20 Years Done Podcast

When the military talks about the cost of undermanned, overworked units, the conversation almost always turns to risk: what might break, what might crash, what could go wrong. In this episode, I sit down with Tony Carr, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, former squadron commander, and C-17 pilot who began his career as an F-15 crew chief, to ask whether that framing captures the whole cost. D...

I'm joined by retired Marine Dr. Michael McDowell to discuss his thoughts on moral injury. Michael details his own experience with moral injury both personally and in his interactions with transitioning service members.

I'm joined by Abi Dorhosti to discuss the concept of Moral Injury. We walk through the differences between moral injury and PTS and how both may manifest similarly, but the root of each is different. We also discuss how addressing the cause of moral injury is just as important (if not more) than treating the symptoms. We also discuss different pathways for treatment that aren't one size fits all.

I'm joined by occasional frequent guest Kevin Traw to discuss his recent retirement from the corporate sector and lessons learned in hindsight about his military transition. Kevin also discusses leadership development outside the military, and how to function within teams with misaligned leadership doctrine.

I'm joined by Chelsea Thomas, founder of Family in Flight, to unpack why families choose GeoBaching, the financial and bureaucratic hurdles that come with it, and the toll it takes on marriages, kids, and retention across the armed forces. We also dig into what support actually looks like for families living this reality, and where policy could catch up. Learn more about Family in Flight's work at...

Ryan Sweazey returns to the podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on leadership, promotions, dissent, whistleblowers, professional identity, organizational culture, and the forces that shape decision-making inside large institutions. From fighter squadrons to Inspector General investigations, we explore the incentives, assumptions, and pressures that influence behavior, often in ways that are diff...

I'm joined by Dr. Kristi Cabiao to discuss her advocacy work around Tricare, military families, and all the nuts and bolts under the hood that many of us don't perceive.

I'm joined by Dr. Pamela Buchanan to discuss her experience working in emergency medicine, and the medical industry generally over the past 20+ years. While our lived experiences differ, we found common in ground as we viewed our respective professional backgrounds through the lens of mental health, burnout, boundaries, and systems seemingly designed for exploitation.

I'm joined by Chris McGhee to discuss professional and leadership development in the corporate sector. We compare that development against how the military develops leadership.

This episode is a wide-ranging conversation with Kevin Traw, starting with the role of chaplains on the flight line and how their presence, trust, and nontransactional support shape maintenance culture and professionalism. From there, we move into military discipline and how commanders approach discharge decisions, including what they consider and what they are expected to ignore. We also walk thr...

In this episode, I’m joined by Elaina Kovnat, someone I supervised about 15 years ago during my time in aircraft maintenance. She shares her experiences across multiple work centers and leaders, and what daily life in the career field actually felt like. This was a difficult conversation for me personally. I’ve known Elaina a long time, and hearing the pressure she faced reinforced how demanding m...

In December 2025 the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth released a video and accompanying policy to rescind the DoD’s chaplain doctrine and replace it with a more Christian-centric framework. In this episode, I’m joined by Libby Alders to examine the “Make Chaplains Great Again” theme and what it suggests about rolling back religious pluralism in the military. We discuss how the chaplaincy has evol...

I'm joined by MSgt(ret) Doug Smits a 20 year Air Force veteran and current 3L law student. We discuss the factors and facets of military discharges that many people are unaware of and the long term effects that discharges below Honorable can carry.

This week, I am joined by myself, Chris McGhee, for a personal conversation about growing up in poverty, the shame that often accompanies it, and the hidden costs of being poor that go far beyond money. I also explain why this episode is part of a fundraising effort with GiveDirectly, which provides direct cash assistance to people living in extreme poverty. givedirectly.org/Done #PodsFightPoverty...

Libby Alders joins me to explore how religion operates differently within the military, including the influence of Christian nationalism both inside and outside the ranks. We discuss moral injury, why theocratic structures fail, and the broader risks created when a military force is not emotionally or psychologically developed.

I'm joined by John Cordle, Dr. Eng., to discuss his experience with the federal downsizing in early to mid 2025. John and I do a deep dive on the highly capable federal workforce that works tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to improve the quality of processes, programs, and facilities for servicemembers; and how the 2025 downsizing may not be "right-sizing" as much as senior leaders would want...

In this episode I'm joined once again by Jason Silvernail. We discuss the art of apologizing which has seemingly been lost, or more accurately co-opted in this day and age to no longer account for behavior but to instead react to feelings. Jason discusses why apologies are not the proper repair for feelings, only to take accountability for harmful behavior.

I'm joined by Dave Siemiet who recently wrote an article titled "CMSAF, abandon the ivory tower and lead us - Back to Our Roots" In this discussion Dave and I delve into the complex politics of chasing that next promotion when there are no more stripes to get. Dave gives fascinating insights into the inner workings of Chief to Chief interactions and relations.

In this episode, Jennifer Barnhill joins to discuss her new book, The Military Stories You've Been Told and the Ones You Need to Hear. We talk about the power of storytelling as a form of advocacy, the lessons she learned from hosting Reverse Town Halls with service members and families, and how she transformed those discussions into a data-informed, human-centered narrative about military life.

I'm joined by Siaosi Soto an Air Force veteran to discuss his viral video where he bodyboards in his blues uniform and what inspired him to make the video. We also discuss his career in Security Forces, his approach to leadership and followership, and some of the issues he experienced in his career that left him with a lasting impression. Link to Siiaosii's instagram video: https://www.instagram.c...

In this episode, I’m joined by Jessica Reif, a PhD candidate at Duke University, to explore her recently published research on how employees perceive AI in the workplace—and how these perceptions differ from reactions to past workplace innovations. We also dive into her insights on collaboration and dynamics in diverse remote teams.

Dr. Abraham Peck joins me for a deep dive into the conditions that led to the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany between World War I and World War II.

I'm joined by a very good friend of mine Eric Pulkowski to discuss his perceptions and expectations as a civilian for military safeguards against unlawful orders.

I'm joined by Dr. Daniel Johnson to discuss his research on blast injuries, as well as his work bringing his research to legislatures and media. We also discuss trying to access national media on behalf of veterans and servicemembers in a noisy media environment.

I'm joined by Derrick Jackson to discuss his 21 year career as an aircraft maintainer and OSI Special Agent. Derrick has authored his first novel Shadow One loosely based on his career. Derrick and I discuss myths around OSI, human trafficking in South Korea and the impacts on security clearance, counter-intelligence, and crime.