H-Hour H-Hour Podcast

****** 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.

The conversation covers various topics related to training, knowledge, and mental health. Danny Bourne and Hugh Keir discuss the fight, flight, or freeze response and the importance of knowing what to do in a life-threatening situation. They also talk about the challenges and experiences of high-risk search operations in the military. The conversation then shifts to the creation and purpose of the clothing brand 'In The Dead Ground' and its aim to promote mental health awareness and self-help. The speakers discuss the barriers and misconceptions surrounding mental health and the importance of changing the conversation around it. The conversation explores the importance of creating an environment where people feel comfortable discussing their feelings and mental health. It emphasizes the power of advocacy and vulnerability in opening up conversations. The discussion also touches on the benefits of physical activities like jiu-jitsu and boxing in promoting mental well-being. The conversation highlights the need to disconnect from technology and give the brain time to process thoughts and emotions. It concludes with the recognition that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health and physical fitness, and that it's important to find what works for each individual. In this final part of the conversation, Hugh Keir discusses the vulnerability and trust involved in grappling sports like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He also talks about the importance of mental health awareness and the need for open conversations about personal experiences. The conversation ends with a discussion about starting a podcast and the challenges of editing and promoting it. ****** Discuss this episode in the H-Hour community today on Discord: https://discord.gg/ncFRpvTkjX *****

This conversation with Bags Simmons (founder of Bare Arms: Military Advisers to TV and Film) covers a range of topics related to filmmaking, including weapons collection, shooting ranges, sniper training, filming experiences, budget allocation, cult films, and inaccurate depictions in films. The discussion highlights the challenges and considerations involved in creating realistic action sequences and the impact of budget on the quality of productions. The conversation also touches on the use of AI and CGI in filmmaking and the potential implications for actors and the industry. In this conversation, Bags and Hugh discuss the impact of AI on filmmaking, particularly in post-production. They also explore the range of actors and the different types of roles they can play. The conversation touches on successful actors with limited range and those with unique mannerisms. Bags and Hugh speculate on the future of film and TV, considering the changing landscape and audience preferences. They also discuss the possibility of doing future film and TV reviews.  ****** Discuss this episode in the H-Hour community today on Discord: https://discord.gg/ncFRpvTkjX *****