Life on the Line

Vietnam - Ep III - Life on the Sea

Confrontation. Vietnam. The conflict begins for the seven RAN veterans of Life on the Sea. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. 'Vietnam' recounts veterans' experiences in the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation and the first four years of the Vietnam War.

Catch all the episodes:

• Trailer
• Ep I - Korea
• Ep II - Beginnings
• Ep IV - Collision
• Ep V - Combat
• Ep VI - Career
• Ep VII - Reflections

Beginnings - Ep II - Life on the Sea

Seven Vietnam navy veterans share stories from their early lives, what drew them to the navy and their training days. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. 'Beginnings' introduces the other 7 veterans of this series - their gripping family military histories, how they found themselves in the navy, their training days and early postings and action.

Catch all the episodes:

• Trailer
• Ep I - Korea
• Ep III - Vietnam
• Ep IV - Collision
• Ep V - Combat
• Ep VI - Career
• Ep VII - Reflections

Korea - Ep I - Life on the Sea

Two navy veterans share their memories of the Korean War. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. 'Korea' recounts two veterans' stories of service in that conflict.

You can listen to the story of Doug Symes Snr’s experiences in World War II, and his family’s extensive military history, in the Season 2 bonus episode.

Catch all the episodes:

• Trailer
• Ep II - Beginnings
• Ep III - Vietnam
• Ep IV - Collision
• Ep V - Combat
• Ep VI - Career
• Ep VII - Reflections

Trailer - Life on the Sea

The trailer for Life on the Sea, a special Life on the Line miniseries. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Life on the Sea is a special miniseries of this podcast, interviewing Royal Australian Navy veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. This is the trailer for the upcoming 7-part collection of episodes.

Catch all the episodes:

• Ep I - Korea
• Ep II - Beginnings
• Ep III - Vietnam
• Ep IV - Collision
• Ep V - Combat
• Ep VI - Career
• Ep VII - Reflections

Replay - Remembrance Day with Dr Brendan Nelson

Alex Lloyd speaks with Dr Brendan Nelson, Director at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This is a re-release of the 10 November 2017 bonus episode to mark Remembrance Day and to talk about this very special day of reflection and commemoration.

Alex Lloyd spoke with the Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial. Dr Nelson has a long and distinguished career in public service. Just to name a few prominent positions, Dr Nelson was the Federal President of the Australian Medical Association before serving as the Federal Member for Bradfield from 1996 to 2009, where one of his portfolios was Minister for Defence. After a key ambassadorial role, Dr Nelson was appointed as Director of the Australian War Memorial in 2012.

Dr Brendan Nelson participated in and launched Thistle Productions' documentary miniseries FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY in 2015.

Korean War MIA with Michael Kelly

Alex Lloyd speaks with Michael Kelly about developments in regard to Australian MIA soldiers from the Korean War. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. In Season 2, Angus Hordern spoke to Australian War Memorial historian Michael Kelly about Australia's involvement in the Korean War. In this podcast, Michael caught up with Alex Lloyd to give an update on the developing situation in regards to recovering Australian missing in action from that conflict.

A Journey of Resilience with Matt Williams

Alex Lloyd speaks with Afghanistan veteran Matt Williams, about his battle with cancer. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This bonus episode is a conversation with Matt Williams, an army veteran who had one deployment to Afghanistan. Matt now has incurable brain cancer. He spoke to Alex Lloyd about his military days, his journey post-army and outlook on life.

Panel - Life After Service

Alex Lloyd hosts a panel on life after service with Sharon Bown, Dave Stafford Finney and Don Barnby. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's panel conversation is on the topic of life after service, and the difficulties the transition can entail. Alex Lloyd moderated a discussion between previous podcast guests Sharon Bown, Dave Stafford Finney and Don Barnby.

Listen to their individual stories:

• #2 Sharon Bown
• #17 Dave Stafford Finney
• #18 Don Barnby Vol I
• #18 Don Barnby Vol II

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

Alex Lloyd speaks with Mark Donaldson VC, Dr Dan Pronk and journalist Kristin Shorten about the VOODOO MEDICS documentary. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This bonus episode covers the upcoming 8-part documentary VOODOO MEDICS, a short series of webisodes published by The Daily Telegraph Online starting 22 October 2018. Alex Lloyd speaks with the documentary's creator and host, journalist Kristin Shorten, as well as two of its interviewees, Australian veterans Mark Donaldson VC and Dr Dan Pronk. VOODOO MEDICS looks at the lives post-army of medics who served with Special Forces, and interviews such former medics, the operators they fought alongside, and more, in an insightful expose on the cost of modern war.

If you enjoyed these conversations with Mark and Dan, you can catch their original interviews in Season 2:

• #31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol I
• #31 Dr Dan Pronk Vol II
• #36 Mark Donaldson VC

And for more conversations with Dr Dan Pronk:

• Lessons of a Combat Doctor with Dr Dan Pronk
• #107 Brett Wood
• SAS Resilience with Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis

Panel - The Vietnam War

Angus Hordern hosts a panel on the Vietnam war, with Sandy MacGregor, David Buckwalter, David Leafe and Ron Aitken. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's panel conversation is on the topic of the Vietnam war, both experiences in-country and life after. Angus Hordern moderated a discussion between previous podcast guests Sandy MacGregor, David Buckwalter, David Leafe and Ron Aitken.

Invictus Games with Adrian Talbot

Angus Hordern speaks with veteran Adrian Talbot about the Invictus Games. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This bonus episode is with Adrian Talbot, a veteran of the British Royal Marine Commandos, twice-gold medallist at the 2014 Invictus Games, and now Ambassador for the upcoming Sydney Invictus Games of 2018.

Adrian returned to the podcast in Season 3 to share his story of service, as an Australian in the British Royal Marine Commandos.

Panel - Returning Home

Angus Hordern hosts a panel on what it means to be a modern veteran with Garth Callender, Michael Wright and Glenn Kolomeitz. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's panel conversation is on the topic of what it means to be a veteran in the modern era, public perception, support systems and transitioning to the workforce. Angus Hordern moderated a discussion between previous podcast guests Garth Callender, Michael Wright and Glenn Kolomeitz.

#42 Jack Bell

Alex Lloyd interviews World War II veteran and POW Jack Bell. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a World War II air force veteran, and a survivor of Fascist Italian and Nazi Germany prisoner of war camps. This is the last episode of Season 2.