Burn the Boats

Latest Episodes:

Kris Goldsmith: PTSD, Less-Than-Honorable Discharges, and Domestic Violent Extremism Aug 25, 2021

Show notes

Kris Goldsmith is an Army combat Veteran who served in Iraq. As a 19 year-old, he was assigned the task of photographing corpses and documenting mass graves. He developed severe PTSD, and in 2007, as the result of a suicide attempt that caused him to miss redeployment, he was given a less-than-honorable discharge. After years of legal battles, that discharge was upgraded. Kris went on to become an advocate for veterans with “bad paper” discharges, and helped pass crucial legislation that helps them receive the benefits they deserve. Since then, Kris has turned to combating domestic right-wing extremism.

To learn more about Kris’s time in the Army, listen to his episode of Warriors In Their Own Words.

Find Kris on Twitter at @KrisGoldsmith85

Learn more about his organization, High Ground Veterans Advocacy, here.

Learn more about Kris’ work fighting domestic extremism here.

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Chris Meagher: The President’s Infrastructure Plan Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

Originally a reporter for the Santa Barbara Independent, Chris Meagher has worked for a number of prominent democrats. Most notably, he served as a communications advisor to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and as the national press secretary during Mayor Pete Buttigeig’s Presidential Campaign.

Now as the White House Deputy Press Secretary, he is working to promote President Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ Infrastructure Plan. Split amongst three bills, the plan invests money into traditional infrastructure such as roads and bridges, as well as the development of electric vehicles and high speed internet across the country.

You can find Chris on twitter at @chrismeagher46

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Anne Nelson: The Secret Influence of a Right-Wing Political Coalition Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

Anne Nelson is an award-winning war correspondent, playwright, and author. Her newest book, Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right, details the influence of the Council for National Policy, a powerful right-wing political coalition.

Find her book here: Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right

Learn more about Anne here: anne-nelson.com

Follow Anne on Twitter here: @anelson

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Master Sergeant Michael ‘Top’ Washington: Coping with Loss Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

Master Sergeant Michael ‘Top’ Washington served in the Gulf War, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan between 1988 and 2004, before becoming a firefighter. His son, Mike Jr., followed in his footsteps and joined the Marines. In 2008, Mike Jr. was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan.

The loss of his son sent Top into a deep depression, culminating in a moment on a bridge in Tacoma. Top had decided to end his life there, but says he felt his son’s hand pulling him back, saying, “You’re not done yet.” Since then, Top has found a new calling, as a licensed therapist focusing on fellow military veterans and first responders.

To hear more from Top, check out his interview on Warriors In Their Own Words, out next Thursday.

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Jason Kander: Destigmatizing PTSD While Continuing to Serve Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

Jason Kander, an Army Veteran and former Senate Candidate, talks about his struggle with PTSD and his continuing public service.

Jason served as an intel officer in Afghanistan and as Secretary of State of Missouri, before his Senate campaign in 2016 catapulted him onto the national stage. Despite an extremely promising mayoral race in Kansas City, he decided to step away from the public eye and focus on dealing with his PTSD. Now, he serves as the president of the Veteran’s Community Project.

Check out Jason’s Podcast, Majority 54

Follow Jason on Twitter, @jasonkander

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Judge Lina Hidalgo: Local Leadership, Voting Rights, and Values Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

Judge Lina Hidalgo, county executive for Harris County, Texas, talks about changing the system from within and about budgeting through a values lens.

Including the city of Houston, Harris County is the third most populous in the country, larger than some states. As the county's chief executive, Lina took early public health measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 and has made great strides to challenge voter suppression in Texas.

Learn more about Judge Hidalgo’s work in Harris County at CJO.HarrisCountyTX.gov and find her on Twitter at @LinaHidalgoTX.

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Elliot Ackerman: Writing About War and America’s Future Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

Elliot Ackerman, Marine combat veteran and bestselling author, talks about writing and about his fears for the future.

Elliot’s latest book is 2034: A Novel of the Next World War. The Harper’s story referenced in the episode is “Civil Warning”. Learn more about Elliot’s work at elliotackerman.com and find him on Twitter at @elliotackerman.

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Christian Picciolini: Disengaging White Power Extremists May 19, 2021

Show notes

Christian Picciolini, a former leader in the American white power movement, talks about his past and his current work in extremism prevention.

Christian runs the Free Radicals Project, which is dedicated to extremism prevention and disengagement. His latest book is titled Breaking Hate: Confronting the New Culture of Extremism. Learn more about his work at christianpicciolini.com and learn about the Free Radicals Project at freeradicals.org. Find him on Twitter at @CPicciolini.

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Rep. Jason Crow: Accountability and the Aftermath of January 6 May 05, 2021

Show notes

Rep. Jason Crow, former Army Ranger and congressman from Colorado’s 6th district, talks about the January 6th insurrection and the importance of truth and accountability.

Rep. Crow served as a House impeachment manager during Trump’s first impeachment trial in early 2020. In the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection, he has been hailed by his colleagues in Congress as “one of the heroes of that day,” for his actions guiding fellow members to safety.

Learn more about Jason’s legislative priorities at crow.house.gov and find him on Twitter at @RepJasonCrow.

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Dr. Kathleen Belew: The History of the White Power Movement and Paramilitary America Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

Dr. Kathleen Belew talks about the white power movement and the role of veterans in the movement’s history.

Dr. Belew is a professor of U.S. history at the University of Chicago, and the nation's foremost expert on the involvement of military veterans in the white power movement. She is the author of Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America.

Find Kathleen on Twitter at @kathleen_belew and learn more about her work at kathleenbelew.com.

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