Alone and Unafraid

In this conversation, Tanner Yackley, founder of Remote Warrior, discusses the often-overlooked psychological toll of remote warfare and the complexities of Drone or RPA operations. He highlights the challenges faced by remote operators, including quality of life issues, the disconnect in military recognition, and the difficulties of transitioning to civilian life. Tanner shares his experiences as a former RPA operator and the emotional and psychological challenges faced by those in the remote warfare community. We discuss the unique pressures of making life-and-death decisions from a distance. Tanner highlights the moral injuries that arise from remote combat and the urgent need for better mental health support for veterans.

Resources and Links:

Remote Warrior LLC

On Killing Remotely: The Psychology of Killing with Drones

VA PTSD Checklist (PCL-5)

VA Vet Centers

Mental health YouTube resources -Nick O'Kelly

https://remotewarrior.carrd.co/ https://invisiblewarfare.carrd.co/
https://rwpanicpack.carrd.co/
https://rwsmarthome.carrd.co/

Sponsors:

Finance 4 vets-Nick O'Kelly

PoleStar CoffeeGuest Info:

Tanner Yackley is a former MQ-9 Reaper Sensor Operator and Instructor Evaluator who spent a decade supporting combat operations remotely for the U.S. Air Force. He is the founder of Remote Warrior™, a mission-driven organization advocating for the recognition and care of drone and remote warfare veterans. Through his work, Tanner is helping bring visibility, language, and healing to a community often overlooked in traditional definitions of combat service

Keywords

Remote Warfare, RPA, Psychological Impact, Military Service, Drone Operations, Mental Health, Combat Experience, Advocacy, Veterans, Air Force, fighter pilots, RPA, mental health, combat, moral injury, remote warfare, veteran support, PTSD, community, education

In this episode, Thad and Tyler welcome back three familiar faces—Doug White, Katie Huckett, and John “Eight Knees” Turner—for a wild, hilarious, and emotional recap of their return to Scotland with the Allied Forces Foundation. From absurd duct tape survival strategies to deep reflections at Arlington Cemetery, this is a brutally honest look at endurance, camaraderie, and how shared struggle brings people closer together. If you’re looking for inspiration, laughter, and a reminder that you’re not alone—this is the episode.

Resources & Links:

• Alone and Unafraid Website

• Doug White – Episode 10

• John Turner – Episode 29

• Cadence Wealth Partners – Nick O’Kelly

• Doug White – Law enforcement officer, previous guest, and Yomp veteran.

• John “Eight Knees” Turner – Marine, poet, and endurance runner.

• Katie Huckett – Tyler’s wife, Yomp finisher, and silent badass.

  
  

“I wanted Katie to see where I feel like I actually belong.” – Tyler
“The magic wasn’t on the trail—it was in the van, in the barracks, at the mess hall.” – Doug
“Can you suffer and still come out better on the other side?” – John
“We got to the point where I just spackled my butthole with jelly.” – Tyler (context… essential)

Former Navy SEAL Ben Davis joins us to talk identity, transition, and mental health. After a decade in the teams, Ben faced TBIs, depression, and the difficult shift to civilian life. He shares how childhood struggles, wrestling, and military service shaped him—and how writing and the outdoors helped him reclaim purpose. Now a full-time writer and director of the Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group, Ben helps other vets find healing beyond the battlefield.

Links & Resources:

• Ben’s Substack – “The Transition” – bldavis3.substack.com

• Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group – voag.org

• Polestar Coffee – polestarcoffee.com

• Finance4Vets – Nick O'Kelly – finance4vets.com

• Alone and Unafraid – aloneandunafraid.org

Guest Bio:

Ben Davis is a former Navy SEAL, full-time writer, and Executive Director of the Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group. His Substack, The Transition, explores the unseen side of leaving service and rebuilding purpose.

Standout Quotes:

• “Writing didn’t fix me—it gave me purpose.”

• “Mental health doesn’t come with a cast.”

• “You don’t realize how much of you is tied to the mission until it’s gone.”

🎧 Listen to Alone and Unafraid wherever you get your podcasts
🌐 Visit: aloneandunafraid.org
☕ Support the show: polestarcoffee.com
💼 Finance help for vets: finance4vets.com
✍️ Read Ben’s writing: bldavis3.substack.com

Retired Master Sergeant Darrell Utt joins us to share the brutal realities and hard-earned wisdom from his time leading Green Berets through one of the deadliest rotations of the Iraq War. From the backwoods of West Virginia to the chaos of Baghdad, Darrell walks us through his path of service, sacrifice, and leadership—and how he turned those lessons into the book Grit to Glory. We also reflect on the tragic loss of a fellow veterans and the responsibility we all share to check in on our brothers and sisters-in-arms.

Resources & Links:

Guest Info – Darrell Utt:
Master Sergeant (Ret.) Darrell Utt embodies a lifetime of excellence and extraordinary service. Raised in Huntington, West Virginia, he rose through the ranks to join the elite Green Berets, leading high-risk missions in some of the world’s most hostile environments. Known for his sharp tactical mind and calm, disciplined leadership, Darrell has inspired those around him through his humility, unity-focused leadership, and unwavering commitment to the mission. He continues to mentor the next generation of soldiers and Special Forces candidates, passing on hard-earned lessons rooted in courage, loyalty, duty, and selfless service. Among his many accolades are five Bronze Star Medals—including one with valor for heroism in Baghdad in 2006—as well as the Larry Thorne Award for best operational detachment in the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the Robert T. Frederick Award for military excellence. Darrell retired from the U.S. Army in January 2017 and now lives in Denton County, Texas, with his wife

Standout Quotes:

• “Courage is contagious. Calm breeds calm.”

• “We’re here now. Let’s go kill these motherf***ers.”

• “Even the strongest warriors carry scars.”

• “Sometimes all someone needs is a reason to push one more day.”

We’re shifting the podcast to an every-other-week release schedule. Here’s why, and what you can expect going forward. Plus, we share a few quick previews of what’s coming—some powerful conversations are on the horizon.

We love doing this, and we’re in it for the long haul. If you want to support the show, the best way is to share your favorite episode with someone, leave a rating, and if you’ve got a minute—drop a written review. It helps more than you know.

Resources & Links:

• Cadence Wealth Partners – Nick O’Kelly: https://www.cadencewealthpartners.com/nickokelly

• Polestar Coffee: https://www.drinkpolestar.com

If you’re into this—and you’re a veteran, active duty service member, first responder, or just someone who likes honest conversations—check out our full-length episodes of Alone and Unafraid. You can find us wherever you listen to podcasts, and visit our site at aloneandunafraid.org.

In this candidepisode, TMFK! and Hucky Bear dive into military lingo, the weird ways vets communicate, and how identity can get lost in transition. From debating “hooah” to exoskeletons and explosive diarrhea, they explore what it means to find purpose post-service—with some wild detours into snack obsessions, dry needling, and emergency room mishaps.

Resources & Links:

TMFK! shares his deeply personal journey from burnout and suicidal ideation to beginning the healing and clarity through psychedelic therapy. After leaving a toxic work environment and sinking into a dark depression, he was introduced to Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT—two powerful psychedelic compounds offered legally through The Mission Within, a veteran-focused retreat in Mexico.

This isn’t just another trip story. It’s a story of emotional excavation, spiritual awakening, and the release of generational trauma. TMFK! takes listeners through every step of the process—from his resistance and ego battles to profound realizations and encounters with what he believes to be God. Backed by a team of medical professionals and fellow veterans, this experience didn't just change him—it rebooted him.

This episode is a must-listen for veterans, first responders, and anyone feeling stuck in the trauma cycle. If traditional therapies haven't worked, this conversation could be your signal to try something different.

The Mission Within

No Fallen Heroes Foundation

VETS

Pole Star Coffee

Finance 4 vets-Nick O'Kelly

Cateran Yomp

Fund our Show!

Dive deep into the toxic impact of negativity — from bad vibes at work to the physical effects of processed food and stress. They explore how fueling your mind, body, and spirit intentionally can break the cycle of burnout, why leaving toxic environments matters, and what it means to reclaim your life, your energy, and your happiness. Plus, they share updates on Polestar Coffee, the hidden dangers of processed meats, and the Warrior Health Foundation’s incredible support for SOF veterans.

Resources & Links:

• Polestar Coffee - 10% off with code "ALONE"

• Doug White's Hiding in Plain Sight

• Warrior Health Foundation

• Alan Watts Lectures on YouTube

  Traumatic Brain Injury - TBI Help Now

Standout Quotes:

• "If you want to change your life, you need room to maneuver, grace for yourself, and better fuel for your body."

• "Nobody dreams of labor. If you think your work is your worth, you're barking up the wrong tree."

• "The stuff you consume — food, media, people — consumes you."

Call-to-Action:
Love the show? Support us by grabbing a bag of Polestar Coffee and using code ALONE for 10% off!
Also, check out the Warrior Health Foundation if you're a SOF vet looking for better health without the price tag.

Army veteran, Deep sea diver, and physician assistant Dr. Travis Kaufman breaks down moral injury, veteran mental health, and the realities of military medicine and life after service. From dive school and deployments to the White House Medical Unit and Ukraine, Travis shares the weight medics carry, the impact of moral injury, and what transition really feels like.

Also in this episode: vasectomy stories, Air Force envy, and why every vet needs to “close their tabs” before it’s too late.

Resources & Links:

• Center for the Intrepid: https://www.bamc.health.mil/page.asp?id=502

• World Extreme Medicine: https://worldextrememedicine.com

• Pole Star Coffee: https://polestarcoffee.com

• Cadence Wealth Partners – Nick O’Kelly: https://www.cadencewealthpartners.com/nick-okelly

• Alone and Unafraid Podcast Website: https://aloneandunafraid.org

Guest Info:

Dr. Travis Kaufman is a retired Army diver and physician assistant with a doctorate in medical science. He’s served in Iraq, Ukraine, and at the White House Medical Unit. Travis now works in global health leadership and teaches emergency and disaster medicine.

🧠 “You guys are probably a little bit type A and you probably stay really busy. That's like a telltale sign of just staying, not really facing what demon or whatever might be kind of haunting you.”
💬 “Sometimes it's harder to face it and be like, okay, let me take a look at this and see how I can look at it.”
🎙️ “You can't hack your way through transition. You have to go through it to come out the other side.” — TMFK!

Danny Archer went from enlisted Ranger to Commissioned officer to Warrant Officer with service in the 160th SOAR. This episode dives into purpose after service, rebuilding identity, and how horses—yes, horses—helped him heal. A raw, funny, and powerful look at life beyond the uniform.Links

Sponsor Links

Cadence Wealth Partners-Nick O'Kelly⁠

⁠PoleStar Coffee⁠

Support the Podcast on GoFundMeStandout Quotes

“You’re either called to this life… or you don’t hear the song at all.”
“That dip’s coming. You don’t have a choice. It’s how you handle it that matters.”
“Horses don’t care about your rank. They care about your energy.”

If you’re a veteran, active duty service member, first responder—or anyone really—check out more episodes of Alone and Unafraid. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts or visit aloneandunafraid.org.