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Real Talk With Caleb

by REAL TALK with Caleb

Real Talk; Real Advice with REAL people!This is a space for us and our guests to discuss everything life can throw at us (obstacles are opportunities). Let’s Get IT! #hardtokill The views expressed are those of the author/podcaster/guests. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.Subscribe and follow for more great, FREE contenthttps://linktr.ee/calebvaden

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Episodes

  1. I Failed as a NCO!

    When I failed as an NCO!

  2. Develop Resilient Airmen By Doing Difficult Things

    Developing resilient Airmen through realistic and difficult environments.

  3. Busy is not leadership

    Substack Article https://linktr.ee/theinformedairman

  4. When It Doesn’t Go Your Way

    Substack Article https://open.substack.com/pub/vadar/p/when-it-doesnt-go-your-way?r=82a2gg&utm_medium=ios

  5. The Air Force Promotion Process: Managing Expectations

    Information about how the Air Force Enlisted promotion system works Article here on Substack https://substack.com/@vadar/note/p-197124075?r=82a2gg&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action

  6. What Is Our Responsibility?

    Just hit play, love y’all!

  7. Service Before Self Isn’t About Burning Yourself Down—It’s About the Profession We Chose

    Service Before Self Isn’t About Burning Yourself Down—It’s About the Profession We Chose

  8. A Reason Your Team Perceives Your ______ Program as a “Good Ole Boy Process”

    Your team didn’t wake up cynical. They learned it. When standards feel flexible, decisions feel opaque, and feedback feels empty, people stop believing the process is about performance. They start believing it’s about proximity. That’s when effort drops, trust erodes, and your program earns a…

    more

  9. Air Force (stratification/EFDP) Specific: Are You Pursuing Excellence?

    Real talk for real Airmen. I drop blunt, battle-tested insight on leadership, excellence, discipline, and the warrior ethos. No fluff, no shortcuts, no easy bus. Just the truth, the standard, and how to rise above average. Charge into the storm & Stay hard to kill. Article here

  10. Stay in the Fight: Building Mental Durability for Airmen

    Stay in the Fight: Building Mental Durability for Airmen Web article In this episode of The Informed Airman, we dig into what it really means to be ready for the fight, and to stay in it. Chief Vaden sits down with Capt Sam Alex, U.S. Air Force Clinical Psychologist, to break down the mental and...

  11. What if More Mental Health Providers Never Show up…?

    What if more mental health providers never show up? I’m not saying we don’t need them; we absolutely do. But what if they just… don’t due to lack of resources? In this episode of The Informed Airman, we talk about facing that reality head-on: how to stop waiting for a rescue that might never…

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  12. The Backbone Speaks! Being A NCO By TSgt Calvert

    Fam, Y’all know the deal, no music, no fluff, straight to the point like we always do! This is a GREAT one that everyone can take valuable insight from and be better because she was willing to share her JET (Judgement, Experience, and Training)! “The Backbone Speaks” with TSgt Calvert Being an…

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  13. Model The Standard

    There’s a lot of noise out there about standards, which ones matter, which ones don’t, and whether leadership really supports those who enforce them. Here’s the truth: Every standard matters. Some may not seem directly tied to launching aircraft, securing networks, or defending the base, but…

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  14. Real Talk from the Truck: Don’t Let Pride Keep You Hungry.

    More helpful information here 🛻 From the Cab — Real Talk: What’s up, fam. Sitting here in the truck, and I just felt like I needed to say this… There’s a lot going on right now. Life, the mission, the uncertainty, and it can all pile up fast. But listen… this is not the time to go silent. If...

  15. NEW USAF PT, LET’s GO!

    AF website for all things PT Article here

  16. Enlisted Force Structure: 7 Sep 2025

    Recording of the newest edition of the USAF’s Enlisted Force Structure (EFS). Read it here:

  17. The Climb was Greater than the Fall: A Story of Resilience and Redemption

    Listen in as we walk through a deeply personal story—from the mountain top of success to a crushing fall, and ultimately, the climb back through resilience, faith, and hard-earned lessons with David DeJesus! More FREE resources here: The Informed Airman

  18. Value Based Leadership Integration with the Crusaders of the 42 ABW

    Discussion between NCOs, SNCOs and CGOs about leadership topics and leader responsibilities. 📝 Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/value-based-leadership-integration-richard-caleb-vaden-kho6eutm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via

  19. The Climb, You Can’t Bring Everyone!

    Do not negate your primary responsibility and obligation while on the climb! Article here!

  20. Advice for SNCOs, from Chief McCool, PACAF Command Chief

    Candid conversation with Chief McCool, the Pacific Air Forces Command Chief about her advice to SNCOs and their importance to our Air Force’s lethality!

  21. Mission Analysis Without Emotion

    How to use the Mission-Resource-Risk (MRR) method to analyze your mission and answer the “hard questions” from higher! The Informed Airman

  22. Forget the Microwave

    🛑 👀 for the shortcut and put in the WORK!

  23. It’s That Important!

    Developing Others: Air Force Professional Development (MPAs & ALQs)

  24. Why Deployable Combat Wings

    Unit of Action Slick Sheet https://www.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/2025SAF/Units_of_Action_Reference_Sheet.pdf Reoptimization for Great Power Competition https://www.af.mil/reoptimization-for-great-power-competition/ USAF Units of Action: Combat Wings, Air Base Wings, Institutional Wings defined >...

  25. Leadership is Vital

    Leadership can make or break the team!

  26. Be A Good Human

    Let’s all just live life being a good human, showing love, kindness, grace, and mercy!

  27. Squadron Readiness Reviews

    Let’s be professional warfighters that: Look the part, Do the part, and Are the part!

  28. Hard To Kill

    What it means and how to be “Hard To Kill”!

  29. How the McConnell’s Do Hard Things & KEEP FIGHTING!

    Listen to this amazing story of pain, grief, heart, decisions, action, and the will to never give up, from the McConnells…the conquers!!

  30. STOP Seeking Affirmation

    STOP Seeking Affirmation!

  31. Self-Control

    A great conversation with SSgt Larson on what self-control means to her! We would all be wise to follow her advice! Article: PDF: Video mentioned in the podcast:

  32. Initiative

    Take the initiative!

  33. Teamwork: Mission Over Function

    See "print" article here: Act 1. Be brilliant at the basics 2. Develop a “I can help” mindset 3. Know our 42 ABW mission 4. Act & look for ways to be a teammate w/ mission contribution 5. Discuss you / your team’s capes to support our mission w/ CC team 6. Develop unit specific trng to spt this…

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  34. The Tribe

    My Tribe Came To My Rescue

  35. Standards

    Accountability: Standards

  36. Do Hard & Difficult Things Well

    We must do the hard & difficult things well, easy will NEVER happen! linktr.ee/theinformedairman

  37. Be the ONE!

    Be the one to reach out to those that may be in pain, don’t wait on them to be the one to reach out and ask for help. Remember, KEEP FIGHTING!!

  38. Don't Let The Enemy In The Front Door!

    My thoughts regarding how we (humans in general) never willing let the "enemy" (in a physical sense) overtake us; however, in the physological space, we simply let the enemy walk right up to us and overtake us!

  39. Weaponized Success

    This is the short intro to the full (print) article that can be located here: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7057330363861254145

  40. Life, Liberty, and Legacy

    A podcast with two of my four sons, where we discuss a little bit about their childhood, their choice and commitment to serve our nation in the Air Force, and about them cementing the legacy of the family business.

  41. Accountability

    A brief story to highlight one of the Air Force Core Competencies: Accountability.

  42. You Can't Surge Trust!

    “Thinking out loud” about surging trust is not the right course of action, strengthening your tribe, taking care of yourself, and being hard to kill!

  43. What Will Your Legacy Be?

    Linktr.ee/calebvaden https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/real-talk-w-caleb-7057330363861254145

  44. Make A Difference … Daily!

    www.linktr.ee/calebvaden

  45. Resilience takes action

    We talk a lot about being resilient, but in my experience, I see a lot of people avoiding the hard things to just talk… Climb the mountains, ride the bull, grieve, get help, run the race, your race, fall, tumble, ugly cry, get back up, help others get back up, reflect, look at the scars and...

  46. Focus on your treasure when you are in the fight

    Focus on those things that are of paramount importance to you when you are backed up against the wall!

  47. Focus on the WINS of 2023 and the OPPORTUNITIES of 2024

    Let's GO!!

  48. Keep going, you are inspiring others!

    Do not grow weary in doing good things!

  49. Remembering "Hustler 6" Keep Pushing

    Just keep pushing through the hard things.

  50. Put some more DOA in your HOOAH

    Put your actions where your mouth is.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Real Talk; Real Advice with REAL people!This is a space for us and our guests to discuss everything life can throw at us (obstacles are opportunities). Let’s Get IT! #hardtokill The views expressed are those of the author/podcaster/guests. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.Subscribe and follow for more great, FREE contenthttps://linktr.ee/calebvaden

HOSTED BY

REAL TALK with Caleb

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Real Talk With Caleb have?

Real Talk With Caleb currently has 91 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Real Talk With Caleb about?

Real Talk; Real Advice with REAL people!This is a space for us and our guests to discuss everything life can throw at us (obstacles are opportunities). Let’s Get IT! #hardtokill The views expressed are those of the author/podcaster/guests. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or...

How often does Real Talk With Caleb release new episodes?

Real Talk With Caleb has 91 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Real Talk With Caleb?

You can listen to Real Talk With Caleb on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Real Talk With Caleb?

Real Talk With Caleb is created and hosted by REAL TALK with Caleb.
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