Mandatory Fun

We Are The Mighty
  • 4.6 (67)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

Mandatory Fun is a weekly podcast about the military and pop culture. Join us in breaking cultural tropes and bridging the military-civilian divide through storytelling and entertainment. The show is hosted by the We Are The Mighty's editorial team: Air Force veteran Blake Stilwell, Army veteran Logan Nye, Navy veteran Tim Kirkpatrick, and Navy veteran Orvelin Valle (O.V.).

  1. 06/19/2018

    The story of the slave who survived the Alamo

    The attack on the Alamo in 1836 was not a 13-day siege and slaughter as often portrayed in film and television. Don't get me wrong – the defenders of the mission-turned-fortress were killed en masse as Mexican troops stormed the structure. It's just that not everyone inside the Alamo died that day.

    27 min

  2. 06/05/2018

    Why Navy SEALs will storm the beaches of Normandy in 2018

    Jumping into freezing water is just part of the legacy of being a Navy SEAL. During World War II, the U.S. Navy Combat Demolition Units were just a handful of guys equipped only with a pair of shorts, a knife, and maybe some explosives. But the roots of being amphibious is still close to the Navy special warfare community – that's why they still call themselves "Frogmen." Some 74 years ago, these Navy Combat Demolition Units braved the freezing waters of the English Channel in the predawn hours of June 6, 1944 – not to mention the thousands of Nazi guns pointed at them at the water's edge. They were trained for this. Not necessarily the undertaking of being the secret first wave of invaders of the most fortified positions in the world. No, they were trained to win against any and all odds or obstacles. These men were the precursor to modern-day SEALs, moving to do their part on the beaches before the D-Day Landings. That's how SEAL training works to this day, teaching recruits to overcome the things they think can't be done. Now, in tribute to those few who landed at occupied France well before the rest of the Allies, 30 current and former Navy SEALs, as well as some "gritty" civilians will recreate those NCDU landings. Today's SEAL re-enactors will do a seven-mile swim to land at Normandy, then they'll scale the cliffs on Omaha Beach, to place a wreath at the memorial there. At that point, they'll gear up with 44-pound rucks to do a 30-kilometer ruck march to Saint-Lô. Why? To raise awareness (and funds) for the Navy SEAL Heritage Museum in Fort Pierce, Fla. – and the wide range of programs they offer to support family members of those SEALs who fell in combat, doing things only the U.S. special operations community would ever dare.

    35 min

  3. 05/28/2018

    How going to war brings out the best and worst in people

    Our guest Sebastian Junger is not a military veteran. He makes that clear, but he sure sounds like one. Maybe it's because he's seen more conflict than many in the United States military. If there's an expert on modern warfare and the long-term effects of those who live it, that person is Sebastian Junger. He joins us to discuss his new PBS documentary airing on Memorial Day "Going To War" and explains how people transform before, during and after combat.

    25 min

  4. 05/21/2018

    It will make you angry to learn how this veteran lost $100k in benefits

    Mandatory Fun

    30 min

  5. 05/15/2018

    PTSD is temporary, here are the first steps to kicking its ass

    Mandatory Fun

    31 min

  6. 05/01/2018

    How to 'Conquer Anything,' according to a Green Beret

    Mandatory Fun

    29 min

  7. 04/24/2018

    Combat poetry reveal what life is like on the Afghan front lines

    Mandatory Fun

    28 min

  8. 04/17/2018

    4 survival skills that will help you thrive in a disaster or zombie apocalypse

    Mandatory Fun

    30 min
See All (82)

4.6
out of 5
67 Ratings

About

Mandatory Fun is a weekly podcast about the military and pop culture. Join us in breaking cultural tropes and bridging the military-civilian divide through storytelling and entertainment. The show is hosted by the We Are The Mighty's editorial team: Air Force veteran Blake Stilwell, Army veteran Logan Nye, Navy veteran Tim Kirkpatrick, and Navy veteran Orvelin Valle (O.V.).

Information

  • Creator
    We Are The Mighty
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2018
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Mandatory Fun