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The Unconventional Soldier

theunconventionalsoldier
Ukraine Conflict
Cold War
Target Acquisition
Military Ethics
Drones
Autonomous Weapons
Artificial Intelligence
Royal Artillery
Cuban Missile Crisis
Berlin Airlift
NATO
Catherine Leroy
Gulf War 1991
Top Malo House
Korean War
Military Training
BBC
Royal Navy
Journalism
Falklands War

"Letting the Guest Tell the Story"

The Unconventional Soldier Podcast explores conflicts from the Second World War, the Cold War, Northern Ireland and the Global War on Terror. Hosted by veterans, it blends personal experience, regimental history, and in-depth analysis of battles, leadership, and military transformation. Episodes feature former soldiers, historians, and defence experts discussing ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes106Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryHistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Unconventional Soldier

Latest Episodes

CONTENT

My guest today is former infantry officer Richard Westley OBE MC who recounts his extensive career in the British Army, starting with his motivation to join the Royal Welsh Fusiliers after Sandhurst in 1984.  Richard commanded soldiers on op... more

CONTENT

The guest today is former soldier Jonny Ball who served in the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and the Intelligence Corps deploying on operations in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan before being medically discharged in 2024. An expert at ... more

CONTENT

The guest today is former soldier and author James Lee. James was my guest on podcast 38 where we discussed his first book about his tour in Afghanistan called "Licking The Taliban’s Flip Flop" and also on pod 84 where we discussed his secon... more

CONTENT

This weeks guest is Mick Cook a former helicopter crewman in the Royal Navy, The conversation begins with Mick's enlistment in 1971 as a junior naval air mechanic and details the culture shock and rigorous nature of his initial basic trainin... more

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Recent Guests

Jonny Ball
Former soldier, co-founder of the UK Afghanistan Veterans Community, and an advocate for veterans affairs.
Episode: S6 #104 The Afghanistan Veterans Community
Wilf Owen
A former soldier, military technology writer, and the author of 'Euclid's Army, Preparing Land Forces for Warfare Today.'
Episode: S6 #101 Euclid's Army: Challenging Conventional Wisdom on Land Warfare
Neale Smiles
A former soldier now working in the defence industry and a regular guest of the podcast.
Episode: S6 #101 Euclid's Army: Challenging Conventional Wisdom on Land Warfare
Rob McAllister
Former British Army officer, served in the Royal Logistics Corps, deployed to Afghanistan
Episode: S6 #100 British Army Combat Logistic Patrols In Afghanistan - Op HERRICK
Barry Nisbet
Former Canadian Army sniper with three deployments to Afghanistan
Canadian Armed Forces
Episode: S6 #099 Send It - Canadian Snipers In Afghanistan
Jack Bowsher
Author of 'Thunder Run, Meiktila 1945', which discusses the battle as a pivotal allied victory in WWII.
Episode: S5 #093 Thunder Run Meiktila 1945 - War In Burma
Matt Maer
Retired Brigadier who served for 27 years in the British Army with operational tours in areas including Iraq and Afghanistan.
Episode: S5 #091 Commanding 1 PWRR Battle Group - Operation TELIC 4 (Iraq 2004)
Scotty Darroch
Former soldier who participated in the Invictus Games and raised funds through trekking with a washing machine.
Invictus Games Foundation
Episode: S5 #089 Invictus, PTSD & A Washing Machine
John A. Dailey
Retired US Marine Corps Master Sergeant, author of "Tough Rugged Bastards: A Memoir of Life in Marine Special Operations"
Episode: S5 #088 John A Dailey: US Marine Corps Recon, MARSOC, & Special Operations Veteran.

Host

Colin
Host with significant military experience, adept in presenting insights on various military conflicts and operations.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 773 ratings
  • Excellent

    Another great Pod on Northern Ireland, As a 19 year old serving in NI 1993 not having a clue what was going on ! Listening to this and some of the previous Pods helps fill in a lot of gaps !! Keep up the great work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    johnyrotten
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Another late arrival to the podcast and now playing catch up. I'm still serving, but have learnt a huge amount about things I thought I knew but obviously didn't. Excellent listening due to excellent interviewees and hosts, highly recommended, each episode is an education, thank you very much.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    higthepig
    4 months ago
  • Excellent

    An absolutely excellent podcast. Great content and interesting interviewees . Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bertie 1976
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Excellent

    Very very good

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bhikkubodhi
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • A Brilliant Podcast

    A brilliantly presented podcast that catalogues a first-person history of a time that is in danger of being rapidly forgotten.

    The biggest surprise of this podcast is that other regiments are not following suite before their history and first hand accounts are lost.

    The Black Watch, The Argyles, The Gordon’s, The RSDG’s to name a few should all be taking their lead from this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Don't Call me Al
    Australia8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast provides valuable perspectives on lesser-known military narratives.
Listeners appreciate the focus on personal experiences and reflections from veterans.
The tone is engaging and accessible for both military personnel and civilians interested in military topics.
Authentic storytelling and historical insights resonate strongly with listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S6 #105 Richard Westley OBE MC: Operations In Northern Ireland, Bosnia & Afghanistan
Q: On your deployment to Helmand, what did an average day look like for you?
It involved fighting for resources, intelligence, and dealing with a very tough enemy.
S6 #105 Richard Westley OBE MC: Operations In Northern Ireland, Bosnia & Afghanistan
Q: What kind of world were you stepping into during your deployment in Bosnia?
We were stepping into a civil war where brutality had become normal across ethnic and religious bounds.
S6 #105 Richard Westley OBE MC: Operations In Northern Ireland, Bosnia & Afghanistan
Q: What was your first operational tour in Northern Ireland like?
It was invigorating, although I was not sure how to manage the political implications.
S6 #103 Achtung Pig: Life In BAOR & Northern Ireland
Q: What was your overall experience in Germany?
I did about 11 years in Germany, and I'm very fond of it because I felt at home there often.
S6 #103 Achtung Pig: Life In BAOR & Northern Ireland
Q: So what was life like for you as a young soldier arriving in Germany at the end of the Cold War?
It was overwhelming; you finish basic training ready to go, but then arriving in Germany is like starting from scratch.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Unconventional Soldier

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

Focusing on a range of conflicts from World War II to contemporary military operations, in-depth discussions are enriched by the experiences of veterans and military experts. The content often revolves around personal stories, operational challenges, and lessons learned from significant historical events, such as the Cold War, Northern Ireland, and the Global War on Terror. Unique elements include its emphasis on regimental history and collective memory, aiming to shed light on lesser-known narratives while providing analyses that recognize the broader implications of these conflicts on current military practices and societal perceptions. Listeners can expect authentic narratives punctuated by a blend of personal anecdotes and analytical di... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Unconventional Soldier?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Unconventional Soldier:

1. Cold War Conversations Podcast
2. WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
3. Battleground
4. The Rest Is Classified
5. The General & the Journalist

How many episodes of The Unconventional Soldier are there?

The Unconventional Soldier launched 5 years ago and published 106 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Unconventional Soldier?

Recent guests on The Unconventional Soldier include:

1. Jonny Ball
2. Wilf Owen
3. Neale Smiles
4. Rob McAllister
5. Barry Nisbet
6. Jack Bowsher
7. Matt Maer
8. Scotty Darroch

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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