In this special double episode, we talk with Jaz Diab – a mum, a self-described ‘nerd’ and crochet aficionado, who also happens to be a nuclear scientist and the former Commanding Officer of the Australian Special Operations Engineer Regiment. Jaz talks us through her childhood, getting bitten by the science bug and her eventual entry into the military, as well as her experiences as a (very humble) trailblazer for females in combat roles. And along the way, reflects on some of the key decisions she’s made throughout her life and the potential crossover between Broadway actors and Army officers!
05:40 Ben inadvertently realises that the podcast’s highest rating show was the one where he spoke the least!
07:40 About Jaz – early childhood, tragedy within the family and how close she is with her siblings
13:00 Jaz’s parents.. or when an Egyptian guy meets a Finnish girl in Australia….
15:00 On being a nerd
15:50 Career choices – Army or Broadway?!
17:45 As a leader – be authentic or ‘fake it ‘til you make it’? Plus public speaking as a leadership skill
26:00 When did Jaz get interested in science?
28:00 Jaz’s entry into the Army – and her family background in the military
29:10 A quick exploration of the Finnish concept of sisu – courtesy of Jaz’s grandfather
32:10 Jaz’s experience at the Australian Defence Force Academy
34:00 The highlights of Jaz’s military career
35:30 Jaz as a pioneering female in a combat corps – and how she found the environment there. Plus her work within the Incident Response Regiment (IRR)
37:30 IRR’s transition into the Special Operations Engineering Regiment – and its role in Afghanistan. And Jaz’s experience as the Commanding Officer of the unit.
External Links
ANVAM – Australian National Veterans Arts Museum – www.anvam.org.au
Contact Us
Email us at debrief@unforgiving60.com
Instagram, Twitter: @Unforgiving60
Music …. With thanks to:
The Externals – available on Spotify
Popular Podcasts
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com