True Blue Conversations Podcast

Today on True Blue Conversations, I'm joined by Clay Marks, a man whose life has been shaped by aviation, military service, courage and an unwavering commitment to helping others. Clay enlisted in the Australian Defence Force in 2001, serving as a Parachute Rigger before becoming an Army Aircrewman with 171 Squadron, 6th Aviation Regiment. His career saw him accumulate thousands of flying hours on Black Hawk helicopters, supporting special operations, counter-terrorism missions, humanitarian operations and deployments throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific. After leaving the Army, Clay transitioned into civilian aeromedical operations with CareFlight, working as an Aircrew Officer in Sydney's Rapid Response Trauma Team. He's since been involved in aviation, aerial firefighting, search and rescue, and emergency response operations, including the devastating 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires. Beyond aviation, Clay is a passionate advocate for veterans, having raised more than $300,000 through fundraising initiatives. He's also President of the Oatley RSL Sub-Branch and a dedicated father of four. But today isn't just about the career, the flying hours or the achievements. This is a raw and honest conversation about service, brotherhood, transition and, importantly, the personal cost that service can have on an individual and their family. Host : Adam Blum Guest : Clay Marks Editor : Kyle Watkins

On this weeks episode of True Blue Conversations, I sit down with Eddie Robertson, a veteran of the 2nd Commando Regiment and private security contractor who has spent his career operating in some of the most demanding and dangerous environments in the world. Born in Albury in 1979, Eddie joined the Australian Army Reserve in 1997, beginning a journey that would take him from the early days of 4 RAR Commando through to the evolution of what the 2nd Commando Regiment is today. His service included deployments to East Timor and multiple tours of Afghanistan with the Special Operations Task Group, including service with TAG-East and as part of a personal security detail for senior ISAF leadership. Between military deployments, Eddie worked throughout Iraq for major international private security companies during the height of the conflict, operating in hostile environments where the stakes were high and the consequences real. Eddie reflects on his military journey, the evolution of Australian Special Forces, the realities of operating at the sharp end, and the personal cost that comes with a life of service. He also opens up about the devastating loss of his best mate, Cameron Baird VC MG, an Australian Special Forces soldier whose courage and sacrifice left an enduring legacy. Eddie shares the deep struggles he faced transitioning out of Australian Special Forces and finding his feet again in the civilian world. His story highlights the challenges so many veterans and first responders face when they leave behind a life of service, the brotherhood, the structure, the identity and the sense of purpose that once defined them. This is a conversation about brotherhood, loyalty, loss, resilience, transition and the bonds forged through shared experiences that few will ever understand. This is a raw and honest chat about service and sacrifice, and serving at the tip of the spear of the Australian Special Forces.  HOST : Adam Blum GUEST : Eddie Robertson EDITOR : Kyle Watkins

Welcome back to another episode of True Blue Conversations Today, I'm honoured to share the story of Andy Perry , a former Royal Australian Navy helicopter pilot who served with the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam, known as the EMUs. Integrated with the US Army's 135th Assault Helicopter Company, Andy flew dangerous combat missions supporting troops on the ground. On 18 May 1970, Andy demonstrated extraordinary courage during a combat assault in Vietnam. After learning that aircraft were being knocked out of action while troops faced a strong enemy force, Andy volunteered to assist. Taking the lead, he flew into a landing zone under intense enemy fire. His helicopter was repeatedly hit, damaging the cockpit windows, instruments and flight controls. Despite being wounded and losing feeling in his right foot, Andy continued leading the mission, returning to the landing zone twice more to complete the troop insertions. For his extraordinary gallantry, courage and leadership under fire, Andy was awarded the United States Silver Star: recognising his conspicuous gallantry in action and reflecting great credit upon himself and the Royal Australian Navy. Andy transitioned out of the RAN in 1971 and went on to fly helicopters throughout Southeast Asia and across Papua New Guinea. This is a raw and honest chat about the realities of combat, the challenges of transitioning out of military service, and finding purpose again after service. HOST : Adam Blum GUEST : Andy Perry Editor : Kyle Watkins

On this episode of True Blue Conversations Podcast, I sit down with Matt Newlands, a former South Australian Police Officer whose life took a devastating turn when he was arrested at work in 2015. After 10 years serving on the frontline with South Australia Police, Matt witnessed the darkest sides of humanity, the constant exposure to trauma, and the challenges of working within a system that can sometimes leave those protecting the community struggling to protect themselves. The cumulative toll of service eventually caught up with Matt. Diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress and depression, he found himself fighting battles behind closed doors that threatened to destroy everything he held dear. His marriage, his family, his identity and his future were all at risk. Battling deep depression, reckless behaviour and suicidal thoughts, Matt reached a point where his life was spiralling out of control. But his story doesn't end there. Since leaving SAPOL, Matt has worked to rebuild his life, finding purpose and direction beyond the uniform. He has moved into the mental health space, co-founding Frontline Mental Health, supporting first responders as they navigate the challenges of transition and life after service. Matt is also an ambassador for RUOK? Day, helping encourage conversations that can make a genuine difference in people's lives. This is a raw, honest and powerful conversation about the true cost of serving your community, walking the thin blue line, and what happens when the uniform comes off but the invisible wounds remain. We explore resilience, accountability, mindset, mental health and the importance of finding purpose beyond the job. This episode is for every police officer, firefighter, paramedic, veteran and first responder who has struggled in silence, as well as anyone navigating the difficult journey of transitioning out of service. Because your identity is more than your uniform, your past doesn't have to define your future, and there is life, purpose and hope after service. HOST : Adam Blum GUEST : Matt Newlands EDITOR : Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with Australian Federal Police officer Matt. Before joining the Federal Police, Matt spent some time in the Royal Australian Airforce both as a photography and as a reservist airbase security. During this time he joined the Victorian Police Force in 1996 and then in 2013 laterally transferred to the Feds. On 23 September 2014, 18-year-old Abdul Numan Haider attacked police officers one being a plain clothes Victorian Police Officer Officer A and the other being Matt a Counter Terrorism Unit Agent with a knife outside the Victoria Police Endeavour Hills police station located in Endeavour Hills, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Both Matt and officer A sustained multiple stab wounds which subsequently led to Officer A discharging his sidearm once neutralizing the threat. Matt's identity has been suppressed for operational security reasons. This is a raw an honest chat about service and find purpose after a critical incident changes your career. Host : Adam Blum Guest : Matt Editor : Kyle Watkins

Terry Ledgard has lived a life less-ordinary, from humble beginnings in the oddball mining town of Coober Pedy, to the volatile warzone of Afghanistan as a Special Forces Medic, the frozen wasteland of Antarctica to the summit of Mt. Everest, and back again. In this episode we follow Terry's early years as a Coober Pedy desert rat to the explosive action, IED strikes, saving Waltzing Matilda, gory trauma and gut-wrenching humanitarian aid missions as a Special Forces Medic in Afghanistan. After returning home unscathed, Terry discusses his brief battle with 'the big, bad PSTD', his sense of existential boredom and the journey to rediscover adventure and purpose as he undertakes the 'climbing the 7 summits' odyssey with long-time friend Brad Watts. This is where the conversation ratchets up a notch as we chat about Terry's first book Bad Medicine, chasing great white sharks and orca whales as a medic / dive safety specialist on nature documentaries, and recount Terry's battles with frostbite and near-death crevasse fall as he completes 6 of the 7 summits, culminating in summiting Mt. Everest in 2024. This is a raw and unfiltered, uncannily insightful conversation about service, adventure, mental resilience and rediscovering purpose in life after the green machine.  Host : Adam Blum Guest : Terry Ledgard Editor : Kyle Watkins

In this episode of True Blue Conversations, I sit down with Peter Rock, an 8 RAR National Serviceman, Vietnam veteran and recipient of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. Peter was conscripted into the Australian Army and, after completing his basic training, was posted to 8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (8 RAR), where he served as a machine gunner. Peter takes us back to his time in the jungles of Vietnam, including the Battle of the Long Hai campaign in 1970, where his actions saw him awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. He speaks openly about the battle, and the realities of fighting in the jungle. But Peter's story doesn't end when he left Vietnam. He also talks honestly about the challenges of transitioning out of the military, coming home from a war zone, and adjusting to life after service. This conversation follows last week's episode with Peter's platoon commander, John Brien, whom Peter served under in Vietnam. It's a raw and honest conversation about service, combat, sacrifice, wounds and the journey home. HOST : Adam Blum GUEST : Peter Rock Editor : Kyle Watkins

John Brien - 8 RAR Platoon Commander, Vietnam / Australian Special Forces Special Air Service Regiment Veteran: Vietnam, the unpopular war Today on True Blue Conversations, I'm joined by John Brien — Vietnam veteran, former 8RAR Platoon Commander and SASR operator, whose life is a powerful story of service, sacrifice and transition. John's early years took him from Sydney to Adelaide and then Queensland, where he spent his teenage years in high school and surfing. He had planned to become a surfboard maker, but medical issues changed that path. In January 1967, John joined the Australian Army to attend Officer Cadet School, graduating later that year before serving at the Jungle Training Centre at Canungra. He was posted to 8RAR, served in Malaysia, and in November 1969 deployed to South Vietnam, where he spent a year commanding a rifle platoon during the Vietnam War — an unpopular conflict that would profoundly affect many Australian veterans, particularly when they returned home. Following Vietnam, John was recommended for SASR selection by his former Company Commander, Mike Jeffrey, who would later become Governor-General of Australia. John passed selection and went on to spend more than a decade in Special Forces, including service with US Special Forces at Fort Bragg. After leaving the Army in 1988, John faced another major transition. He studied Traditional Chinese Medicine, including four months in China, and eventually practised as a doctor for 35 years before retiring in 2025. For many veterans and first responders, transitioning away from service can be one of life's greatest challenges — finding purpose, identity and direction beyond the uniform. Today, John shares his story of service, transition and life after the military. HOST: Adam Blum GUEST: John Brien Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with Arron Ferguson, a former 23-year NSW Police Detective and 24-year Australian Army 1st Commando Regiment Special Forces Operator. Arron joined the army first as a commando, and two years later, he was offered a spot on a deployment to Timor. However, the NSW Police also offered a full-time policing position at the academy. Arron lived a double life as both a Detective and army Special Forces reserve soldier. Arron was involved in hundreds of domestic police investigations and then deployments to Timor and highly kinetic operations in Afghanistan as part of the special operations task force. He was forced into early retirement due to a genetic muscle disease, which took a toll on his mental health and, not to mention, his physical capabilities. In this podcast, Arron talks about the loss of mates while he was deployed in Afghanistan, how policing has changed from when he joined and the true mental cost of serving as a first responder and in the military. Arron also talks about the mental health aspect of loss of purpose and finding purpose again after being diagnosed with this genetic muscle disease, and what every veteran and first responder struggles with transition back to civilian life after living a high kinetic life that veterans and first responders live. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Arron Ferguson Editor: Kyle Watkins

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Australian Army Reservist and NSW Police Officer Matt Nicholson. Matt served in the NSW Police for 18 years. After leaving school, Matt joined the Army reserves and joined the Royal Australian Artillery Corps. In 2007, Matt was accepted into the NSW Police and headed to the academy in 2008. Matt spent his career as a general duties officer and later moved into the Raptor task force targeting bikie gangs and other organised crime groups. Matt was diagnosed with PTSD and was medically retired from the NSW Police after 18 years' service, Matt suffered what every veteran and first responders face when they transition out of service and how to find purpose as a civilian, this is a raw and honest chat about life as a general duties police officer and what they face on a day to day basis protecting the community. Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Matt Nicholson Editor: Kyle Watkins