Diary of a Nation

The content in this episode is graphic and may be disturbing for some listeners. Former POW Capt. Hubert Buchanan was an Air Force fighter pilot when a Vietnamese fighter ace shot down his F-4 Phantom in 1966. He was quickly captured and moved among half a dozen POW camps over the next 6.5 years. Capt. Buchanan was held captive one year longer than the late US Senator John McCain. 

In part one, Capt. Buchanan recounts the dogfight that ended with his capture...

Part Two: In the final part of the interview, fighter pilot Capt. Hubert Buchanan discusses solitary confinement and various methods of communication with fellow North Vietnam POWs. He also describes his eventual homecoming, his thoughts on warfare today, and a Harvard study in which he served as a control subject. Photo credit: David Vogt. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

Vera Rivard was just 16 when she swam the English Channel last year, nearly a century after her idol did the same. Vera's 13-year-old sister Margaret and her mother Darcie supported her along the route as they traveled with a crew in a pilot boat. Listen as the New Hampshire family discusses the trip and their love of swimming. 

Dr. Fred Grewe is a hospice chaplain, an author and a fellow podcaster. Over the past 15 years, he has served more than 3,000 people who have died. In this episode, he explains what the dying have taught him about living. Books: What the Dying Have Taught Me about Living and Time to Talk about Dying. Dr. Grewe's Podcast: Meditations 4 Misfits. Website: fredgrewe.com.

Massachusetts engineer Peter Degen-Portnoy made the news when the Mars One mission named him as a semifinalist in a competition that intended to establish a permanent human colony on the red planet. The father of five was prepared to die on Mars. This interview will give you a more complete picture of Peter as a man. Website: mars-one.com. 

The US has waged a $1 trillion war on drugs. Even though opioid addiction has faded from the news cycle, drug overdoses have surged during the pandemic, and millions remain addicted. This month, my guest Katie celebrates three years of being clean. Her story offers some solutions.

New Hampshire mother Carrie Cariello has five children. One of her sons has autism. She's a blogger and the author of two memoirs. Her experience has broadened my understanding of autism, and I hope her stories will do the same for you. Books: Someone I'm With Has Autism and What Color is Monday? How Autism Changed One Family for the Better. Subscribe to Carrie's blog by visiting: carriecariello.com. Additional resources: autismspeaks.org.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters...

Were he alive, Harold Ward would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year. As the oldest resident in town, he was the recipient of the Boston Post Cane. As the first Black family in Lee, New Hampshire, the Ward family left a positive and enduring impression. On his deathbed, Harold recounted family stories and asked his son Michael Cameron Ward to preserve the memories in writing. The result is a collection of books titled "Sketches of Lee". Learn more at www.sketchesoflee.com...

Abortion is a constitutional right, though access in the US often depends on your resources and your zip code. New Hampshire activists Eileen and Bob serve as clinic escorts, enabling women to access abortion and other forms of reproductive health care by providing a safe barrier between patients and protestors.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diaryofanation/message

A Saudi Arabian cat that immigrated to New Hampshire. A rooster that helped a teenager get to college. A dog that evaded cop cars and a helicopter. A raccoon that overstayed its welcome. A poodle with a Tinder profile. Through a series of short stories, this episode explores our bonds with our pets. Some stories are funny. Some are sad. Some aren't even appropriate for children.