In this powerful episode of Frankie’s Pod, host Frankie Dunn sits down with Mick Riley MBE, former Army veteran and founder of Tommy’s Lounge, for an honest and deeply moving conversation.

Mick opens up about his upbringing in Merseyside, what drove him to join the Army, and the realities of military life—from the unbreakable camaraderie to the personal battles faced behind the scenes. He speaks candidly about dealing with testicular cancer during his service, the challenges of transitioning back into civilian life, and the often-overlooked mental health struggles many veterans face.

The conversation also explores how shared experiences and peer support can be life-changing, leading Mick to create Tommy’s Lounge—a safe, welcoming space where veterans can connect, talk openly, and support one another without judgment.

This episode is a raw and heartfelt exploration of resilience, identity, and community, shining a light on the importance of looking after those who have served—and reminding us that no one has to face their battles alone.

Most guys leave the Army and try to slow down. Fraser Carson left and decided to run towards three different fires at once.

In this episode, Frankie sits down with a former Royal Artillery soldier who thought he’d seen it all—until he walked into a civilian emergency room. Fraser opens up about the whiplash of transitioning from the regimented chaos of the military to the unpredictable chaos of the ambulance service, the fire service, and eventually, the stillness of a photography studio.

But this isn’t a story about swapping guns for cameras. It’s about what happens when you use art to process trauma. Fraser has been quietly building a portfolio of veterans, capturing the weight they carry and the peace they’ve found. We talk about the veterans he’s photographed, the tears shed in the studio, and why sometimes, being seen is the strongest medicine.

Raw. Real. Redeeming.

Andy returns for a powerful and eye-opening conversation. Step into the boots of a police officer thrust into one of the world's most complex peacekeeping missions: Kosovo after the war.

Fresh from his experiences with the IUC, Andy shares his unexpected deployment with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Hear firsthand about the daunting challenge of building law and order from the ground up in a society scarred by conflict. Frankie and Andy delve into the delicate dance of policing amidst deep ethnic tensions, navigating cultural divides, and working alongside a mosaic of international forces.

This episode is more than a war story; it's a lesson in humanity, resilience, and the raw reality of peacekeeping. Andy shares moments of unexpected camaraderie, moral dilemmas, and the profound personal impact of serving a community struggling to heal.

Listen to discover:

The surreal experience of patrolling a war-torn region as a police officer, not a soldier.

What it’s like to work within the UN's unique "Four Pillars" structure in Kosovo.

The surprising alliances and friendships formed with Gurkhas, Jordanians, and other international units.

The cultural nuances and communication hurdles of policing in a fractured society.

Andy's personal reflections on duty, adaptation, and the weight of wearing the UN's blue beret.

Did You Know? (UN Policing in Kosovo Facts):

The UNMIK police, established in 1999, was the first international police mission granted executive authority, meaning they had the full power to arrest, detain, and investigate—not just advise.

At its peak, the mission comprised over 4,500 police officers from more than 50 countries, creating a massive multinational law enforcement experiment.

A core task was "co-location," pairing international officers with locally recruited Kosovo Police Service officers to mentor and build a sustainable, multi-ethnic police force from scratch.

The mission faced the immense challenge of policing in a place where the judicial system was often non-existent, leading to the UN setting up temporary detention centers and court systems.

Get ready for a gripping, human-level look at the complexities of global peacekeeping. This is the untold story behind the headlines