H-Hour – Details, episodes & analysis

In this TV & film chat episode, Bags Simmons (owner of Bare Arms TV & Film, British Army veteran) and Alex Brockdorff (actor, director, British Army veteran) and Hugh, discuss their most memorable assassin movies. Recorded at Bags' place https://barearms.co.uk/. Find Alex on X and Instagram - @alexbrockdorff

Andy Williams shares his life experiences and the challenges he has faced throughout his life, including being raised by his sister and growing up without parents, later being selected to join the British Army's Parachute Regiment and MI5. He discusses the importance of reframing negative thoughts and the pressure we put on ourselves. Andy also reflects on the military as a way to find direction and guidance, and the impact of comparing ourselves to others. He emphasises the need to recognise and appreciate our own unique stories and experiences. He experienced a challenging upbringing, with a mother who was absent and struggled with alcoholism. He was raised by his older sister, who did her best to care for him. Despite his difficult childhood, Andy found solace and purpose in joining the military, specifically the Parachute Regiment. He saw it as an opportunity to escape his small town and gain a sense of unity, family, and direction. He faced various challenges during his military career, including injuries, sleep deprivation, and the emotional toll of combat. He was eventually medically discharged due to post-traumatic stress and other health issues. Andy discusses his transition from the military, to MI5, then into private security and finally the fire service and the rewarding aspects of his new career. He also talks about the variety of jobs he encounters as a firefighter, including bariatric rescues and ring removals. He emphasises the importance of routine and the sense of camaraderie in the fire service. He also mentions his upcoming book and the therapeutic process of writing it. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the importance of sharing personal experiences to help others and the power of empathy. Follow Andy on Instagram and get updates on his book release - Find Andy's social media details and book details here: https://linktr.ee/beyondthedropzone

****** Discuss this episode in the H-Hour community today on Discord: https://discord.gg/ncFRpvTkjX ***** Andy Lockwood is a leadership, performance and culture consultant. He is the founder of The Rugby Outreach Project, Sports Vacancies and Grey Wolf Teams. In this episode he discusses the concept of empathy and its impact on team performance in sports, particularly in football. He shares his research on the three pillars of effective teams: shared experience, mutual understanding, and empathy. Lockwood highlights a study on an Italian football team that found increased levels of empathy led to more shots on goal and increased performance. He also explores the role of empathy in other industries, such as business and the military. Lockwood discusses his own work in implementing empathy-related strategies in sports teams and organizations. The conversation covers various topics related to rugby, including the impact of money on the sport, the challenges at grassroots level, the differences between rugby union and rugby league, and the success of the Japanese team in the Rugby World Cup. The conversation also touches on the treatment of team managers in football compared to rugby, the importance of soft skills in recruitment, and the need for adaptability in post-military careers.

Jeremy Gibbs has spent decades in the agriculture industry and is the founder of Forces Farming, enabling Insight – Experience – Placement and Development for service personnel wishing to learn more about a career in farming. https://forcesfarming.co.uk Become a patron of H-Hour at https://patreon.com/hkpodcasts

Stevie Broome is the founder of Combat Cigars and a former Sniper in the Parachute Regiment who deployed on multiple operations during his service. https://combatcigars.co.uk Become a patron of H-Hour at https://patreon.com/hkpodcasts

H-Hour's Leading Minds is a series of interviews exploring the minds of military commanders, sporting leaders and business executives. Ian Elliot is the co-founder of iconic clothing and lifestyle brand "Animal", and co-founder of Elliot Brown Watches. Become a patron of H-Hour at https://patreon.com/hkpodcasts

Lizzy Stileman was awarded an MBE for her contribution to the national response to the pandemic while volunteering with Re:Act Disaster Response. Lizzy is a former Royal Logistics Corps Major who deployed on multiple operations during her career and has since deployed as a civilian on multiple international disaster response operations. Become a patron of H-Hour at patreon.com/hkpodcasts

Jay Singh-Sohal is a reservist, former TV journalist and aspiring politician. Become a patron of H-Hour at patreon.com/hkpodcasts

Gaz Allan is a serving senior NCO with the Royal Signals and is the founder of Moth Creaturae. https://www.mothcreaturae.com/ Become a patron of H-Hour at https://patreon.com/hkpodcasts

John Beamson served with the Royal Artillery, deploying on several operations before leaving the British Army and establishing Robustours and Escape the Lakes - organisations and events which provide extreme challenges around the UK. Become a patron of H-Hour at https://patreon.com/hkpodcasts