What a Hell of a Way to Dad

Latest Episodes:

I Hate Being a 'Loser War' Veteran Jan 23, 2020

Show notes

This week, we've got a huge suite of content. For starters, we discuss the recent unveiling of the Space Force name tape: a zero-effort attempt to make a Space Force uniform that all of us inveterate shammers can appreciate. Why make a distinct uniform when you can, uh, just slap a name tape on something and call it a day? Honestly, it's all kinda exhausting anyway (source: https://nypost.com/2019/12/20/trump-officially-launches-space-force/)

However, we also discuss the recent story of Prince Harry (a fellow bearded redhead Afghan war vet) deciding to do a reverse Nate and leave Britain for North America. This will involve relinquishing a bunch of ceremonial titles, all of which sound a bit weird? (source: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a30579030/prince-harry-steps-back-from-role-as-captain-general-of-the-royal-marines-and-other-military-appointments/)

Finally, we discuss a revelation that, if you try to give President Trump a basic civics lesson, he will lose his mind and call you a bunch of babies — as evinced by a new book. Afghanistan? Folks, it's a loser war! They don't even have oil! Very sad! (source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-called-his-generals-a-bunch-of-dopes-and-babies-in-a-fit-of-rage-book-claims)

This week's bonus is a Q&A session, which you can get at the $3 tier on Patreon. It's a good one, and you'll definitely enjoy it! https://www.patreon.com/posts/33301075

*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

You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier.

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

It's Already World War 3 If You Think About It Jan 16, 2020

Show notes

Well, Iran retaliated. They did so in a way that was seemingly meant as a massive show of force without serious casualties. They almost pulled it off, except for when they shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet. And this week, Nate and Francis discuss Iran -- the horniness for war, the insane interpretations from neocons -- and what might come next as we seemingly blunder around in a decades-long world war.

This week, Francis speaks with Isiah James (@isiah4congress), an Army infantry veteran running as a democratic socialist in the Democratic primary for New York's 9th Congressional District. Isiah discusses his platforms, why he got into politics, how he approaches topics like gun control, ending the Drug War, and combating imperialism. Isiah gives a fascinating interview and we hope you enjoy it -- it's free on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33115621

You can read his entire policy platform here: https://www.isiahforcongress.com

You should absolutely donate to his campaign! Here's how to go about that: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friends-of-isiah-1#

You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier.

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

Do Not Give Trump a COA to Nuke the Moon Jan 09, 2020

Show notes

By now you've probably seen the news that Trump ordered a drone strike on Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. In this week's episode, we discuss why this is moronic, why it will mend any fault lines in Iranian society as they unite in opposition to America, and why you can never give Trump the comedy option (he'll always choose it!) We also discuss that the Army is banning Tik Tok for soldiers because they keep posting embarrassing videos.

This week's bonus features our 'Is It Fascist' review of the 1999 film The Matrix. We loved it as young teens and we love it now, too. It's a weird time capsule with a lot to recommend. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32845383

You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier.

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

Democratic Socialism on Very Little Sleep feat. Anthony Clark Jan 02, 2020

Show notes

This week, Francis interviews Air Force veteran and Democratic Congressional candidate Anthony Clark, who's running as a democratic socialist in Illinois' 7th district. Anthony is a public school teacher, was born and raised in the Chicago area, and spent 6 years in the Air Force. He's a survivor of gun violence and an advocate for reparations, and his politics are very much in line with ours — so, we figured you'd want to hear from him.

You can check out his campaign site here: https://www.voteanthonyclark.com/

The bonus this week features a video of Francis reviewing what might be described as a sci-fi arms fair. In Ghana. It's weird as hell and you'll love it. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32722711

You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier.

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

Rep. Matt Shea: 'Women Must Respect My Hypothetical Sword' Dec 26, 2019

Show notes

Look, we're the first to admit that local government is weird. But apparently we didn't know just how weird: in Washington State, a Republican state rep is in hot water yet again for espousing what you might describe as Christian Dominionist Terrorism Incitement. Yes, it's our friend Matt Shea again, and this time he's in trouble for… being a member of a white separatist organization? (Source: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/as-washington-rep-matt-shea-refuses-to-resign-ammon-bundy-challenges-house-report/)

We also discuss recent reports that Fort Wainwright, Alaska might have a military suicide rate that's *10 times the Army average*. In fact, it's gotten so bad that the Army is doing a special study. We brainstormed some solutions, and Francis has the best one: close the base (Source: https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/12/20/suicides-in-alaskas-interior-spark-changes-for-remote-army-post/)

The bonus this week features Francis and Brock Wilbur discussing the BioShock series: what it is, why they like it, and whether or not it's fascist. Get it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32545495

You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier.

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* The Complexity of War feat. Drew Pham Dec 19, 2019

Show notes

This is an unlocked bonus episode which appeared last year on our Patreon. If you want more like it, sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/Hellofawaytodie

This week, Nate speaks with Army veteran and writer Drew Pham (@Drewspeak). Drew is a prolific essay writer in venues like the War Horse and the Wrath Bearing Tree (where they're an editor), and a mainstay of the veteran writer community in New York City.

In this interview, Drew talks about their family's history in Vietnam and their relationship to the war, Trump's targeting of Vietnamese asylees and refugees, why they love Tim O'Brien's work but couldn't see themselves in any characters, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and its promise for people with PTSD, and quite a bit more.

Here's Drew's essay "How to Lose a War" which appeared on the War Horse: https://www.thewarhorse.org/our-stories/how-to-lose-a-war/

If you want to read Drew's work on the Wrath-Bearing Tree, you can access it here: https://www.wrath-bearingtree.com/author/drew-pham/

Duncan Hunter and Russia Both Love the Troops Dec 12, 2019

Show notes

It's soon to be the end of an era: Duncan Hunter is leaving Congress after getting caught for too much vaping and gaming. We'll miss the idea of him, even if we actually hate Republicans and people who brag about what sounded like war crimes. Anyway, please read this piece in the New Republic by friend of the show Matt Farwell: https://newrepublic.com/article/155899/duncan-hunter-something-right

We also discuss a Voice of America piece about how the troops now love Russia, mostly because Fox News and right-wing American commentary is pumping out pro-Russia stuff in defense of Trump. Don't get us wrong, we're not conspiracy theorists -- we just think it's hilarious.

For this week's bonus, hear the legal side of the Duncan Hunter story with friend of the show Carey Shockey: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32244213

You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier.

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

We have a new t-shirt out — get some anarchist agriculture in your life! Buy it here: https://teespring.com/new-anarchist-agricultural#pid=387&cid=101810&sid=front

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Mil-Spec Prisons for Veterans: Not as Good as You Think Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

We've done a news roundup and found some great stories for you, to include: a special prison just for veterans, an appeal to not pretend your dog is a service animal, and an update on the Navy SEALs' attempts to find not-sketchy leaders among the ranks.

For this week's bonus, Francis reviews some first-aid gear that he bought online. Learn about tourniquets, compression bandages, and much, much more: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32009710

You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier.

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

We have a new t-shirt out — get some anarchist agriculture in your life! Buy it here: https://teespring.com/new-anarchist-agricultural#pid=387&cid=101810&sid=front

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

The Deborah Sampson Act and Women Veterans' Health feat. Andrea N. Goldstein Nov 28, 2019

Show notes

This week, Nate and Francis discuss the continued war-crime saga of Eddie Gallagher, but this episode also features an interview between Francis and Andrea N. Goldstein (@AN_Goldstein) on the topic of the Deborah Sampson Act, which is currently in the U.S. Senate. The act would drastically increase available VA treatment for women veterans, and we wanted you to hear about it.

This week's bonus features an interview with Jasper Craven, a writer who covers military and veterans issues and who recently wrote a piece for the Baffler about the military testing drugs on service members. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31825119

You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier.

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

We have a new t-shirt out — get some anarchist agriculture in your life! Buy it here: https://teespring.com/new-anarchist-agricultural#pid=387&cid=101810&sid=front

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

Controversial Take: War Criminals Are Bad Nov 21, 2019

Show notes

This episode is a bit of a psychic rollercoaster in that it begins with us losing our minds at the fact that Donald Trump pardoned a bunch of war criminals and our YouTube channel is full of boomers chortling like the sounds it plays when you lose on Angry Birds. We hate it. We also wind up doing an impression of Donald Trump declaring a Global War on Jody. So, it's a lot.

This week's bonus features our special 3-year anniversary episode on the topic of how Veterans Day has become more and more hollow to us given what's been going on in America and across the world. Get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31661642

You may have noticed that the next issue of our zine has debuted, and you can get it in print by signing up at the $10 monthly Patreon tier.

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

We have a new t-shirt out — get some anarchist agriculture in your life! Buy it here: https://teespring.com/new-anarchist-agricultural#pid=387&cid=101810&sid=front

You can follow the show on Twitter here: @HellOfAWay

Follow Nate here: @inthesedeserts

Follow Francis here: @ArmyStrang

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