PUNK BRATS PODCAST

Daniel Minx’s story begins with a loss he would never fully understand, yet one that would forever shape his life. Before Daniel was even born, his father was tragically killed in a noncombat incident aboard his destroyer while stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Though he never had the opportunity to meet him, his father’s service and sacrifice became a quiet but powerful part of Daniel’s story. L...

From growing up as a Navy brat to spending his formative years in Guam, Joey Swatzell’s journey is anything but ordinary. Living overseas from middle school through high school, Joey was shaped by a unique blend of cultures, experiences, and the resilience that comes with military family life. In Season 4, Episode 2 of Punk Brats , Joey shares how those early years abroad helped shape his perspect...

On this powerful season opener of Punk Brats, we sit down with YouTube creative content creator Paul Brickey of Easy Acres Homestead to unpack a life defined by grit, growth, and grit again. From growing up an USAF Brat, to running away in high school while living in Seoul, to serving as an Army combat medic, Paul’s journey is anything but ordinary. Now living off the grid and leading a thriving h...

In the final episode of Punk Brats Season 3, we sit down with USAF Brat, Brett Gentile , who shares how growing up as a military brat shaped his path from Army veteran to actor, writer, and producer.  Brett reflects on how resilience, adaptability, and constant change prepared him for both military service and life in Hollywood, including his work on movies such as We’re the Millers , Marvel’s Cap...

Lincoln Millstein is an accomplished news executive and a current member of the Stars and Stripes Publisher’s Advisory Board. The son of a Taiwanese mother and an American service member, he grew up as a military brat and learned English by reading Stars and Stripes while living in Taiwan. His upbringing instilled in him a lifelong passion for journalism and the role of a free press in democracy....

From Base to Backwoods: Army Brat Andrew Scott Shares His Journey to Frontline Heroes Outdoors .  Andrew is a proud Army Brat and co-founder of Frontline Heroes Outdoors. Growing up, Andrew moved from place to place, like many military kids do. Through all the change, one thing remained constant: his pride in his father’s service and his identity as an Army brat.  Tune in as Andrew shares how his...

From Air Force Brat to the Stars and Stripes, Max Lederer shares about his extraordinary journey through Law School, his military service in the U.S. Army, and how he became the publisher of the Stars and Stripes newspaper. Stars and Stripes is an independent news organization that serves the U.S. military community. It primarily provides news and information to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, t...

In Season Two, Episode Three of Punk Brats, we hear from the Hawes sisters, Kayla and Julia. They share their experiences of constant change, saying goodbye to friends, and starting over, as well as the deeply personal challenges of living with a father struggling with PTSD.  Join us for an honest and heartfelt conversation about the unique journey of military kids and how one sister ultimately fo...

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 1 of the Punk Brats !!  Larry "Scott" Teakell , a distinguished Army Brat, embarked on his military career by enlisting in the United States Army in 1995. With a commitment to service, he dedicated himself to the vital role of a medic, providing critical care and support to his fellow soldiers. Throughout his career, he completed three tours in Iraq, as well...

Get ready for the explosive season two finale of Punk Brats Podcast! We’re bringing you the incredible Chris Soriano – a true trailblazer in the world of filmmaking, acting, and entrepreneurship. Known for his dynamic contributions to both entertainment and social causes, Chris has made waves on major platforms like CNN, ABC News, and NBC. But that’s not all – in 2018, he shattered records by crea...

Natassia Cherne is commander of the United States Air Force's 361st Recruiting Squadron, a landmark achievement that not only highlights her exceptional leadership skills but also serves as an inspiration to countless others striving to break through barriers in the military. Her journey to this prestigious position is a testament to her unwavering hard work, relentless perseverance, and an u...

Get ready for an electrifying episode as the Punk Brats sit down with none other than Mark Smith —a social media powerhouse who's racked up over 2.1 million followers and counting! Mark is the creative genius behind the viral sensation "Glad I'm Not A Fish!"—a brand that's taken the internet by storm with its quirky humor and relatable content. Whether you’re a longtime fa...

Marc McKinney experienced moves during his childhood as a result of his father’s career in the USAF. Despite his early travels, he continued to relocate an additional 21 times later in life. After his father’s honorable discharge, he transitioned into a notorious role as a drug dealer in Texas. This prompted Marc’s family to traverse various locations across the state, ultimately culminating in Ma...

Taiyo Reimers began documenting the demolition of the Negishi Heights Naval Housing Area in Yokohama during the summer of his senior year at Kinnick High School (Yo-Hi), Yokosuka, Japan. From 2021 to 2023, he filmed at Negishi over the course of 16 trips and interviewed over 40 past community members, in producing a 26-minute video on the values that defined the Negishi Heights experience. A Negis...

Brat Legacy Films is a military brat-run film company in pre-production for the documentary, Brat Ambition , about military-dependent life. Marine Brat Kimberly McKay started Brat Legacy Films in 2021 with old Kubasaki High School classmates John Schwab and Brad Heath. Brat Ambition will feature an “American Idol” runner-up, professional athletes, musicians and actors, along with everyday people....

Cynthia Doss is an Army brat, but she refers to herself as a different vintage kind-of-a brat. Her father was inducted into the segregated United States Army in 1947 and served during integration and the turbulent 1960's. After 21 years of service, he retired in 1968. Continuing to work with Veterans for over 30 years, he went on to become the state of Kansas' Commander for the Disabled...

Deployed to Vietnam in July 1967, Brigadier General Kenneth Fleenor ‘s F-4 Phantom was shot down on December 17. During his captivity at the infamous Hanoi Hilton, he endured starvation and torture. Patti shares what it was like to be a military Brat of a Veteran who was a POW. She was 10 years-old when he was captured and 16 when he was released. Let us never forget those who never came home. WWW...

An Army Brat born in Germany, Matt Gamble is one of the founders of the Korea-U.S. fashion brand, Diazable . Recently recognized in The Korea Times Newspaper for his creative brand, Matt shares about his Army Brat years with the Punk Brats. If you catch him at one of his stands, Gamble may introduce himself as Guksu, a Korean word for noodles. What is Diazable? In its purest essence, Diazable is t...

In Writer-Director Donna Musil 's film, BRATS: Our Journey Home, U.S. military brats share intimate memories about their unique childhoods - growing up on military bases around the world, then struggling to fit into an American lifestyle with which they have little in common. Narrated and featuring songs by Kris Kristofferson . Interviews include the late General Norman Schwarzkopf ; military...

In his book, ‘ Dear Military Teen ,’ Marine Corp Brat Shanon Hyde explores crucial life lessons in the obstacles that military brats face. Reflecting on the moves and deployments that his own family endured, Shanon provides honest advice for military teens looking to take their next steps in high school, college, and beyond. Shanon also equips military teens with the essential skills of maintainin...

Overseas Brats⁠ is considered one of the largest U.S. military brat organizations. Created in 1986 by Joe Condrill, his mission was to bring ALL brats around the world together in one place for camaraderie, fun, and sharing about each other's brat heritage. Son of an Army officer, Joe lived in 21 locations in his 19 years as an Army Brat. He attended DoDDS schools in Boeblingen, Germany and O...

Shawna Kenney is the author of the award-winning memoir I Was a Teenage Dominatrix (Last Gasp), editor of the anthology Book Lovers: Sexy Stories from Under the Covers (Seal Press), co-author of Imposters (Mark Batty Publisher), and co-author of the new oral history Live at the Safari Club: A History of HarDCore Punk in the Nation’s Capital 1988-1998 (Rare Bird Books). She is a Contributing Editor...

Jon Coker is an Emmy-nominated producer and the audience engagement specialist for KENS 5, San Antonio’s CBS affiliate . He was born in Germany on a U.S. Air Force base and says he was “raised on an airplane” in a military family. Experiencing different cultures and countries around the world at such a young age contributed to his fascination with people and their stories. Since his early childhoo...

Bitten by the travel bug as a preschooler when her family moved abroad for the first time, Sage Scott is addicted to travel. From her nomadic upbringing in a military family to her personal and professional travels as an adult, Sage has visited all 50 states, lived abroad twice, and explored nearly 30 countries. Meet Sage! This episode is brought to you by Caitlyn Adams, a one-stop-realtor for all...

Sit tight after the podcast to hear our first Punk Brat voicemail! He used to be called Littlejohn by his friends because Dwight “Andre” Littlejohn was short at Camp Zama middle school. However, after eating all of his Wheaties and a growth spurt, Littlejohn became the big man on campus at the Capitol working for Capitol Police and looking out for Congress leaders. Ambition runs high for Littlejoh...