Life on the Line

Alex Lloyd interviews paratrooper, Navy Clearance Diver and shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Paul de Gelder. Paul is a former Australian Army paratrooper, Navy Clearance Diver and shark attack survivor - the first shark attack victim in Sydney Harbour in over 60 years. Paul spoke to Alex Lloyd about the pursuit of a better life, resilience and the power of individual choices.

Angus Hordern speaks with David Michael, RAN veteran and Naval Historical Society President. 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 Royal Australian Navy veteran Captain David Michael (Ret'd), who is the current President of the Naval Historical Society. David spoke with Angus Hordern about his naval career and the society he now leads.

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Solomon Islands veteran Ben Flink. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Ben Flink, a veteran of the Australian Army who deployed to the Solomon Islands. Ben spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about his journey to the army, his time in uniform, the effect on his family and his passion for supporting veterans and their families.

Alex Lloyd shares highlights from his day on ANZAC Day 2018. 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 a collection of highlights from Alex Lloyd's ANZAC Day 2018. Alex spoke to people in the crowd before and during the Sydney march, and recorded some two-up adventures.

Alex Lloyd interviews retired Rear Admiral and former Governor of New South Wales, Peter Sinclair. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair, career navy man and former Governor of New South Wales. Alex Lloyd spoke with Peter in his home about his incredible naval career, experiences with pirates and in the Vietnam War, and his public life after the military.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.