It's A Blast Podcast

Mar 23 2025 22 ep. 48 mins 15
It's A Blast Podcast artwork

Mike, the EOD Happy Captain from X, sits down with veterans and military leaders to discuss how the military has contributed to their overall success and leadership style. Their conversations range from behavioral health in the military, to leadership lessons learned over time.

  Education  Society & Culture
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Congressman Rick Crawford: From EOD To Capitol Hill

Mar 23 2025 33 mins  
Representative Rick Crawford discusses his military background, particularly his experience as an EOD technician, and how it has shaped his career in Congress. He emphasizes the importance of supporting veterans, addressing issues like traumatic brain injury and veteran suicide, and highlights the establishment and growth of the EOD caucus. Representative Crawford also shares insig

Military Libraries with Paula Laurita

Nov 10 2024 26 mins  
Mike sits down with Paula Laurita, the Command Librarian for Army Materials Command, to discuss the significance of Military Libraries Week and the extensive resources provided by the MWR Library System. They explore the various services available to military families, including educational resources, free subscriptions to magazines and newspapers, and the role of libraries in supp

Staff Wars, Social Media and the Army: Josh Green AKA OnexPunchXDad

Oct 27 2024 36 mins  
In this conversation, Mike sits down with Josh Green, known as One Punch Dad, to discuss his unique journey from aspiring musician and actor to a warrant officer in the Army. They explore the challenges and surprises of military life, the importance of mentorship, and the impact of social media on his career. Josh shares insights on creating relatable content that resonates with fe

From Marine to Hollywood and Beyond with James LaPorta

Oct 06 2024 63 mins  
In this episode, Mike sits down with James LaPorta, a verification producer for CBS and former Marine, to discuss his journey from military service to journalism. They explore the realities of combat, the challenges of transitioning to civilian life, and the impact of trauma. James shares his experiences in Afghanistan, the struggles of returning home, and how he found purpose in j

Leveraging Social Media: Tyler Butterworth

Sep 22 2024 25 mins  
I sat down with digital media creator and Soldier, Tyler Butterworth, to talk about his time in the Army National Guard, and how he got into creating content on Social Media. His content is hilarious, but it was great to sit down and have serious conversation about the Army, and his personal life.

Stolen Valor

Sep 08 2024 34 mins  
Anthony Anderson, founder of Guardian of Valor, discusses his work in exposing stolen valor and the importance of protecting the integrity of military awards. He shares his personal journey as a veteran and how he became involved in exposing imposters. Anthony explains the legal definition of stolen valor and the difference between stolen valor and embellishing military records. He

EOD in Afghanistan

Aug 25 2024 109 mins  
In this conversation, Mike sits down with Joe Czikalla, an EOD technician, to discuss Joe's experiences in the EOD community. They discuss the challenges and adrenaline rush of being an EOD technician, as well as the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in the field. The conversation also touches on the tragic loss of three EOD technicians during Joe's deployment. Joe

Captain "Chowdah" Hill and The Way of the Warrior Sailor

Aug 10 2024 35 mins  
Captain Chris "Chowdah" Hill, commander of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, discusses his leadership style and the use of social media and managing over 5,000 sailors on a ship. Captain Chowdhill's leadership philosophy, known as the Way of the Warrior Sailor, focuses on creating morale and recognizing the value of every sailor. He emphasizes the need for constant communication, missi

The Story of WonderNubs: Mary Dague

Jun 09 2024 99 mins  
Mary Dague sits down with me and discusses her time as an EOD technician and life after EOD. She talks about her decision to join the army and her experience in EOD school. Mary also shares her first unit assignment and the challenges she faced as the first female in the unit as well as the challenges she faced in a male-dominated field, including communication barriers and preconc

Distinguished Service Cross Recipient Jeff Dawson

May 26 2024 80 mins  
Jeff Dawson, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient and EOD technician, shares his journey in the army and his experiences in the field. He was deployed to Afghanistan with the 28th EOD, a specialized EOD unit, and was involved in a mission where he encountered multiple IEDs and casualties. Despite being wounded multiple times, Jeff continued to work and save lives on the ground.