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The Afterburn Podcast

The Afterburn Podcast

By: John "Rain" Waters
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Strap in the cockpit as we dive into the stories of the men and women who defend the freedoms we love. From the cockpit of military jets to boots on the ground. The Afterburn Podcast dives into their stories, the planes, and the missions. For Advertising Opportunities or more information visit: https://theafterburnpodcast.com/John "Rain" Waters Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Bro Chat 18.0 Fighter Pilot Reality, F-35 Magic, Why Torching Waymo Cars is Bad
    Jun 20 2025

    Three time zones. One car seat. Two hotel WiFi connections held together by hope. In this Bro Chat, “Rain”, “Vader”, and “Bender” catch up on everything from flying jets to why flyovers are a lose-lose game. Vader’s knee-deep in the IPUG grind, Bender’s dodging work at a chill TDY, and Rain’s flying big ole fat planes around the world. We break down F-35 vs Viper radar logic, relive the Indy 500 flyover chaos, and the Netflix Thunderbird doc (what happened with “Primo’s” rejoin ). Also: Iranian strikes, the death of the F-35 order, AI drones that headshot mannequins, and why Waymo might trigger Skynet. Come for the jet talk. Stay for the tuna sandwich fight story.

    🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast 🛫

    🔺 Aviation & Defense Newsletter - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺

    ✈ Your Pilot Destination E3 Aviation Association: https://bit.ly/E3Aviation

    Become a Patron, Support the Show, & Gain Exclusive Benefits: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast

    Sponsors:

    💉Take Control of Your Health with Whole Body Lab Testing: https://bit.ly/FunctionHealthAfterburn 🩺

    🥷 Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • F-18 Journey Through TopGun and Beyond | Ep 135 Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello
    Jun 6 2025

    In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, host John “Rain” Waters sits down with Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello, former Navy fighter pilot and host of the @FighterPilotPodcast for a deep dive into the highs and hardships of naval aviation. From his first spark of inspiration at an airshow to flying over 700 successful carrier landings, Jell-O shares a candid and compelling journey through the world of military flight. They discuss the grit required to survive flight school, the evolution of airmanship and training, and the life-changing experience of attending Top Gun. J

    Jell-O recounts intense moments from deployments aboard the USS George Washington and John F. Kennedy, reflects on the emotional toll of military service, and gives insight into his time flying as an adversary pilot in the F-16. He also opens up about his book, Through the Yellow Visor, and how storytelling plays a crucial role in honoring those who serve. This episode is rich with wisdom on perseverance, mentorship, and what it truly means to be a fighter pilot.

    Through the Yellow Visor: https://amzn.to/4jaAfc6

    Get a signed copy: https://www.fighterpilotpodcast.com/product-page/through-the-yellow-visor

    🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast 🛫

    🔺 Aviation & Defense Newsletter - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺

    ✈ Your Pilot Destination E3 Aviation Association: https://bit.ly/E3Aviation

    Become a Patron, Support the Show, & Gain Exclusive Benefits: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast

    Sponsors:

    💉Take Control of Your Health with Whole Body Lab Testing: https://bit.ly/FunctionHealthAfterburn 🩺

    🥷 Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial

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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • #134 Vince "Snapper" Sherer | A-10 Fighter Pilot - Inside Close Air Support and Combat Operations
    May 23 2025

    In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, John “Rain” Waters is joined by Vince “Snapper” Sherer, a veteran A-10 pilot with 4,500 flight hours and 299 combat missions. Snapper breaks down his path from the Air Force Academy to deployments across Afghanistan flying the A-10A and A-10C, including time in the MC-12. He details the evolution of close air support, the integration of targeting pods, and the challenges of executing time-sensitive strikes in complex environments. Snapper also shares how personal events—including his brother’s career-ending accident and a high-casualty strike on a high-value target—shaped his approach to combat and leadership. The discussion covers training, weapons employment, A-10 capabilities, and the operational realities of supporting ground forces across multiple conflicts.

    Snapper YT: https://www.youtube.com/@snapperland

    Snapper IG: https://www.instagram.com/snapperland

    🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast 🛫

    🔺 Aviation & Defense Newsletter - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺

    ✈ Your Pilot Destination E3 Aviation Association: https://bit.ly/E3Aviation

    Become a Patron, Support the Show, & Gain Exclusive Benefits: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast

    Sponsors:

    💉Take Control of Your Health with Whole Body Lab Testing: https://bit.ly/FunctionHealthAfterburn 🩺

    🥷 Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial

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    1 hr and 34 mins
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