The Weapons and Warfare team celebrated their 50th episode and one-year anniversary with a retrospective discussion. Host Ryan Robertson, Senior Producer Brett Baker, Video Editor Brian Spencer, and Senior Motion Designer Dakota Piteo shared their thoughts and favorite moments from 2024.
Brett Baker expressed his excitement about launching the show from scratch, especially the remote aspect. He stated, “It has been an amazing experience so far, and I am excited about what we have done and where we are going.”
Brian Spencer highlighted the show’s unique approach to military discussions, saying, “There are a lot of military show voices out there, and I am excited to level up that conversation and be part of deciphering the world of the military.”
Dakota Piteo reflected on the sheer volume of content covered: “It is crazy to see how much content we have covered. It was a great year, and I am looking forward to more.”
Robertson acknowledged the team’s remote collaboration—Baker in Lincoln, Nebraska; Piteo in Denver; and Spencer in St. Louis—and highlighted the importance of their weekly debriefs. His favorite debrief centered on the feasibility of the U.S. neutralizing all Chinese and Russian nuclear launch facilities within two hours. He explained, “I thought this was a great opportunity for us to showcase what we do best, bringing this world that is crazy and full of jargon to the average person, making it relatable and the ideas attainable.”
Baker’s favorite debrief stemmed from their coverage of Special Forces Week in Tampa, where they met Jared Shepard, founder of Warriors Ethos, a veteran transition program. Baker shared, “What it really is, is a transition program for veterans, like myself. I was fortunate, but that’s not always the case. So what Jared is doing is really cool and inspiring, and it’s helping a lot of veterans who need that next step.” He specifically mentioned the program’s assistance to a Medal of Honor recipient.
Spencer’s favorite was the debrief on the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program in Texas. He was fascinated by the collaboration of 14 NATO countries, overcoming language and cultural barriers to secure European skies. He remarked, “I think it is really cool that they are able to overcome all the bureaucracy of the militaries of each country, and then overcome the language barrier, the culture barrier, and just become the best of friends and have brothers in the sky.”
Piteo chose the episode on additive manufacturing (industrial 3D printing), praising its potential to revive obsolete military technology and reduce costs. He stated, “And I think it has tangible benefits for the real world. 3D printing is so viable. You need something custom for your old furnace, or things like that. I think it’s a really cool practice, and I’m really glad we covered it.”
Robertson concluded by reiterating his own fascination with 3D printing’s potential for widespread, cost-effective applications, stating, “The more widespread we could make it, the more cost-effective it is going to be.” He noted the team’s indirect access to the technology through their contacts.
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