Oscar Mike Radio

Oscar Mike Radio

Travis Partington hosts Oscar Mike Radio, a long-running podcast that shares the stories of military service members and veterans. Now in its eighth year and with over 440 episodes, Oscar Mike Radio continues to amplify the voices of those who serve and have served. Travis also serves on the Veterans Advisory Council for the Town of Abington, Massachusetts. He partners with Adam Gunn, Director of Veterans’ Services, to co-host Abington Veterans Muster, a community television program that connects veterans and residents with valuable resources and services. Learn more at www.oscarmikeradio.com

  1. Sep 11

    Oscar Mike Radio – 508 – Neil Adams - FROM THE PILE: A 9-11 First Responder's Story

    In this episode of Oscar Mike Radio, I had the privilege of speaking with Neil Adams, author of From the Pile, a book that honors the life and legacy of his friend Michael Dorian, a 9/11 first responder whose story reminds us that courage and service can take many forms. Michael was HIV-positive and immunocompromised, but when America was attacked on September 11, 2001, he volunteered to help at Ground Zero. Working alongside firefighters in the dust and debris, Michael used saline to flush contaminants from their eyes—doing whatever he could to help those working on the pile. A veterinary technician and volunteer NYPD officer, Michael had lived a complicated and sometimes turbulent life. His story wasn't one of perfection. It was one of perseverance, friendship, courage, and ultimately redemption. Like so many who served at Ground Zero, Michael later developed cancer linked to his exposure to the toxic environment. Before his passing, he was recognized for his service with the Medal of Valor. Neil and I talked about much more than what Michael did after 9/11. We talked about who he was—the struggles, mistakes, relationships, and experiences that shaped him. That is what makes Michael's story so powerful. You don't have to be perfect to make a difference. Ordinary people, even those carrying their own struggles, can rise to extraordinary moments. From the Pile is also a story about friendship. Neil has made sure that Michael's courage, humanity, and service will not be forgotten. As we remember 9/11, this conversation reminded me that service doesn't always come with a uniform, a title, or recognition. Sometimes service is simply seeing that someone needs help and deciding to step forward. Thank you, Neil, for talking with me and for sharing Michael's story. This 9/11, remember that service takes many forms—and friends truly are forever. Learn more about Neil Adams and order From the Pile at readneiladams.com.

    Oscar Mike Radio – 508 – Neil Adams - FROM THE PILE: A 9-11 First Responder's Story
  2. Sep 4

    Oscar Mike Radio – 507 – Lauren Burns and Don Feeney – Stolen

    This episode of Oscar Mike Radio features returning guestLauren Burns, joined by a very special guest: former Delta Force operator Don Feeney. Lauren's incredible story began when she was kidnapped as a child from Dallas and taken to Jordan, an experience that profoundly affected her life.  After years of healing, she is now ready to share her journey in her upcoming book, Stolen, releasing on September 8th. This conversation offers a new perspective through Don, one of the men involved in her rescue. Don recounts the covert mission he undertook with teammates JD and Dave, detailing how they tracked Lauren via a school bus and successfully extracted her across the Allenby Bridge into Israel. Hearing Lauren and Don’s sides of the story was powerful:one as the child needing rescue, the other as a team member determined to bring her home. Decades later, they reflect together, not just on what occurred but on what followed. Central to this dialogue is faith; both share how it carriedthem through challenging times.  For Lauren, faith has become part of a broader mission: to turn a painful chapter into a story that offers hope to others. This episode signifies more than a rescue; it’s aboutsurvival, healing, faith, and choosing what to do with our stories after the darkest moments.  Lauren's book, Stolen, is out September 8th. Thank you, Lauren, for trusting me and the Oscar Mike Radio audience with your story again. And thank you, Don, for sharing theremarkable account of the men committed to one goal: bringing Lauren home. Go to https://www.laurenburns.net/aboutto learn more about Lauren and order her book. We are Mission in Flight!

    Oscar Mike Radio – 507 – Lauren Burns and Don Feeney – Stolen
  3. Aug 28

    Oscar Mike Radio – 506 – Micah Taylor – Hire Heroes USA

    In this episode of Oscar Mike Radio, I sit down with MicahTaylor, a retired Air National Guard veteran and Program Director at Hire Heroes USA, to talk about one of the biggest challenges service members face: figuring out what comes next after the uniform. Micah shares her own military journey, including her serviceas an aircraft electrician and her transition into civilian life. That experience gives her a personal understanding of how difficult it can be to take years of military training, leadership, and responsibility and translate those skills into language civilian employers understand. That's where Hire Heroes USA comes in. Micah explains how the organization provides free,personalized career support to veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses. From career coaching and résumé development to interview preparation and job-search assistance, the goal isn't simply to help someonefind a job. It's about helping people recognize their value and connect their military experience to meaningful civilian opportunities. We also discuss specialized programs supporting womenveterans and military spouses, two groups that can face unique challenges when navigating employment and career development. One point from our conversation especially stood out to me: transition planning needs to start early. Don't wait until you're about to take off the uniform to start thinking about your next mission. We also talked about artificial intelligence and its growingrole in résumés, job searches, and recruiting. AI can be a powerful tool, but Micah reminds us that technology can't replace one of the most important parts of finding the right opportunity: human connection. Networking matters. Relationships matter. Conversationsmatter. Military service gives us skills that don't disappear whenthe uniform comes off. Sometimes, we just need help translating those skills and finding the next place to put them to work. Go to https://www.hireheroesusa.org/ to learn more. Thank you, Micah, for joining me on Oscar Mike Radio and forthe work you and the entire Hire Heroes USA team are doing to help veterans, service members, and military spouses move confidently toward their next mission.

    Oscar Mike Radio – 506 – Micah Taylor – Hire Heroes USA
  4. Aug 21

    Oscar Mike Radio - 505 – Greg Potapenko – Tactical Snacks

    I met Greg Potapenko at Military Creator Con 2026. HisTactical Snack Packs were key to getting through the long days, and I wanted to learn more. Greg is a Canadian Army veteran and founder of TacticalSnacks. He talks with me about military service, entrepreneurship, and what happens when you take the skills developed in uniform and apply them to a newmission. Greg served 23 years in the Canadian Army, retiring as awarrant officer before transitioning into the business world. Like many veterans, leaving the military didn't mean he was finished serving. Instead, Greg found a new way to support the military and first responder communities through entrepreneurship. We talk about the story behind Tactical Snacks, a healthiersnack brand created with military personnel and first responders in mind. Greg wanted to build something that wasn't just about food. Tactical Snacks is also about morale, connection, and creating a brand that understands the people it serves. Greg also brings extensive experience in digital marketingand business acquisitions to the conversation. We discuss what he's learned about entrepreneurship, why staying focused matters when building a business, and the importance of creating a community around your mission instead of simply trying to sell a product. What I especially enjoyed about this conversation is howGreg has taken the leadership, discipline, and mission-focused mindset developed during 23 years of military service and carried those qualities into his next chapter. And he's just getting started. Greg shares his plans to continue growing Tactical Snacks,including the goal of bringing the brand onto U.S. military installations through the AAFES system. From Canadian Army warrant officer to veteran entrepreneur,Greg's story demonstrates that leaving the military doesn't mean leaving the mission behind. Sometimes it simply means finding a new way to serve. Go to https://tactical-snacks.com/ to learn more! Thank you, Greg, for joining me on Oscar Mike Radio, sharingyour story, and continuing to support the military and first responder communities. We are Mission in Flight!

    Oscar Mike Radio - 505 – Greg Potapenko – Tactical Snacks
  5. Aug 14

    Oscar Mike Radio 504 – Bill Brett & Paul Doyle – Boston Veterans Appreciation

    I had the privilege of sitting down with PulitzerPrize-winning Boston Globe photographer Bill Brett and artist and poet Paul Doyle to talk about their incredible collaboration, Boston Veterans Appreciation. This book is more than a collection of photographs. It is atribute to the men and women from the Boston area who answered the call to serve our country across different generations and conflicts, and an effort to ensure their stories are never forgotten. Bill takes us through his remarkable 60-year career inphotography and shares how decades behind the camera taught him to capture not just an image, but the person and story behind it. Paul explains how accompanying Bill while meeting and interviewing veterans drew him into theproject and gave him an even deeper appreciation for those who served. Throughout our conversation, Bill and Paul shared some ofthe veterans and stories that stayed with them, what went into creating the portraits, and how veterans and the community responded to the finished book.The success of Boston Veterans Appreciation demonstrates something I have believed throughout my years of doing Oscar Mike Radio: our veterans' stories matter. We also look ahead. Bill shares plans for a follow-upproject honoring Gold Star families and preserving the stories of those who have experienced the ultimate sacrifice of a loved one in service to our country. There will come a time when the veterans of previousgenerations are no longer here to tell us what they saw, what they endured, and what their service meant. Projects like Boston Veterans Appreciation ensure their faces, voices, and legacies remain for future generations. Thank you, Bill and Paul, for taking the time to join me onOscar Mike Radio and, more importantly, for using your talents to honor our veterans and preserve their stories. Their service is history. Their stories are legacy. Ourresponsibility is to remember. We are Mission in Flight!

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Travis Partington hosts Oscar Mike Radio, a long-running podcast that shares the stories of military service members and veterans. Now in its eighth year and with over 440 episodes, Oscar Mike Radio continues to amplify the voices of those who serve and have served. Travis also serves on the Veterans Advisory Council for the Town of Abington, Massachusetts. He partners with Adam Gunn, Director of Veterans’ Services, to co-host Abington Veterans Muster, a community television program that connects veterans and residents with valuable resources and services. Learn more at www.oscarmikeradio.com