He heard from God as a child, saved his father from assassination, survived multiple IED explosions and now guards clients from hidden threats around the world. Today we’ll meet Marine Corps combat veteran Byron Rodgers and hear how he became one of the most elite Executive Protection Specialists in the country. More than just bodyguards for high-net-worth individuals like Hollywood celebrities and corporate execs, Rodger’s company has worked across the globe to provide complex security details ...
May 12, 2023•1 hr 25 min
Army combat veteran and journalist Matt Saintsing recently revealed on social media that he has been diagnosed with bi-polar depression. As a good friend and former colleague of Eye on Veterans host, Phil Briggs, the news came as a huge surprise. After working together for years, Saintsing’s struggle was never clearly visible … not even to himself. In this fun conversation, Saintsing shares how he discovered his condition, how he’s treating it, does cannabis help and can he still drink beer? We ...
May 05, 2023•40 min
This week we’re talking with veterans who are seriously helping others live their best life! Eric Brew, Military Outreach Manager at American Corporate Partners is both a Marine Corps and Army veteran. He’s currently helping veterans receive year-long mentorships from some of America’s most talented corporate executives. These mentors offer advice and strategies for success, and they often become lifelong friends. We also meet Dr. Xavier Bruce, a former Air Force Lt. Colonel who created a powerf...
Apr 28, 2023•37 min
When Service members retire from the military, they are entitled to both retirement pay from the Department of Defense and if they were injured, disability payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Unfortunately, due to current law, over 42,000 veterans are unable to fully collect both benefits at the same time. USMC combat vet Cole Lyle, Executive Director of Mission Roll Call is fighting to change that. Also, this week Revolutionary War soldiers, our nation’s very first heroes, we...
Apr 21, 2023•39 min
Today we’re examining a landmark medical malpractice case. Army Master Sgt. Richard Stayskal was diagnosed with lung cancer by a civilian doctor, but he shares how the Army saw a mass in his lung first but did not notify him or immediately start treatment. We hear how together with powerhouse attorney Natalie Khawam, they first had to overcome the “Feres Doctrine,” a 70-year-old legal precedent which prevented service members from filing malpractice claims against the DoD. Although they succeede...
Apr 14, 2023•44 min
Marine Corps combat veteran Jake Edwards learned the value of training from his experience in Fallujah, Iraq. He’s now a security expert who has developed active shooter training programs for military and civilian organizations. Edwards founded Threat Response Training, specifically to train school systems on active shooter events. Each week he trains educators and students from K-12. We discuss how he applies this training to our youth, and he shares how he can even teach out youngest students ...
Apr 10, 2023•22 min
After another tragic school shooting recently made the news, we’re talking with combat veterans who are actively working to make schools safe. We begin with Tod Langley, a former Special Operations and Special Missions Unit Intelligence Officer. He has two decades of experience working on Top Secret missions with our military’s Tier 1 operators. Many of them are so sensitive, they will never be publicized. After the military he consulted law enforcement and quickly saw how many of their challeng...
Apr 07, 2023•31 min
We take a deep dive into a Navy SEAL’s Journey with psychedelics and how it inspired him to create a wellness software program that is having incredible success. After years of special operations missions and deadly combat, former SEAL Jonathan Wilson found himself with a great job at Goldman Sachs. On paper everything was great. But like many combat veterans understand, life would soon get out of control. Wilson describes in vivid detail, his pain and how the psychedelic plant Ibogaine changed ...
Mar 31, 2023•53 min
During the initial surge of US forces during Desert Storm, Army veteran Chris Jones was firing missiles and artillery to push Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. Under the red skies and oil fires, he was finding his flair for graphic design. A skill that would eventually take him around the world. Jones shares how founding MOS apparel, custom T-Shirts that tell the story of a veterans Military Occupational Specialty, started as something between a father and son … who followed his footsteps in the Army....
Mar 24, 2023•39 min
Former Army Capt. Allison Jaslow, new CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America deployed multiple times to Iraq where she sharpened her leadership in a tough combat environment. We talked about her military career, her years of pushing for greater equality, and how she has never backed down from tackling the thorny issues that active-duty and former service members face. Jaslow recognized that for decades, the VA motto excluded the contributions of female service members. We discussed how ...
Mar 17, 2023•40 min
Scientific experts agree, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) yields incredible results when treating wounds … yet the VA does not offer it to veterans who suffered TBIs, blast injuries or are currently dealing with PTSD and chronic pain. Dr Robert Beckman, Exec Director of TreatNow.org is one of the nation’s fiercest promoters of this FDA approved wound treatment. In this episode we’ll hear how HBOT plays a crucial role in healing brain injuries and ultimately reducing veteran suicide. Dr. Beckman...
Mar 10, 2023•40 min
The storytelling is intense in the new podcast “City of Tents Veterans Row”. We talk with host, producer Anna Scott, an investigative reporter with KCRW in Los Angeles. She has covered LA’s homelessness for years and in this series, she documented a veteran homeless encampment directly across the street from the wealthy Brentwood neighborhood, and shockingly right outside the fence of a massive VA Health care facility. Scott offers a deep look at the vets living in Veterans Row and the revolving...
Mar 03, 2023•49 min
Toby Harnden is Royal Navy veteran, global journalist, and award-winning author. We discuss his book “First Casualty: The CIA’s mission to avenge 9/11” and hear how CIA and Special Forces were dropped into the mountains of northern Afghanistan on October 17, 2001. This is the thrilling story of Team Alpha, an eclectic band of linguists, tribal experts, and elite warriors, who were the first Americans to operate inside Taliban territory. Harnden reveals how the Secretary of Defense was angry that...
Feb 24, 2023•41 min
Dr. Gregory Fowler, President, University of Maryland Global Campus discusses his recent article “The Power of Education in Black America and Beyond” and how UMGC honors military experience to put veterans on the fast track to receiving a college degree. Read the full article here: https://www.umgc.edu/blog/power-education-black-america-beyond Contact CBS Eye on Veterans: phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet @eyeonveterans To learn more about listener data and our privacy pr...
Feb 17, 2023•10 min
Hazard Ground is one of the most popular military podcasts in America. Each week veterans share military experiences where you can feel their tension and triumph. This week, we focus on the man behind the mic, Mark Zinno a combat veteran, Army Reserve Officer, and podcast founder. He tells the story of how he went from running convoys in Iraq to hosting a sports talk show to sports betting analyst. Zinno reveals how his life was saved by the Iraqi forces he trained, and we examine why the Global...
Feb 17, 2023•31 min
After US military pilots shot down a Chinese spy balloon debates started over Biden’s reaction, and the overall capability of our nation’s intelligence community. We reached out to Rod Rodriguez, an Army veteran, and former Intelligence Officer with 20+ years of experience and deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He shares his experience and makes a surprising point that is never mentioned on the major news networks. Check out Rod weekly on “Military Matters” podcast by Stars and Stripes: https:...
Feb 10, 2023•40 min
Special Forces veteran, Delta Team Leader and bestselling author Brad Taylor is back with “The Devil’s Ransom”. This high-octane combat adventure is the latest in the Pike Logan series, where Logan, (a fictional Spec Ops vet whose team conducts the highest classified missions) is tracking down cyber terrorists who attacked a commercial spacecraft in flight, all while trying to avoid being taken out by Taliban and Russian mercenaries searching for an ancient treasure stolen from Afghanistan. In o...
Feb 03, 2023•39 min
How do we combat disinformation from violent extremists and terrorists in today’s media? We asked Navy veteran, journalist and co-founder of Military Veterans in Journalism, Zack Baddorf. He was a Navy journalist who worked on countering recruitment campaigns for groups like ISIS, and the Taliban. This year MVJ is seeking veterans for investigative reporter positions that will uncover dangerous disinformation campaigns in American media. We also discuss how Russian disinformation has had devasta...
Jan 27, 2023•20 min
The US Small Business Administration has many programs to help veterans start their own business. We talk with SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman (Gooze’mon) about how veteran business owners can secure funding and government contracts to make their business dreams a reality. Check out SBA programs for veterans here: https://www.sba.gov/. Army Special Forces veteran and investigative reporter Jack Murphy recently broke a story about how a recent bust led authorities to discover an alleged drug an...
Jan 20, 2023•41 min
What happens when veterans pair up with legendary Nashville songwriters? They produce songs more powerful than prescription drugs or therapy. We learned about Operation Song from Executive Director and Army combat veteran Mike Byer. Byer shares how he went from program participant to Executive Director, and shares a powerful story about how the songwriting process helped save his life. We go behind the music and examine the songs like “Good Co-Pilot.” Created by a WWII veteran who recalls landin...
Jan 06, 2023•38 min
Every week thousands of listeners check out the hilarious military podcast “Zero Blog 30,” from sports entertainment giant Barstool Sports. We talked with the show host, Marine Corps combat vet Uncle Chaps. Before podcast fame, he was Staff Sergeant Matthew Cothron (Cah-thron) We heard about his combat deployments, fierce fighting in Fallujah, Iraq and the day he was shot. Chaps also shared his personal battle to keep VA benefits and offers sage advice for all veterans seeking VA benefits. Chaps...
Dec 30, 2022•40 min
British paratrooper veteran James Thornett tells the epic story of smuggling a truckload of liquor down the deadliest road in Iraq. This epic Christmas Eve story was the start of the legendary bar known as "The Baghdad Country Club”. For more about James Thornett and pics from “The World’s Most Dangerous Bar” check out: https://www.baghdadcountryclub.org/ Contact CBS Eye on Veterans phil@connectingvets.com Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet @eyeonveterans To learn more about listener data and our...
Dec 23, 2022•47 min
This week the VA launched “Action Week” to push veterans to get their benefits related to the recently passed PACT Act. VA Press Secretary and Army combat veteran Terrence Hayes explained how vets who served near toxic burn pits are essentially pre-approved for benefits and he outlined the process, the timeline and may other free resources. Get your benefits claims started here: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ Every year Wreaths Across America honors fallen vetera...
Dec 16, 2022•39 min
A recent report published by Majority Staff of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs claims veterans are “more likely to be involved in right-wing domestic violent extremism”. Cole Lyle, Marine Corps combat vet and policy advisor, has strong words for the members of the committee and pushes back against their report. See the House report here: https://veterans.house.gov/imo/media/doc/report_on_peer_support_in_preventing_domestic_violent_extremism.pdf (Helpful or partisan politics? … you can se...
Dec 09, 2022•27 min
Kristopher Goldsmith is an Army combat veteran, acclaimed writer and investigator who has fought for veterans’ rights for years. He founded Task Force Butler Institute to expose disinformation and bring down the hate groups lurking online and behind some of the anti-government militias we saw attack the US Capitol, on January 6th. We discussed the connection between these groups and why they’re actively targeting military veterans. Goldsmith also described how he infiltrated a militia meeting an...
Dec 02, 2022•51 min
Retired Air Force veteran Barry Williams went from serving his country to serving as manager for his son’s band. Little did he know, his son would become country superstar Jason Aldean. We talked about his service, fatherhood and what it was like before fame. Williams also shared the story of how Jason Aldean got his big break in Nashville and how Macon Georgia is home to many music legends. We also talk with Army veteran Vernon Hood Taylor, who graduated from University of Maryland Global Campu...
Nov 23, 2022•49 min
Nate Boyer went from Special Forces to play in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks. After separating from two high octane careers, Boyer knows firsthand the struggle many veterans have with transition. He talked about his new film “MVP” which documents the origin story of Merging Vets and Players, an organization that helps combat vets and pro athletes overcome depression in order to find a new purpose driven life. This powerful film also features cameos from NFL Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, Michae...
Nov 18, 2022•44 min
Before he was the legendary guitarist for The Eagles, Joe Walsh lost his father who served as an Air Force pilot. That’s one of the reasons he founded “VetsAid” the annual concert that raises millions for vets and veteran services. This year’s VetsAid salutes Ohio vets with bands from there. Featured guests include a reunion of Walsh’s former band The James Gang plus Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys, Dave Grohl and The Breeders. We also talked about his memories of Ohio and his time at Kent State...
Nov 11, 2022•42 min
Every November we recognize National Veteran Small Business Week, So we talked with three experts about how to turn your business dreams into reality. Joan Lynch, former ESPN executive and Head of Working Nation.com talks about hot job categories and vets who have found success. Army veteran and founder of J-Dog Junk removal, Jerry Flanagan, shares how he went from a Jeep and a trailer to franchises nationwide. Army veteran Larry Stubblefield, Head Veteran Development for the United States Small...
Nov 04, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Rod Rodriguez is an Army veteran and host of the podcast “Military Matters” for Stars and Stripes military news. He recently documented vets trying to rebuild their lives after being ravaged by Hurricane Ian. The audio clips he shares capture their raw emotions and vivid descriptions of being inside a mobile home as it was severed in half. Also, we examine the similarity for veterans between war zones and volunteering. And what all of us can do to help make a difference. Hear the Military Matter...
Nov 01, 2022•40 min
