Baggage

The Baggage Podcast

Baggage is a collection of compelling, unique, and sometimes traumatic stories from people of all walks of life. These stories typically only get heard by the storyteller’s friends, family, or co-workers. Now there is a platform for everyday individuals to share their experiences with a larger audience as well as how they cope with the emotional and mental baggage that sometimes follows those events. Once a month, the show’s hosts—Eric Shaw (doctor), Ryan Frank (prosecutor), Adrian Bonenberger (journalist/author), and Ryan Conner (comedian)—hear a different set of stories bringing their own distinct perspectives. Sometimes serious and sometimes humorous, it’s sure to always be interesting. To share your story or ask a question, email us at thebaggagepodcast@gmail.com. read less

Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness

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The Soviet Afghantsi (Anna Reich)

The Soviet Afghantsi (Anna Reich)

The term Afghantsi refers to military veterans of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan during the 70s and 80s. Largely ignored and forgotten by the governments of former Soviet-bloc countries, these veteran’s stories are often equally overlooked. In this episode, the guys interview Anna Reich, the author of I Try Not to Think of Afghanistan. The book is a collection of years of research done by Anna collecting the accounts of former Soviet soldiers who fought in Afghanistan, specifically Lithuanians. She discusses the complexities of their experiences, the challenges they faced, and the way their stories are perceived in Lithuania. She also touches on the differences between American and Lithuanian veterans, the impact of violence and combat on individuals, and the varying perspectives on war and its effects.

Episodes

The Soviet Afghantsi (Anna Reich)

The Soviet Afghantsi (Anna Reich)

The term Afghantsi refers to military veterans of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan during the 70s and 80s. Largely ignored and forgotten by the governments of former Soviet-bloc countries, these veteran’s stories are often equally overlooked. In this episode, the guys interview Anna Reich, the author of I Try Not to Think of Afghanistan. The book is a collection of years of research done by Anna collecting the accounts of former Soviet soldiers who fought in Afghanistan, specifically Lithuanians. She discusses the complexities of their experiences, the challenges they faced, and the way their stories are perceived in Lithuania. She also touches on the differences between American and Lithuanian veterans, the impact of violence and combat on individuals, and the varying perspectives on war and its effects.

Carry-On: Same Sh*t, Different Day

Carry-On: Same Sh*t, Different Day

In this Carry-On episode, host and prosecutor Ryan Frank continues to discuss his experiences dealing with child victims. He talks about specific cases with unique issues in the investigation or prosecution There’s also talk about the role of the battle of the experts in child abuse cases and the mental toll such cases can have on a person. Important is how an effective prosecutor’s office actually helps significantly for ones own mental health. Finally, the guys talk about the likelihood of Ryan “switching sides.”

Child Victim Prosecutor (Ryan)

Child Victim Prosecutor (Ryan)

How’s your day going? Do you want to talk about child porn? Of course not. But someone has to deal with that stuff. In this episode, prosecutor Ryan Frank talks about handling child-victim sexual assault cases, everyone agrees The Simpsons’s comic book guy is a pedophile, co-hosts share how they got out of jury duty, and a lot more.

Carry-On: Apocalypse Prepped

Carry-On: Apocalypse Prepped

In this episode, the guys agree that having a doctor for a friend is great but it sucks for the doctor. They also discuss who is the most expendable in a post-apocalyptic world. Spoiler: it’s the comedian. Ryan Frank shares his pathway into the Marine Corps and his training to become a helicopter crew chief. His training included SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape). The guys share a clip from the most recent episode were guest Mark talks about a unique trip he took to Italy. Finally, the conversation circles back to Eric and how he will dominate us all if we end up back in the Stone Age.

Presidential Pilot (Mark)

Presidential Pilot (Mark)

In this episode, the guys are joined by Mark as he tells his experience as a Marine Corps helicopter pilot. Mark shares his path to becoming a pilot, the combat deployments he was on, and his transition to HMX: the President’s squadron. Mark explains the rigorous training process and the precision required in flying HMX helicopters. He shares with us what it’s like flying the most important person in the world and the stresses that go with it.

Carry-On: Bugging Out

Carry-On: Bugging Out

In this episode, comedian Ryan Conner explains how he survives while living amongst an uncomfortable amount of bugs in LA. He also critiques The World's Ugliest Dog Contest. The guys finally get around to what the show is actually about and listen to clips from the most recent guest: virologist Meghan. She talks about the transition from pandemic to endemic and the frustrations that scientists felt during that time. Doctor Eric Shaw provides his insights into lessons learned and how the future looks bright in the world of medicine.

COVID Virologist (Meghan)

COVID Virologist (Meghan)

Remember that COVID thing? Well, in this episode, the guys are joined by Meghan, a laboratory director with expertise in virology and infectious diseases. They discuss Meghan's experience working in a clinical testing laboratory during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meghan shares insights into the development of COVID-19 tests, the challenges faced by healthcare workers, and the impact of the pandemic on her personal life. The conversation explores the psychological and emotional aspects of the pandemic, including feelings of alienation, betrayal, and the politicization of the virus.

Carry-On: Conspiracy Theories

Carry-On: Conspiracy Theories

In this episode, the guys have some follow-up comments from Kate’s episode including a clip from possibly the craziest story she had to share. Eric gives his input about Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for kids and, somehow, that leads to talking about 80’s movies about the USSR. There’s also talk about the latest on MDMA treating PTSD. The guys finish up with a preview of what the next episode will entail and how can you talk COVID without talking about the crackpot theories surrounding it.

Elementary School Educator (Kate)

Elementary School Educator (Kate)

In this episode, the guys interview Kate. She's spent 17 years as a teacher, teaching coach, and school administrator. Maybe you think your kids' teachers had it hard already but trust us, you have no idea. Kate talks about dealing with difficult parents and the most challenging situations. She also delves into the effects of the pandemic and social media. Yes, there's an unusual number of poop stories but it all fit in context. So please, remember this episode when it's your kids' last day of school and think about what their teachers went through to get to that point.

Carry-On: Hot Sh*t

Carry-On: Hot Sh*t

In this episode, the guys play a couple of clips that didn't make it into the last episode with guest and Vietnam Vet, Don Frank. That generates a discussion amongst the guys about burn pits and, yes, burning your poo. The guys also talk about what young men do for extended periods of time without the company of women as well as answer listeners' questions.

Vietnam Vet (Don) - Part 2

Vietnam Vet (Don) - Part 2

We’re back with part two with retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Don Frank’s stories surrounding the Vietnam War. We pick back up when he’s in country dealing with the challenges of combat. He talks about going from Vietnam to having to recruit on college campuses during the war. Finally, he shares he thoughts on PTSD and Vietnam vets’ challenges versus vets of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Carry-On: Watch What You Eat

Carry-On: Watch What You Eat

This is the first episode of Carry-On: a place to talk about all the stuff that didn’t fit into an episode of Baggage. We go over listeners’ questions from the first half of Don’s Vietnam Vet episode as well as questions from Eric’s three-episode series. There’s Oliver North, Dave Attell, and dysentery stories mixed in there. Plus, we cover the ins and outs and things to avoid regarding Vietnamese cuisine. You’ll notice this is much more laidback than a normal episode. So relax and enjoy!

Vietnam Vet (Don) - Part I

Vietnam Vet (Don) - Part I

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Don Frank shares his early days in the Marine Corps as a captain in Vietnam. We start with his not-so-successful attempt to master the Vietnamese language which, somehow, leads to him being the dean of a Vietnamese language school? Don shares insights into the war, his experiences, and some anecdotes along the way. We finish with Don talking about a very dark day in his military career when his company was ambushed by a North Vietnamese battalion. He’s never talked about these events before making this a very special episode for one of the hosts and Don’s son, Ryan Frank.

Residency & ER Doctor (Eric)

Residency & ER Doctor (Eric)

This episode is the final chapter in Dr. Eric Shaw’s journey in the medical field. He shares his journey through medical residency, the challenges faced in the emergency room, and his transition to outpatient pediatrics. He discusses the emotional toll of working in high-stress medical environments, the importance of humor, and the impact of personal experiences on mental health. The conversation also touches on coping mechanisms, personal growth, and the journey towards better emotional well-being.

Medical Student (Eric)

Medical Student (Eric)

In this episode, we’re back with Eric Shaw as he shares stories from his days as a medical student. The guys delve into the rigorous and often challenging journey of medical training, exploring themes of burnout, trauma, and the emotional toll of working in healthcare. Eric shares personal stories from medical school, including experiences with pediatric patients and the harsh realities of surgical rotations. The conversation highlights the importance of compassion in medicine and the need for mental health support for medical professionals. Ultimately, the episode serves as a reminder of the extraordinary experiences that shape healthcare providers and the impact they have on their patients.

Paramedic & EMT (Eric)

Paramedic & EMT (Eric)

In the show’s first episode, we start at home. One of the hosts, Eric Shaw, shares his early experiences as an EMT and Paramedic. He explains the challenges faced by first responders, the impact of trauma on mental health, and the often humorous yet harrowing stories that come from their work. The guys explore the moral dilemmas encountered in emergency situations, the realities of working in high-stress environments, and the personal growth that comes from navigating these experiences. This is the first of my stories that aim to shed light on the extraordinary lives of ordinary people and the lessons learned along the way.