Episode 136: The Changing of the Guard: How War Changed the British Army

In this episode, Frankie speaks with journalist and author Simon about his military experience, his book The Changing of the Guard, and the deeper story behind how the British Army evolved through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They discuss accountability, institutional culture, recruitment, media scrutiny, and the tension between nostalgia and reality inside military life. Simon also shares how his brief time in the army gave him an insider’s understanding of its language and culture, while his work as a journalist gave him the distance to write honestly about what changed — and what didn’t. It’s a thoughtful, candid conversation about service, responsibility, and the pressures on modern institutions.