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Artwork for The Afterburn Podcast

The Afterburn Podcast

John "Rain" Waters
Military Aviation
F-16
China
F-35
Air Force
Ukraine
Iran
Russia
Aviation
a-10
Combat Search and Rescue
North Korea
a-10 Warthog
Pilot Training
Vietnam War
U.S. Air Force
Close Air Support
Afghanistan
Kc-46
Drones

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/

PublishesDailyEpisodes341Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureAviationLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Afterburn Podcast

Latest Episodes

Watch online: youtu.be/uvAyxlmpBdk

We spent two days in Waco, Texas, inside the L3Harris facility where the Sky Raider II International™ is built. From the beginning, where an 802 Air Tractor enters the production line until it rolls out as ... more

Video: youtu.be/L0D9c5nYO5E

China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation has more than doubled J-20 production efficiency using autonomous vehicles and AI-driven dark factories. With roughly 300 J-20s in service today and output estimated at 100-120... more

Watch this episode on YT: youtu.be/8X_ll2FrRIA

Beijing confirmed Chinese engineers were at Pakistani air bases supporting J-10CE operations during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Today we discuss PL-15 & the J-10CE's combat performance data, ... more

Dos Gringos Concert: dosgringosdenver.com

James "Whacker" Reeman IG: @f16pilot

Whacker's Content: Fastjetfriday.com

Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

🛫 Become a... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Fighter Pilot Podcast
Fighter Pilot PodcastTucker "Cinco" Hamilton, Retired U.S. Air Force Fighter Test Pilot
Combat Story
Combat StoryAJ Pasciuti

Recent Guests

Roy Deacon Qualls
Former fighter pilot and aviation leader with extensive military and civilian jet experience
The Afterburn Podcast guest
Episode: Col Roy "Deacon" Qualls | "Shoot Them Down If They Don't Respond" — The 9/11 ROE Nobody Talks About
General Sebren
U.S. Air Force general discussed in interview about ABDR and its capabilities
United States Air Force
Episode: Aircraft BATTLE DAMAGE Repair: The Air Force Capability You Never Hear About
Senior Master Sergeant Cross
Senior Master Sergeant overseeing the ABDR team
United States Air Force
Episode: Aircraft BATTLE DAMAGE Repair: The Air Force Capability You Never Hear About
John Winters
Maj. Gen., fighter pilot with extensive leadership roles
United States Air Force
Episode: Maj. Gen. John "Trapper" Winters on 40 Years of Fighter Aviation
Cinco Hamilton
F-35 test pilot, author of Unlocking the Last 20%
Former MIT AI Accelerator, U.S. Air Force
Episode: F-35 Test Pilot Breaks Down China's J-36, CCA, & AI in the Cockpit | Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton
Tyler Rogway
Commentator referenced as from The War Zone, providing analysis on underground bases and regional military developments
The War Zone
Episode: Ceasefire? Iran & U.S. Appear to Escalate | Bunker Busters Hit Isfahan & Chechnya Threatens
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

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
  • Aviation News Feed

    I am enjoying the addition of the YouTube news features on the podcast. I don’t see a need to put this on a separate podcast channel as it could get lost in the flood of info choices and I would prefer it just be added to the existing podcast channel

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mrgmisafatasticalhuman!!
    United States2 months ago
  • It used to be great - lots of cool interviews including combat veterans telling their stories. These days it's current affairs. If I wanted current affairs I'd listen to the news, which I don't. I want anything BUT current affairs!

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Len
    2 months ago
  • Afterburn News

    Love this new addition to the podcast, “Afterburn News”. Would love to see more of this content as it’s hard to get good up to date military news from a legit and knowledgeable podcaster. John is a great podcaster and him delivering the latest news on military subjects is welcome news.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CaptBags777
    United States2 months ago
  • Love everything

    Hey Rain love the content and yes I would to have the audio versions of the YouTube videos explaining current affairs!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    xavclarke
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 States3 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.

Apple Podcasts
#10
United States/Leisure/Aviation
Apple Podcasts
#168
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#7
Canada/Leisure/Aviation
Apple Podcasts
#10
United Kingdom/Leisure/Aviation
Apple Podcasts
#171
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#180
United Kingdom/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Aircraft BATTLE DAMAGE Repair: The Air Force Capability You Never Hear About
Q: Can you give me a quick highlight of who you are, how long you've been in the Air Force, planes you've worked on, et cetera?
Senior Cross introduces himself, outlines nineteen years in the Air Force, extensive work on F-16s and F-22s, and recent focus on the F-35, establishing credibility and a hands-on background before diving into ABDR details.
Col Roy "Deacon" Qualls | "Shoot Them Down If They Don't Respond" — The 9/11 ROE Nobody Talks About
Q: Where were you and what was happening on the morning of 9/11?
I was at home night flying when I first heard about the World Trade Center attack, rushed to the base, and soon learned we were mobilizing to respond to the national crisis.
#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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Afterburn Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Afterburn Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Afterburn Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Afterburn Podcast?

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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. Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast
4. Combat Story
5. Aircrew Interview

How many episodes of The Afterburn Podcast are there?

The Afterburn Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 341 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. Roy Deacon Qualls
2. General Sebren
3. Senior Master Sergeant Cross
4. John Winters
5. Cinco Hamilton
6. Tyler Rogway
7. Kamal Kharsi
8. Dr. Anthony Vinci

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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