True Blue Conversations Podcast

On this weeks podcast, I spoke with Australian barrister & Public Prosecutor now defence lawyer Margaret Cunneen SC. For over four decades, Margaret Cunneen helped put away some of Australia's worst, as a crown prosecutor and, as her profile grew, so did the media attention, Margaret recalls the headline cases that helped establish her reputation, the controversies she became embroiled in.

In 2022 Margaret published her autobiography “ The Boxing Butterfly” A Life Of Conviction is a career chronicle of Margaret Cunneen SC—the boxing butterfly who turned the tables on ICAC, amidst prosecuting murderers, pedophiles and rapists—as she launches into her new chapter as a defence barrister. In her rearview mirror, Cunneen sees her trial successes—her convictions—interspersed with the flak from the ground fire of some colleagues who resented her success and were determined to stop her climb to greater heights. She regrets nothing and is satisfied with what she does. As Madam Crown, she empathised with the victims and their families. Now, as defence counsel, she empathises with the accused she defends. And what stories she tells! Some are gruesome and confronting, such as prosecuting the irreverent Skafs for gang rape, Robert ‘Dolly’ Dunn for pedophilia, the Butcher of Bega for unspeakable medical malpractice and the Charbaji Brothers for an ice- fuelled torture session that ended in murder. Others—especially relating to her defence clients, are filled with humanity.  Margaret is a wife Mother and Grandmother loves her NRL and is a passionate Manly fan, she is deeply faithful we spoke about the many high-profile cases she has been involved with the toll of being in the public sector, and how Margaret dealt with some of the terrible cases she has worked on over the 45 years. This was a ripping chat.

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Margaret Cunneen SC Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s episode I spoke with Colonel Kim “KC” Campbell DFC “Retd” served in the Air Force for 24 years as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. Kim is a keynote speaker sharing her story about a life changing combat experience while weaving in ideas and lessons about leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and decision making in stressful environments. Kim has flown 1,800 hours in the A-10 Warthog, including more than 100 combat missions protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. She is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy and has a Master of Arts in International Security Studies and a Master of Business Administration from the University of London.

She has served as a Squadron Commander, Operations Group Commander, Air Force Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defence for Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defence. Most recently, Kim served as the Director for the Centre for Character and Leadership Development at the United States Air Force Academy. In 2003, Colonel Campbell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism after successfully recovering her battle-damaged airplane after an intense close air support mission in Baghdad. In 2023 Kim published her bestselling book FLYING IN THE FACE OF FEAR A fighter Pilot’s Lessons on Leading with Courage. Kim is a mum a wife and now travels around America speaking and helping veterans transiting out of the military.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Kim “KC” Campbell

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s episode I spoke with Western Australian Police Officer Kristi McVee, a former detective and specialist child interviewer, she spent years investigating child sexual abuse and prosecuting pedophiles. In this chat, she gets real about the scope of the problem and the challenges you face as a cop chasing down pedophiles. She spent 10 years in the police force before retiring from the force. When she retired, she believed there was a better way to help. By taking a proactive approach, rather than a reactive approach, she knew she could help prevent child abuse and break the cycle of trauma that victims are so often subjected to. She founded CAPE-AU (Child Abuse Prevention and Education) to provide an educational service for parents, caregivers, and guardians around child sexual abuse protection and prevention. She recently published her first book Operation KidSafe: A Detective’s guide to Child Abuse Prevention and hosts The CAPE Podcast. 

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Krisit McVee Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s Episode 101:  I spoke with Rod Henderson former 3RAR Paratrooper & Army Aviation Loadmaster. Rod spent a total of 22 years within the Australian Defence Force both serving as a paratrooper with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, he was part of Operation Interfet, in 1999 the Australian-led International Force East Timor. Rod then transferred to Army Aviation, working with Black Hawks and Chinooks, including as a door gunner.

Rod has deployed on warlike and humanitarian operations to Timor, Pakistan, New Guinea, and Afghanistan. He’s now a volunteer guide at the Australian War Memorial. Recently Rod published his autobiography called “Stop Screaming I’m Scared Too” An Australian Soldier’s Story, out now!!

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Rod Henderson Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast Episode 100: Part 3 the Final part of a 20 years of service in the Special Forces.

I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator Craig Hamburger who enlisted into the Australian Defence Force in 1999; and served his country proudly for 20+ years. During his posting to 4 Royal Australian Regiment as a Commando, Craig deployed on multiple operations, including Timor Leste, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During one of his deployments in Afghanistan, he was awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. The citation reads "Corporal Hamburger’s gallantry in the face of heavy, accurate and sustained enemy fire ultimately ensured the safety of the other members of his team, and allowed them to regain the initiative, forcing the enemy to withdraw. His actions were of the highest order and in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian special operations forces, the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.” We spoke of the highs and lows of his service, losing mentors and mates, and the challenges many veterans and first responders face when they transition from service…. Part 3 of the 3-Part Series tells Craig’s raw, insightful, and gallant story.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Craig Hamburger

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast Episode 100 part 2:

I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator Craig Hamburger who enlisted into the Australian Defence Force in 1999; and served his country proudly for 20+ years. During his posting to 4 Royal Australian Regiment as a Commando, Craig deployed on multiple operations, including Timor Leste, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During one of his deployments in Afghanistan, he was awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. The citation reads "Corporal Hamburger’s gallantry in the face of heavy, accurate and sustained enemy fire ultimately ensured the safety of the other members of his team, and allowed them to regain the initiative, forcing the enemy to withdraw. His actions were of the highest order and in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian special operations forces, the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.” We spoke of the highs and lows of his service, losing mentors and mates, and the challenges many veterans and first responders face when they transition from service…. This is Part 1 of a 3-Part Series telling Craig’s raw, insightful and gallant story.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Craig Hamburger

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast Episode 100: I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator Craig Hamberger who enlisted into the Australian Defence Force in 1999; and served his country proudly for 20+ years. During his posting to 4 Royal Australian Regiment as a Commando, Craig deployed on multiple operations, including Timor Leste, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During one of his deployments in Afghanistan, he was awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. The citation reads "Corporal Hamburger’s gallantry in the face of heavy, accurate and sustained enemy fire ultimately ensured the safety of the other members of his team, and allowed them to regain the initiative, forcing the enemy to withdraw. His actions were of the highest order and in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian special operations forces, the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.” We spoke of the highs and lows of his service, losing mentors and mates, and the challenges many veteran and first responder face when they transition from service…. This is Part 1 of a 3-Part Series telling Craig’s raw, insightful and gallant story.

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Craig Hamburger Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I speak with Television Journalist Amelia Adams. Amelia has been a journalist for more than 21 years; more than 14 of those with the 9 Network.

Before joining the 60 Minutes team in 2022, she was Nine’s Senior Foreign Correspondent in North America. Amelia’s live reporting from the US Capitol during the January 6 insurrection saw her win two Kennedy Awards and a Walkley nomination. She has also reported from war zones in Ukraine and Iraq. Amelia covered the volatile final year of Donald Trump’s presidency and led the 9News coverage of the unprecedented 2020 presidential election. She reported from the ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests and the ‘Make America Great Again’ rallies. She was Nine’s London-based Europe and Middle East Correspondent, reporting on Brexit, the fall of Theresa May, and the 2019 UK election. In the Middle East, she covered the Turkish incursion into Syria and the US assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

She has reported directly from crisis zones around the world including the Fukushima nuclear disaster and the Christchurch earthquake.

Over the years Amelia has also regularly filled in hosting the Today Show and Nine’s 6 pm News. Amelia knows how to tell a story, share a story, and put words to paper. We spoke in depth of Amelia’s love for all things military history, the balancing act of being a working Mum and traveling around the world for work and the dangers that reporters face on the frontline.

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Amelia Adams Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I speak with a former Australian Army veteran serving in the Royal Australian Infantry 2RAR and Royal Australian Armoured Corps 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment and 2nd Cavalry Regiment current Queensland Fire Service Station Officer Luke Smith. 

 Luke deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2011 he applied for the Queensland Fire Service for a position as a firefighter and was accepted. After finishing recruit training, he was posted to Bowen where he spent his first 13 months as a firefighter.  Luke transferred to Townsville in 2013 and got heavily involved in the rescue side of fire and rescue becoming highly skilled in swift water, vertical, confined space, trench, and urban search and rescue. He is now also a state instructor for vertical rescue. After promotional courses, he attained the rank of Station Officer/OIC in 2018. In 2021 after a couple of traumatic events from service, he suffered PTSD depression, and anxiety. Luke took 12 months off and worked through that with great support from the Queensland Fire Service and found a way back, we spoke of the challenges faced by veterans and first responders and how important purpose is…

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Luke Smith Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Part 2 of our chat with former Australian SAS soldier and officer, Brigadier Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar (Retd).

Dan joined the Army at 17 years old as a private soldier and served for over 42 years before discharging for medical reasons. Between 1982-1992, Dan completed the SAS selection course three times (Yep wait for the story. He served in a Sabre Squadron for four years as an operator/gunslinger in both HALO / Freefall and Land Assaulter Counter Terrorist roles. We spoke of Dan’s early years in the regiment and his growth as a soldier. We spoke of Dan's time at RMC becoming an officer and then after a short period in 1RAR reattending the entire SAS selection again and passing the course as a LT. We spoke of his service as a Troop Commander and on exchange with US SF then his time as an SAS Officer Commanding on multiple deployments, Bougainville, East Timor, Afghanistan, and Dan’s time as the ADF Tactical Assault Group for the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

We discussed his more senior appointments including as CO RMC and as CO of the SOTG (2008) then, when serving in multiple year-long deployments to Afghanistan in senior ISAF SOF Command role, SOHQ as a Brigadier. We discussed his transition from the Army to the Commonwealth SES Public Service appointment in AGSVA and the cost of service to one's family and the challenges facing contemporary SF veterans and their families. For Dan’s leadership in action (under fire, outside the wire..) in Command in Afghanistan, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (2008)and Bar.(2014)

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Dan Fortune Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway