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Artwork for The Spear
Afghanistan
Iraq
Taliban
U.S. Army
Combat Experience
Ieds
Iraq War
Leadership
West Point
Panjwai District
Marine Corps
75th Ranger Regiment
Operation Strong Eagle III
Kunar Province
Close Air Support
Special Forces
Baghdad
Mental Health
Kandahar
Third Infantry Division

The Spear is a podcast from the Modern War Institute at West Point. It sets out to explore the combat experience, with each episode featuring a guest who tells a detailed and personal story, describing the events and exploring topics like decision-making under stress and what it feels like to be in combat.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes224Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for The Spear

Latest Episodes

In this episode of The Spear, host Charlie Faint sits down with the command team of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Colonel Sean Karrels and Command Sergeant Major Julio Santos, for a conversation about the people, leadership, and cul... more

In this episode, Colonel Chaveso “Chevy” Cook sits down with MWI's Charlie Faint to recount a career that took him from a South Carolina JROTC classroom to West Point and then on to combat deployments, the psychological operations career field, acade... more

Dr. Charlie Faint sits down with EOD officer Michael Villahermosa in this episode for a wide-ranging conversation about combat, leadership, professional growth, and service. Villahermosa traces his path from an unsuccessful attempt at Special Forces ... more

In this episode, Colonel Tiffany Bilderback joins MWI's Charlie Faint to discuss a career defined by coalition building, strategic leadership, and service alongside partner forces from countries like Germany, Iraq, South Korea, and Ukraine. She also ... more

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Recent Guests

Javesco Cook
Colonel, Psychological Operations Officer, later non-kinetic effects adviser
U.S. Army
Episode: Psychological Operations in Combat and on the Joint Staff
Michael Villahermosa
EOD Officer
United States Army, Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Episode: Explosive Ordnance Technician in Training and Combat
Colonel Tiffany Bilderback
Colonel, former J-5 for Security Assistance Group Ukraine (SAGU)
US Army
Episode: Joint Planner for Security Assistance Group–Ukraine
Dale Hunter
Chief Warrant Officer 4, MDTF veteran and future CTO for US Forces Korea
Multi-Domain Task Force, US Army
Episode: The Crucible of Innovation in the Indo-Pacific
Francis Ambrogio
Armor officer, OCT at JMRC
U.S. Army, Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC)
Episode: Observer, Coach, Trainer at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center
Lieutenant Colonel Tiane Garner
Battalion commander, Multi-Domain Effects Battalion (now under MDCPAC)
U.S. Army
Episode: Commanding a Multi-Domain Effects Battalion in the Indo-Pacific
Lieutenant Colonel Ben Blane
Lieutenant Colonel, Army; first commander of the Army's long-range fires battalion
US Army
Episode: Long-Range Precision Fires and the Fight for the First Island Chain
Curt Donaldson
Retired Command Sergeant Major, former Regimental Command Sergeant Major of the 75th Ranger Regiment
U.S. Army Ranger Regiment
Episode: The Ranger Regiment's Fighting Platoon Sergeant
John Faunce
Retired Special Forces Officer
U.S. Army / Special Forces
Episode: Staying Alive in Iraq and Afghanistan

Host

Dr. Charlie Faint
Host of The Spear (lead host), affiliated with the Modern War Institute at West Point

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 857 ratings
  • One of the best

    You guys should have some more Kiowa pilots or Vietnam pilots on

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    GoodNBad reviews
    United States19 days ago
  • No more combat stories?

    Have we gone so far past the GWOT that nobody has an untold combat experience? This used to be my 5-start go-to podcast on modern warfare. They produced citation-worth professional interviews narrowly focused on individual combat actions and experiences. Rough estimate, original shows were 85% combat and 15% (relevant) intro and lessons. Now the shows are either 90% or 100% career story telling. Some episodes have no combat. There’s a place for in-depth career and personal stories. A podcast cal... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Abcmarine
    United States4 months ago
  • No enlisted stories?

    Overall, an excellent podcast. These are importantly stories that military and civilian would appreciate as part of U.S. history. Would be nice if there were ANY enlisted stories. Seems the podcast only talks to officers. Also, lots of repeated episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Rick from Temple U.
    United Statesa year ago
  • RW

    This is a fantastic library of first person narratives of modern war. It is an absolute must for the scholar of military science.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sir Garnet Wolseley
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Podcast length

    I think the podcast would be much better if if it was shorter like half hour 20 minutes.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    CDR chuck
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners crave concise questions and impactful guest answers; some episodes feel repetitive or too long.
Some listeners miss more enlisted perspectives and shorter episode formats.
High-quality interviews praised for thoughtful, practical insights into warfare and leadership.
The show delivers authentic, first-person combat narratives with strong leadership takeaways.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Explosive Ordnance Technician in Training and Combat
Q: What role does social media play in telling these stories, and what are the risks and rewards?
Social media is a tool to tell authentic stories that educate and inspire; there are risks in missteps or political misstatements, but the rewards include influencing young soldiers, informing the public, and supporting veteran outreach; the Harding Project provides mentorship and publishing opportunities.
Explosive Ordnance Technician in Training and Combat
Q: How did you transition from enlisted to officer, and what drove that decision?
A combination of experiences with micromanagement, a desire to empower NCOs, and a realization that delegated authority should flow from officers to NCOs; the Green to Gold path was pursued to become the leader needed when he was younger.
Explosive Ordnance Technician in Training and Combat
Q: What was the first major leadership lesson you learned under fire?
Lead with calm, clear communication; rely on trusted NCOs; and keep your team members protected and informed, even when you're the junior leader in a dangerous situation.
Observer, Coach, Trainer at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center
Q: How is JMRC different from other training centers and what value do you see in multinational training?
JMRC is a living laboratory for combat, weaving together live scenarios, allied forces, and a broad range of terrain to simulate real-world operations; training with NATO partners, learning from diverse practices, and integrating drones/AI shows how coalition warfare evolves and why cross-cultural readiness is critical for success in future wars.
Observer, Coach, Trainer at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center
Q: What was it like being a general's aide and what did you learn from that role?
Being a general's aide meant being a jack of all trades and a trusted advisor—seeing how the operation of a high-level command works, understanding the human side of generals, and learning to contextualize small actions within the larger strategic picture; it also underscored the importance of timely, honest communication and the need to stay adaptable under pressure.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Spear

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

The show foregrounds deeply personal combat experiences told by military veterans and officers, weaving in leadership, decision-making under pressure, and the human dimensions of war. Episodes typically center on a guest's path through training and deployments, highlighting lessons learned under fire, teamwork, and the evolution of modern warfare concepts such as MDTF, long-range fires, and joint coalition operations. A notable hallmark is its earnest, interview-first approach that privileges firsthand narratives, with guests ranging from EOD officers to Rangers and medical personnel. Listeners who crave authentic battlefield storytelling and practical leadership insights will find the episodes especially compelling, though some critics wis... more

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How many listeners does The Spear get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Spear?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Spear:

1. Modern War Institute
2. Irregular Warfare Podcast
3. War on the Rocks
4. Net Assessment
5. School of War

How many episodes of The Spear are there?

The Spear launched 9 years ago and published 224 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 Spear?

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What guests have appeared on The Spear?

Recent guests on The Spear include:

1. Javesco Cook
2. Michael Villahermosa
3. Colonel Tiffany Bilderback
4. Dale Hunter
5. Francis Ambrogio
6. Lieutenant Colonel Tiane Garner
7. Lieutenant Colonel Ben Blane
8. Curt Donaldson

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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