H-Hour H-Hour Podcast

Rebecca Bennett is a former commissioned officer with the British Army and now a trainee psychiatrist. The conversation begins with a discussion about Rebecca's experiences in the military, including her first contact with an enemy force and the desensitization to danger. Host Hugh Keir and Rebecca also discuss the challenges of being a female officer in a male-dominated field and the integration of women into combat roles. The conversation touches on the differences between men and women in terms of violence and emotional influence, and the societal constructs that have magnified these differences. They conclude by acknowledging the importance of women's contributions and the need for a more inclusive society. The conversation explores the shift in societal perceptions of gender roles and the challenges that both men and women face in the modern world. It discusses the progress made in improving gender equality, particularly in the Western world, but also acknowledges that there are still areas where more work needs to be done. The conversation also touches on the topic of mental health, including the stigma surrounding it and the need for better support and resources. The concept of moral injury is introduced and debated, with differing opinions on its validity and the language used to describe it. The conversation explores the connection between physical and mental health, highlighting how they are intertwined and should be treated holistically. It discusses historical approaches to mental health, such as the belief that hysteria was caused by the uterus, and how our understanding has evolved. The conversation also touches on the use of medications in psychiatry, the importance of lifestyle factors in mental health, and the potential of psychedelics as a treatment. The rise in mental health problems is attributed to societal changes and the lack of opportunities for the brain to relax and process information. https://x.com/BexBennett9 https://x.com/hughkeir

Mel Deane is a personal trainer of high profile clients and is also a former rugby player who played centre for Connacht, Harlequins and Sale Sharks and Richmond. In this conversation with Hugh Keir, Mel shares his experiences and insights on motivation, mindset, and training. They discuss the influence of inspirational figures, the freedom afforded to sportspeople, the impact of money on motivation, and the mindset required for success in sports. Mel also talks about his early training experiences and his approach to training clients. He emphasizes the importance of positivity and finding clients who are motivated and willing to put in the work. The conversation also covers the topic of leadership and the challenges of gaining respect and influence. The discussion touches on the success of smaller nations in rugby and the factors that contribute to their performance. Finally, the conversation explores the role of social media in the fitness industry and the value of building a strong community.

****** Please support me via Patreon https://patreon.com/hkpodcasts ***** Joining Hugh for this episode: Bags Simmons (owner of Bare Arms TV & Film, British Army veteran) and Alex Brockdorff (actor, director, British Army veteran). The conversation revolves around alien invasion sci fi films. Kicking off with Starship Troopers and its satirical elements. The hosts discuss the deliberate poor acting, the portrayal of propaganda and dehumanization, and the underlying themes of war and sacrifice. They explore the director's intention to create a multi-layered film that works as both a mindless action flick and a critique of society. The conversation also touches on the historical context of World War II and the parallels with the film's depiction of war and recruitment. Overall, the hosts appreciate the depth and nuance of Starship Troopers, despite its initial appearance as a simple sci-fi invasion film. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss various sci-fi movies, including Starship Troopers, Battlefield Earth, Edge of Tomorrow, War of the Worlds, Signs, The Thing, They Live, and Mars Attacks. They explore the themes, unique aspects, and impact of these films, highlighting the creativity and originality of certain movies. They also touch on the challenges of creating original ideas in the film industry and the dominance of existing IP and remakes.

****** Discuss this episode in the H-Hour community today on Discord: https://discord.gg/ncFRpvTkjX ***** Geraint Jones is an author, host of Veteran State of Mind, and a former soldier. In this conversation, Geraint discusses his new book about World War II and the Battle of Normandy. Geraint and host Hugh Keir also touch on the topic of war and its impact on veterans. Geraint shares personal stories and accounts from soldiers who fought in the war, highlighting the emotional toll and the challenges they faced. They discuss WW2 veterans emotions and not being looked after after the war. The conversation also explores the differences between World War I and World War II veterans and the attitudes and emotions they had. Geraint emphasizes the importance of personal stories and the need to preserve and share them. The conversation delves into the themes of manipulation, indoctrination, and the complexities of human behaviour during times of war.

****** Discuss this episode in the H-Hour community today on Discord: https://discord.gg/ncFRpvTkjX ***** Andy Lockwood is a leadership, performance and culture consultant. He is the founder of The Rugby Outreach Project, Sports Vacancies and Grey Wolf Teams. In this episode he discusses the concept of empathy and its impact on team performance in sports, particularly in football. He shares his research on the three pillars of effective teams: shared experience, mutual understanding, and empathy. Lockwood highlights a study on an Italian football team that found increased levels of empathy led to more shots on goal and increased performance. He also explores the role of empathy in other industries, such as business and the military. Lockwood discusses his own work in implementing empathy-related strategies in sports teams and organizations. The conversation covers various topics related to rugby, including the impact of money on the sport, the challenges at grassroots level, the differences between rugby union and rugby league, and the success of the Japanese team in the Rugby World Cup. The conversation also touches on the treatment of team managers in football compared to rugby, the importance of soft skills in recruitment, and the need for adaptability in post-military careers.

****** Discuss this episode in the H-Hour community today on Discord: https://discord.gg/ncFRpvTkjX ***** The conversation covers James' experience filming in Afghanistan during the withdrawal of US troops and the Taliban takeover. James and Hugh discuss the failure of democracy, the misconceptions about Afghanistan, the corruption within the Afghan government and military, and the role of Pakistan in supporting the Taliban. They also touch on the controversy surrounding the evacuation efforts, including the Pen Farthing situation. The conversation highlights the lack of trust in leadership and the dire situation for women and girls under Taliban rule. The conversation covers various topics, including the rise of ISIS, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, long-term strategic thinking, the potential for national service, the changing nature of warfare, the future of Afghanistan, the challenges in the film and TV industry, and the issue of censorship.