True Blue Conversations Podcast

On this week's podcast, I speak with Australian Federal Police officer Matt. Before joining the Federal Police, Matt spent some time in the Royal Australian Airforce both as a photography and as a reservist airbase security. During this time he joined the Victorian Police Force in 1996 and then in 2013 laterally transferred to the Feds. On 23 September 2014, 18-year-old Abdul Numan Haider attacked...

Terry Ledgard has lived a life less-ordinary, from humble beginnings in the oddball mining town of Coober Pedy, to the volatile warzone of Afghanistan as a Special Forces Medic, the frozen wasteland of Antarctica to the summit of Mt. Everest, and back again. In this episode we follow Terry's early years as a Coober Pedy desert rat to the explosive action, IED strikes, saving Waltzing Matilda, gory...

In this episode of True Blue Conversations, I sit down with Peter Rock, an 8 RAR National Serviceman, Vietnam veteran and recipient of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. Peter was conscripted into the Australian Army and, after completing his basic training, was posted to 8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (8 RAR), where he served as a machine gunner. Peter takes us back to his time in...

John Brien - 8 RAR Platoon Commander, Vietnam / Australian Special Forces Special Air Service Regiment Veteran: Vietnam, the unpopular war Today on True Blue Conversations, I'm joined by John Brien — Vietnam veteran, former 8RAR Platoon Commander and SASR operator, whose life is a powerful story of service, sacrifice and transition. John's early years took him from Sydney to Adelaide and then Quee...

Welcome back to True Blue Conversations. Today's conversation is with a man whose journey is a powerful example of how one decision can completely change the direction of a life. Clancy Roberts spent 12 years in full-time service with the Australian Army — six years serving with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and six years with the 2nd Commando Regiment as a Special Forces operator....

Welcome back to True Blue Conversations. Today's conversation is with a man whose journey from the Royal Australian Air Force, to the Australian Army, and ultimately to the Australian Special Air Service Regiment, is a story of determination, sacrifice, self-belief and overcoming doubt. Dan Sultanowsky enlisted in the RAAF in February 2006 as an Airfield Defence Guard, posting to 2ADFS at Amberley...

Welcome back to True Blue Conversations. Today, I'm joined by someone whose journey through the Australian Defence Force spans service, deployments, communications, international operations, and an enduring passion for defence, intelligence and geopolitics. Darwin Fermo enlisted in January 2000 as a Reservist, marching into 10th Light Horse Squadron as a Driver/Crewman before transferring to the A...

On today's episode of True-Blue Conversations, I am joined by Mike Durant, a former 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, aka Night Stalkers. Mike's deployment to Somalia was portrayed in the Hollywood movie Blackhawk down. Mike was a member of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers) as a Chief Warrant Officer 3. He retired from the U.S. Army as a Chief Warrant Office...

On todays episode of True-Blue Conversations, I am joined by former Australian Special Forces SASR veteran Dr Dan Cooper. After underperforming at school, Dan joined the Army and posted to 3 RAR, deploying to Timor in 1999. A short time later, Dan attempted SASR selection in 2001 and completed the selection course. After Reo and 9-11, Dan (qualifying as a water operator) deployed straight away on...

On today episode of True-Blue Conversations, I am joined by Adam Smith, a veteran of the 2nd Commando Regiment and the Victoria Police Special Operations Group. Adam joined the Australian Army in 2005 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR). During his time with 2RAR, he deployed twice to East Timor before successfully attempting and completing selection for the 2nd C...

Welcome back to True Blue Conversations, where we preserve the stories of the men and women who have shaped Australias history through service, sacrifice, and resilience. Todays guest is nothing short of extraordinary. Henry Young is one of the last living links to the Greatest Generation. At an incredible 102 years of age, Henry served as a Royal Air Force Spitfire pilot during the Second World W...

Today on True Blue Conversations, I sit down with an extraordinary Royal Australian Navy veteran whose career spans more than 35 years of service, multiple operational deployments, and a lifetime of leadership—Fred Campbell OAM. Fred joined the Royal Australian Navy on 8 January 1982 through the Naval Apprentice Scheme as an Air Technical Aircraft fitter. From the flight lines at HMAS Albatross to...

G'day, and welcome back to True Blue Conversations. Today's guest is Lucas Atkins, a former Australian Federal Police Close Protection Officer whose 12-year career placed him at the very centre of some of Australia's most significant security operations. Lucas began his policing career protecting high-profile dignitaries, including the United States and Israeli Ambassadors, as well as internationa...

G'day, and welcome back to True Blue Conversations. Today's guest is a man who has lived a life of service, resilience, and excellence. Ryan Wilson began his military career in the Australian Army Reserve before taking on one of the toughest challenges in the world—Special Air Service Regiment selection. After successfully earning his place in the SASR, Ryan went on to serve on multiple operationa...

Today on True Blue Conversations, we sit down with an extraordinary woman whose story is built on resilience, service, family, and an unbreakable mindset. Eva Clarke is a former Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force Physical Training Instructor, a mother, a wife to a serving military member, and one of Australia's most accomplished fitness endurance athletes. A multiple Guinness World Rec...

On this special episode of True Blue Conversations, we sit down with Australian Army Combat Medic veteran and Distinguished Service Medal recipient Damien Silva. This man has faced some of the most confronting moments of Australia's war in Afghanistan. From the chaos of the battlefield to the split-second decisions that mean life or death, Damien opens up about serving as a combat medic alongside...

G'day and welcome back to True Blue Conversations — where we sit down with Australians who've dedicated their lives to service, leadership, and shaping the nation we're proud to call home. Today's guest is Major Damien Batty, a retired Australian Army Officer who served with distinction for more than 26 years in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps and broader Defence organisation. Appointed in...

G'day and welcome back to True Blue Conversations — where we sit down with Australians who've dedicated their lives to service, leadership, and shaping the nation we're proud to call home.   Today's guest represents the very heart of Australian values — integrity, service, and a deep commitment to community. We're honoured to be joined in the special 150 th episode by Her Excellency Sam Mostyn AC...

G'day and welcome back to True Blue Conversations — where we share the stories of those who've stood the line, served their country's communities, and carried the weight of responsibility most will never truly understand. In this episode, we sit down with Sue Osborn, whose career is anything but ordinary. Sue spent 27 and a half years in the Australian Army, operating in some of the most demanding...

G'day and welcome back to True Blue Conversations — where we share the stories of those who've stood the line, served their communities, and carried the weight of responsibility most will never truly understand. Today's guest represents something rare — not just service, but endurance at the highest level. Forty-eight years in policing. Nearly five decades of showing up, day in and day out, throug...

G'day and welcome back to True Blue Conversations—where we sit down with the people who've served, sacrificed, and continue to give back long after the uniform comes off. Today's guest is a man who has taken a life of service and turned it into something truly special. Barry Randall is a current serving Victoria Police Officer with over 32 years of service, having seen the job from the frontline....

Service doesn't end when you hang up the uniform—it evolves. And for some, the next mission becomes even more personal. Today on True Blue Conversations, we sit down with Jared Purcell—Australian Army veteran, former 2RAR soldier, and the voice behind the Broken Fathers podcast. Jared has lived the highs and the hardships of military life, but it's what came after service that shaped his next chap...

Welcome back to True Blue Conversations, where we sit down with those who've lived extraordinary lives in service, leadership, and beyond. Today's guest is someone who has quite literally operated at the edge of human performance. Mandy Hickson is a former Royal Air Force fast jet pilot who flew the Tornado GR4 on combat and operational missions around the world. In an environment where precision,...

On this week's podcast, I speak with Lana Boland, a dedicated Canadian police officer who has served her community with courage and compassion. From navigating high-stress investigations to mentoring young officers, Lana has seen it all. But beyond the badge, she's a voice for mental health in policing, shining a light on the human side of law enforcement. Join us as we explore her journey, the ch...

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Western Australia WA Police Detective Meg Jarvis, who has spent years on the front line of some of the most confronting and complex cases imaginable. Meg's career in policing exposed her to the realities most people never see—trauma, crisis, and the human side of crime. But what sets her apart is what came next. Drawing on her lived experience, she's tra...