5 With A Digger Podcast

Some people break barriers while others redefine them. Born in Slovenia, Layla became one of the country’s pioneering female boxers at just 19 years old, stepping into the ring when women’s boxing was still fighting for recognition. Despite facing sexism and limited opportunities, she refused to back down, becoming a multiple-time national champion and proudly representing her country across Europ...

This week, we’re joined by Bradey. His Army career wasn’t defined by medals or headlines, it was defined by service, sacrifice and resilience. After enlisting in the Australian Army in 2014, Bradey served with 6RAR as an infantry soldier before transitioning into the Intelligence Support pathway. Sadly, repeated Achilles injuries to both feet brought his military career to an early end, leading to...

We wish to dedicate this episode to Jim. Thank you for your service. May you rest in peace. Lest we forget. Episode 121 and I’m joined by Ryan Mayne. Ryan’s career has taken him from military service and elite sport to frontline emergency services, surf safety, and high-performance coaching. Ryan is a former Australian Army aircraft technician, professional triathlete, Senior Firefighter and Rescu...

Episode 120 and I’m joined by Chris Endres. This episode is a little bit different as we welcome a fellow podcaster for a special cross-podcast collaboration between 5 With A Digger and one half of The Culture Standard. Originally from Victoria, Chris built a strong reputation through country football before making the move north to Queensland, where he now serves his community on the frontline as...

Episode 119 and I’m joined by Zac. At 19 years old, Zac joined the Australian Army and went on to serve in Afghanistan as a Cavalry Reconnaissance soldier. But this episode isn’t just about military service. It’s about what happened after. Zac opens up about life after Defence, a Veterans Motorcycle Club, addiction, debt, poor decisions, losing everything, and the long road back. His story is raw....

Episode 118 and I’m joined again by Simon from episode 51. Joining the Army at just 17 years old, Simon would go on to serve in the Solomon Islands, East Timor, and complete two deployments to Afghanistan with the Special Operations Task Group before discharging in 2014. In this episode, we talk about military service, the challenges of transition, mental health, rebuilding identity after Defence,...

Episode 117 and I’m joined by Alex. Alex joined the ADF back in 2012, enlisting into the Australian Army Aviation Corps as a Ground Crewman Aircraft Support. Not long after, he found himself posted to Darwin with the 1st Aviation Regiment, working on the ARH Tigers from early 2013. Unfortunately over time a number of injuries that eventually culminated in a medical discharge not long after leaving...

Episode 116 and I’m joined by Jase Shore. Jase enlisted into the Australian Army back in 2006 as Infantry Corps, posted straight to Darwin with 5/7 RAR. In 2007 he deployed to Iraq on Operation Gateway 3, detached from battalion to support SECDET 6 alongside boys from 1RAR and 7/6RAR. After discharging in 2010, life took a completely different turn. And then in 2019 during the Sydney knife attack,...

Episode 115 and unfortunately, due to circumstances completely out of our control and an absolute doozey of a crash on the highway today, our guest was unable to make it into the studio. So we’re bringing you a special “Best Of 5 With A Digger” episode. And with everything happening behind the scenes right now it’s probably the perfect time for it. Because the team here at 5 With A Digger is absol...

Episode 115 and I’m joined by Tarsh. Tarsh is an Army Reserve veteran who’ll tell you she “just did bits and pieces” during her service but what she’s done after taking the uniform off is something pretty special. After volunteering with the Sleepbus helping people doing it tough, Tarsh and seven others refused to let the mission die when the organisation folded. No experience running a charity. N...

Episode 113 and I’m joined by Paul Seils Jnr. Paul Seils Jnr is an Aussie music artist, podcaster, speaker and former Army Reservist who served with the 2nd Transport Squadron out of Brisbane. From his time in service to building a platform in media and music, Paul’s all about standing up for what you believe in and not being afraid to question the narrative. He is the host of Between the Lines an...

Episode 112 and Crowy’s back in the chair and we’re diving straight into the controversy surrounding Ben Roberts-Smith. A Victoria Cross recipient now facing five war crime charges relating to alleged incidents in Afghanistan, allegations he denies. After years in the spotlight and a massive defamation case, this now moves into a criminal trial where the standard is beyond reasonable doubt. But th...

Episode 111 and we’re linking up with the legends from 2 Pissed Kent’s podcast. We rolled through and jumped on with the boys while we were over in Sydney on a podcast tour, and let’s just say things got loose real quick. Now we’ll be honest, things have been absolutely flat out lately. Between getting the It’ll Take A Tribe Food Bank up and running and gearing up for the Jimmy Judge Tour of Tortu...

Episode 110 and we have a SPECIAL GUEST EPISODE — LIVE FROM THE POST HOUSE, EUDLO We set up base for the Tour of Torture to the Post House in Eudlo and this one is absolute chaos in the best way possible. This isn’t your average episode, this is a full house, big personalities, plenty of laughs, and some seriously good yarns from an unreal lineup of guests. Jimmy Judge, the man in the hot seat for...

Episode 109 and I’m joined by Jerard. Jerard enlisted back in 2012, but this isn’t your standard service story. Just 3 months in, a serious injury changed everything. What followed was years of setbacks—spinal surgery, re-injuries, being pushed beyond medical advice… and constantly fighting to be heard. And still—he showed up. Training others as an ADI, completing heavy vehicle quals, even support...

Episode 108 and I’m joined by my old mate Bryze from the Deadass Podcast! Everytime I pass through Rockhampton I make sure to drop in and catch up over a cold beer or 10. We chat about how the podcast is going, our new community food bank opening at the 5 With A Digger Studio in Gympie. And the crazy challenge we have set for Jimmy Judge. Food Hub opening soon.   (7) it'll take a tribe - sear...

Episode 107 and I’m joined by Taula Daure, better known as Franckiie. Born in Papua New Guinea and raised through hardship after losing his mum at just 4, Franckiie grew up without his dad, before reconnecting with him later in life, a powerful full-circle moment. Moving to Australia in 2005, he faced setbacks and tough moments, but he didn’t let them define him. He reset, he refocused and he foun...

Episode 106 and I’m joined by Brenden ‘Chuck’ Berry. Brenden Berry is a former Australian soldier, instructor, and Australian Border Force firearms and defensive tactics trainer, with nearly 40 years of service behind him. A third-generation cavalryman, Brenden enlisted in 1989 and served across multiple units including 3/4 Cavalry Regiment, 2RAR, and 3RAR. His deployments include Rwanda during th...

Episode 105 and I’m joined by Tod. Tod is a former Australian Army Combat Engineer who served 12 years in the Corps from 2009–2021. Starting his career as a young Sapper, Tod spent his early years on the tools as a Combat Engineer before transitioning into the civil construction side of the trade, eventually rising through the ranks to Corporal. Across his time in service he was involved in a huge...

Episode 104 and I’m joined by Keegsy. Keegsy signed up to the Australian Army in 2009 at just 17 years old, joining the Infantry and posting to 8/9 RAR. In 2010, he deployed to Timor — a young digger getting his first taste of operational service early in his career. By 2012, Keegsy was heading to Malaysia alongside 6RAR, continuing to build experience, strengthen his skills, and forge the kind of...

Episode 103 and I’m joined by Michael Lappin. Michael is a Newcastle-based speaker and advocate whose journey is raw, real, and powerful. Raised in a military household, Michael grew up witnessing the long-term effects of service firsthand. His father served 35 years in the Australian Army, also being as a Vietnam veteran. Like many defence families, the impact of untreated PTSD shaped life at hom...

Episode 102 and I’m joined by Matthew French. Matthew is an Australian Army veteran, Infantry Paratrooper, former leader in Veteran Mentors, and now the CEO of The Youth Regiment. After serving his country on deployment, Matthew transitioned his passion for leadership and mentorship into the civilian space — co-founding Veteran Mentors and delivering impactful programs for young people facing real...

Episode 101 and I’m joined by Ryan. Ryan enlisted in 2009, marched out of Kapooka in 2010 and posted to 3RAR. He completed Basic Parachute Course, Assault Pioneer Course, deployed to Afghanistan with MTF-5, later qualified as a Combat Engineer before transferring to become an ADF Firefighter with 6 Aviation Regiment. Medically discharged in 2017 with physical and mental injuries, Ryan did what man...

Episode and I’m joined by Jarchy. Jarch never wore the uniform himself, but his respect for the Defence community runs deep. That respect was forged through his family, particularly his grandfather’s service, which gave him a grounded understanding of what it truly means to serve: the sacrifice, the mateship, and the quiet strength of the families who stand behind every digger. Jarch is a natural...

Episode 99 and I’m joined by Tooney. Tooney originally applied to join the RAAF as an Airfield Defence Guard, he instead enlisted into the Australian Army as a Rifleman in 2007. While at Kapooka, he trade-transferred into Air Dispatch, marching out with the Royal Australian Corps of Transport and posting to 176 Air Dispatch Squadron after training at Puckapunyal. In 2008, an injury cut his Basic P...