The Other Reasons series, while dominated by essay responses, started out as a simple Q&A. We wanted to see what brought different people into service, and hoped civilian readers would find shades of their own stories in the answers, some tiny connective thread that could be followed towards a deeper conversation. The thing about Matt […]
Read More The Other Reasons #7 : Matt YoungA Talk On x Combat Art Collective collaboration with the support of talented artists across the country. (FYI, scroll down for a handy TL;DR version of what’s below for the mouth-breathers out there) Here’s the story: Combat Art Collective (CAC) and the Talk On reached out to artists for contributions to a conversation about the American […]
Read More Call and Response #1: Buried AliveThis is the fourth post in an indefinite series. Everyone knows that 9/11 was the horrible mechanism that initiated our descent into a war fought by a small subset of Americans. But how well do you know the men and women who have joined the fight? Do you imagine they are wildly different from you? […]
Read More The Other Reasons #4: Charlie MooseThe Talk On was created as a hub for veterans to reach out directly to civilians with creative content in order to bridge the cultural gap between us. But, there are already some “civilians” that have a direct view of our experience and exist permanently inside that gap…military families. While they don’t join us in […]
Read More Artist Profile: Sarah RossettiThis is the second post in an indefinite series. Everyone knows that 9/11 was the horrible mechanism that initiated our descent into a war fought by a small subset of Americans. But how well do you know the men and women who have joined the fight? Do you imagine they are wildly different from you? […]
Read More The Other Reasons #2: Arne SmithIf asked to describe the Marine Corps in a few words, it’s unlikely many civilians would use the term “Patron of the Arts”. So, it may come as a surprise that the Corps, through it’s National Museum, helps support a Combat Artist program to allow talented artists (active, reserve, and retired) to document its history […]
Read More Artist Profile: Capt. CJ Baumann (USMC)While we’re really proud of the work the Talk-On has posted so far, we also know that there are many other places doing important work that can support our mission. Every Wednesday, we’ll post the best links we can find that help challenge your perspectives and bridge the cultural gap between Mil/Vets and Civilians, and […]
Read More Wednesday Links: Read this stuffEditor’s Note: The following essay was co-authored by Mike Gnoffo and Zack Neyman, and told from Zack’s perspective as a Marine Lance Corporal and Radio Operator on a shared deployment to Afghanistan in 2013-2014. —- Helmand province is covered in moon dust. I first encountered it when our transport helicopter dropped us into a remote […]
Read More Buried AliveThe first question they ask, if they ask any, is almost always “what is it like?” They don’t mean what is it like to leave home, or take long flights over the mispronounced nations of the world, or clean weapons and recount gear for the hundredth time. They’re not concerned with the structure of a […]
Read More “Q & A”When I think back on my time in Afghanistan, I don’t remember being stressed. I remember fear, occasionally, when shit felt like it was out of control or something loud and sudden caught you by surprise, but not stress, not the way I’ve felt it at desk jobs when orders start to fall behind. Not […]
Read More Hair Club For Men
Talk On 