Episodes
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Mitchel Coffman is a New York City-based artist. He is the son of a Vietnam-era veteran and is the longtime friends of several special operations folks. His 25 oil-on-canvas portraits of fallen Rangers are featured at the 75th Ranger Regiment Hall of Honor at Hunter Army Airfield and his newest exhibit is an immersive look at the GWOT, titled, "Wish You Were Here." He has painted murals in Maryland and New York, including pieces for the Brooklyn Diner in Times Square and the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Dakota Silvey is a New York-based playwright, stage manager, wildland firefighter and U.S. Air Force Veteran. Recorded in-person at the Players in NYC, Dakota spoke about life as both a writer and an active participant in the profession of arms. His play INTERMISSION PLAY placed second in Veterans Repertory Theater's latest 10-minute playwriting competition.
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Peter Corbett is a medically retired 20-year veteran of the South Portland, ME police department with an extensive career as a patrol officer, school resource officer and member of the dive unit. Medically retired after struggling with PTS, Peter is a candid, heartfelt and compelling advocate for mental health in the first responder community.
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Stephanie Kline is a playwright from Arlington, VA. She is a Marine Corps veteran, former Air Force dependent, and served as an Army civilian and defense contractor.
Her short plays have won multiple competitions and festival selections, including selection to the NYC Players’ Theatre 2021 Short Play Festival with a four-night, off-Broadway run of ‘Torture Chamber.’
Her first full-length stage play-in-progress, a drama about the military’s treatment of servicemembers with PTSD, was selected for the 2023 Chicago Dramatists’ Scene Showcase. Stephanie is a Dramatists Guild member and studied playwriting at the Kennedy Center, DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Chicago Dramatists.
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Dan Lauria has appeared as a guest star in over seventy television episodic programs and more than twenty Movie Of The Week productions plus a score of motion picture credits. Dan is a very familiar face to the off-off, and off-Broadway and regional theatre scene having performed, written or directed over 50 professional stage productions. In 2010/11 Dan was seen on Broadway as the legendary coach Vince Lombardi in LOMBARDI, with the beautiful and talented Judith Light playing Marie Lombardi. The production was directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton). Dan returned to Broadway in the 2013 & the 2014 production of the Tony-nominated A CHRISTMAS STORY: The Musical directed by Tony winner John Rando. A published playwright, Dan’s DINNER WITH THE BOYS and JUST ANOTHER DAY have received many productions. However, Dan is most recognized as the Dad on the highly acclaimed, Emmy-winning ABC television show THE WONDER YEARS. Dan was most recently seen on the Fox TV show PITCH as manager Al Loungo and then joined the family of THIS IS US both series written by television’s most talented writer, Dan Fogelman. Dan and dear friend, the lovely and talented Wendie Malick have performed the play THE GUYS by Anne Nelson, for veteran & firemen organizations around the country. THE GUYS is a tribute to those brave men and women who died on 9/11. Wendie and Dan now do LOVE LETTERS as fundraising events for the development of new plays at regional theatres, and to save our planet and the animals that inhabit it. Dan is a Marine and Vietnam Veteran.
See Dan's JUST ANOTHER DAY in NYC this March!
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Kat Furrow is a self-taught artist based in Carlsbad, California. She is a Navy veteran, a full-time student, and an art instructor with over a decade of experience. Drawing inspiration from her love of people and nature, Kat is passionate about her craft, utilizing bold colors and textures. She embraces an "Art Every Day, it’s a Mindset" philosophy, viewing her art as a metaphor for living life with curiosity and hope. As a "Trusted Art Seller" with the Art Storefronts Organization, she ensures quality and value in her work. Kat is open to commissions, special editions, and offers classes, embodying her belief in the transformative power of art.
Follow Kat here.
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Tamim Fares is a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. After struggling with chemical dependencies, he turned to writing. His work, featured in Lethal Minds Journal and the Savage Wonder literary blog, often delves into themes of struggle, recovery, and hope, reflecting his personal experiences.
For a deeper dive into his life and work, follow Tamim Fares on Instagram at Blackfoot Chronicles and Insurgent Chimichanga.
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Episode 123 is our annual year-end episode featuring the entire core Havok Journal team. We talk about our favorite HJ writers, articles and themes from 2023 and look ahead to another year of exponential growth in 2024.
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Mikael Cook is a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He holds a master’s degree in business administration, residing and working in Southeast Michigan. During the August 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan, Mikael was a part of the #DigitalDunkirk team that saved thousands of our Afghan allies that had been left for dead. He was personally responsible for the evacuation of 20 of our allies, most of whom have now joined him in Michigan. Mikael is an active member of the veteran community and continues his advocacy work for the Afghan allies left behind.
Buy Life and Death at Abbey Gate
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I sit down with Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint to discuss the Israel/Palestine issues and get some recent historical perspective.
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Michael D. Fay is a former USMC Combat Artist with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mike enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1975 and was discharged in 1978 as an 81 mm mortarman (MOS 0341). In 1978, he returned to Penn State Univeristy and graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. In 1983, re-enlisted into the Marines and served as an avionics technician (MOS 6322) in the Presidential Helicopter Squadron (HMX-1) and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365 (HMM-365) until 1993. Fay served a tour on recruiting duty (MOS 8411) and was a recruiter of the year for 1989 and 1990. He left active duty at the end of September 1993. Fay returned to service in the USMCR in January 2000. He was assigned as an official combat artist. He is now retired from the Marine Corps. Fay's artwork is in the Marine Corps Combat Art collection, the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the collection of the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
Fay has also had solo exhibitions at the Farnsworth Museum, where he was the target of a protest group. His artwork has been published in Leatherneck Magazine—the official magazine of the Marine Corps Association—and the New York Times. The Guardian called his work "exceptionally moving and thought-provoking", and said, "Over the past decade, Fay has seen action as a war artist with US troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan, but his latest journey was to a military veterans' hospital in Richmond, Virginia. In the resulting New York Times blogs, he relays his meetings with three young men severely wounded in Afghanistan. His account of their injuries and rehabilitation is gripping, but what really deepens the reporting are his drawings, reproduced alongside the articles."
Fay has also recorded wounded veterans recovering from their injuries. As part of this work he founded the Joe Bonham Project to document the experiences of the wounded. After retirement, Fay campaigned for enhanced recognition and improved working opportunities for war artists. Fay also uses sculpture. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration; his thesis was called The Boy Who Drew Soldiers.
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The child of a Ukrainian POW and US Air Force veteran, Michael Bard is an active musician, composer and teacher who resides near Washington, D.C. He has performed as a soloist and with various musical ensembles throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, North Africa, South America, Central America and the Middle East. He has also been featured on various radio and television programs around the world. He has served as Vice President of the Dayton Classical Guitar Society as well as Vice President of the Washington Guitar Society.
While pursuing graduate studies at Arizona State University, Tempe, Michael was awarded a full scholarship to study at l’Accademia “Ottocento” in Vigevano, Italy, a school which specializes in the classical guitar music of the 19th century. During that time he also participated in a concert tour of northern Italy and Switzerland.
Michael has also performed as rhythm guitarist for Higher Octave/Virgin recording artists Shahin and Sepehr with whom he has toured nationally and abroad. He also appeared on their fourth album “World Cafe” which peaked at #18 on the Billboard charts and was featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
As a performer, Michael was chosen by the U.S. State Department to concertize throughout Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and the kingdom of Morocco with fellow guitarist Corey Whitehead. Billing themselves as ‘Douze Cordes’ Michael and Corey effectively served as cultural ambassadors, offering diplomacy through music. They were later invited to give more performances in Jordan and Kuwait on a second tour again sponsored by the U.S. State Department. More recently they embarked on an 11 city concert tour throughout the country of Chile, this time as a trio with vocalist Deborah Benner, Michael’s wife & musical partner.
Michael has performed for many luminaries and dignitaries including former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore as well as various members of royalty throughout the Middle East & South America.
His first recorded solo effort entitled ‘Illumination’ features original compositions for guitar and solo piano, blending a soothing mix of of Spanish, Latin, and adult contemporary instrumental styles. His composition ‘Mediterranean Beauty’ for two guitars is published by Lathkill Music Publishers, England.
He provided Spanish guitar accompaniment for The Choral Arts Society of Washington‘s award winning NAXOS recording “Celebrating Sacred Rhythms” featuring Ariel Ramirez’ “Misa Criolla” & “Navidad Nuestra.”
Michael currently performs & records with Washington D.C. based Latin Rumba-Flamenco group Trio Caliente, which has released 3 albums, performed nationally, and whose music was featured on NBC’s former hit TV show “Smash” as well as E! Entertainment Television Network.
Michael holds a Masters degree in music from Arizona State University, Tempe and a Bachelors degree in music from Wright State University, Dayton, OH.
Get tickets to Michael's Carnegie Hall concert on November 4, 2023.
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Arriving in the US as a refugee, Ayman Kafel escaped civil wars in both Lebanon and Liberia. Following 9/11, Ayman enlisted in the US Army where he saw combat in Iraq before being forced to medically retire due to service-connected injuries. He continues to serve as a law enforcement officer. A regular contributor to Havok Journal, he is also the host of Project Sapient, a podcast dedicated to law enforcement and military issues. he recently published his first book through the Second Mission Foundation, THE RESOLUTE PATH.
RSVP to come to Ayman's book launch and see Ayman in VetRep's immersive performance of THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
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Episode 117 with former Army combat veteran Dave Campisano, founder of 22 Mohawks. Dave joined the Army in 2001 and served in various light infantry units until his separation in 2016. In 2009, he passed Ranger School and was deployed with the Golden Dragons 2/14In, 10th Mountain Division to Iraq. After his honorable discharge in 2016, he attended Suffolk University in Boston where he majored in Finance and now serves as a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual and a financial planning team based in Wellesley, Ma.He currently lives with his daughter, Isabella, and dog Winston in Millis, Ma.
After his separation from the Army, David began to notice that more and more service members were taking their own lives and felt compelled to start the non-profit, 22Mohawks. The main goal of 22Mohawks is to bring awareness to veteran suicide. They sponsor multiple events each year that bring veterans and their families together. Their mission is to create and keep the bond between veterans so that everyone knows that they have someone with similar experiences they can lean on. A big part of that bond and connection is lost after separation from the military and believing fully in their mission to reinforce and maintain that sense of community.
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Episode 116 with former NYPD detective and actor/singer Michael Devine. Mike, a native New Yorker, is an intrepid character actor recognized for his roles as Detective Paul O'Rourke on the Emmy-nominated "The Undoing" (HBO) and James Tech on "Limitless" (CBS). With various guest star appearances on network, streaming and pay cable television, he is no stranger to the camera. His work can also been seen on the big screen in dozens of A-List directed films such as The Wolf Of Wall Street, The Post, The Woman In The Window, Inside Man, etc.
When not working on set, Michael is in the recording studio. As an accomplished singer, Michael's first album, "Songs of Valor and Hope," hit #1 in four categories on Amazon. His second album, "Sentinels" has just been released.
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Episode 115 with former NYPD detective and actor/singer Michael Devine. Mike, a native New Yorker, is an intrepid character actor recognized for his roles as Detective Paul O'Rourke on the Emmy-nominated "The Undoing" (HBO) and James Tech on "Limitless" (CBS). With various guest star appearances on network, streaming and pay cable television, he is no stranger to the camera. His work can also been seen on the big screen in dozens of A-List directed films such as The Wolf Of Wall Street, The Post, The Woman In The Window, Inside Man, etc.
When not working on set, Michael is in the recording studio. As an accomplished singer, Michael's first album, "Songs of Valor and Hope," hit #1 in four categories on Amazon. His second album, "Sentinels" has just been released.
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Charles Faint currently serves as the Chair for the Study of Special Operations and an assistant professor in the Defense and Strategic Studies program for the Modern War Institute at West Point. A retired military intelligence officer, he commissioned into the military intelligence branch of the US Army through the ROTC program at Mercer University and claims Alabama as his home state. After completing a branch detail to the infantry in the 101st Airborne Division, he subsequently served as an intelligence officer in a variety of units, including the 2nd Infantry Division, the 5th Special Forces Group, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and the Joint Special Operations Command. His most recent operational assignment was at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, where he served as the Chief of Intelligence – Plans and Exercises and then Chief of Intelligence – Operations on the G2 staff of US Army Pacific.
In addition to his role as MWI Deputy Director, he teaches the Comparative Defense Policy course. During a previous tour at West Point, he was the course director for MX400, the superintendent’s capstone course on officership, for two years. He also instructed international relations, American politics, comparative politics, conflict and negotiation, and intelligence and national policy for three years in West Point’s renowned Department of Social Sciences.
He earned his doctorate in business administration through Temple University. He also holds five undergraduate and graduate degrees, the most recent of which is from Yale University. Educated in fields ranging from engineering to communication to international relations, his research interests include special operations, civil-military relations, and small business entrepreneurship.
Over the course of his career, Lt. Col. Faint earned the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal (4 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (six awards), the Combat Action Badge, and the pathfinder, airborne, and air assault badges. He has earned seven combat stripes for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan and also served in Egypt, Korea, and the Philippines.
Early in his career, he served a six-month peacekeeping tour with the Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai, Egypt, an experience that began a career-long interest in the region. That interest prompted his involvement in the Peace and Dialogue Leadership Initiative (PDLI), a joint Yale/West Point endeavor that selects high-performing students from both schools for a yearlong fellowship that includes two weeks on the ground in Israel and Palestine. Faint was a cofounder of PDLI and served as its security advisor, accompanying the group to the Levant for each of the first five years of the PDLI’s existence.
Published in a number of blogs and professional journals, his most significant publication is coauthorship of the book Violence of Action: The Untold Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror. He was also the editor-in-chief of West Point’s Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, is the owner of the military-themed blog The Havok Journal, and is the executive director of The Second Mission Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
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Ivan F. Ingraham is a writer, speaker, and storyteller. He served 24-years in the United States Marine Corps, mostly in Special Operations. Ivan is the CEO of Golden Compass, LLC, a leadership consulting company.
Read Ivan's work at The War Horse, Task & Purpose, and Havok Journal.
Ivan's Amazon author page
Follow Ivan here
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This week, due to our August scheduling mishaps and my innate curiosity, I sat down with myself for a little editorial speculation about the war in Ukraine and the way we in the military/veteran community think about it. Why do so many otherwise knowledgeable folks give Russia any benefit of doubt? Why are we so confused as to why it's worth supporting Ukraine? Why do so many people who never cared about - or actively protested - our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan feel so militant and feverish about supporting Ukraine? Why are we so much more comfortable flying Ukrainian flags now than Afghan - or even US - flags over the past 20 years? I'll speculate on all this and more.
The 1980's Called...
CNN article
Fordham University Veterans Mental Health Summit
Second Mission Foundation
VetRep
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Episode 111 with Scott Chapman. Scott served in 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment from 2001-2005. He deployed to Iraq during the 2003 invasion and then to the Afghan theatre 4 times. After the military, Scott worked in the executive protection space and then as an OGA security contractor. Providing security support to the Intelligence community where he deployed 17 times; mostly to the Forward Operating Bases (FOB). He provided security support for Intelligence personnel and operations. Scott continues to work in the contract security area.
Many of Scott's articles for Havok Journal have gone viral, including "A Taliban Feast", "Every Day is Sept 12, 2001", "The Last Plane out of Kabul", "Written in Taliban", and "Keep Your Powder Dry".
Follow Scott here.
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