This week we’re talking about veteran business success and the best steaks for your backyard BBQ, with Army Ranger veteran Patrick Montgomery. He shared his journey from warrior to rancher to founder of Valor Provisions, an innovative e-commerce site where consumers can get prime cuts of steak, burgers, and world-famous hot dogs delivered right to their door. We start with his transition from the military to a career in the cattle industry. Montgomery shared how his first attempt in the beef bus...
Jul 03, 2025•45 min
This week we hear from Dr. Will Van Derveer about about the proven benefits of Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. Dr. Van Derveer shared how after working with veterans he became discouraged by the conventional treatments like talk therapy and endless medications which often fail to treat the root cause of conditions like anxiety, bi-polar, depression and PTSD. After two decades of developing innovative approaches to address the root causes of symptoms, in 2018 he co-founded the Integrative Psychiatr...
Jun 27, 2025•51 min
Today we’re hearing how veterans are being healed by the power of music, and collaborations with the organization “Songwriting with Soldiers”. Air Force veteran Bruce Anderson, his wife Lesley and SW:S Music Director Jay Clementi share how these weekend retreats pair award-winning songwriters with veterans to create songs that help them tell their story and bring them closure. (Clementi’s credits include hit songs with Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, and m...
Jun 20, 2025•49 min
This week we talk with Marine Corps veteran and acclaimed journalist Chas Henry about his dramatic new book, “Fuji Fire, Sifting Ashes of a Forgotten U.S. Marine Corps Tragedy”. It's the story of how in 1979 the largest typhoon ever recorded hit Camp Fuji, Japan, ruptured a fuel tank, sending 5000 gallons of fuel into huts where Marines were staying, eventually engulfing the camp in walls of fire after the fuel was ignited by kerosene heaters. Henry recalls the origin of the project was when he ...
Jun 10, 2025•46 min
We recently heard about the “Unite 4 Veterans” rally, June 6th in Washington DC, where vets from around the country will make their voices heard in the loudest way possible … with the legendary Irish punk band The Dropkick Murphys. We spoke with Unite4Vets coalition members Army veterans Will Attig and Chris Purdy. Together they sounded the alarm about recent VA cuts without regard to the second order effects on veterans who rely on these programs. In a recent statement, Unite 4 Veterans said, “...
Jun 02, 2025•36 min
Looking for something to lift your spirits? This episode is for you! This week we discuss the podcast, “Medal of Honor, Stories of Courage” Season 2, with Host, Army combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, actor and best selling-author J.R. Martinez. Before we dove into the podcast, JR offered a closer look at his amazing life. We heard how he went from surviving an IED explosion and severe burns, to winning “Dancing with The Stars” and a role on the daytime TV drama “All My Children”. With his ...
May 30, 2025•52 min
This week we offer a heartfelt Memorial Day tribute, with Army combat veteran and rising country music star Scotty Hasting, who will perform at this year’s National Memorial Day concert in Washington DC. (PBS) We begin with his memories of a life changing deployment to Afghanistan. He spoke about the good times … and the bad. We hear about life on a remote combat outpost, how he survived being shot 10 times, and the ultimate sacrifice made by his best friend, Adam Hamilton. Hasting shares how he...
May 23, 2025•56 min
This week we’re talking with retired Army Colonel and legendary Ranger Platoon Commander, Larry Perino. Today he’s AVP, Commercial and Small Business, Business Solutions, Navy Federal Credit Union, where he helps veterans achieve their small business dreams. However, we begin with a deeply personal look at his career. Perino will be remembered forever as one of the elite Army Rangers who fought in The Battle of Mogadishu. Documented in the famous film Blackhawk Down and most recently in the Netf...
May 16, 2025•46 min
This week we’re talking with Navy veteran John Barile about how he went from Navy Sea Air Rescue Swimmer to becoming a highly successful business owner. After the military Barile took a dive into business ownership when he opened an EverLine Coatings and Services franchise, which does parking lot line striping and pavement maintenance in the San Diego area. As veterans always have a story or two, Barile shared some great sea stories from his time as a Navy rescue swimmer. Including one involving...
May 09, 2025•45 min
Ready to buy a home? Make sure you consider using VA Home Loan. Navy Federal Credit Union’s Christopher Davis offers a closer look at this incredible benefit. Davis shares why this loan allows veterans, service members and families to buy with no money down, lower interest rates and how they can be used more than once! Find out more from Navy Federal Credit Union here: https://www.navyfederal.org/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privac...
May 02, 2025•24 min
This week we’re talking about The Old Glory Ultra Relay. Army veteran Jason Wood shares how he and a team of 12 vets from Team Red White and Blue will begin running, non-stop from San Diego, CA to Washington DC. We talked about how this feat is even possible, and the route they will travel. Wood also shared how his own battle with PTSD, and depression almost ended his life. Saved after initially discovering joy from challenges like The Spartan Race, he ultimately began competing (and winning!) s...
May 02, 2025•42 min
This week we’re talking about veterans finding success in today's rapidly changing workforce after pursuing college degrees and valuable certificate programs at American Military University. We hear how Misty Cook went from enlisted Marine to Officer to CEO of her own consulting firm. Using her military background and education, she's now a CEO who helps vets with 20+ years of service, find huge success in the private sector. AMU Provost, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson reveals how AMU offers cutting edge...
Apr 25, 2025•40 min
This week we’re talking about faith with Navy veteran and Christian author Amy Mahoney. In her book “Kingdom Keyholders” we hear how a life of rebellion led to abandonment, single motherhood and being totally alone, until she met God. We begin with her time in the Navy and her escape from pain through drinking. Mahoney describes how after her darkest days, two random strangers prayed over her in a grocery store. It would be a prelude to a miracle that was about to happen. We also examine how aft...
Apr 18, 2025•52 min
Special Forces, Delta Force veteran and best-selling author Brad Taylor is back with his latest action-adventure novel, “Into the Gray Zone”. Set in India, we track his veteran commando character Pike Logan, who discovers a deadly plot by Chinese backed terrorists aimed at preventing access to the rare earth minerals. But after violent attacks, Pike and his crew must hunt for a terror cell gone rogue and race to rescue hostages before global conflict erupts. Taylor shares fascinating details abo...
Apr 11, 2025•55 min
Every year vets shred the slopes of Snowmass, Colorado at The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. We’re joined by Army veteran, Frances Osorio-Rivera, who as a single leg amputee went from being severely injured to becoming an inspiring pro kite surfer. Rivera, a Puerto Rico native and self-described “island girl” shared how despite her injury, she was determined to back in the water and resume kite surfing. She also described how attending the Winter Sports Clinic changed her life....
Apr 04, 2025•42 min
This week we’re catching up with The American Legion's Executive Director of Government Affairs, Mario Marquez, a retired Marine Corps Sgt. Major, with a deep background in veterans affairs and national security. We open with memories from Iraq deployments, and an experience with Houthi rebels in Yemen. That led us to our first discussion about the recent Signal message app scandal involving DoD, DNI, CIA and Senior White House officials. Marquez says if he had shared discussions of pending mili...
Mar 27, 2025•49 min
When it comes to getting a degree, veterans and their families often face challenges non-veteran students don’t. American Military University (part of APUS) President, Nuno Fernandes understands this on a personal level. We hear how his humble upbringing in Portugal, mirrors the challenges that inspired many Americans to join the military in the first place. But despite the challenges of transition from military service, veterans have proved they have the grit and determination to succeed, and F...
Mar 24, 2025•33 min
This week we’re looking at online degree programs for veterans, from American Military University (AMU), one of the top online Universities for military and veterans. We begin with two enlisted veterans that have done it. Former Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Dan Roby shares how it’s never too late to earn your degree (he earned his at the age of 53), and former Army Staff Sgt. Tonda Navarrete describes how vets can succeed in today’s rapidly changing workforce with AMU’s cutting-edge majors in AI,...
Mar 21, 2025•38 min
In this era of VA budget cuts and workforce layoffs, we talked about it with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Communications Chief, Air Force veteran Dan Clare. After a recent meeting with VA Secretary Doug Collins, who recently spoke at DAV’s Mid-Winter Conference, Clare shared how Collins claimed his #1 priority was taking care of our vets, but did not offer any details about how exactly he’s going to do it. Clare explains that massive cuts to VA staff, seems ill-advised considering over 800K ...
Mar 14, 2025•43 min
As we experience an uncertain time of change and massive government layoffs, the state of Maryland is expanding its support for veterans. We talked with Tony Woods, Army veteran and Secretary of Maryland Veterans, Military and Families, about the specific ways they’re supporting vets. We begin with his days leading troops in Iraq. Woods also shares a surprising personal revelation about his time in the Army, and the policy that led to his leaving the military. After his own career changes he des...
Mar 08, 2025•48 min
Luke Graziani, is a U.S. Army Veteran with 4 deployments to Iraq and AFG. After checking his email on February 13, he cringed after reading he was being fired from his public affairs officer role at The Bronx VA Hospital. He shares how despite having stellar performance reviews from his supervisor, the letter from DOGE cited “job performance” as one of the reasons for his termination. Graziani also describes how this move will force other VA staff (who don’t even work at the hospital) to pick up...
Feb 28, 2025•24 min
The Purple Heart Foundation supports military veterans and their families in many ways. We talked with CEO, Stephen Ruckman, and US Army Reserve MSG Henika "Nika" Carroll about her 23 years of service and how their short-term financial assistance grants helped her overcome crippling debt. Carroll also shares personal advice for making VA disability claims, and Stephen Ruckman highlights other generous PHF programs for veterans. As the funds necessary for these grants run out immediately after be...
Feb 28, 2025•31 min
Tim Jensen, a Marine Corps combat veteran, is on a mission to stop veteran suicide. The powerful veteran activist and head of Grunt Style Foundation (advocacy arm of America’s patriotic T-Shirt brand Grunt Style) talked with us about the current state of suicide prevention. Jensen shared a surprising connection between suicide and psychotropic drugs, and others for anxiety, depression and even meds used to help vets quit smoking. He also illustrated how alternative medical treatments, widely kno...
Feb 21, 2025•47 min
After the recent Executive Order for Federal employees to return to the office, Jenna Carlton, DoD employee and founder of The Millennial Veterans Facebook group is facing a tough choice- stay in her current job, or quit. She described how her DoD job was fully remote from first the day she was hired. She shared how they live over an hour away from base, but found a way to effectively make her family schedule work with minimal in-office requirements. After the recent order, she is grappling with...
Feb 20, 2025•23 min
Let’s talk about love! Andrew Carroll, Director of The Center for American Letters, returns with some of the most romantic words ever written, by service members fighting wars around the world. This collection of over 200K letters spans the Revolutionary War to World Wars all the way up to modern emails from our current generation. We begin with the beautiful words for a loving wife, composed on a battlefield in Virginia, during the American Civil War. Carroll continues with an intriguing love l...
Feb 13, 2025•41 min
In this interesting conversation presented by Navy Federal Credit Union, Jill Schlesinger opens with 3 vital steps every veteran needs to take, if they want to have enough money when they’re older. Schlesinger guides us through a variety of financial planning tips and offers useful advice for the basic investor. We also discuss the difference between 401Ks and other types of investment accounts and consider which type would be right for varying types of veterans. We examine saving programs for y...
Feb 07, 2025•43 min
Looking for a career in cybersecurity? This is your chance! We talked about a new Google Cybersecurity Certificate training program with Army veteran, (Ret.) Lt. Colonel Bryan Radliff, from Syracuse University’s D'Aniello Institute for Veterans Military and Families (IVMF). Radliff shares benefits like; no cost to veterans, 150+ hours of the latest, industry-standard training, and how it’s designed for all veterans (and family) … even without prior IT experience. We also hear about IVMF’s Onward...
Jan 31, 2025•23 min
Today we’re hearing from attorney Bart Stichman, Co-founder of National Veterans Legal Services Program, regarding the case “Soto vs United States” and how a Marine Corps combat veteran (and 9,000 other vets) had their benefit claims denied, and disputed by our government. The petition was filed on behalf of USMC vet, Mr. Simon Soto who was initially approved for Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC), but later denied the full amount after government lawyers claimed a six-year ceiling on re...
Jan 31, 2025•26 min
This is the end of a 2-part series and a powerful interview with Army combat vet, turned software developer Lukas Simianer, Founder, VetCLaims.ai. After teaching himself computer coding, he went from flat broke to creating software that is revolutionizing the VA claims process. We begin with his rise to tech entrepreneur as the founder of Clusiv- an e-learning platform built to assist the blind. Simianer shares the battle he faced when state and federal programs chose inefficient status quo over...
Jan 24, 2025•42 min
This episode is the first of a 2-part series where we hear a powerful interview with Army combat vet, Purple Heart recipient turned software developer Lukas Simianer- who fights the VA for vets, and wins. Wounded in Afghanistan at the age of 19, Lukas left the military with only a few hundred bucks in his pocket and started the difficult transition from enlisted soldier to civilian life. He struggled with his own mental health, isolation, lack of any meaningful DoD support and eventually endured...
Jan 17, 2025•39 min
