The MisFitNation

Tripp Bodenheimer is currently serving in the US Air Force and is also the host of The Shadows Podcast. In this episode, we talk about tragedies encountered in Tripp's childhood and how they shaped who he is and what he does today.

Links & Resources

• The Shadows Podcast
• The Shadows Podcast on Instagram
• The Shadows Podcast on Facebook
• The Shadows Podcast on LinkedIn
• The Shadows Podcast on YouTube

Transcript

Scott DeLuzio 00:00:00 Thanks for tuning into a Drive On Podcast where we're focused on giving hope and strength to the entire military community, whether you're a veteran active duty guard reserve or family member, this podcast we'll share inspirational stories and resources that are useful to you. I'm your host, Scott DeLuzio. And now let's get on with the show. Everybody will come back to the Drive On Podcast. Today, my guest is Tripp Bodenheimer.Tripp is currently serving in the US Air Force and is also the host of the Shadows podcast. We're going to talk about Tripp's childhood and how it shaped who he is and what he does today. So welcome to the show Tripp.

Tripp Bodenheimer 00:00:40 I Appreciate you having me.

Scott DeLuzio 00:00:42 Hey yeah, absolutely. I'm glad to have you. Why don't you tell the audience people who may or may not know who you are and may not be familiar with you and your podcast, tell a little bit about who you are and everything.

Tripp Bodenheimer 00:00:56 Yeah. So, who I am, currently I am, a little past 12 years in the United States Air Force. I came in as a calm guy, working on computers, joined a little bit later, joined at 29. So I got a little bit of real-world experience under my belt and then decided to join the military. I was stationed in Arizona, went to Germany for six years, which was the best six years of my life. And while I was over there, they asked me if I wanted to be a part of what the Air Force calls, developmental special duty program or DSD, and basically being an instructor for young airmen and getting them ready to supervise. And I did that for three years. Loved it. And just, I was myself, I wasn't playing the role of an instructor or anything.

Tripp Bodenheimer 00:01:43 It was just me and that landed me a spot in the Alabama fair off Germany at Alabama. I ended up moving over here with my family and I am now the instructor for the instructors. So I teach all enlisted professional military education instructors in the Air Force. When they get picked up in the DSD process, they come through our course and we teach them, basically the fundamentals of how to teach questioning techniques, active listening. Non-verbals verbals mean all that stuff such as multitasking and time management. So yeah, and then I'm married. I've been married to my wife for 14 years. two daughters, my youngest daughter, 13 still lives with us here in Alabama. And, that's a pretty important part of who I am. And then, like you said, the Shadows Podcast, which has been around now for we're looking at, almost a year and a half, which is crazy. Because, as well as I do, like it's, there's a lot that goes into podcasts. And so to be hanging around that, that long is a kind of, self high-five, I guess.

Scott DeLuzio 00:02:53 You definitely deserve a high five for that because there's some podcasts. What, what is it not even 10 or so episodes that they average that number. Yeah. And so to be able to sit around for, for that long is pretty impressive. Any podcaster I should say, who sticks with it, for any extended period of time, obviously has a passion for what it is that they're doing. They must enjoy it because it's so easy to just pull the plug and walk away from it. If you're not enjoying it, there's no reason to continue doing it. So, it's not really easy to do so, so it's obvious that you're enjoying what you're doing and, and the work that goes into it. Sometimes I know, and we were talking earlier before we started recording, but I know sometimes the work can be tedious, and sometimes, it isn't the easiest thing to do, but ultimately when you look at the big picture it's worthwhile.

Scott DeLuzio 00:03:54 So, I'm glad you're sticking with it and we'll get more into the podcast and a little bit, but first I want to, go back into your childhood. I mentioned a little bit earlier, a little bit about your childhood and I want to talk about your family and, but the couple of major tragedies that you had at such a young age. Would you be able to share some of those experiences and your childhood and what that was all like, paint that picture for us?...