In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia is joined by award-winning historian and regimental historian for the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Dr. Spencer Jones.

They discuss a few of his published works including Stemming the Tide: Officers and Leadership in the British Expeditionary Force 1914, and the most recent release Turning the Tide: The British Army on the Western Front 1918

Jones challenges the traditional view of BEF commanders as out-of-touch relics, arguing instead that their brutal experiences in the Boer War forged a cadre of leaders uniquely equipped with grit, initiative, and the ability to withstand extreme pressure.

The conversation explores the BEF's chaotic and fast-moving baptism of fire—from the retreat from Mons to the climactic battles on the Marne and the Aisne. Jones highlights how officers at all levels, from Sir John French to brigadier-generals in the line, made critical, rapid decisions to prevent disaster.

Finally, he draws compelling parallels between the small, professional BEF of 1914 and the modern British Army, offering sharp insights on the challenges of attrition and the value of elite forces in coalition warfare.

Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world.

Links:

Stemming the Tide: Officers and Leadership in the British Expeditionary Force 1914

Turning the Tide: The British Army on the Western Front 1918

Podcast: Not So Quiet on the Western Front

Spencer's Website

Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/

X: https://x.com/Helionbooks

Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com

Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with retired U.S. Army infantry officer and Director for Strategic Innovation at US Space Command, Dr. Ben Zweibelson, about his new book, Bad War Stories.

Zweibelson, a veteran of multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, shuns both heroic myth and overt polemic to deliver a raw, philosophical memoir of modern conflict. He explores the chaos, tragic loss, and surreal bureaucracy of war through a series of vividly recounted personal experiences—from the sudden death of a local child to the absurdity of burying a shipping container to satisfy institutional folly.

The conversation traces Zweibelson’s journey from a son seeking to understand his silent war veteran father to a soldier-philosopher processing his own time at war.

He discusses the catharsis of writing, the importance of sharing these stories with the next generation, and how his academic work on reconceptualizing war frames these gritty narratives. Throughout, Zweibelson emphasizes neither glorifying nor condemning war, but instead capturing its complex reality to better inform policy, public understanding, and the profession of arms itself.

Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world.

Links:

Bad War Stories

Ben on X

Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks

X: https://x.com/Helionbooks

Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com

Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with educator, archaeologist, and former World War I Centennial Commissioner Monique Brouillet Seefried, co-author of Général Louis Dio: The Wartime Epic of One of Free France's Greatest Soldiers, 1940-1946.

As the goddaughter of General Louis Dio, she brings a uniquely personal perspective to the life of one of Free France’s most remarkable — yet often overlooked — commanders.

Their conversation follows Dio’s extraordinary path from the Sahara to Normandy, exploring his legendary courage, humility, and lifelong devotion to service. Monique shares how her own background in archaeology and education ultimately led her to commemorate her godfather’s legacy, and how her collaboration with General Jean-Paul Michel and translator Colonel Jason Musteen brought Dio’s story into English for the first time.

She also reveals little-known aspects of Dio’s life, from his childhood trauma and wartime wounds to his deep sense of honor and refusal to seek recognition, even after decades of service across North Africa and Europe.

Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world.

Links:

Général Louis Dio: The Wartime Epic of One of Free France's Greatest Soldiers, 1940-1946

Monique on LinkedIn

Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/

X: https://x.com/Helionbooks

Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com

Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au