The Old Paratrooper Podcast

Mark Ormrod wasn’t supposed to survive. On Christmas Eve 2007, one step on an IED in Afghanistan tore his life apart—both legs gone, right arm gone… pronounced dead on the battlefield. But he didn’t stay dead. Dragged back from the edge in the back of a Chinook, Mark became the first triple amputee to survive the Afghanistan conflict—and what followed wasn’t recovery… it was war all over again. Re...

From the streets of Sheffield to the unforgiving reality of the Falklands, this is the story of a man forged through pressure, discipline, and war. In this episode, John Hunter takes you inside the brutal world of Parachute Regiment training, where only the relentless survive—and into the chaos of real combat, where training is no longer a drill, but a lifeline. We go beyond the headlines. Into th...

"HE DREW THE FIRE… SO HIS MEN COULDLIVE" In 2006, in the killing fields of Helmand, one man refused to hesitate. Corporal Bryan Buddof the Parachute Regiment didn’t just survive an ambush—he took control of it. Charging forward under intense enemy fire, he broke the attack, hunted downTaliban positions, and turned chaos into dominance. But it didn’t endthere. Later that same day, with hi...

Ex Brit Mil? Struggling with your hearing? Click below to see if you are eligible for compensation , I did.https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch Full Episode below and available on spotify https://youtu.be/gLdtQvQ9uTo Pat Smith has lived both sides of the spectrum—extreme pressure and raw humour. His journey through military training wasn’t just tough, it was relentless. Pushe...

Full Podcast below https://youtu.be/enbsfNZY7yA British military and struggling with you hearing. Click Below to get started... https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch This isn’t history—it’s lived experience. An SAS soldier breaks down the brutal reality of Northern Ireland’s hidden war, where the lines between right and wrong blurred, and survival came down to seconds. No poli...

OPPORTUNITY DOESN’T KNOCK — YOU KICK THE DOOR INEveryone’s waiting. Waiting for the right time. Waiting for permission. Waiting for someone to notice them. Let me tell you something—no one is coming. Opportunity doesn’t knock on your door…because most people never even build a door worth knocking on. You want a better life? You want more money, more freedom, more purpose? Then stop waiting—and sta...

The Gibraltar Trading Co. is a veteran-owned and operated clothing brand based in the UK, founded by a former Royal Marine Commando and Firefighter. The company is built on an ethos of "Hard Work, Integrity & Sacrifice in Service" and is well-known as the "Home of Silkies" (specialist short shorts) in the United Kingdom.https://gibraltartradingco.com #veteran #britisharmy #...

This is the reality from the frontline—no filters, no politics, just truth. EX SAS Soldier Billy Billingham breaks down what’s really happening on the streets. Police are out there doing their job, putting hands on dangerous individuals, making arrests that should mean something… but don’t. Because the system keeps letting them walk. We’re talking about violent offenders—people assaulting police o...

Ex Brit Mil and struggling with your hearing? Click below to check your eligibility.https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch Forged in the ranks of the Parachute Regiment, he learned early that comfort is a lie—and pressure reveals everything. Earning his place the hard way, he built resilience where most people break. From elite soldiering to the brutal reality of life beyond th...

Ex Brit Mil and struggling with your hearing? Click below to check your eligibility.https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch Kris “Tanto” Paronto isn’t just a former Ranger—he’s a man who lived through one of the most brutal firefights in modern history. On The Old Paratrooper Podcast, we sit down with Kris Paronto to uncover the truth behind the chaos. As a CIA security contract...

Ex Brit Mil and struggling with your hearing? Click below to check your eligibility. https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch FULL PODCAST BELOW https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Vb4708KLrzG5VLU8fiAwW?si=DzQh5ojcTBunrsXtJu3OWQ Pat Smith’s story isn’t polished—and that’s exactly why it hits. After leaving the military, he found himself in that all-too-familiar place many veterans...

Former England international. Elite athlete. Relentless mindset. James Haskell doesn’t do average. From the brutality of top-level rugby to the chaos of life after the game, he’s built a reputation on saying what others won’t. In this episode, Haskell opens up on pressure, identity, mental battles, and what really happens when the spotlight fades. No filters. No clichés. Just hard truths from a ma...

The world of the Special Air Service is built on silence, precision, and men willing to walk into the dark when everyone else walks away. Todays guest is one of those men. Ex British Military? Struggling with hearing? CLICK BELOW TO SEE IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch Melvyn Downes is a former UK Special Forces SAS operator—a soldier forged in the har...

Ever wonder what true courage looks like? 🌟 Meet Joshua Leakey, the paratrooper who ran into gunfire to save lives. Tag someone who needs to hear this incredible story! In August 2013, during a routine patrol in Helmand province, a joint force found themselves ambushed by Taliban fighters. As chaos unfolded, Lance Corporal Joshua Leakey refused to stand back. He sprinted across open ground under...

Ex British Military ? Struggling with your hearing ? Click belowhttps://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binchSniper Ted Shirley talks about going toe to toe with an enemy sniperFULL PODCAST BELOWhttps://youtu.be/8k29h9KZVCA?si=WQfCy0zcsl66uFTs#snipers #britisharmy #veteran #military #mindset #resilience #war #afghanistan

Ex British military? Struggling with your hearing? CLICK BELOW👇🏻https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binchIn this episode of the Old Paratrooper podcast, Ted Shirley shares his remarkable journey from a young boy in North Wales to becoming a sniper in the British Army. He discusses his motivations for joining the military, the challenges he faced during training, and the realitie...

Ex-Military ? Struggling with hearing ? Click below to see if your eligible to claim. https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch Chris Binch shares his extensive experience in the murky world of close protection, including his time in Iraq, key incidents, and lessons learned. This episode offers a rare inside look at the dangers, skills, and realities of private security operations...

Served in the military and left after 1987? Struggling to hear your mukkas down the pub? TV too loud? Click below and start your claim immediately before it's too late. 👇https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch In this episode of the Old Paratrooper podcast, retired Major General Adrian Freer shares insights from his extensive military career, focusing on his experiences during...

Leeroy Wheeler didn’t just grow up on a council estate — he was forged there. Concrete walls, tight money, people telling him to "be realistic." The kind of place where dreams are something you hear about, not something you chase. But Leeroy wasn’t built to stay boxed in. When he scraped together enough to buy his first property, something clicked. He realised this wasn’t just a purchase — it was...

Served in the military and left after 1987? Struggling to hear your mukkas down the pub? TV too loud? Click below and start your claim immediately before it's too late. 👇https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binchIn this episode of the Old Paratrooper podcast, host Chris Binch engages in a lighthearted conversation with former Royal Anglian soldier and comedian Pat Smith. They expl...

Served in the military and left after 1987? Struggling to hear your mukkas down the pub? TV too loud? Click below and start your claim immediately before it's too late. 👇 https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch In this episode of the Old Paratrooper podcast, Chris Binch welcomes back Bob Shepherd, a former SAS soldier, to discuss his extensive experiences in jungle warfare. Bob...

In this conversation, Chris Binch shares his experiences as a firefighter and a member of the parachute regiment, discussing the challenges, fears, and misconceptions associated with both professions. He reflects on close calls, the psychological aspects of fear and adrenaline, and the importance of mental health. Binchy emphasizes the camaraderie and leadership within these fields, while also add...

David Smith, better known as The Mindset Soldier, is a prominent British mindset coach and former soldier recognized for his work in mental resilience and high-performance. Ex Military? Left after 1987? Struggling with your hearing? Click below👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binchKey Background & ExperienceMilitary Service: A former British Army veteran...

Ex Military? Left after 1987? Struggling with your hearing? Click below👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binchBob Shepherd as an adviser to a media team, Khost Province, Afghanistan. 2007Bob Shepherd is a British Special Forces veteran, and co-author of three books with journalist Patricia Sabga. Their first collaboration, The Circuit, was a Sunday Times Top...

Served in the military and left after 1987? Struggling to hear your mukkas down the pub? TV too loud? Click below and start your claim immediately before it's too late. 👇https://veterans-for-veterans.co.uk/affiliates/chris-binch Dave "DC" Coleman is a former Royal Marines Commando and the founder of Civvy 2 Commando (C2C), a training and coaching platform. His work focuses on preparing civilians...