NOT YOUR AVERAGE OPERATOR

This episode, your hosts are joined by a special guest- the multitalented Dave “MacDaddy” McGregor. The MacDaddy has what might be a unique combination of skills- a professional jazz trumpet player, F/A-18 Hornet pilot, flying instructor and Joint Tactical Air Controller (JTAC). His story highlights that none of us really know what our capabilities are, or how our story will unfold until we apply ourselves fully.

You will hear a story about a boy in Perth, Western Australia getting a trumpet in grade 5, which launched a lifelong love of music, including scholarships through high school and university. This musical passion led to a professional career of ten years, performing in Australia and the US. In the background, MacDaddy had never forgotten a childhood desire to fly fast jets for the Australian Air Force, and a setback in his 20s lit the fire to follow his second dream.

Of course, nothing worth achieving comes easily, and Dave describes some of what he had to do to overcome challenges and then be accepted into the pilot training program at the age of 27 ½.

During the episode, you will also hear stories from combat operations in Afghanistan, where Mac served as the fighter pilot specialist JTAC with the Australian Special Forces.

The main thread of Mac’s story is that adaptation and work is needed for all of us in life, and that no pathway is ever laid out for anyone. With a clear goal and the right attitude, we can all carve our own way.

Please let us know what questions or areas you would like explored in future episodes in the review section.

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Contact your hosts:

Rafael “Tio” Espinosa

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Paul “Melon” McFadden

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Mike

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Dave “MacDaddy” McGregor

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The boys had the immense privilege to have a sit down with the great Matthew Hopper. This is a name that most people will never know, but in the shadows of the Army’s Special Operations Aviation Regiment and a very tight inner circle, this name is a currency in competence and authenticity. That’s to say, Matt is the guy you turn to when the objective looks bleak, and it’s an absolute no fail mission. Starting his storied Army career as a Cavalry Scout in 1995, he served in various enlisted leadership positions, before being selected for the Army’s Warrant Officer Flight Training program. One of his last assignments as a Scout was with the, then, avant garde Stryker Brigade out of Ft Lewis, Washington where he helped establish the Army’s first Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) Squadron.

His flying career was just as preeminent. Growing up in the Medevac world out of Ft. Irwin, CA, Matt soon found himself augmenting and sharpening his skills as an assault pilot in South Korea. This would soon pay dividends when he completed assessment & selection for the shadowy Night Stalkers, or more commonly known as Task Force 160, becoming a household name after the film adaptation of Mark Bowden’s popular book Black Hawk Down. It was here that Matt finished his last 7 years of Honorable service to the Greatest Nation.

However, trail blazers like him hardly take the easy road anywhere. Shortly after stepping out of the Army uniform, Matthew Hopper dove head first into the commercial aviation world. After ebbing and flowing, he landed his dream legacy airline where he currently resides. More notably for  those lucky enough to know him, and call him a close friend & confidant, he’s paved yet another route into a world that most “rotor heads” have historically considered extremely challenging to break into; if not impossible (which deserves its own episode!!). If nothing else is gleaned from this episode, I think every listener will agree, at a minimum, is that people like Matt Hopper should be treasured. This is a man who has continually, and consistently put everyone else before him. From his young Scout days as a motivated junior enlisted leader, to instructor pilot, and now as an ambassador for the most eminent legacy airline, Matt’s principles have remained steadfast. Always forward. Always upward. And at the core of that is his unwavering loyalty to his friends, family, and those he serves.

Please share your thoughts about this episode. We encourage all of our listeners to reach out to us with your own stories. We love reading your insights, feedback, and how we can add more value to your day.

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This week, the team returns with our Q&A session to answer some more listener questions that we have been receiving. Mike and Melon cover down again this week while Raf takes some personal time to do some recovering (He sang too much Whitney Houston at Karaoke and lost his voice)

Some of this week’s questions:

And more!

We continue to thoroughly enjoy the comments, emails, and feedback from all of you out there listening. The dialogue that has been taking place can be summarized as being simply amazing.

If you would like to leave us a comment, ask more questions, or leave us a review, please leave us a comment On Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on all Heroes Media Group!

Contact your hosts on FB or by email:

Paul “Melon” McFadden

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Raf Espinosa

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Mike

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Please leave us a review!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

The boys had the immense privilege to have a sit down with Dr. Erin Donnelly. She  is a Licensed Psychologist and Reproductive Sexologist who is currently in private practice. She grew up in Kansas City before attending Saint Louis University in St. Louis. During her time in undergrad, she also cheered professionally for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. Erin had the honor of visiting troops stationed at bases in Afghanistan, Qatar, South Korea, Japan, and throughout the United States. She competed in the NFL Network’s NFL Cheerleader Playoffs and was selected as the team representative to the 2007 ProBowl.

After graduating SLU with degrees in Psychology, Biology and French, Erin moved to Philadelphia and attended Widener University Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology, where she earned her master’s and doctorate in Clinical Psychology, as well as an additional master’s degree in Human Sexuality at the Center for Human Sexuality Studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of OB/Gyn at the University of Kansas Medical Center before opening her private practice in 2015. Erin is the former Director of Training at the University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center, where she ran an APA-accredited doctoral internship, postdoctoral fellowship rotation and practicum curricula.

She continues to serve the American Psychological Association as a Site Visitor. Clinically, she focuses on assessment and treatment of adults, with specializations in couples and relational work, trauma-informed care, sexuality and reproduction. Erin is credentialed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards to practice telepsychology in several states under the newly-established Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PsyPact).

Erin believes that her purpose is to help people foster safety, heal, enhance their relationships, and breathe more easily day-to-day in order to find the greatest sense of holistic balance, meaning, and fulfillment in their lives.  You’ll agree that Erin is more than an accomplished guest. She is the definition of a force multiplier through her advocacy work, as well as, her approach to life.  Please share your thoughts about this episode and we encourage all of our listeners to reach out to us and Dr. Donnelly with your own stories. We love reading your insights, feedback, and how we can add more value to your day.

Dr. Erin Donnelly’s recommended resources:

https://roadmaptoresilienc.wordpress.com

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

https://psychologytoday.com

httsp://inclusivetherapists.com

https://headspace.com(Headspace App)

Breathe2Relax App

Mindfulness Coach App

________________________________________

You can reach Dr. Erin Donnelly at:

[email protected] or drerind.clientsecure.me

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Every day, the average person has approximately 2500 interactions in person, emails, on the phone, or on social media. In each of these interactions, there are specific times in which we can make vital choices to have either positive or negative impacts, influences, or responses .

It’s in these times that we need to take that pause and listen to that internal conversation taking place inside ourselves and match up the proper response with the proper reflection of who we truly want to be in those moments.

In this week’s episode, we welcome back our best mate Raf after yet another overseas tenure, and discuss the ripple effect that NYAO Podcast has had on not only the three of us, but those in our own circles as well.

Join us as we share some of our positive stories from real listeners, and how the positive framework that we aim to extract in every interaction, has taken a positive effect on life.

How has this podcast influenced you? Has it given you some type of framework to work from? Has it made conversations in your circle better? We’d love to hear your feedback!

Please leave us a comment and rating on apple podcasts under reviews, on Facebook, or Instagram!

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Paul “Melon” McFadden

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Raf Espinosa

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Mike

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We are the two best friends that anyone could have! That’s right, this week you are getting the tag team of Mike & Melon! Our good mate Raf is currently in transit back home to the USA from overseas and we wish him Godspeed.

We always like to take the time to respond to our listeners and their questions and try to make a solid attempt to bring them to light and have great open and honest conversations. We appreciate them!

Some of this weeks questions:

And more!

After a tough month of some heavier topics in episodes 33- 35, we figured we would light it up with some exceptional banter and share some stories as well.  Thank you for the questions and we hope that  you enjoy!

If you would like to leave us a comment, ask more questions, or welcome Raf back home ??, please leave us a comment On Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Apple podcasts, or on all Heroes Media Group!

Contact your hosts on FB or by email:

Paul “Melon” McFadden

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Raf Espinosa

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Mike

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Links:

APPLE PODCASTS

(?Please leave us a review!)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

The boys were honored once again to have COL (Ret) Kelly Hines as a guest. In this episode, they were able to extrapolate tangible result based tenets that Kelly drew on in his near 30 year odyssey in service of Our Great Country. Taking him from a young enlisted soldier in the infantry, to leading some of the most prodigious Special Operations pilots in the U.S arsenal, who’s exploits mostly remain classified. The famed Task Force 160th. Fortune struck Task Force Diamondhead and Raf when, as a seasoned and formidable leader, he took command of the unit in preparation for their 2012 deployment. Kelly was instrumental in preparing, mentoring, and leading  a conventional force of over 500 hundred men and women into the pernicious lands of Afghanistan. Tenets that served him, and especially the troops he led on and off the battlefield. These are just some of the takeaways the boys were able to discuss with COL (Ret.) Hines.

The boys all agreed that encountering a combatant commander like Kelly truly is scarce, and even more rare to have the opportunity to listen to his own personal anecdotal stories. We think you’ll agree that trailblazers like COL (Ret.) Kelly Hines is a living institution for those following in their footsteps. This short interview only gave us a small footprint of his exploits, however, it unearthed a treasure trove of tools that every listener could implement in our own leadership roles. Timeless tenets that proved powerful in some of the world’s most hostile corners of the world, can have impactful positive results here at home. Please share your thoughts about this episode and we encourage all of our listeners to reach out to us with your own stories. We love reading your insights, feedback, and how we can add more value to your day.

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This week, we welcome back with empathy, our honored guest, U.S. Marine Casey Ingraham. Casey recently contacted the crew about another pandemic that is still sweeping through the military and veteran ranks…suicide. Sean, a great friend of Casey’s and Marine as well, has very recently taken his own life. It is an insurmountable time of sadness, anger, and vulnerability. Casey has chosen to come on and share this with the world and join the search for reason, understanding, and just to let some things out in a healthy manner that may just help some others who are struggling.

The team wanted to approach this topic with great care and consideration, but we also know how important it is to have the tough discussion about some of the reasons this happens. The three of us have all experienced the tragic loss of friends and teammates throughout our military service, and it is no different than anyone else when you just want to ask “Why?”, “What could I have done differently?” or “Why didn’t they just call me?”

Melon, Raf, and I would just like encourage healthy discussion about this powerful topic. It is a faceless animal that even the most prepared have a tough time dealing with. We have reached out to some psychological professionals and gathered some resources to share with everyone out there.

If you are or know someone that is having thoughts of self-harm, please make that phone call, visit with your family or friends, or reach out to your teammates and ask for help. Call in for that “fire support” and win this battle!

United States:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

https://activeheroes.org/get-help/

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Australia:

Australian Anxiety and Depression Help:

https://beyondblue.org.au/

Australian Military Crisis Support:

https://mates4mates.org/crisis-support

Contact your hosts on FB or by email:

Paul “Melon” McFadden

[email protected]

Raf Espinosa

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Mike

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This is one of the most powerful episodes I’ve ever sat in, or listened to. “For Those That Have Gone Before Us”.

We were privileged to have Melanie House with us today to listen to her story. An intrepid Gold Star Widow who was put in front of the impossible. Alone, with their 4 week old son, was notified with a knock on her door that John had died in a helicopter crash that claimed 31 American Heroes. A story filled with palpable pain, sorrow, overwhelming loss, but also love & triumph.

In her eloquent storytelling abilities, she intertwines the story of John D. House. A hero to those that understood what he bestowed on the altar of freedom, in a place considered one of the most dark places void of any light and hope in 2004-2005. Tragedy after tragedy, she lays out the real cost of war. The human toll that spouses and loved ones endure when our best sons and daughters pay the ultimate sacrifice.

Melanie shares the anguish she felt pierced by her darkest moments. She also gives us invaluable lessons of perseverance and hope. Her story is powerful, and in her own words, an episode in her life she didn’t choose or asked for. Nonetheless, she did the best she could, to put her life back together. If not for her, at least for their beautiful son James. Her story is a story that you’re going to want to listen to, and share repeatedly, because she lays out the clues and foundation for all of us to follow when we find ourselves in our own hell. Melanie shows us all that there is absolute love and healing on the other side.

This story is another stitch in the rich fabric that makes up humanity. Thank you for listening to this episode, and, as the tattoo on John’s chest read, thank you “For Those That Have Gone Before Us.”? If you’d like to donate to the amazing charities that supported Melanie and James in their most critical moment, or just help spread the word, please go to the following:

https://www.garysinisefoundation.org

https://www.taps.org

https://www.camphometownheroes.org

We encourage all of our listeners to reach out to us. We love reading your insights, feedback, and how we can add more value to your day. Feel free to reach out to any of us, or if you’d like to reach out to Melanie as well.

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This week, Raf went through some of the great questions we have received from you, our listeners, and dropped these two bombs on the team to prompt conversation:

This led to a fairly significant conversation, only broken by poor attempts at humour from your least favorite operator, Mike… 

Raf recounted the story of his baby brother’s survival when he contracted meningitis at 6 months of age. He shares memories of his mother staying at the hospital for the entire journey, remaining by his brother’s side through his life and death struggle. Raf also shares a story of a combat helicopter mission where he extracted troops under fire, but in the process needed more power than the engine could provide. He still does not understand how or why his helicopter continued to fly on that day.

This led Melon to recount the story of his daughter Annie’s birth. His wife Cherie’s waters broke during the 22ndweek of her pregnancy with their daughter Annie. Somehow Cherie managed to overcome multiple infections and her body’s natural tendency to progress into full labour for 7 days, and made it to the start of the survival window for premature birth. On the first day of the 23rdweek, a 570 gram / 1 lb baby was born, but the neonatal unit was not ready… 

Mike shared the story of his close friend John Grant, a Navy SEAL who survived a brain damaging SUV rollover with the love of his wife and strength of character. If you need a boost, see some of their videos online. https://www.instagram.com/laurabpilates/?hl=en

The uplifting experiences of a Special Forces operator dealing with equipment failure, a vision impaired teenager rocking out, the example of charitable work, and practical advice on how to deal with the fear of flying round out the episode. 

Raf refers to the charity: https://fightfortheforgotten.org/

707 aerobatic manoeuvre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra_khhzuFlE

If you are getting something positive from these conversations, please leave us a review.

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