True Blue Conversations Podcast Adam Blum

On this week’s podcast, I speak with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment Commanding Officer Brigadier Ret Ian Langford DSC & Bars.
 
Ian served for 30 years as a senior officer in the Australian Defence Force, Ian had the challenge and opportunity of leading large and small teams in complex and ambiguous environments.
Ian held a range of appointments in the Army and Special Forces throughout his career.
commanded the 2nd Commando Regiment, as well as multiple Special Operations Task Groups in Afghanistan, Iraq, and on domestic counter-terrorism duties. Ian has also led at the strategic level, responsible for the Army’s future strategic investments, future concepts and capabilities. His deployments include East Timor, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, and the South West Pacific. We spoke about commanding troops in battle the loss of mates in battle, and transition and what comes after service. For Ian’s service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on three occasions the only person to date to receive that honour.
 
 
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Ian Langford
Editor: Kyle Watkins
Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I speak with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator John Dixon.
John spent 16 years in the Australian Army. During his postings at 1RAR and 6RAR, he deployed to East Timor which gave him an introduction to military active deployments. After completing SF selection and the Commando reinforcement cycle, John was posted to Bravo Company 4RAR Commando now the 2CDO regiment. He was soon deployed as a special forces operator to Afghanistan on a SOTG (Special Operations Task Group) on his first combat deployment he was on ground the in
2007 the night when Luke Worsley was KIA. After this first deployment, John went on to further highly kinetic operations in Afghanistan in assault teams and as a sniper.  He deployed to Iraq in 2015 and the Philippines before discharging the
military in 2016. We spoke about the hard transition that all veterans and first responders face when they leave service and finding purpose again after service.
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: John Dixon
Editor: Kyle Watkins
Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I sat down with Royal Australian Artillery Warrant Officer Class 2 Mark Henneberry. Mark served for 23 years in the RAA. Mark joined the Army at 17. We discussed his deployment to Cambodia in 1993 and the effects of deploying at a young age. Mark talked about what all veterans and first responders face when they discharge, finding purpose after service. Mark found that purpose and now works in defence industries.
Mark is a partner with other veterans and first responders for a whiskey company called Wet Canteen Bottling Company. Creating an authentic taste for veterans and first responders to come together and reflect on service and mateship. Head over to Wet Canteen to grab your copy of whiskey today.
 
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Mark Henneberry
Editor: Kyle Watkins
Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

A momentous ANZAC Day 2024 with the launch of my interview with Matt Anderson PSM, an ADF veteran and the Director of the Australian War Memorial,
 
Matt discusses the current and future re-development of the war memorial, as well as what the memorial and the term ‘remembrance” means him. I remain inspired to hear Matt speak about the essence of what makes the war memorial a humbling and meaningful space to learn, commemorate, reflect, and honour the 103,000 men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
 
 
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Matt Anderson PSM
Editor: Kyle Watkins
Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I sat down with Detective Superintendent (Ret) Deb Wallace NSW Police veteran serving for 36 years. Deb joined the NSW Police in 1983 and quickly found herself gaining notoriety early in her career when she was involved in the investigation into the murder of 26-year-old nurse Anita Cobby. From this, she was invited to undertake Detective training which led to an extensive career commanding various specialist squads, including the South East Asian Crime Squad, Middle Eastern Organised Crime, and Strike Force Raptor. In the 90s she was a detective at Cabramatta fighting Asian street gangs, including the infamous 5T.  She has headed the Middle Eastern Crime Squad (MEOCS) which has been credited with dismantling the vicious Brothers for Life gang responsible for dozens of shootings in Sydney and then moving into Raptor, set up in 2009 targeting OMCG which disrupts bikie business with heavy-handed tactics.
 In 2019 after a 36-year distinguished career, Deb retired from the NSW police. In retirement, Deb is now the host of Million Dollar Murders which Aires on the Nine Network Deb is also working with the parole board of NSW and working with Grace’s Place the centre named in honour of Grace Lynch mother of Anita Cobby.
The primary purpose of Grace’s Place is to provide a unique place of healing and restoration for children who have lost a loved one to homicide.
 
Deb’s autobiography A Woman OF Force was published in 2020 and is available online and in bookstores.
 
 
 
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Deborah Wallace
Editor: Kyle Watkins
Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

On this week’s podcast, I sat down with Detective Superintendent (Ret) Deb Wallace NSW Police veteran serving for 36 years. Deb joined the NSW Police in 1983 and quickly found herself gaining notoriety early in her career when she was involved in the investigation into the murder of 26-year-old nurse Anita Cobby. From this, she was invited to undertake Detective training which led to an extensive career commanding various specialist squads, including the South East Asian Crime Squad, Middle Eastern Organised Crime, and Strike Force Raptor. In the 90s she was a detective at Cabramatta fighting Asian street gangs, including the infamous 5T.  She has headed the Middle Eastern Crime Squad (MEOCS) which has been credited with dismantling the vicious Brothers for Life gang responsible for dozens of shootings in Sydney and then moving into Raptor, set up in 2009 targeting OMCG which disrupts bikie business with heavy-handed tactics.
 In 2019 after a 36-year distinguished career, Deb retired from the NSW police. In retirement, Deb is now the host of Million Dollar Murders which Aires on the Nine Network Deb is also working with the parole board of NSW and working with Grace’s Place the centre named in honour of Grace Lynch mother of Anita Cobby.
The primary purpose of Grace’s Place is to provide a unique place of healing and restoration for children who have lost a loved one to homicide.
Deb’s autobiography A Woman OF Force was published in 2020 and is available online and in bookstores.
 
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Deborah Wallace
Editor: Kyle Watkins
Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway