The Great Guns Podcast

Joining the Army wasn't part of Fern Wise 's plan. As an international netball player, she joined for one reason: to continue playing the sport she loved while getting paid to do it. What followed was eight years in the British Army, representing the Army and Wales in elite sport, instructing new recruits and discovering strengths she never knew she had. In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast ,...

Behind every serving person is a family making sacrifices too. In this special episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James Scott speaks with Lily Shelley , a military child, advocate and member of the Naval Children's Charity Youth Council, about what it's really like growing up in a military family. Lily's father served in the Royal Marines from 2002 until 2014 and was medically discharged following...

Leaving the military can be daunting, especially when you've spent more than two decades in uniform. For Steven Mullan , however, transition wasn't something that happened overnight—it was something he had been preparing for years. In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, Steven shares his journey from joining the Army at 23, serving 24 years in the Royal Artillery, and eventually stepping into...

Leaving the Armed Forces is one of the biggest decisions anyone in service will make, yet many people approach it without fully understanding their value, their options, or the financial foundations they have already built. In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James Scott sits down with Major General Neil Marshall OBE , Chief Executive of the Forces Pension Society, to discuss leadership, tr...

Leaving the military can feel like stepping into the unknown, but for former Royal Marine medic Ryan Watters, it was also the beginning of a new mission. In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, Ryan shares his journey from a young man with no military background to earning the coveted Green Beret and serving as a Royal Marine medic. He reflects on the challenges of training, the opportunities t...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with former West Midlands Police officer Ian Cook , founder of Blue Light Lifestyle , to talk openly about policing, wellbeing and the realities of life behind the badge. After serving for 18 years across neighbourhood policing, response teams and traffic, Ian shares the highs and lows of a career dedicated to public service — from chasing...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast, James sits down with John Dailey , a US Marine veteran with over 20 years’ service, including time in US Special Operations Command and as part of the team that helped build the Marine Raiders from the ground up. John shares his journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a sniper and leader in one of the world’s most elite military environments. But...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Fair Metcalfe — Army veteran, former Combat Medic, and now PhD researcher — for a powerful and fun conversation that spans military service, transition, education, and breaking down barriers around learning differences . Fair shares her journey from joining the Army at just 16, serving on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, through t...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Symon Smith , an Army veteran with 14 years’ service, to unpack the realities of transition — from planning your exit to navigating life on the outside. Symon shares a refreshingly honest take on his journey — not driven by a lifelong ambition to serve, but by a decision made in the moment when faced with an alternative path. But whe...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Jenny Roberts , RAF veteran turned coach, for a conversation about transition, identity, and stepping into a new chapter with confidence . Jenny shares her journey from life in the RAF to building her own coaching business, and the realities that come with leaving a structured environment and stepping into the unknown. This episode e...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Erika Morris for a powerful and honest conversation about identity, voice, and stepping into life after service . Erika shares her journey of navigating transition, the challenges of being heard, and the importance of owning your story — even when it feels uncomfortable . This episode cuts straight to the heart of what many veterans...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Jonny Ball — Army veteran, former Intelligence Corps NCO, Afghanistan veteran, Invictus Games competitor, and leading voice in the UK veteran community. Jonny’s story isn’t a straight line. From joining the Army Cadet Force at 13 , serving as an infantry soldier during the closing phase of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, to later d...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James speaks with Adam Walker , a retired U.S. Marine with 25 years of service, combat veteran of Iraq, Purple Heart recipient, and now published writer. Adam shares his journey from growing up in rural North Carolina, joining the Marines at 17, and serving across multiple deployments — including intense tours in Iraq where he was wounded in combat. But...

In this deeply personal episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Rachel Webster — 24-year Army veteran, former Military Police officer, commissioned officer, corporate business leader, and now advocate for veterans affected by lawfare. Rachel shares her journey from: One of the first female welders at British Steel Joining the Women’s Royal Army Corps and Military Police Operationa...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Lisa Hodge , Commercial Officer within MOD and co-founder of the Defence Dyslexia Network (DDN) . Lisa isn’t a veteran — but she is making a serious impact within Defence. What started as quiet conversations about dyslexia in a kitchen area has grown into an award-winning network supporting personnel across the Army, Navy, RAF and MO...

n this episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Annette Berry — Army veteran, former Theatre Sister, brain haemorrhage survivor, and now Programme Lead for the Military Women Programme at the Forces Employment Charity. Annette’s journey is anything but linear. From joining the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, commissioning as a theatre sister, and loving life in uniform...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Paul Brenton — a 32-year Armed Forces veteran who now works with the Forces Transition Group , helping service leavers navigate life beyond uniform. Paul shares his journey from joining at 16 years old (inspired by his father’s service), through decades in the Adjutant General’s Corps, to consciously planning and executing a smooth t...

In this episode of the Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with John Stephenson , a 22-year Royal Signals veteran and founder of the Forces Transition Group (FTG) . John speaks candidly about: Leaving as a Regimental Sergeant Major Feeling like “something” in service… and “nothing” the day after Two years of identity loss and frustration Toxic workplaces in civvy street Why transition is broken —...

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast , James is joined by Kirk Davis , a serving soldier in the RLC and ambassador for the Defence Dyslexia Network (DDN) , for one of the most honest conversations the podcast has hosted. Kirk shares what it’s really like to serve with dyslexia — from leaving school feeling “stupid”, hiding behind humour, rank, and delegation, to finally finding a safe space w...

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Stacey Denyer , a 19-year RAF veteran , and Invictus Games medallist, to talk honestly about identity, resilience, and what happens when the structure of military life disappears. Stacey shares her journey through military service, competitive sport, MS, and transition — including the mental and emotional challenge of stepping away f...

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast , James is joined by Tom Burgess for a frank and necessary conversation about pressure, identity, mental health, and responsibility . Tom opens up about life under constant scrutiny, and how easily struggles can be hidden behind strength, success, and status. He speaks honestly about moments of poor decision-making, accountability, and the importance of co...

In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Matt Clayton , a US Navy veteran who’s moved into coaching, fitness, and mental resilience. Matt shares the real story — joining the military instead of taking football scholarship offers, attempting the SEAL pipeline, life on a ship, and then landing in a riverine squadron where things got properly hands-on: fast boats, weapons, and...

What happens when the uniform comes off… and the “comfort blanket” disappears? In this episode of The Great Guns Podcast , James sits down with Georgina Symonds (currently serving in the Army Reserve after a long regular career) to talk about the real transition journey — the identity shift, imposter syndrome, the mental load of “there’s loads of support… but it’s a minefield”, and why routine + c...

She's been called a fairy, a fluffy dice distributor, and the woman with the dog—but what Natasha Hill actually is… is a force of nature. A 26-year veteran of the UK police service, Natasha’s lived through the frontlines of child protection, anti-terrorism, personal trauma, and full-on burnout. And she came back swinging—armed with compassion, EMDR, a cocker spaniel named Murphy, and a mission to...

You can’t fight if you can’t eat. You can’t move if there’s no fuel. And you can’t win if the supplies don’t get there. In this episode, Frank Davis takes us deep into the beating heart of military operations — logistics . Forget the Hollywood image of combat; this is the real story of the people who make sure the frontline never runs dry. From convoy runs through Iraq to building and adapting sup...