Speak Freely Podcast

Check out this SPECIAL EDITION of the Speak Freely Podcast -- the show that brings veterans on to have tough conversations about the politics and policy issues that are dividing America.

In many ways, our Season 2 finale is the quintessential “Speak Freely” episode. Our vision for the show from the beginning was to explore veterans' dreams for America. We say at the start of every episode, “What is the change that THEY want to see?”

In this episode, we really get a chance to dive deep into that question and to find out from 6 veterans graduating from the University of Washington this year, what are their wishes for the graduating class of 2019?

The episode was recorded in May 2019 just after Memorial Day and just before the graduation season. To all our fans, we hope you enjoy and share our message with recent graduates!!

On today’s episode, we’re talking to two veterans from the University of Washington and asking them the central question - what is the role of the U.S. tech community in America’s national defense?

Our guests are Katherine Pratt and Nathan Lewis. Katherine is an Air Force vet and current PhD candidate studying computer brain interfaces here at UW’s electrical engineering program. She was also recently featured in a Marvel comic called Unstoppable Wasp. Make sure you check it out.

Nathan Lewis is a former enlisted Marine and logistics officer with multiple tours overseas. Since coming to the UW Foster School of Business he’s been focused on operations and consulting. We definitely appreciated his perspective on defense tech given his exposure to large-scale software systems as a logistics officer--and we know you will appreciate it too!

On this episode of Speak Freely, we’re talking to veterans about the 2nd Amendment and Gun Law Reform, and asking the central question---is there a middle ground on this issue that both sides of the aisle can agree on?

Our first guest is Jake Murphy, a former infantryman and squad leader in the U.S. Army and a current business student at the University of Washington in Tacoma. During his time in the service, Jake deployed multiple times overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan and speaks to how his experience as a combat veteran influences his views on the 2nd Amendment and gun rights in this country.

Then we’ll hear from Eddie Reed, who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and now lives in Seattle, WA. Eddie received his BS in Art and Art Education from the University of Maine and an EdD from University of Washington, Seattle. Eddie brings his perspective to this conversation both as someone who grew up hunting and as a former high school principal responsible for conducting active shooter drills with the staff and students.

On today’s episode, we’re reviewing President Trump’s recent State of the Union address and exploring the central question: what is the real state of the Union?

Our guest is Chris Thobaben, a former Marine officer living in Vancouver, WA, now working as an entrepreneur and consulting on the Marine Corps’ logistics innovation program called NexLog. He ran for office in Washington’s 18th legislative district as a Democrat in 2018--and managed to make the race more tightly contested than a lot of people expected, in a traditionally very conservative district.

Given his campaign experiences, his perspective on the recent government shutdown and the State of the Union address was super valuable.

For Episode 2 of Speak Freely, we’re talking to veterans about the results of the recent midterms and asking them the central question -what should we make of the results as we look towards 2020?

Our first guest for the episode is Sue Fulton, a member of the first class at West Point to admit women and a former Signal Officer. Over the years, Sue has continued to serve her country by advocating for LGBT servicemembers, and women in politics and leadership positions. Sue also currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the West Point Board of Visitors, where she helps shape the academic, physical, and leadership standards for the Army’s future officers.

Our second guest for the episode is Josh Darnell. Josh is a former Army infantry officer who was wounded by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan and has since moved on to pursue his Master’s and PhD in International Relations and American Politics from the University of Georgia.

Together, we discussed the midterm results, the growing number of veterans in elected office, and what the American public should expect as presidential candidates start throwing their hats in the race.

We're back with our Season 2 opener! Today’s topic is “Collective Impact” and we explore the question, “How can different communities come together to advocate for change with a common agenda?” We recorded last week at a town hall event in Kent, WA, called "Not To Be Ignored: Veterans + American Muslims."

The event panel was an all-star cast of community leaders and elected officials including Susannah Cunningham, Executive Director of Only Through Us; Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee; State Representative Kristine Reeves (D-30); MG (ret.) Paul Eaton, senior adviser to VoteVets.org; East Wenatchee City Councilman Matthew Hepner; and U.S. Navy reservist LCDR Abdul Memon.

Here's the event page for the town hall:

https://www.facebook.com/events/330200354402354/

More on collective impact:

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/collective_impact

https://www.collaborationforimpact.com/collective-impact/

This episode, the topic is “Education Reform” and we explore the question, “How do we make our education system more equitable to empower citizens in the 21st Century?” Our guests are Nate Bowling, a former Air Force reservist and the 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year. Nate is also the host of the Nerd Farmer podcast and the Co-founder of Teachers United, teacher led education-policy advocacy organization that seeks to insert and elevate the voices of impactful educators in the education policy-making process. And Skyler Brown, a former Army officer and Andrew's good friend at the UW Foster Business School. Throughout this episode, listen for Skyler to provide a valuable perspective as a father navigating America's education system.

In honor of Veterans' Day, this week's topic is “National Security” and we explore the question, “How far should the U.S. go to advance its ‘national security interest’?”

Our first guest was Steven Dean, who served as an enlisted Marine and then a Marine officer for eight years, eventually leaving the service as a Captain. He went on to serve another 25 years in the FBI, transitioned to the private sector, and recently retired.

Our second guest was Jason Smith who also recently retired, but as a Lieutenant Colonel after a 20 year career in the Marines. While on active duty, Jason deployed to Pakistan in support of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, and later to Iraq, Liberia, and Oman in the Marine Reserve. He serves currently as the Dean of Health Sciences and Public Safety at Everett Community College and teaches a summer course here at UW on the role of the military in international development and humanitarian assistance.

Our guests for this episode are Jon Hopkins, a former Army infantry officer who has since blazed a path across corporate America at McKinsey & Uber, and is now the Executive Director of a local nonprofit called Commute Seattle whose mission is to help Seattle commuters, residents, and visitors live more and drive less. And our second guest is Adam Stopka, a member of the ever-shrinking group of native Washingtonians in the Seattle area, and a former Navy Hospital Corpsman who currently works as a registered nurse at Harborview Medical Center. He’s also a husband and a father, and it was awesome having his perspective on this show. This episode the topic is “Income Inequality in America” and we explore the question, “How do we solve it?”

Our guest this week was Mark Bonicillo, a local aspiring software engineer, Foster Business alum, and a former Marine Corps logistics officer. Tune in to hear Mark talk about life right after 9/11 before joining the Marines, when he worked for the Charles Koch Foundation, the Heritage Foundation and later at the CATO Institute. Despite his conservative bona fides, these days Mark identifies as an Independent and loudly resists labels. Today’s topic is “Civic Engagement” and we explore the question, “How do we increase citizen engagement in America?”