Life on the Line

For School and Country with Thistle Productions

Thistle Productions reminisce on their first veterans project. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with the makers of this podcast, Thistle Productions. The original crew of Angus Hordern, Alex Lloyd, Thomas Kaye and Rohan Viswalingam reflect on their first veterans project, the documentary miniseries FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY, and how the team became so invested in telling veterans' stories.

#22 Glenn Kolomeitz

Angus Hordern interviews East Timor and Afghanistan veteran Glenn Kolomeitz. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a former aircraft technician, military policeman and legal officer, Glenn Kolomeitz. Glenn spoke to Angus Hordern about his early life, military career and his ongoing work in the veterans community.

Glenn returned to the podcast in the special episodes Panel - Returning Home, and in Christmas on the Line. He was also featured in #44 Mick Bainbridge.

Anzac Cove with Richard Miles

Excerpts from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY interview with World War II veteran Richard Miles. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is from our archive vault, an interview with World War II veteran Richard Miles. Richard spoke to us about remembering the fallen, and the service of his father, Thomas Alfred Miles, in World War I.

#21 Cassie Collins

Alex Lloyd interviews Middle East and Sudan veteran Cassie Collins. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Air Force mechanic-turned-officer Cassie Collins. Cassie joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a grease monkey, has served on overseas deployments including the Middle East Area of Operations and Sudan, and spoke about how modern servicemen and servicewomen are perceived today.

Cassie returned to the podcast in 2018's Christmas on the Line and the episode released for Remembrance Day 2019, Panel - Modern Veterans.

Line of Fire with Chantelle Taylor

Alex Lloyd speaks with Chantelle Taylor, the first female British soldier to kill an enemy in close quarters combat. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Chantelle Taylor is a veteran of the British military. She’s renowned for being the first female British soldier to kill an enemy combatant in close quarters. She’s also author of the bestselling memoir, “Battleworn”. Alex Lloyd spoke with Chantelle about her life in uniform.

Chantelle returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line.

#20 Doug Gilling

Angus Hordern interviews World War II veteran Doug Gilling. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II veteran Doug Gilling. Doug saw action in the Battle of the Atlantic, including his ship being sunk at the Dieppe Raid.

Beyond the Legend with Dr Karl James

Alex Lloyd speaks with Dr Karl James, senior historian at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Dr Karl James, senior historian at the Australian War Memorial. Dr Karl spoke to Alex Lloyd about the enduring resonances of Gallipoli and Kokoda to Australians, going beyond the Anzac legends.

Dr Karl James spoke with Thomas Kaye in Season 1, about Australia's Special Forces.

#19 Sally Heidenreich

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Sally Heidenreich. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Sally Heidenreich, a former intelligence officer in the Australian Army who saw multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Sally spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about what her service means to her, how it's affected her and the key role Sally played in the fight against the Taliban.

Australia in Afghanistan with Dr Rhys Crawley

Alex Lloyd speaks with Dr Rhys Crawley, Official Historian at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Dr Rhys Crawley is an historian at the Australian War Memorial. Rhys is writing for the Official History of Australian Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor. Alex Lloyd spoke with Rhys about Australia’s longest war – the modern conflict in Afghanistan.

#18 Don Barnby Vol II

Thomas Kaye continues his interview with SAS soldier and Australian Federal Policeman Don Barnby. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's episode is the second instalment of the conversation with Don Barnby, an SAS trooper and Australian Federal Police officer. Don served in the Vietnam war as a special forces soldier, and at Cyprus, Bougainville and East Timor with the AFP. He has also interviewed veterans for the Australian War Memorial.

Click here to listen to Volume I, before you hear this episode.

Don returned to the podcast in the special episode Panel - Life After Service, and again in Christmas on the Line.

#18 Don Barnby Vol I

Thomas Kaye interviews Vietnam, Cyprus and East Timor veteran, formerly of the SAS and AFP, Don Barnby. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran Don Barnby, formerly of the Special Air Service. This is the first instalment of a two-part episode.

Click here to listen to Volume II, after you've heard this episode.

The Veterans Project with Tim Kolczak

Alex Lloyd speaks with Tim Kolczak, US Army veteran and man behind the camera of The Veterans Project. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Tim Kolczak is a US Army veteran, and the founder and photographer of both The Veterans Project and The Caregiver Project; both seeking to raise an understanding of veterans' transitions to life after service. This is Tim's passionate conversation on documenting veterans with podcast creator Alex Lloyd.

#17 Dave Stafford Finney

Angus Hordern interviews Bougainville, East Timor and Middle East veteran Dave Stafford Finney. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Bougainville, East Timor and Middle East veteran Dave Stafford Finney. Dave served as a marine technician and was medically discharged in late 2017.

Dave returned to the podcast in the episode Panel - Life After Service, and again in Christmas on the Line.

Dave tragically passed away in February 2019.