What a Hell of a Way to Dad

Latest Episodes:

No More Free Chest Candy feat. Davis Winkie Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

For years, the Army has issued everyone who enlists with a medal for ostensible service in the Global War on Terror. Now, that war isn't technically over–we still have troops deployed to Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia–but according to Military Times reporter Davis Winkie, the war is just over enough for them to stop issuing awards about it.

Read Davis' article here: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2022/07/29/no-more-automatic-gwot-service-medals-dod-says/

For this week's bonus, we've finally gotten Shocks his own show, and we're calling it the 33rd County. It's a show discussing what it means to be Irish, and Irish-American, by virtue of putting one of each together and forcing them to experience the cultural products of both groups. In this inaugural episode, Shocks and cohost Thomas O'Mahony watch the Ben Affleck film THE TOWN and rejoice in its concentrated Boston-area dirtbag energy (exemplified by Jeremy Renner). Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie

*SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* We now have a storefront to sell the patches, buttons, and magnets that we also give out as flair for our $10 tier. Buy some sweet gear here: https://www.hellofawaytodie.com/shop

We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

We Seem to Have Misplaced Fat Leonard Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

This week, Francis and Nate discuss the recent disappearance of Fat Leonard, a comedic figure of Navy bribery and corruption who managed to skip bail 3 weeks before he was due for sentencing. Which was easy, since he was living in a mansion while serving as a star witness for almost a decade. We've heard rumors of a two-tiered justice system in America–maybe you've heard the same?

For Patreon episodes dating all the way back to 2017, sign up on the Patreon here! $5 a month gets you all our bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie

We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Supporting the VA, Detoxifying Veterans feat. Jasper Craven Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

This week, Francis speaks with reporter Jasper Craven about the current state of the Department of Veteran Affairs–the fact that future administrations think the overall veteran population will shrink, the fact that veteran culture is in many ways synonymous with being a chud, and Francis' hesitancy to ever call anything we do 'veteran-owned.' Hope you enjoy!

Check out Jasper's substack here: https://battleborne.substack.com/ and check out his book here–he's the co-author of a work entitled 'Our Veterans: Winners, Losers, Friends, and Enemies on the New Terrain of Veterans Affairs': https://www.dukeupress.edu/our-veterans

For Patreon episodes dating all the way back to 2017, sign up on the Patreon here! $5 a month gets you all our bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie

We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Welcome to the VA. Would You Like to End Your Life? Aug 25, 2022

Show notes

Content warning: this episode contains discussion of suicide

BritainChat ends at 31:42!

In this episode, Nate talks about Britain's current energy crisis, how things got this bad so quickly (and over the course of 43 years), and how he and Cynthia are preparing. We also discuss a recent story about the Canadian VA offering medically assisted suicide to a veteran seeking care for PTSD–although we fully acknowledge the fact that this was sourced from the New York Post and Fox News, so it may be a lot of hype. We envision what that would look like in the US, and we also talk about being almost-adults on 9/11. Hope you enjoy!

For Patreon episodes dating all the way back to 2017, sign up on the Patreon here! $5 a month gets you all our bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie

We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

DadChat: Influencer Edition Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

It's a full episode of DadChat, in which Nate and Francis talk about the futility of trying to stay relevant to rude teens, Jacked Danny Elfman, Britain's current drought, why it's much more pleasant when you're not trying to live like a burnout 20-something in your 40s, and much more.

Shouts out to Thomas O'Mahony, @gotitatguineas, who helped edit this episode and also sourced us a really great feature on Danny Elfman's workout routine and fitness ethos: https://www.gq.com/story/real-life-diet-danny-elfman

For this week's bonus, well, it was supposed to be a Zoo Crew discussion of a recent story about military contractors, but Francis, Joe, and Carey simply couldn't stay on topic. So, please enjoy what effectively amounts to a DadChat, except with the alternate cast–you can get the full episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/70618220?pr=true

We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Good Thing Only Americans Were Exposed to Burn Pits, Right Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

DadChat ends at 10:45!

Nate and Francis discuss the PACT act and the burn pit registry, while trying to pay attention to the fact that the only people eligible for compensation are the people part of the group that did the burning (American military people), whereas everyone from third-country contractors to the civilian populations of the various countries occupied get nothing. We also talk about a story that might serve as an example of how to not steal from the Army.

For this week's bonus, Nate is joined in studio by writer and journalist Jasper Lo of the New Yorker. Before you wonder how we managed to get a real journalist on here: it's because Nate and Jasper were in the same unit together a long time ago. They discuss the subtle art of fact-checking, the difficulty of combating disinformation, and whether or not Glenn Kessler carries a katana. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/counterblaste-to-70248526

We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

RibbonsChat Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

Nate is back and he joins Francis to discuss a recent article in Task and Purpose about a dress-uniform ribbon apparently becoming a more select award when it used to be given to everyone. So, why the change? Are we finally done with the GWOT? Is the Army going to stop giving out ribbons like candy? You be the judge.

For this week's bonus, Francis pulls a Joe and runs a history lesson about a very badly built boat with our resident boats expert, Carey Shockey. Enjoy the preview in the episode, and if you want the full thing, it's available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/true-story-of-69912329

We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

The Church of Getting Your VA Disability Stolen feat. Steve Beynon Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

Quick update for everyone: Nate is out with illness (not covid) and will return soon. In the meantime, Francis is covering down.

This week, Francis speaks with Steve Beynon (@StevenBeynon) of Military dot com about a recent story he wrote in which a church set up a cult and strong armed veterans into funding it with their veterans' benefits, helped people submit false claims in order to steal their disability funds, and much more. Read about it here: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/07/20/church-allegedly-scammed-gi-bill-benefits-proof-more-oversight-needed-advocate-tells-congress.html

We have a Patreon with bonus content dating all the way back to 2017, and $5 a month gets you three monthly bonus episodes. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie

We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

WhalesChat feat. Sarah B. Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

Quick update for everyone: Nate is out with illness (not covid) and will return soon. In the meantime, Francis is covering down.

This week, Francis speaks with Sarah B. (@barnacle_btch) of the It Came From The Sea podcast (@fromtheseapod) on the topic of the Navy, being a linguist, her journey towards ocean science, and the fact that whales don't get cancer. We hope you enjoy!

We have a Patreon with bonus content dating all the way back to 2017, and $5 a month gets you three monthly bonus episodes. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie

We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Losing Your Rifle in the Butterfly Reserve feat. Davis Winkie Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

Quick update for everyone: Nate is out with illness (not covid) and will return soon. In the meantime, Francis is covering down.

It's another military news roundup with Davis Winkie (@davis_winkie), reporter for Army Times, and we're covering topics like 'What happens when the Texas National Guard abandons a vehicle in the middle of a nature preserve and leaves a loaded M4 with a full-auto mod inside?' We hope you will enjoy.

We have a Patreon with bonus content dating all the way back to 2017, and $5 a month gets you three monthly bonus episodes. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie

We have a YouTube channel now -- subscribe here and get sweet videos from us in which we yell in our cars like true veterans: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwlHZpNTz-h6aTeQiJrEDKw

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

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