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Mike Drop

Leading Special Forces Selection, Media Battles, and the Fight for Veteran Suicide Reform | Ep. 285 | Pt. 3

Mike Drop

Mike Ritland

News, Personal Journals, Society & Culture, Politics

4.96.5K Ratings

🗓️ 3 April 2026

⏱️ 70 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Former Australian 2nd Commando Regiment officer and combat veteran Heston Russell opens up about his personal journey, including coming to terms with his sexuality while serving, family reactions, and the cultural differences in veteran support between Australia and the United States. He details his exchange posting with the 75th Ranger Regiment, a later deployment to Iraq in a joint special operations planning role, insights into high-level interagency operations, and the challenges of transitioning out of the military. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:30.5

Were there points where you were in your earlier adulthood or at that same time, I guess,

0:36.4

where you were actually physically attracted to women, or was it always a mask?

0:42.9

I was definitely, I was attracted to women because I was meant to be attracted to women.

0:48.1

Like, I didn't know any differently.

0:50.7

You know, it's the doctrine you're given.

0:53.1

And it's only when you allow yourself to be curious in question why and what if, potentially.

0:59.0

I've always found women extremely attractive.

1:02.0

I have this, I have this overriding instinct also to protect and support women.

1:07.0

Like I have my mother and my younger sister.

1:09.0

And I remember when we were going through the conversations of even bringing women into combat roles and the discussions with the

1:15.2

Rangers. And I was like, I just automatically know that I would have a propensity to support a woman

1:21.5

in need or a wounded woman before a man. I just know that that's in my DNA. I have this admiration,

1:27.2

respect and love for women,

1:28.3

and I enjoyed the physicality of sex with the woman

1:31.3

and bringing them pleasure,

1:32.3

but I just could not achieve that emotional connection

1:37.3

to the point of when I finally experienced it with a guy.

...

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