D-Minus Diaries Podcast

What happens when the paper meant to restrain power begins to tear? This episode starts with a single word— traitor —and follows it across American history, from the frontier experiments of East Tennessee to the fault lines forming in modern Minnesota. Along the way, it examines how law, legitimacy, and restraint break down when political conflict shifts from paper to force. From the Watauga Assoc...

Title: The Silence After Victory Subtitle: When actions speak louder than warnings What happens after the speeches end? In this episode of The D-Minus Diaries , Jim Jones looks at what happens after victory , when the cameras turn off and silence reveals more than speeches ever could. The episode examines a November 18, 2025, video in which six members of Congress warned the U.S. military, the Int...

One bad decision. One flying apple. This episode dives into why we choose fast over wise and how strong leaders slow down when it matters most.🎧 What A Fool I Was💬 What decision would you take back? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dminusdiaries.substack.com

Greetings, I didn’t write a Christmas story this year, so I’m offering music instead. Over the years, I’ve recorded various Christmas songs in my home studio. This piece brings some of those together. I hope you enjoy it, and share it if you’d like. Thank you for following me and for helping me as this new journey begins. My prayer is that you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New...

“Energy is contagious.” In this episode of The D Minus Diaries, Jim Jones walks through a lifetime of discovery—adoption, family secrets, war stories, violence, faith, and the power of a single question: “Tell me something good.” In this story you’ll hear: How a tangled family tree, quiet secrets, and a late revelation about his “real” parents shaped Jim’s early view of the world. How Cain and Abe...

Epstein and You: The Wilderness of Mirrors The D-Minus Diaries This episode isn’t really about Jeffrey Epstein. It’s about you, me, us, and all Americans . It’s about how quickly reputations are destroyed, how public judgment replaces due process, and what happens when justice becomes entertainment. It’s about the court of public opinion, emotional triggers, media obsession, and why this story uns...

DEC 02, 2025 🌌 A Childhood Under the Stars The Secret to Life? Note: This episode is a repost from The D-Minus Diaries, which aired on December 2, 2025 . We’re sharing it again as we’ve expanded the show to all major podcast platforms. In this episode, Jim takes you back to a quiet cow pasture and a childhood friendship with Dwayne Letterman, lying under the stars and wondering how big the univer...

Courage and the Board, Switch, and Belt (Maxim Part I) Note: This episode is a repost from a Substack post dated November 18, 2025. It’s being reshared now that The D-Minus Diaries podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. In this episode, Jim Jones takes listeners back to the first hard lesson that shaped his life. Long before leadership courses, military training, or professional succ...

This episode is a repost of a written piece originally published on Substack on November 10, 2025, and is being shared again now that The D-Minus Diaries is available on all major podcast platforms , including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. November 10 marked the anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald . In this episode, Jim Jones reflects on that tragedy through a personal stor...

This episode is a repost from Substack, originally published on November 2, 2025. I am reposting it here as The D-Minus Diaries is now available across all major podcast outlets. A look at how America ended up in another shutdown and what it reveals about leadership, pride, and the people caught in the middle. Inspired by two bull elk locking antlers, Jim Jones breaks down the crisis and offers pr...

If you’ve ever hit a tough moment and thought, “What now?” this show is for you. The D Minus Diaries is about moving forward, one honest story at a time. In this first episode, Jim Jones shares the heart behind the project. From growing up in East Tennessee to serving in the Coast Guard and Special Forces, to rebuilding more than once, his life proves that resilience is built, not gifted. These st...