This week we go back to the 1970's and explain the creation of the Mujahideen in direct response to the communist takeover and Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, and how the United States came to arm them. We talk about the origin, rise, and death of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Lion of Panjshir, and the Northern Alliance, a conglomerate of fighters from northern Afghanistan that resisted the Taliban in the 1990s. And with the Taliban today firmly in control of 33 out of 34 provinces, we discuss the resistance that has been created in the one province that has held out, Panjshir, led by Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud. 

T-Shirts and koozies in support of World Relief Seattle can be purchased at: https://bit.ly/3BfoJ9K
To donate directly to World Relief Seattle: https://worldrelief.org/seattle/get-involved/afghan-allies/#give
To donate directly to World Relief: https://bit.ly/3krJGHr
For more information on how you can help our Afghan Allies: https://bit.ly/3muYOXn


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Where to Listen:

Apple: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkapple 

Spotify: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkspotify 

Pandora: https://bit.ly/3xZ8bk9 

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ 

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj  

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw 

TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2W1VEPN 

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy 

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning. 

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast 

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: [email protected] 

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense. 

Mik Lopez joins us again this week as we try to wrap our minds around the Taliban takeover of the country and the government. We talk about why our elected and military leaders are wrong to so quickly and aimlessly point the finger to the Afghan military. With the series of press conferences given by President Biden and the Department of Defense, we revisit the topic of accountability. Zach also shares the full story of why he was fired in Kandahar for refusing to alter the intelligence to paint a better picture for the command at the time. 

We would also like to thank Luke and Curtis at The Panjwai Podcast for sharing our podcast this past week. Since then we have seen our listenership almost quadruple in the past week. We have reached out to Luke and Curtis and hope to collaborate with them sometime in the future. We highly recommend you make your way over to their podcast and give it a like and subscribe. If you like our podcast, you will love their storytelling about their time in Kandahar. The Panjwai Podcast can be found on Instagram at @thepanjwaipodcast and is available on all major podcast platforms. 


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Where to Listen:

Apple: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkapple 

Spotify: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkspotify 

Pandora: https://bit.ly/3xZ8bk9 

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ 

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj  

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw 

TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2W1VEPN 

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy 

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning. 

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast 

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: [email protected] 

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense. 

This week we talk about the emotions and changes that come with returning from a warzone, as well as the differences in returning as soldiers and as contractors. We talk about how war changes someone's personal views and some of the pet peeves that we have developed over time. 

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Where to Listen:

Apple: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkapple 

Spotify: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkspotify 

Pandora: https://bit.ly/3xZ8bk9 

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ 

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj  

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw 

TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2W1VEPN 

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy 

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning. 

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast 

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: [email protected] 

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense. 

This week we talk about the world of defense contracting, ranging from what we did as analysts to the bigger contracts for services such as logistics and food services. We talk about some of the ethical dilemmas that come with being contractors and fighting a war for profit. We also get into some of the reasons why our contracts probably shouldn't have existed in the first place. Later on in the episode we provide an update to the situation in Southern Afghanistan and delve into the subreddit page for all things Afghanistan, where most of the community members and participants are posting, reporting, and commenting directly from Afghanistan. 

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Where to Listen:

Apple: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkapple 

Spotify: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkspotify 

Pandora: https://bit.ly/3xZ8bk9 

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ 

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj  

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw 

TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2W1VEPN 

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy 

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning. 

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast 

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: [email protected] 

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense. 

Defense. 

This week we sat down with Helal "Leo" Dur, owner and operator of the Kabob House on Kandahar Airfield, and his wife Homa Mohammad. Together, Leo and Homa are the owners of Afghan Kabob in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Kabob House was a central part of our lives in Afghanistan. It's where we ordered food at least every Friday for dinner before cigar night. With Kandahar Airfield now closed down, we took this time to talk with Leo and Homa about their experiences as restaurateurs in North Carolina. Leo also told us just how difficult it was to run a restaurant on a military base in Southern Afghanistan, and why he chose to do so. They also gave us their unique perspectives as Afghan-Americans on Afghanistan's recent history and near future. 

Afghan Kabob is located on 3401 Raeford Road in Fayetteville, NC. Be sure to reach out to them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/afghankabobnc/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AfghanKabobNC

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Where to Listen:

Apple: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkapple 

Spotify: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkspotify 

Pandora: https://bit.ly/3xZ8bk9 

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ 

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj  

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw 

TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2W1VEPN 

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy 

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning. 

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast 

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: [email protected] 

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense. 

This week we discuss all things Hamid Karzai. From his start in the pre-Taliban government and relationship with King Zahir Shah, to his eventual return and ascendancy to become president. We talk about Karzai's abilities as a politician and a statesman, as well as the consistent charges of corruption that followed throughout his administration. We also get into some of what Karzai has been up to since the end of his 2nd term and the introduction of his successor, Ashraf Ghani. Towards the beginning of this week's episode we have some exciting news about next week's episode and guests. 

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Where to Listen:

Apple: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkapple 

Spotify: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkspotify 

Pandora: https://bit.ly/3xZ8bk9 

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ 

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj  

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw 

TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2W1VEPN 

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy 

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning. 

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast 

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: [email protected] 

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense. 

This week we discussed the various intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets that were deployed in Afghanistan in support of intelligence collection and training for our Afghan counterparts. Another guest joins us to help explain those processes as well as to help shed light on some of the office politics and misuse of assets that got in the way of effective ISR tasking. We also discuss the role of close air support (CAS) and  address what the future of CAS looks like in an Afghan Air Force without US and NATO contractors on site to assist in upkeep and training. We also spent a little time talking about the current state of the Afghan Air Force in general and what can possibly be expected in the immediate future.  At the beginning of the episode we share a current news story about a favorite restaurant of ours from the Boardwalk during our time in Kandahar. 

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Where to Listen:

Apple: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkapple 

Spotify: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkspotify 

Pandora: https://bit.ly/3xZ8bk9 

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ 

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj  

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw 

TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2W1VEPN 

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy 

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning. 

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast 

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: [email protected] 

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense. 

This week we talk to a friend who served as an Army Ranger and provides his insights on the nearly 20-year long counterterrorism mission, the original reason for America's involvement in Afghanistan. We discuss how the rather successful counterterrorism mission would eventually take a back seat to the counterinsurgency that developed during the Afghan election season of 2004. In the second half we talk about the rapid Taliban gains in the two months since this podcast started and address the idea of staying in Afghanistan in order to justify those that gave their lives during the war. 

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Where to Listen:

Apple: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkapple 

Spotify: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkspotify 

Pandora: https://bit.ly/3xZ8bk9 

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ 

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj  

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw 

TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2W1VEPN 

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy 

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning. 

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast 

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: [email protected] 

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense. 

This week we discuss the role Pakistan has played in supporting the Taliban and al-Qaida's efforts in Afghanistan. We talk about why Afghanistan matters to Pakistan and what Pakistan hopes to gain in Afghanistan following the United States' withdrawal in July. We also talk about the very real and very serious terrorism problems Pakistan has within its borders combatting the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), more commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban.

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Where to Listen:

Apple: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkapple 

Spotify: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkspotify 

Pandora: https://bit.ly/3xZ8bk9 

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ 

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj  

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw 

TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2W1VEPN 

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy 

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning. 

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast 

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: [email protected] 

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense. 

This week we provide a look at our lives deployed in Kandahar, including office politics, both good and bad management practices, and some recreational fun outside of work. We also discuss the overuse of US Special Forces throughout the War on Terror, and the detrimental effects that had when returning home. Additionally, we talk about how corruption, misuse, and an ineffective conventional counterpart hinders Afghan Special Forces' ability to operate, and the impact this had and will continue to have on their fight against the Taliban. With us this week is another special guest and good friend who contracted with us in Afghanistan and brings his unique view to the podcast.

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Where to Listen:

Apple: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkapple 

Spotify: https://bit.ly/theboardwalkspotify 

Pandora: https://bit.ly/3xZ8bk9 

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ 

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj  

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw 

TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2W1VEPN 

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy 

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning. 

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast 

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: [email protected] 

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense.