Skip to content
The Commander's Voice podcast artwork

PODCAST · history

The Commander's Voice

by Ben Powers

Talking military history

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed May 10, 2022 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Episode 54: The Blade Runners, Part 2, Controlled Delivery

    Author and retired customs agent Nick Jacobellis is back with more exciting stories of the 1980s drug war!

  2. Episode 53: The Blade Runners, Part 1

    A first for The Commander's Voice! Veteran customs agent Nick Jacobellis shares his story of working with a variety of military branches and law enforcement agencies in 1980s Miami, Florida. A departure from our usual guests, Nick's stories are better than anything Hollywood could imagine!

  3. Episode 52: Meet "Patrick the Paratrooper"!

    Chris Langlois, grandson of Doc Roe of Easy Company 2/506th PIR, comes on the show to discuss his latest book "Patrick the Paratrooper". Written for elementary school children, the book is part of Chris' iniitaitve to keep the legacy of the men of Easy Company alive, and to share their values of...

  4. Episode 51: “Angels Against the Sun”: An interview with author James Fenelon

    Down From Heaven Comes Eleven and There’s Hell to Pay Below. Author James Fenelon discusses his new history of the 11th Airborne Division in WWII “Angels Against the Sun”.

  5. Episode 50: “With The Old Breed”: An interview with Henry Sledge, son of US Marine Eugene Sledge

    Author, podcaster and historian Henry Sledge discusses the impact of his father's classic memoir "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa". Eugene Sledge's seering account is arguably the most powerful American combat story to emerge from World War 2. Henry discusses the impact of his father's...

  6. Episode 49: “Never Give Up the Jump”: An Airborne Odyssey with the 508th PIR.

    Authors Susan and Jack Talley share their experience writing about the wartime service of Susan’s father as a paratroop officer.

  7. Episode 48: Brothers For Life: A Band of Brothers discussion with George Luz Jr.

    Friend of the show George Luz ( @therealgeorgeluzjr.4690) is back to share a veritable trove of letters the men of Easy Company sent to one another and their familes after the fighting stopped.

  8. Episode 47: "Leading the Way to Victory": An Interview with Mark Vlahos

    My very first guest Mark Vlahos, COL, USAF (Ret.) and friend of the show, returns to discuss his latests book, "Leading the Way to Victory: A History of the 60th Troop Carrier group, 1940-1945".

  9. Episode 43: “Marching Home: Union Veterans and their Unending Civil War”

    Dr. Brian Matthew Jordan joins the podcast and shares his insights on the challenges Union Army veterans faced in the years after 1865. Dr Jordan’s book “Marching Home: Union Veterans and their Unending Civil War” is available from Liveright Publishing.

  10. Episode 40: "Masters of Mayhem": An interview with James Stejskal

    Author and former Special Forces soldier James Stejskal takes the time to share his take on the birth of British Special Operations Forces during World War One, and the role armored cars and other combat arms in creating “Hedgehog Force” in support of the Arab Revolt. James’ book Masters of…

    more
  11. Episode 39: "Attack at Daylight and Whip Them": An interview with author Greg Mertz

    Greg Mertz breaks down the Battle of Shiloh for us on this episode. Greg Al's book "Attack at Daylight and Whip Them" is available from Savas Beatie Publishing as part of their excellent Emerging Civil War series.

  12. Episode 38: "The Boy Generals": An interview with author Adolfo Ovies

    Al Ovies drops by to discuss the early careers of George Custer and Wesley Merritt, their burgeoning rivalry and its imapct on the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Al's book "The Boy Generals: George Custer, Wesley Merrit and the Cavalry of the Army of the…

    more
  13. Episode 37: An interview with Andy Biggio, author of "The Rifle"

    Andrew Biggio, Author / Police Officer / USMC Combat Veteran, discusses how his journey documenting the stories of World War Two veterans

  14. Episode 36: Interview with Dr. Chris Mackowski, co-editor of "The Emerging Civil War Series"

    Dr. Chris Mackowski joins the podcast to discuss The Emerging Civil War book series, dedicated to introducing readers to a wide variety of Civl War related subjects.

  15. Episode 35: Band of Brothers Reunite

    My friends Chris Langlois and George Luz Jr return to discuss the legacy of Band of Brothers reunions. For 75 years the men of Easy Company and their descendents have met annually to commemorate the past and celebrate the present. Chris and George share some great stories of these men and their...

  16. Episode 34: George Luz Speaks

    My friend George Luz Jr returns with more tales of his dad's time in Easy Company, 506th PIR, the famed Band of Brothers. George shares video and audio of his dad telling some fantastic stories.

  17. Episode 33: An interview with USMC Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams

    The latest podcast is up! Please tune in to hear an interview with USMC Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams. Mr. Williams shares stories of growing up in West Virginia during the Great Depression, working with the Civilian Conservation Corps, serving as a Marine on Iwo Jima and his experience...

  18. Episode 31: A talk with Maggie Peppers, National Secretary of the 82nd Airborne Division Association

    Retired First Sergeant and Paratrooper Maggie Peppers discusses her experiences as an airborne NCO, the importance of the Division Association in linking the past with the present, and the privilege of meeting those troopers who went before.

  19. Episode 30: Luz and Webster, a Band of Brothers friendship

    George Luz Jr is back on the show to share more stories about his dad's adventures with Easy Company, 506th PIR, the famed Band of Brothers.

  20. Episode 29: An interview with author Andrew Waters, author of "To The End Of The World".

    Andrew Waters, author of "To The End Of The World" talks about the American Revolution in the South, specifically recalling the British General Charles Cornwallis' pursuit of Nathaneal Greene to the Dan River in early 1781. It's a story of endurance, courage and fighting a thinking general's war.

  21. Episode 28: An interview withStacy Hayashi, writer and producer of the movie "Go For Broke: An Origin Story".

    Stacy Hayashi, writer and producer of the movie "Go For Broke: An Origin Story" talks about the 100th Battalion and 442nd RCT, US infantry units made up of Japanese-American soldiers who became the most decorated combat units in the US Army in WW2. An amazing project about great American heroes.

  22. Episode 27: The Normandy French Resistance Monument

    Retired SF officer Joey Ivanov, WW2 battlefield tour leader George Luz Jr, and sculptor Stephen Spears discuss efforts to complete a memorial to the French Resistance in time for a dedication in June 2021.

  23. Episode 26: The Canadian Military in World War II: An interview with Author John Nelson Rickard.

    Major John Nelson Rickard, professor at the Canadian Army Command and Staff College, discusses the development and performace of the Canadian Forces during the Second World War. Major Rickard is the author of numerous books, most recently "The Politics of Command: Lieutenant General A.G.L....

  24. Episode 25: An interview with Marty Morgan, author of "Down to Earth: The 507th PIR in Normandy".

    Marty Morgan discusses how he became involved with documenting the wartime history of the 507th PIR, his experiences with the late Doctor Stephen Ambrose, and the combat history of the regiment during the Normandy campaign.

  25. Episode 24: An interview with author Marcus Brotherton

    Marcus Brotherton disucsses his book, "Blaze of Light" about the life of Special Forces Medal of Honor recipient Gary Beikirch as well as his work with many members of Easy Company, 506th PIR, the famed "Band of Brothers".

  26. Episode 23: An interview with Peter Hart, Great War historian

    An interview with author and historian Peter Hart on oral history, the Great War and his latest project, "At Close Range: Life and Death in an Artillery Regiment, 1939-1945". This episode runs a little longer than normal, but I think we cover a lot of ground.

  27. Episode 22: An interview the Deputy Chief of Staff, G6, of the United States Army

    This is a special, and very cool, episode with Lieutenant General John Morrison.

  28. Episode 21: An interview with Jerry McLaughlin, author of "D-Day +60 Years".

    Jerry McLaughlin discusses the WW2 story of his uncle, a C-47 navigator last over Normandy early on June 6,1944 and the 40 year search to find out what happened to him.

  29. Episode 20: An interview with WW2 TV's Paul Woodadge

    Paul Woodadge discusses battlefield tourism, documentaries and podcasting WW2 subjects.

  30. Episode 19: The Poles at Arnhem

    Professor Hal Sosabowski , University of Brighton, discusses the formation of the First Polish Independent Parachute Brigade, and its combat debut during Operation Market Garden. Hal is the great grandson of the Brigade Commander, Major General Stanislaw Sosabowski.

  31. Episode 18: Band of Brothers Bastogne Discussion with George Luz Jr.

    George Luz Jr. returns to the podcast to discuss his dad's experiences in the Battle of the Bulge, 76 years ago this month.

  32. Episode 17: The World War II Airborne Demonstration Team

    An interview with Andrew Kristopik of the WWII Airborne DemonstrationTeam of Frederick, OK.

  33. Episode 16: Saving My Enemy (a Band of Brothers story)

    An interview with Author Bob Welch about his new book "Saving My Enemy", along with Marianne and Dan McNally and Matthias and Volker Engelbert. "Saving My Enemy" is the story of the friendship between Easy Company, 506th PIR veteran Don Malarkey and former German soldier Fritz Engelbert formed at...

  34. Episode 15 - An interview with Greg Way, author of "Fallschirmjäger!"

    Greg Way discusses his book "Fallschirmjäger!: A collection of firsthand accounts and diaries by German Paratrooper veterans from the Second World War", and the 20 year journey he undertook to write it.

  35. Episode 14 - The French Resistance, an interview with Joey Ivanov

    Joey Ivanov, independent researcher, discusses the French Resistance and efforts to establish an memorial to the resistance in Normandy, France.

  36. Episode 13 - Interview with George Luz Jr.

    George Luz JR son of Easy Company 2/506th PIR and "Band of Brothers" veteran George Luz share stories about his father and the men of Easy Company.

  37. Episode 12 - Interview with Martin Sambrook, author of "Lions in the Jungle".

    Martin Sambrook discusses Brigadier Orde Wingate and the Chindits, and the airborne aspects of Operation Thursday in WW2 Burma.

  38. Episode 11 -Interview with Denis van den Brink, author of "Heroes of Carentan".

    French/Dutch author Denis van den Brink shares his experiences living in Normandy and discussing his writing about WW2.

  39. Episode 10 - Interview with COL Stuart Watkins, United States Army (ret), old school paratrooper and Vietnam Veteran

    Ben Powers' interview with Liberty Jump Team's Stuart Watkins. COL (R) Watkins' career spans Vietnam to Desert Storm, to include duty as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Airborne.

  40. Episode 9 - Interview with veteran paratroopers David Accetta and Rich Landry

    Interview with David Accetta and Rich Landry of the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center, and Liberty Jump Team. (Note: I experienced some connectivity issues during the first 5 minutes of the interview, so apologies for the audio quality. After the 5 minute mark it really improves. Please…

    more
  41. Episode 8 - Interview with James Fenelon, author of "Four Hours of Fury".

    James Fenelon discusses the 17th Airborne Division and its role in Operation Varsity, the jump across the Rhine in March of 1945.

  42. Episode 7 - Interview with Chris Langlois, grandson of Doc Roe of Easy Company 2/506th PIR

    Chris is the author of "How Easy Company Became a Band of Brothers", which he provides free of charge to public schools through The Doc Roe Foundation.

  43. Episode 6 - Interview with Jil Launay, of the Liberty Jump Team

    Jil Launay is Vice President and Drop Zone Safety Officer of the Liberty Jump Team and daughter of D-Day paratrooper MAJ Gordon Smith.

  44. Ben Powers' interview with Steve Zaley, the author of "They Are Only Gone if They Are Forgotten".

    Steve Zaley relates his dad's WW2 experiences with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

  45. Episode 4 - Ben Powers' interview with David Huntley, the author of "Deathwatch Beetle".

    London Blitz survivor David Huntley discusses his experiences.

  46. Episode 2 - Ben Powers' interview with Jos Groen, the author of "Three of the Last WWII Screaming Eagles".

    Jos Groen discusses his working interviewing WWII veterans of the 101st Airborne Division.

  47. Episode 1 - Ben Powers' interview with Mark Vlahos, the author of "Men Will Come: A History of the 314th Troop Carrier Group, 1942-1945".

    Mark Vlahos discusses the contributions of the Army Air Forces Troop Carrier Command during World War II.

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

ABOUT THIS SHOW

Talking military history

HOSTED BY

Ben Powers

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Commander's Voice have?

The Commander's Voice currently has 48 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Commander's Voice about?

Talking military history

How often does The Commander's Voice release new episodes?

The Commander's Voice has 48 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The Commander's Voice?

You can listen to The Commander's Voice 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 The Commander's Voice?

The Commander's Voice is created and hosted by Ben Powers.
URL copied to clipboard!