From Soldier to Coach: The Journey of Shaun Kober

In this episode of Coffin Dodgers, Simon welcomes Shaun Kober, an Australian military veteran with a commendation for gallantry, to discuss his life and career. Sean shares experiences from his deployments in Iraq, East Timor, and Afghanistan, highlighting intense combat situations and missions. Post-service, Sean transitioned to personal training and strength conditioning, eventually moving to Thailand to train athletes. Despite business challenges, Sean continues to build his fitness programs, aiming to make a positive impact. The episode encapsulates Sean's resilience, dedication, and the lessons learned from his diverse experiences.

Find Shaun at https://www.coachedbykobes.com/about, and his podcast Live Train Perform at https://livetrainperform.buzzsprout.com.

02:05 School Days and Early Life

03:53 Joining the Military

07:21 Military Career and Deployments

11:33 Transition to Civilian Life and PT Career

16:55 Life in Thailand and Professional Growth

20:02 Memorable Military Stories

35:54 Reflections on Proactive vs. Reactive Engagements

36:17 Rules of Engagement and Moral Dilemmas

37:47 Becoming a Sniper: Challenges and Achievements

39:31 Broader Reflections on Afghanistan and Iraq

42:58 Comparing Conflicts: Afghanistan vs. Ukraine

48:00 Post-Military Career and Current Endeavours

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Being the Change for the Next Generation with Ray Everest

In this episode of the Coffin Dodgers podcast, Simon interviews Ray Everest, a transformative figure who has transitioned from being a teenage father, to a teacher, and then to a successful entrepreneur and advocate for early childhood education reform. The conversation spans Ray's early life in Tokoroa, his experiences in the educational sector, and ultimately, his shift to founding and running Future Focus, a chain of high-quality childcare centres. The discussion also delves into Ray's personal battles, including surviving childhood sexual abuse, and how these experiences have fuelled his mission to innovate and create environments where children can thrive. We focus on Ray's vision for Oro Focus and Oro Tech, technologies aimed at identifying and preventing early childhood trauma through better data collection and analysis, aiming to revolutionise the early childhood education sector. The episode highlights Ray's relentless drive, the importance of addressing underlying issues in education, and the power of innovation in creating lasting societal change.

00:48 Meet Ray Everest: Teacher, Family Man, Visionary

02:06 Ray's Upbringing in Tokoroa

04:07 Teenage Fatherhood and Life-Changing Decisions

12:48 The Role of Mentors and Teachers

17:15 Becoming a Principal: Challenges and Realisations

42:25 Journey to London and Beyond

45:41 Whirlwind Romance and New Beginnings

51:56 Life in Doha: A Cultural Shift

53:21 The Booze Baron of Qatar

59:57 Return to New Zealand and Teaching in Manurewa

01:15:49 Challenges of Traditional Education

01:25:17 Transition to CrossFit and Business

01:50:27 Entering Early Childhood Education

01:57:16 Challenges in Daycare

01:59:23 Building a Better Company

02:01:32 Future Focus

02:05:15 Addressing Child Abuse

02:11:27 Innovations in Early Childhood Education

02:26:26 Engaging with Policymakers

02:35:12 Final Thoughts

Find Ray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-everest-0a6

Future Focus: @futurefocus_earlylearning

Podcast: @futurefocusedpodcast

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Unmasking the Shadows: Combating Child Trafficking

In this compelling and hard-hitting episode, Simon interviews Leigh from Shield of the Children, an NGO dedicated to combating child trafficking and exploitation. Leigh recounts the pivotal moment in Vietnam that drove him to establish his organisation and discusses the systemic issues behind trafficking, the importance of undercover operations, and the need for stringent laws. The conversation spans Leigh's personal experiences from growing up in Indonesia to his strategic goals for his organisation and the practical steps communities and law enforcement can take to fight trafficking. The discussion underscores the urgent need for awareness and policy changes, especially in New Zealand, where current laws fall short in addressing these heinous crimes.

Contact Leigh: [email protected]

Donate here: https://globaldevelopmentgroup.org/Projects/Details?id=90&projectName=Operation%20Aegis&projectNum=J...

01:21 Meet Lee: The Mission and Background

03:46 Experiences in Refugee Camps

13:25 Joining the Military: A New Chapter

30:50 Deployments and Intelligence Work

35:57 A Shocking Encounter in Vietnam

40:52 The Birth of Shield of the Children

45:21 Challenges and Realities of Anti-Trafficking Work

01:01:21 The Importance of Effective Aftercare

01:05:56 Piracy in the Gulf of Aden

01:15:30 Recruitment and Training Process

01:30:29 Psychological Impact and Support

01:37:36 A Grim Reality: The Fate of Trafficking Victims

01:42:14 The Challenges of Human Trafficking Operations

01:53:58 Legal Hurdles and Policy Issues in NZ

02:19:57 Recognising the Signs of Trafficking

02:21:10 Labor Trafficking in New Zealand

02:24:14 Challenges in Victim Reporting

02:29:39 Global Perspective on Trafficking

02:30:38 Shield of the Children's Mission and Vision

02:51:43 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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From Combat Medic to Civilian Educator

This episode of Coffin Dodger's features Steve O, a former combat medic with extensive experience in both military and civilian medical fields. Steve shares his journey from childhood in New Zealand, through his military service in East Timor and Afghanistan, to working as a contractor in Somalia. Highlighting critical incidents like a massive 400-plus casualty event, Steve details the challenges of transitioning back to civilian life, finding new tribes and purpose in education and sports. Join Steve as he discusses the importance of team culture, mental health, and his commitment to improving emergency medical training.

01:08 Introducing Steve O

01:36 Childhood

15:27 Joining the Army

21:12 Army Medic Training

35:07 Surgical Mishaps & Smells

37:18 Field Hospital Realities

40:11 Bizarre Military Exercises

53:02 Deployment Stories: East Timor & Afghanistan

01:09:09 PDT Training and Initial Incidents

01:12:22 Leaving the Military

01:14:30 Transition to Nursing

01:22:37 First Experiences in Somalia

01:25:10 Navigating Chaos in Mogadishu

01:36:50 First Gunshot Wound and Realisations

01:41:58 IED Threats & Road Hazards

01:43:34 FOB Security Concerns

01:47:11 Mass Casualty Incident in Mogadishu

01:57:31 Combat Fatigue and Harassment Fire

01:58:37 First KIA Encounter

02:03:10 Ammo State Black: A Desperate Situation

02:18:14 Reflecting on the Mission

02:28:55 COVID & Deployment Challenges

02:31:45 Transitioning Back to Civilian Life

02:36:01 Finding New Purpose and Brotherhood

02:45:40 Final Thoughts and Shoutouts

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Tea with the Taliban

While coordinating security for a civilian project in Northern Afghanistan, Mark Te Hira faced one of the gravest challenges of his life—capture by the Haqqani Network, a Taliban-affiliated group notorious for its brutality. The day began as a routine survey mission but quickly unraveled into a dire situation as Taliban forces surrounded and captured his team.

The narrative of his captivity is marked by tension and an eventual miraculous release, facilitated by the quick thinking and invaluable connections of his Afghan security officers. This experience profoundly influenced Mark, both professionally and personally, underpinning his understanding of security and survival.

Mark's story didn't end with his escape; instead, it propelled him toward advocating for mental health and safety. Understanding the psychological toll of high-stress environments, he emphasises the importance of seeking help and the power of resilience. His journey is a reminder that experiencing trauma requires professional support and community connection to heal and thrive.

Contact Mark at https://www.pscglobal.co.nz/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pscglobal-global?si=T_5-04q8vu7imnie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/psc-global-physical-security-consultancy/

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1980s Houston to the Battlefield and Beyond

Episode 2 of Coffin Dodgers follows on from E01, a deep dive into the co-hosts of Coffin Dodgers. This time it's Ed's backstory. Ed Eastham recounts his journey growing up in 1980s Houston amidst economic challenges and rising crime, his early passion for sports and music, and the pivotal moment at Olive Garden that led him to join the Army. He shares stories from his military career, including deployments to Korea and Iraq, and the impact of those experiences on his life. The episode also explores Ed's transition from the military to a career in medicine, his deployments to Afghanistan, and his eventual move to New Zealand to join PracMed NZ's mission, highlighting the challenges and growth throughout his journey.

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The inaugural episode of 'Coffin Dodgers' is a dive into the background of host Simon Carkeek. In the introduction to Simon's story, we delve into his upbringing in regional New Zealand, through military service, post-service contracting and through to the present day as founder and Director of PracMed NZ.

With co-host Ed Eastham, Simon shares the motivations behind the podcast, aiming to illuminate stories of adversity and hope. Reflecting on his life, Simon discusses his foster care experiences, discovering his biological father, and his military service's rewarding yet tumultuous moments. He narrates his transition from military to civilian life, the emotional toll of losing comrades, and the decisions that led to leaving service. Simon's career shift to private contracting and founding his own training company underscores themes of adaptability, resilience, and finding the good from the bad that aided his successful transition to civilian life and business, and is a key theme of the podcast.

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