Mandatory Fun

By We Are The Mighty

What's Mandatory Fun about?

Mandatory Fun is a weekly podcast about the military and pop culture. Join us in breaking cultural tropes and bridging the military-civilian divide through storytelling and entertainment. The show is hosted by the We Are The Mighty's editorial team: Air Force veteran Blake Stilwell, Army veteran Logan Nye, Navy veteran Tim Kirkpatrick, and Navy veteran Orvelin Valle (O.V.).

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Mandatory Fun episodes:

06.19.2018
The story of the slave who survived the Alamo
The attack on the Alamo in 1836 was not a 13-day siege and slaughter as often portrayed in film and television. Don't get me wrong – the defenders of the mission-turned-fortress were killed en masse as Mexican troops stormed the...
06.05.2018
Why Navy SEALs will storm the beaches of Normandy in 2018
Jumping into freezing water is just part of the legacy of being a Navy SEAL. During World War II, the U.S. Navy Combat Demolition Units were just a handful of guys equipped only with a pair of shorts, a knife,...
05.28.2018
How going to war brings out the best and worst in people
Our guest Sebastian Junger is not a military veteran. He makes that clear, but he sure sounds like one. Maybe it's because he's seen more conflict than many in the United States military. If there's an expert on modern warfare...
05.21.2018
It will make you angry to learn how a veteran lost $100k in benefits
For almost a decade Moses Maddox has built a career helping veterans with personal, academic, and financial counseling. But he didn't become the veterans champion he is today without first overcoming his own transition struggles. Here's how he used his...
05.15.2018
PTSD is temporary, here are the first steps to defeating it
Our guest, the Director of Innovation and Collaboration for the VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Dr. Wendy Tenhula joins us for a discussion on identifying and treating mental health issues.
05.01.2018
How to 'Conquer Anything,' according to a Green Beret
War has a way of shooting holes in your best-laid plans. Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Stube (Ret.) suffered life-changing wounds during the battle of Operation Medusa in Afghanistan in 2006, but using the Green Beret methods he learned in the...
04.24.2018
Combat poetry reveals what life is like on the Afghan front lines
Marine Corps veteran turned poet, and author Justin Eggen brings modern warfare, poetry, and short stories into a beautiful storm that reveals the inner workings of life on the front lines of Southern Afghanistan.
04.17.2018
4 survival skills that will help you thrive in a disaster or zombie apocalypse
The Mandatory Fun crew got their hands on "100 Deadly Skills: Survival Edition" by national bestselling author and Navy SEAL Clint Emerson. Emerson's book is the SEAL operative's guide to surviving in the wild and being prepared for any disaster,...
04.10.2018
That time Senator Mitch McConnell was fooled by 'Duffel Blog'
Our guest founder and editor-in-chief of our favorite military satire publication Duffel Blog Paul Szoldra joins us for a hilarious discussion about his adventures in military satire. We discuss Szoldra's first book, the funny times Duffel Blog was mistaken for...
04.03.2018
5 insane stories from the life of Britain's most successful double agent
The real James Bond is finally revealed: A few years ago Larry Loftis decided to stop publishing legal articles and work full-time on researching and writing the story of Dusko Popov, the daring World War II double agent who worked...
03.20.2018
This corpsman wants to keep saving lives with 'Combat Medicine'
When Doc Todd left the Navy after spending three years as a corpsman, he didn’t have any transition assistance or training. He lost friends. He lost Marines. After separating from the military, he saw even more of his Marines take...
03.14.2018
Introducing This is War
A raw look at the combat and homecoming experience from American veterans who have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. “This Is War” chronicles the trials of combat vets both abroad and at home. Subscribe today: wondery.fm/thisiswar
03.13.2018
How a comedian can go from Hollywood to Kabul
"It was like walking onto the surface of the moon," Graham Elwood says of his first experience walking off of a C-17 in Afghanistan. His experience was not unlike many of our own first times deploying to a far-off edge...
03.02.2018
How to survive any dangerous situation with these deadly skills
Clint Emerson is not your average U.S. Navy retiree. He's not your average anything and he never was. That might be why so many Fortune 500 companies want Emerson to not only speak at their corporate gatherings but also teach...
02.27.2018
5 of the biggest changes coming to the US military
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, the gang comments on some of the biggest coming the U.S. military will face in the coming days. Because external challenges are easy for a fighting force like ours, the internal struggles...
02.20.2018
6 military movies you need to watch in 2018
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, the crew discusses what military movies veterans need to see in 2018. Since all veterans have their own idea of what makes a good military movie, Blake, Tim, and even the new...
02.13.2018
This is why it’s so damn hard to play a veteran, according to an actor
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, the crew speaks with standup comedian turned actor Tone Bell. Tone isn't a veteran, but as always, there's a connection. On the Netflix show Disjointed, Tone plays a veteran who has served on...
02.06.2018
We showed a civilian how to be a vet, here's what we got
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak with standup comedian turned actor Tone Bell. Tone isn't a veteran, but he plays an Army veteran with multiple combat deployments under his belt and now who deals with everyday veteran issues like PTS...
01.30.2018
This Green Beret will change what you know about action movies
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak actor, TV host, and former U.S. Army Green Beret Terry Schappert. You may remember Terry from the popular History Channel show Warriors, and now, Hollywood Weapons on the Outdoor Channel with Israel Defense...
01.23.2018
This is why your next business book should be a military field manual
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak with U.S. Navy SEAL veteran turned entrepreneur Eli Crane. You may have seen Eli pitch his business Bottle Breacher on the hit TV show Shark Tank. Eli's appearance landed him a...
01.16.2018
How unconventional tactics won the battle for Ramadi
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak with Scott Huesing, a retired U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Major with 24 years of service as an enlisted and commissioned officer. During his career spanning ten deployments, he operated in over...
01.09.2018
Navy SEAL: No, the military does not destroy your creativity
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak with poet, activist, filmmaker, actor, and Navy SEAL veteran of 22 years, Mikal Vega. Mr. Vega joined the Navy at 17, entered the EOD profession for roughly nine-years, deployed multiple times throughout...
12.26.2017
Military brats are highly skilled at reading people and bad situations
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we speak with respected book author, speaker, publisher, and Vice President of Production at Warriors, Inc — Julia Dye. Warriors, Inc. is a unique organization that provides technical advice to the entertainment industry. Mrs. Dye is the...
12.18.2017
This Army veteran's book focuses on the stories of the 'Frontline Generation'
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we once again speak with Army veteran, national speaker, and acclaimed author of the 2017 Independent Publishing Award-winning book The Frontline Generation: How We Served Post 9/11 — Marjorie K. Eastman. Marjorie is also...
12.11.2017
How the US Air Force tricked CSAF McPeak into staying in the military
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we talk to former Air Force Chief of Staff, General Merrill A. McPeak, who served as a military adviser to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council, and the President. He’s also a...
12.04.2017
How the Vietnam War shaped the modern day US Air Force
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks formerAir Force Chief of Staff General Merrill A. McPeak who served as a military adviser to the secretary of defense, National Security Council, and the president. He’s also a career...
11.27.2017
How playing cowboys and indians prepared this commander for war
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks once again with Jimmy Blackmon, the author of Pale Horse, a book about his time commanding an Army aviation task force with the 101st Airborne Division at the height of combat...
11.20.2017
The best qualities about veteran entrepreneurs that investors love
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, we talk to veterans Mike Lui and Buck Jordan from RMR Laboratories, an over-the-counter cannabis pharmaceutical company about the best qualities investors love in veteran entrepreneurs. RMR Laboratories produces cannabinoid oil that's applied...
11.13.2017
These vets may have the answer to the future of cannabis pharmaceuticals
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with Army veteran turned co-founder and CEO of RMR Laboratories, Mike Lui, about his over-the-counter cannabis pharmaceutical company. RMR Laboratories produces cannabinoid oil that's applied as a topical cream to the skin for pain...
11.07.2017
How Bergdahl’s stroll in Afghanistan affected a unit's operations
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with Jimmy Blackmon the author of Pale Horse a book about his time commanding an Army aviation task force with the 101st Airborne Division at the height of combat in the...
11.06.2017
How to stay fit and not get fat after you get out of the military
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and O.V. speak with Army veteran and fitness expert Jennifer Campbell on what veterans can do during their busy day to stay in shape when going to morning PT isn't an option....
10.13.2017
How to see those never-before-published 'Terminal Lance' comics
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with Marine veteran and "Terminal Lance" creator Max Uriarte about his newest projects and other current events. Related: 'Terminal Lance' creator talks about the Marine Corps and the future of his...
10.12.2017
How post-9/11 vets are bringing new life to the American Legion
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with Army veteran Jennifer Campbell who is currently the Second Vice Commander of the American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood, Ca. Recently, Jennifer and the commander of Post 43, Fernando...
10.12.2017
The best military movies by service branch
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and O.V. talk with stand-up comedian and Marine veteran Mitch Burrow about what their favorite military movies are broken down by branch. Everyone loves to watch movies from all genres. Veterans and service...
10.10.2017
The real-life dictator who ruined his country and became a cannibal
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and O.V. talk with stand-up comedian and Marine veteran Mitch Burrow about a communist Army cadet, a cannibal dictator and make a smooth segway into Ken Burns' Vietnam documentary. General Idi Amin dethroned...
10.09.2017
These fantasy benefits would make being a vet so much better
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and O.V. once again speak with stand-up comedian and Marine veteran Mitch Burrow about what fantasy benefits vets would love to receive. We asked Mitch what fantasy benefits or one law he would...
09.28.2017
The military superpower veterans have but sometimes fail to use
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Tim, O.V., and Blake speak with The Marine Rapper a.k.a. TMR about all the A-level training our service members receive but don't capitalize on it when they get out. Every veteran's journey after...
09.21.2017
How Taco Bell influenced a rapper to become a Marine
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with The Marine Rapper a.k.a. TMR about how he went from wrapping tacos to rapping music lyrics. "I joined the military because I was working at Taco Bell and ironically as a...
09.20.2017
How to kidnap Marines, according to combat training role player
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake speaks with Kelvin Garvanne about his life as an Arabic/Iraqi role player who took training U.S. ground troops to a whole new level — even conducting mock kidnapping scenarios. During these training...
09.14.2017
These are the Hollywood actors who train our troops for combat
Role players are an essential element for troops preparing to travel overseas and face-off with the enemy. They provide a cultural boost immersing troops in a violent world in which they're about to deploy. Role players submerge themselves into training scenarios commonly...
09.07.2017
These simple luxuries can make your next deployment tolerable
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and Chase speak with stand-up Mitch Burrow about what simple luxuries we wished we had while on deployment. Mitch is a Marine Corps veteran that served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in...
08.31.2017
How an aspiring sergeant major became a stand-up comedian
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Tim, and O.V. speak with Mitch Burrow, a funny burly-guy who went from being a Marine to becoming a stand-up comedian. When we join the military all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, we...
08.17.2017
How drunken shenanigans earn fighter pilots their callsigns
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Shannon, Tim, and O.V. discuss the interesting process of how Air Force officers receive their callsigns. In the military, callsigns are considered much more than just a name, rather a perfect representation...
08.11.2017
These are the wars we'd fight in if we had a time machine
In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, Blake, Chase, Tim, and O.V. discuss what role we'd like to serve in during any war. Many veterans today are so intrigued by military history, they've considered what war they feel like they...
07.21.2017
5 perks that will help you win your time in the military
We did not join the military for the fabulous pay. If pay were the only motivator, we'd all go somewhere else. Most vets will have you believe that he or she joined because it's their patriotic duty. While that may...
06.26.2017
This is the World War II film Dale Dye wants to make with a cast of veterans
Dale Dye wants to make the "air version" of Saving Private Ryan, and he wants to film it with as many military veterans as possible. "If you think of the first 18 minutes or so of...
05.29.2017
Officers and enlistees confess the best and worst about each other
Historically, the military has relied on clearly defined bounds of acceptable interaction between the officer and enlisted ranks to maintain good order and discipline. It is a long-standing custom that dates back hundreds of years and has proven itself effective...
05.05.2017
What we learned from working with Iraq and Afghan locals
Green on blue attacks — attacks by Afghan soldiers on Coalition forces — are one of the many dangers our troops in the Middle East face every day. These deadly morale-sapping attacks are difficult to predict and leave lasting negative...
04.20.2017
10 things that will change the way you look at grunt officers
Grunt officers get a bad wrap when they arrive to their first unit. Like any newbie, "Butter Bars" — military slang for 2nd Lieutenants — have to earn the respect of their men despite their rank. Related: These...
04.12.2017
How Navy corpsmen and Army medics work together in the field
Rivalries are nothing but tough brotherly love between military service branches. Sure, we give each other a hard time but put us on any mission together, and we become an unstoppable force. Army medics and Navy corpsmen are...

What's Mandatory Fun about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Mandatory Fun episodes:

The story of the slave who survived the Alamo

Why Navy SEALs will storm the beaches of Normandy in 2018

How going to war brings out the best and worst in people

It will make you angry to learn how a veteran lost $100k in benefits

PTSD is temporary, here are the first steps to defeating it

How to 'Conquer Anything,' according to a Green Beret

Combat poetry reveals what life is like on the Afghan front lines

4 survival skills that will help you thrive in a disaster or zombie apocalypse

That time Senator Mitch McConnell was fooled by 'Duffel Blog'

5 insane stories from the life of Britain's most successful double agent

This corpsman wants to keep saving lives with 'Combat Medicine'

Introducing This is War

How a comedian can go from Hollywood to Kabul

How to survive any dangerous situation with these deadly skills

5 of the biggest changes coming to the US military

6 military movies you need to watch in 2018

This is why it’s so damn hard to play a veteran, according to an actor

We showed a civilian how to be a vet, here's what we got

This Green Beret will change what you know about action movies

This is why your next business book should be a military field manual

How unconventional tactics won the battle for Ramadi

Navy SEAL: No, the military does not destroy your creativity

Military brats are highly skilled at reading people and bad situations

This Army veteran's book focuses on the stories of the 'Frontline Generation'

How the US Air Force tricked CSAF McPeak into staying in the military

How the Vietnam War shaped the modern day US Air Force

How playing cowboys and indians prepared this commander for war

The best qualities about veteran entrepreneurs that investors love

These vets may have the answer to the future of cannabis pharmaceuticals

How Bergdahl’s stroll in Afghanistan affected a unit's operations

How to stay fit and not get fat after you get out of the military

How to see those never-before-published 'Terminal Lance' comics

How post-9/11 vets are bringing new life to the American Legion

The best military movies by service branch

The real-life dictator who ruined his country and became a cannibal

These fantasy benefits would make being a vet so much better

The military superpower veterans have but sometimes fail to use

How Taco Bell influenced a rapper to become a Marine

How to kidnap Marines, according to combat training role player

These are the Hollywood actors who train our troops for combat

These simple luxuries can make your next deployment tolerable

How an aspiring sergeant major became a stand-up comedian

How drunken shenanigans earn fighter pilots their callsigns

These are the wars we'd fight in if we had a time machine

5 perks that will help you win your time in the military

This is the World War II film Dale Dye wants to make with a cast of veterans

Officers and enlistees confess the best and worst about each other

What we learned from working with Iraq and Afghan locals

10 things that will change the way you look at grunt officers

How Navy corpsmen and Army medics work together in the field