Behind the Mic: Lessons Learned From 20 Episodes of Tipping Spears
Back in January, I was suffering from a severe case of winter doldrums. The public sector in which I was engaged on all fronts was in chaos. I’d just come off one helluva year that was consumed by an intense medical journey. As a result, I’d missed out on 8+ months of networking and connecting with my colleagues in person, and my social butterfly self was about to lose my mind. I was eager to find something—some project—to help me get back in the saddle on the things I love: cyber, defense, and national security.
One of my mentors recommended I try starting a podcast: “You love talking to people—why not just record and share it?”
I didn’t waste any time taking action on her recommendation. Having never been on a podcast before, I quickly googled “how to start a podcast” and dived right on in.
Starting a Podcast
When you start a podcast, you need a few things: a platform, streaming channels, and a brand. I thought for all of two seconds on what to name the podcast. I wanted something that was relevant to my three key topics—cyber, defense, and national security—and something that paid homage to equipping the next generation of leaders to navigate this increasingly complex world.
Tipping Spears came to mind. Spear technology revolutionized human life way back in our caveman days (kind of like how tech is doing now). Plus, the act of tipping spears implies going beyond yourself—beyond your own spear—and preparing others for the contemporary and future operating environment: a world defined by immense uncertainty, rapid change, and emerging threats. I threw together the name and my signature color—hot pink—and out came the podcast brand.
20 Outstanding Guests (and Counting)
When I started the podcast, I wasn't sure if anyone would agree to be on the show, but I knew I had to start somewhere. I reached out to a mentor, colleague, and friend to see if he’d be my first guest. To my great relief, he agreed, and Tipping Spears was off to the races.
I wanted to invite guests who inspired me and challenged me to think differently about our future. I started with folks I knew from my own professional journey—people I worked with, people I admired, people I advocated alongside, people whose works I’d read, etc. Fast forward to today, and we’ve recorded 20 episodes—which means 20 of the most accomplished people I know graciously volunteered to take time out of their incredibly busy day to talk with me on the podcast.
Here’s a consolidated list of some awe-inspiring episodes this season on Tipping Spears:
Patrick J. Murphy – 32nd Under Secretary of the Army, Iraq War Veteran, & Public Servant
LTC Scott Mann, USA (Ret) – Green Beret and New York Times Bestselling Author
Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret.) – Former MOAA President & Thunderbird Pilot
Dr. Melissa Graves – Intelligence Scholar, Ethics Expert, & Professor at The Citadel
Michael “Rod” Rodríguez – President/CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation
Bishop Garrison – Vice President at the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA)
COL Ray Rottman, USAF (Ret.) – Executive Director, Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States
Dr. Ben Zweibelson – Author of Reconceptualizing War
Ally Armeson – Executive Director at FightCybercrime.org
Plus many more! Click here to listen to the latest.
Challenge the Way We Think
One of my scripted signoffs on every episode is: “...hope this conversation has sparked new ideas and challenged the way you think about the future.”
I don’t listen to podcasts to hear my own views and perspectives echoed back to me. I seek out sources of information that put things in a different light, show me a side of a wicked problem I wasn’t seeing, and spark some problem-solving thoughts I was missing. I want my thinking challenged, revised, and refined in ways that make it better—in ways that make my spear tip even sharper.
And that’s what I hope every podcast listener walks away with: an expanded awareness of the threats and opportunities currently facing our nation in cyber, defense, and national security.
Lessons Learned from Podcasting
My pre-planning on podcast launching lasted all of 15 minutes. That’s okay—I tend to learn best by jumping off the cliff and figuring it out on the way down.
Here are a few of the lessons I’ve learned:
You don’t need to be a video editor or media-trained professional. Just talk to people in an authentic way, and you’ll capture some amazing insights and inspiring stories. People crave “real” in a photo-shopped world.
Spotlight the human. I like getting to know the people behind the rank, book, or title. I start all my episodes with the question, “Where does your story begin?” It’s my favorite question because the backstory is where the magic lives—every journey is different, and I’m fascinated by the grit and growth behind every guest’s success.
Feature people you find inspiring. Podcasting is a great excuse to reach out to people you admire and learn from them. After every episode, I walk away feeling more grounded, more hopeful, and more determined to keep working on the issues that matter most.
Subscribe to Tipping Spears
Whether you’re deep in the trenches of public service or just curious about the people shaping the future of cyber, defense, and national security—there’s something for you in this podcast.
New episodes drop regularly, and you can subscribe on YouTube or follow along on Spotify.
Thanks for being part of the journey!