What a Hell of a Way to Dad

Latest Episodes:

A Foray Into English Insanity and the Afghanistan Drawdown Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

England chat ends at 23:31

We have a story about the German military using a logistics contractor to repatriate all the beer they'd brought to Afghanistan (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57386704). However, before we could get to that, we had to respond to criticism that we're unfairly biased against Britain. The answer is: yes. So, we discuss some spicier aspects of Britain's central role in the Atlantic slave trade. Hope you enjoy!

For this week's bonus, Francis speaks with defense journalist Kelsey Atherton (@athertonkd) on the topic of AI-enabled weapons, the state of the industry as opposed to its marketing, and the dangers of what may be coming our way if the trend towards automating violence continues. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/51970212

*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

Open Source Nuclear Launch Codes Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

Dadchat / weather chat ends at 5:52

New York politics chat ends at 16:59

This week, Nate and Francis discuss a recent story that US Air Force nuclear missile custodians based in Europe accidentally disclosed the locations of their munitions by creating open-source, search-engine-indexed flash cards for study.

For our bonus, it's the Zoo Crew: Francis, Shocks, and Joe discuss a recent self-published book by a serving military officer who claims that the newly-discovered right-wing boogeyman of 'critical race theory' is making the military Marxist. Does that sound insane? It definitely is. Get it on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/51888735

*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

*UNLOCKED* Fort Bragg Murder Swamp May 27, 2021

Show notes

This is an unlocked Patreon bonus episode -- to hear more like it, sign up at https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie

Warning: this episode contains strong depictions of intimate partner violence, murder, and fatal drug use This week, we're speaking with Rolling Stone journalist and Army veteran Seth Harp on the topic of a string of murders and unexplained deaths at Fort Bragg, NC.

Did you know a Delta operator murdered a Green Beret in front of his family and no charges were filed? Did you know an enlisted soldier in the 82nd was beheaded while camping and no investigation was conducted for almost a year? Whatever's happening there is grim, and Seth has a lot to say about it.

Read Seth's article here: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/fort-bragg-murders-1153405/

Your Honor, Trump Made My Client a Moron May 20, 2021

Show notes

Dadchat ends at 10:50

However, it's followed by Britainchat, which ends at: 27:40

This week, Nate and Francis discuss a TPM article in which it is revealed that the January 6 riot participants are trying to make the case that they have diminished capacity because they watch too much Fox News and that Trump made them do it. Will it work? Who knows, but we also argue for accountability and against double standards, while also trying (maybe failing) to walk an anti-carceral line.

For this week's bonus, Francis and Shocks discuss a recent letter by retired officers claiming that the military has been infiltrated by 'Cultural Marxism.' This is, of course, bananas, but that doesn't stop this particular kind of thing getting written. Why did they do it? What did they say? Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/51334765

*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 Had to Drone Strike Minnesota to Save It feat. Ken Klippenstein May 13, 2021

Show notes

This week, Nate speaks with Intercept journalist Ken Klippenstein about two recent stories of his -- one on the topic of the US DOJ threatening to prosecute MIT researchers for questioning allegations of fraud in Bolivia, and the other on the topic of CBP spending hundreds of millions of dollars on anti-drone technology, to include proposals for armed drones under their command. Sounds normal to me!

For this week's bonus, we're speaking with Rolling Stone journalist and Army veteran Seth Harp on the topic of a string of murders and unexplained deaths at Fort Bragg, NC. Did you know a Delta operator murdered a Green Beret in front of his family and no charges were filed? Did you know an enlisted soldier in the 82nd was beheaded while camping and no investigation was conducted for almost a year? Whatever's happening there is grim, and Seth has a lot to say about it.

Get the episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/51086638

Read Seth's article here: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/fort-bragg-murders-1153405/

*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

The Generals Are Displeased: Europe Edition feat. Milo Edwards May 06, 2021

Show notes

This week, Nate is joined in studio by friend of the show and repeat guest Milo Edwards (@Milo_Edwards) of the Trashfuture and Masters of Our Domain podcasts, to discuss the recent story about French generals threatening to do a coup against Emmanuel Macron if he isn't even more Islamophobic. We also discuss a similar phenomenon in Britain, in which the specter of a military coup was wielded to threaten Jeremy Corbyn.

Check out Milo's live stand-up show (to be streamed over Zoom!) on May 30th here: gignify.co/miloedwardspindos

For this week's bonus, Francis speaks with Will Nguyen, also known as the Star Trek Commie (@boomerniner) about Star Trek's communist underpinnings, the way it represents different modes of production, the different conflicts it represents (and the dark side of the Federation), and why it's fun to just talk about it for hours. Get it on Patreon here:

The article about Will is available here: https://www.startrek.com/news/the-star-trek-communist-hopes-star-trek-can-inspire-a-real-revolution

*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'll Definitely Spend that $800 Billion Responsibly Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

Dadchat ends at 11:52! You have been warned!

Have you heard that the Pentagon budget is going up more? Yes, even more. What is that spent on? Well, a lot of it is spent on dumb garbage that gets disposed of creatively, and we're here to discuss it.

However, before we talk about that, we talk about a story about an Army Major getting imprisoned in a Polish sex dungeon while blackout, in which strippers bit him to keep him awake while running his credit card. Field-grades: don't let it happen to you! The story is here: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/us-army-officer-poland-obsession/

Our discussion of the Army's property system, and the sheer volume of waste we've seen in our own time in uniform, starts at 22:32.

For this week's bonus, we ask some important questions. Why is the DoD spending money on memes? Why does anyone think this will influence our 'adversaries?' What sort of propaganda is this? To analyze this entire phenomenon, Francis brought on Shocks and Joe to discuss it in detail. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/50316927

*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

One Down, The Entire System of Policing to Go Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

This week, we react to the news of Derek Chauvin's conviction, discuss a story of a drill sergeant who got arrested for assault and battery of an unarmed Black man because he has a terminal case of cop brain, and all the reasons why it is incumbent on veterans to debaathify their own heads.

For this week's bonus, we ask important questions. Why does Missouri produce so many bonkers politicians? Why is it that, in order to get elected, you have to be full on blood-and-soil white nationalist? Well, we happen to have two Missouri experts here to give you the lowdown on what the national GOP will be in about 5-10 years. Joining us once again is friend of the show Brock Wilbur, a KCMO resident and a long-suffering observer of the state's politics. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/50180777

*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 Promise, We're Actually "Leaving" Afghanistan Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

Well, they've said we're leaving Afghanistan for good! This will certainly be different than all the other times we've supposedly left, because while there won't be any "combat troops," that won't include special operations or any Afghan auxiliaries under the command of the CIA. So, that means we're leaving, right?

DadChat ends at 11:34!

For this week's bonus, we have to drop some knowledge on you: the cruise ship industry is weird and variegated. There's a 311-themed cruise, a cruise where you meet Foghat, Disney cruises, Kid Rock cruises, and so much more. Why? No one knows, but Francis has done the legwork to expose all of it, and he explains it to the rest of the Zoo Crew. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49897036

*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

How Did This Class System Get Into My Imperial Navy? Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

This week, Nate and Francis discuss a viral story about a Navy officer based in Japan accused of writing a letter about why he doesn't want to live among 'deviant' enlisted troops. Who knows if the letter is real? What we do know is that the Navy absolutely loves to segregate between officer and enlisted, more so than most other branches, and also it's an opportunity for us to read the comments section on military dot com and find the true gems.

DadChat ends at 12:47!

For this week's bonus, Francis has brought journalist Jasper Craven about Zoomer fascist congressman Madison Cawthorne, his weird proximity to veterans and lies about admittance to the US Naval Academy, and why we're probably stuck with him. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49675750

Jasper wrote a piece about this topic which is available here: https://thebaffler.com/latest/vacuous-valor-craven

Jasper has a substack and you should absolutely sign up for it: https://battleborne.substack.com/

*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

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