Life on the Line

#155 Tim Aplin

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:00:00 +1100

2nd Commando Regiment veterans, friends and family share their memories of the late Tim Aplin.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Private Timothy Aplin was serving with the Special Operations Task Group when he tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash, on Monday 21 June 2010. Scott Palmer, Ben Chuck and a US serviceman also lost their lives in the crash, and many more were grievously injured.

The thirty-eight-year-old Tim was from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando Regiment.

Tim Aplin has been mentioned before on this podcast by his fellow Commandos who remember him fondly. In this special tribute episode we remember one of our fallen. This podcast contains stories, reflections and tributes from Tim’s family, friends and brothers-in-arms.

The veterans interviewed includes:

John Ferrinda
Malcolm Goodwin
Michael Kruger
Anthony McKay
Dean Parkinson
Ant Plater
Damien Silva
Mick Slattery
Gary Wilson
Adam Wyatt

As well as his friends Susie and Tim, his cousins Helen and Stuart, and his mother, Margaret.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, @LOTLpod on Twitter and 'Thistle Productions' on LinkedIn.

The Last Battle with Aaron Patrick

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with author Aaron Patrick about The Last Battle, his new book.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. A new book by Aaron Patrick details the actions in the Battle of Shah Wali Kot, from Chenartu to the village of Tizak. In conversation with his publisher, podcast host Alex Lloyd, Aaron details the heroism of the 2nd Commando Regiment and the incredible odds overcome by the Special Air Service Regiment.

The book is out now available in print, ebook and audiobook. Read more about it here.

#68 Harry Moffitt Vol III

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews SAS veteran Harry Moffitt for a third time.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Anthony 'Harry' Moffitt served in the Australian Defence Force for almost thirty years, most of which was spent with Australia's elite Special Air Service Regiment as a Team Commander and Team Specialist. He has served in eleven active deployments, including being wounded in action in 2008. Harry completed his time with the SASR as its Human Performance Manager. He's a registered psychologist and runs a human performance consultancy, Stotan Group, working with sports teams, the military and corporate world. His memoir Eleven Bats was a bestseller. Today, he lives in Melbourne.

Harry is a recurring guest on this show. Alex Lloyd first interviewed him about his military career in Season 3, in #68 Harry Moffitt. Harry returned in Season 4 to discuss his memoir, in #68 Harry Moffitt Vol II.

Harry is back on the show to talk about his new book: The Fourth Pillar: Modern Stoicism and the Philosophy of High Performance. Alex is Harry's publisher at Pan Macmillan.

The Externals tracks featured (in order of play) include Edge of the World, US Radio and The Hell Beyond.

#154 Frederick and Marjorie Logan

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews World War II veterans Frederick and Marjorie Logan.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Frederick and Marjorie Logan are both veterans of World War II. Fred served in an artillery regiment and fought against the Japanese in the Battle of Slater’s Knoll, in Bougainville, 1945. After the war, he served in the NSW Police Force for over 3 decades. His wife, Marjorie, served in the Australian Women’s Army Service, driving ambulances for soldiers and Australian Prisoners of War returning from overseas. Today, Fred is 100 years old and Marjorie is 98. Alex Lloyd spoke with them both, on the date of their 75th wedding anniversary, in their nursing home in Queensland.

The episode referenced at the end of the podcast is #127 Reg Chard (also a video podcast), as well as the FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY video documentary miniseries and BARNEY GREATREX book.

#153 Scott Ryder

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Scott Ryder, author of FORGED IN FIRE.

Scott Ryder served for 22 years with the Australian Army, including 16 years as an operator with the 2nd Commando Regiment. He served in East Timor and multiple tours of Afghanistan and Iraq. He holds numerous commendations and a Masters of Business, and he works in veteran charities to improve the lives of veterans and their families. He is the author of a newly published book, FORGED IN FIRE, a memoir that takes us inside the secretive world of the Australian commandos.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

The Commissioner - Nick Kaldas

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 06:13:32 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with the Chair of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, Nick Kaldas.

On 8 July 2021, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was established by the Governor-General. After years of receiving testimony from veterans and other relevant witnesses, the Commission’s work is nearly over. An Interim Report was delivered in August 2022, and a Final Report is due this September, in 2024. Meanwhile, they have also released a book, Shining a Light: Stories of Trauma & Tragedy, Hope & Healing, a publication to honour the lived experience of serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members and their families.

Nick Kaldas APM is one of the three Royal Commissioners for this inquiry, and is the Chair of the Commissioners. Nick has an extensive background of public service, including with the NSW Police Force and United Nations. The role of the Commissioners was to listen, investigate and recommend actions or changes to address systemic issues contributing to suicide and suicidal behaviours by serving and ex-serving ADF members. To say that Nick’s immersion and exposure to the written and oral testimony of veterans is extensive is an understatement. In this special podcast, Nick Kaldas shared with Alex Lloyd over Zoom some of his insights into what our veterans had to say.

#28 Mark Wales Vol III

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews SAS veteran Mark Wales for a third time.

Mark Wales is a veteran of the Special Air Service Regiment, and this is the SASR veteran's third appearance on the podcast. Alex Lloyd first interviewed Mark in 2018, Season 2, about his life in the military and life after service. In 2021, Season 5, Mark came back on the show to discuss his memoir, SURVIVOR: LIFE IN THE SAS and share new stories from his time in uniform.

Since then, Mark has continued to achieve new goals - from going back on the reality TV show Australian Survivor, and do what he should have done the first time - win - and star in George Miller's epic film FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA. He has also released his debut fiction novel, OUTRIDER, which draws heavily on his time in the SASR, fighting in Afghanistan and more. This interview was recorded in the Pan Macmillan studio. Mark is published by Macmillan, and Alex is his publisher.

#152 Peter Rudland

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews SASR and 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Peter Rudland.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Peter Rudland is a veteran of the Special Air Service Regiment and the Commandos, 4RAR(Commando) and when they became the 2nd Commando Regiment. Over a long career in Special Forces, Peter deployed to Cambodia, Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was seriously injured in the June 2010 Black Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan. In his post-service life, Peter is heavily involved in the veteran community, as a passionate advocate for physical health to create mental health, he started a company counselling soldiers, he has competed in three Invictus Games and is an ambassador for RSL Australia. Alex Lloyd spoke with Peter over Zoom in February 2024.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#151 Peter Whitehead

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 02:00:00 +1100

Tony Park interviews World War II veteran Peter Whitehead.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Peter Whitehead, born in 1923, is a veteran of World War II. He tried to join the Royal Australian Navy when war broke out but was rejected, instead becoming a ‘rough rider’ with the 2nd Remount Unit based at Holsworthy, in Sydney. After breaking in thousands of horses to support domestic war operations, he managed to join the Royal Australian Air Force, qualifying as a gunner. Peter was sent to one of the first B24 Liberator squadrons, in New Guinea and then flying bombing missions in the Pacific War from Darwin to Morotai. Today, Peter lives in New Zealand, and turned 100 years old on Christmas Day 2023.

He co-wrote his memoir, Bwana, There’s a Body in the Bath! with international bestselling Australian author Tony Park. Tony – an army veteran and previous guest on this podcast – interviewed Peter over an international Zoom call for Life on the Line.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

Referenced at the end of the podcast include:

Additionally, you can hear Norton Duckmanton, Bevan Harris, Doug Symes Snr from the Life on the Sea miniseries, Holocaust survivor Phillip Maisel, and Alex Lloyd's interviews with two German World War II veterans: Eugen Pichurra and Horst Haase.

Christmas on the Line Vol VI

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 02:00:00 +1100

Veterans of Season 7 share their stories of a Christmas in uniform.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans of Season 7 share with the Thistle Productions team their experiences of Christmas in uniform, from deployments overseas and back home in Australia. Featured guests include John White, Rod Henderson, Mark Direen, Rebecca and Ashley Semmens, Ray James and Doug Sheridan.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu and Alex Lloyd.

The episodes these veterans were featured in earlier this season include:

#150 Doug Sheridan

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews SASR veteran Doug Sheridan in the Season 7 finale.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Doug Sheridan is a veteran of the Special Air Service Regiment. He served for 33 years in the Australian Army, full-time and reserve. This included various deployments with the United Nations, the SASR and the Australian Federal Police to the Western Sahara, East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. He also served for 10 years in the AFP as a Federal Agent and was one of the original Air Security Officers following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Today he volunteers for Wandering Warriors, plays cricket and is studying an MBA at the University of Queensland and Harvard Business School. Doug spoke with Alex Lloyd at the Gaythorne RSL, Brisbane, in March 2023.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

For another podcast about Matthew Locke, listen to #28 Mark Wales.

#149 Doug Langrehr

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 02:00:00 +1100

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Namibia, Iraq and Timor veteran Doug Langrehr.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Doug Langrehr began his career, now spanning close to four decades, as an engineer in the Australian Army. He served on operations in Namibia, Iraq and Timor. His military career culminated in moving to New York to work with the United Nations. Today he is the chief of the mission support and planning section for the United Nations office to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While visiting Australia, Doug spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about his varied career.

#148 Steve Moharic

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 02:00:00 +1100

Thomas Kaye interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran and dog handler Steve Moharic.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Steve Moharic is an Australian Army veteran. He was a paratrooper, a shooter in the 2nd Commando Regiment, and then a dog handler within the Commandos. He and his four-legged best mate Guge saw a lot together. Steve spoke with Thomas Kaye over Zoom about his difficult pre-military past, his career in uniform, his life today still with Guge and gives great insight into how our war dogs work hand in paw with those in uniform.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#147 Ray James

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 02:00:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam veteran and RSL NSW President Ray James.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Ray James is a veteran of the Vietnam War and is currently the President of NSW RSL. He served in the Royal Australian Navy on HMAS Sydney, the Vung Tau ferry. He was also on HMAS Melbourne when it collided with the USS Frank E. Evans in 1969. Ray spoke with Angus Hordern about his life of service – in the military, in the police force and now in the veteran community.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

Working Spirit with Karyn Hinder

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with founder of the veterans charity Working Spirit, Army and RAAF veteran Karyn Hinder.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and tells their story. This is a bonus episode focused on the veterans-run charity Working Spirit, in a conversation with its founder. Karyn Hinder is an army and air force veteran with over 25 years of service. She has deployed to Timor and the Middle East. Her passion today is assisting military veterans to find employment in their life after service. She launched Working Spirit in 2016, a registered not-for-profit charity. Karyn spoke with Alex Lloyd over Zoom.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#146 Joel Sardi

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews Afghanistan veteran Joel Sardi.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Joel Sardi is a veteran of the Australian Army. He served for 5 years and deployed to Afghanistan as a rifleman at 7 RAR. Shortly after coming home, Joel had an accident, leaving him as a C-5 quadriplegic. Joel spoke to Thomas Kaye over Zoom about his time in the army, and adjusting to a new life after the accident.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu

During the interview, Joel Sardi mentioned Damien Thomlinson. Angus Hordern interviewed Damien in a video podcast in Season 5.

#145 Lily Mulholland

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Timor and Bougainville veteran, Lily Mulholland.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Lily Mulholland served in the Australian Defence Force for 24 years as a public affairs officer. She has deployed to Timor, Bougainville and the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games on Operation Gold. During her time in the army, she also undertook an ADF expedition to Mount Everest. Lily shared her story with Sharon Mascall-Dare.

#144 Phillip Thompson

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Afghanistan veteran and Federal MP Phillip Thompson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Phillip Thompson is the Federal Member for Herbert and an Australian Army veteran. He deployed to Timor and Afghanistan, and was blown up by an improvised explosive device. He represented Australia at the Invictus Games in 2014 and now represents Townsville in Canberra. This is his conversation with Angus Hordern.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#143 Rebecca and Ashley Semmens

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews navy veterans Rebecca and Ashley Semmens.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Rebecca Semmens served in the Royal Australian Navy for 18 years, and was medically discharged in 2020 at the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Bec was a medic, and deployed to Timor and Afghanistan. Her husband, Ashley Semmens, was a Clearance Diver, also serving in the navy for 18 years. Ash had multiple deployments, including to Afghanistan. He was a Clearance Diver, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal expert and was in Kabul during the evacuation as the Taliban retook the country in 2021. He medically discharged in 2022 as a Chief Petty Officer. Bec and Ash spoke jointly with Alex Lloyd at the Gaythorne RSL in Brisbane.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#142 Mark Direen

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews Special Air Service Regiment veteran Mark Direen.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Mark Direen deployed multiple times to Afghanistan as a member of the SASR. He experienced long range reconnaissance missions, more kinetic operations and was injured by an improvised explosive device. He also worked at the Australian Embassy in Kabul. Today he runs his company Point Assist, its goal to assist people to evolve through experience. This is his conversation with Thomas Kaye.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

#141 Rob Manton

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews army veteran Rob Manton.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Rob Manton served in the Australian Army for 30 years. His time in uniform saw multiple command appointments, an operational deployment to Iraq, and advisory and peacekeeping roles with the United Nations. Today, he’s the Chair of the Veterans Advisory Council in South Australia. He spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare in Adelaide.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#140 Mike Armstrong

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Afghanistan veteran and artist Mike Armstrong.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Michael Armstrong joined the Australian Defence Force in 1998 as an aircraft technician. He went on to serve as a signals officer, deploying with 2 RAR to Timor and with the 2nd Commando Regiment to Afghanistan. He was on the last plane out of Afghanistan in Rotation XX. Throughout his time in the army Mike also taught as a hand-to-hand combat instructor, drawing on his martial arts background. He moved to work in Cyber before medically discharging. Today he keeps connected with the veteran community through his ‘Voices of Veterans’ artwork.

The episode referenced at the end of the podcast is #97 Paul Cale.

https://voicesofveterans.com.au

#139 Ryan Shaw

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews former sniper team leader Ryan Shaw.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Ryan Shaw joined the Australian Defence Force in 2006. During his 14-year career in the military he was a sniper team leader, deployed to Timor and Afghanistan, and worked in border protection. Today he’s the Director of Gaythorne RSL, in Brisbane, where he spoke with Alex Lloyd.

#138 Rod Henderson

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Army Aviation veteran Rod Henderson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Rod Henderson is an Australian Army veteran. He has served as an infantryman and in Army Aviation, working with Black Hawks and Chinooks, including as a door gunner. Rod has deployed on warlike and humanitarian operations to Timor, Pakistan, New Guinea and Afghanistan. He’s now a volunteer guide at the Australian War Memorial.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#137 John White

Tue, 23 May 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Vietnam War veteran John White.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. John White was an officer in the Australian Army during the Vietnam War. He was decorated for outstanding gallantry in the 1968 Battle of Ngok Tavak in South Vietnam. In the first episode of Season 7, Alex Lloyd spoke with John at Gaythorne RSL in Brisbane.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

Season 7 Trailer

Tue, 16 May 2023 02:00:00 +1000

Welcome to Season 7 of LIFE ON THE LINE, Australia's first and leading veterans podcast, from Thistle Productions.

In our 7th year, after 6 seasons, 2 miniseries, 261 podcasts, 17 video episodes, 188 veterans and over 1.7 million downloads, Life on the Line is back. We now present Season 7. Our ongoing mission is to track down Australian military veterans and record their stories, from World War II to the 21st century. The vision of Life on the Line continues to be to capture the raw human stories behind the broader brushstrokes of history, and to explore service: why people serve, and how a life of service changes them. From acts of valour to the trauma of conflict, and how veterans can grow and change from that trauma. This podcast seeks to discover the human side of war, the truth of battle scars and what it’s really like to put one’s life on the line.

This season, we will bring you conversations with servicemen and servicewoman of all ranks from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Forces, who have been on peacekeeping deployments, and seen action in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. On Tuesday May 23rd, check out your preferred podcast app, YouTube or our website for our first episode, with a veteran of the Vietnam War who was decorated for outstanding gallantry on the battlefield. We'll release a new episode every fortnight.

Our website is www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com. Find us on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook @lifeonthelinepodcast, on Twitter @LOTLpod and on LinkedIn @ThistleProductions. Life on the Line is brought to you by Thistle Productions. Artwork by Big Cat Design. Music by Dan Van Werkhoven. Thank you for listening and Lest We Forget.

For School and Country

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd introduces the WWII video documentary FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY, now on YouTube.

FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY is a five-part video documentary miniseries, created by us, Thistle Productions. The series chronicles the lives and service of twelve WWII veterans who went to school together and took up arms when war broke out. This production was originally released on DVD in 2015 - the first ‘Thistle Productions’ project - and it is finally available for free via streaming.

These dozen veterans served across the whole theatre of war. At sea they fought the Bismarck and the Admiral Graf Spee, and sailed in the Mediterranean Fleet and the Pacific Fleet, including at the largest naval engagement of the war. On land they fought at Tobruk, El Alamein and Tarakan; and they trekked through the jungles of New Guinea and landed on the beaches of Balikpapan. And in the sky they flew over Europe for Bomber Command, over the Middle East for the Desert Air Force, and with the Forgotten Army in Burma. Many had narrow escapes, including one sole survivor when his bomber crashed in enemy territory.

Watch the episodes via www.youtube.com/lifeonthelinepodcast now:

Find out more about the documentary at www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com/documentary.

Christmas on the Line Vol V

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 02:00:00 +1100

Veterans of Season 6 share their stories of a Christmas in uniform.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans of Season 6 share with the Thistle Productions team their experiences of Christmas in uniform, from deployments overseas and back home in Australia.

The episodes these veterans were featured in earlier this season include:

Our previous Christmas specials from Seasons 2-5 can be found here:

#136 Curtis McGrath

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews former combat engineer, Paralympian and IED survivor, Curtis McGrath.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Curtis McGrath OAM is a soldier turned sporting superstar. He was a combat engineer in the Australian Army, and lost his legs when he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2012. From there, he set himself a seemingly impossible goal – to compete in the Paralympics. Today, Curtis is a world champion paracanoeist, having won over a dozen gold medals at numerous Paracanoe World Championships and at the 2016 and 2020 Paralympics. In the Season 6 finale, Curtis spoke to Alex Lloyd about his military career, the day of the blast in Afghanistan, his remarkable outlook on life, and how he turned a potentially life-ending moment into something remarkably powerful and life changing.

#135 Donald McDowell

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 02:00:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews AATTV veteran Donald McDowell.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Donald McDowell is a veteran of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. The AATTV was a specialist unit of Australian Army military advisors, active from 1962 to 1973. It was specifically raised as part of Australia’s contribution to the Vietnam War. It’s one of Australia’s most heavily decorated units, including four Victoria Crosses. Don spoke to Angus Hordern about his military career, his time in Vietnam, and his reflections on the war.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#134 Graham Goodwin

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 02:00:00 +1100

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Timor and Afghanistan veteran Graham Goodwin.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Brigadier Graham Goodwin CSC is currently the commander of 9th Brigade Australian Army. As a Reservist, Graham has had a significant career in the ADF and South Australia Police, including deployments to Timor and Afghanistan, and serving in recent domestic operations in response to bushfires and COVID-19.

#133 Peter Watt

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews Australian Army veteran Peter Watt.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Peter Watt enlisted during the Vietnam War. He has been a soldier, articled clerk to a solicitor, prawn trawler deckhand, builder's labourer, pipe layer, real estate salesman, private investigator, police sergeant and adviser to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. Today, he is a volunteer firefighter with the Rural Fire Service and an author. His new novel, CALL OF EMPIRE, is out now in print, audiobook and ebook, and Alex is Peter’s publisher at Pan Macmillan.

#132 Michael Greenway

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 02:00:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews Australian Army veteran Michael Greenway.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Michael Greenway served in the Australian Army for 36 years. He was in the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps, and spent most of his career working in supply. He deployed to Namibia, Timor, Iraq, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan, as part of peacekeeping and military operations. Michael spoke with Angus Hordern about highlights from his career and the vital role of supply in allowing our armed forces to do what they do.

#131 Sabrina Smeaton

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Afghanistan veteran Sabrina Smeaton.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Sabrina Smeaton is a veteran of the Australian Army. She served in the artillery corps, working as a Weapon Locating Radar operator and a Scan Eagle UAV operator. She deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. Sabrina spoke to Alex Lloyd about her passion for military service, why she joined, her experiences in artillery and in Afghanistan, her transition coming home and life after service.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#130 Trent Burnard

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews army veteran Trent Burnard.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Colonel Trent Burnard has worn an army uniform for 32 years. He went from soldier to officer, deployed to Rwanda and East Timor, and worked in Intelligence. Today he focuses on teaching leadership and resilience as a co-founder of Hindsight Leadership.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol III

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews former special forces combat doctor Dan Pronk about his new memoir, THE COMBAT DOCTOR.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Dr Dan Pronk is a former special forces combat doctor. He deployed 4 times to Afghanistan and went on over 100 combat missions. In his 7th appearance on the show, Dan spoke to Alex Lloyd about his new book, his life story, called THE COMBAT DOCTOR. The book is out now in print, audiobook and ebook, and Alex is Dan's publisher at Pan Macmillan.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

Panel - Veteran Suicide

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd hosts a panel on the veteran suicide crisis, with Wes ‘H’ Hennessey and Renee Wilson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. On 11 August 2022, the Interim Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was submitted to the Governor-General, and then to Parliament. While this podcast sees itself as a veterans storytelling platform first and foremost, topics as exceptional as this are an ongoing part of the stories of veterans and families around the country. As a nation, we’ve lost more veterans to suicide than we did to combat in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. This Royal Commission was something tirelessly campaigned for by veterans and families, so this interim report is an important measure of whether it’s achieving what so many wanted it to.

To discuss the interim report, host Alex Lloyd welcomed back two previous guests. Wes ‘H’ Hennessey is veteran of the 2nd Commando Regiment, a deeply experienced and well-decorated soldier after many combat deployments to Afghanistan. Renee Wilson is the CEO of Australian War Widows NSW, an ambassador for the Commando Welfare Trust, and is a staunch advocate for veterans and their families. She is also the wife of veteran Gary Wilson, who was significantly injured in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

You can listen to this episode in your usual podcast app, or watch our Zoom recording on YouTube.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

The Fall of Kabul with Glenn Kolomeitz

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with veteran Glenn Kolomeitz about the fall of Kabul in 2021.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Glenn Kolomeitz is a veteran of the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Army. Among other roles, he’s been an MP and deployed to Afghanistan as a Legal Officer, working to enable Special Forces on their missions. He was originally interviewed by Angus Hordern in Season 2 of the podcast, in #22 Glenn Kolomeitz. This year, Glenn came back on the show to speak with Angus about the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, one year on, and the work Glenn continues to do in the veterans community.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#129 Paul Gebran

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Middle East, South Sudan and Cambodia veteran of the RAAF, Paul Gebran.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Paul Gebran is a veteran of the Royal Australian Air Force. He joined on April 24th 1990 and medically discharged on April 25th 2017. Paul spoke to Alex Lloyd about his deployments to Cambodia, South Sudan and the Middle East, and the volunteer work he does today with Northern Queensland Legacy.

#128 Ryan Wilson

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews SAS veteran of Afghanistan, Ryan Wilson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Ryan Wilson is a veteran of the Special Air Service Regiment. Over the course of his military career, he deployed to Malaysia, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan, as well as training overseas. Today, he is the General Manager of Whipper Snapper Distillery, and is the WA State Manager for the veterans charity Wandering Warriors. Ryan spoke with Angus Hordern about his career in Special Forces, life after service and reflected on the difference they made in Afghanistan.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#127 Reg Chard

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews World War II veteran Reg Chard.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Reg Chard was an infantryman in the Australian Army in the Second World War. He fought in the jungle against the Japanese in New Guinea along the Kokoda Trail in 1942 for months. Since 2011, Reg has been a volunteer guide at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway in Sydney. In 2022, the 98-year-old celebrates the release of his biography, THE DIGGER OF KOKODA by Daniel Lane. Reg spoke with Alex Lloyd about his military service, his experiences in New Guinea and how Kokoda still lives with him today.

This conversation can be watched as a video podcast on YouTube or heard through all podcast apps.

#126 Gareth Gardner

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews army veteran Gareth Gardner.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Gareth Gardner served in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, deploying as a driver to Timor-Leste and Afghanistan. He transitioned from digger to officer, becoming a tank commander. Gareth spoke to Thomas Kaye about his military service, his love for teaching and instructing, and the work he’s doing today with the veterans employment program company WithYouWithMe.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#125 Ant Plater

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Ant Plater.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Former Special Forces operator Ant Plater served in the Australian Defence Force for 27 years, 17 of which were with the Commandos. He deployed to Somalia, Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, served in the Tactical Assault Group-East, and was the counter-terrorism advisor to the Australian Federal Police. Today, he’s a high-performance consultant for the Canberra Raiders and an advocate for the Commando Welfare Trust. The 2nd Commando Regiment veteran spoke with Alex Lloyd about his journey to the army and Special Forces, some of his deployments, the idea of ‘tribe’, and being a leader at the tip of the spear.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#124 Mick Burgess

Tue, 24 May 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews army veteran Mick Burgess.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Mick Burgess has served in the Australian Army and Army Reserve for almost 40 years. He deployed to Rwanda as a young officer, encountering child soldiers and the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. He went on to have a career in the army as an instructor and then a linguist, including an exchange to Thailand. He is now the Chair of the Remembrance Driveway Council. This is his story of service, as told to Sharon Mascall-Dare.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#123 Nick Howlett Vol II

Wed, 11 May 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern continues his interview with Vietnam War SAS veteran Nick Howlett.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. In the second part of his conversation with Angus Hordern, Nick Howlett details patrols and hot extractions during the 1969-70 3 Squadron SAS deployment to Vietnam. Nick tells Angus about his post-Vietnam career, the paratroop jump that ended it all, his difficulties with PTSD, his views on transition out of the military and his peaceful life today on his boat.

Listen to Volume I before listening to this episode.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#123 Nick Howlett Vol I

Tue, 10 May 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam War SAS veteran Nick Howlett.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Nick Howlett joined the Citizens Military Forces in the 1960s as a commando. He soon left his civilian job as a bank teller and transferred to the regular army and joined the Special Air Service Regiment as an officer. In this podcast, Nick tells Angus Hordern about his experiences commanding an SAS troop - all with sergeants and soldiers far more experienced than him - in the jungles of Vietnam. This is the first interview of Season 6 and the first of a two-part conversation.

Season 6 Trailer

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 02:00:00 +1000

Welcome to Season 6 of LIFE ON THE LINE, Australia's first and leading veterans podcast, from Thistle Productions.

After 5 years, 5 seasons, 2 miniseries, 241 podcasts, 15 video episodes, 174 veterans and over 1.4 million downloads, Life on the Line is back. In 2022, our 6th year, we present Season 6. Our ongoing mission is to track down Australian military veterans and record their stories, from World War II to the 21st century. The vision of Life on the Line continues to be to capture the raw human stories behind the broader brushstrokes of history, and to explore service: why people serve, and how a life of service changes them. From acts of valour to the trauma of conflict, and how veterans can grow and change from that trauma. This podcast seeks to discover the human side of war, the truth of battle scars and what it’s really like to put one’s life on the line.

This season, we have a great mix of interviews, from a 98-year-old veteran of the Kokoda campaign in World War II to modern-day Special Forces, as well as servicemen and women across the years from the Army, Navy and Air Force, of all ranks and backgrounds. On Tuesday May 10th, check out your preferred podcast app, YouTube or our website for our first episode, with an SAS veteran of the Vietnam War. You can expect a new episode every 2nd Tuesday, with the occasional bonus episode in between.

Watch this trailer on YouTube.

Christmas on the Line Vol IV

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 02:00:00 +1100

Veterans of Season 5 share their stories of a Christmas in uniform.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans of Season 5 share with the Thistle Productions team their experiences of Christmas in uniform, from deployments overseas and back home in Australia. Featured guests include Chris Oxenbould, Greg Hopgood, Mark Wales, Wes 'H' Hennessey, Commando Jamie, Keith Wolahan, Sir Peter Cosgrove and Wayne Bemet. This episode is hosted by Thomas Kaye.

The episodes these veterans were featured in earlier this season include:

#122 Kasey Mumford

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews Royal Australian Navy veteran Kasey Mumford.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Kasey Mumford was an officer in the Royal Australian Navy. She deployed to Timor, the Arabian Gulf and was on HMAS Manoora during the MV Tampa incident in 2001. Kasey spoke with Alex Lloyd for Season 5’s final episode.

For more episodes related to the MV Tampa, listen to:

#121 Catherine Walsh

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 02:00:00 +1100

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Royal Australian Air Force veteran Catherine Walsh.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Catherine Walsh is a former Air Force intelligence officer and former aide-de-camp to the Governor-General. Today she’s Director of Veterans South Australia. Catherine spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about the RAAF, her deployment to the Middle East, her time in the Vice-Regal sphere, and her work today in the Air Force Reserves and with Veterans SA.

#120 Wayne Bemet

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 02:00:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews former Chief Petty Officer, RAN veteran Wayne Bemet.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Wayne Bemet served in The Australian Defence Force for 19 years, with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. He had 5 operational deployments, from 2002 to 2015. He was medically discharged in 2017 for a variety of physical injuries, forcing Wayne to reinvent and re-educate himself for a life moving forward. He spoke to Angus Hordern about his military career and his transition from the defence force.

Life After Service - 2021 Wrap Up

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 02:00:00 +1100

This is the audio-only version of our Life After Service episode with Gary and Renee Wilson. Watch the video documentary episode now on YouTube!

This year Life on the Line released a new special project. A special documentary series focusing on veterans lives after their time in uniform - called Life After Service. So far in the series, we've featured the stories of 6 veterans over 6 episodes:

Thank you for your support with our new series and we would love to know what you want to see in the season return next year.

CLOSING CREDITS:

Brought to you by Thistle Productions

Intro Music: THREE METRES by Stephen Keech

Episode Soundtrack: THE HELL BEYOND by The Externals

Fuelled by Striker Coffe Co.

THISTLE PRODUCTIONS, LIFE ON THE LINE and TECI

#119 Craig Ball

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews former commando Craig Ball.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Craig Ball passed Commando selection in 2000 as a reservist and went full-time in 2006. He deployed to Afghanistan as a signaller in the 2nd Commando Regiment in 2010 and 2012. Today, he’s a men’s mental health speaker.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

Keith Payne VC - No One Left Behind

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd introduces Keith Payne VC’s autobiography, NO ONE LEFT BEHIND.

The elder statesman of our Victoria Cross recipients – Keith Payne VC, AM – has released his autobiography – NO ONE LEFT BEHIND. Much has been written about Keith Payne before, but this is the first time he’s done a book in his own words. This special podcast introduces the book, read by podcast creator Alex Lloyd. Alex is also Keith’s publisher at Pan Macmillan. NO ONE LEFT BEHIND is out now in print, audiobook and ebook.

#118 Mark Mathieson

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews former SAS psychologist Mark Mathieson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Mark Mathieson was a psychologist in the Australian Army, including time as the SAS regimental psychologist. He deployed to Timor and 6 times to Afghanistan. This is our conversation about the psychology of Special Forces soldiers and the impact of war.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#117 Sir Peter Cosgrove

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews General Sir Peter Cosgrove, former Chief of the Defence Force and Governor-General.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. This is our third Season 5 video podcast - you can watch the whole conversation between Sir Peter Cosgrove and Angus Hordern now on YouTube. General Sir Peter Cosgrove is one of Australia’s most significant public figures. As a soldier, he saw action in Vietnam, winning the Military Cross, and rose to the top, becoming Chief of the Defence Force from 2002 to 2005. After his military career, Sir Peter became Australia’s Governor-General, serving in that office from 2014 to 2019. In this podcast, he sat down over a Zoom video call to speak with Angus Hordern about some highlights from his life, and to mark the release of the paperback edition of his memoir YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE JOINED. You can watch this interview on our YouTube channel @lifeonthelinepodcast or listen through your preferred podcast app.

The YouTube interview was recorded over Zoom during Sydney's 2021 lockdown.

#116 Tony Dell

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews Vietnam veteran Tony Dell.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Tony Dell is an army veteran of the Vietnam War. The national serviceman is also the only Test cricketer to fight in Vietnam. He was a fast-medium seam bowler who made his Test debut against England for the vital Seventh Test in the 1970-71 Ashes series, taking 5 wickets in that match. After war, sport gave Tony an outlet and place of mateship and camaraderie, but he could not escape that the war had scarred him. This trauma ultimately gave him a life-changing mission - Stand Tall for PTS. Tony spoke to Thomas Kaye about his military career and life after service, including the book written about him by Greg Milam: AND BRING THE DARKNESS HOME: The Tony Dell Story.

Discover more about Tony’s organisation Stand Tall for PTS at http://standtall4pts.org

#115 Shaun Willson

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Bougainville and Banda Aceh veteran, Shaun Willson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Shaun Willson served as an Army helicopter pilot, fulfilling his dream of flying Hueys. In this conversation with Sharon Mascall-Dare, Shaun talks about his experiences in training, on humanitarian aid deployments and a sense of purpose in and out of uniform. Today, Shaun is a firefighter and works in emergency medical services as a helicopter pilot.

September 11 - 20 Years On

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Twenty-six Australian military veterans share their memories of September 11, 2001, the day that changed the world.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. The 9/11 terrorist attacks sent a generation to war. As we approach the 20-year anniversary of 9/11, Australia has finally withdrawn our last members of the defence force from Afghanistan. At home, we’re watching the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide get underway. And Afghanistan has fallen so quickly to the Taliban, who have reclaimed territory that 41 Australians fought and died in. There is a lot of conversation in the media about why we went to war in Afghanistan and what’s happening now we’re gone - from all the good we achieved there to questions of now, in the end, was it all worth it? Whatever you think the answer is, when reflecting on any conflict, they’re necessary questions. But while the public conversation and reflection continues, it’s important to remember the zeitgeist in 2001 and the impact of that day. So, in time for the 20-year anniversary, we’ve taken clips from a range of podcasts we’ve recorded over the last 5 years, to remember. This podcast features 26 voices of Australian military veterans and their memories of September 11.

The full list of guests is available on our website.

To see photos related to today's episode, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, @LOTLpod on Twitter and 'Thistle Productions' on LinkedIn.

Life After Service - Gary and Renee Wilson

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 02:00:00 +1000

This is the audio-only version of our Life After Service episode with Gary and Renee Wilson. Watch the video documentary episode now on YouTube!

Gary Wilson was a signaller attached to the 2nd Commando Regiment. On the 21st of June, 2010, Gary and then-fiancé Renee’s lives were changed forever when Gary was severely injured in a Black Hawk helicopter crash.

In this episode of Life After Service, Thomas Kaye speaks to the now-married couple, Gary and Renee, about the accident, the challenges they overcame and how they are helping pave the way to support others, both veterans and the families of those veterans.

Want to join the Wilsons and support veterans, their families and give back? Check out The Wilson Initiative. https://thewilsoninitiative.com.au/ Looking to have more energy, manage pain and optimise your health? Gary runs Bare Coaching, his personal coaching service. Find out more at: https://www.barecoaching.com/

CLOSING CREDITS:

Guests: Gary Wilson & Renee Wilson

Special Thanks: Kill Kapture

Brought to you by Thistle Productions: Thomas Kaye, Alex Lloyd, Rohan Viswalingam

Intro Music: THREE METRES by Stephen Keech

Episode Soundtrack: THE HELL BEYOND by The Externals

Workout Scene Music: WIRE by OBOY

Fuelled by Striker Coffe Co.

THISTLE PRODUCTIONS, LIFE ON THE LINE and TECI

#114 Bruce McLennan

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews former SAS soldier Bruce McLennan.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Bruce McLennan was a Squadron Sergeant Major in the Special Air Service Regiment. He joined the SAS in 1984 and served in Afghanistan. He was also involved in the boarding of MV Tampa in 2001. Alex Lloyd spoke with Bruce about his long career in Australian Special Forces.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#113 Darren Grogan

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Commodore Darren Grogan about the highs and lows of his career in the navy.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Darren Grogan is a Commodore currently serving in the Royal Australian Navy. He spoke with Angus Hordern about his career to date – from time in the Arabian Gulf to border protection to Bushfire Assist – and about serving in today’s Royal Australian Navy.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#112 Troy Knight

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews former JTAC and Middle East veteran, Troy Knight.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Troy Knight is a former JTAC - a Joint Terminal Attack Controller. The JTACs are known as the Special Forces unit of the Air Force, with Troy deploying alongside members of the Special Operations Task Group in combat in the Middle East. The Royal Australian Air Force veteran has deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as doing private security work. Troy spoke to Thomas Kaye in the Hornsby RSL club.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

SAS Resilience with Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews three Australian Special Forces veterans about the secrets to unlock greater personal resilience.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk DSC and Tim Curtis return to the show in this special podcast to talk about their new book, THE RESILIENCE SHIELD. From lessons learned in Afghanistan to Sierra Leone, the board room to the hospital, the SAS veterans have demystified and defined resilience and unlocked how anyone can better equip themselves to overcome adversity in life. Alex Lloyd, the publisher of their book at Pan Macmillan, spoke with the trio more about how the book came about and what readers can expect.

For previous episodes featuring these guests, listen to:

Life After Service - Tamara Sloper-Harding

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 02:00:00 +1000

This is the audio-only version of our Life After Service episode with Tamara Sloper-Harding. Watch the video documentary episode now on YouTube!

Tamara Sloper-Harding served in the Royal Australian Navy as an intelligence officer and saw deployments to East Timor and Bougainville.

In this episode of Life After Service, Tarama catches up with an old navy colleague, Angus Hordern, and reflects on her life post service, including a little village called Soibada that captured her heart.

If you want to find out more about the charity and support the efforts of Tamara and co, you can find out more on Facebook, or you can reach out to them at: pittwaterfriendsofsoibada@gmail.com

CLOSING CREDITS:

Guest: Tamara Sloper-Harding

Special Thanks: Avalon Beach RSL Club

Brought to you by Thistle Productions: Thomas Kaye, Alex Lloyd, Angus Hordern

Intro Music: THREE METRES by Stephen Keech

Episode Soundtrack: THE HELL BEYOND by The Externals

Images courtesy of: Tamara Sloper-Harding & Pittwater Friends of Soibada Incorporated

Fuelled by Striker Coffe Co.

THISTLE PRODUCTIONS, LIFE ON THE LINE and TECI

#111 Chad McLaren

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Timor and border protection veteran, Chad McLaren.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Chad McLaren served in the Australian Army as an infantryman and deployed to East Timor in 2000. He then transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and served as a medic, including on border protection. At the Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide, Chad spoke with Sharon Mascall-Dare about his military career, the role of sport in his life in and out of the military and the importance of veteran storytelling. Chad is one of the founders of Walk for a Veteran, with the 2021 walk set for August.

#110 Carly Box

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews an Afghanistan veteran and the first female in an Australian Army combat corps, Carly Box.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Carly Box was in the Australian Army for 11 years. She was the first female to enlist into a combat corps in the army. She enlisted into Artillery and was an operator of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, commonly known as Drones). She deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 as a ScanEagle operator, spending over 1000 hours flying the drone, and again in 2013 as a Shadow mission commander. Today she co-owns and co-runs the Barracks Gym in Brisbane.

The episode referenced at the end of the podcast is #103 Monika Georgieva.

Life After Service -Tony Park

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 02:00:00 +1000

This is the audio-only version of our Life After Service episode with Tony Park. Watch the video documentary episode now on YouTube!

Tony Park is a fiction and non-fiction international bestselling author. Before that, he served in the Australian Army Reserves in various roles, including as a public affairs officer.

In 2002, he was deployed to Afghanistan alongside the SAS, with his first novel published in 2004.

In this episode of Life After Service, Alex Lloyd spoke with Tony about what the army did for him, the challenges of readjusting to normal life after deploying, the military's relationship with the public, and his writing career journey.

To find out more about Tony and keep up to date with his work, be sure to look at his website. https://www.tonypark.net/

CLOSING CREDITS:

Guest: Tony Park

Special Thanks: Hornsby RSL Club

Brought to you by Thistle Productions: Thomas Kaye, Alex Lloyd, Rohan Viswalingam

Intro Music: THREE METRES by Stephen Keech

Episode Soundtrack: THE HELL BEYOND by The Externals

Fuelled by Striker Coffe Co.

THISTLE PRODUCTIONS, LIFE ON THE LINE and TECI

#109 Keith Wolahan

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews former commando Keith Wolahan.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Keith Wolahan is a former commando, a veteran of 3 tours of Afghanistan. He’s also a lawyer and barrister, and now has been pre-selected for the Federal seat of Menzies for the Liberal Party.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#108 Ken Whitton

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews a RAEME veteran of the Middle East, Ken Whitton.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Ken Whitton joined the Army Reserves as a gunner in 1988. He then went full time, serving as an Electronics Technician in the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, known as RAEME. He deployed on border protection operations, and to Afghanistan and Iraq. Today, he is transitioning into a civilian career at Babcock, in Defence Industries. He spoke with Sharon Mascall-Dare, who also works at Babcock.

The episode referenced at the end of the podcast is #45 Dr Sharon Mascall-Dare.

#28 Mark Wales Vol II

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 02:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews SAS veteran Mark Wales for a second time.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Mark Wales is a veteran of the Special Air Service Regiment. He served in the Australian Army for 16 years, 6 of those with the SAS. Alex Lloyd first spoke with Mark about his military service and highlights of his post-army career in Season 2, #28 Mark Wales. Since then, Mark has written his memoir, SURVIVOR: LIFE IN THE SAS. This is a deeply revealing memoir, action-packed and a considered reflection on events in Afghanistan. It’s an important book for the soldier’s perspective it gives into Special Operations in Australia’s longest war, a response to the 2020 Brereton Report into alleged war crimes. Alex - Mark’s publisher and editor of the book - invited him to the Pan Macmillan audio studio to talk more about Mark’s time in the military.

To buy the book in print, ebook or audiobook (narrated by Mark), visit either the publisher’s website, Mark’s website or directly to your retailer of choice.

Mark returned to the podcast in 2024 to promote his debut novel OUTRIDER.

Life After Service - Don Barnby

Tue, 25 May 2021 02:00:00 +1000

This is the audio-only version of our Life After Service episode with Don Barnby. Watch the video documentary episode now on YouTube!

Former SAS trooper and Australian Federal Police officer Don Barnby is the third veteran featured in our Life After Service series. Don served in the Vietnam war as a special forces soldier, and at Cyprus, Bougainville and East Timor with the AFP. On a volunteer basis, Don has also been interviewing veterans for the Australian War Memorial.

CLOSING CREDITS:

Guest: Don Barnby

Special Thanks: Australian War Memorial

Brought to you by Thistle Productions: Thomas Kaye, Alex Lloyd, Rohan Viswalingam

Intro Music: THREE METRES by Stephen Keech

Episode Soundtrack: THE HELL BEYOND: The Ballad of of Old Mate Joe 'Rowdy' Sloan by The Externals

Closing Scene Music: HOPE ENDURES by Third Age & THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD by Caleb Etheridge

Fuelled by Striker Coffe Co.

THISTLE PRODUCTIONS, LIFE ON THE LINE and TECI

#107 Brett Wood

Tue, 11 May 2021 00:00:00 +1000

2nd Commando Regiment veterans, friends and family share their memories of the late Sergeant Brett Wood MG, DSM.

Brett Wood was tragically killed in action by an Improvised Explosive Device on 23 May 2011. As the 10-year anniversary of Brett’s passing approached, Life on the Line was asked by one of Brett's close friends and fellow commandos to commemorate the day. We have done so by creating this special podcast, a celebration of his life. Alex Lloyd spoke with family, friends and colleagues of Brett - from those who knew him personally to those who served alongside him and marvelled at his professionalism. The list of those interviewed is available on our website.

Mark 'Billy' Billingham - British SAS

Wed, 05 May 2021 00:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Mark 'Billy' Billingham, veteran of the British SAS.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. In this special bonus podcast, we feature a veteran of the British SAS who is currently in Australia, here for the filming of ‘SAS Australia’ Season 2 as well as his live tour of talks. Mark 'Billy' Billingham served for nearly two decades in the British Army’s Special Air Service - the SAS, serving in countless war zones, winning the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery and being awarded the MBE by HM the Queen. Upon leaving the SAS, he became a bodyguard to Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Sir Michael Caine, Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe. He is now a DS and advisor on the hit TV shows SAS: Who Dares Wins in the UK and SAS Australia.

Follow @billingham22b on Instagram for more information about his live events in Sydney (Friday 7 May), Brisbane (Sunday 9 May) and Melbourne (Monday 10 May).

#106 Greg Hopgood

Tue, 04 May 2021 00:00:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Somalia veteran Greg Hopgood.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Greg Hopgood is a veteran of the Australian Army. He deployed to Somalia with 1 RAR as part of Operation Solace in the 1990s, our first battalion-sized deployment overseas since the Vietnam War. Greg spoke with Alex Lloyd about his experiences on patrols, the mate he lost and the confronting humanitarian crisis at the time, and how he still carries his experiences in Somalia with him today.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

Life After Service - Glenn Kolomeitz

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 23:30:00 +1000

This is the audio-only version of our Life After Service episode with Glenn Kolomeitz. Watch the video documentary episode now on YouTube!

Former aircraft technician, military policeman and legal officer, Glenn Kolomeitz is the next veteran in the Life After Service series. In our podcast interview with Glenn (#22), we covered his early life, military career, and ongoing work in the veteran community. Glenn returned to the podcast in the special episodes Panel - Returning Home and Christmas on the Line. He was also featured in #44 Mick Bainbridge.

CLOSING CREDITS:

Guest: Glenn Kolomeitz

Brought to you by Thistle Productions: Thomas Kaye, Alex Lloyd, Angus Hordern

Intro Music: THREE METRES by Stephen Keech

Episode Soundtrack: THE HELL JUST BEYOND: The Ballad of of Old Mate Joe 'Rowdy' Sloan by The Externals

Fuelled by Striker Coffe Co.

THISTLE PRODUCTIONS, LIFE ON THE LINE and TECI

Visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - and follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, @LOTLpod on Twitter and 'Thistle Productions' on LinkedIn.

#105 Damien Thomlinson

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran and IED survivor, Damien Thomlinson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. This is our second video podcast - you can watch the whole conversation between Damien Thomlinson and Angus Hordern now on YouTube. Damien deployed to Fiji, Timor and Afghanistan with the 2nd Commando Regiment. He lost both his legs in Afghanistan, due to an Improvised Explosive Device, in 2009. He’s gone on to become a motivational speaker, author, actor, golfer, and more. This is an inspiring conversation about Damien’s military career, his life after the blast and how he turned that fateful day into the best thing that ever happened to him.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#104 Chris Oxenbould

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Gulf War veteran Chris Oxenbould.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Chris Oxenbould was a Rear Admiral in the Royal Australian Navy. Among other deployments, Chris was the Commander of the Royal Australian Navy Task Group both during and after the First Gulf War. There, his task group became part of the largest grouping of warships seen since the end of World War II. It’s been said that it was probably the most powerful and complex naval force ever assembled.

The episode referenced at the end of the podcast is #82 John Cantwell Vol I.

Life After Service - Sarah Watson

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 01:00:00 +1100

This is the audio-only version of our Life After Service episode with Sarah Watson. Watch the video documentary episode now on YouTube!

An intelligence officer to Iron Man athlete to veterans advocate. Sarah Watson is the first veteran we feature in our series Life After Service.

In our podcast interview with her (#76), we discussed her time in the Australian Defence Force. In this documentary, we cover her challenges and successes in her time adapting to life after the military.

CLOSING CREDITS:

Guest: Sarah Watson

Also Featuring: George Watson, David Watson, Kevin the French Mastiff

Special Thanks: Striker Coffee Co., Valour Coffee Co.

Brought to you by Thistle Productions: Thomas Kaye, Alex Lloyd, Rohan Viswalingam, Angus Hordern

Intro Music: THREE METRES by Stephen Keech

Episode Soundtrack: THE HELL JUST BEYOND: The Ballad of of Old Mate Joe 'Rowdy' Sloan by The Externals

Workout Soundtrack: RED STRIPES by Hunter Parks

THISTLE PRODUCTIONS, LIFE ON THE LINE and TECI

Visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - and follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, @LOTLpod on Twitter and 'Thistle Productions' on LinkedIn.

Trailer - Life After Service - A Life on the Line Special

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +1100

Watch the trailer for our new video documentary series on YouTube!

From World War II to modern-day conflicts and everything in-between, LIFE ON THE LINE has been bringing you the stories from veterans far and wide that have done their part for their friends, family and nation.

Covering their reasons to join, who they are behind the uniform and focus on their time in service.

LIFE AFTER SERVICE is a special series where we focus on their lives after the military and how they adapted to civilian life. Catch our first episode as we release it on the 23rd of March.

This podcast is the audio version of the trailer. Listen to discover our episode release schedule.

#103 Monika Georgieva

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews army veteran Monika Georgieva.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Monika Georgieva was the first female to attempt selection for the 2nd Commando Regiment and the Special Air Service Regiment. She made two attempts at SAS selection, then went on to be Australia’s first female infantry officer, having commanded a rifle platoon and a reconnaissance/sniper platoon. In her conversation with Alex Lloyd, Monika talks about her childhood in Bulgaria, joining the Australian Army, details her various Special Forces selection attempts and her career beyond.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

#102 Heston Russell

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, Heston Russell.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. This is the first episode of Season 5, our 207th podcast, and our 102nd veteran conversation. In all that time we've brought you stories from World War II to the modern era. Today's chat is with a Special Forces veteran of the 21st century conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, Heston Russell.

We recorded this episode on the outdoor balcony of Heston's Sydney apartment, so if you hear any background noise or ambience, that's why. We recorded outdoors because we also filmed this interview, which is a first for our podcasts. You can jump onto our YouTube channel to watch this chat with Heston. We will be doing a select number of video podcasts as the year goes on.

Heston Russell was an officer in the 2nd Commando Regiment. He already had a profile in the Australian community through his post-military career in the fitness world with Barry's Bootcamp. He rose to further national prominence in 2020, when an unnamed US soldier accused Heston's platoon of unlawfully killing a prisoner in Afghanistan. Heston counterattacked, speaking out on national media to strongly refute the claims. Since then, he's remained in the public spotlight, becoming a spokesperson for the veteran community in the lead-up to and in the wake of the Brereton report into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

Alex Lloyd spoke to Heston in February 2021 to learn more about the man behind the headlines.

Follow Heston @hestonrussell on Instagram and Facebook. You can also find "Voice of a Veteran" on social media, YouTube, your favourite podcast app and www.voiceofaveteran.org.

Season 5 Trailer

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 02:00:00 +1100

Welcome to Season 5 of LIFE ON THE LINE, Australia's first and leading veterans podcast, from Thistle Productions.

Season 5 of LIFE ON THE LINE begins next week! Subscribe to get all content. Continue to listen to breathtaking Australian stories as you've never heard them before. This year we will also do a handful of video podcasts, released exclusively to our YouTube channel. This is in addition to our upcoming video documentary series LIFE AFTER SERVICE. Our first podcast - video and audio - is out next week with 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Heston Russell. Subscribe in your favourite podcast app and on YouTube to never miss an episode.

Watch the video version of this trailer on our YouTube channel.

Also visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, @LOTLpod on Twitter and 'Thistle Productions' on LinkedIn.

#101 Bob Hunter

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 01:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews SAS veteran Bob Hunter.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. The Season 4 finale is with Bob Hunter, a former Squadron Commander in the Special Air Service Regiment. Bob was in command the night of the 1996 Black Hawk disaster, where two helicopters collided, and 15 SASR and 3 Aviation Regiment soldiers lost their lives. Bob spoke to Alex Lloyd about his years with the Australian SAS, his Middle East and Bougainville deployments, and about SAS culture and leadership.

This interview with Bob is the Season 4 finale. Life on the Line will return in 2021.

Christmas on the Line Vol III

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 01:30:00 +1100

Veterans of Season 4 share their stories of a Christmas in uniform.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans and other guests of Season 4 share with the Thistle Productions team their experiences of Christmas in uniform, from deployments overseas and back home in Australia. These stories have not been previously featured on the podcast. Featured guests include Sarah Watson, Adrian Humphries, Ben Pronk, Tim Curtis, Bill Fitzgerald, Tony Park, John Cantwell, Tim Reynolds, David McCourt, Crystal Callender, Garth Callender, Glenn Azar, Alyssa Azar, Dan Keighran VC, Ian Roberts, Paul Cale, Renee Wilson and Bob Hunter. This episode is hosted by Angus Hordern.

For more from today's featured guests in Season 4, listen to the following episodes:

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

The Partners - Renee Wilson

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 01:30:00 +1100

Thomas Kaye speaks with Renee Wilson about being the partner of a military helicopter crash survivor.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This is the third ‘partners’ episode of Life on the Line. Today’s conversation is with Renee Wilson. Renee was engaged to Gary Wilson, a signaller attached to the 2nd Commando Regiment, when Gary was injured in a Black Hawk helicopter crash on 21 June 2010, where four Coalition soldiers were killed. In this moving conversation with Thomas Kaye, Renee details her memories of the day of the crash, Gary’s long road to recovery and how she put her own feelings to the side to be a pillar of strength for others. She also shares not just the challenges, but the inspiring story of all they have achieved and overcome in the ten years since that fateful night in Afghanistan.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#100 Gary Wilson

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 01:30:00 +1100

Thomas Kaye interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran and Black Hawk crash survivor, Gary Wilson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Gary Wilson was a signaller attached to the 2nd Commando Regiment. Gary survived a catastrophic helicopter crash in Afghanistan, on 21 June 2010. Gary was severely injured, including a traumatic brain injury. Three Australians lost their lives in this crash: Ben Chuck, Tim Aplin and Scott Palmer; as well as a US serviceman. In this conversation with Thomas Kaye, Gary shares his story of military service, the Black Hawk crash and his recovery afterwards.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#99 Phillip Condoleon

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 01:30:00 +1100

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Timor, Indonesia and Middle East veteran, Phillip Condoleon.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Sergeant Phillip Condoleon is currently serving in the Australian Army in the 1st Psychology Unit. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Infantry in 1994 as a reservist and became full-time in 1999. Phillip deployed to Timor in 2000 as a rifleman. He spent time as a Linguist, including a deployment to Indonesia after the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. In 2008, he became an Examiner Psychological, and is currently deployed to the Middle East with Joint Task Force 633 in this capacity. He spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about his deployment experiences, family and psychology work in the ADF.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Military in the Media with Siobhan Heanue

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 01:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with ABC journalist Siobhan Heanue about the relationship between the military, the media and the public.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Siobhan Heanue is an ABC journalist based in Townsville for ABC North Queensland. She was previously the ABC’s South Asia correspondent, where she reported from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal. She reported from Iraq in the lead-up to the Battle for Mosul in 2016, has covered terrorist attacks and humanitarian crises in East Africa, and repeatedly embedded with the Australian Defence Force. In the 200th episode of Life on the Line, Alex Lloyd spoke with Siobhan about her career in journalism, the media and public access to the ADF in the 21st century, and the relationship between the media, the military and the public in the wake of current stories being reported on alleged war crimes.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#98 Madelon Heuke

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 01:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam veteran Madelon Heuke.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Madelon 'Del' Heuke was a nurse in the Royal Australian Air Force. In 1965 she was deployed to Butterworth, Malaysia, where she nursed Australian soldiers that had been wounded in action in the Vietnam War. She also flew into Vietnam for medevacs. She shared with Angus Hordern stories of her experiences overseas and the soldiers she nursed to health, giving a nurse's perspective to the Vietnam conflict.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#97 Paul Cale

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 01:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran and renowned martial artist Paul Cale.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Paul Cale is a veteran of the 2nd Commando Regiment and a black belt in eight different styles of martial arts. He has been involved with the Australian Army for 30 years, either as a soldier or a preferred contractor, as he is today. As a commando, he was deployed five times on combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, and at home served as a team leader in Tactical Assault Group East. Paul’s personal hand-to-hand combat experiences in theatres of war, and those of his fellow commandos, have guided his development of the Kinetic Fighting system. Today he is the CEO of Kinetic Fighting Pty Ltd. Paul is a world leader in close-combat and personal protection training. Alex Lloyd spoke with Paul over Zoom about his military service and martial arts career.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#96 Benedict Farrell

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 01:30:00 +1100

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Benedict Farrell, currently on deployment to the Middle East.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Flight Lieutenant Benedict “Eggs” Farrell joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 2015, going into RAAF Intelligence. He transferred to Logistics in 2018, and has gone to Darwin, Japan, Guam and Las Vegas on various military exercises. He is currently in the Middle East on Operation Accordion with the Air Task Group, as the officer in command of Logistics Operations. Eggs spoke to Sharon-Mascall Dare about his time in the military so far, diversity in the modern military, his family military history and how COVID-19 is affecting his current deployment.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#43 Dan Keighran VC Vol II (ft. John Cantwell)

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 02:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews Victoria Cross recipient Dan Keighran and retired Major General John Cantwell.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Daniel Keighran VC is the 99th Australian to receive the Victoria Cross, our nation’s highest award for bravery. Dan served in the Australian Army, 6 RAR, for a decade, deploying twice to Malaysia, once to Timor, once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. In his first Afghanistan deployment, he drove Bushmasters outside the wire with the Special Operations Task Group. In his second deployment there, Corporal Dan Keighran served in a traditional infantry role as a mentor for the Afghan National Army. On 24 August 2010, he performed a series of selfless and heroic actions in the Battle of Derapet, for which he was awarded the VC. Jared ‘Crash’ McKinney lost his life during this battle, and various awards for bravery and gallantry were given out. Dan received the VC in November 2012.

Alex Lloyd first spoke with Dan in Season 3, in #43 Dan Keighran VC. In that interview, they talked about Dan’s upbringing, his various military deployments, Derapet and the life-changing day he was bestowed the Victoria Cross. Since that conversation, Dan has written his autobiography COURAGE UNDER FIRE, out now. As Dan’s editor on the book, Alex brought him back on the show to talk about the book, and the fascinating new insights and revelations it offers about his life.

John Cantwell also came back on the show, after speaking earlier this season with Angus Hordern in a two-part conversation about his long career, to talk to Alex about the Battle of Derapet and his part in Dan Keighran’s story.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#95 Kylie Graham

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 00:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews Iraq veteran Kylie Graham.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Kylie Graham served in the Australian Army for 16 years and is going on 19 year with the Royal Australian Air Force and Air Reserves. During her full-time years in the Air Force, she deployed to Iraq. She’s now a Welfare Officer and a psychologist. This is her conversation with Alex Lloyd about her years of service, memories from Iraq and her father’s time in the Vietnam War.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Mosul with Ben Mckelvey

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 00:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Ben Mckelvey about his new book, Mosul, and the 2nd Commando Regiment.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Ben Mckelvey, author of Cameron Baird’s posthumous biography, has released a new book, “Mosul: Australia’s secret war inside the ISIS caliphate”. The book tells the stories of the late Ian Turner of the 2nd Commando Regiment, Australia’s role in the Battle for Mosul and Australian ISIS fighters. Ben speaks to Alex Lloyd about his new book and the 2nd Commando Regiment, public perceptions of Australian military operations in the Middle East and the impending IGADF inquiry into alleged war crimes.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#94 Ian Roberts

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 00:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews submarine captain and Cold War veteran, Ian Roberts.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Ian Roberts served in the Royal Australian Navy for 25 years. He earned the coveted Dolphins badge, marking him as a submariner. He went on to become one of the first Australian-born officers to command a Royal Australian Navy submarine. This is his conversation with Angus Hordern about life under the waves.

CORRECTION: When we first published this podcast, we said that Ian was the first Australian-born man to command a submarine. We’d read a couple of contemporary articles to that effect, but were misinformed. That honour goes to Captain Frank Getting, born in Sydney in 1899, and commanded the very first submarine to bear the name HMAS Oxley in 1928, the vessel that preceded Ian’s sub of the same name. Ian may have indeed been the second Australian to command an Aussie submarine - he’s definitely one o the first, and it was a great honour to record his story regardless.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#93 Kelly Hammant

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 00:30:00 +1100

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Kelly Hammant, on deployment to the Middle East at the time of recording.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Warrant Officer Class One Kelly Hammant has served in the Australian Army for 24 years and had 10 deployments, including to Indonesia, Iraq, Afghanistan and border protection. She deployed to the Middle East with the Theatre Communications Group Rotation 10 as the Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant, and this deployment finished at the end of September 2020. Kelly spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about her various deployments, her battle with alcoholism as a result of trauma from her service, how she overcame those difficulties, the mentoring role she plays to young people today, and the impact of COVID-19 on her recent deployment.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#92 Dean Parkinson Vol II

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd continues his interview with 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Dean Parkinson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Today's episode is the second instalment of the conversation with Dean Parkinson, picking up after Dean's first combat tour in Afghanistan in 2009. In this episode, Dean talks to Alex Lloyd about his 2010 combat deployment, losing mates in battle and the impact of his military service.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#92 Dean Parkinson Vol I

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews former Commando and Afghanistan veteran Dean Parkinson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Dean Parkinson is a veteran of the 2nd Commando Regiment. Despite significant injuries in an aircraft accident in training, Dean eventually became a commando and deployed twice to Afghanistan. He’s also competed at the highest professional level of speed skydiving. This is Alex Lloyd's conversation with Dean about how he went from Qantas flight attendant to Australian Special Forces.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Teddy Sheean VC with Dr Brendan Nelson

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with Dr Brendan Nelson about Australia’s 101st Victoria Cross recipient, Teddy Sheean VC.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Teddy Sheean received the Victoria Cross posthumously for his heroism during the sinking of HMAS Armidale on 1 December 1942. Seventy-eight years later, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II approved the award on 12 August 2020.

Dr Brendan Nelson, former Minister for Defence in the Howard Government and Director of the Australian War Memorial 2012-19, chaired the 2020 expert panel that reviewed Teddy’s case. His panel’s recommendation for Teddy to receive the VC was the last domino for this award finally being bestowed. In Dr Nelson’s second appearance on the podcast, he told Angus Hordern the story of Teddy Sheean, and exactly how his posthumous VC came about. Teddy’s story is extraordinary in its own right, as is the story of how his VC took so long to be approved, and what finally changed.

five-part DVD documentary series, For School and Country. On this podcast he appeared back in Season 1, 2017, when he spoke to me about his career, the Australian War Memorial and the topic of Remembrance Day, in Remembrance Day with Dr Brendan Nelson.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#91 Lesley Carney

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Lesley Carney, on deployment to the Middle East at the time of recording.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Group Captain Lesley Carney was serving in the Royal Australian Air Force with Joint Task Force 633, as the Director of Support. In 2008, Lesley was posted to the Joint Strike Fighter Program as the Australian Supply Chain manager in Washington DC. She received a commendation for her efforts during her tour in the US representing Australia's interests in multi-national forums and received a Bronze Star for her work as the Kandahar Air Field Chief Logistics Officer. This is her conversation with Sharon Mascall-Dare about her background, career highlights and work in the Middle East.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#90 Glenn Azar

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews aviation medic and Bougainville and Timor veteran, Glenn Azar.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Glenn Azar served in the Australian Army for 17 years, where he specialised as an Aviation Medic performing Aero-Medical Evacuations in Blackhawk Helicopters. He is the founder of premier adventure trekking company Adventure Professionals where he has completed over 60 crossings of the Kokoda Track. Glenn spoke to Alex Lloyd about his difficult youth, memorable deployment experiences in Bougainville and Timor, the power of mindset and the capacity of the human spirit. Alex also spoke with his daughter, Alyssa Azar – the youngest Australian to summit Mt Everest – about how she believes the military influenced Glenn, from resilience to his parenting style to his outlook on life.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#89 Zion Connors

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Zion Connors, currently on deployment to the Middle East.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Private Zion Connors is serving on Operation Accordion as a unit storeman as part of the Theatre Communications Group Rotation 10, providing logistics support to other operations throughout the Middle East. The 20-year-old soldier spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about his proud Indigenous heritage and how joining the Australian Army changed his life, making him a role model to his family and community.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

The Partners - Crystal Callender

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with Crystal Callender about being married to an army veteran.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This is the second ‘partners’ episode of Life on the Line. Today’s conversation is with Crystal Callender. Crystal was dating Garth Callender when the young cavalry officer’s vehicle was blown up by an IED in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004. Crystal shared with Angus Hordern her perspective of being the girlfriend, fiancé and wife of an army officer who deployed three times to the Middle East.

Angus also caught up with Garth on his news, including his recent promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#88 Jennifer Wittwer

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Royal Australian Navy veteran Jennifer Wittwer.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Jennifer Wittwer joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1981 as a supply officer. She went on to have an international career as a thought leader, humanitarian and advocate for women’s rights, equality and empowerment. Some of her roles in uniform have included being the first ADF Gender Advisor to NATO Operations in Afghanistan, and a secondment to UN Women in New York. This is Jen's conversation with Alex Lloyd about her military career and women in the Defence Force.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Daniel Keighran VC - Courage Under Fire

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 23:30:00 +1000

A trailer for COURAGE UNDER FIRE by Daniel Keighran VC.

Podcast host Alex Lloyd is a Senior Editor at book publisher Pan Macmillan Australia, and the editor of Daniel Keighran VC's autobiography. Dan's military memoir, COURAGE UNDER FIRE, is out 27 October. It's now available for preorder. Listen to this short podcast to find out more about the book and hear reviews of it by Mark Donaldson VC, Sir Peter Cosgrove, Dame Quentin Bryce, John Cantwell, Dr Brendan Nelson, Sir Angus Houston, David Hurley and David Morrison. COURAGE UNDER FIRE was written with Tony Park, an Afghanistan veteran and conversation #81 earlier this season.

#87 Jeremy Holder

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews combat medic Jeremy Holder.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Jeremy Holder was a medic in the Australian Army for 7 years. He served within Special Operations Command for 4 years, which included a deployment to Afghanistan with the commandos as a platoon medic. Jez spoke to Thomas Kaye about his time in Afghanistan and the reality of being a combat medic for Special Forces.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#86 Susan Coyle

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Susan Coyle, currently on deployment to Afghanistan as Commander Joint Task Force 633.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Major General Susan Coyle CSC, DSM is a senior officer in the Australian Army. She is currently on deployment to Afghanistan as the commander of Joint Task Force 633, responsible for all Australian operations in the Middle East. She is the first woman to command the task force, which comprises 1200 personnel on Operation Okra. Susan spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about her extensive military career, including her deployments to East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

COVID-19 Taskforce with John Frewen

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Lieutenant General John Frewen about the COVID-19 Taskforce and his military career.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Lieutenant General John Frewen DSC, AM, is currently serving in the Australian Army. He is leading the COVID-19 Taskforce established by Defence, to coordinate the ADF’s contribution to the whole-of-government response to the pandemic. John spoke to Alex Lloyd about highlights of his military career to date, and about the work our servicemen and women are doing in response to coronavirus – when the front line is at home.

Some of John’s career highlights include his 1994 deployment to Rwanda, his exchange to the United States military in Hawaii during September 11, leading the international response to the Solomon Islands crisis in 2003, Afghanistan in 2007, back to the Middle East as Joint Task Force 633 commander in 2017, and now leading the COVID-19 Taskforce with military deputy Major General Paul Kenny.

The military career conversation begins at 1:40 and the COVID Taskforce conversation at 24:35.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#85 David McCourt

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews a former captain of the Royal Australian Navy, David McCourt.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. David McCourt served as a career officer in the Royal Australian Navy. After a range of seafaring postings, David was deployed to East Timor and twice to the Arabian Gulf.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Willy Beating Cancer OAM

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks again with Afghanistan veteran Matt Williams.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Corporal Matthew Williams is currently serving in the Australian Army. Willy, as he’s better known, had his 21st birthday on deployment to Afghanistan. On his 22nd birthday, he received a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer. But he never gave up the fight. He started what’s become a hugely popular Instagram page – Willy Beating Cancer – documenting his journey of physical and mental health as he fights his illness, increases awareness of it and raises money for it. Alex Lloyd interviewed Willy in 2018, in the post-Season 2 bonus episode ‘A Journey of Resilience with Matt Williams’, about his military service and cancer diagnosis. Two years after the original podcast, Alex brought Willy back on the show for an update on what’s been going on his life.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#84 Tim Reynolds

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Iraq veteran and cancer survivor Tim Reynolds.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Tim Reynolds served in the Australian Army for 27 years. He joined as a mechanic and retired at the rank of Major. He had multiple deployments during his service, including to Iraq in 2005. He began a new civilian career in his 40s before being diagnosed with a terminal cancer. This is Tim's conversation with Angus Hordern of a life in uniform, deployments overseas and overcoming adversity against the odds.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

The Partners - Samantha Gash

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Samantha Gash about being married to an SAS veteran.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. On this podcast, many veterans have remarked on how vital the support of a partner or loved one has been to them; that not enough is said of just what a difference it is they make. This is the first ‘partners’ episode of Life on the Line, and we hope to do more in the future. Today’s conversation is with Samantha Gash. Samantha is a professional endurance athlete, social entrepreneur and a motivational speaker. She’s run over 20,000km across every continent on Earth and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity while advocating for women’s empowerment, social change and access to education. In 2017 she was a contestant on the reality TV show Australian Survivor, where she met former SAS officer Mark Wales. Sam and Mark are now married and have one young son, Harry Locke Wales.

You can hear #28 Mark Wales in Season 2. In Season 5, Mark returned to the podcast to promote his memoir SURVIVOR: LIFE IN THE SAS. Mark returned again to the podcast in 2024 to promote his debut novel OUTRIDER.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#83 Dean and Alan Bretherton

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews father and son veterans Dean and Alan Bretherton.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. In this podcast Sharon Mascall-Dare conducts two interviews with a father and son: Dean Bretherton, a veteran of the New Zealand Air Force, and his son Alan Bretherton, who is currently in the Middle East on operations with the Australian Army.

Dean served in the New Zealand Defence Force for 22 years. He spoke to Sharon about his own service and his family’s deep military history.

Captain Alan Bretherton is currently on operations as the Deputy Plans Officer for Joint Task Force 633. He’s also serving as the Gender Advisor to the commander of JTF633, Major General Susan Coyle. Alan spoke to Sharon about his career to date, and what it’s like to be an officer in today’s Australian Army.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#54 Wes 'H' Hennssey Vol V

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd continues his interview with 2nd Commando Regiment veteran 'H' about his combat deployments to Afghanistan.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. This is the fifth part of Alex Lloyd's conversation with Wes 'H' Hennessey, a senior and highly decorated Special Forces veteran. They discuss H returning home after his combat-heavy 2008 deployment to Afghanistan and then move on to his experiences in 2010, where he was in more of a leadership role, and the contrast between the two deployments.

Also listen to, in Season 3, Volume I (the beginning & TAG East), Volume II (Afghanistan 2006) and Volume III (coming home), and in this season, Volume IV (Afghanistan 2008).

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#54 Wes 'H' Hennssey Vol IV

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd resumes his interview with Special Forces veteran 'H' about his combat deployments to Afghanistan in 2008.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is the fourth part of Alex Lloyd's conversation with 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Wes 'H' Hennessey, which began in a three-part interview in Season 3. This instalment focuses on H's intense combat experiences with Special Forces, in Afghanistan in 2008.

Also listen to, in Season 3, Volume I (the beginning & TAG East), Volume II (Afghanistan 2006) and Volume III (coming home), and in this season, Volume V (Afghanistan 2010).

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#82 John Cantwell Vol II

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern continues his interview with Australian Army veteran John Cantwell.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Today's episode is the second instalment of the conversation with Major General John Cantwell AO, DSC, picking up after John's second combat tour in Iraq in 2006 and being made Deputy Chief of Army in 2007. In this episode, John talks to Angus Hordern about commanding forces in Afghanistan, the responsibility of command, and the importance of talking openly and honestly about trauma.

John returned to the podcast in #43 Dan Keighran VC Vol II (ft. John Cantwell), later in Season 4.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#82 John Cantwell Vol I

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews retired Major General John Cantwell AO, DSC.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. John Cantwell AO, DSC served in the Australian Army for 38 years, retiring at the rank of Major General. He had tours of duty in the First and Second Gulf War, and the War in Afghanistan. He began his career as a Private, saw intense frontline combat and in his final tour was the Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East Area of Operations. John was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 2012 for his “inspired leadership, deep commitment to his people and superior performance on operations”. He is the author of the bestselling memoir, EXIT WOUNDS. This is the first instalment in a two-part conversation with Angus Hordern.

John returned to the podcast in #43 Dan Keighran VC Vol II (ft. John Cantwell), later in Season 4.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#81 Tony Park

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Afghanistan veteran and author Tony Park.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Tony Park served in the Australian Army Reserves in a variety of roles, including as a public affairs officer. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 and had his first novel published in 2004. He spoke to Alex Lloyd about what the army did for him, the challenges of readjusting to normal life after deploying, the military's relationship with the public and his writing career.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#80 Robyn White

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Rwanda and Afghanistan veteran Robyn White.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Lieutenant Colonel Robyn White is currently serving as the Senior Medical Officer of 6 Brigade in the Australian Army Reserve. During her service with the full-time army and Reserves, she deployed to Rwanda and twice to the Middle East, including Afghanistan. She shared with Angus Hordern some key experiences from her time in uniform, and how her experiences in Rwanda inspired her to become a doctor.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#68 Harry Moffitt Vol II

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews SAS veteran Harry Moffitt for a second time.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Harry Moffitt had eleven deployments over eleven years with the Special Air Service Regiment. His first conversation on the podcast was in Season 3. In this follow-up episode, Harry shares with Alex Lloyd more highs and lows from deployments overseas – including the death of Sean McCarthy – as well as stories about The Externals, the cricket bats he took to war, and leadership in the SAS and beyond.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Listen to THE EXTERNALS on Spotify. Tracks featured in today's episode, in order of appearance, include "Edge of the World", "Bushranger Rock", "I Don't Believe" and "I Can Taste You". Music by The Externals will be featured throughout Season 4, used with their permission. For more backstory on The Externals, beyond this episode, listen to "Who Sings Wins", a season 1 episode of The Unforgiving60 podcast.

#79 Bill Fitzgerald

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews legendary RAN Clearance Diver Bill Fitzgerald.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with the first Australian Clearance Diving Chief, Bill Fitzgerald. Bill joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1946. He shared with Angus Hordern his stories of blowing up mines and massive ordnance, nuclear exposure, and fixing dams, submarines and ships, in his pioneering career in the navy.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

SAS Leadership Vol II with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews SAS veterans Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis for a second time, with the dynamic duo sharing more military stories and lessons of leadership and resilience.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis are two veterans of the Special Air Service Regiment. The ex-SAS officers swapped their rifles for MBAs and now co-run Mettle Global, a business specialising in crisis management. They also co-host The Unforgiving60 podcast. In their second interview with Alex Lloyd, Ben and Tim share more anecdotes from their time in the military, and how those lessons of leadership and resilience can be applied to crisis situations such as the COVID-19 global pandemic. They also discuss the tragic Black Hawk accident of 12 June 1996.

Their first interview was in Season 3. Ben and Tim returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol III.

The duo returned to the podcast in Season 5 to talk about their book, The Resilience Shield, in SAS Resilience with Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#78 Pete Nugent

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews RAAF veteran Pete Nugent.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Peter Nugent is a former flight test engineer with the Royal Australian Air Force. Pete told Sharon Mascall-Dare about his early days with the military, his love of aircraft and his deployment to Iraq.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#77 Adrian Humphries Vol II

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern continues his interview with former commando and signaller Adrian Humphries.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Today's episode is the second instalment of the conversation with Adrian Humphries. Adrian is a veteran of the 2nd Commando Regiment. Adrian shares with Angus Hordern more stories from his four deployments to Afghanistan with the commandos, his medical discharge, his difficult journey afterwards and how he's found a sense of peace today.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#77 Adrian Humphries Vol I

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Adrian Humphries.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Adrian Humphries was a signaller in the regular army before transferring to the commandos. Adrian told Angus Hordern about his deployments to the Solomon Islands, Pakistan, training to join 4 RAR (Commando) and his first deployment to Afghanistan. This is the first instalment of a two-part episode.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#76 Sarah Watson

Mon, 25 May 2020 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Iraq veteran Sarah Watson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Sarah Watson was an Intelligence Officer in the Australian Army. She deployed to Iraq in 2006 and was the Intelligence Analyst for all Middle Eastern countries except Afghanistan during the Arab Spring. This is Alex Lloyd's conversation with Sarah about the challenges and victories she faced in uniform, and beyond.

Sarah was interviewed by Alex again in the video documentary Life After Service.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Season 4 Trailer

Mon, 18 May 2020 23:00:00 +1000

Welcome to Season 4 of LIFE ON THE LINE, Australia's first and leading veterans podcast, from Thistle Productions.

Season 4 of LIFE ON THE LINE begins next week! Subscribe to get all content. Every Tuesday we'll have a new episode with a veteran of the army, navy, air force, commandos and SAS. Listen to incredible Australian stories as you've never heard them before.

Life on the Line is brought to you by Thistle Productions. Artwork by Big Cat Design. Theme music by Dan Van Werkhoven. Additional trailer music "War" by John Lynam.

Christmas on the Line Vol II

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 01:30:00 +1100

Veterans of Season 3 share their stories of a Christmas in uniform.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans of Season 3 share with the Thistle Productions team their experiences of Christmas in uniform, from deployments overseas and back home in Australia. These stories have not been previously featured on the podcast. Returning guests include Dan Keighran VC, Alastair Bridges, Dr David Stevens, Bob Ray, Geraint Jones, Donna Watts-Endresz, Jodi Farmer, Harry Moffitt, Dr Ajitha Sugnanam, Bob Semple and Aaron Davis. This episode is hosted by Sharon Mascall-Dare.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Panel - Modern Veterans

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 01:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd hosts a panel on what it means to be a veteran today, with Cassie Collins, Dee Cherry and Aaron Davis.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's panel conversation is on the topic of public perceptions and misconceptions around military service, the role of the media, and what it means to be a veteran in the modern era.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#75 Aaron Davis

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 00:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews Australian Army veteran Aaron Davis.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. The Season 3 finale is a veteran’s story of trauma, growth and resilience, from battlefields overseas to how life in uniform is intertwined with life back home. Aaron Davis was an infantryman in 6RAR. He was deployed to Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. Between his times overseas, he was juggling his ever-growing family and his increasing difficulty to ‘switch off’ and transition from cams to civvies. This is his story, as told to Alex Lloyd.

Aaron returned to the podcast in the episode released for Remembrance Day 2019, Panel - Modern Veterans.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#74 Dr Paula Dabovich

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews an internationally renowned researcher into veterans' rehabilitation and care, and former soldier, full-time army officer and now reservist, Dr Paula Dabovich.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Dr Paula Dabovich is a former soldier, full-time army officer and now a reservist general service officer in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. She’s dedicated her career to understanding military personnel from a perspective that is deep, insightful and has much to teach us about how we care for our veterans, as she shared in this conversation with Sharon Mascall-Dare.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#73 Ian Richards

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Korean War veteran Ian Richards.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Ian Richards served the Royal Australian Navy for 40 years, including in the Korean War, retiring from the forces as a Rear Admiral and Deputy Chief of the Navy. He shared his story with Angus Hordern.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

The Blind Man's Victoria Cross with Tim Rayson

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd discovers the stories of four Victoria Cross recipients in the British Army, speaking with the Axe Keeper of Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, Tim Rayson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is centred on four British Victoria Cross recipients. All four are also former members of Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms. Alex Lloyd spoke with Tim Rayson, the ‘Axe Keeper’, about the incredible stories of Ernest Towse VC, Harry Schofield VC, John Campbell VC and David Jamieson VC.

The music at the end of the episode is “The Nearest Guard”, especially composed by Major Philip Shannon MBE for the 500th anniversary of the Honourable Corps on 4th June 2009. This recording was performed by the Band of the Irish Guards and supplied by the Axe Keeper.

Tim Rayson last appeared on the podcast talking about the history of Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#72 Craig Cook

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Craig Cook.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Craig Cook has served in the Australian Army for 34 years, as a member of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. He has deployed to Somalia, Afghanistan and three times to Iraq - twice with US forces, who have recognised his achievements with a Meritorious Service Medal and a Bronze Star. Today he’s the Regimental Sergeant Major at 9th Brigade in Adelaide. Craig shared with Sharon Mascall-Dare stories of high intensity combat, having a bounty on his head and the effects of the military life on his family.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#71 Bob Semple

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews World War II veteran Bob Semple.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Bob Semple served in an artillery gun crew in World War II. He fought in Tobruk, El Alamein, Lae, Finschhafen, Tarakan and Labuan, against all three Axis powers. The Rat of Tobruk shared his memories of the war with Alex Lloyd.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Remembering John Hordern with Angus Hordern

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Angus Hordern about his late father, John Hordern, a World War II veteran.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Angus Hordern, who shares with his Thistle Productions colleague Alex Lloyd some memories of his late father, John Hordern. John served in the Royal Australian Navy in World War II, including the largest naval action in history.

Audio clips of John from the documentary FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY are featured in this episode.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#70 David Evans

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews Berlin Airlift and Vietnam War veteran, Air Marshall David Evans.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. David Evans served in the Royal Australian Air Force for 42 years, retiring as the Chief in 1985. He just missed out on action in World War II, but had a variety of deployments, including operational service in the Berlin Airlift and the Vietnam War.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

A Captain's Cancer Battles with Hugo Toovey

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with currently serving Australian Army Captain Hugo Toovey.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Hugo Toovey, who is currently a Captain in the Australian Army. Hugo has endured two battles with cancer while in his twenties and serving his country in uniform. In this conversation with Alex Lloyd, Hugo describes the military career he dreamed of having, how testicular cancer then bowel cancer changed that, and the work he’s doing today to encourage the younger demographic to be in tune with their bodies, as it just might save a life. Hugo is the co-host of the 25StayAlive podcast.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#69 Dr Ajitha Sugnanam

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews modern RAAF dentist Dr Ajitha Sugnanam.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For this episode, Royal Australian Air Force officer Dr Sugnanam spoke to Alex Lloyd. Ajitha spoke about her passion to help people, how she combined a career in dentistry with a military one, her volunteer work, and her time overseas.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#68 Harry Moffitt

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews former Special Forces team commander Harry Moffitt.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Harry Moffitt is a former team commander in the Special Air Service Regiment. He passed selection in 1990 and finally left in 2015, when he decided his body, family and future would best be served by moving on - 25 years after he initially joined the Regiment. Harry has extensive operational experience, including deployments to Timor and the Middle East. He spoke to Alex Lloyd about the psychology of being an elite soldier, leadership in high-tempo deployments and how best to equip yourself for life after service.

Read more about Harry’s service and the cricket bats he took to war in the Sydney Morning Herald article by Nick McKenzie, February 2nd 2019.

The closing music of the episode is by The Externals, an Australian SAS original rock band. Harry is the band’s singer-songwriter. The track is called “Edge of the World”. Look up the band on Facebook and Spotify, and find out more on the 16th episode of The Unforgiving60 Podcast.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Battle of Long Tan with Peter Slack-Smith and David Buckwalter

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern hosts a conversation between Peter Slack-Smith and David Buckwalter about the Battle of Long Tan.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. After meeting in the podcast 'Panel - Australian Infantry Against the Odds', Peter Slack-Smith - a veteran of Delta Company 6RAR and survivor of the Battle of Long Tan - wished to thank David Buckwalter - a Vietnam veteran of Alpha Company 6RAR - for the role other A Company soldiers played in the bloody battle.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#67 Ian Knox

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews former Vice Chief of Defence Force and Vietnam veteran Ian Knox.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vice Admiral Ian Knox. Ian spoke to Angus Hordern about a few highlights from his career, from Vietnam to captaining HMAS Melbourne to his time as Vice Chief of Defence Force.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Battle for Milne Bay with Michael Veitch

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with author Michael Veitch about the Battle for Milne Bay in 1942.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with author, actor and presenter Michael Veitch, widely published on the subject of Australian airmen's experiences in World War II. His ninth book, TURNING POINT, is about the Battle for Milne Bay in 1942. Michael spoke about the book and this fascinating, relatively untold piece of history with Alex Lloyd.

Michael has appeared on the podcast before to discuss his writing career, love of history and his seventh book, BARNEY GREATREX, which was worked on by Alex Lloyd and Angus Hordern. You can find out more about this book at www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com/book and also listen to Season 1 podcasts on the topic:

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#66 James O'Hanlon

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Rwanda, East Timor and Afghanistan veteran James O’Hanlon.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. James O’Hanlon served in the Australian Army for 23 years full time, and is currently in the Army Reserve. He joined as a regular soldier before transitioning to being an officer. Sharon Mascall-Dare spoke to James about his six operational deployments, leadership and encounters with the Taliban.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#65 Adrian Talbot

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Australian veteran of the British Royal Marine Commandos, Adrian Talbot.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with an Afghanistan veteran, Adrian Talbot. Adrian is an Australian who, while living overseas, found himself signing up to serve in the British Royal Marine Commandos. Adrian shared with Angus Hordern his memories of his Afghanistan deployment, his difficult journey leaving the forces and the work he's doing back in Australia to support fellow veterans. Adrian was interviewed on the podcast last year, in a bonus episode, about the Invictus Games.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#64 Jodi Farmer

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews currently serving sailor, Jodi Farmer.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For this episode, Royal Australian Navy servicewoman Jodi Farmer spoke to Alex Lloyd about her experiences at sea, including border security operations and a deployment to the Middle East, and the intensity of being on a boarding party.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Archive Interview - Eric Thew

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Excerpts from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY interview with World War II veteran Eric Thew.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This bonus episode is from our archive vault, an interview with World War II veteran Eric Thew.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#63 Andrew Wells

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Vietnam veteran Andrew Wells.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Infantryman Andrew Wells volunteered to fight in Vietnam under the national serviceman scheme. He told his story to Alex Lloyd. He told his story to Alex Lloyd. He is the younger brother of John Wells, interviewed earlier this season by Angus Hordern in #46 John Wells.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Her Majesty's Body Guard with Tim Rayson

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with the Axe Keeper of Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, Tim Rayson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is centred on UK military history, specifically about Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms. Alex Lloyd spoke with Tim Rayson, the ‘Axe Keeper’, about the history of the Guard, battles and axes, and their royal duties today.

This podcast was recorded in St James’s Palace, in London.

Tim returned to the podcast in the episode The Blind Man’s Victoria Cross with Tim Rayson.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#62 Oliver Andrews

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews cavalryman and Solomon Islands veteran Oliver Andrews.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Oliver Andrews was a cavalryman with the Australian Army, first as a reservist then full time. He spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about what drew him to the armed forces, the day-to-day of being a cavalryman, some lighter moments, the experience of being deployed to a jungle environment, and how an injury changed everything.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Archive Interview - Ted Carter

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Excerpts from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY interview with World War II veteran Ted Carter.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This bonus episode is from our archive vault, an interview with World War II veteran Ted Carter.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#61 Dee Cherry

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews modern RAAF veteran Dee Cherry.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For this episode, Royal Australian Air Force servicewoman Dee Cherry spoke to Alex Lloyd. Dee talked about her family member – a recipient of the Victoria Cross – as well as her time in uniform, and her extensive work in the veterans community.

Dee returned to the podcast in the episode released for Remembrance Day 2019, Panel - Modern Veterans.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#60 Nick Caldwell

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews former Special Forces soldier Nick Caldwell.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Nick Caldwell reflected on his Special Forces career with Thomas Kaye, in this conversation about mindset, growth and what it takes to be a trooper at the tip of the spear.

Find out more about Nick's career and The Mill Gym in his interview with Bram Connolly on Bram's WarriorU Podcast, and for his interview with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis on The Unforgiving60 Podcast.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#59 Arthur Atkins

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews World War II veteran Arthur Atkins.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Arthur Atkins is an Australian who flew for RAF Bomber Command in World War II. He completed 32 operations and was the pilot of a Lancaster bomber.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Panel - Australian Infantry Against the Odds

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern hosts a panel three significant battles where Australians overcame the odds, with David Buckwalter, Michael Kelly and Peter Slack-Smith.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's panel conversation is on three significant battles in Australian military history where our forces overcame overwhelming odds, moderated by Angus Hordern. The guests include: David Buckwalter, a Vietnam War veteran, speaks on the Battle of Wau from World War II; Michael Kelly, Australian War Memorial historian and army veteran, speaks on the Battle of Kapyong from the Korean War; and Peter Slack-Smith, a Vietnam veteran, speaks about the Battle of Long Tan, from his perspective as a Delta Company soldier in that bloody engagement.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#58 Kane Hall

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Afghanistan veteran Kane Hall.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Kane Hall deployed to Afghanistan as a cavalryman and came back a changed man. He now works as a veteran support officer. Kane shared his story of service, sacrifice and resilience with Sharon Mascall-Dare.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#57 Donna Watts-Endresz

Mon, 27 May 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews modern RAAF officer Donna Watts-Endresz.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For this episode, Royal Australian Air Force servicewoman Donna Watts-Endrez spoke to Alex Lloyd. Donna spoke to Alex Lloyd about her experiences overseas, how military service impacts on the family back home, and her reflections on her time in uniform.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

An Iron Cross with David Buckwalter

Thu, 23 May 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with David Buckwalter about his grandfather, a German veteran of World War I.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Vietnam veteran and recurring podcast guest David Buckwalter. David spoke to Angus Hordern about the Iron Cross that has been passed down in his family, and the story attached to it.

David’s previous appearances on the podcast include:

#5 David Buckwalter - David’s story of service in the Vietnam War.
The Battle of Wau with David Buckwalter - an historical bonus episode on this significant engagement in World War II.
Panel - The Vietnam War - David joins three other Vietnam War veterans in discussing the conflict and its legacy.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#56 James Medley

Mon, 20 May 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews East Timor and Solomon Islands veteran James Medley.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. James Medley has served his country in the Reserves for two decades, and in that time has had a range of deployments domestically and abroad. These include East Timor and the Solomon Islands (twice); border security operations with the Royal Australian Navy; security operations at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games; and assisting the firefighters in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Brothers in Arms with Geraint Jones

Thu, 16 May 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with British Army veteran and author Geraint Jones.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Geraint "Gez" Jones. Gez deployed three times to the Middle East as an infantry soldier in the British Army's Royal Welsh regiment – twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. For his actions in Basra, Gez was awarded the General Officer Commanding’s Commendation. Upon leaving the military, Gez worked to protect commercial shipping against Somali and Nigerian based piracy. He now writes full-time and is a Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction books. He’s just released his memoir – “Brothers in Arms” – a recount of his time in Afghanistan. Gez spoke to Alex Lloyd about his military career, primarily on the Afghanistan deployment, his battle with PTSD and journey of post-traumatic growth.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#55 Avis Quarrell

Mon, 13 May 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews World War II veteran Avis Quarrell.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a veteran of the Australian Women's Army Service, World War II. Avis Quarrell shared with Angus Hordern the story of her family's military service, and her own in World War II.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#54 Wes 'H' Hennssey Vol III

Wed, 08 May 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd conducts the third part of his interview with 2nd Commando Regiment veteran 'H' about his journey beyond the military.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This is the third instalment of Alex Lloyd's conversation with Wes 'H' Hennessey, a senior and highly decorated Special Forces veteran. The pair talk about the challenges H faced during his time as a commando, how he has changed as a result of his service, and his outlook to the future.

Listen to Volume I (joining the army, Somalia, 4RAR (Commando), Timor and TAG East) and Volume II (Afghanistan 2006) before you hear this episode, then in Season 4, Volume IV (Afghanistan 2008) and Volume V (Afghanistan 2010). The first three of these conversations are in Season 3, and the next two parts were recorded a year later, for Season 4.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#54 Wes 'H' Hennssey Vol II

Tue, 07 May 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd continues his interview with Special Forces veteran 'H' about his combat experiences in Afghanistan, 2006.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is the second part of Alex Lloyd's conversation with 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Wes 'H' Hennessey. The episode centres around some of H's significant combat experiences in his first Middle East deployment, in vivid front-line storytelling.

Listen to Volume I before this episode. After listening to this episode, listen to Volume III (coming home), then in Season 4, Volume IV (Afghanistan 2008) and Volume V (Afghanistan 2010). The first three of these conversations are in Season 3, and the next two parts were recorded a year later, for Season 4.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#54 Wes 'H' Hennssey Vol I

Mon, 06 May 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews 'H', a 2nd Commando Regiment veteran who deployed seven times to the Middle East.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a former senior Special Forces soldier, thrice decorated for conspicuous service and valour. The 2nd Commando Regiment veteran known Wes 'H' Hennessey was a Warrant Officer Class One and served in the Australian Defence Force for 24 years. In the first instalment of a five-part conversation with Alex Lloyd, H described his journey to the army, training, his deployment to Somalia, the birth of the Commandos, his time in Timor, and the emergence of the Tactical Assault Group East.

After listening to this episode, listen to Volume II (Afghanistan 2006) and Volume III (coming home), then in Season 4, Volume IV (Afghanistan 2008) and Volume V (Afghanistan 2010). The first three of these conversations are in Season 3, and the next two parts were recorded a year later, for Season 4.

When originally recorded, ‘H’ did not want his name published for privacy reasons, which is reflected in the interview. He has since revealed his name to the public.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#53 Vic Battese, David Cronin and Bob Ray

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam veterans Vic Battese, David Cronin and Bob Ray.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with three veterans of the Vietnam War. Vic Battese, David Cronin and Bob Ray served in the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam. They spoke with Angus Hordern about their EMU days, serving in the war with the United States Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

SAS Leadership with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with former SAS officers Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis, both former officers of the Special Air Service Regiment. Now they're in the civilian workforce, armed with MBAs. The pair spoke Alex Lloyd about lessons of leadership and command from their time in the SASR, from principles to specific action-packed examples, how those lessons influence their work and lives today, and their new podcast, 'The Unforgiving60'.

Ben and Tim returned to the podcast to talk more on leadership, resilience, COVID-19 and the Black Hawk accident of 1996, in Season 4. They were also featured that year in Christmas on the Line Vol III.

The duo returned to the podcast in Season 5 to talk about their book, The Resilience Shield, in SAS Resilience with Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#52 Emma Grigson

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Afghanistan veteran Emma Grigson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Emma Grigson deployed to Afghanistan with the Australian Army as a Medical Officer, and then continued to serve as an Intelligence Officer. Emma shared with Sharon Mascall-Dare her story of personal courage in overcoming adversity.

To mark the approach of Anzac Day, this podcast finishes with something different - a song. The song "War" by John Lynam was inspired when John met then 23-year-old Afghanistan veteran Beau Rutledge. John is putting together a special project and hopes any Afghanistan veteran with images or video they're willing to share will contact him at John Lynam Music on Facebook.

To see photos related to today's interview with Emma, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#51 Mark Noble

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Rohan Viswalingam interviews Special Operations Engineer and veteran of Afghanistan, Mark Noble.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with an Explosive Detection Dog handler and veteran of the Special Operations Engineer Regiment of SOCOMD. Mark Noble shared with Rohan Viswalingam his stories from the battlefield and reflections on a life in the military.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

The Great War's Navy with Dr David Stevens

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with Dr David Stevens about Australia's naval war in World War I.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Royal Australian Navy veteran Dr David Stevens, who is currently an Official Historian at the Australian War Memorial. Angus Hordern spoke with David about his own military career, and the history of Australia's naval war in World War I.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#50 Alastair Bridges

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 23:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Vietnam veteran Alastair Bridges.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This conversation is with a pilot of the Royal Australian Air Force, who flew in Vietnam. Alastair Bridges spoke to Alex Lloyd about his parents' World War II memories, his own military career, his time in Vietnam, and how those experiences have shaped his life today.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#49 Nathan Bolton

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 00:30:00 +1100

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Special Operations Engineer and Afghanistan veteran Nathan Bolton.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Nathan Bolton is a veteran of the Special Operations Engineer Regiment. After his first tour of Afghanistan, he completed the SAS Selection course but was not selected for further training with the regiment. He went back to Afghanistan with the Special Operations Task Group as a combat engineer, searching and clearing improvised explosive devices. Nathan spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about his relentless pursuit to be the best, the dangers of ensuring the safety of members of the 2nd Commando Regiment from a hidden threat, and the intense emotional journey he went through after his medical discharge.

Follow Nathan's new company that he runs with his brother Daniel - Bolton Brothers Entertainment - on Facebook, and also visit their website https://bbentertainment.com.au.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#48 Tamara Sloper-Harding

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 00:30:00 +1100

Thomas Kaye interviews Timor and Bougainville veteran Tamara Sloper-Harding.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Tamara Sloper-Harding served in the Royal Australian Navy as an intelligence officer, and saw multiple deployments to East Timor and Bougainville. She spoke to Thomas Kaye about her experiences in the navy as a woman, the highs and lows, her time overseas and her passion to help those in need.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#47 Bram Connolly

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 00:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews Somalia, Timor and Afghanistan veteran, formerly of the 2nd Commando Regiment, Bram Connolly.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Bram Connolly joined the regular army in 1993, and was deployed to Somalia at the age of 19. Bram's career took him to Special Forces, further overseas deployments to Timor and Afghanistan, as well as transitioning from NCO to officer. Bram spoke to Alex Lloyd about his long career in the military, and the lessons he learned about himself and leadership along the way.

Bram came on the podcast last year, to talk about his post-military career.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#46 John Wells

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 00:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam veteran John Wells.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with an artillery forward observer who served in the Vietnam War. John Wells spoke to Angus Hordern about his experiences in the war that stick with him to this day, and his reflections on the conflict.

Later in Season 3, Alex Lloyd interviewed John's brother in #63 Andrew Wells.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Lessons of a Combat Doctor with Dr Dan Pronk

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 01:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Special Forces combat doctor Dan Pronk, in Dan's third podcast appearance.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Dr Dan Pronk. Dan is a former combat doctor who passed SAS selection and deployed to Afghanistan four times, serving in over 100 combat operations with the Special Air Service Regiment and 2nd Commando Regiment. In this podcast, he spoke about life lessons and methods for motivation he learned from his time in uniform, and in his life after - and how he has channelled that into his new book, "Average 70kg D*ckhead".

Buy Dan’s first book on Amazon in print, ebook and audiobook format.

And read Dan’s article ‘Abandoning the Tribe’, as discussed in the interview.

For more podcasts with Dr Dan Pronk, including about his second book The Resilience Shield, don’t miss these episodes:

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#45 Dr Sharon Mascall-Dare

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews Iraq veteran Dr Sharon Mascall-Dare.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Dr Sharon Mascall-Dare is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author, and has deployed to Iraq with the Australian Army. Sharon has worked for the BBC, Radio France International and the ABC's Radio Australia, presenting news coverage of war and peacekeeping operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. She has a PhD in communication and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of South Australia. Her area of research is ethnographic journalism and journalistic ethics in regards to coverage of veterans' affairs and Anzac commemoration. Sharon is a Major in the Australian Army Reserve, working now as a Public Affairs Officer with Headquarters 9th Brigade. She deployed to Iraq in 2016-17. Sharon began conducting veteran interviews for LIFE ON THE LINE in 2018. She also runs StoryRight, a veterans employment support program.

Sharon has told part of her own story of service previously on this podcast, in Christmas on the Line.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

To find out more about the Thistle Productions crew, visit http://www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com/team.

Testimonies of the Holocaust with Phillip Maisel

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 01:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Jewish Holocaust survivor Phillip Maisel.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Phillip Maisel, who was imprisoned by Nazi Germany's forces during World War II, confined to an overcrowded ghetto for two years, before being sent to multiple labour and concentration camps. Phillip spoke to Alex Lloyd about the hardships he endured, the horrors he witnessed, and the hope that sustained him and his brethren.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#44 Mick Bainbridge

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 01:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews Afghanistan and Timor veteran, formerly of the 2nd Commando Regiment, Mick Bainbridge.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Mick Bainbridge. Mick, a former commando, was the subject of an April 2018 "Australian Story" episode about his difficult journey after multiple deployments to Afghanistan with the 2nd Commando Regiment. Mick shared his story with Angus Hordern - from elite training and combat deployments, to losing mates and the toll war can take. In this episode, Angus also speaks briefly with Glenn Kolomeitz, Mick's mate and mentor.

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

#43 Dan Keighran VC

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 01:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews Victoria Cross recipient Daniel Keighran.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Daniel Keighran VC. Dan is the third recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia, for his leadership and courage during the Battle of Derapet, in Afghanistan in 2010. Dan spoke to Alex about his army career, the battle that changed his life and the Victoria Cross.

Dan was interviewed by journalist Kristin Shorten in an exclusive, published in anticipation of this podcast. You can read the article on the Daily Telegraph’s website. The online article was published Monday 18 February and the print edition was published on Tuesday 19 February.

Dan was featured again on the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol II. His autobiography, Courage Under Fire, will be published on 27 October 2020.

Dan returned to the podcast in Season 4 with new stories and revelations, in #43 Dan Keighran VC Vol II (ft. John Cantwell).

To see photos related to today's interview, visit our website - www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com - or follow us on social media: @lifeonthelinepodcast on Facebook and Instagram, and @LOTLpod on Twitter.

Season 3 Trailer

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 01:30:00 +1100

Welcome to Season 3 of LIFE ON THE LINE, Australia's first and leading veterans podcast, from Thistle Productions.

Season 3 of LIFE ON THE LINE begins next week! Subscribe to get all content. We have stories from the army, navy, air force, commandos and SAS; from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, peacekeeping operations, Afghanistan and Iraq. Listen to Australian stories as you've never heard them before, from Australia's first and leading veterans podcast.

Watch the video version of this trailer on YouTube, by clicking here!

Christmas on the Line

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 01:30:00 +1100

Veterans of Season 2 share their stories of a Christmas in uniform. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans of Season 2 share with the Thistle Productions team their experiences of Christmas in uniform, from deployments overseas and back home in Australia. These stories have not been previously featured on the podcast. Returning guests include Dave Stafford Finney, Don Barnby, Chantelle Taylor, Cassie Collins, Glenn Kolomeitz, David Michael, Rev Dr Gareth Clayton and Rothesay Swan; and Sharon Mascall-Dare of the podcast team also shares a Christmas tale, from her deployment to Iraq.

Reflections - Ep VII - Life on the Sea

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 01:30:00 +1100

The veterans of Life on the Sea reflect on their time in uniform. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. 'Reflections' has all nine veterans of Life on the Sea look back at their time in the navy, how it shaped them and what it meant to them.

Catch all the episodes:

Career - Ep VI - Life on the Sea

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 01:30:00 +1100

What does one go to on to do after war? Some leave the navy, some continue long careers. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. 'Career' documents the lives in uniform for the veterans of this series after the Vietnam War was over.

Catch all the episodes:

Combat - Ep V - Life on the Sea

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 01:30:00 +1100

The Vietnam War continues, with combat stories from the bombardment line and more. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. 'Combat' continues the navy stories of the Vietnam War, until war's end in 1972.

Catch all the episodes:

Collision - Ep IV - Life on the Sea

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 01:30:00 +1100

A sailor gives his account of the Melbourne-Evans collision of 1969. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. 'Collision' hears a sailor on HMAS Melbourne during the tragic 1969 Melbourne-Evans collision give his testimony of the day that saw 74 sailors lose their lives. It also features an interview on the subject with the Melbourne's captain, John Philip Stevenson.

You can listen here to the Season 2 bonus episode with short clips from Captain John Philip Stevenson's 2012 interview with FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY.

Catch all the episodes:

Vietnam - Ep III - Life on the Sea

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 14:30:00 +1100

Confrontation. Vietnam. The conflict begins for the seven RAN veterans of Life on the Sea. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. 'Vietnam' recounts veterans' experiences in the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation and the first four years of the Vietnam War.

Catch all the episodes:

Beginnings - Ep II - Life on the Sea

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:30:00 +1100

Seven Vietnam navy veterans share stories from their early lives, what drew them to the navy and their training days. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. 'Beginnings' introduces the other 7 veterans of this series - their gripping family military histories, how they found themselves in the navy, their training days and early postings and action.

Catch all the episodes:

Korea - Ep I - Life on the Sea

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:30:00 +1100

Two navy veterans share their memories of the Korean War. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. 'Korea' recounts two veterans' stories of service in that conflict.

You can listen to the story of Doug Symes Snr’s experiences in World War II, and his family’s extensive military history, in the Season 2 bonus episode.

Catch all the episodes:

Trailer - Life on the Sea

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 14:30:00 +1100

The trailer for Life on the Sea, a special Life on the Line miniseries. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. This is the trailer for the upcoming 7-part collection of episodes.

Catch all the episodes:

Replay - Remembrance Day with Dr Brendan Nelson

Sat, 10 Nov 2018 14:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Dr Brendan Nelson, Director at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This is a re-release of the 10 November 2017 bonus episode to mark Remembrance Day and to talk about this very special day of reflection and commemoration.

Alex Lloyd spoke with the Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial. Dr Nelson has a long and distinguished career in public service. Just to name a few prominent positions, Dr Nelson was the Federal President of the Australian Medical Association before serving as the Federal Member for Bradfield from 1996 to 2009, where one of his portfolios was Minister for Defence. After a key ambassadorial role, Dr Nelson was appointed as Director of the Australian War Memorial in 2012.

Dr Brendan Nelson participated in and launched Thistle Productions' documentary miniseries FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY in 2015.

Korean War MIA with Michael Kelly

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Michael Kelly about developments in regard to Australian MIA soldiers from the Korean War. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. In Season 2, Angus Hordern spoke to Australian War Memorial historian Michael Kelly about Australia's involvement in the Korean War. In this podcast, Michael caught up with Alex Lloyd to give an update on the developing situation in regards to recovering Australian missing in action from that conflict.

A Journey of Resilience with Matt Williams

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 13:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Afghanistan veteran Matt Williams, about his battle with cancer. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This bonus episode is a conversation with Matt Williams, an army veteran who had one deployment to Afghanistan. Matt now has incurable brain cancer. He spoke to Alex Lloyd about his military days, his journey post-army and outlook on life.

Panel - Life After Service

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 13:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd hosts a panel on life after service with Sharon Bown, Dave Stafford Finney and Don Barnby. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's panel conversation is on the topic of life after service, and the difficulties the transition can entail. Alex Lloyd moderated a discussion between previous podcast guests Sharon Bown, Dave Stafford Finney and Don Barnby.

Listen to their individual stories:

Voodoo Medics with Mark Donaldson VC, Dr Dan Pronk and Kristin Shorten

Thu, 18 Oct 2018 13:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Mark Donaldson VC, Dr Dan Pronk and journalist Kristin Shorten about the VOODOO MEDICS documentary. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This bonus episode covers the upcoming 8-part documentary VOODOO MEDICS, a short series of webisodes published by The Daily Telegraph Online starting 22 October 2018. Alex Lloyd speaks with the documentary's creator and host, journalist Kristin Shorten, as well as two of its interviewees, Australian veterans Mark Donaldson VC and Dr Dan Pronk. VOODOO MEDICS looks at the lives post-army of medics who served with Special Forces, and interviews such former medics, the operators they fought alongside, and more, in an insightful expose on the cost of modern war.

If you enjoyed these conversations with Mark and Dan, you can catch their original interviews in Season 2:

And for more conversations with Dr Dan Pronk:

Panel - The Vietnam War

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 13:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern hosts a panel on the Vietnam war, with Sandy MacGregor, David Buckwalter, David Leafe and Ron Aitken. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's panel conversation is on the topic of the Vietnam war, both experiences in-country and life after. Angus Hordern moderated a discussion between previous podcast guests Sandy MacGregor, David Buckwalter, David Leafe and Ron Aitken.

Invictus Games with Adrian Talbot

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern speaks with veteran Adrian Talbot about the Invictus Games. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This bonus episode is with Adrian Talbot, a veteran of the British Royal Marine Commandos, twice-gold medallist at the 2014 Invictus Games, and now Ambassador for the upcoming Sydney Invictus Games of 2018.

Adrian returned to the podcast in Season 3 to share his story of service, as an Australian in the British Royal Marine Commandos.

Panel - Returning Home

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 13:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern hosts a panel on what it means to be a modern veteran with Garth Callender, Michael Wright and Glenn Kolomeitz. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's panel conversation is on the topic of what it means to be a veteran in the modern era, public perception, support systems and transitioning to the workforce. Angus Hordern moderated a discussion between previous podcast guests Garth Callender, Michael Wright and Glenn Kolomeitz.

#42 Jack Bell

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews World War II veteran and POW Jack Bell. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a World War II air force veteran, and a survivor of Fascist Italian and Nazi Germany prisoner of war camps. This is the last episode of Season 2.

Horst Haase - German WWII Veteran

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with German World War II veteran Horst Haase. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with a German World War II veteran, Horst Haase. Horst spoke to Alex Lloyd about events he witnessed, the terror he felt and the silence he had to maintain to save his life during the war. Thanks go to Oliver Heuthe and Martin Luther Homes for helping to arrange this episode.

#41 Dr Kerry Summerscales

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews 28-year Australian Defence Force veteran Dr Kerry Summerscales. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Dr Kerry Summerscales. Kerry shared with Sharon Mascall-Dare stories from her incredible 28-year-career in the Australian Defence Force, including five operational deployments.

Jens Milbret - German Cold War Veteran

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with a Cold War veteran from East Germany, Jens Milbret. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with a Cold War veteran from East Germany, Jens Milbret. Jens spoke of growing up in a communist regime, the propaganda, his military service, the lies that shaped his life and the escape he made from life in East Germany. Thanks go to Oliver Heuthe for helping to arrange this episode.

These photos are of the military academy Jens served at in Dresden, created by Lysippos and shared here (and on our social media) under a Creative Commons license.

#40 Rothesay Swan

Mon, 03 Sep 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews World War II and Vietnam veteran Rothesay Swan. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II and Vietnam veteran Rothesay Swan. Rothesay fought in the largest naval battle in history, and went on to have a distinguished career as a Rear Admiral in the Royal Australian Navy.

Rothesay returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line.

Eugen Pichurra - German WWII Veteran

Thu, 30 Aug 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with German World War II veteran Eugen Pichurra. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with a German World War II veteran, Eugen Pichurra. Eugen spoke to Alex about Germany in the 1930s, why he joined the army, his incredible wartime stories, atrocities he witnessed, and his reflections on the war. Eugen also served in the West German military for a time, during the Cold War, before migrating to Australia. Thanks go to Oliver Heuthe and Martin Luther Homes for helping to arrange this episode.

#39 Rhys Dowden

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Afghanistan and Iraq veteran, formerly of the 2nd Commando Regiment, Rhys Dowden. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, Rhys Dowden. A former member of the 2nd Commando regiment, Rhys saw multiple deployments to the Middle East as an elite soldier. Alex Lloyd spoke to Rhys about training to be a Commando, contact stories and the power of purpose.

Chaplain on the Seas with Rev Dr Gareth Clayton

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with Rev Dr Gareth Clayton OAM, formerly a chaplain of the Royal Australian Navy. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Rev Dr Gareth Clayton OAM. A man of the cloth, Gareth sought to serve his faith by providing guidance to the sailors of Australia's navy. Gareth reminisces on his time in the navy, his role as chaplain, and beyond.

Gareth returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line.

#38 Janine Fabre

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews former Australian Army photographer and videographer Janine Fabre. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Janine Fabre, formerly of the Australian Army. Janine shared stories of her life behind the camera lens and the lessons she's learned from documenting our troops at home and abroad. Our thanks go to Defence Media for organising the interview.

WarriorU with Bram Connolly

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Bram Connolly, former Special Forces officer, author and founder of WarriorU. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Alex Lloyd spoke with Bram Connolly, a former Special Forces officer. Bram is now an author, founder of WarriorU, podcaster at the WarriorU Podcast, and a mentor. Alex spoke with Bram about his pursuits in life after service, and all things human optimisation.

Bram returned to the podcast in Season 3 in #47 Bram Connolly to discuss his military service with the Australian Army and 2nd Commando Regiment.

#37 Scott Calvert

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Afghanistan veteran Scott Calvert. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Scott Calvert, an Australian Army veteran who deployed twice to Afghanistan. Scott spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about the artillery corps, his Middle East deployments, action in Afghanistan, and the cost the life in uniform can have on the life back home.

Bomber Command with Len Traynor

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with Len Traynor, historian and nephew of a Bomber Command rear gunner. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with historian Len Traynor. Len is an expert in RAF Bomber Command of World War II. His uncle was a rear gunner on a Lancaster bomber and killed on his 30th operation.

#36 Mark Donaldson VC

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Victoria Cross recipient and former SAS trooper Mark Donaldson. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Mark Donaldson VC. During a 2008 deployment to Afghanistan, the former SAS trooper performed a series of heroic actions that earned him the Victoria Cross for Australia - the first Australian to receive a VC in the modern era. Mark spoke to Alex Lloyd about his life growing up, training to be SAS, various deployment stories, the battle that saw him receive Australia's highest military award, life beyond and the meaning of a Victoria Cross.

Mark returned to the podcast in the episode Voodoo Medics with Mark Donaldson VC, Dr Dan Pronk and Kristin Shorten.

Frankston Naval Memorial Club with Harry Kime

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Royal Australian Navy veterans at the Frankston Naval Memorial Club. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with a group of Royal Australian Navy veterans at the Frankston Naval Memorial Club. The club invited Alex Lloyd to one of their Friday night gatherings to speak with its Korean and Vietnam war era veterans about their time at sea. The episode features a few short vox pops, and a longer chat with the club's president, Harry Kime.

The mine sitting out the front of the Frankston Naval Memorial Club.

#35 Mick Sasse

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Australian Army officer Mick Sasse. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Lieutenant Colonel Mick Sasse, currently serving in the Australian Army. Mick told Alex about his career and his family's military history, both Allied and German. Mick has deployed to East Timor and Afghanistan.

The Korean War with Michael Kelly

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with Michael Kelly about the Korean War. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Australian War Memorial historian Michael Kelly. He spoke about Australia's forgotten war - Korea.

Michael returned to the podcast for a follow-up chat on the Korean War in Korean War MIA with Michael Kelly, and again in the episode Panel - Australian Infantry Against the Odds.

#34 Antony Greatrex

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews World War II veteran Antony Greatrex. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II veteran Antony Greatrex. The RAAF veteran is the younger brother of the late Barney Greatrex, who our long-time podcast listeners will remember from Season 1. Barney had an epic war – a bomb aimer in Bomber Command, shot down, the only survivor of his Lancaster, eight months fighting with the French Resistance against the Germans, ending in a Legion of Honour in 2016 and a book in 2017. The memory of Antony’s war has always lived a bit in Barney’s shadow. Antony, along with half a million other Australians who put on a uniform, never went overseas to fight. He had a logistical support role – a high-frequency direction finder, or Huff-Duff operator. But after knowing the family some years, Antony invited Alex Lloyd to his home to finally go on the record about his World War II service.

Reserve Forces Day 2018 with The Lancer Band

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd shares highlights from the Reserve Forces Day Parade 2018. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For today’s bonus episode of Life on the Line, Alex Lloyd attended the Reserve Forces Day Parade - the 20th and final such parade in Sydney. This podcast is a mix of highlights from the parade, including performances by the Lancer Band.

Listen here to the full bonus musical episode with lead singer Elizabeth Smith and the Lancer Band. You can also click to listen to the 2018 ANZAC Day highlights, the 2017 Reserve Forces Day Parade highlights, and Angus Hordern's conversation with Frank Woodhams.

#33 Tracy Smart

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews Tracy Smart, currently serving in the Royal Australian Air Force. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Air Vice-Marshal Tracy Smart AM, currently serving with the Royal Australian Air Force. Tracy has seen a variety of deployments, including the UN mission to Rwanda. Our thanks go to Defence Media for organising the interview.

Archive Interview - Don Caldwell Smith

Thu, 12 Jul 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Excerpts from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY interview with World War II veteran Don Caldwell Smith. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is from our archive vault, an interview with World War II veteran Don Caldwell Smith.

#32 Peter Jones

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Peter Jones, former Vice Admiral and veteran of the Arabian Gulf. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a career navy man, Vice Admiral Peter Jones AO, DSC (Ret'd). Peter served for many years, including commanding the Maritime Interception Operations in the Arabian Gulf. He is now the President of the Australian Naval Institute and has launched the Australian Naval History Podcast.

The Commando’s Father with Doug Baird

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Doug Baird, father of the late Cameron Baird VC, MG. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Alex Lloyd spoke with Doug Baird, father of the late Cameron Baird VC, MG. Cameron served in the 2nd Commando Regiment and was killed in action during his final tour of Afghanistan in 2013. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia. Doug spoke to Alex about his late son's life, death and legacy.

#31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol II

Tue, 03 Jul 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare continues her interview with former 2nd Commando Regiment and SAS doctor, Dan Pronk. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is the second instalment of Sharon Mascall-Dare’s conversation with Dr Dan Pronk, a Special Forces doctor with the SAS and 2nd Commando Regiment. Dan partook in over 100 combat missions with Special Forces. His conversation with Sharon picks up after four tours of Afghanistan, where the reality of combat was taking hold.

Click here to listen to Volume I, before you hear this episode.

Dan later returned to the podcast in the episodes:

#31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol I

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Special Forces veteran Dr Dan Pronk. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Dr Dan Pronk, a former Special Forces soldier. Dan served with the regular army in East Timor before undertaking four tours of Afghanistan with Special Operations Units - the 2nd Commando Regiment and the Special Air Service Regiment. Dan spoke with Sharon Mascall-Dare about his journey to Special Forces, the trauma of combat and life as an elite soldier. This is the first instalment of a two-part episode.

Click here to listen to Volume II, after you've heard this episode.

Dan later returned to the podcast in the episodes:

My Father's Great War with Bevan Harris

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with Bevan Harris, a World War II veteran. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Bevan Harris. Bevan shared with Angus Hordern his father's experiences as a stretcher bearer in World War I, his own experiences in World War II, and those of his late school friend, David Boyall.

#30 Ross Tulloh and Ian Willoughby

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Vietnam veterans Ross Tulloh and Ian Willoughby. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with two Vietnam War veterans: 'tunnel rat' national serviceman Ross Tulloh, and signals officer Ian Willoughby.

Ross Tulloh

Ian Willoughby

Scottish Rifles with Frank Woodhams

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with Frank Woodhams about the history and heritage of the Scottish Rifles. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Frank Woodhams. Angus Hordern spoke to Frank about his longstanding association with the NSW Scottish Regiment, the history of the Scottish Rifles and the modern Reserves.

#29 Todd Vail

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Australian Army officer, formerly of the 1st Commando Regiment, Todd Vail. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Lieutenant Colonel Todd Vail, currently serving in the Australian Army. Todd is formerly of the 1st Commando Regiment and was ADC to the Governor of New South Wales.

A Family at War with Doug Symes Snr

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with World War II and Korea veteran Doug Symes Snr. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with a World War II and Korean War navy veteran, Doug Symes Snr. Doug shared stories of his childhood, his family's wartime service and his own experiences of life on the sea. This conversation focuses a lot on Doug's life pre-war, showcasing how this cataclysmic conflict affected the average Australian family.

Doug Symes Snr's story continues in Life on the Sea, beginning in Ep I - Korea.

#28 Mark Wales

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews East Timor, Solomon Islands, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan veteran, formerly of the SAS, Mark Wales. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with East Timor, Solomon Islands and Middle East veteran, Mark Wales. A former member of the Special Air Service, Mark saw multiple deployments to the Middle East as an elite soldier. Alex Lloyd spoke to Mark about aspiring to become Special Forces, his experiences abroad and how his military skills have served him in life after.

In Season 4, Mark’s wife Samantha Gash was interviewed. In Season 5, Mark returned to the podcast to promote his memoir SURVIVOR: LIFE IN THE SAS. Mark returned again to the podcast in 2024 to promote his debut novel OUTRIDER.

My Father's Air War with Charlie Baker

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 00:02:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with Charlie Baker, son of a World War II veteran. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Charlie Baker, son of Jack, a Royal Australian Air Force veteran who served with British Coastal Command in World War II.

#27 Victor Power

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews World War II veteran Victor Power. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II veteran Victor Power. With both his parents disfigured from World War I, Victor had no interest in joining the fight. He was conscripted in 1939 and found himself at the front in Belgium. Then the order to retreat came - evacuate to Dunkirk.

The Battle of Wau with David Buckwalter

Thu, 31 May 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with David Buckwalter about the Battle of Wau. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Vietnam veteran David Buckwalter. David spoke to Angus Hordern about an historical topic he is passionate about, the Battle of Wau from the Second World War. David has researched the topic, spoken with the veterans and trekked the battlegrounds of New Guinea.

David's conversation about his service in Vietnam was with Alex Lloyd in Season 1.

The photograph captions have been supplied by David Buckwalter. (Not visible on all mobile devices.)

David Buckwalter exploring New Guinea.

Heading along the Buisaval Track towards Skindiwai.

Typical jungle the war was fought in.

This shot was taken in Aulac Creek on the Black Cat Track. After crossing this creek in a westerly direction, the Japanese headed up to the ridge line and into Wau.

North of Wau, looking back south.

The hill in the distance is where the Battle of Wau took place.

The battlegrounds.

This shot was taken from the Wau end of the Black Cat Track, looking up the ridge line now known as the 'Jap Track'. The left-hand end of the previous picture is what you can see in this picture.

Another shot of Aulac Creek.
A B-17 Flying Fortress shot down over Lae.

It tried to make it to Wau, but failed. One crew member died, the rest rescued by Australians from the Buisaval Track.

The Bitoi River valley.

The Black Cat Track follows the river on the right-hand bank.

Signs of battle.

This shot was taken on Observation Hill above Mubo. I'm holding a Japanese 75 mm mountain gun round that we found nearby.

Being interviewed by Angus Hordern for the podcast.

The memorial in the centre of Wau.

#26 Allison Norris

Mon, 28 May 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews Allison Norris, currently serving in the Royal Australian Navy. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Commodore Allison Norris, currently serving with the Royal Australian Navy. Allison has seen a variety of deployments, including the Arabian Gulf and the search for MH370. Our thanks go to Defence Media for organising the interview.

Archive Interview - Phil Stevenson

Thu, 24 May 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Excerpts from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY interview with World War II veteran Phil Stevenson. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is from our archive vault, an interview with World War II veteran Phil Stevenson.

#25 Paul de Gelder

Mon, 21 May 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews paratrooper, Navy Clearance Diver and shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Paul de Gelder. Paul is a former Australian Army paratrooper, Navy Clearance Diver and shark attack survivor - the first shark attack victim in Sydney Harbour in over 60 years. Paul spoke to Alex Lloyd about the pursuit of a better life, resilience and the power of individual choices.

Naval Historical Society with David Michael

Thu, 17 May 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern speaks with David Michael, RAN veteran and Naval Historical Society President. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Royal Australian Navy veteran Captain David Michael (Ret'd), who is the current President of the Naval Historical Society. David spoke with Angus Hordern about his naval career and the society he now leads.

David returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line.

#24 Ben Flink

Mon, 14 May 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Solomon Islands veteran Ben Flink. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Ben Flink, a veteran of the Australian Army who deployed to the Solomon Islands. Ben spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about his journey to the army, his time in uniform, the effect on his family and his passion for supporting veterans and their families.

Highlights from ANZAC Day 2018

Thu, 10 May 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd shares highlights from his day on ANZAC Day 2018. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is a collection of highlights from Alex Lloyd's ANZAC Day 2018. Alex spoke to people in the crowd before and during the Sydney march, and recorded some two-up adventures.

#23 Peter Sinclair

Mon, 07 May 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews retired Rear Admiral and former Governor of New South Wales, Peter Sinclair. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair, career navy man and former Governor of New South Wales. Alex Lloyd spoke with Peter in his home about his incredible naval career, experiences with pirates and in the Vietnam War, and his public life after the military.

For School and Country with Thistle Productions

Thu, 03 May 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Thistle Productions reminisce on their first veterans project. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with the makers of this podcast, Thistle Productions. The original crew of Angus Hordern, Alex Lloyd, Thomas Kaye and Rohan Viswalingam reflect on their first veterans project, the documentary miniseries FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY, and how the team became so invested in telling veterans' stories.

#22 Glenn Kolomeitz

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews East Timor and Afghanistan veteran Glenn Kolomeitz. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a former aircraft technician, military policeman and legal officer, Glenn Kolomeitz. Glenn spoke to Angus Hordern about his early life, military career and his ongoing work in the veterans community.

Glenn returned to the podcast in the special episodes Panel - Returning Home, and in Christmas on the Line. He was also featured in #44 Mick Bainbridge.

Anzac Cove with Richard Miles

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Excerpts from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY interview with World War II veteran Richard Miles. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is from our archive vault, an interview with World War II veteran Richard Miles. Richard spoke to us about remembering the fallen, and the service of his father, Thomas Alfred Miles, in World War I.

#21 Cassie Collins

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Middle East and Sudan veteran Cassie Collins. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Air Force mechanic-turned-officer Cassie Collins. Cassie joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a grease monkey, has served on overseas deployments including the Middle East Area of Operations and Sudan, and spoke about how modern servicemen and servicewomen are perceived today.

Cassie returned to the podcast in 2018's Christmas on the Line and the episode released for Remembrance Day 2019, Panel - Modern Veterans.

Line of Fire with Chantelle Taylor

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Chantelle Taylor, the first female British soldier to kill an enemy in close quarters combat. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Chantelle Taylor is a veteran of the British military. She’s renowned for being the first female British soldier to kill an enemy combatant in close quarters. She’s also author of the bestselling memoir, “Battleworn”. Alex Lloyd spoke with Chantelle about her life in uniform.

Chantelle returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line.

#20 Doug Gilling

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews World War II veteran Doug Gilling. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II veteran Doug Gilling. Doug saw action in the Battle of the Atlantic, including his ship being sunk at the Dieppe Raid.

Beyond the Legend with Dr Karl James

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Dr Karl James, senior historian at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Dr Karl James, senior historian at the Australian War Memorial. Dr Karl spoke to Alex Lloyd about the enduring resonances of Gallipoli and Kokoda to Australians, going beyond the Anzac legends.

Dr Karl James spoke with Thomas Kaye in Season 1, about Australia's Special Forces.

#19 Sally Heidenreich

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Sally Heidenreich. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Sally Heidenreich, a former intelligence officer in the Australian Army who saw multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Sally spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about what her service means to her, how it's affected her and the key role Sally played in the fight against the Taliban.

Australia in Afghanistan with Dr Rhys Crawley

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Dr Rhys Crawley, Official Historian at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Dr Rhys Crawley is an historian at the Australian War Memorial. Rhys is writing for the Official History of Australian Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor. Alex Lloyd spoke with Rhys about Australia’s longest war – the modern conflict in Afghanistan.

#18 Don Barnby Vol II

Tue, 03 Apr 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye continues his interview with SAS soldier and Australian Federal Policeman Don Barnby. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's episode is the second instalment of the conversation with Don Barnby, an SAS trooper and Australian Federal Police officer. Don served in the Vietnam war as a special forces soldier, and at Cyprus, Bougainville and East Timor with the AFP. He has also interviewed veterans for the Australian War Memorial.

Click here to listen to Volume I, before you hear this episode.

Don returned to the podcast in the special episode Panel - Life After Service, and again in Christmas on the Line.

#18 Don Barnby Vol I

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 13:30:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye interviews Vietnam, Cyprus and East Timor veteran, formerly of the SAS and AFP, Don Barnby. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran Don Barnby, formerly of the Special Air Service. This is the first instalment of a two-part episode.

Click here to listen to Volume II, after you've heard this episode.

The Veterans Project with Tim Kolczak

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 13:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Tim Kolczak, US Army veteran and man behind the camera of The Veterans Project. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Tim Kolczak is a US Army veteran, and the founder and photographer of both The Veterans Project and The Caregiver Project; both seeking to raise an understanding of veterans' transitions to life after service. This is Tim's passionate conversation on documenting veterans with podcast creator Alex Lloyd.

#17 Dave Stafford Finney

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 13:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews Bougainville, East Timor and Middle East veteran Dave Stafford Finney. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Bougainville, East Timor and Middle East veteran Dave Stafford Finney. Dave served as a marine technician and was medically discharged in late 2017.

Dave returned to the podcast in the episode Panel - Life After Service, and again in Christmas on the Line.

Dave tragically passed away in February 2019.

Season 2 Trailer

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 13:30:00 +1100

Welcome to Season 2 of LIFE ON THE LINE, from Thistle Productions. Season 2 of LIFE ON THE LINE begins next week! Subscribe to get all content. We have stories from the army, navy, air force, commandos and SAS; from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, peacekeeping operations, Afghanistan and Iraq. Listen to Australian stories as you've never heard them before.

RIP Barney Greatrex

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 14:30:00 +1100

World War II veteran Barney Greatrex passed away on 17 February 2018. World War II veteran Barney Greatrex passed away on 17 February 2018. This podcast is a short eulogy to this hero, and some highlights of his story, including recordings of the great man himself.

9 April 1920 - 17 February 2018. Vale Barney Greatrex, Lest We Forget.

Retracing the Resistance with Charlie Mort

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Charlie Mort, nephew of Barney Greatrex. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Charlie Mort. For the final episode of Season 1, we’re back to the story of Barney Greatrex. Barney was a bomb aimer in Bomber Command, the sole survivor of his Lancaster being shot down, and then spent eight months fighting the Germans with the French Resistance in Occupied France. In 2013, his nephew, Charlie Mort, orchestrated an incredible family trip to France to retrace Barney’s crash site, the places he went to on his journey, and meeting the relatives of those with whom he fought. Ninety-three-year-old Barney was the guest of honour in this epic tour of remembrance. Alex Lloyd spoke to Charlie about the trip, and how they went about retracing the Resistance.

#16 Chris May

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews Afghanistan veteran Chris May. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Afghanistan veteran Chris May. Chris was a war veteran at nineteen, and is a survivor of driving over an improvised explosive device. Now in his late twenties, his story is an impactful tale of a young soldier at war.

Minefields with Hugh Riminton

Thu, 07 Dec 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Hugh Riminton, frontline correspondent and author. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Hugh Riminton. We spoke with Hugh about his career of frontline reporting from war zones, and his new book MINEFIELDS.

Launching Barney Greatrex with Michael Veitch

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Highlights from the book launch of BARNEY GREATREX. BARNEY GREATREX is the biography of World War II veteran Barney Greatrex, written by bestselling author Michael Veitch, based on the research by Alex Lloyd and Angus Hordern. This podcast is a highlights compilation from the book launch on 8 November 2017. See more photos from the launch at www.lifeonthelinepodcast.com/book. Buy the book now by clicking here.

#15 Adrian Clunies-Ross

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Thomas Kaye interviews career army man and Vietnam veteran Adrian Clunies-Ross. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Thomas Kaye spoke with Adrian Clunies-Ross, in Adrian’s home in Canberra. This is their talk about Adrian’s long career in army training, deployments to Vietnam and other highlights.

Archive Interview - John Reid

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Excerpts from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY interview with World War II veteran John Reid. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is from our archive vault, an interview with World War II veteran John Reid.

#14 Hugh Kelly

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Thomas Kaye interviews World War II veteran Hugh Kelly. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II veteran Hugh Kelly. Thomas Kaye spoke with ninety-eight-year-old Hugh in his home, days before he moved into a retirement village. This is the first time Hugh has spoken with someone outside the family about his wartime service.

The Eastern Front with David Sutton

Thu, 23 Nov 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with David Sutton, historian at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with historian David Sutton. David works at the Australian War Memorial and his area of expertise is on conflicting Soviet and Nazi accounts of the Eastern Front in World War II.

#13 Elizabeth Matthews

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews peacekeeping and Afghanistan veteran Elizabeth Matthews. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with WO1 Elizabeth Matthews, who is currently serving in the Australian Army. We spoke to Elizabeth about her service in peacekeeping operations, her deployment to Afghanistan and life in the modern military. Our thanks go to Defence Media for organising the interview.

From WWII to the Reserves with Norton Duckmanton

Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with World War II veteran Norton Duckmanton at the Reserve Forces Day Parade. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For today’s bonus episode of Life on the Line, Alex Lloyd spoke with Norton Duckmanton, a World War II veteran. Alex met Norton at the Reserve Forces Day Parade held at Sydney’s Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park. This is the they had chat while they waited for the parade to start.

Alex also covered the Reserve Forces Day Parade in 2018, the final such parade.

#12 Ron Aitken

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam veteran Ron Aitken. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran Ron Aitken. Ron flew 261 operational bombing missions over Vietnam.

Ron returned to the podcast in the episode Panel - The Vietnam War.

Remembrance Day with Dr Brendan Nelson

Thu, 09 Nov 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Dr Brendan Nelson, Director at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Tomorrow is Remembrance Day and to talk about this very special day of reflection and commemoration, Alex Lloyd spoke with a very special guest. The Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson has a long and distinguished career in public service. Just to name a few prominent positions, Dr Nelson was the Federal President of the Australian Medical Association before serving as the Federal Member for Bradfield from 1996 to 2009, where one of his portfolios in the Howard government was Minister for Defence. After a key ambassadorial role, Dr Nelson was appointed as Director of the Australian War Memorial in 2012.

#11 Andrew Robertson Vol II

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern continues his interview with Rear Admiral Andrew Robertson AO, DSC. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's episode is the second instalment of the conversation with Andrew Robertson, covering Andrew’s experiences in Vietnam, a near-death flight in London, and the career of a senior navy officer.

Click here to listen to Volume I, before you hear this episode.

#11 Andrew Robertson Vol I

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 14:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews World War II, Korea and Vietnam veteran Andrew Robertson. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II, Korea and Vietnam veteran Andrew Robertson. This is the first of a two-part episode.

Click here to listen to Volume II, after you've heard this episode.

Archive Interview - Arthur Pardey

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 13:30:00 +1100

Excerpts from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY interview with World War II veteran Arthur Pardey. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is from our archive vault, an interview with World War II veteran Arthur Pardey.

#10 Eddie Robertson

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews Afghanistan and Iraq veteran, formerly of the 2nd Commando Regiment, Eddie Robertson. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, Eddie Robertson. A former member of the 2nd Commando regiment, Eddie saw multiple deployments to the Middle East as an elite soldier. Alex Lloyd spoke to Eddie about his combat operations, the life of a Commando and about his good friend, the late Cameron Baird VC, MG.

My Teacher, My Hero with Rex Ward

Thu, 26 Oct 2017 13:30:00 +1100

Interviews with Angus Hordern, David Leafe and Rex Ward about Rex's service in the Vietnam War. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode focuses on Rex Ward, Vietnam veteran, who was Angus Hordern’s history teacher at school.

And don't miss David Leafe's individual story of service in his conversation with Angus Hordern.

#9 David Leafe

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 13:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam veteran David Leafe. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran David Leafe. David joined the army for a scholarship to study dentistry, and found himself in the heart of Vietnam’s jungle.

David returned to the podcast in the bonus episode My Teacher, My Hero with Rex Ward and the 2018 special episode Panel - The Vietnam War.

The Dawn Service with John Moore

Thu, 19 Oct 2017 13:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with John Moore, former emcee of the Sydney Martin Place ANZAC Day Dawn Service. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode is with John Moore. John was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army Reserves, an ABC commentator for the Sydney Anzac Day Parade, and was the emcee of Sydney’s Martin Place Dawn Service for twelve years, the fourth man in all its history to hold that position.

#8 Sarah Turner and Michael Wright

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 13:30:00 +1100

Angus interviews War on Terror veterans Sarah Turner and Michael Wright. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with two veterans of the War on Terror, Sarah Turner and Michael Wright. Sarah and Michael served together aboard HMAS Kanimbla. They shared how battle scars travel across generations, stories of their time at sea, and the difficulties of life after service when one is trained for war - but not for peace.

Michael Wright returned to the podcast in the special episode Panel - Returning Home.

The Lancer Band with Elizabeth Smith

Thu, 12 Oct 2017 13:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Elizabeth Smith and members of The Lancer Band. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode is with Elizabeth Smith of the Lancer Band. They’re the Regimental Band of the Royal New South Wales Lancers and are the oldest military band in Australia. Alex Lloyd spoke with Liz and some other members of the band at the Lancer Barracks in Parramatta, at one of their weekly rehearsals.

The Lancer Band were featured again on the podcast in the Reserve Forces Day Parade 2018 highlights episode.

Barney Greatrex - Out Now

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 13:30:00 +1100

Trailer for Barney Greatrex - from Bomber Command to the French Resistance - the stirring story of an Australian hero. Barney Greatrex - from Bomber Command to the French Resistance - the stirring story of an Australian hero. BARNEY GREATREX is the biography of World War II veteran Barney Greatrex. Written by Michael Veitch, based on the research by Alex Lloyd and Angus Hordern. This book was inspired by the documentary miniseries FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY by Thistle Productions, the makers of this podcast. We collaborated with publisher Hachette and bestselling author Michael Veitch to produce this awesome account of Barney’s life.

#7 Tom Hughes

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 13:30:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd interviews World War II veteran Tom Hughes. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II veteran Tom Hughes. Tom is a veteran of the Royal Australian Air Force, a former Australian politician and an incredibly prominent barrister. He’s the brother of the late Robert Hughes, acclaimed author and critic, and the father of three children, including Lucy Turnbull – our Prime Minister’s better half. Alex Lloyd spoke with Tom on his farm about his military service, and his father’s experiences in World War I.

Saving Our Veterans with Jay Devereux

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 03:00:00 +1100

Alex Lloyd speaks with Jay Devereux, founder and CEO of Veterans 360 Australia. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode is with a man who is tracking down homeless Australian war veterans and putting a roof over their heads. Jay Devereux is the founder and CEO of Veterans 360 Australia, a charity that locates and provides ongoing support for homeless veterans throughout the country.

#6 Ivan Ingham

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 13:30:00 +1100

Angus Hordern interviews Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy career officer Ivan Ingham. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Ivan Ingham, formerly of the Royal Navy and currently serving with the Royal Australian Navy. This is the story of a modern Navy serviceman. Our thanks go to Defence Media for organising the interview.

Australian Airmen's Untold Stories with Michael Veitch

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with bestselling author Michael Veitch. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode is not with a war veteran, but a veteran of writing about them. Michael Veitch is a well-known author, actor, comedian and former ABC TV and radio presenter. His publishing bibliography includes an impressive list of books about Australian pilots who fought in World War II. Among others, he’s the author of FLAK, FLY, HEROES OF THE SKIES, 44 DAYS and out now is his new book BARNEY GREATREX.

Michael returned to the podcast in Season 3 to discuss his 2019 book, TURNING POINT, in Battle for Milne Bay with Michael Veitch.

#5 David Buckwalter

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews Vietnam veteran David Buckwalter. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran David Buckwalter. David served in Vietnam in 1966-1967 and was a signaller in the 6th Royal Australian Regiment.

David Buckwalter has made several return appearances on Life on the Line, including:

Australia's Special Forces with Dr Karl James

Thu, 21 Sep 2017 13:30:00 +1000

Thomas Kaye speaks with Dr Karl James, senior historian at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Dr Karl James, senior historian at the Australian War Memorial. Dr Karl has an exhibit coming up on the history of Australia’s Special Forces - SAS and Commandos - and spoke to us about the history of our nation’s elite soldiers.

Dr Karl James spoke again with Life on the Line about the ANZAC legend, Gallipoli and Kokoda.

#4 Guy Griffiths

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews World War II, Korea and Vietnam veteran Guy Griffiths. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Guy Griffiths, veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Guy retired from the Royal Australian Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral.

Archive Interview - John Hore-Lacy

Thu, 14 Sep 2017 13:30:00 +1000

Excerpts from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY interview with World War II veteran John Hore-Lacy. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is from our archive vault, an interview with World War II veteran John Hore-Lacy. This archive interview was taken from the documentary miniseries FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY.

#3 Garth Callender

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 13:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Garth Callender. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Garth Callender. Garth was the first serious Australian casualty of Iraq when his vehicle was hit by an IED – but that didn’t stop him from going back to the Middle East in uniform, twice.

Garth returned to the podcast in the special 2018 episode Panel - Returning Home.

Soldier On with Karlie Brand

Thu, 07 Sep 2017 13:30:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd speaks with Karlie Brand of Soldier On Australia. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. For our first ever bonus episode, Alex Lloyd spoke with Karlie Brand, who was the Deputy CEO of Soldier On Australia at the time of recording, and currently a volunteer company secretary.

#2 Sharon Bown

Tue, 05 Sep 2017 03:55:00 +1000

Alex Lloyd interviews East Timor and Afghanistan veteran Sharon Bown. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This conversation is with East Timor and Afghanistan veteran, Sharon Bown, formerly of the Royal Australian Air Force, a registered nurse, and now an author and member of the Australian War Memorial Council. In the words of Mark Donaldson VC, "Sharon’s story is one that is rarely heard. One of compassion, commitment and courage."

Sharon returned to the podcast in the special 2018 episode Panel - Life After Service.

#1 Sandy MacGregor

Mon, 04 Sep 2017 23:30:00 +1000

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam veteran Sandy MacGregor. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran Sandy MacGregor. Sandy was the first anti-communist soldier – out of all the Australian, American and other troops in Vietnam – to explore the underground tunnels used extensively by the Viet Cong.

Sandy returned to the podcast in the episode Panel - The Vietnam War.

Season 1 Trailer

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 01:00:00 +1000

Season 1 trailer for Australia's new veterans-focused podcast.

This is the trailer for Life on the Line - the podcast where we track down Australian war veterans and hear their stories.