Butter Bars & Coffee

Major Jonathan Swoyer is an Army Foreign Area Officer (FAO) focused on South Asia and holds the unofficial record for having spent more time in Nepal than any other U.S. Army officer. He graduated from the Nepali Army Command and Staff College in Shivapuri, Nepal, then transitioned to working at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu as the Security Cooperation Chief in the Office of Defense Cooperation. He is a prior enlisted Signals Intelligence linguist who speaks five languages. Jon has 46 months of combat operations experience in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, as a former Ordinance and Psychological Operations Officer. In this episode, Jon talks about his decision to join the Army at the age of 19, why he chose to leave the enlisted world and become an officer, how he uses his knowledge of language to better understand culture and context, as well as his hopes and fears of starting the next chapter of his life as he prepares for retirement. 

Wing Commander Andrew “Johnno” Johnson has served over 25-years in the Royal Australian Air Force. In 2007, he was part of a four-person crew who landed themselves in the Guinness Book of World Records by rowing across the Tasman Sea from New Zealand to Australia. In 2010, Johnno and a mate rowed the Sepik River, the longest in Papua New Guinea. In this episode, Johnno talks about serving in the Australian Air Force, some of the similarities and differences between the Australian and U.S. military, and why he chose to push his mind and body to the limits in his two rowing expeditions.

Priya Sridhar is a political reporter for NBC in San Diego, a Public Affairs Officer (PAO) in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and serves on the Board of Directors for Military Veterans in Journalism. Priya has worked in all aspects of TV news from reporting, editing, shooting, anchoring, hosting and running a bureau.  She has also worked for major international news organizations such as CNN, Al Jazeera, RT, Arise, ABC, NBC and the Associated Press. In this episode, Priya tells us what it was like growing up in the United States as a second generation American, what it was like living and working overseas as a reporter, and how her experiences as a Navy PAO have shaped her career as a reporter. 

Sean Hansen is a Navy veteran and performance coach. He joined in 2001 and deployed multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). As both a combat veteran and licensed attorney, Sean is not your typical performance coach. His diverse background equips him with a rare mental and emotional toughness that is uncompromising. As a performance coach, Sean helps his clients find, face, and overcome their blind spots. Through the combination of psychometric evaluation and deep client relationships, Sean helps his clients achieve their optimal performance while still connecting with the things that fill their lives with passion and fulfillment.

On this day, January 15, 2007, Lieutenant Mark Daily was killed by an IED in Mosul, Iraq. In this episode we sit down with his wife, Snejana Hristova Daily, to recount her journey as a military spouse. She describes how Mark and her first met and what it was like being swept away into a military life after college. We then discuss what it was like for her to learn that her worst fears came true with her husband’s death and how that news was received back home. 

Laszlo Palko is an Army veteran currently serving as the City Manager for Manassas Park, Virginia. Laszlo joined the Army in 2005 and deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). After the military, Laszlo earned a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University where he also completed an internship in the late Senator John McCain’s office. In this episode, Laszlo tells us what it was like growing up in the United States as a first generation American, what he witnessed over the course of his two deployments, and how his experiences in Afghanistan helped prepare him for his current role with the City of Manassas Park. 

Lieutenant Colonel Charles “Bill” Innocenti served 21 years in the United States Army. He joined in 1987 during the Cold War and deployed to the front lines of Germany. He later deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm and multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After retiring from the military Bill deployed to Afghanistan as a contractor. In part two of his interview Bill continues his amazing story by talking us through the initial invasion of Iraq (2003), what he witnessed over the course of his three deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and what it was like working side-by-side with the Afghan National Army.  

Lieutenant Colonel Charles “Bill” Innocenti served 21 years in the United States Army. He joined in 1987 during the Cold War and deployed to the front lines of Germany. He later deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm and multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After retiring from the military Bill deployed to Afghanistan as a contractor. In this episode Bill tells us about being stationed in Germany as a Butter Bar during the Cold War, what it was like to witness the fall of the Berlin Wall, and being a part of the Army as it shifted its strategic focus in a post-Cold War era. 

Major Chris Cramer is an Intelligence Officer who deployed in support of combat operations to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He speaks three languages and graduated from the Italian Command and General Staff College in Rome, Italy. In this episode Chris talks about his decision to join the Army at the age of 28, how a last minute change of fate kept him from getting out of the military, and what the journey has been like for him and his family thus far.

Lucas Sandidge is an Army veteran who joined in 2005 as a Military Intelligence Officer. He served roughly five years and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In this episode Lucas brings his cup of Black Rifle Coffee and sits down with Mateo to discuss topics such as what motivates people to join the military, how the country can bridge the disconnect between those who have served and those who have not, as well as the benefits of veterans running for elected office. Lastly, Lucas touches on his transition out of the military and how he leverages the skills he acquired in the Army for use in his current career.