Ger Fowler’s story takes him from joining the Army at just 16, through Northern Ireland, Berlin and surviving the Ballygawley bus bombing, to a very different battle after leaving the military.

In this raw and honest conversation, Ger talks about trauma, PTSD, addiction, grief and the struggle to find purpose after service. He also explains how his own experiences eventually led him to create Veterans in Crisis Sunderland, helping veterans who have fallen through the gaps in traditional support.

From a coffee and a conversation to building a genuine lifeline for veterans, Ger’s story is one of trauma, recovery, responsibility and ultimately finding a way to give something back.

If you're a veteran, supporting a veteran, or simply want to understand what life after military service can really look like, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

🪖 Veterans in Crisis Sunderland:
veteransincrisis.co.uk

Frankie’s Pod — real people, real stories, no bullshit.

Pull up a sandbag and start swinging that lamp!

ABOUT FRANKIE'S POD Long-form conversations with veterans and service personnel about where they came from, why they joined, what they saw, and what came after. Hosted by Frankie (Andrew Dunn), Royal Artillery, 1985–2012.Website ▸ https://frankiespod.co.ukYouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@FrankiesPod ──────────────────────────SUPPORT THE SHOW I make Frankie's Pod on my own, in my own time, and fund it myself. If an episode has meant something to you, you can buy me a coffee: ☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/FrankiesPod If a coffee isn't possible, subscribing, leaving a review or sharing an episode helps just as much. Cheers. ────────────────────────── MUSIC CREDIT "Battlefield Resolve" and "Sentinel" — composed and performed by Gregory Ratcliff, trading as G4H Music. Used by Frankie's Pod under a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence granted 31 August 2026. Copyright and ownership remain with G4H Music. "Battlefield Resolve" — the track at the top of every episode — was written specifically for Frankie's Pod. If you like it, hear more of Greg's work on his album "Rising": 🎵 https://open.spotify.com/album/2NDEgqNET6CTobhUO9nTrI ────────────────────────── #FrankiesPod #Veterans #MilitaryPodcast

From Royal Engineers combat deployments to a life-changing injury in Afghanistan, addiction, homelessness and eventually rebuilding his life, Stuart Mendelson’s story is a brutally honest look at what can happen when the uniform comes off.

In this episode of Frankie’s Pod, Frankie Dunn sits down with Stuart to trace his journey from growing up in Stevenage, through joining the British Army and training as a Royal Engineer, to deployments in the Falklands, Cyprus, Germany and Afghanistan.

Stuart talks about the camaraderie, the sense of purpose the Army gave him, and the reality of life as a combat engineer in Helmand — including route clearance, bridge-building and working in an environment where danger could be around the next corner.

Then came the IED blast that changed everything.

Stuart shares what happened when he suffered life-changing injuries, including blindness in one eye, and the rapid transition from serving soldier to civilian. What followed was a downward spiral involving addiction, homelessness, anger and a struggle to find the right support.

He speaks openly about being turned away from services, being told he was “too complex”, and the frustration of trying to get help when the systems designed to support veterans don't seem to understand what they are dealing with.

But this is also a story about recovery.

Stuart explains how Tom Harrison House, equine therapy and veteran-focused support helped him begin rebuilding his life — and why recovery is about far more than simply getting clean. It's about rebuilding identity, purpose, confidence and connection.

That belief in connection eventually helped lead to the creation of The Muster Point CIC, the veteran community Stuart co-founded in Stevenage with fellow veteran Steve Black.

What started with a simple idea — somewhere veterans could meet, grab a brew and talk to people who understand — has grown into a community supporting veterans, serving personnel and their families.

And then there's the unexpected stuff: Stuart also tells the story behind We're Still Here, a Christmas single created by members of the Armed Forces community.

This is a conversation about military service, injury, addiction, recovery, identity, camaraderie and the long road home.

Most importantly, it's about what happens after service — and why sometimes finding your people again can make all the difference.

Pull up a sandbag, grab a brew and listen to Stuart tell his story in his own words.

ABOUT FRANKIE'S POD Long-form conversations with veterans and service personnel about where they came from, why they joined, what they saw, and what came after. Hosted by Frankie (Andrew Dunn), Royal Artillery, 1985–2012.

Website ▸ https://frankiespod.co.uk

YouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@FrankiesPod ──────────────────────────

SUPPORT THE SHOW I make Frankie's Pod on my own, in my own time, and fund it myself. If an episode has meant something to you, you can buy me a coffee: ☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/FrankiesPod If a coffee isn't possible, subscribing, leaving a review or sharing an episode helps just as much. Cheers. ────────────────────────── MUSIC CREDIT "Battlefield Resolve" and "Sentinel" — composed and performed by Gregory Ratcliff, trading as G4H Music. Used by Frankie's Pod under a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence granted 31 August 2026. Copyright and ownership remain with G4H Music. "Battlefield Resolve" — the track at the top of every episode — was written specifically for Frankie's Pod. If you like it, hear more of Greg's work on his album "Rising": 🎵 https://open.spotify.com/album/2NDEgqNET6CTobhUO9nTrI ────────────────────────── #FrankiesPod #Veterans #MilitaryPodcast #RoyalEngineers #Sappers #9Para #BritishArmy #VeteranStories #HelpForHeroes #TheSapperProject

Chris Yates, known online as The Sapper Project, joins Frankie Dunn for a brutally honest conversation about military life, serious injury, recovery, mental health, autism, writing, and rebuilding a life after service.Chris takes us from growing up as a military child across Germany, Cornwall and Yorkshire, to joining the Royal Engineers as a plant operator, to an unexpected posting with 9 Para. He's open about the fitness, the camaraderie, the drinking culture and the pranks — what life inside the Army was actually like, not the recruitment-poster version.Then it turns. Chris describes the accident that changed everything: a tailgate falling from a four-tonne truck and crushing his back. He talks through the years that followed — chronic pain, mobility problems, morphine dependence, his mental health, and the long grind of being medically discharged.He also talks about receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult, and how much of his childhood and his military career suddenly made sense in hindsight.Along the way: growing up in a military family; the Royal Engineers and plant operations; 9 Para; recovering from a devastating back injury; pain medication, mental health and medical discharge; support from Help for Heroes; the challenges of resettlement; writing science fiction as therapy; veteran surfing with Sea Veterans at South Shields; and rebuilding a life through work, writing, family and community.Frankie and Chris also get into the changing culture of the military, mental health stigma, and why ordinary service stories deserve to be heard every bit as much as the ones from the front line.A powerful episode — honest, dark-humoured, and ultimately hopeful.──────────────────────────CHRIS'S BOOK"The Beginning: Book One in the Humanity Series" by Chris YatesUK ▸ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F1DFSJCQUS ▸ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1DFSJCQBook Two is on the way.──────────────────────────ABOUT FRANKIE'S PODLong-form conversations with veterans and service personnel about where they came from, why they joined, what they saw, and what came after. Hosted by Frankie (Andrew Dunn), Royal Artillery, 1985–2012.Website ▸ https://frankiespod.co.ukYouTube ▸ https://www.youtube.com/@FrankiesPod──────────────────────────SUPPORT THE SHOWI make Frankie's Pod on my own, in my own time, and fund it myself. If an episode has meant something to you, you can buy me a coffee:☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/FrankiesPodIf a coffee isn't possible, subscribing, leaving a review or sharing an episode helps just as much. Cheers.──────────────────────────MUSIC CREDIT"Battlefield Resolve" and "Sentinel" — composed and performed by Gregory Ratcliff, trading as G4H Music. Used by Frankie's Pod under a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence granted 31 August 2026. Copyright and ownership remain with G4H Music."Battlefield Resolve" — the track at the top of every episode — was written specifically for Frankie's Pod. If you like it, hear more of Greg's work on his album "Rising":🎵 https://open.spotify.com/album/2NDEgqNET6CTobhUO9nTrI──────────────────────────#FrankiesPod #Veterans #MilitaryPodcast #RoyalEngineers #Sappers #9Para #BritishArmy #VeteranStories #HelpForHeroes #TheSapperProject