Does the United States need a strongman figure to fix its current problems? Or can the Republic prevail in its current condition?

Chase Spears shares his experiences and advice on being an Officer in the Army

What does it mean to have the courage to stand by your convictions when doing so comes with a cost?In this episode of Four Years a Slave, I sit down with Dr. Chase Spears, a former U.S. Army Major and host of the Find Your Spine podcast, to talk about moral courage, leadership, controversial ideas, and the difficult choices that come with standing up for what you believe is right.

We go deep on Abraham Lincoln and whether he deserves his reputation as one of America’s greatest presidents. Chase argues that Lincoln is overrated; I make the case for Lincoln as one of the country’s great leaders. Along the way, we discuss the Civil War, presidential leadership, and what makes a historical figure worthy of admiration.

We also talk about Chase’s experiences in the military, including him mocking the Russian Ministry of Defence in a PowerPoint Presentation to him.Another difficult topic is moral responsibility.

Chase shares the story of trying to persuade a young soldier under his command not to have an abortion because he believed she was making an immoral choice. Whatever your position on abortion, the story raises larger questions about leadership, personal conviction, authority, and whether we have a responsibility to speak up when we believe someone is making a serious mistake.

We also take a detour into Kansas City, exploring why it may be one of America's most underrated cities and what makes it such an interesting place to visit, live, and explore.

This is ultimately a conversation about moral courage: knowing what you believe, being willing to defend it, and accepting that doing the right thing—as you understand it—can sometimes make your life considerably harder.

Subscribe to Four Years a Slave for more long-form conversations

#FourYearsASlave #ChaseSpears #FindYourSpine #AbrahamLincoln #MoralCourage #Leadership #AmericanHistory #Military #KansasCity #Podcast

Luke Lispet is a 14 year veteran of the Royal Australian Air Force

Hear the Story about the Spider, the Myth, the Legend of Clarence the Camel Spider

Has American Fast Food overrun other countries? I find out first hand

In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Gresham, co-host of the Watchfire Podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation that goes in directions you probably won't expect.

We dive into whether Randy Moss is the greatest NFL player to never win a Super Bowl, Brandon's hilarious stories from serving as an Air Force Security Forces cop in Germany, his first experience trying tobacco, and a discussion about Robert E. Lee's abilities as a military general. Along the way, we also cover Florida, history, sports, military life, and plenty of unexpected tangents.

If you enjoy long-form conversations that blend sports, history, military stories, and humor, this one's for you.

Topics include:

• Randy Moss and the greatest players without a championship
• Funny Air Force Security Forces stories from Germany
• First experiences with tobacco
• Robert E. Lee as a military commander
• Florida and other off-the-wall conversations
• And much more!

Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment with your favorite part of the discussion. What topic should Brandon and I tackle next?

-----

-----

What was it like living inside one of the most infamous palaces in the world?

In this clip from Four Years a Slave, former Blackwater contractor Morgan Lerette shares the surreal experience of living and working inside one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces during the Iraq War. What was once the residence of one of the Middle East's most notorious dictators became home to American military personnel and contractors operating in the heart of a war zone.

Morgan describes the strange contrast between the luxury of the palace grounds and the reality of daily life during the conflict. From the unique living conditions to the stories, culture, and experiences that came with operating out of such a historic location, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into a side of the Iraq War that few people ever hear about.

History, war, and irony all collide in this unforgettable story.

#IraqWar #SaddamHussein #Blackwater #MilitaryContractor #GWOT #MilitaryHistory #MorganLerette #VeteranStories #WarStories #MilitaryPodcast #FourYearsASlave #ContractorLife #CombatVeteran #MilitaryCulture #History #Baghdad #MilitaryLife #ModernHistory #PodcastClip #Veterans