It's A Blast Podcast

I sat down with digital media creator and Soldier, Tyler Butterworth, to talk about his time in the Army National Guard, and how he got into creating content on Social Media.

His content is hilarious, but it was great to sit down and have serious conversation about the Army, and his personal life. Mike is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the Army. Prior to

commissioning, he served as an enlisted Soldier for 10 years. He is an

advocate for mental health and taking care of the force. You can follow

him on X @EODHappyCaptain and Instagram @EODHappyCPT

 

Thank you for listening! Be sure to follow along for new episodes and

leave a review!

Anthony Anderson, founder of Guardian of Valor, discusses his work in exposing stolen valor and the importance of protecting the integrity of military awards. He shares his personal journey as a veteran and how he became involved in exposing imposters. Anthony explains the legal definition of stolen valor and the difference between stolen valor and embellishing military records. He also addresses the process of obtaining service members' records and the pushback he receives from candidates and their supporters. Anthony emphasizes the nonpartisan nature of his work and the importance of presenting facts to the public.Mike is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the Army. Prior to

commissioning, he served as an enlisted Soldier for 10 years. He is an

advocate for mental health and taking care of the force. You can follow

him on X @EODHappyCaptain and Instagram @EODHappyCPT

 

Thank you for listening! Be sure to follow along for new episodes and

leave a review!

In this conversation, Mike sits down with Joe Czikalla, an EOD technician, to discuss Joe's experiences in the EOD community. They discuss the challenges and adrenaline rush of being an EOD technician, as well as the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in the field. The conversation also touches on the tragic loss of three EOD technicians during Joe's deployment. Joe discusses the intense workload and reporting requirements of EOD teams in Afghanistan, and shares his experiences of being constantly on the move and the exhaustion that came with it. He highlights the intelligence and organization of the enemy fighters and the dangers they posed. He emphasizes the importance of the EOD community and the support they provide to one another.Mike is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the Army. Prior to

commissioning, he served as an enlisted Soldier for 10 years. He is an

advocate for mental health and taking care of the force. You can follow

him on X @EODHappyCaptain and Instagram @EODHappyCPT

 

Thank you for listening! Be sure to follow along for new episodes and

leave a review!

Captain Chris "Chowdah" Hill, commander of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, discusses his leadership style and the use of social media and managing over 5,000 sailors on a ship. Captain Chowdhill's leadership philosophy, known as the Way of the Warrior Sailor, focuses on creating morale and recognizing the value of every sailor. He emphasizes the need for constant communication, mission and purpose, and sailor recognition. His social media presence, particularly on Twitter and Instagram, has gained attention and support from high-level leaders in the Navy.Mike is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the Army. Prior to

commissioning, he served as an enlisted Soldier for 10 years. He is an

advocate for mental health and taking care of the force. You can follow

him on X @EODHappyCaptain and Instagram @EODHappyCPT

 

Thank you for listening! Be sure to follow along for new episodes and

leave a review!

Mary Dague sits down with me and discusses her time as an EOD technician and life after EOD. She talks about her decision to join the army and her experience in EOD school. Mary also shares her first unit assignment and the challenges she faced as the first female in the unit as well as the challenges she faced in a male-dominated field, including communication barriers and preconceived notions. Mary talks with me about an incident in Iraq where she was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED), losing both of her arms and her road to recovery. We discuss her time after the Army, Hollywood, and resilience. Mike is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the Army. Prior to

commissioning, he served as an enlisted Soldier for 10 years. He is an

advocate for mental health and taking care of the force. You can follow

him on X @EODHappyCaptain and Instagram @EODHappyCPT

 

Thank you for listening! Be sure to follow along for new episodes and

leave a review!

Jeff Dawson, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient and EOD technician, shares his journey in the army and his experiences in the field. He was deployed to Afghanistan with the 28th EOD, a specialized EOD unit, and was involved in a mission where he encountered multiple IEDs and casualties. Despite being wounded multiple times, Jeff continued to work and save lives on the ground. He went on to complete seven deployments.

Jeff talks about being wounded in combat on multiple occasions, and his recovery process, including his physical therapy goals and the challenges he faced. He also delves into his journey of addressing his mental health, including his use of ketamine infusions and exploration of alternative medicines. Mike is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the Army. Prior to

commissioning, he served as an enlisted Soldier for 10 years. He is an

advocate for mental health and taking care of the force. You can follow

him on X @EODHappyCaptain and Instagram @EODHappyCPT

 

Thank you for listening! Be sure to follow along for new episodes and

leave a review!

Mike sits down with Jeff Truex, a retired Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, and discusses his military career and the creation of the nonprofit organization, After the Long Walk, aimed at reducing EOD veteran suicide. After the Long Walk was founded in 2015 in response to the suicide of an EOD technician. The organization provides a 24-hour hotline manned by EOD technicians for EOD technicians in need of support. After the Long Walk is a program created by and for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians to provide support and prevent suicide within the EOD community. Mike is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the Army. Prior to

commissioning, he served as an enlisted Soldier for 10 years. He is an

advocate for mental health and taking care of the force. You can follow

him on X @EODHappyCaptain and Instagram @EODHappyCPT

 

Thank you for listening! Be sure to follow along for new episodes and

leave a review!

In this conversation, Mike interviews Michael Norton, a recruiting battalion commander, to debunk misconceptions about the state of Army recruiting. Norton emphasizes that the Army does not have a recruiting problem band highlights the success of his recruiting battalions in achieving their missions and overproducing. Norton addresses concerns about compromised standards, explaining that the army has not changed its standards but has provided more opportunities and support for test-taking skills. He also discusses the role of social media in recruiting and the benefits of joining the Army.Mike is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the Army. Prior to

commissioning, he served as an enlisted Soldier for 10 years. He is an

advocate for mental health and taking care of the force. You can follow

him on X @EODHappyCaptain and Instagram @EODHappyCPT

 

Thank you for listening! Be sure to follow along for new episodes and

leave a review!

SGM Mike Vining is a military legend. From his time as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician in Vietnam, to the founding of the United States Army's premiere counter terrorism force, Delta Force, Mike has done it all.

In this episode, Mike sits down and talks about his time in the Army to include being EOD, Vietnam, civilian life, and the founding of Delta Force.Mike is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the Army. Prior to

commissioning, he served as an enlisted Soldier for 10 years. He is an

advocate for mental health and taking care of the force. You can follow

him on X @EODHappyCaptain and Instagram @EODHappyCPT

 

Thank you for listening! Be sure to follow along for new episodes and

leave a review!

SPC Christian Sutton, also known as the bone marrow guy, discusses his work in promoting bone marrow donation within the Army. He explains the importance of the bone marrow registry and how it helps individuals with cancer or blood disorders find a match for a life-saving donation. SPC Sutton shares his journey of getting involved in the bone marrow registry and the challenges he faced in establishing a sustainable program within the Army. He emphasizes the need for education and awareness about bone marrow donation and hopes to make the Army the largest source of bone marrow donors in the United States.Mike is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the Army. Prior to

commissioning, he served as an enlisted Soldier for 10 years. He is an

advocate for mental health and taking care of the force. You can follow

him on X @EODHappyCaptain and Instagram @EODHappyCPT

 

Thank you for listening! Be sure to follow along for new episodes and

leave a review!