ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
Jul 4, 2023 · 22 min
Fast Take — Jack writes books too and the Matt Drakes we know
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy talk about last week's interview with author Don Bentley, the joy of seeing good people accomplish great things, Jack asserts he's ALSO a writer, and Rod laments he hasn't written a damn thing. All that and more on this Fast Take! ___________ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
S7 · E6
Jun 27, 2023 · 47 min
Author Don Bentley — Is real life getting stranger than fiction?
Don Bentley is the bestselling author of the Matt Drake series and the man behind the two latest Jack Ryan Jr. books. Like the protagonist from one of his own works, Bentley has lived a pretty interesting life having spent a decade as an Apache pilot, serving as an FBI special agent focusing on foreign intelligence and counterintelligence, then as a SWAT team member, and now he's not only writing about his own original characters but he's also charged with shaping parts of the Tom Clancy universe. Is life getting stranger than fiction? Can reading fiction open your mind up to future decision making? Is Don Bentley really Matt Drake? All that and more on this episode of Military Matters! You can find out more about Bentley, his books, and what he's working on go to donbentleybooks.com and of course you can find all of Bentley's books everywhere books are sold. ___________ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information. Now you can hear Military Matters Wednesdays at 5 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET on Wreaths Across America Radio available on the iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Audacy apps.
Jun 20, 2023 · 17 min
Fast Take — Government cover-ups and the officials who love them
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss last week's interviews with NPR's Graham Smith and Tom Bowman. It all comes down to why do government offficials and military leaders think a cover-up is ever a good idea? Listen to "Taking Cover" today, https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510368/taking-cover ___________ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information.
S7 · E4
Jun 13, 2023 · 53 min
Taking Cover - the coverup of a Marine friendly fire incident
Was there a cover-up of the worst Marine-on-Marine friendly fire incident in modern history? We're talking with NPR investigations senior producer Graham Smith and NPR Pentagon reporter Tom Bowman about their podcast "Taking Cover," which delves into the story of the truth behind the deaths of Marines in Fallujah, the families seeking justice, and just how far some people went to hide the truth. Listen to "Taking Cover" today, https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510368/taking-cover ___________ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information.
Jun 6, 2023 · 27 min
Fast Take — 'Front Toward Enemy: War, Veterans, and the Homefront' with Dr. Dan Green
Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy talk about Jack's interview with Dr. Daniel Green and his book "Front Toward Enemy: War, Veterans, and the Homefront." ___________ This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information.
S7 · E3
May 30, 2023 · 54 min
'Front Toward Enemy: War, Veterans, and the Homefront' with Dr. Dan Green
With over 2 million post 9/11 veterans in America, the voice of this generation of vets is getting louder and more pronounced in television, film, theater, and in literature. What does this all mean for those vets transitioning back to a society they don't feel understands them? How do they make peace with wars that never really ended? Jack Murphy talks with Dr. Daniel Green about his book "Front Toward Enemy: War, Veterans, and the Homefront". This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9/11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information.
May 25, 2023 · 34 min
Fast Take — Ruck Up or Shut Up with Dr. David Walton
Military Matters hosts Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss Jack's interview with Dr. David Walton, the trauma of the Sand Man, VC bros at SOF Week, and what's coming up next week! This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9-11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information.
S7 · E2
May 16, 2023 · 1 hr 2 min
Ruck Up or Shut Up with Dr. David Walton
Jack Murphy talks with Dr. David Walton, retired US Army Green Beret, about his new book "Ruck Up or Shut Up: The Comprehensive Guide to Special Forces Assessment and Selection." Walton and Jack discuss what it takes to get through the rigorous assessment and selection process, some Green Beret history, and why you shouldn't spend thousands of dollars on "prep courses." You can find Walton's book on Amazon or follow the link above. This episode is brought to you by Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit helping build and donate homes to injured post 9-11 veterans. Visit HFOTUSA.org for more information.

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