June 11, 2005: Dropping the Bomb - Dale Brown #124; Cross-Pacific Sailing Adventure - Susan Meckley

Bestselling author Dale Brown explores military decision-making under extreme pressure, followed by Susan Meckley's remarkable solo sailing adventure. How do individuals make life-altering choices when facing seemingly impossible odds? Brown, master of techno-thriller fiction, discusses the psychological and strategic factors behind history's most consequential military decisions, including the atomic bombing campaigns of World War II. The conversation examines how commanders balance moral considerations against strategic necessities during wartime. Then Susan Meckley, the 72-year-old grandmother who successfully completed a grueling 34-day solo Pacific crossing from Mexico to Hawaii, shares her extraordinary journey. Meckley describes the physical and mental challenges of navigating alone across thousands of miles of open ocean, surviving on 25-minute sleep cycles while monitoring for massive cargo ships. The discussion reveals parallels between military commanders and solo adventurers: both must maintain focus under extreme stress while making critical decisions that determine survival. Art Bell explores how age, experience, and determination enable individuals to achieve what others consider impossible, whether in warfare or personal adventure. This dual conversation celebrates human resilience and the courage required for extraordinary accomplishments.