True Blue Conversations Podcast

Adam Blum
  • 4.9 (57)
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Inspired by the people and events that have shaped Australian history and character, with his authentically Australian down to earth approach, Adam Blum explores and shares their stories. Learn how in the past and more recently, service, sacrifice and grit have and continue to play a central role in Australia's True Blue History.

  1. True Blue Conversations - Mandy Hickson Royal Air Force Fast Jet Pilot Tornado GR4 Combat Pilot / Author

    4 DAYS AGO

    True Blue Conversations - Mandy Hickson Royal Air Force Fast Jet Pilot Tornado GR4 Combat Pilot / Author

    Welcome back to True Blue Conversations, where we sit down with those who've lived extraordinary lives in service, leadership, and beyond. Today's guest is someone who has quite literally operated at the edge of human performance. Mandy Hickson is a former Royal Air Force fast jet pilot who flew the Tornado GR4 on combat and operational missions around the world. In an environment where precision, resilience, and split-second decision-making can mean the difference between success and failure, Mandy carved out a career in one of the most demanding roles in military aviation. Since leaving the RAF, she's become a highly sought-after keynote speaker and author, sharing powerful insights into leadership, teamwork, and performing under pressure—lessons forged at 40,000 feet and in some of the most high-stakes situations imaginable. In this episode, we dive into Mandy's journey into the RAF, what it takes to fly fast jets in combat, the realities behind the cockpit, and how those experiences translate into leadership and life beyond the military. This is a conversation about courage, discipline, and thriving in high-performance environments. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Mandy Hickson Editor: Kyle Watkins

    1hr 40min
  2. True Blue Conversations - Lana Boland - Canadian Police Officer / Author

    13 APR

    True Blue Conversations - Lana Boland - Canadian Police Officer / Author

    On this week's podcast, I speak with Lana Boland, a dedicated Canadian police officer who has served her community with courage and compassion. From navigating high-stress investigations to mentoring young officers, Lana has seen it all. But beyond the badge, she's a voice for mental health in policing, shining a light on the human side of law enforcement. Join us as we explore her journey, the challenges she's faced, and the hope she's bringing to a profession that demands so much. This is a raw and insightful conversation about resilience, mental health, and the unseen weight carried by those who serve. Lana shares the lessons she's learned, the challenges she's faced, and the tools she now uses to help others heal, grow, and take back control of their lives. Whether you're in emergency services, supporting someone who is, or just looking to better understand trauma and recovery—this is an episode you won't want to miss.   Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Lana Boland Editor: Kyle Watkins

    1hr 58min
  3. True Blue Conversations - Meg Jarvis - Western Australia Police Detective / Trauma Coach

    6 APR

    True Blue Conversations - Meg Jarvis - Western Australia Police Detective / Trauma Coach

    On this week's podcast, I speak with former Western Australia WA Police Detective Meg Jarvis, who has spent years on the front line of some of the most confronting and complex cases imaginable. Meg's career in policing exposed her to the realities most people never see—trauma, crisis, and the human side of crime. But what sets her apart is what came next. Drawing on her lived experience, she's transitioned into a trauma coach, helping others navigate the psychological toll that comes with high-pressure roles and life- altering events. This is a raw and insightful conversation about resilience, mental health, and the unseen weight carried by those who serve. Meg shares the lessons she's learned, the challenges she's faced, and the tools she now uses to help others heal, grow, and take back control of their lives. Whether you're in emergency services, supporting someone who is, or just looking to better understand trauma and recovery—this is an episode you won't want to miss.   Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Meg Jarvis Editor: Kyle Watkins

    1hr 48min
  4. True Blue Conversations - Michael "Smokey" Dawson BM EW Operator / Military Police Dog Handler Part 2

    31 MAR

    True Blue Conversations - Michael "Smokey" Dawson BM EW Operator / Military Police Dog Handler Part 2

    Welcome back to part 2 of our chat with Michal Dawson, BM. A man who has lived a life defined by service—both in uniform and beyond. Michael is an Australian Army veteran serving as an EW operator and in the Military police as a dog handler. He is a recipient of the Bravery Medal—an honour awarded to those who display extraordinary courage in the face of real danger. From his time in the Army to the moment that would ultimately see him recognised for bravery, Michael's story is one of instinct, selflessness, and stepping forward when others might hesitate. In this episode, we unpack that defining moment—what happened, what drove him to act, and the aftermath of carrying that experience. But more than that, we explore the man behind the medal: the lessons from military life, the transition beyond service, and what courage really looks like when no one's watching. This is a raw and grounded conversation about service, sacrifice, and the quiet professionals who walk among us, as well as the true cost of service and the struggles that every veteran and first responder face in transitioning back to civilian life after service. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Michael "Smokey" Dawson BM Editor: Kyle Watkins

    2h 51m
  5. True Blue Conversations - Michael "Smokey" Dawson BM EW Operator / Military Police Dog Handler Part 1

    30 MAR

    True Blue Conversations - Michael "Smokey" Dawson BM EW Operator / Military Police Dog Handler Part 1

    Today's guest is a man who has lived a life defined by service—both in uniform and beyond. Michael "Smokey" Dawson BM is an Australian Army veteran serving as an EW operator and in the Military police as a dog handler. He is a recipient of the Bravery Medal—an honour awarded to those who display extraordinary courage in the face of real danger. From his time in the Army to the moment that would ultimately see him recognised for bravery, Michael's story is one of instinct, selflessness, and stepping forward when others might hesitate. In this episode, we unpack that defining moment—what happened, what drove him to act, and the aftermath of carrying that experience. But more than that, we explore the man behind the medal: the lessons from military life, the transition beyond service, and what courage really looks like when no one's watching. This is a raw and grounded conversation about service, sacrifice, and the quiet professionals who walk among us, as well as the true cost of service and the struggles that every veteran and first responder face in transitioning back to civilian life after service. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Michael "Smokey" Dawson BM Editor: Kyle Watkins

    3h 3m
  6. True Blue Conversations - Captain Jonathan "Finchy" Finch

    23 MAR

    True Blue Conversations - Captain Jonathan "Finchy" Finch

    On this week's podcast, I speak with Captain Jonathan Finch, whose 27year journey in the Australian Defence Force reflects the evolution of a peacetime organisation into one operating at an intense operational tempo around the world. Finchy began his career in 1999, enlisting in the Army Reserve as a cook—just as the ADF was transitioning into an era marked by frequent deployments and complex missions abroad. Over the years, Finchy's adaptability, professionalism, and appetite for challenge saw him rise through the Australian Army Catering Corps to the rank of Sergeant before commissioning as a logistics officer within the Royal Australian Corps of Transport. His career has carried him across the IndoPacific and throughout Australia on a wide variety of operations, humanitarian tasks, and training commitments. From remote community support to international deployments, his service has spanned nearly every corner of the Army's contemporary mission set. Today, CAPT Finch continues to serve with enthusiasm, contributing his extensive experience to capability development, junior leader mentoring, and operational planning. Beyond Defence, he remains engaged in community organisations, bringing the same energy and dedication to local initiatives as he does to his military career.   Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Jonathan Finch Editor: Kyle Watkins

    2h 2m
  7. True Blue Conversations - Jody Tieche - Voodoo Combat Medic

    16 MAR

    True Blue Conversations - Jody Tieche - Voodoo Combat Medic

    On this week's podcast, I speak with former Australian Army Combat Medic Jody Tieche, a man whose story is built on service, resilience, and the experiences that come from operating in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. Jody served as a combat medic with the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, a role that puts you right in the thick of it. When soldiers are wounded and every second matters, the medic is the one running toward the danger — carrying the responsibility of keeping his mates alive. Jody served in Timor in 2006 and served two tours of Afghanistan, Rotation IV with Task Force 66 in 2007 and Rotation VII in 2008. In this episode, we're going to talk about Jody's journey into the military, what it's really like serving as a combat medic, the realities of battlefield medicine, and how those experiences shape the person you become long after the uniform comes off. After Jody left the military and went into the mining industry, before moving into Oil and Gas as a Paramedic. In 2021, Jody applied and was successful in securing employment with the South Australian Ambulance Service through the Internship program. Shift work and juggling on-road workload, plus young toddlers, became too much for Jody and his wife. Jody put his family first and concluded his internship. Jody currently works for BHP as a Paramedic/Emergency Services Officer. It's a raw and honest conversation about service, sacrifice, and the bonds that are forged when people rely on each other in life-and-death moments. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Jody Tieche Editor: Kyle Watkins

    1hr 41min
  8. True Blue Conversations - Arron Ferguson - NSW Police Detective Australian Army Special Forces 1st Commando Regiment Veteran.

    2 MAR

    True Blue Conversations - Arron Ferguson - NSW Police Detective Australian Army Special Forces 1st Commando Regiment Veteran.

    On this week's podcast, I speak with Arron Ferguson, a former 23-year NSW Police Detective and 24-year Australian Army 1st Commando Regiment Special Forces Operator. Arron joined the army first as a commando, and two years later, he was offered a spot on a deployment to Timor. However, the NSW Police also offered a full-time policing position at the academy. Arron lived a double life as both a Detective and army Special Forces reserve soldier. Arron was involved in hundreds of domestic police investigations and then deployments to Timor and highly kinetic operations in Afghanistan as part of the special operations task force. He was forced into early retirement due to a genetic muscle disease, which took a toll on his mental health and, not to mention, his physical capabilities. In this podcast, Arron talks about the loss of mates while he was deployed in Afghanistan, how policing has changed from when he joined and the true mental cost of serving as a first responder and in the military. Arron also talks about the mental health aspect of loss of purpose and finding purpose again after being diagnosed with this genetic muscle disease, and what every veteran and first responder struggles with transition back to civilian life after living a high kinetic life that veterans and first responders live. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Arron Ferguson Editor: Kyle Watkins

    2h 36m
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About

Inspired by the people and events that have shaped Australian history and character, with his authentically Australian down to earth approach, Adam Blum explores and shares their stories. Learn how in the past and more recently, service, sacrifice and grit have and continue to play a central role in Australia's True Blue History.

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