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Artwork for The Spear
Afghanistan
Taliban
Iraq
Marine Corps
Combat Leadership
Ieds
Special Forces
Iraq War
Afghan National Army
Operation Red Thunder
9/11
Decision-Making
Ramadi
UAS Operations
United States Army
West Point
Nuristan
Moral Courage
Panjwai District
Leadership In Military Contexts

The Spear is a podcast from the Modern War Institute at West Point. It sets out to explore the combat experience, with each episode featuring a guest who tells a detailed and personal story, describing the events and exploring topics like decision-making under stress and what it feels like to be in combat.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes212Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for The Spear

Latest Episodes

JJ Pinter graduated from West Point and was commissioned as a field artillery officer. A few short years after 9/11, JJ found himself in Iraq, leading route clearance missions and performing counterbattery fire against persistent insurgent mortar and... more

Fred Lough began his Army career as an engineer officer before deciding to leave military service to attend medical school and become a surgeon. After rejoining the Army to support the Global War on Terror, Fred later served two combat tours in Afgha... more

During his service as a combat rescue officer in the US Air Force, Captain Sal Sferrazza and his team of Air Force pararescue jumpers were deployed to Afghanistan, where their mission set included casualty evacuation, personnel recovery, and reintegr... more

While serving as an infantry officer in the 75th Ranger Regiment, First Lieutenant Scott Filbert was deployed to Afghanistan to serve as the J1, or personnel officer, for a joint special operations task force. In this episode of The Spear, Scott desc... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

JJ Pinter
West Point graduate and combat veteran who served as a field artillery officer. Currently the deputy director for Team Red, White and Blue.
Team Red, White and Blue
Episode: Route Clearance and Counterbattery in Iraq
Fred Lough
West Point graduate and Army surgeon with extensive experience in combat surgery.
George Washington University
Episode: Combat Surgery in Afghanistan
Unnamed Marine
Platoon commander with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, sharing his story from Iraq
3rd Battalion, 1st Marines
Episode: A Marine Platoon in Anbar Province
Dr. Kyleanne Hunter
Professor of Military and Strategic Studies and Director of the Strategy and Warfare Center at the US Air Force Academy, former Cobra pilot in the Marine Corps.
United States Air Force Academy
Episode: Escort Mission Over Anbar
Dave Berke
Former Marine Corps pilot and forward air controller
U.S. Marine Corps
Episode: Forward Air Controller in Ramadi
Chris Donahue
Lieutenant General and Commanding General of the 18th Airborne Corps
Episode: Last Soldier in Afghanistan
Colonel Kim Campbell
A 1997 graduate of the Air Force Academy with almost 18 years of experience flying the A-10.
US Air Force
Episode: The A-10 At War
Command Sergeant Major Alex Kupratty
Command Sergeant Major of the Fourth Infantry Division
Fourth Infantry Division
Episode: Leadership in the Ranger Regiment and 4ID
Major Brennan Deveraux
A major in the U.S. Army with over 15 years of service, primarily as an artillery officer and now a national security researcher at the U.S. Army War College.
U.S. Army
Episode: Combat in a Technological War

Host

Charlie

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 842 ratings
  • No enlisted stories?

    Overall, an excellent podcast. These are importantly stories that military and civilian would appreciate as part of U.S. history. Would be nice if there were ANY enlisted stories. Seems the podcast only talks to officers. Also, lots of repeated episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Rick from Temple U.
    United States5 months ago
  • RW

    This is a fantastic library of first person narratives of modern war. It is an absolute must for the scholar of military science.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sir Garnet Wolseley
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Podcast length

    I think the podcast would be much better if if it was shorter like half hour 20 minutes.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    CDR chuck
    United States10 months ago
  • Authentic

    You can feel the authentic experience from the combat

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ErezLandau
    Israela year ago
  • Recycled Episodes

    Podcast routinely recycles old episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    CharlesEncharge
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the personal narratives shared by guests, highlighting their authenticity and depth. They find the insights into the military experience valuable and often commend the interview format and the depth of discussion.
Many reviews emphasize the importance of preserving individual war stories, suggesting that listeners value the emotional and educational aspects of the content.
There are concerns about the repetition of episodes and the length of podcasts, which has drawn mixed feedback regarding the presentation style and overall production.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Route Clearance and Counterbattery in Iraq
Q: What was the perception of that change of mission like for you and your troops?
JJ notes that everyone was excited to be in the fight, despite lacking the necessary equipment initially, showcasing the eagerness of troops to engage in combat.
Route Clearance and Counterbattery in Iraq
Q: What made being in that infantry unit attractive to you?
JJ expresses that he enjoyed being part of the main effort in combat operations, which allowed him to feel more engaged and impactful.
Route Clearance and Counterbattery in Iraq
Q: What attracted you to the field artillery branch?
JJ explains that he didn't initially want to branch infantry due to the intense training and instead saw field artillery as a better opportunity for deployment and service.
Route Clearance and Counterbattery in Iraq
Q: Can you talk to us a little bit about what drove your decision to go to the Academy and why you decided to join the Army?
JJ shares that his decision was influenced by his family background, particularly his father and uncle who were veterans, leading him to join the military while also pursuing a college education at West Point.
Combat Surgery in Afghanistan
Q: What was the experience of being in Herat, in that part of Afghanistan?
Fred describes the unique challenges and cultural nuances of operating in a non-English-speaking NATO hospital.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Spear

What is The Spear about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides a platform for servicemen and women to share detailed and personal accounts of their combat experiences, focusing on the unique challenges faced in various military operations. Each episode features a guest who recounts their journey through intense and high-pressure situations, often emphasizing themes such as leadership, decision-making under stress, and the emotional impacts of war. The discussions frequently explore intricate stories related to military life, highlighting the sacrifices made and the lessons learned in combat zones. With its commitment to preserving these valuable narratives, it serves as an important resource for understanding the realities of warfare and the human condition within it.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Spear?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Spear. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Spear and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Spear get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Spear?

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How many subscribers and views does The Spear have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Spear has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Spear?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Spear:

1. Modern War Institute
2. Irregular Warfare Podcast
3. Combat Story
4. The Team House
5. School of War

How many episodes of The Spear are there?

The Spear launched 9 years ago and published 212 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Spear?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Spear?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Spear from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Spear?

Recent guests on The Spear include:

1. JJ Pinter
2. Fred Lough
3. Unnamed Marine
4. Dr. Kyleanne Hunter
5. Dave Berke
6. Chris Donahue
7. Colonel Kim Campbell
8. Command Sergeant Major Alex Kupratty

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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