Tracer Burnout

In this episode, Navy veteran Tim Eliopoulos joins us in the virtual studio to tell us about his journey from college dropout to SWAT officer. The Navy was the beginning of his journey, but certainly not the end, as Tim became a gym manager, a mortgage broker, a government contractor, and a campus cop - then made his way through the law enforcement ranks to achieve his dream of being on a SWAT tea...

Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Joe "Bulldog" Adcox had a lot going on when he came to the studio for a quick chat! He just attended the annual gathering of Leathernecks Motorcycle Club, got married, and is in the middle of a road trip to get together with several Bulldog Essential Fitness (BEF) clients.  Our second returning guest, Joe tells us about his history with the Leathernecks, the cha...

Just a few months into her retirement, Navy veteran Candace Esquivel joins us to battle her allergies and tell us about her career as a Navy cryptologist (not cryptozoologist).  Leaving the "freakshow" of Twinsburg, Ohio, to follow her interest in military intelligence, the Navy took Candace across the world to gather intelligence on America's adversaries. She chased new challenges...

Special Forces veteran, Mr. Kevin "Edge" Edgerton, joins us in the virtual studio to tell us a bit about his own personal fitness journey, how his Special Forces experience helped him find his niche, and why 18A Fitness is the place to go if you want to be physically prepared for Army or Air Force Special Operations selection.  Whether you want to be an operator or you're just getti...

"That was the first time I saw anti-aircraft artillery getting shot up at us." With a legendary military family history going back to the Revolution, it's almost as if Air Force veteran, nurse, and writer, Ms. Mary Howe, was genetically predisposed to service. She tells us about choosing enlistment over college, the extensive training pipeline to become an AC-130 gunner, her multipl...

For our third annual Memorial Day episode, Gold Star Mother, Mrs. Christina Kazakavage, joins us in the studio to tell us about her son, Air Force Technical Sergeant Adam Ginnet, who was killed in Afghanistan by an IED.  We talk about her family’s long history of service, why Adam chose the Air Force and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and the things that he valued most. We also discuss the ard...

Our guest for this Quick Hit is Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Mark O'Loughlin, who has written a new book on leadership. With decades of leadership experience in both the military and civilian sectors, Mark has five simple rules that any leader at any level in any field can learn and implement to improve their team and themselves. Whether you're a CEO or a junior NCO, Mark's Validated L...

Warrior Dad speaks Old battles echo through smoke We sit and listen. Mr. TJ Baird, aka The Warrior Dad, stopped by the Tracer Burnout studio to tell us about his multiple decades in the Army - or at least some of that time. Willing to add another few decades to an already long lineage of service, TJ knew it wasn't going to be in the Navy, and it wasn't going to be as an infantryman.  Fro...

“That’s where I got my callsign, Yoko, because I broke up the band.” Navy veteran, history podcaster, and YouTuber, Mrs. Jenn Bennie (aka Yoko), joins us in our virtual studio for this episode to tell us about her time as a Navy helicopter pilot.  From growing up as a military brat to falling in love with aviation and from search and rescue missions to finding new passions in American history and...

Army veteran and veteran filmmaker, Mr. Erik Bernard, joins us from exotic Canada for this Quick Hit. We discuss what got him interested in filmmaking, the events that pushed him to pursue it as a second career, and some of the industry ups and downs that he's learned along the way. Plus diva directors, clueless film students, and so much more! Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay. Suppor...

“Drugs and nurses, son.” All he wanted to be when he enlisted was a "hard hat, torch burning diver,” but Navy veteran, Mr. Brenden McMullen, ended up doing everything else instead. From a short stint in a hospital basement, to 1st Force Recon, to capturing enemy prisoners in Operation Desert Storm, to training disobedient dolphins to find enemy divers; Mr. McMullen's time in the Navy was...

“You’re not gonna make it here.” Army veteran and host of The Strategic Veteran Podcast, Mr. Adam Peters, swings through the Tracer Burnout studio to tell us all about the highs and lows of a military career cut short by injuries (and possibly malpractice). From growing up in rural Indiana and being rejected by other military branches to multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and from leade...

Army Veteran and fellow podcaster, Mr. Leo Bañuelos, joins us in the Tracer Burnout Studio for this Quick Hit - and he brought tequila! He tells us about the training exercise that ended his career prematurely, how he got into podcasting, some of the challenges of being a one-man operation, and why sometimes the only option is to “keep going in wet boots.” Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay....

Our first Korean War veteran, Mr. Bobby Lambert, joins us in-studio to tell us about his experiences in the Forgotten War.  He tells us about being rejected by the Navy, his mother signing him up for the Army, cold weather training in Japan, and freezing his tail off in Korea.  From sniper fire to Pork Chop Hill and from checking for booby traps to delayed onset PTSD and dreaming of becoming an en...

“I made that decision to live my life in his honor.”  In this episode, Army veteran and country music star, Mr. Ryan Weaver, joins us in our virtual studio. He tells us how he followed the family tradition of service and following his brothers' example to transition from analyzing intelligence to piloting helicopters.  He also discusses the upside to getting to see the 'big picture'...

In this Quick Hit, Army veteran, Mr. JP Lane, joins us in our virtual studio to tell us about his devastating injuries in Afghanistan, how faith and music helped him recover physically and mentally, and why he doesn't have the voice for country music. https://www.jpsjourney.com/ Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay. Support the show https://tracerburnout.com/

“Marine Corps bootcamp is the funniest place that you are not allowed to laugh.” Marine Corps veteran, Mr. JP Sircy II, sits down with us in the Tracer Burnout studio to tell us about his impulsivity leading him to follow a family tradition of service. From monthly training as a Reservist to full-time chaos in Fallujah, Iraq, to a surprising exit from the Corps - Mr. Sircy's time in uniform w...

In this Quick Hit, we are celebrating two years of Tracer Burnout and all of the lessons learned the hard way since we began. There are many of them; from our origin story to embarrassing failures to “Kevin McAllister” trying to rip us off, we cover quite a few things to give the listener a little peek behind the curtain.  Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.  Support the show https://tracerb...

“No flag - no bag.” *Content Warning: In this episode, we discuss sexual assault, which may be distressing for some. Listener discretion is advised.* Air Force veteran and artist, Mrs. Yelizaveta “Liz” Taylor, joins us in our virtual studio for this episode to tell us about her service in not one, but two different career paths she had while in service.  From immigrating from Ukraine to the US, to...

Inventor, author, entrepreneur, and Army and law enforcement veteran, Mr. Steven Ferrell, joins us in the virtual studio for our first Quick Hit of 2026! Steven tells us about how his injury led him to an invent a unique piece of fitness equipment (BenchBlokz), start his own business, and continue to invent more fitness related gear.  He also tells us about the flood of copycats and knock-offs tha...

"I was a product of the Cold War."  Army veteran, Mr. Bob Charles, joins us in-studio for this episode to tell us about his journey. From joining the Army Reserves and mobilizing for Desert Storm, to slinging pizzas and concrete after separation; rejoining after 9/11 and deploying to Iraq, joining the Civil Affairs Corps; golfing with 2-star generals, angry mothers-in-law, and pink soju...

We're kicking off 2026 with our first Navy SEAL! Mr. Tommy Richardson joins us in studio to tell us about being bullied as kid, following the family tradition of service into the Marine Corps, and getting issued riot gear after the September 11th attacks. The Corps may have sent him to the Philippines, Iraq, and Haiti, but the fun really started when he decided to become a SEAL. From a busted...

It's the final episode of 2025! We begin with a little bit of self-reflection, a lot of thanks for our audience and guests, and the obligatory gift exchange.  Then it's time for another international Christmas journey as Dan leads Roger through the traditions and cuisines that people may encounter if they can't be home for the holidays.  Afterwards, we return home to relax with a ta...

Mrs. Lisa Kalkes joins us for this Quick Hit to tell us about Veteran Benefits Guide, how they help veterans get the benefits they deserve and how they’re different from so-called “claim sharks”, and a little advice for veterans looking to file their first claim. Theme song by EduardBykovets via Pixabay.  Support the show https://tracerburnout.com/

“I’m angry at God and so if I can just convince myself I don’t believe in Him, maybe I don’t have to feel this anymore.” In this episode, we are joined in-studio by Army veteran and pastor, Mr. John Murphy. John tells us about his family's long line of aviators, his mom trying to discourage him from joining the military, some sobering experiences in Afghanistan, his struggles to adjust after...