July 2, 2025 • 23 mins
It's summertime and it's hot.... Hot enough for an awesome
BEST of the Big Moe Podcast.
Big Moe Barrett talks with Bradley Poppell ‘24 as he gets ready for basic training at the Air Force Academy. Brad is joined by Moeller Football Coach and Vietnam Vet Tim Waechter.
Listen to a very inspirational Big Moe Podcast.
BEST of the Big Moe Podcast.
Big Moe Barrett talks with Bradley Poppell ‘24 as he gets ready for basic training at the Air Force Academy. Brad is joined by Moeller Football Coach and Vietnam Vet Tim Waechter.
Listen to a very inspirational Big Moe Podcast.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
WMOE and the Moula Broadcasting That probably was that.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
The Big Mo Podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
The Big Mo Podcast is brought to you by Parma
twenty four, Craftspin Electric and Revey Landscaping and now your
host's Andi Nagel and Big Mow Barrett. It's hot out there.
It is hot, hot, hot. Inside the studio it's seventy degrees,
but the weather outside for this podcast is steaming. We
(00:27):
get a brief reprieve on Monday, but that was it.
It is hot outside. It's great to come on campus
as we kick off this Big Mo Podcast. And drove
around yesterday and it was a ghost town except for
Conger construction. Conger construction is rocking and rolling as they
(00:49):
always do, getting ready for the innovation hub that will
be dropped. This opened, I should say this August. Maybe
a little slightly aid, as most construction projects are, but
by and large, this fall a brand new state of
the arts innovation hub center building, whatever you want to
(01:14):
call it.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
I know some schools. I know some schools that I
will not mention. Some I may have been affiliated with,
some maybe not. But I know some schools that they
knew the innovation space was something that was very popular,
very hip, very in vogue, if you will. So they
(01:38):
took a couple forty printers, they put them in a
classroom and they called it their intervention innovation classroom. Maybe
maybe not. I don't know if that would constitute an
innovation classroom. And it's not that they're not trying. I
got to give a school, some folks an effort tryumph.
But what Molar has coming thanks in part, thanks in
(02:03):
large part to the hundreds, if not thousands of people
that have stepped up to the plate to support Muler
High School well beyond what those on the outside consider
a jock school, but to put a product on campus
(02:24):
where our young men can excel on a landscape that
is unmatched, unrival rivaled here in Cincinnati, and perhaps even
greater than that. I am excited for this innovation hub.
I went down and peeked my head in last week
late last week, and every time I go down there,
(02:45):
it's just it's head spinning, it really is. It's really
looking forward to it. So I'm flying solo on the
Big Mo podcast Sneedle Gone, Andy Nagel Gone, Joe Strecker Gone.
I'm here now and I'm not leaving because we have
a podcast for you on this Wednesday, This Wednesday, June
(03:09):
twenty sixth, twenty twenty four. Now, we have a guest
coming up right now that we're gonna go to a
break here shortly, and then I'm going to bring a
guest on whose world will greatly change in the course
of twelve hours. And when I say his world's going
(03:29):
to change, it is going to change. You know, some
of these high school kids, you know, they might not
have their phone for a couple of minutes, they might
not have their phone for a couple hours. But imagine
having your phone, your life as you know it, take
it away from you for not just a couple hours,
(03:51):
not just to day, but how about over a month
for an absolute military And that is exactly what our
very own Bradley Poppol is doing right now. In less
than twelve hours, give or take, he will be going
and checking in. I think he's already checked in, but
(04:14):
he will officially open up the basic training experience at
the United States Air Force Academy. Bradley was nice enough
this evening to, uh, excuse me this morning to call
in to talk about just what's happening. And we'll talk
to Bradley when we come back about his life. That's
(04:37):
about ready to change drastically. One of the best coverage
of high school sports, academics, innovation hub, you name it,
we got it at w MOOE and the Moller Broadcasting Network.
Are you a pharmacy owner or pharmacist aiming to boost
your operational efficiency and streamline your operations? Imagine giving your
patience the convenience of twenty four to seven prescription pickup
(05:00):
when your pharmacy is closed. With Pharma Self twenty four,
It's possible. This cutting edge kiosk acts like an extra
team member who's always on duty and never calling in sick.
Discover how Pharma Self twenty four can revolutionize your pharmacy's operations.
Visit www dot Landsworthpharma dot com or contact my good
friend Roger Feiger Moeller Dad at nine three seven seven
(05:23):
twenty five sixteen. That's nine three seven seven two five
two five one six. Don't miss out on this game
changing technology. Landsworth Pharma Self Serve is an authorized distributor
for Pharma Self twenty four and a proud partner of
Molar High School and The Big Mo Podcast.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
If you need electric work in your home or business.
Give the pros a Craftsman Electric call. A family business
owned by Mollargrads Crassman has won the Anti Super Service
Award fifteen years in a row. Craftsman Electric quality, craftsmanship.
It's in their name.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
A big thanks to Revie Landscape Company, the official landscape
partner of Molar Heightstal for all of your outdoor maintenance
and enhancement needs. Experience the beauty of their services today
at rev Landscape dot com. That's r u ev Landscape
dot com. Small company, big results from cruitings, multus, plantings, walls, patios,
(06:18):
hardscapes and whatever you need. They've got you covered. Check
them out online including Facebook and Instagram. Email service at
rev Landscape dot com or call my guy Phil Reeve
at five ninety eight five four three six that's five
ninety eight fifty four thirty six to schedule your next
outdoor project estimate today with rev Landscape Company, the official
(06:40):
landscape company of Big Bo. Not In a big More
podcast Rock and Rolling Segment two. You know we can
send a man to the moon, but sometimes sometimes we
(07:03):
have trouble getting to just a simple internet connection. So
let's try Bradley Poppup We've had him on the phone twice. Bradley,
are you there. I can hear it. I can hear
you now. I just told this couple with my producer,
we can send a man to the moon, but we
got a guy going to the Air Force Academy and
we can't keep him on a cell phone.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Now, the connection here is terrible. That's the one thing
I've noticed so far. Oh my gosh, the Wi Fi.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Tell everybody, now, we kind of set the table in
the first segment, the opening segment, but you are in
Colorado Springs. Now kind of tell us how you got there,
when you got there, and what the plan is.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
So I got here, what's this Tuesday? So I got
here Sunday morning and start basic training at the Air
Force Academy Academy tomorrow. Yesterday I just had some soccer
trains with my class, get to know everybody. And today
we had like a social event up on base. So
I've been there the past couple hours and just go
(08:00):
back to the hotel, have a team dinner tonight, and
then I report at nine forty five am tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
I think it's interesting how they do a social they
do a team dinner, They get you nice and fat
and ripe, and then all of a sudden, come tomorrow morning,
all those pleasantries are a little what we call over
and it's down to business. Now, what's going to happen
at Basic Training. You're going to basically lose all your
liberties beginning tomorrow at nine forty five. Tell everybody about
(08:30):
what happens and how it's going to go down.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
So I get there at nine forty five, parents are
going to drop me off. They're not allowed to get
out of the car to say buy or anything. So
I'm just gonna have to get out of the car,
walk up the stairs, and get ready for a new
life for about six weeks, and I mean ultimately the
next four years, but six weeks you're gonna be a
little tougher for sure. It's pretty much there's not gonna
be a lot of human interactions going on. It's very
(08:55):
specific on what you can say. You have seven basic
responses on what you're allowed to say to the cadre.
The cadre are going to be like the upperclassmen running
Basic Training for the next six weeks. So for the
first three to four weeks we're on campus at the academy.
It's going to be more discipline stuff knowledge, learning, how
(09:15):
to march, salute maker, bed pretty much do everything you
need to know how to do for the next four
years and in a very specific manner. And then the
final two to three weeks of basic training are going
to be out in Jack's Valley, which is kind of
like a desert area of about six miles away from
(09:35):
the academy, and we're going to have to march to
that during basic training, and that's where all the physical
training is going to be done for that three weeks.
It's just going to be really hardcore of training for
that time.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Bradley. There's a lot of people that are proud of
you for what you've done. We've well documented it on
social media. One guy in particular, his name is mister
Tim Wector. Now he's a little sow grad, got to
pray for those Lisau people, but he is the chair
of the Moller Veterans Committee. He is a veteran of Vietnam.
(10:09):
And when you talk about a guy that knows the military,
that appreciates the military, that honors the men and women
who have served this great country, and certainly is proud
of guys like you. As the chair of the Veterans Committee.
I'll bring Tim Wector on. Tim It just you can
(10:30):
harken back to your time in Vietnam and just the preparations,
not knowing what you know now and all the anxiety.
First and foremost, you've got Bradley Poppo on the line.
How proud are you of Bradley Poppo?
Speaker 4 (10:44):
I am so dang proud of you. Molar has a
great tradition of sending then a mower to the academy
military academies, especially the Air Force Academy, and I would say,
if you had the pick of all the academies, go
to for now and for your future, the Air Force
is the one to go because of the technology. Everything
(11:07):
you're going to learn is updated. You have the best equipment,
and it's just the right place. And as I tell
football players that are heading to an academy, you got
it made for life if you do it the right way.
Because whether you decide to serve your five years and
then get out, or you decide to make it a career.
(11:30):
When you decide to leave the Air Force, you have
so many lifelines for profession in the defense industry because
you are looked at as one of the best and
you'll have your pick a future career beyond Air Force.
So you should feel very good about that. You should
(11:50):
feel so good about being accepted at the Air Force Academy.
That doesn't happen for everyone, that's for sure. Keep in
mind one thing. I was a Basic Training Company pretty
commander for a year and a half when I got
back from Vietnam. It's a game. They're playing a game
with you. So just play the game and you'll be
just fine. Remember it's a game.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Yes, sir, I know, Thank you.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
That was amazing to hear.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
You know, he's played a few he's played a few
games in his life, and all he does is get
up in the morning and you know what, excellent. So
I think he's he knows how to play the game
and win the game. So we'll see how this goes.
But h Bradley, I know, and I mean this. I'm
not just saying this on the Big Move podcast. Bradley,
or mister Rector, also a football coach at Mueller just
(12:39):
has a tremendous amount of pride for guys like you
or Ron Stump, who's also a coach, a military veteran,
current nurse right now as well, just that call to serve?
Where did you get that call to serve? I mean,
we're hours away. This is amazing, We're hours away from you.
We've talked about it. I feel like the nauseum you
and I and a couple of the guys that we
(13:00):
circle ourselves around about that day, that day that you
land in Colorado Springs, or that day that you begin
basic training. Dude, it's here, like where it is it
hits you yet, I mean the preparation, the mindset. I mean,
first of all, thanks for just giving us some of
that time to really highlight this. But what's going through
(13:22):
your mind right now?
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Definitely a little scared.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I mean I'm going into the unknown, and that's something
I would say, like that's probably the biggest fear is
you don't know what you're getting into or what I'm
getting into. But I mean I'm excited. Like I've connected
with all the players, tons of previous Academy grads before,
and I know it's going to be something really difficult,
but like something that drew.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Me to this place is it's like it's bigger than.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Myself and it's bigger than all of us, some of
the greatest, Like the greatest things in life are behind.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
The most difficult things that you're going to do.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
So this is just something that's gonna prepare me for that.
And I just look in the long run, because like
if I just look short term, I know, like once
I get there tomorrow, I'm gonna be like this is
gonna suck if I just look at what's in fun
of me.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
But if I look down the road, down the line.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Like this is something that's gonna bring me, something that
I'm gonna love for the rest of my life, you
know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Oh, the gift, the gift of the gift of perspective
is a wonderful thing. There's no doubt you got a
frog in the background.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Is that a frog?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
I was, tim, You have a frog at your palatial
state and love one.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I do lot.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
I'm trucking around the floor here. I don't see what.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
The hey, Jim, let me ask you this. You have
connections out there in Colorado Springs, in fact, all over
the country and the military. He gets seven responses, uh
to his commander, whatever you want to basic when I
can't even think what you said? They were called earlier,
But can can we make it pay. Tim, can you
(14:59):
reach out there and ask him if he can say
go big Mo or Big Mo podcast or something like that.
The level of a field. I know people, and if
I have to do it myself, I'll do it. But
Tim Wector, I believe you can be the guy to
make some moves out there to bring a little bit
of home to him. When somebody tells him ask him
(15:20):
about his bed, if they ask him about what time,
you know, his hair, his clothes, If he just kind
of whispers, go big Mo, that'd be kind of cool.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Brand man. I got pumping, I tell you. Yeah. One
of the exists to the academy. There is a D
sixty two on a pedestal. Have you seen that?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (15:39):
I have that very air plane. I called it on
a mission in late nineteen sixty nine or early nineteen
seventy as part of the preparation for the incursion and
the Cambodia. That plane. Wow, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
That's insane. Yeah, I saw it. I've seen the past
two days in a row.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Amazing. Wow. Yeah, there's a write off about it there,
I know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yep. We were up there
some years ago and it was amazing.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Bradley, you got to be You've got to be comforted
in the fact that even though you may be alone,
you know, in basic training and things like that, you
have an entire molar family with your back via prayers support.
I do know there was I don't know if that's open,
if you're opening that up to the public or not.
If so, I'll share that with this podcast. But an
(16:32):
address because people can send letters, but you will not
have your phone phone at all, right, but you can't
accept letters?
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Correct, Yes, I can't accept letters. I posted on my
Instagram story yesterday.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
I think so.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Yeah, some take letters. It'll probably take a week to
get there and then like a week for me to
like for them to get back to you. But no phones,
but letters the only contact.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Correct. Hey, Bradley, Yes, you had the best preparation for
a military academy from Mouler High School. You're a man
and Moller you got this just like manim More before
you has had it and he had great military careers.
And we wish you the best. We know you're gonna
make a fall proud and mixed American people, proud serving
(17:19):
in the United States. Therefore, yes, sir, thank you. I
will cool, and I would like to stay in contact
with you.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Yeah, okay, Bradley, if you're following Bradley, if you if
you're on Instagram, you can go to his his Instagram
handle which is I think it's just Bradley Poppo.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
Is that right, Bradley Underscore is what it should be.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Bradley Underscore Popple. There's that's p O P P E
L L. And you, Tim, you gotta get do something
about that frog in the back.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
You can do.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
You can get everybody wants to be on the podcast,
but you can get his mailing address, send him some
letters out there. And Tim, I think from experience, you
can speak to this when you're alone without social media,
without of course they have social media is back in Vietnam,
but but get but getting letters, getting letters, getting personal notes.
(18:21):
That is a lifeline for somebody that's in active duty,
whether they're in combat or basic training. That's a lifeline
that cannot be underestimated. Correct.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Well, definitely, so my wife and I, well my wife
took me every day I was in Vietnam, and when
I had time and I wasn't really busy doing something,
I wrote back. So it definitely is and it keeps
you in touch with home and that kind of thing
for any one other thing. The drill sergeants aren't what
(18:56):
they call them in the Air Force, but they're basic
training sergeant are the funniest people in the world as
a group of people. I spent a year and a
half with them as a Basic Training company commander in
so you will figure this out real quick. It's the game.
They're trying to read people out that definitely do not
belong there. Are You've been accepted on academy, so you
(19:19):
belong there, or you wouldn't have gotten there.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Awesome, Tim, thank you so much for checking in. Bradley.
I want to thank you for checking in. I wish
we could talk to you along the journey, but we
are going to do this that first podcast on Wednesday,
after you're done. If there's any way, I know you'll
make it happen. If there's any way possible to just
kind of give us a phone call and it'll just
(19:42):
be interesting to see your perspective then as it is now,
not knowing what you don't know, and then having been
coming out on the other side of it. It'll be
interesting to talk to you. But I do know this,
I do know this. For Mama Bear and Papa Bear,
dropping you off toorrow morning may be one of the
most difficult things they will ever do. And I've heard
(20:04):
that from parents of academy alumni, guys that have been
through the academy dropping you off as difficult as it
will be for you, for them, it will be incredibly difficult.
So our prayers are with Christen and your dad and
brad and and your family and you as well, just
(20:24):
to get you through that first day, because I think,
as Tim said, you'll be fine beyond that. But our
thoughts and our prayers are with you. We love you,
and he a man of Moler needs to be in
a leadership role and that's what you're going to be doing.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
We're proud of you.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
We love you. Bradley. You got you got it, you
got just man.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
You've got amen. Brother. All right. That's Bradley Poppel and
Tim Wecter on the Big Mo Podcast. Want to thank
them for joining us. Very cool, very short podcast. In fact,
this week will be short and the next week be
short as well. We are short staffed and you don't
want to hear me talking all by myself for an hour.
(21:08):
So we got Bradley Pop one today a special guest
right before he hits basic training in about twelve hours
or so, and then after that we'll have the podcast
next week with a celebrity guest in studio. I'm hoping
maybe on the phone. We got to see what the
flight schedule is. Here's your little hint right there. Hoping
to get in studio our celebrity guest next week that
(21:32):
you will all enjoy as well. I want to thank
everybody for joining in. Not a lot of sports to report.
A lot of teams are starting to train for that
fall season, so you know, in the middle of the
day with concer construction, then you got the fall sports
team showing up in the morning. It's Craig cray'. That's
what the kids say nowadays, it means crazy Craig Cray.
(21:52):
Try that on your kids. If you have kids, just
tell him that you've been feeling a little Craig Cray
lately if they roll the rise.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
At you like I get.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
But a lot going on campus. Remember the golf ounding
coming up to the Mler Golf Classic coming up on Monday.
That's going to be on the fifteenth of July at
Shaker Run. We look forward to you joining us for
that special event. That's always a sold out event, and
I'm told this morning that there are tickets or spots
(22:21):
still available. Very few foursome Zoe. If you're a single,
you got a better chance, but if you want some,
if you got a foursome, you might want to expedite
your registration. It's going to be a lot of fun
in it, and the weather always cooperates. Great folks at
Shaker Run do a first class gold carpet. They roll
(22:41):
it out. It's a it's a special day. That's about
it for here. For executive producer Joe Strecker, who's doing
his job remote from the towers of iHeartRadio, this is
Big mo Berrett until next week on the best coverage
of high school sports, military academies, innovation hubs and more,
All to wall It's Big Bo Baron on w MOE
(23:04):
and the More Broadcasting Network.
WMOE and the Moula Broadcasting That probably was that.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
The Big Mo Podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
The Big Mo Podcast is brought to you by Parma
twenty four, Craftspin Electric and Revey Landscaping and now your
host's Andi Nagel and Big Mow Barrett. It's hot out there.
It is hot, hot, hot. Inside the studio it's seventy degrees,
but the weather outside for this podcast is steaming. We
(00:27):
get a brief reprieve on Monday, but that was it.
It is hot outside. It's great to come on campus
as we kick off this Big Mo Podcast. And drove
around yesterday and it was a ghost town except for
Conger construction. Conger construction is rocking and rolling as they
(00:49):
always do, getting ready for the innovation hub that will
be dropped. This opened, I should say this August. Maybe
a little slightly aid, as most construction projects are, but
by and large, this fall a brand new state of
the arts innovation hub center building, whatever you want to
(01:14):
call it.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
I know some schools. I know some schools that I
will not mention. Some I may have been affiliated with,
some maybe not. But I know some schools that they
knew the innovation space was something that was very popular,
very hip, very in vogue, if you will. So they
(01:38):
took a couple forty printers, they put them in a
classroom and they called it their intervention innovation classroom. Maybe
maybe not. I don't know if that would constitute an
innovation classroom. And it's not that they're not trying. I
got to give a school, some folks an effort tryumph.
But what Molar has coming thanks in part, thanks in
(02:03):
large part to the hundreds, if not thousands of people
that have stepped up to the plate to support Muler
High School well beyond what those on the outside consider
a jock school, but to put a product on campus
(02:24):
where our young men can excel on a landscape that
is unmatched, unrival rivaled here in Cincinnati, and perhaps even
greater than that. I am excited for this innovation hub.
I went down and peeked my head in last week
late last week, and every time I go down there,
(02:45):
it's just it's head spinning, it really is. It's really
looking forward to it. So I'm flying solo on the
Big Mo podcast Sneedle Gone, Andy Nagel Gone, Joe Strecker Gone.
I'm here now and I'm not leaving because we have
a podcast for you on this Wednesday, This Wednesday, June
(03:09):
twenty sixth, twenty twenty four. Now, we have a guest
coming up right now that we're gonna go to a
break here shortly, and then I'm going to bring a
guest on whose world will greatly change in the course
of twelve hours. And when I say his world's going
(03:29):
to change, it is going to change. You know, some
of these high school kids, you know, they might not
have their phone for a couple of minutes, they might
not have their phone for a couple hours. But imagine
having your phone, your life as you know it, take
it away from you for not just a couple hours,
(03:51):
not just to day, but how about over a month
for an absolute military And that is exactly what our
very own Bradley Poppol is doing right now. In less
than twelve hours, give or take, he will be going
and checking in. I think he's already checked in, but
(04:14):
he will officially open up the basic training experience at
the United States Air Force Academy. Bradley was nice enough
this evening to, uh, excuse me this morning to call
in to talk about just what's happening. And we'll talk
to Bradley when we come back about his life. That's
(04:37):
about ready to change drastically. One of the best coverage
of high school sports, academics, innovation hub, you name it,
we got it at w MOOE and the Moller Broadcasting Network.
Are you a pharmacy owner or pharmacist aiming to boost
your operational efficiency and streamline your operations? Imagine giving your
patience the convenience of twenty four to seven prescription pickup
(05:00):
when your pharmacy is closed. With Pharma Self twenty four,
It's possible. This cutting edge kiosk acts like an extra
team member who's always on duty and never calling in sick.
Discover how Pharma Self twenty four can revolutionize your pharmacy's operations.
Visit www dot Landsworthpharma dot com or contact my good
friend Roger Feiger Moeller Dad at nine three seven seven
(05:23):
twenty five sixteen. That's nine three seven seven two five
two five one six. Don't miss out on this game
changing technology. Landsworth Pharma Self Serve is an authorized distributor
for Pharma Self twenty four and a proud partner of
Molar High School and The Big Mo Podcast.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
If you need electric work in your home or business.
Give the pros a Craftsman Electric call. A family business
owned by Mollargrads Crassman has won the Anti Super Service
Award fifteen years in a row. Craftsman Electric quality, craftsmanship.
It's in their name.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
A big thanks to Revie Landscape Company, the official landscape
partner of Molar Heightstal for all of your outdoor maintenance
and enhancement needs. Experience the beauty of their services today
at rev Landscape dot com. That's r u ev Landscape
dot com. Small company, big results from cruitings, multus, plantings, walls, patios,
(06:18):
hardscapes and whatever you need. They've got you covered. Check
them out online including Facebook and Instagram. Email service at
rev Landscape dot com or call my guy Phil Reeve
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(06:40):
landscape company of Big Bo. Not In a big More
podcast Rock and Rolling Segment two. You know we can
send a man to the moon, but sometimes sometimes we
(07:03):
have trouble getting to just a simple internet connection. So
let's try Bradley Poppup We've had him on the phone twice. Bradley,
are you there. I can hear it. I can hear
you now. I just told this couple with my producer,
we can send a man to the moon, but we
got a guy going to the Air Force Academy and
we can't keep him on a cell phone.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Now, the connection here is terrible. That's the one thing
I've noticed so far. Oh my gosh, the Wi Fi.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Tell everybody, now, we kind of set the table in
the first segment, the opening segment, but you are in
Colorado Springs. Now kind of tell us how you got there,
when you got there, and what the plan is.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
So I got here, what's this Tuesday? So I got
here Sunday morning and start basic training at the Air
Force Academy Academy tomorrow. Yesterday I just had some soccer
trains with my class, get to know everybody. And today
we had like a social event up on base. So
I've been there the past couple hours and just go
(08:00):
back to the hotel, have a team dinner tonight, and
then I report at nine forty five am tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
I think it's interesting how they do a social they
do a team dinner, They get you nice and fat
and ripe, and then all of a sudden, come tomorrow morning,
all those pleasantries are a little what we call over
and it's down to business. Now, what's going to happen
at Basic Training. You're going to basically lose all your
liberties beginning tomorrow at nine forty five. Tell everybody about
(08:30):
what happens and how it's going to go down.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
So I get there at nine forty five, parents are
going to drop me off. They're not allowed to get
out of the car to say buy or anything. So
I'm just gonna have to get out of the car,
walk up the stairs, and get ready for a new
life for about six weeks, and I mean ultimately the
next four years, but six weeks you're gonna be a
little tougher for sure. It's pretty much there's not gonna
be a lot of human interactions going on. It's very
(08:55):
specific on what you can say. You have seven basic
responses on what you're allowed to say to the cadre.
The cadre are going to be like the upperclassmen running
Basic Training for the next six weeks. So for the
first three to four weeks we're on campus at the academy.
It's going to be more discipline stuff knowledge, learning, how
(09:15):
to march, salute maker, bed pretty much do everything you
need to know how to do for the next four
years and in a very specific manner. And then the
final two to three weeks of basic training are going
to be out in Jack's Valley, which is kind of
like a desert area of about six miles away from
(09:35):
the academy, and we're going to have to march to
that during basic training, and that's where all the physical
training is going to be done for that three weeks.
It's just going to be really hardcore of training for
that time.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Bradley. There's a lot of people that are proud of
you for what you've done. We've well documented it on
social media. One guy in particular, his name is mister
Tim Wector. Now he's a little sow grad, got to
pray for those Lisau people, but he is the chair
of the Moller Veterans Committee. He is a veteran of Vietnam.
(10:09):
And when you talk about a guy that knows the military,
that appreciates the military, that honors the men and women
who have served this great country, and certainly is proud
of guys like you. As the chair of the Veterans Committee.
I'll bring Tim Wector on. Tim It just you can
(10:30):
harken back to your time in Vietnam and just the preparations,
not knowing what you know now and all the anxiety.
First and foremost, you've got Bradley Poppo on the line.
How proud are you of Bradley Poppo?
Speaker 4 (10:44):
I am so dang proud of you. Molar has a
great tradition of sending then a mower to the academy
military academies, especially the Air Force Academy, and I would say,
if you had the pick of all the academies, go
to for now and for your future, the Air Force
is the one to go because of the technology. Everything
(11:07):
you're going to learn is updated. You have the best equipment,
and it's just the right place. And as I tell
football players that are heading to an academy, you got
it made for life if you do it the right way.
Because whether you decide to serve your five years and
then get out, or you decide to make it a career.
(11:30):
When you decide to leave the Air Force, you have
so many lifelines for profession in the defense industry because
you are looked at as one of the best and
you'll have your pick a future career beyond Air Force.
So you should feel very good about that. You should
(11:50):
feel so good about being accepted at the Air Force Academy.
That doesn't happen for everyone, that's for sure. Keep in
mind one thing. I was a Basic Training Company pretty
commander for a year and a half when I got
back from Vietnam. It's a game. They're playing a game
with you. So just play the game and you'll be
just fine. Remember it's a game.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Yes, sir, I know, Thank you.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
That was amazing to hear.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
You know, he's played a few he's played a few
games in his life, and all he does is get
up in the morning and you know what, excellent. So
I think he's he knows how to play the game
and win the game. So we'll see how this goes.
But h Bradley, I know, and I mean this. I'm
not just saying this on the Big Move podcast. Bradley,
or mister Rector, also a football coach at Mueller just
(12:39):
has a tremendous amount of pride for guys like you
or Ron Stump, who's also a coach, a military veteran,
current nurse right now as well, just that call to serve?
Where did you get that call to serve? I mean,
we're hours away. This is amazing, We're hours away from you.
We've talked about it. I feel like the nauseum you
and I and a couple of the guys that we
(13:00):
circle ourselves around about that day, that day that you
land in Colorado Springs, or that day that you begin
basic training. Dude, it's here, like where it is it
hits you yet, I mean the preparation, the mindset. I mean,
first of all, thanks for just giving us some of
that time to really highlight this. But what's going through
(13:22):
your mind right now?
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Definitely a little scared.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I mean I'm going into the unknown, and that's something
I would say, like that's probably the biggest fear is
you don't know what you're getting into or what I'm
getting into. But I mean I'm excited. Like I've connected
with all the players, tons of previous Academy grads before,
and I know it's going to be something really difficult,
but like something that drew.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Me to this place is it's like it's bigger than.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Myself and it's bigger than all of us, some of
the greatest, Like the greatest things in life are behind.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
The most difficult things that you're going to do.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
So this is just something that's gonna prepare me for that.
And I just look in the long run, because like
if I just look short term, I know, like once
I get there tomorrow, I'm gonna be like this is
gonna suck if I just look at what's in fun
of me.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
But if I look down the road, down the line.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Like this is something that's gonna bring me, something that
I'm gonna love for the rest of my life, you
know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Oh, the gift, the gift of the gift of perspective
is a wonderful thing. There's no doubt you got a
frog in the background.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Is that a frog?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
I was, tim, You have a frog at your palatial
state and love one.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I do lot.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
I'm trucking around the floor here. I don't see what.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
The hey, Jim, let me ask you this. You have
connections out there in Colorado Springs, in fact, all over
the country and the military. He gets seven responses, uh
to his commander, whatever you want to basic when I
can't even think what you said? They were called earlier,
But can can we make it pay. Tim, can you
(14:59):
reach out there and ask him if he can say
go big Mo or Big Mo podcast or something like that.
The level of a field. I know people, and if
I have to do it myself, I'll do it. But
Tim Wector, I believe you can be the guy to
make some moves out there to bring a little bit
of home to him. When somebody tells him ask him
(15:20):
about his bed, if they ask him about what time,
you know, his hair, his clothes, If he just kind
of whispers, go big Mo, that'd be kind of cool.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Brand man. I got pumping, I tell you. Yeah. One
of the exists to the academy. There is a D
sixty two on a pedestal. Have you seen that?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (15:39):
I have that very air plane. I called it on
a mission in late nineteen sixty nine or early nineteen
seventy as part of the preparation for the incursion and
the Cambodia. That plane. Wow, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
That's insane. Yeah, I saw it. I've seen the past
two days in a row.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Amazing. Wow. Yeah, there's a write off about it there,
I know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yep. We were up there
some years ago and it was amazing.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Bradley, you got to be You've got to be comforted
in the fact that even though you may be alone,
you know, in basic training and things like that, you
have an entire molar family with your back via prayers support.
I do know there was I don't know if that's open,
if you're opening that up to the public or not.
If so, I'll share that with this podcast. But an
(16:32):
address because people can send letters, but you will not
have your phone phone at all, right, but you can't
accept letters?
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Correct, Yes, I can't accept letters. I posted on my
Instagram story yesterday.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
I think so.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Yeah, some take letters. It'll probably take a week to
get there and then like a week for me to
like for them to get back to you. But no phones,
but letters the only contact.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Correct. Hey, Bradley, Yes, you had the best preparation for
a military academy from Mouler High School. You're a man
and Moller you got this just like manim More before
you has had it and he had great military careers.
And we wish you the best. We know you're gonna
make a fall proud and mixed American people, proud serving
(17:19):
in the United States. Therefore, yes, sir, thank you. I
will cool, and I would like to stay in contact
with you.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Yeah, okay, Bradley, if you're following Bradley, if you if
you're on Instagram, you can go to his his Instagram
handle which is I think it's just Bradley Poppo.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
Is that right, Bradley Underscore is what it should be.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Bradley Underscore Popple. There's that's p O P P E
L L. And you, Tim, you gotta get do something
about that frog in the back.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
You can do.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
You can get everybody wants to be on the podcast,
but you can get his mailing address, send him some
letters out there. And Tim, I think from experience, you
can speak to this when you're alone without social media,
without of course they have social media is back in Vietnam,
but but get but getting letters, getting letters, getting personal notes.
(18:21):
That is a lifeline for somebody that's in active duty,
whether they're in combat or basic training. That's a lifeline
that cannot be underestimated. Correct.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Well, definitely, so my wife and I, well my wife
took me every day I was in Vietnam, and when
I had time and I wasn't really busy doing something,
I wrote back. So it definitely is and it keeps
you in touch with home and that kind of thing
for any one other thing. The drill sergeants aren't what
(18:56):
they call them in the Air Force, but they're basic
training sergeant are the funniest people in the world as
a group of people. I spent a year and a
half with them as a Basic Training company commander in
so you will figure this out real quick. It's the game.
They're trying to read people out that definitely do not
belong there. Are You've been accepted on academy, so you
(19:19):
belong there, or you wouldn't have gotten there.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Awesome, Tim, thank you so much for checking in. Bradley.
I want to thank you for checking in. I wish
we could talk to you along the journey, but we
are going to do this that first podcast on Wednesday,
after you're done. If there's any way, I know you'll
make it happen. If there's any way possible to just
kind of give us a phone call and it'll just
(19:42):
be interesting to see your perspective then as it is now,
not knowing what you don't know, and then having been
coming out on the other side of it. It'll be
interesting to talk to you. But I do know this,
I do know this. For Mama Bear and Papa Bear,
dropping you off toorrow morning may be one of the
most difficult things they will ever do. And I've heard
(20:04):
that from parents of academy alumni, guys that have been
through the academy dropping you off as difficult as it
will be for you, for them, it will be incredibly difficult.
So our prayers are with Christen and your dad and
brad and and your family and you as well, just
(20:24):
to get you through that first day, because I think,
as Tim said, you'll be fine beyond that. But our
thoughts and our prayers are with you. We love you,
and he a man of Moler needs to be in
a leadership role and that's what you're going to be doing.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
We're proud of you.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
We love you. Bradley. You got you got it, you
got just man.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
You've got amen. Brother. All right. That's Bradley Poppel and
Tim Wecter on the Big Mo Podcast. Want to thank
them for joining us. Very cool, very short podcast. In fact,
this week will be short and the next week be
short as well. We are short staffed and you don't
want to hear me talking all by myself for an hour.
(21:08):
So we got Bradley Pop one today a special guest
right before he hits basic training in about twelve hours
or so, and then after that we'll have the podcast
next week with a celebrity guest in studio. I'm hoping
maybe on the phone. We got to see what the
flight schedule is. Here's your little hint right there. Hoping
to get in studio our celebrity guest next week that
(21:32):
you will all enjoy as well. I want to thank
everybody for joining in. Not a lot of sports to report.
A lot of teams are starting to train for that
fall season, so you know, in the middle of the
day with concer construction, then you got the fall sports
team showing up in the morning. It's Craig cray'. That's
what the kids say nowadays, it means crazy Craig Cray.
(21:52):
Try that on your kids. If you have kids, just
tell him that you've been feeling a little Craig Cray
lately if they roll the rise.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
At you like I get.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
But a lot going on campus. Remember the golf ounding
coming up to the Mler Golf Classic coming up on Monday.
That's going to be on the fifteenth of July at
Shaker Run. We look forward to you joining us for
that special event. That's always a sold out event, and
I'm told this morning that there are tickets or spots
(22:21):
still available. Very few foursome Zoe. If you're a single,
you got a better chance, but if you want some,
if you got a foursome, you might want to expedite
your registration. It's going to be a lot of fun
in it, and the weather always cooperates. Great folks at
Shaker Run do a first class gold carpet. They roll
(22:41):
it out. It's a it's a special day. That's about
it for here. For executive producer Joe Strecker, who's doing
his job remote from the towers of iHeartRadio, this is
Big mo Berrett until next week on the best coverage
of high school sports, military academies, innovation hubs and more,
All to wall It's Big Bo Baron on w MOE
(23:04):
and the More Broadcasting Network.
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