Daril Fannin’s path to Hollywood defies every norm. Raised in a cult that banned movies, his first act of rebellion was sneaking out to watch The Matrix. It cracked open his world—and rewrote the script for his life. After nine years as a U.S. Army combat medic, Daril earned his MFA in screenwriting at Loyola Marymount, where he sold a Netflix series before finishing the program. Today, he’s a multi-million dollar creator, writing and producing projects with A-list icons like Matt Damon, Peter Berg, Sylvester Stallone, and Jimmy Kimmel for entertainment giants like Netflix and Disney. Daril’s mission: fix a broken industry. Frustrated by the inefficiencies and inequities embedded in traditional Hollywood workflows, he co-founded KINO: a tech-powered platform designed to reinvent how films are produced, distributed, and experienced. And most recently had his film picked up by A24.

Follow Daril: @darilfannin

If you're interested in being a guest on the podcast, please contact us on:

instagram: @veteranstateofmind 

email: [email protected]

Geraint's books are available at: www.geraintjonesmedia.com and https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Geraint-Jones/author/B06XTKLWBM

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Stephen Handley served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and 1 Royal Welsh. On his second tour of Afghanistan Stephen suffered life changing injuries caused by an IED.

Stephen's Instagram: @stephen.handley

The climbing organisation that Stephen talks about is: https://www.adaptivegrandslam.com/

If you're interested in being a guest on the podcast, please contact us on instagram: @veteranstateofmind

Geraint's books are available at: www.geraintjonesmedia.com and https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Geraint-Jones/author/B06XTKLWBM

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Paul Glazebrook served with the Close Observation Platoon of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Green Jackets in Northern Ireland, and the Recce Platoon of 4th Battalion, The Rifles in Iraq. He is the author of Been Nowhere, Done Nothing which tells the story of his service with unflinching honesty and hysterically funny wit, giving a keen insight into the sense of humour which has kept our forces in the fight for generations.

You can order it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Been-Nowhere-Done-Nothing-Glazebrook-ebook/dp/B0F67J69V9

Paul's instagram: @raconteur_photography

Geraint's books are available at: www.geraintjonesmedia.com and https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Geraint-Jones/author/B06XTKLWBM

If you're interested in being a guest on the podcast, please contact us on instagram: @veteranstateofmind

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Gaz Kennedy served in Afghanistan with a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Light Aid Detachment attached to the Coldstream Guards.

Gaz has written about his life and service, and all royalties from his book go towards supporting Combat Stress. You can order the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silent-War-Battles-Beginnings-Book-ebook/dp/B0DYRR7N1H

Please give Gaz a follow on instagram @gaz_kennedy_

If you would be interested in talking about your experiences of war please contact us through our instagram page @veteranstateofmind, or email [email protected]

If you enjoyed today's episode, or found value in it, please share the link with your friends.

Note on audio quality: thanks for bearing with us as we go through some growing pains recording from a home studio. This is to enable us to provide more regular, and longer episodes. The podcast host is a boomer and is taking some time to figure it all out, but as God is our witness, we will prevail.

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Journalist Nicholas Laidlaw is a former USMC infantryman who covers conflicts around the globe. We talk about Nick's own service in the military, and his experiences visiting the frontlines in Gaza and Ukraine.

Nick's social media: @battles_and_beers

Find his books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-War-Did-Us-Ukraine/dp/B0BF2Q759P

Find Geraint's books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Geraint-Jones/author/B06XTKLWBM

If you would be interested in being a guest on the show please contact Geraint on instagram at either @grjbooks or @veteranstateofmind

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Chris Feistl was a DEA Special Agent for twenty-six years, serving in diverse assignments throughout the US as well as twelve years in Colombia, South America, where he investigated major drug cartels that were supplying tons of cocaine and heroin destined for the US. Starting as a new agent in Miami, he finished his career as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Phoenix in 2014. 

Chris has been a frequent guest on television documentaries and true crime podcasts regarding the Cali cartel. He was portrayed in eighty episodes of a Spanish-language series entitled En la Boca del Lobo, as well as in Season 3 of Netflix’s hit series Narcos. He has also appeared in several other television projects, shows, and radio programs. 

Chris has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the DEA Administrator’s Award of Honor (DEA’s highest honor), and four Distinguished Service Medals from the Colombian government. 

You can find out more about Chris, including where to get his book, by following this link: https://www.afterescobar.com/

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Dan Darkes served two tours of Afghanistan with the Grenadier Guards. He was injured during his second deployment, which led to his discharge from the army. 

You can find him on instagram: @dan_darkes

Geraint's books are available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B06XTKLWBM

Signed copies available here: https://geraintjonesmedia.com/

If you're interested in being a guest on the podcast drop us a DM on insta: @veteranstateofmind

Thank you for listening and supporting the podcast.

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THE AUDIO ON THIS EPISODE IS NOT UP TO OUR USUAL STANDARDS (OUR FAULT, NOT THE GUEST'S).  WE APOLOGISE FOR THIS, AND PROMISE YOU THAT DESPITE OUR ABSOLUTE LACK OF TECH SKILLS, THE EPISODE IS A BANGER!

Stephen Fisher is a freelance archaeologist and historian specialising in 20th century maritime warfare. He is the author of Sword Beach: The Untold Story of D-Day's Forgotten Victory

You can find Stephen on twitter @seaspitfires and instagram @stephenfisheruk

Stephen's book is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sword-Beach-Untold-Forgotten-Victory-ebook/dp/B0CGWRN4H3

Geraint's books are available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B06XTKLWBM

Signed copies available here: https://geraintjonesmedia.com/

Thank you for listening and supporting the podcast.

Support the show

THE AUDIO ON THIS EPISODE IS NOT UP TO OUR USUAL STANDARDS (OUR FAULT, NOT THE GUEST'S).  WE APOLOGISE FOR THIS, AND PROMISE YOU THAT DESPITE OUR ABSOLUTE LACK OF TECH SKILLS, THE EPISODE IS A BANGER!

Tip Cullen served in the Royal Marines Commandos for 30 years. In Part 2 of his interview we follow Tip's service from the Iraq Invasion of 2003 to his retirement, and career as an actor.

Watch Tip in action on the screen in the feature film Sunray: Fallen Soldier. Find out where you can watch it here: https://sunrayfilm.com/

Signed copies of Geraint's latest book, Voices of Victory, and other titles are available here: www.geraintjonesmedia.com You can also find it in most supermarkets, and the usual stores like Amazon, Waterstones, and WHSmiths.

Support the show

THE AUDIO ON THIS EPISODE IS NOT UP TO OUR USUAL STANDARDS (OUR FAULT, NOT THE GUEST'S).  WE APOLOGISE FOR THIS, AND PROMISE YOU THAT DESPITE OUR ABSOLUTE LACK OF TECH SKILLS, THE EPISODE IS A BANGER!

Tip Cullen served in the Royal Marines Commandos for 30 years. In Part 1 of his interview we follow Tip's service from Northern Ireland in the late 80s to the Iraq Invasion of 2003. Part 2 will be released May 30th.

Tip now has a career in acting, and plays the lead role in Sunray: Fallen Soldier. Find out where you can watch it here: https://sunrayfilm.com/

Signed copies of Geraint's latest book, Voices of Victory, and other titles are available here: www.geraintjonesmedia.com

Support the show