Today we dive into an incredible new book “Damn The Valley" by Army veteran and former paratrooper William Yeske. Like many books about the war in Afghanistan this one is a gritty, vivid look at what a deployment to the deadly Arghandab River Valley was really like for the enlisted troops on the ground. We begin with stories from Yeske’s initial days in Basic Training and Airborne School, which include the humorous moments every vet can appreciate. Yeske skillfully combines personal memories of ...
Jun 28, 2024•42 min
Today we’re talking with combat veteran, Army Ranger, Master Sergeant Cedric King. Wounded in Afghanistan he survived a traumatic IED blast, that resulted in losing both his legs. But the experience and his faith in God, made him even stronger. Today he empowers thousands of people through speaking engagements for clients that include NFL, NBA and Major League baseball teams, and other organizations who need help overcoming their challenges to become champions. We start with his early days in th...
Jun 11, 2024•53 min
Today we’re talking with (Ret.) Army Lt. Colonel Jim Whaley, CEO of the veteran organization, Mission Roll Call. Every year they continually survey the veteran community with thought provoking polls about a wide variety of issues. Then apply pressure to law makers to ensure their needs are met. We begin with stories from Whaley’s Army aviation days, as a combat helicopter in Germany during the height of the Cold War. From the ominous threat of Russia in the 80’s to the complex terrorism threats ...
May 31, 2024•41 min
Today we’re honoring Memorial Day with a tribute to 1st Lt Nainoa Hoe, a Hawaiian soldier who became an inspiring Army Officer bravely leading his men in Mosul, Iraq. But his story begins with an American family who, like many Hawaiians, bravely serve in the military for generations. His father Allen Hoe, a former Army combat medic in Vietnam, begins this incredible tribute with memories of his service in Vietnam during the late 1960s. Hoe eventually returned to his native Hawaii and settled int...
May 25, 2024•40 min
Today we’re talking with Tim Jensen, Marine Corps combat vet and outspoken leader of “Grunt Style” apparel. Grunt Style T-shirts are loved by military vets and easy to spot with the infantry battle flag and crossed rifles on the sleeves. Jensen shared how this multi-million-dollar apparel company started with the founder selling shirts out of his car. More than just apparel with massive veteran appeal, Grunt Style often steps up and becomes a loud voice supporting important veteran causes. (Like...
May 18, 2024•44 min
Today we’re talking with the founder of Go Daddy dot com, PXG Golf clubs and Marine Corps combat veteran Bob Parsons about his new book, “Fire in The Hole! The Untold Story of my Traumatic Life and Explosive Success”. While he is best known for being an icon of the Internet age, in the late 1960’s he was a tough kid from Baltimore, who fought for his life in Vietnam. Parsons shares vivid (and at times hilarious) stories from his days on "Hill 190" in Vietnam. Later, Parsons tracks his career thr...
May 03, 2024•48 min
On Monday Apr 22 we remembered the anniversary of the death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman who was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan. A unique Ranger in that he left a pro football career with The NFL’s Phoenix Cardinals to join the Army shortly after 9/11, along with his brother. On the evening of April 22, 2004, Pat’s unit was ambushed as it traveled through the rugged, canyon terrain of eastern Afghanistan. His heroic efforts to provide cover for fellow soldiers led to his tragic dea...
Apr 26, 2024•37 min
Army veteran and Senior Tech recruiter Norm Workman describes the urgent need for cyber warriors at Intelligent Waves, secure IT solutions company. He shares the qualifications they’re looking for and the certifications veterans need right now. Check out careers at Intelligent Waves here: https://intelligentwaves.com Reach Army veteran Norm Workman here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/normworkman/ To reach CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs phil@connectingvets.com Follow on X @philbriggsVet @Ey...
Apr 22, 2024•15 min
This week we’re talking with Molly Brooks and retired Coast Guard Officer Sean Hagerty from the veteran support organization Hero’s Bridge. They work to help aging veterans find affordable housing, healthcare, and even coordinate rides to and from appointments. Their recent attempt to build a village of small homes for veterans on the grounds of a church in Warrenton, VA sounded like a simple request. But when they announced their project, they were met with fierce opposition and zoning red tape...
Apr 19, 2024•32 min
Nick Lambie found success in auto detailing and restoration by opening a "Ziebart" franchise in Morgantown, West Virginia. But before he took the brave step into business, he was an Air Force Master Sergeant who helped protect the skies above combat zones and the Super Bowl. Lambie shares more about his Air Force career and his time at North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). He also shares his thoughts on rogue Chinese weather balloons. Lambie shares more about his Ziebart franchise, w...
Apr 12, 2024•42 min
Matt Baker is the voice of TV promos, national commercials and Discovery Network's thrilling "Shark Week". But, before he was a celebrity voice actor, he was an enlisted Marine. We talked with him about his unlikely entrance into the world of celebrity voice over, his work on Shark Week and the art of making a script come to life. We also hear how his love of reading (while on Navy ships as a Marine) inspired him to become an author. Baker shares details from his latest novel "Strange Circles". ...
Apr 12, 2024•40 min
Marine Corps and Army veteran Jason Nelson talks about his veteran-owned business Prepper Beef dot com, which supplies high-quality cooked and freeze-dried beef for long-term storage. Before his survival food success story, Jason learned many lessons from his experience as a Psychological Operations Officer within US Army Special Operations. He shares how he worked to assist the locals, and guide military ops, which often did not fully consider what life was like on the ground. After the militar...
Apr 02, 2024•20 min
Today we’re hearing from a kind of military vet so rare, most people will never meet one. Adam Gamal, an Egyptian, Muslim immigrant, served on the most classified anti-terrorism unit in America. We hear about his fascinating life as we discuss his new book “The Unit: My life fighting terrorists as one of America’s most secret military operatives.” From his life in Egypt, to the twisted ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, we follow Adam’s journey to NYC. And his path to the Army. Adam shares vivi...
Mar 29, 2024•53 min
Today we talk with a Spec Ops vet whose team rushes behind enemy lines to save American lives. Army/Navy and covert ops veteran Bryan Stern leads the non-profit organization Project Dynamo. He shared vivid details about their recent mission to rescue American missionaries who found themselves trapped within a violent and gang-controlled area of Haiti. Stern outlines how his organization effectively operates in the unfortunate void between the US military and the key decision makers inside our ow...
Mar 22, 2024•31 min
Today we’re hearing about a dramatic story of Russian espionage, US government denial and how the experience inspired Naval Intelligence veteran Jack Daly to write the book “Laugh Out Loud: Your Personal Prescription for the Best Medicine on Earth”. The book reveals the power of humor but, Daly’s story is far from comedy. He was wounded by a Russian laser while photographing a Russian merchant ship believed to be spying on US Naval operations. Daly shares vivid details about this rare espionage ...
Mar 15, 2024•43 min
Will Google searches soon become a thing of the past? Will apps become extinct? Decades ago, Tim Kitchens served in the Air Force as a Russian intel analyst, but after the military he trained to become a Senior Software Engineer and expert programmer. We sat down with him to get an in depth look at how the explosive growth of AI technology is poised to revolutionize the way we work and interact with the Internet. Kitchens begins by explaining the basics of AI technology; What is it? How does it ...
Mar 08, 2024•48 min
Today, we’re talking about a groundbreaking new book, “The Unit” by Adam Gamal and Kelly Kennedy. It delivers a look inside the military’s most secretive special missions unit, which is so covert that even its name is classified. Our book reviewer is National Security reporter Jack Murphy who served as an Army Ranger, Sniper, and Special Forces operator within Joint Special Operations Command. He describes some stories inside the book, and shares personal anecdotes about the rare occasion when h...
Mar 01, 2024•38 min
We’re talking with Navy veteran Jenna Carlton, who founded the massively popular Facebook group “The Millennial Veterans.” Between Facebook and Instagram, Millennial Veterans has amassed millions of views, and their content reaches thousands of vets every week. We jump right into her recent spicy article that tells VA why many younger vets do not recommend joining the military. She talked about her days aboard the carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and like her Millennial Vet followers have co...
Feb 22, 2024•39 min
Whether you're starting college after the military, finishing a degree or just looking for skills to advance your career, we discover the innovative ways University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) delivers. UMGC President, Dr. Gregory Fowler describes their "student-centric" approach. More than just a catch phrase, he shares an in-depth look at things like: Helping deployed students from Forward Operating Bases to Antarctica Understanding the specific needs of veteran students from all racial a...
Feb 20, 2024•44 min
Today we’re discussing the new book “Dead Man’s Hand” with author, Army veteran Brad Taylor, former member of the highly classified 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (Delta Force). This high adrenaline novel tracks: a plot to kill Vladimir Putin; a fight between Putin’s brutal National Guard henchmen, the GRU- a Russian Intelligence unit and a Ukrainian hit squad; and ultimately the dangerous work of American commandos led by veteran Pike Logan. It’s a twisted plot that takes us to...
Feb 16, 2024•48 min
We're talking with vets in Vegas at Super Bowl LVIII about their NFL partnership, and how they're looking for fellow vets to tackle a mission vital to our democracy. Marine Corps veteran Ben Keiser and Air Force veteran Anil Nathan share how the organization We The Veterans recently launched the “Vet The Vote” campaign, with a goal of recruiting over 100K veterans to serve as election poll workers in upcoming elections. They describe how the veteran community can play a crucial role in this year...
Feb 09, 2024•34 min
Today we’re talking with Navy SEAL veteran and marketing mogul John Timar. During his post military career, he achieved success bringing Kill Cliff energy drinks to the forefront of the highly competitive US energy drink market and established partnerships with podcast giant Joe Rogan, the mixed martial arts community and raised millions for the Navy SEAL Foundation. But his latest venture steps outside of the energy drink business and introduces us to "Grapple Science" a new nutritional supplem...
Feb 02, 2024•38 min
This week we’re talking with Dr. Robert Beckman, Executive Director of Treat Now dot org. He’s one of the premiere experts in the treatment of brain wounds with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Although this technology is FDA approved for things like burns and diabetic foot ulcers, Beckman says the VA ignores proof that it's effective for treating brain wounds, TBI’s, concussions and depression which has fueled the suicide epidemic in America. While ending suicide remains a top priority for VA ...
Jan 26, 2024•1 hr 10 min
Today we’re talking with former student veterans who testified before the US Dept. of Education in Washington DC, regarding for-profit colleges that failed to provide the useful degrees they promised, all while burning through the GI Bill funding they earned and even their private student loans. We start with Air Force veteran Stephanie Pollay who shared her experience getting a degree from ITT Tech, the $200K debt she incurred, and the harsh reality she faced after trying to apply it to the rea...
Jan 19, 2024•39 min
Today we learn how Marine Corps Spec Ops vet Derek Herrera has built a business around a digital skin inspection tool, known as the "Habit Camera" thanks to a partnership with VA’s Technology Transfer Program. We begin with his journey into the elite Marine Corps unit known as, MARSOC aka Marine Corps “Raiders”. Herrera shares the dramatic story of the firefight with Taliban forces in Afghanistan, the shot that wounded his spine and the heroism of his fellow Marines. After a tough recovery, Herr...
Jan 12, 2024•39 min
We’re talking with Joan Lynch, Chief Content Officer at WorkingNation.com about companies desperate to hire veterans right now. We examine the certifications required for hot jobs in Cyber, and Lynch shares insight from recent conversations with veteran hiring officers for companies like Space X. We also talk about the huge growth in trucking, and healthcare plus how within every category, there are tons of high-paying roles on the back end. Lynch also maps out an effective strategy for finding ...
Dec 29, 2023•31 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 24, 2023•47 min
We’re doing some last-minute Christmas shopping and highlighting veteran-made products that make great stocking stuffers. Triangle Fragrance: Army veteran Magda Khalifa, launched Triangle Fragrance, a scent line for men and women that draws its inspiration from her own transition and the self-help book she wrote. She also shares the meaning behind these luxurious scents and how one cologne was inspired by the classic military movie, "Apocalypse Now". Check out Triangle Fragrance here https://tri...
Dec 16, 2023•38 min
In this episode we’ll go from the jungles of Vietnam to a small-town diner in Illinois! Mr. Lynn Lowder is a Vietnam veteran and former Marine Corps Force Recon Team Leader who in his seventies, founded Rosie's Home Cooking. This classic diner builds off the famous portrait of Rosie the Riveter and delivers the vintage 1950's experience. But his impact is felt far beyond his small town in Illinois. He's also the co-founder of The Veterans Business Project, a non-profit organization that has help...
Dec 08, 2023•44 min
This week we discuss an epic short film “The Metal Detector”. It's a WWII veteran story with a modern twist. The film documents how Georg, an Austrian retiree whose mother witnessed the crash of an Allied B-17 during World War II, takes up metal detecting to find the wreckage. His fascination (and sheer determination) lead him on a heartfelt mission, to not only research the backgrounds of the American crewmembers who parachuted off the plane into enemy territory, but also locate their descendan...
Dec 02, 2023•43 min
