Sword and Pen

On this episode of Sword and Pen, guest Anthony Vazquez talks about his transition from being a landing support specialist in the marine corps to a visual journalist at the Chicago Sun-Times, a newspaper that canned its entire photo staff for journalists using smartphones in 2013.

If you are a photojournalist, a journalist who takes their own images, a student who wants to be a visualist storyteller, or a military veteran who

Listen as Anthony >

You can follow Anthony on Instagram  and view his work on his Website

This episode is hosted by Lori King

Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production, and is brought to you monthly by co-hosts Lori King and Drew Lawrence

Twitter | Lori King ⁠@intro2pj⁠ / Drew Lawrence ⁠@df_lawrence⁠

Got an idea for a podcast guest? Shoot us an email at ⁠[email protected]⁠ and/or ⁠[email protected]

On this episode of Sword and Pen, navy and army veteran Caron LeNoir talks about her vast experience in journalism, business and activism.

Baltimore native Caron comes from a family with deep artistic and political roots. She first takes us back to her childhood, and how her family of accomplished artists directly influenced her ability to tell stories through multiple formats. She started performing on stage at age 3, was on the radio in the second grade, and literally grew up in the darkroom.

Listen as Caron, the founder of CARONISMedia Group and The Center for Sensual Arts, delves into podcasting advice, entrepreneurship, the power of networking and activism, and her commitment to MVJ and its speaker's bureau.

Caron on ⁠Twitter⁠ | Instagram | LinkedIn

This episode is hosted by Lori King

Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production, and is brought to you monthly by co-hosts Lori King and Drew Lawrence

Twitter | Lori King ⁠@intro2pj⁠ / Drew Lawrence ⁠@df_lawrence⁠

Got an idea for a podcast guest? Shoot us an email at ⁠[email protected]⁠ and/or ⁠[email protected]

On this episode of Sword and Pen, MVJ member and retired Marine Corps officer Riccoh Player and acclaimed Oscar and Emmy nominated director and writer Frederick Marx talk about their passion for filmmaker and storytelling, and how they both share a mission to tell the stories of military veterans. 

They zero in on veterans transitioning into successful civilian lives, so this podcast is dedicated to veterans making that transition.

Listen as they also talk about how MJV can help reignite the creative fire that can be distinguished because of guardrails put up during military service; why the military should provide paid mentors to those transitioning into civilian life; and their collaboration on Warrior Films, founded by Frederick. They discuss Frederick's Veterans Journey Home five-part documentary series, which includes Kalani's Story, about a veteran who suffered from PTSD but through therapy and help made it to the other side. 

Amazon link to Riccoh's book Off the Record | Link to Riccoh's podcast The Warrior's Voice

Trailer to full feature file Veterans Journey Home | Warrior Films: Veterans Journey Home series

This episode is hosted by Lori King

Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production, and is brought to you monthly by co-hosts Lori King and Drew Lawrence

Twitter | Lori King @intro2pj / Drew Lawrence @df_lawrence

Got an idea for a podcast guest? Shoot us an email at [email protected] and/or [email protected]

On this episode of Sword and Pen, guest Ben Kesling talks about his quick transition from being a marine corps combat veteran to a reporter at the Wall Street Journal and a published author.

Listen in as Ben also reads a passage from his new book, Bravo Company: An Afghanistan Deployment and its Aftermath, a story of the war in Afghanistan through the eyes of the men of one unit, part of a combat-hardened parachute infantry regiment in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Ben, an MJV member and one of our Top 10 Military Veterans in Journalism in 2022, talks about how he funded journalism school at Medill at Northwestern; shares his love of his four young children with storytelling that makes a difference; and gives us his backstory to being a two-time winner on Jeopardy.

Ben on Twitter | To buy his book, go to Bravo Company | Link to RSVP to Ben and Russell Midori's longform journalism webinar on Jan. 12!

This episode is hosted by Lori King

Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production, and is brought to you monthly by co-hosts Lori King and Drew Lawrence

Twitter | Lori King @intro2pj / Drew Lawrence @df_lawrence

Got an idea for a podcast guest? Shoot us an email at [email protected] and/or [email protected]

In this special Veterans's Day episode of Sword and Pen, listen to nine one-on-one interviews featuring MVJ members who attended our first in-person 2nd annual MVJ Convention and Career Fair in Washington D.C. in October. 

The interviews were conducted by Jeff Pierce, director of broadcast and media partnerships for that radio station. Jeff set up his remote radio station booth on the first floor of our venue at the Reserve Organization of America building. We each told our own stories: Why we joined the military, what drove us to go into journalism, and what inspires us now.

I’m also excited to announce that because of a new content-sharing agreement with Wreaths Across America radio, our show is now in their regular scheduled line-up. It can be heard at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio on Mondays at 10 a.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. EST. It begins with the very first episode of Sword and Pen.

The nine guests: Zack Baddorf | Russell Midori | Ben Kesling | Devon Lancia | Tim Lenard | Chip Lauterbach | Noelle Wiehe | Caron LeNoir | Lori King

This episode was produced by Lori King

Sword and Pen is brought to you monthly by co-hosts Lori King and Drew F. Lawrence

Twitter | Lori King @intro2pj / Drew Lawrence @df_lawrence

Got an idea for a podcast? Shoot us an email at [email protected] and/or [email protected]

On this episode of Sword and Pen, Allison P. Erickson of The Texas Tribune and Tim Lenard of The Nevada Independent talk local news, transitioning from serving to reporting, and how veterans can make themselves an asset to their newsrooms.

Take a listen as Tim and Allison take us through working in state-focused newsrooms and how they act as the responsible arbiters of information between their community and national issues. Co-host Drew F. Lawrence speaks with both reporters about the challenges of transitioning as a veteran, their fellowships and the joys of the community that make it rich with professional opportunity and support.

Allison's Twitter | The Texas Tribune

Tim's Twitter | The Nevada Independent

This episode is hosted by Drew F. Lawrence

Sword and Pen is brought to you monthly by co-hosts Lori King and Drew F. Lawrence

Twitter | Lori King @intro2pj / Drew Lawrence @df_lawrence

Got an idea for a podcast? Shoot us an email at [email protected] and/or [email protected]

On this episode of Sword and Pen, Allison P. Erickson of The Texas Tribune and Tim Lenard of The Nevada Independent talk local news, transitioning from serving to reporting, and how veterans can make themselves an asset to their newsrooms. 

Take a listen as Tim and Allison take us through working in state-focused newsrooms and how they act as the responsible arbiters of information between their community and national issues. Co-host Drew F. Lawrence speaks with both reporters about the challenges of transitioning as a veteran, their fellowships and the joys of the community that make it rich with professional opportunity and support.

Allison's Twitter | The Texas Tribune

Tim's Twitter | The Nevada Independent

This episode is hosted by Drew F. Lawrence

Sword and Pen is brought to you monthly by co-hosts Lori King and Drew F. Lawrence

Twitter | Lori King @intro2pj / Drew Lawrence @df_lawrence

Got an idea for a podcast? Shoot us an email at [email protected] and/or [email protected]

On this episode of Sword and Pen, Military in Journalism president and co-founder Russell Midori highlights a few keynote speakers, journalism panels and job fair vendors featured at the 2nd annual MVJ Convention and Job Fair on Oct. 6-8 in Washington, D.C.

The #MVJ2022 Convention and Career Fair is the preeminent experience for the journalism world to put more veterans in newsrooms. This year’s annual gathering will be the organization's first ever in-person convention. Journalists, non-profit professionals, newsroom leaders and other supporters of newsroom diversity will gather to share, learn and connect with each other while focusing on supporting the under-represented community of military veterans in journalism. #MoreVetsInNews

This month’s podcast is dedicated to the MVJ members and non members attending this event!

Midori's Twitter | LinkedIn | Email

This episode is hosted by Lori King

Sword and Pen is brought to you monthly by co-hosts Lori King and Drew Lawrence

Twitter | Lori King @intro2pj / Drew Lawrence @df_lawrence

Got an idea for a podcast? Shoot us an email at [email protected] and/or [email protected]

On this episode of Sword and Pen, Zachary Fryer-Biggs, the managing editor of Military.com, talks about the defense reporting industry, his experience with hiring veterans and offers tips on freelance pitches and working in a newsroom. 

Take a listen as Zach takes us through his decade-plus of experience in national security reporting in various newsrooms -- from investigations to managing a newsroom and what Military.com does. Co-host Drew F. Lawrence -- who works in Military.com's newsroom as a reporter -- speaks with Zach about the inside of a newsroom and how you, as a veteran, can best thrive in one.

Zach's Twitter | Military.com

This episode is hosted by Drew F. Lawrence

Sword and Pen is brought to you monthly by co-hosts Lori King and Drew Lawrence

Twitter | Lori King @intro2pj / Drew Lawrence @df_lawrence

Got an idea for a podcast? Shoot us an email at [email protected] and/or

On this episode of Sword and Pen, guest Kyle Rempfer takes us on his amazing journey from being an Air Force combat controller to his current position as editor of the Army Times, a branch of the independent Military Times.

Listen in as Kyle chats about the myth of needing a journalism degree to break into journalism; the importance of seeking paid or unpaid internships at news organizations; the need to have tough skin when being told no by opaque military and DoD officials; and the art of filing Freedom of Information requests.

This show will be an inspiration to our MVJ members transitioning from the military into journalism, especially if you don't have a journalism degree hanging on your wall yet. 

Kyle's Twitter  | Army Times | Military Times

This episode is hosted by Lori King

Sword and Pen is brought to you monthly by co-hosts Lori King and Drew Lawrence

Twitter | Lori King @intro2pj / Drew Lawrence @df_lawrence

Got an idea for a podcast? Shoot us an email at [email protected] and/or [email protected]