Search “military podcast” on Spotify and the top hits tend to involve ex-special forces bods talking about elite soldiering. But a new addition to the genre is sparking a different kind of conversation.
The Muster Point Podcast, produced by friends Stu Mendelson (ex-RE) and Steve Black (ex-RTR), combines serious chat about topics like mental health with the lighter side of army life.
Named after a veterans’ breakfast club they set up in their local area of Stevenage, the show sees them getting candid with their own struggles in the hope that others might find it helpful.
“I was blown up in Afghanistan in 2011 and lost my right eye,” explains Mendelson (pictured). “I went from the front line to being a civilian in six months and had a lot of resentment and anger.
“Sadly, I fell into alcohol and drug addiction and some of the big charities slammed the door in my face. But in 2023 I found a place called Tom Harrison House, which is the only residential rehab facility for veterans in the UK and two years on I’m clean and sober.”
Meanwhile Black, who left the Army in 2010 and now works as a volunteer for SSAFA, admits to “bottling up” his troubles until a breakdown last year finally forced him to seek support.
“I feel a lot better now,” he says. “Helping others makes you feel better yourself. We’ve had messages from people all over the world, some from family members who have said what we’re doing has enabled their loved ones to talk about stuff that they haven’t before. That makes all the hard work worth it.”
While both acknowledge there is substantial support available to the ex-service community, they say it can be overwhelming and confusing trying to access the right charities – so the podcast includes shout-outs to the organisations and individuals that have proven track records.
It also features a ‘muckers remembered’ segment, where listeners can share memories of lost friends, colleagues or family. Throughout, the sombre often gives way to laughter and vice-versa. For example, a discussion about amusing alcohol-related incidents leads to an honest reflection on problem drinking in the forces. Above all, the duo wanted to create a forum that the average serviceman or woman could connect to more readily than elite ops.
“Ninety-nine per cent of us didn’t do that special forces stuff, we hung around in hangers flicking things at each other,” says Mendelson. “It’s the mundane, silly bits you remember.”
Black agrees. In an episode dedicated to pranks he confessed to a year-long campaign of calling up his RSM from unattended telephones and saying “I love you” before hanging up.
“Being on stag for hours is boring, but it is the things you do to get yourself through that are funny,” he says.
“Like in 2 RTR we used to play a game a bit like tag, except you had to jump onto each other’s backs. We still laugh about it now at breakfast club.”
It’s not hard to see why the podcast’s audience has been growing by the hundreds week on week. The pair’s irreverent banter mixed with meaningful discussion has clearly struck a chord with the veteran community.
And with no plans to stop any time soon, they are keen to hear from readers of this magazine. “Please tell us your stories,” urges Black. “Let us be your platform to share them – the good, the bad and the ugly.”
Listen to The Muster Point wherever you get your podcasts and contact [email protected]
