by Brian Dickinson
Calm in the Chaos shares real rescue stories from the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Rescue Swimmers. Hosted by Brian Dickinson—bestselling author, former Navy Rescue Swimmer, and Everest solo summiteer. Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts worldwide, the show digs into the grit, mindset, and faith it takes to run toward the chaos so others may live. Support the mission at briandickinson.net. Not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or DoD.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/27/2024
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June 3, 2026
<p>Some warriors fight their battles in the ocean. Others fight them long after the uniform comes off.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Kevin McNease shares 20 years of service as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer—including a harrowing rescue in the South China Sea, pulling a Marine from the water who was still gripping his weapon, and one of the most terrifying mechanical failures imaginable: losing a helicopter door mid-flight—only to watch it shred through the rotor system.</p><p><br></p><p>And then there's the battle he's fighting now.</p><p><br></p><p>Kevin has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. And he's facing it the same way he faced every mission—with courage, clarity, and calm in the chaos.</p><p>In this episode:</p><ul><li>20 years of service as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer</li><li>Rescue in the South China Sea</li><li>Pulling a Marine from the water—still armed, still holding his weapon</li><li>A helicopter door lost in flight—and what happened when it hit the rotors</li><li>Mechanical failure at altitude with no margin for error</li><li>Receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis after two decades of service</li><li>What resilience really looks like when the mission becomes survival itself</li><li>The mental and emotional weight carried by those who serve</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Kevin McNease gave 20 years to this nation. His story—every chapter of it—deserves to be heard.</p><p><br></p><p>👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 58</strong> </p><p><br></p><p>So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸</p><p><br></p><p>Rescue Swimmer Merchandise <a href="https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com/"><u>https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com</u></a> Military & First Responders: Use code <strong>SARRESCUE10</strong> for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast</p><p><br></p><p>📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at <a href="http://www.briandickinson.net/"><u>www.briandickinson.net</u></a></p><p>📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: <a href="mailto:podcast@briandickinson.net"><u>podcast@briandickinson.net</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>For more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:</strong> </p><p>Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/briancdickinson/"><u>https://x.com/briancdickinson/</u></a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/</u></a> </p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinson"><u>https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinson</u></a> </p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson"><u>https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson</u></a></p><p><br></p><p>Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers</p><p><br></p><p>#RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #Parkinsons #ParkinsonsWarrior #ParkinsonsAwareness #SouthChinaSea #NavyRescue #MarineCorps #HelicopterFailure #MechanicalFailure #NavalAviation #USNavy #NavyVeteran #MilitaryVeteran #VeteranHealth #SoOthersMayLive #SearchAndRescue #SAR #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #ResiliencePodcast #MilitaryResilience #LeadershipUnderFire #MentalToughness #ServiceAndSacrifice #BrianDickinson #VeteranPodcast #HonorTheFallen</p>
June 3, 2026
<p>Some missions go wrong before they even begin. Others turn into something no one could have planned for.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Richard Swope shares his career as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer—including two of the most intense moments a rescue swimmer can face: surviving a helicopter crash at night in the open ocean during an active rescue, and gaining sonobuoy contact on a Russian submarine trailing a U.S. aircraft carrier—moments before a collision with the carrier itself.</p><p><br></p><p>These aren't training scenarios. These are the real missions that define what it means to operate at the edge of human capability—in the dark, in the water, with no margin for error.</p><p>In this episode:</p><ul><li>Helicopter crash at night during an active ocean rescue</li><li>Surviving open-ocean impact and the chaos that followed</li><li>Gaining sonobuoy contact on a Russian submarine</li><li>Near-collision with a U.S. aircraft carrier</li><li>Decision-making when everything goes wrong at once</li><li>Mental toughness forged in real-world high-stakes missions</li><li>What it means to serve as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Richard Swope's story is a masterclass in staying calm when the situation is anything but. This is exactly what the Calm in the Chaos podcast was built for.</p><p><br></p><p>👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 57</strong> </p><p><br></p><p>So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸</p><p><br></p><p>Rescue Swimmer Merchandise <a href="https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com/"><u>https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com</u></a> Military & First Responders: Use code <strong>SARRESCUE10</strong> for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast</p><p><br></p><p>📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at <a href="http://www.briandickinson.net/"><u>www.briandickinson.net</u></a></p><p>📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: <a href="mailto:podcast@briandickinson.net"><u>podcast@briandickinson.net</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>For more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:</strong> </p><p>Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/briancdickinson/"><u>https://x.com/briancdickinson/</u></a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/</u></a> </p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinson"><u>https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinson</u></a> </p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson"><u>https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson</u></a></p><p><br></p><p>Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers</p><p><br></p><p>#RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #HelicopterCrash #NavyHelicopter #RussianSubmarineContact #ColdWarNavy #AircraftCarrier #NavyMilitary #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #SoOthersMayLive #USNavy #NavyVeteran #MilitaryVeteran #RescueMission #SearchAndRescue #SAR #NavalAviation #OpenOceanRescue #SurvivalStory #MilitaryStories #SpecialOperations #ResiliencePodcast #LeadershipPodcast #MentalToughness #MilitaryLeadership #BrianDickinson #VeteranPodcast</p>
April 20, 2026
<p>For the first time, Apollo-era and Artemis-era recovery are compared side by side by the people who actually did the job.</p><p>Mike Longe, U.S. Navy helicopter aircrewman from the Apollo recovery missions, and Steve Williams, Senior Chief rescue swimmer supporting Artemis operations, break down what really happens when a capsule hits the water.</p><p>Same mission. Different era.</p><p>We walk through the full evolution—splashdown, swimmer deployment, stabilization, and hoist—and compare what’s changed from Apollo 13 recovery operations to modern Artemis procedures.</p><p>No theory. No commentary. Just operators.</p><p>Topics covered:</p><ul><li>Apollo 13 recovery operations (Navy helicopter aircrew)</li><li>Artemis recovery procedures and modern systems</li><li>Rescue swimmer role vs legacy aircrew operations</li><li>Splashdown timeline and critical first minutes</li><li>Hoist operations in open ocean conditions</li><li>What’s actually harder now vs then</li></ul><p>If you’re interested in NASA recovery operations, helicopter rescue, or real-world decision-making under pressure, this is the breakdown.</p><p>#Apollo13 #Artemis #NASA #RescueSwimmer #HelicopterRescue #SearchAndRescue #NavalAviation #SpaceRecovery #MilitaryOperations #Leadership</p>
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Calm in the Chaos shares real rescue stories from the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Rescue Swimmers. Hosted by Brian Dickinson—bestselling author, former Navy Rescue Swimmer, and Everest solo summiteer. Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts worldwide, the show digs into the grit, mindset, and faith it takes to run toward the chaos so others may live.
Support the mission at briandickinson.net.
Not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or DoD.
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