5 With A Digger Podcast

Episode 73 and I’m joined by Rex. Rex joined the 42nd RQR in early 1981. By the end of 1981 he has joined the regular army as a combat engineer. After being posted to the school of engineering, he spent time in Townsville before he was involved in a horrible motorcycle accident on his way to work, leaving him to spend 12 months in various hospitals recovering. He was then medically discharged. Fol...

Episode 72 and I’m joined by Josh. Josh joined the ADF in January 2014 as a rifleman, after basic and school of infantry training Josh was posted to 6 RAR. During the time at 6 RAR Josh participated in numerous exercises and operations domestically and in the Middle East. In May 2022 Josh was medically discharged with multiple physical and mental injuries and found his calling in dogs, in particul...

Episode 71 and I’m joined by Glen. Glen is a former Combat Engineer who served in the Royal Australian Engineers from 2000 to 2012, discharging at the rank of Sergeant. His military career included deployments on Operation Relex, RTF-4 (Afghanistan), and with engineer training teams, where he delivered Search and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) training to foreign militaries. Specialising as an...

Episode 70 and I'm joined by Corey. Corey joined the Australian Army in 2006, midway through a boiler-making apprenticeship. He began his service with the 42nd Royal Queensland Regiment in North Queensland and by 2009 was given the opportunity to transfer to full-time service. After completing his trade, he was posted to the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (8/9 RAR) in Brisbane, where...

Episode 69 and Im joined by Jonathan. Jonathan joined the army in 2002. He was posted to 1RAR and spent time with delta and bravo company. He studied at ADFA and the RMC before a deployment to Afghanistan in 2012. After his body started to break down, he discharged in 2018. Since his discharge he has built up his organisation called Eighth Mile. Eighth Mile is a training and educational company th...

Episode 68 and I'm joined by Luke. Luke enlisted in 2010; following his basic training at Kapooka, Luke posted to 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Darwin, undergoing specialised training at the Puckapunyal School of Armour. In 2014, Luke was deployed to Malaysia, where he gained invaluable experience in a multinational environment. After his deployment he transferred to the 1st Armoured Regiment in Adelaid...

Episode 67 and I'm joined by Brent. Enlisting in the Australian Army in 1987 at the age of 17, he went to Kapooka, completing an extended 18-week recruit training due to an injury. Following this, he spent time at the School of Signals, Norforce in Darwin and 103 Signal Squadron in Townsville. In 1994, he was deployed as part of the South Pacific Peacekeeping Force (SPPKF) to Bougainville PNG. Unf...

Episode 66 and I'm joined by Paul Malone. Paul started his career in the Army Apprentice School at Balcombe in 1979. Throughout his 20 year career he moved all across Australia, finally discharging and finishing his career after a posting in Townsville. Following his discharge, he opened an outboard shop in Maroochydore but to no avail. He now contracts for defence repairing marine equipment and i...

Episode 65 and I'm joined by Suzie B Fit! Suzie returns to the show after appearing on episode 20 to catch up, and help me launch our new challenge "The 5 With A Challenge". Its very simple, pick 5 things you want to achieve over 5 days over the week! They don't have to be fitness based and can incorporate any aspect of your life. After regular progress each week, you will see what consistency can...

Episode 64 and I'm joined by Matho. Matho served 13 years in the army but discharged after a mental breakdown in 1989. Following his discharge, he turned down a dark path doing some very questionable things. He changed his ways and became a minister in 1992. In 2023 he was called to Ukraine and has built the infrastructure and partnerships required to build a national rehabilitation system for vet...

Episode 63 and I'm joined by JD.JD is a returning guest after first appearing on the show on episode 4. We talk more about his deployments and life post military. We also chat about a new challenge we are going to launch in conjunction with the new studio opening, 'The 5 With A Challenge'. Big shoutout to M Adams Civil, Above and Beyond Home Maintenance, Gravel Empire, New Look Painting Contractor...

Episode 62 and I’m joined by Dani. She has completed a Bachelor of Complementary Medicine in 2024. She is a certified Holistic Health Coach and she is also qualified in Trauma informed care, coaching & somatic breathwork facilitation. She has a special interest in supporting the health and wellbeing of individuals experiencing complex health and mental health issues, as well as those navi...

Episode 61 and I’m joined by Turk! Turk joined the RAN in 2004 as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. He was posted to  RAAF WAGGA,HMAS ALBATROSS, HMAS KANIMBLA and RAAF TOWNSVILLE. He transferred to army in 2011 and voluntary discharged in 2012. Following his military career he moved overseas to continue his fighting career but also ended up down the wrong path seeking the camaraderie that he...

Episode 60 and I’m joined by Matty Sawyer. Matty joined the army in 2008 as a rifleman and was posted to 8/9RAR. During his time he completed courses as a combat first aider, a bushmaster driver and a bushmaster commander. He deployed to Darwin in 2010 on Op resolute to assist the navy with border patrol. In 2011 he assisted in QLD with a flood assist exercise. In 2012 he was deployed to Afghan fo...

Episode 59 and I’m joined by Logan Baker. Logan is based on the Sunshine Coast and is a mental health advocate and entrepreneur involved in multiple organizations driven by a singular mission: to help others with mindset shifts and gratitude. He also works to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 58 and I’m joined by local Cooroy legend, personal trainer and boxing coach Mark Evans. Mark spent his childhood moving around Australia going down what could be only described as a troubled path. He managed to turn his life around and now spends his days running his own boxing gym Impact Boxing, one of the Australian Boxing coaches and the president of the QLD boxing academy. He is instru...

Episode 57 and I’m joined by Maison. He did basic training in 2019 but broke his pelvis 5 weeks in! He was pushed back for E months, finally finishing at Kapooka 6 months after he started. He posted to Bandiana for 3 months to learn logistics, before posting to Robertson barracks in Darwin. He served with 5 RAR for 4 years including plenty of field exercises for in the harsh NT weather. He then de...

Episode 56 and I’m joined by Renee! Renee joined the navy when she was 18, in 2007 after a rebellious childhood. She spent a total of 6 years in defence. She deployed to Operation resolute in 2009. Having 3 children while in the navy, moving across the country. She discharged in 2013. She now focuses her life on her real estate career and being a mum! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

Episode 55 and I’m joined by Mary from Are You Bogged Mate! After years working in rural and remote Australia, Mary has a knack for communicating with men and helping them tackle adversity and other challenges! Although Mary herself isn’t a veteran, her organization aligns with plenty of the values of our podcast and what we are trying to do with building a community of like minded people!  A...

 Episode 54 and I’m joined by Crowy! Crowy first came on the show on episode 3 and he returns for a special ANZAC Day special! It’s also 5WAD’s first birthday! We talk about the significance of this special day, traditions, history and so much more! Crowy also touches on life since his first episode premiered on the 5 With A Digger network! Huge shoutout to the amazing men and women who have...

 Episode 53 and I’m joined by Rod. He joined the Navy in Jun 2001, his first deployment was to Iraq in 2003 followed by RIMPAC in 2004. Moving to Military Intelligence in 2005, KAAOT in 2006, CTF158 in 2007/8, Newcastle OP Manitou in 2013. He was then posted to Defence Force Recruiting 2014-17, deployed to Bahrain in 2020 and returned to HMAS Brisbane 2021/22. He was medically discharged from...

Episode 52 and I’m joined by Stu. He joined the Royal Marine Commandos as a young Officer in 1985 and got his Green Beret in 1986. He Served for just under twenty years and was deployed on operational tours in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia, Sierra Leone, both Gulf Wars, Rwanda and South Africa. He specialized in Arctic Warfare, Sniper, was a Platoon Weapons Officer as well as Physical Training...

Episode 51 and I’m joined by Simon. Growing up in the Gold Coast with a strong sporting background, and a wholesome loving family, he joined the army at age 17 in 2002. Both his older and younger brothers joining defence too. Simon completed 6 weeks at Kapooka and prepared for his first deployment to The Solomon Islands in 2003. He followed that deployment with two trips to East Timor and two...

WELCOME TO OUR 50TH EPISODE! Episode 50 and I'm joined by my mate Bryze from the Deadass Podcast! Not only does he host his own podcast he also runs a funeral home, pet cremation service and a Harley hearse service. Although Bryze isn't a veteran himself he has hosted countless veteran funerals and offers an insight into the funeral industry. I also wanted to have a yarn with him to celebrate my 5...

Episode 49 and I'm joined by Darren Hurford. Darren enlisted in the Army in 2013 at 27 years old under the DRS program. After completing basic training and Infantry IET’s he went to the AIT program at Holdsworthy, then on to Commando selection in 2014. After being medically withdrawn from the course he was posted to 6 RAR later that year and struggled with the day to day soldier life in the b...