#152 Peter Rudland

Alex Lloyd interviews SASR and 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Peter Rudland.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Peter Rudland is a veteran of the Special Air Service Regiment and the Commandos, 4RAR(Commando) and when they became the 2nd Commando Regiment. Over a long career in Special Forces, Peter deployed to Cambodia, Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was seriously injured in the June 2010 Black Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan. In his post-service life, Peter is heavily involved in the veteran community, as a passionate advocate for physical health to create mental health, he started a company counselling soldiers, he has competed in three Invictus Games and is an ambassador for RSL Australia. Alex Lloyd spoke with Peter over Zoom in February 2024.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #1 Sandy MacGregor

• #47 Bram Connolly

• #100 Gary Wilson

• The Partners - Renee Wilson

• Life After Service - Gary & Renee Wilson

#150 Doug Sheridan

Alex Lloyd interviews SASR veteran Doug Sheridan in the Season 7 finale. 

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Doug Sheridan is a veteran of the Special Air Service Regiment. He served for 33 years in the Australian Army, full-time and reserve. This included various deployments with the United Nations, the SASR and the Australian Federal Police to the Western Sahara, East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. He also served for 10 years in the AFP as a Federal Agent and was one of the original Air Security Officers following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Today he volunteers for Wandering Warriors, plays cricket and is studying an MBA at the University of Queensland and Harvard Business School. Doug spoke with Alex Lloyd at the Gaythorne RSL, Brisbane, in March 2023.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

For another podcast about Matthew Locke, listen to #28 Mark Wales.

#142 Mark Direen

Thomas Kaye interviews Special Air Service Regiment veteran Mark Direen. 

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Mark Direen deployed multiple times to Afghanistan as a member of the SASR. He experienced long range reconnaissance missions, more kinetic operations and was injured by an improvised explosive device. He also worked at the Australian Embassy in Kabul. Today he runs his company Point Assist, its goal to assist people to evolve through experience. This is his conversation with Thomas Kaye.

This episode was edited by Sophie Hu.

#31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol III

Alex Lloyd interviews former special forces combat doctor Dan Pronk about his new memoir, THE COMBAT DOCTOR.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Dr Dan Pronk is a former special forces combat doctor. He deployed 4 times to Afghanistan and went on over 100 combat missions. In his 7th appearance on the show, Dan spoke to Alex Lloyd about his new book, his life story, called THE COMBAT DOCTOR. The book is out now in print, audiobook and ebook, and Alex is Dan's publisher at Pan Macmillan.

They returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol V.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol I

• #31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol II

• #36 Mark Donaldson VC

• Voodoo Medics with Mark Donaldson VC, Dr Dan Pronk and Kristin Shorten

• Lessons of a Combat Doctor with Dr Dan Pronk

• #51 Mark Noble

• #107 Brett Wood

• SAS Resilience with Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

#128 Ryan Wilson

Angus Hordern interviews SAS veteran of Afghanistan, Ryan Wilson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Ryan Wilson is a veteran of the Special Air Service Regiment. Over the course of his military career, he deployed to Malaysia, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan, as well as training overseas. Today, he is the General Manager of Whipper Snapper Distillery, and is the WA State Manager for the veterans charity Wandering Warriors. Ryan spoke with Angus Hordern about his career in Special Forces, life after service and reflected on the difference they made in Afghanistan.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #36 Mark Donaldson VC

• #51 Mark Noble

#123 Nick Howlett Vol II

Angus Hordern continues his interview with Vietnam War SAS veteran Nick Howlett.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. In the second part of his conversation with Angus Hordern, Nick Howlett details patrols and hot extractions during the 1969-70 3 Squadron SAS deployment to Vietnam. Nick tells Angus about his post-Vietnam career, the paratroop jump that ended it all, his difficulties with PTSD, his views on transition out of the military and his peaceful life today on his boat.

Listen to Volume I before listening to this episode. Nick then returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol V.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #18 Don Barnby Vol I

• #18 Don Barnby Vol II

• Panel - Life After Service

• Life After Service - Don Barnby

#123 Nick Howlett Vol I

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam War SAS veteran Nick Howlett.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Nick Howlett joined the Citizens Military Forces in the 1960s as a commando. He soon left his civilian job as a bank teller and transferred to the regular army and joined the Special Air Service Regiment as an officer. In this podcast, Nick tells Angus Hordern about his experiences commanding an SAS troop - all with sergeants and soldiers far more experienced than him - in the jungles of Vietnam.

This is the first interview of Season 6 and the first of a two-part conversation.

Christmas on the Line Vol IV

Veterans of Season 5 share their stories of a Christmas in uniform.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans of Season 5 share with the Thistle Productions team their experiences of Christmas in uniform, from deployments overseas and back home in Australia. Featured guests include Chris Oxenbould, Greg Hopgood, Mark Wales, Wes 'H' Hennessey, Commando Jamie, Keith Wolahan, Sir Peter Cosgrove and Wayne Bemet. This episode is hosted by Thomas Kaye.

The episodes these veterans were featured in earlier this season include:

• #104 Chris Oxenbould

• #106 Greg Hopgood

• #107 Brett Wood

• #28 Mark Wales Vol II

• #109 Keith Wolahan

• #117 Sir Peter Cosgrove

• #120 Wayne Bemet

#118 Mark Mathieson

Alex Lloyd interviews former SAS psychologist Mark Mathieson.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Mark Mathieson was a psychologist in the Australian Army, including time as the SAS regimental psychologist. He deployed to Timor and 6 times to Afghanistan. This is our conversation about the psychology of Special Forces soldiers and the impact of war.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol I

• #31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol II

• #68 Harry Moffitt Vol II

• #28 Mark Wales

• SAS Resilience with Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

#114 Bruce McLennan

Alex Lloyd interviews former SAS soldier Bruce McLennan.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Bruce McLennan was a Squadron Sergeant Major in the Special Air Service Regiment. He joined the SAS in 1984 and served in Afghanistan. He was also involved in the boarding of MV Tampa in 2001. Alex Lloyd spoke with Bruce about his long career in Australian Special Forces.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• SAS Leadership with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

• SAS Leadership Vol II with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

• #101 Bob Hunter

• #28 Mark Wales Vol II

• Life After Service: Tony Park

• SAS Resilience with Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

SAS Resilience with Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

Alex Lloyd interviews three Australian Special Forces veterans about the secrets to unlock greater personal resilience.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk DSC and Tim Curtis return to the show in this special podcast to talk about their new book, THE RESILIENCE SHIELD. From lessons learned in Afghanistan to Sierra Leone, the board room to the hospital, the SAS veterans have demystified and defined resilience and unlocked how anyone can better equip themselves to overcome adversity in life. Alex Lloyd, the publisher of their book at Pan Macmillan, spoke with the trio more about how the book came about and what readers can expect.

For previous episodes featuring these guests, listen to:

• #31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol I

• #31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol II

• Voodoo Medics with Mark Donaldson VC, Dr Dan Pronk and Kristin Shorten

• Lessons of a Combat Doctor with Dr Dan Pronk

• SAS Leadership with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

• SAS Leadership Vol II with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

• Christmas on the Line Vol III

• #107 Brett Wood

Life After Service: Tony Park

Tony Park is a fiction and non-fiction international bestselling author. Before that, he served in the Australian Army Reserves in various roles, including as a public affairs officer.

In 2002, he was deployed to Afghanistan alongside the SAS, with his first novel published in 2004.

In this episode of Life After Service, Alex Lloyd spoke with Tony about what the army did for him, the challenges of readjusting to normal life after deploying, the military's relationship with the public, and his writing career journey.

To find out more about Tony and keep up to date with his work, be sure to look at his website. https://www.tonypark.net/

Watch the episode on YouTube above, or listen to the audio-only version below.

#28 Mark Wales Vol II

Alex Lloyd interviews SAS veteran Mark Wales for a second time.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Mark Wales is a veteran of the Special Air Service Regiment. He served in the Australian Army for 16 years, 6 of those with the SAS. Alex Lloyd first spoke with Mark about his military service and highlights of his post-army career in Season 2, #28 Mark Wales. Since then, Mark has written his memoir, SURVIVOR: LIFE IN THE SAS. This is a deeply revealing memoir, action-packed and a considered reflection on events in Afghanistan. It’s an important book for the soldier’s perspective it gives into Special Operations in Australia’s longest war, a response to the 2020 Brereton Report into alleged war crimes.

Alex - Mark’s publisher and editor of the book - invited him to the Pan Macmillan audio studio to talk more about Mark’s time in the military.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #28 Mark Wales

• The Partners - Samantha Gash

To buy the book in print, ebook or audiobook (narrated by Mark), visit either the publisher’s website, Mark’s website or directly to your retailer of choice.

Life After Service: Don Barnby

Former SAS trooper and Australian Federal Police officer Don Barnby is the third veteran featured in our Life After Service series.

Don served in the Vietnam war as a special forces soldier, and at Cyprus, Bougainville and East Timor with the AFP.

On a volunteer basis, Don has also been interviewing veterans for the Australian War Memorial.

Watch the episode on YouTube above, or listen to the audio-only version below.

** If you are struggling with any of the topics raised in this video, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Open Arms on 1800 011 046.

Mark 'Billy' Billingham - British SAS

Alex Lloyd speaks with Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham, veteran of the British SAS.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. In this special bonus podcast, we feature a veteran of the British SAS who is currently in Australia, here for the filming of ‘SAS Australia’ Season 2 as well as his live tour of talks. Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham served for nearly two decades in the British Army’s Special Air Service - the SAS, serving in countless war zones, winning the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery and being awarded the MBE by HM the Queen. Upon leaving the SAS, he became a bodyguard to Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Sir Michael Caine, Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe. He is now a DS and advisor on the hit TV shows SAS: Who Dares Wins in the UK and SAS Australia. 

Follow @billingham22b on Instagram for more information about his live events in Sydney (Friday 7 May), Brisbane (Sunday 9 May) and Melbourne (Monday 10 May).

#103 Monika Georgieva

Alex Lloyd interviews army veteran Monika Georgieva.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Monika Georgieva was the first female to attempt selection for the 2nd Commando Regiment and the Special Air Service Regiment. She made two attempts at SAS selection, then went on to be Australia’s first female infantry officer, having commanded a rifle platoon and a reconnaissance/sniper platoon. In her conversation with Alex Lloyd, Monika talks about her childhood in Bulgaria, joining the Australian Army, details her various Special Forces selection attempts and her career beyond.

Episodes referenced at the end of the podcast include:

• #36 Mark Donaldson VC

• SAS Leadership with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

• #68 Harry Moffitt

• SAS Leadership Vol II with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

• #102 Heston Russell

#101 Bob Hunter

Alex Lloyd interviews SAS veteran Bob Hunter.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. The Season 4 finale is with Bob Hunter, a former Squadron Commander in the Special Air Service Regiment. Bob was in command the night of the 1996 Black Hawk disaster, where two helicopters collided, and 15 SASR and 3 Aviation Regiment soldiers lost their lives. Bob spoke to Alex Lloyd about his years with the Australian SAS, his Middle East and Bougainville deployments, and about SAS culture and leadership.

To hear more about the 1996 Black Hawk disaster, listen to SAS Leadership Vol II with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis.

Bob was also featured in Season 4’s special holiday episode, Christmas on the Line Vol III.

This interview with Bob is the Season 4 finale. Life on the Line will return in 2021.

Eleven Bats by Harry Moffitt

Enjoy our podcasts with #68 Harry Moffitt? Then ELEVEN BATS is just the summer read/Christmas present you’re looking for. ELEVEN BATS is an outstanding memoir written by SAS veteran Harry Moffitt, reflecting on the 11 cricket bats he took to war and his 25 years in the military. Enjoy the read - and get your copy today!

Christmas on the Line Vol III

Veterans of Season 4 share their stories of a Christmas in uniform.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Veterans and other guests of Season 4 share with the Thistle Productions team their experiences of Christmas in uniform, from deployments overseas and back home in Australia. These stories have not been previously featured on the podcast. Featured guests include Sarah Watson, Adrian Humphries, Ben Pronk, Tim Curtis, Bill Fitzgerald, Tony Park, John Cantwell, Tim Reynolds, David McCourt, Crystal Callender, Garth Callender, Glenn Azar, Alyssa Azar, Ian Roberts, Dan Keighran VC, Paul Cale, Renee Wilson and Bob Hunter. This episode is hosted by Angus Hordern.

#43 Dan Keighran VC Vol II (ft. John Cantwell)

Alex Lloyd interviews Victoria Cross recipient Dan Keighran and retired Major General John Cantwell.

AVAILABLE NOW FOR PURCHASE, click the image above.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian military veterans and records their stories. Daniel Keighran VC is the 99th Australian to receive the Victoria Cross, our nation’s highest award for bravery. Dan served in the Australian Army, 6 RAR, for a decade, deploying twice to Malaysia, once to Timor, once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. In his first Afghanistan deployment, he drove Bushmasters outside the wire with the Special Operations Task Group. In his second deployment there, Corporal Dan Keighran served in a traditional infantry role as a mentor for the Afghan National Army. On 24 August 2010, he performed a series of selfless and heroic actions in the Battle of Derapet, for which he was awarded the VC. Jared ‘Crash’ McKinney lost his life during this battle, and various awards for bravery and gallantry were given out. Dan received the VC in November 2012.

Alex Lloyd first spoke with Dan in Season 3, in #43 Dan Keighran VC. In that interview, they talked about Dan’s upbringing, his various military deployments, Derapet and the life-changing day he was bestowed the Victoria Cross. Since that conversation, Dan has written his autobiography COURAGE UNDER FIRE, out now. As Dan’s editor on the book, Alex brought him back on the show to talk about the book, and the fascinating new insights and revelations it offers about his life.

John Cantwell also came back on the show, after speaking earlier this season with Angus Hordern in a two-part conversation about his long career, to talk to Alex about the Battle of Derapet and his part in Dan Keighran’s story.

Dan also appeared in Season 3’s Christmas on the Line Vol II. Both Dan and John were featured in Season 4’s Christmas on the Line Vol III.