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The Afterburn Podcast

John "Rain" Waters
North Korea
U.S. Air Force
Combat Search and Rescue
Air Force
F-16
F-35
Military Aviation
Battle Of Takur Ghar
MARSOC
United States Air Force
B-21 Raider
Delta Airlines
Military Training
Ukraine
Air Refueling
Entrepreneurship
Mental Health
Youth Development
Japan Airlines
Guns Garin Foundation

Strap in the cockpit as we dive into the stories of the men and women who defend the freedoms we love. From the cockpit of military jets to boots on the ground. The Afterburn Podcast dives into their stories, the planes, and the missions. For Advertising Opportunities or more information visit: theafterburnpodcast.com/

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes320Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureLeisureAviation

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Artwork for The Afterburn Podcast

Latest Episodes

Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off 🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast 🛫 🔺 Aviation & Defense Newsletter - htt... more

Day 13 of Operation Epic Fury. General Caine and Secretary Hegseth briefed this morning and several details aren't getting enough coverage. CENTCOM confirmed all six crew members of the KC-135 mishap have been killed.  Watch on Youtube: youtu... more

In Bro Chat #21, Mike "FLASH" McVeigh, John "RAIN" Waters, Jeff "VADER" Brandon, Jeff "BENDER" Page, and Kevin "KONAN" Parkhurst debate the greatest fighter pilots in American history — and can't fully agree on a single mountain.

Robin Olds is a giv... more

Welcome to a heavy, packed episode of the Afterburn Podcast. Today, we are covering breaking news out of the Middle East, rapid tactical escalations, and a highly concerning mystery stateside.

We open today's show by addressing the tragic breaking n... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Kamal Kharsi
Foreign policy advisor to the Supreme Leader
Advisor to Supreme Leader of Iran
Episode: Iran Updates | F-15E Shoot Downs & More
Dr. Anthony Vinci
Former Chief Technology Officer of the NGA, with experience in military and intelligence settings.
NGA
Episode: #145 Dr. Anthony Vinci | Former NGA Chief Technology Officer | Future of A.I. & Espionage
Lorenzo Harris
Former operational A-10 weapons officer and fighter pilot
Delta Airlines, Former US Air Force
Episode: #136 Lorenzo Harris | “The Day I Never Talk About” | Most Intense Mission
Troels "TEO" Vang
Denmark's one of the most experienced F-16 pilots, flying for over 20 years and an instructor pilot for the last decade.
Royal Danish Air Force
Episode: #132 Denmark's F-16 Demo Pilot | Troels "TEO" VangTroels
Sonny Blankensop
Veteran fighter pilot and graduate of the Air Force Academy
Episode: #129 SEAD Part III - Operation Allied Force - Wild Weasel Fighter Pilot
Curly Pence
Experienced pilot and Wild Weasel during Operation Desert Storm
Episode: #128 Desert Storm's Wild Weasels | Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses Part II
Woody Oaks
Colonel Retired, A-10 pilot, C-130 pilot, consultant, and keynote speaker focusing on leadership.
Episode: #123 Derek 'Woody' Oaks – C-130 to A-10 | Combat Flying & Leadership
Colonel Hall Sebren
Deputy Commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center
United States Air Force
Episode: #125 Fighter Aircraft Maintenance | Col Hall Sebren
Dan Razin Caine
Lieutenant General (ret), Associate Director for Military Affairs at CIA
CIA
Episode: #124 Lt General (ret) Dan "Razin" Caine | F-16 Air National Guard | 9/11 Scramble | JSOC | CIA

Hosts

Rain
Co-host and central figure on the show, frequently guiding conversations with pilots and guests.
Unnamed Host
Recurring segment host providing commentary on defense topics.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Great podcast

    Love this podcast. Its funny that there haven’t really been any new Low Down segments since the US started firing follow up shots on drug smugglers clinging to wreckage out in the middle of the ocean. Some topics are just too spicy. Otherwise my favorite podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BillBill82
    United Statesa month ago
  • Such good stories from these men and also they explain mostly everything for us civilians good way to learn and a good way to learn more about our country’s air superiority

    Audible
    5
    Thebakers122003
    United Statesa month ago
  • Wizards of the Sky

    Awesome podcast for the avgeek out there, “Rain” pulls the current wide open and sheds some light on fighter pilot lore!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Piper Driver 13
    United Statesa month ago
  • After burning Rain

    Love this pod cast, full of interesting guests not just from the USAF, keep up the good work Rain, you have got me through many boating night shifts. Thank you for your service, God bless the USAF

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mustela Fera
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • #134 with Vince “Snapper” Sherer

    Having been listening to the podcast since the beginning, I must admit that ep. 134 with Vince “Snapper” Sherer became my all time favorite.

    What an incredible guest!

    A huge thanks to Snapper for having shared all of this and to you Rain for having invited him and made this episode legendary.

    Thanks and cheers from Europe.

    Maxime from The STOL Collective.

    “I wish I had a gun just like the A-10”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The STOL Collective podcast
    Germany10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate the focus on military aviation history and modern tech shifts, though a few criticize sound quality or pacing in certain episodes.
Listeners praise the host for insightful interviews, strong storytelling, and a broad mix of guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#145 Dr. Anthony Vinci | Former NGA Chief Technology Officer | Future of A.I. & Espionage
Q: How do you see AI impacting espionage?
AI will be utilized throughout the intelligence cycle, potentially assisting in recruiting assets and analyzing data.
#145 Dr. Anthony Vinci | Former NGA Chief Technology Officer | Future of A.I. & Espionage
Q: What was your path to the NGA?
Dr. Vinci shares his journey from being an intelligence officer to founding a tech company and ultimately joining the NGA as its CTO.
#138 Desert Storm: F/A-18 Hornet Pilot Bob “Bags” Simeone
Q: How did you process the risk of potential losses during the war?
I thought I'd be fine, not considering that others might face losses.
#138 Desert Storm: F/A-18 Hornet Pilot Bob “Bags” Simeone
Q: What advice would you give to younger you?
You don't have to be the smartest to be successful; determination and hard work will get you there.
#137 Scott "Fester" Fredrick | F-16 Fighter Pilot | Surviving an Ejection over the Pacific Ocean
Q: How did your family handle the incidents that you faced during your service?
Throughout my challenges, my family's support was vital, especially during tough conversations about my safety and future in the Air Force.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Afterburn Podcast

What is The Afterburn Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Aviation and military cockpit storytelling dominate, with episodes featuring fighter pilots, test pilots, and veterans sharing actionable career insights, mission lessons, and the evolving tech of modern warfare. Conversations frequently touch on air warfare history, training, leadership, and the human side of serving in high-stakes environments, alongside timely tech and policy shifts such as AI, drones, and next‑gen weapons. A standout strength is the breadth of guest backgrounds—from combat veterans and flight instructors to high-profile mission planners—creating a rich mix of tactical detail and personal narrative that appeals to aviation enthusiasts, military personnel, and industry watchers alike.

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How many listeners does The Afterburn Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Afterburn Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Afterburn Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Afterburn Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Afterburn Podcast:

1. Fighter Pilot Podcast
2. 10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit
3. Combat Story
4. Aircrew Interview
5. The Team House

How many episodes of The Afterburn Podcast are there?

The Afterburn Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 320 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Afterburn Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Afterburn Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Afterburn Podcast?

Recent guests on The Afterburn Podcast include:

1. Kamal Kharsi
2. Dr. Anthony Vinci
3. Lorenzo Harris
4. Troels "TEO" Vang
5. Sonny Blankensop
6. Curly Pence
7. Woody Oaks
8. Colonel Hall Sebren

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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