The Afterburn Podcast

John "Rain" Waters

Strap in the cockpit as we dive into the stories of the men and women who defend the freedoms we love. From the cockpit of military jets to boots on the ground. The Afterburn Podcast dives into their stories, the planes, and the missions. For Advertising Opportunities or more information visit: https://theafterburnpodcast.com/ read less

Our Editor's Take

The Afterburn Podcast shares stories of fighter pilots and Air Force recruits. In this show, US Air Force and Navy pilots share real stories of flying fighter jets. Guests speak about missions they have fought all over the world. They also discuss the grueling training process they undertook. Other guests talk about life after the military and how it gave them the skills for their future careers. The show is an intriguing listen for anyone interested in aviation and military life.

John "Rain" Waters hosts The Afterburn Podcast. He is a former USAF F-16 fighter pilot and demo pilot. During his career, he flew around 180 combat missions using various military planes. He now travels the world as a pilot for an airline. He interviews pilots, military veterans, and aviation enthusiasts for this podcast. Thanks to his personal experience, interviewees seem able to open up to John with ease.

Guests include fighter pilots, combat veterans, and special forces. In one podcast episode, Kevin Latchman talks about flying in the 2020-2021 Kabul, Afghanistan withdrawal. During takeoff, his aircraft averted a disaster when it came very close to a bus. The pilot received an Air Force Cross for his efforts.

Listeners interested in an aviation career are likely to learn a thing or two on this podcast. In another episode, John speaks to Brett Yoakum, who began his career as a firefighter. From there, he became a police officer and then a C-17 loadmaster pilot. Brett talks about his varied career and how it prepared him for life as a pilot.

The Afterburn Podcast also shares "Bro Chat" episodes. In these episodes, fighter pilots discuss world issues and how they would solve them. The group talks about current affairs, politics, and world conflicts. These episodes debate how the pilots would respond to situations if they were in charge. The podcast's "Lowdown" episodes discuss the latest defense, aviation, and geopolitics news. These episodes are around fifteen minutes, while interview episodes are one to two hours long.

read less
LeisureLeisure

Episodes

F-22 IRST Upgrade, A-10's Stranded, & Boeing's BIG Loss
Jan 29 2025
F-22 IRST Upgrade, A-10's Stranded, & Boeing's BIG Loss
๐Ÿ”บ Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter This week on The Lowdown, we cover some of the biggest stories in aviation and defense. The A-10 Warthogs that were stranded overseas are finally home. We take a look at the MiG-29 for our Threat of the Day. Meanwhile, the F-22 Raptor is getting a major enhancement with the new IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system, increasing its ability to detect threats passively. We also break down Boeingโ€™s massive $1.7 billion loss and how delays in programs like the T-7 trainer, KC-46 tanker, and Air Force One are costing billions. Plus, we discuss the Tower 22 attack anniversary, the Philippines' fighter jet procurement, and a United Airlines flight that left 38 passengers injured due to extreme turbulence. ๐Ÿ›ซ Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot ๐ŸŽฏ : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast ๐Ÿ›ซ ๐Ÿ”บ Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter ๐Ÿ”บ ๐Ÿฅท Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial โ˜•๏ธ Coffee Made by Fighter Pilots: https://bit.ly/Attack_Coffee ๐Ÿ’ป Try Perplexity $10 Off: https://perplexity.ai/pro?referral_code=ZSEH95VD ๐Ÿ›ซ E3 Aviation - Exclusive Deals, Content, & Aviation Education: https://bit.ly/E3Aviation ๐ŸŽฏ
#120 Kyle Rempfer | From Combat Controller to Washington Post Journalist
Dec 6 2024
#120 Kyle Rempfer | From Combat Controller to Washington Post Journalist
In this episode 120 of the  @AfterburnPodcast  host John 'Rain' Waters as he sits down with Kyle Rempfer, a former Combat Controller in the U.S. Air Force and current Washington Post journalist. In this episode, Kyle shares his journey from special operations to the newsroom, recounting stories from the battlefield and insights from his journalism career. ๐Ÿ”บ Join our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geo-politics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter ๐Ÿ”บ Kyle's Links: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/kyle-rempfer/ X: https://x.com/kyle_rempfer?lang=en ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Support Veterans in need: https://gunsgarin.com/rain ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Sponsor Links๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn  14-day free trial E3 Aviation - Unlock Your World of Aviation: https://e3aviationassociation.com/ Recorded on Riverside.fm https://www.riverside.fm/?via=afterburn โœˆ๏ธ Afterburn Podcast Links โœˆ๏ธ Support The Afterburn Podcast for on Patreon and gain early access and AD Free episodes. Plus access to โ€œThere I wasโ€ฆโ€ stories. https://www.patreon.com/theafterburnpodcast  Website โ€“ https://www.theafterburnpodcast.com  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rainwaters27/?hl=enS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afterburnpodcast/ X - https://x.com/AfterburnPod
Life Flying Army Helicopters as a Blackhawk Pilot | CW3 Jon "Muttley" Behuniak
Nov 1 2024
Life Flying Army Helicopters as a Blackhawk Pilot | CW3 Jon "Muttley" Behuniak
In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, John "Rain" Waters sits down with Jon "Muttley" Behuniak, a seasoned Army aviator. They dive into the intense realities of helicopter operations, sharing experiences from a recent mission in Asheville that demanded quick thinking and precision. They explore the roles within the Army National Guard, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and adaptability in high-stakes situations. The conversation also covers the differences between helicopters like the Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook, as well as the emotional weight of medevac missions and the pressures of checkrides. ๐Ÿ”บ Join our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geo-politics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter ๐Ÿ”บ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Support Veterans in need: https://gunsgarin.com/rain ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Sponsor Links๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn  14-day free trial Recorded on Riverside.fm https://www.riverside.fm/?via=afterburn โœˆ๏ธ Afterburn Podcast Links โœˆ๏ธ Support The Afterburn Podcast for on Patreon and gain early access and AD Free episodes. Plus access to โ€œThere I wasโ€ฆโ€ stories. https://www.patreon.com/theafterburnpodcast  Website โ€“ https://www.theafterburnpodcast.com  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rainwaters27/?hl=enS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afterburnpodcast/ X - https://x.com/AfterburnPod
Alex Grandahl | U.S. Army National Guard Blackhawk Pilot
Oct 25 2024
Alex Grandahl | U.S. Army National Guard Blackhawk Pilot
Join John Waters as he hosts this episode of the Afterburn Podcast with his guest, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alex "Malibu" Grandahl. In this episode, Alex "Malibu" Grandahl shares his journey from aspiring race car driver to Army aviator, detailing the challenges he faced along the way, including setbacks in his military recruitment process and the determination that fueled his pursuit of aviation. He reflects on the lessons learned from racing, the importance of resilience, and the unique experiences that shaped his path to becoming a pilot. Grandahl shares his extensive journey through military flight training, discussing the challenges and triumphs he faced. He discusses the evolution of flight school, the differences in training between the Army and Air Force, and the realities of being a pilot in the Guard. ๐Ÿ”บ Join our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geo-politics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter ๐Ÿ”บ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Support Veterans in need: https://gunsgarin.com/rain ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Sponsor Links๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn  14-day free trial Recorded on Riverside.fm https://www.riverside.fm/?via=afterburn โœˆ๏ธ Afterburn Podcast Links โœˆ๏ธ Support The Afterburn Podcast for on Patreon and gain early access and AD Free episodes. Plus access to โ€œThere I wasโ€ฆโ€ stories. https://www.patreon.com/theafterburnpodcast  Website โ€“ https://www.theafterburnpodcast.com  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rainwaters27/?hl=enS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afterburnpodcast/ X - https://x.com/AfterburnPod