I Came With Fire

Welcome to the first popcorn podcast with Brandon and Chris. If you're a seasoned member of the Fire Fam you know the drill. If not, let us illuminate you: Popcorn Podcast is a back and forth of questions between the host. Brandon and Chris each have five for one another, unknown to the other, and they answer and discuss. These are always such a good time! In this inaugural episode, Chris and Brandon discuss everything from "How many modern Green Berets would it require to take Iwo Jima?" or "What is the difference between patriotism and nationalism?" or "If you were President of the United States, what would your first 100 days look like?" and much more. The guys discuss personal failures and lessons, fatherhood, military service, whats going on between the US and the rest of the world, and how the podcast will morph in the near future. Don't miss it! __________________________________________PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS:ICWF Podcast is sponsored by "Skull & Crossbeans Coffee", a veteran owned, small batch roasted coffee company. With Skull & Crossbeans you can get fantastic ground or whole bean coffee at 10% off using promo code "FIRE10" at checkout. Our personal favorite is their Mexican Chocolate! One of the best ways to support us, is to support our sponsors! Head over to ⁠www.skullandcrossbeans.com today!ICWF Podcast is also sponsored by Sheep's Clothing LLC. Sheep's Clothing is a unifying banner for ALL violent arts, disciplines, professions, and survivors of violent circumstance. REDEFINE VIOLENCE! If you fit into one of those categories or just want to support a noble cause, head on over to their site either directly at www.redefineviolence.com or through our "Promos" highlight on Instagram and get yourself some awesome merch or MMA gear. Use coupon code "FIRE10" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!

The farewell episode for Zach!From Brandon: Zach has been one of my best friends since we met years ago on a deployment in East Africa. If you've been following the show, you know my first co-host didn't work out. Zach jumped in to help me, his friend, with a full heart and a ton of ideas. It's been just over a year of episodes together and Zach needs to take a step back. I have so much gratitude for Zach doing this alongside me and we hope you guys have enjoyed the ride too. So, of course, we had to do one last Popcorn Podcast. We each prepared 5 questions a-piece, unknown to one another, and we go back and forth. This one covers a lot!! As always its filled with laughs, great commentary, and a little sappy stuff. Don't miss your shot to hear the final episode with Zach and stick around for the future as Chris joins the show. _____________________________________PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS:ICWF Podcast is sponsored by "Skull & Crossbeans Coffee", a veteran owned, small batch roasted coffee company. With Skull & Crossbeans you can get fantastic ground or whole bean coffee at 10% off using promo code "FIRE10" at checkout. Our personal favorite is their Mexican Chocolate! One of the best ways to support us, is to support our sponsors! Head over to ⁠www.skullandcrossbeans.com today!ICWF Podcast is also sponsored by Sheep's Clothing LLC. Sheep's Clothing is a unifying banner for ALL violent arts, disciplines, professions, and survivors of violent circumstance. REDEFINE VIOLENCE! If you fit into one of those categories or just want to support a noble cause, head on over to their site either directly at www.redefineviolence.com or through our "Promos" highlight on Instagram and get yourself some awesome merch or MMA gear. Use coupon code "FIRE10" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!

In this conversation, Mark Divine, retired Navy SEAL Commander, Author, motivational speaker, and creator of SEALFIT discusses his background and the various ventures he has pursued after leaving the military. Mark emphasizes the importance of finding one's purpose and developing discipline through physical training and daily rituals. Mark's upcoming book, 'Uncommon: Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life,' offers guidance on these topics and provides practical exercises for personal development. Mark touches on the importance of developing concentration, attention control, and positive internal dialogue. He emphasizes the connection between breath control, mental development, and spirituality, highlighting the role of meditation in uncovering one's purpose and connecting with the universal consciousness. ________________________________PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS:ICWF Podcast is sponsored by "Skull & Crossbeans Coffee", a veteran owned, small batch roasted coffee company. With Skull & Crossbeans you can get fantastic ground or whole bean coffee at 10% off using promo code "FIRE10" at checkout. Our personal favorite is their Mexican Chocolate! One of the best ways to support us, is to support our sponsors! Head over to ⁠www.skullandcrossbeans.com today!ICWF Podcast is also sponsored by Sheep's Clothing LLC. Sheep's Clothing is a unifying banner for ALL violent arts, disciplines, professions, and survivors of violent circumstance. REDEFINE VIOLENCE! If you fit into one of those categories or just want to support a noble cause, head on over to their site either directly at www.redefineviolence.com or through our "Promos" highlight on Instagram and get yourself some awesome merch or MMA gear. Use coupon code "FIRE10" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!

We welcome Amber Smith to the show!Amber is a former US Army "Kiowa Warrior" attack helicopter pilot, former Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Outreach in Public Affairs, and Author of "Danger Close" which chronicles here time in the US Army during the Global War on Terrorism. Her new book, "Unfit To Fight: How Woke Policies Are Destroying Our Military", releases 30 April, 2024! Amber joins us this episode to discuss "Unfit To Fight"! Over the past several years, the US Military has failed to meet it's recruitment goals and this year the US Air Force missed its goal for the first time since Bill Clinton was President. What could be causing these shortcomings in recruiting? We also discuss the increasing obesity rates among US service members, out-of-touch leadership, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies destroying the inherent meritocracy of the military, and how the 2019/2020 mandates undercut heavy layers of trust. "Woke-ism" has run rampant through the ranks of the US military and is eating away at it like a mind virus. For a long time the American people have looked at their military with gratitude, trust, and respect, but now that respect and, more importantly, trust, is depleting rapidly. Standards, discipline, espirit-de-corps, camaraderie, valor, teamwork, and tradition are core tenets of military culture. But US military leaders seem to be doing serious work to erode these values and much more. Tune in and get Amber's insights mixed in with Zach and Brandon's personal perspectives over their last 15 years of military service. This is one you DO NOT want to miss!You can pre-order Amber's new book wherever books are sold! Be sure to check her out on social media and her website: www.officialambersmith.com____________________________________PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS:ICWF Podcast is sponsored by "Skull & Crossbeans Coffee", a veteran owned, small batch roasted coffee company. With Skull & Crossbeans you can get fantastic ground or whole bean coffee at 10% off using promo code "FIRE10" at checkout. Our personal favorite is their Mexican Chocolate! One of the best ways to support us, is to support our sponsors! Head over to ⁠www.skullandcrossbeans.com today!ICWF Podcast is also sponsored by Sheep's Clothing LLC. Sheep's Clothing is a unifying banner for ALL violent arts, disciplines, professions, and survivors of violent circumstance. REDEFINE VIOLENCE! If you fit into one of those categories or just want to support a noble cause, head on over to their site either directly at www.redefineviolence.com or through our "Promos" highlight on Instagram and get yourself some awesome merch or MMA gear. Use coupon code "FIRE10" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!

Derrick is an Oregon based Dairy Farmer, author of "An Industry Worth Fighting For", and one of the Farmer Owners of Tillamook! Quick Fact: Dairy Farming is a $45B a year industry and quite literally helps keep the American economy afloat. Our conversation covers topics such as state and federal government involvement in farming, the setting of milk prices, the history of the dairy industry, and the effects of 2019/2020 on dairy farming. We discuss and dispel many common challenges and misconceptions around the dairy farming industry and get into those pesky activists and their more egregious tactics to try and ruin the industry. (Derrick cogently points out that a vegan diet relies on the byproducts of dairy farming to make their food more affordable.) Derrick goes on to highlight the importance of cow comfort and animal welfare in producing high-quality dairy products. Derrick's farm employs specific tech to track cow health and milk production so that his cows get the very best treatment and attention. He emphasizes the need for education about farming, especially for children, to combat misinformation and promote understanding. Derrick shares his experiences hosting tours and educating future veterinarians about biosecurity measures. He also highlights the importance of making farming a viable and sustainable business for future generations.Also did you know there are CHEESE CAVES in Missouri? For real, there are. You can find Derrick on YouTube as well as www.tdfhonestfarming.comMake sure to go follow him on his social media as TDF Honest Farming for updates and some awesome (and often funny) content from around his farm. Thank you, Derrick for coming on with us! ___________________________________PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS:ICWF Podcast is sponsored by "Skull & Crossbeans Coffee", a veteran owned, small batch roasted coffee company. With Skull & Crossbeans you can get fantastic ground or whole bean coffee at 10% off using promo code "FIRE10" at checkout. Our personal favorite is their Mexican Chocolate! One of the best ways to support us, is to support our sponsors! Head over to ⁠www.skullandcrossbeans.com today!ICWF Podcast is also sponsored by Sheep's Clothing LLC. Sheep's Clothing is a unifying banner for ALL violent arts, disciplines, professions, and survivors of violent circumstance. REDEFINE VIOLENCE! If you fit into one of those categories or just want to support a noble cause, head on over to their site either directly at www.redefineviolence.com or through our "Promos" highlight on Instagram and get yourself some awesome merch or MMA gear. Use coupon code "FIRE10" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!

We are joined by Amanda & Dayvid of "Won Nothing Podcast"! Also make sure you check out Dayvid on his page "Down The Rabbit Hole"! This one goes deep on the paranormal! How could we not with the True Crime and Supernatural gurus that Dayvid & Amanda are!?This episode's got haunted houses, shadow figures, past lives, near death experiences, The Hatman, astral projection, Indrid Cold, Mothman, sleep paralysis, and even Dayvid's personal story about how he may have died...but maybe he didn't. Trust us, you don't want to miss Dayvid's story...___________________________________PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS:ICWF Podcast is sponsored by "Skull & Crossbeans Coffee", a veteran owned, small batch roasted coffee company. With Skull & Crossbeans you can get fantastic ground or whole bean coffee at 10% off using promo code "FIRE10" at checkout. Our personal favorite is their Mexican Chocolate! One of the best ways to support us, is to support our sponsors! Head over to ⁠www.skullandcrossbeans.com today!ICWF Podcast is also sponsored by Sheep's Clothing LLC. Sheep's Clothing is a unifying banner for ALL violent arts, disciplines, professions, and survivors of violent circumstance. REDEFINE VIOLENCE! If you fit into one of those categories or just want to support a noble cause, head on over to their site either directly at www.redefineviolence.com or through our "Promos" highlight on Instagram and get yourself some awesome merch or MMA gear. Use coupon code "FIRE10" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!

In this episode, Zach interviews Ally, AKA "Tactical Unicorn", a self-proclaimed gun bunny, about her views on gun rights, traditional values, the current state of US politics, and the future of media influence!You can find Ally on her social media accounts as "Tactical Unicorn" so ensure you head on over and give her a follow for awesome boom stick related content!____________________________________________PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS:ICWF Podcast is sponsored by "Skull & Crossbeans Coffee", a veteran owned, small batch roasted coffee company. With Skull & Crossbeans you can get fantastic ground or whole bean coffee at 10% off using promo code "FIRE10" at checkout. Our personal favorite is their Mexican Chocolate! One of the best ways to support us, is to support our sponsors! Head over to ⁠www.skullandcrossbeans.com today!ICWF Podcast is also sponsored by Sheep's Clothing LLC. Sheep's Clothing is a unifying banner for ALL violent arts, disciplines, professions, and survivors of violent circumstance. REDEFINE VIOLENCE! If you fit into one of those categories or just want to support a noble cause, head on over to their site either directly at www.redefineviolence.com or through our "Promos" highlight on Instagram and get yourself some awesome merch or MMA gear. Use coupon code "FIRE10" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!

***Trigger Warning***Seth Gehle is a US Army Veteran, Ultra Runner, and Author, whose book comes out later this year. Seth's book is a harrowing chronicle of the child and sexual abuse he endured as a child. If this topic may be sensitive to you, we invite you to catch us on the next episode!Seth recounts the abuse he had to endure growing up and most importantly when he decided to do something about it. We also discuss the lessons we take away from doing "hard things" and why they're essential to healing. You can find Seth at his website, ⁠www.sethgehle.com⁠, or on social media as "Go Beyond the Shadows". ________________________________PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS:ICWF Podcast is sponsored by "Skull & Crossbeans Coffee", a veteran owned, small batch roasted coffee company. With Skull & Crossbeans you can get fantastic ground or whole bean coffee at 10% off using promo code "FIRE10" at checkout. Our personal favorite is their Mexican Chocolate! One of the best ways to support us, is to support our sponsors! Head over to ⁠www.skullandcrossbeans.com today!ICWF Podcast is also sponsored by Sheep's Clothing LLC. Sheep's Clothing is a unifying banner for ALL violent arts, disciplines, professions, and survivors of violent circumstance. REDEFINE VIOLENCE! If you fit into one of those categories or just want to support a noble cause, head on over to their site either directly at www.redefineviolence.com or through our "Promos" highlight on Instagram and get yourself some awesome merch or MMA gear. Use coupon code "FIRE10" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!

Adam DeRito joins the show! Adam has one of the most fascinating, complex, and flat out WILD backstories we've ever heard. Adam is currently a US Army Reservist and Intelligence Analyst. He is also the host of the investigative journalism podcast "Dark Sabre Podcast".In this episode we discuss Adam's time at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA), being sexually assaulted by another student, and becoming an undercover informant for the Air Force "Office of Special Investigations". Shockingly, due to his role as an undercover informant, USAFA refused to let Adam graduate and commission as an Officer in the Air Force. This grotesque decision on behalf of USAFA sent Adam's life into free-fall. Now, very much back on his feet, Adam joins us to discuss his past, goals with "The DeRito Act", and to give extremely thoughtful insights into global geopolitical issuesAdditionally, we delve into corruption within the US military and the need for legislative change. We provide insights into the history and complexities of Russia-Ukraine relations and the Syrian civil war. The conversation explores the cultural differences between Russia and the US, as well as Russia's influence in the Middle East. It contrasts Russia's approach with China's long-term plan for global dominance and the impact on traditional values and cultural preservation. The conversation covers a range of political topics, including the State of the Union, concerns about election rigging, and the role of the media in shaping public opinion. The discussion also touches on the importance of rational conversations and the need for leaders who support American values and prioritize the economy, military, and border security. The conversation concludes with a focus on preserving the American way of life and the importance of personal responsibility in speaking out against corruption and injustice. _____________________________________________PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS:ICWF Podcast is sponsored by "Skull & Crossbeans Coffee", a veteran owned, small batch roasted coffee company. With Skull & Crossbeans you can get fantastic ground or whole bean coffee at 10% off using promo code "FIRE10" at checkout. Our personal favorite is their Mexican Chocolate! One of the best ways to support us, is to support our sponsors! Head over to ⁠www.skullandcrossbeans.com today!ICWF Podcast is also sponsored by Sheep's Clothing LLC. Sheep's Clothing is a unifying banner for ALL violent arts, disciplines, professions, and survivors of violent circumstance. REDEFINE VIOLENCE! If you fit into one of those categories or just want to support a noble cause, head on over to their site either directly at www.redefineviolence.com or through our "Promos" highlight on Instagram and get yourself some awesome merch or MMA gear. Use coupon code "FIRE10" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!

We welcome US Air Force Security Forces member Ian Roland to the show! For those unaware, Security Forces members act as Military Police for the Air Force. But, Security Forces members, or "Defenders" as they are often called, have a much more diverse mission set than people realize. They guard all Air Force installations home and abroad, provide security for our nation's nuclear force, operate in Law Enforcement capacities, support "Fly Away" security missions, and also support Air Force Special Operators as DAGREs. But, thats not why Ian jumped at the opportunity to come on the podcast! For this episode, Mental Health is the focus! Ian, Brandon, and Zach dive in on the stigmas behind seeking mental health help, especially in the military. Ian discusses a lot of his own traumas in life, how they've come forward more now as a husband and father, how the military has both hindered and helped Ian in confronting some hard things, and finally making the decision to seek help! Additionally, both Brandon and Zach share a lot of their own struggles with difficult responses and treatment they've gone through. Mental Health is a huge topic with a wide variety of conversational topics, but a couple we want to highlight most are ending stigmas and building true resiliency. Whether its post-traumatic stress from responses on duty, childhood trauma, struggles at home, struggles in our relationships, etc...these all play a heavy factor in our mental state. One of the biggest factors this episode tries to drive home is that men need to be better at supporting one another along the journey toward getting help for the mental health issues we tend to bury inside. If you need help, do not be afraid to reach out. The resources are there. Your friends and family are there. All of us would rather listen to you and give you a massive hug than listen to your eulogy and lay flowers on your grave. There is nothing wrong with seeking help and no one is a burden! You can dial "988" or "1-800-273-8255" from your phone and reach the National Suicide Hotline at any time, day or night. ________________________________________ICWF Podcast is sponsored by "Skull & Crossbeans Coffee", a veteran owned, small batch roasted coffee company. With Skull & Crossbeans you can get fantastic ground or whole bean coffee at 10% off using promo code "FIRE10" at checkout. Our personal favorite is their Mexican Chocolate! One of the best ways to support us, is to support our sponsors! Head over to ⁠www.skullandcrossbeans.com today!ICWF Podcast is also sponsored by Sheep's Clothing LLC. Sheep's Clothing is a unifying banner for ALL violent arts, disciplines, professions, and survivors of violent circumstance. REDEFINE VIOLENCE! If you fit into one of those categories or just want to support a noble cause, head on over to their site either directly at www.redefineviolence.com or through our "Promos" highlight on Instagram and get yourself some awesome merch or MMA gear. Use coupon code "FIRE10" at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!