Send us Fan Mail Hot Ashes Podcast Ep. 45 – Marine Corps Stories, Duramax Builds & Cigar Shop Banter We’re back on the patio at George’s Cigar Shop in Swansboro, North Carolina for Episode 45 of the Hot Ashes Podcast. It’s a hot, humid day, the ash is falling, and the stories are flowing. In this episode, Lee, TK, Cody, and Chris dive into: Cigars, drinks & shop talkWhat we’re smoking: George’s box‑pressed torpedo, George’s Big Boy Robusto, Fat Bottom BettyWhat we’re drinking: pernicious, Coors Banquet “Yellow Jacket,” high‑quality H₂O, and a “10mg can of fun”Behind-the-scenes of recording at a cigar shop and upgrading the camera/AI setupCody’s ’03 Duramax build & wrenching lifeBlown head gasket, injectors, cups, fresh ECM and tuneThe disappointment of “only” ~450 hp with a stock transmissionFather–son wrench time with Chance and what’s left to finish the truckFuture plans: building a motor from a bare block and dreaming about a dedicated project truckLee’s 1960 T‑Bird sitting in the driveway and what it would take to bring it back to lifeBeards, shaving & Marine regsGrowing beards after retirement vs. daily razor life in the Marine CorpsBeard oils, balms, and terrible scents (“dirt,” overpowering sandalwood, patchouli)Is it ever “too hot” for a beard?Marine Corps life, leadership & war storiesCody getting medically extended instead of cleanly retiring because of his bicep injuryLetting go of the uniform, rank, and identity after you retireToxic staff NCOs, NJPs, court‑martial stories, and Marines finally standing up to bad leadershipWriting honest reenlistment and character recommendations instead of rubber‑stampingBeing a det daddy on a MEU, running maintenance control for four birds and 58 MarinesHitting 100% flight completion with zero liberty incidents by focusing on communication, trust, and accountabilityShip life & aviation maintenance storiesLife aboard the Kearsarge and other ships: bad seas, “fun meters,” and nasty non‑skidWorking on CH‑53s: transition sections, tight spaces, dropped hardware, FOD walksNight operations, NVGs, HSTs, and how dangerous decks and ramps really areFalling, head‑smacking, and getting beat up by the aircraft and the shipBoot camp, drill instructors & recruit mayhemParis Island vs. San Diego cultureGetting bird‑bombed in formation, shitting your pants, and unfortunate…morning situationsTeam week, working the chow hall/targets, and catching quick meals while never breaking the “angry DI” illusionHow boot camp habits (like inhaling chow) never quite leave youRank, identity & what we missWhy sergeant and gunny feel like the best ranks in the CorpsHow master sergeant/master guns and first sergeant/sergeant major pull you away from the Marines you love leadingRegrets about not doing drill field, and why some of those “chest candy” quals feel hollowThe difference between officers who truly lean on their SNCOs vs. those who don’tTrust, humility, and how crew‑served aircraft (pilots + enlisted crew) tighten the officer–enlisted bond Timestamps (approx.) 0:00 – Mic checks, cigars, drinks, and kicking off at George’s Cigar Shop3:30 – Cody’s Duramax, Father’s Day bicep tear, and wrenching with Chance6:00 – Beards, shaving rituals, and surviving summer with facial hair10:50 – Cody’s medical extension & the weird limbo before retirement17:20 – Toxic staff NCO, charges, and leadership finally doing the right thing24:20 – Subscriptions, AI tools, and gear for running the podcast29:20 – Horsepower disappointment and dreams of a full build & the 1960 T‑Bird32:20 – Lost bolts, oil change nightmares, and DIY satisfaction43:20 – Ship deployments, fun meters, seasickness, and non‑skid injuries51:00 – Det daddy stories, 100% mission success, and leadership roundtables59:30 – Crew resource management, AOs, crew chiefs, and trust in the air1:20:00 – Boot camp, drill instructors, bird‑shit stories, and Warriors’ breakfast1:25:00 – Chow hall, eating in 15 seconds, and laughing your buddies into the pit1:10:00–end – Rank, regrets, what we’d do again, and what we’d change#HotAshesPodcast #Podcast #VeteranPodcast #CigarPodcast #MilitaryPodcast #USMC #MarineCorps #Marines #MilitaryLife #VeteranStories #MilitaryLeadership #BootCamp #DrillInstructor #MEU #HelicopterMaintenance #Duramax #DieselTruck #TruckBuild #TruckLife #MechanicLife #CarProjects #ClassicCars #Cigars #CigarLife #CigarLounge #GeorgesCigarShop #NorthCarolina #Swansboro #BeardLife #BeardCare #VeteranLife #BlueCollar Support the show
