20 episodes
What We Brought Home Mike Izzo and Pat McGinty
-
- Society & Culture
-
-
5.0 • 45 Ratings
-
What We Brought Home provides all military veterans with a judgement-free forum to anonymously share their most personal stories of war and peacetime; to help both storytellers and listeners find connection and better cope with the complicated emotions of military service.
If you are a veteran and have a story you would like to share, we want to hear from you. Email us at stories@whatwebroughthome.com.
-
18. Counterfeit Clarity
Final episode of Season 2! An Army veteran of two Iraq deployments and another to Afghanistan discusses how he balanced following his calling to lead soldiers in combat with the needs of his growing family back home. This episode contains a bonus segment detailing our guest’s experience on the ground in Afghanistan as an Infantry company commander.
Some acronyms and terms used in this episode:
- AQI - Military shorthand/acronym for "Al-Qaeda in Iraq."
- The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred on December 7, 1941.
- Dwell time - The period of time that a service member spends at their home station in between deployments to a war zone. Often time service members are mandated to have a certain period of time at home upon return from a deployment (often 12 months). The purpose is to allow a mental and physical break from combat. If a service member wished to deploy again within a prescribed period of dwell time that soldier had to sign paperwork waiving it and get permission from their chain of command.
- PJs - Nickname for Air Force para rescue personnel whose job it is to conduct combat search and rescue.
- Strong points - a key point in a military defensive line. Strong points are meant to be hard to overrun or avoid.
- AO - Area of Operations - the geographic area assigned to a particular unit as their area of responsibility.
- Combined Arms - A type of warfare that integrates different types of arms to be mutually complimentary to one another and overwhelming to the enemy. One example of this would be infantry fighting with artillery and aviation units in support.
---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatwebroughthome/message -
17. One Hundred Different Perspectives
Our guest talks about finding help for his trauma from Iraq through psychedelic assisted therapy.
This story is intended for informational purposes only. No material on this site or in this episode is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatwebroughthome/message -
16. Unit Loyalty
An Army veteran struggles to do what he thinks is right in the face of pressure from his unit to let it go.
Some acronyms used in this episode:
PMCS - Preventive Maintenance Checks and Service - A required inspection of a piece of military equipment (vehicle, weapon, etc.) performed before, during and after use to ensure it is operating properly and prepared for future use.
ETS - Ending Term of Service - When a service member's obligation ends and they are discharged from the military.
---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatwebroughthome/message -
15. A Haircut and a Hard Time
Our first Marine storyteller shares his experience of serving as a career recruiter starting at the tail end of the Vietnam War.
---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatwebroughthome/message -
14. A Service Connection Battle
Our guest talks about significant health challenges that developed for her after leaving the service.
This episode contains some common military terms that might not be familiar to everyone. Here is a quick explanation to provide context:
Motor Pool - An area where vehicles are parked when not in service and where maintenance work is performed.
VA Disability Rating - The VA assesses disability on a scale of 0% to 100% based on the severity of the disability. Each percent rating (in increments of 10%) correspond with a monthly tax-free payment to the veteran as well as eligibility for other VA-related benefits.
Service Connected - "A service-connected condition means an illness or injury that was caused by—or got worse because of—your active military service." (from VA.gov)
---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatwebroughthome/message -
13. Anchored in the Philippines
Our first Navy veteran storyteller talks about life aboard a ship in the Pacific.
CONTENT WARNING: this episode discusses the existence of sex and sex work. Also, this episode includes the use of certain terms to describe sex work that some might find inappropriate or offensive.
---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatwebroughthome/message
Customer Reviews
Incredibly moving
Very proud of these people for sharing their stories.
Service To Others🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸
My wife pointed this podcast out to me because although I never served I listen/watch all sorts of military related content. The hosts served their country then and continue to do so now by allowing these stories to be shared. Well done!
Out-Friggin-Standing!
Nothing but respect and appreciation for this amazing podcast. As a combat veteran, it has been intriguing to hear the stories and perspectives of other combat veterans that I never would have been exposed to otherwise. At the same time, there are so many connections and similarities that exist within all of our experiences, which has caused me to reflect about my time in service and to not feel so alone. On the flip side, I feel it is equally important - if not more important - for these stories to be heard by those who have not served. Lastly, I want to give a huge shout out to the two hosts. Instead of making the show about themselves (as many podcast hosts do), they really do a great job with genuinely supporting and empathasizing with the guests, facilitating a safe space to share some hard topics, and stepping in only to ask clarifying questions when needed.