General Talk: Recent Episodes
General Talk
General Talk is a monthly podcast featuring interviews with figures from the British Army and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. The podcasts give a greater insight into the ever-changing role of the military in the modern world and the way in which we, as the Army’s national charity, safeguard the welfare of our soldiers, veterans and their families
In this episode of the ABF’s podcast, General Talk, Dame Sharon reflects on the balancing act of parenting while serving at the highest levels of military leadership.
Joining host, Harry Bucknall, to discuss this anniversary and share their experiences are: Ed Hall, Chair of Fighting With Pride; Brigadier Clare Phillips CBE, Deputy Military Secretary and Chair of the Army LGBT+ Network; and Guardsman Wez Guren, serving with the 1st Battalion, the Irish Guards.
The Academy Sergeant Major joins host, Harry Bucknall, to talk about ‘Dan's Running Challenge’, and what it takes to become one of the Army's senior soldiers.
In a special Christmas edition of our General Talk podcast, host Harry Bucknall chats to our ambassadors, Brenda Hale OBE, and her daughter Alix.
July’s edition of General Talk is the second of two episodes looking at the Army Apprenticeship Programme.
Harry Bucknall, the host of our General Talk podcast, visits Marchwood Port, Southampton and learns about the unique maritime nature of the privates’ roles as trainee Port Operators and the transferable skills, and civilian qualifications they are gaining as apprentices.
In this month’s General Talk podcast, and in the July edition of the programme, we focus on a key element of soldier training and development, the Army Apprenticeship Programme.
Host Harry Bucknall talks to Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes CBE, Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command.
In this edition of our General Talk podcast, host Harry Bucknall and guests remember the Band of the Coldstream Guards playing for peace in Sarajevo 30 years ago.
Daz Keelor, former soldier and Cornwall veterans’ welfare campaigner, looks back on his Army career, his love of rugby and the RAOC’s amalgamation into the Royal Logistic Corps in the early 1990s.
Harry Bucknall talks to Anthony Loyd, The Times’ senior foreign correspondent, about reporting wars and conflicts.
In this Christmas edition of our General Talk podcast, host Harry Bucknall talks to the Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, about life in politics.
Army veteran and award-winning fundraising campaigner, Mark Harding, talks about his work for military charities and overcoming a serious injury sustained in Afghanistan.
In this episode, Harry Bucknall talks to Lee Harris-Hamer, Royal Artillery veteran, about life after the Army as an award-winning businessman.
In this episode we look at the story of the opening day of the 100 Day Offensive that saw the Allies put into practice the lessons they had learned in earlier battles. We tell the story of 8th August 1918 through the eyes of the soldiers who were there, including the German General Erich Ludendorff.
In a fascinating conversation, Lord Dannatt talks about British Army resource cuts, political and defence issues, veterans’ welfare and his new book. “Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-40”.
Army Sergeant Major WO1 Paul Carney talks about his pivotal role at British Army Headquarters.
Harry talks to King’s Troop Commanding Officer, Major Francesca Sykes, who shares her proudest moments so far as CO during many recent historic occasions, including the 2022 Platinum Jubilee when the Troop’s horses displayed such “immaculate behaviour” in a crowd of three hundred thousand cheering spectators around Hyde Park.
Best-selling author Joshua Levine talks about the unsung heroes of the Special Air Service (SAS) during World War Two.
Our Chief Executive, Tim Hyams, talks about the challenges facing the Army’s national charity and the changing nature of the British Army.
GSM Stokes talks about masterminding the ceremonial arrangements for HM Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral and his impressive Army career in the Coldstream Guards.
Host Harry Bucknall talks to General Sir Patrick Sanders, KCB, CBE, DSO, Chief of the General Staff, British Army.
Alastair shares vivid personal memories of working with Queen Elizabeth II and his expert insights into the monarchy and the Armed Forces’ close links with the Royal Family.
In our new podcast for General Talk, we celebrate the Edinburgh Festival’s 75th Anniversary this year. Our host Harry Bucknall talks to the British Army in Scotland’s theatre and entertainment company Army At The Fringe.
Speaking in our new podcast episode for General Talk, our host Harry Bucknall speaks to the charity Waterloo Uncovered, which we fund, about how battlefield archaeology promotes veterans’ mental health and wellbeing.
Speaking in our new podcast episode for General Talk, hosted by Harry Bucknall, BBC Sports presenterGabby Logan talks to broadcaster Simon McCoy about her impressive career as one the country’s leading sports presenters.
This episode of General Talk features Corie Mapp, former Lance Corporal, Afghan veteran and Britain’s first Para Bobsleigh European Champion. Corie talks about his Army career, the challenges he faced after becoming a double amputee and how sport helped him overcome his life changing injuries
WO1 (AcSM) Colin Kirkwood talks about being selected for the prestigious position of Academy Sergeant Major at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), having joined the Army as a junior soldier aged 16.
Adam Holloway, Conservative MP for Gravesham, talks about UK Policy on Afghanistan, Parliament’s work on defence issues, and Global Britain.
General Sir Michael Rose shares his recollections of commanding the SAS during the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege and his thoughts on the Army’s twenty years in Afghanistan in a new episode of our General Talk podcast series.
War artist and one of England’s leading portrait painters, Nick Bashall, reflects on his time working with the British Army in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan in a new episode of General Talk.
This wide-ranging interview covers Clare Balding's experiences during her presenting career; the strong link between the Armed Forces and sport; how animals can bring strong mental health benefits; and women and their beliefs on ambition.
Clare Balding’s interview was originally recorded for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity’s virtual event, Friday Night In, on Friday 5th March 2021. Clare appeared alongside guest speakers such as John Simpson, Simon McCoy and General Lord Dannatt for an evening of entertainment, which raised more than £23,500 for the charity.
Podcast host Harry Bucknall talks to Johnny Mercer, minister for defence people and veterans. The wide-ranging interview covers the rights of Commonwealth veterans to residency after they’ve served; the ‘egregious’ experiences of servicemen and women at the hands of the Historic Investigations Unit; and the ‘huge resistance’ to talking about suicide, Mercer admits he finds politics a challenge and resolves “I’ll keep going until we do our duty by our people or someone comes along and does it better.”
The BBC’s world affairs editor, John Simpson, speaks to Simon McCoy about his wide-ranging experiences at key events in history in a new episode of General Talk.
General Sir James Everard has taken over the presidency of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity from General Sir Mike Jackson, having recently retired from an impressive full career in the British Army. General James carried out operational service in Cyprus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Iraq and Belgium; and his final appointment was as the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe in Allied Command Operations NATO.
Hear more about General James’ career in the British Army in this episode.
Women have had active roles in the British Army since 1902 when the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps was founded. However, it wasn’t until 1992 that women were given opportunities and careers in the wider Army; and it was 2016 before the ban on women serving on the front line was lifted. With this has come some major positive changes for how women are treated equally in the Army - you can hear all about it on this podcast.
General Sir Barney White-Spunner is this month’s guest on our monthly podcast: General Talk. General White-Spunner talks freely to podcast host, Harry Bucknall, about his time as Britain’s commanding officer in southern Iraq; and the difficulties faced by the Army being engaged in two major operations, Iraq and Afghanistan, at the same time. General White-Spunner goes on to talk about his newly-released book, Berlin: The Story of a City. If you’d like to take part in your own codebreaking adventure this festive period, sign up to our family-friendly virtual event Operation Bletchley: Christmas in Berlin here: Operation Bletchley (soldierscharity.org)
Hear our Army Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class 1 Gavin Paton, discuss his role as ASM, being proud of the British Army during the pandemic, recruitment and our vital women in the army.
Robin delves into his own career in the Army and talks about the last ten years working for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity alongside where he sees himself going amidst the news of his retirement.
He also explores the shape of the military charity sector amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and outlines the steps our charity is taking to ensure the Army family can still receive the support they need, despite a huge reduction in fundraising income.
Our first episode kicks off with former Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson. Tune in to hear him talk Kosovo, James Blunt, comradeship and gardening.