Eye on Veterans
275 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★ - 10 ratingsEach week, Navy veteran and Journalist Phil Briggs looks at life from the military veteran's perspective. From topics like treating PTSD, TBIs with marijuana and psychedelics to pushing Congress to pass better laws. Plus, we hear dramatic stories from combat vets, discover job openings, and meet celebrity actors, athletes, and musicians.
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Episodes
The fierce debate over Hero’s Bridge plans to build tiny homes for elderly vets
April 19, 2024 17:17 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBThis 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 ...
Veteran Business Success: From Air Force to award-winning Ziebart Auto franchise
April 12, 2024 17:27 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBNick 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 Zieba...
The Voice! USMC vet is Narrator of Discovery's "Shark Week", Author and more
April 12, 2024 16:57 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBMatt 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 "Str...
Veteran Business Success: How Prepper Beef helps America "Sur-Thrive"!
April 02, 2024 19:37 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBMarine 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. ...
"The Unit" by Adam Gamal, Kelly Kennedy: Inside the most secret anti-terror team
March 29, 2024 19:13 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBToday 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. ...
Project Dynamo: Harrowing rescue of Americans trapped in Haiti
March 22, 2024 18:54 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBToday 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 make...
The 1997 Russian laser attack near US Pacific coast, and how Navy vet healed with humor
March 15, 2024 17:11 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBToday 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 ...
What the heck is AI, ChatGPT, prompt technology? USAF vet, software engineer explains
March 08, 2024 20:02 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBWill 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 i...
Book Report, Part 1: "The Unit" the DoD's most secretive special missions unit
March 01, 2024 19:38 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MBToday, 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 ...
The Millennial Veterans voice! Facebook, IG influencer Jenna Carlton
February 22, 2024 23:49 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBWe’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 fo...
Military, Veteran University: How UMGC is like a Sherpa, that helps all students reach the top
February 20, 2024 15:39 - 42 minutes - 38.5 MBWhether 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 f...
Dead Man's Hand: Spec Ops vet Brad Taylor's new book, plot to kill Putin and nuclear war
February 16, 2024 18:58 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBToday 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 t...
Vet the Vote: Campaign kicks off at Super Bowl to recruit vets for 2024 elections
February 09, 2024 19:17 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBWe'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 rol...
Grapple Science: Former SEAL John Timar on nutraceutical supplement for combat athletes
February 02, 2024 20:34 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBToday 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 nutri...
Bad Trip: Expert says VA studies psychedelics but ignores proven Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy!
January 26, 2024 20:15 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBThis 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 p...
Scam U: Student vets testify in DC re: college degree scams, GI Bill abuse
January 19, 2024 16:46 - 37 minutes - 34 MBToday 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 appl...
Marine Spec Ops vet + VA program bring hi tech medical camera to all Americans
January 12, 2024 17:17 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBToday 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 tou...
Hot Jobs for Vets in 2024! Cyber, Trucking, Healthcare and why many prefer vets over college grads
December 29, 2023 15:29 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBWe’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 strateg...
The bar born on Christmas Eve
December 24, 2023 14:39 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBBritish 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 [email protected] Follow on Twitter: @philbriggsVet @eyeonveterans See Privacy Policy ...
Veteran Made Holiday Gifts! Fragrances, Skin Care and Coffee
December 16, 2023 16:53 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBWe’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...
Never too Late! Vietnam vet, Veteran Business Project founder empowers entrepreneurs
December 08, 2023 18:29 - 42 minutes - 38.5 MBIn 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 organizati...
The Metal Detector: Short film shares the epic story of an Austrian man’s quest to find survivors of WWII plane crash
December 02, 2023 17:05 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBThis 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 ...
Commander in Cheese! From Apache helo pilot to Arbo's Cheese Dip entrepreneur
November 22, 2023 18:01 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBThanksgiving week has us in the mood for food, so we’re talking about how a former Apache helicopter pilot launched Arbo’s Cheese Dip into a huge success. Andrew Arbogast opens our interview with some memories about his days in the cockpit of world's most advanced attack helicopter. Arbogast shares memories of meats and cheeses on a Forward Operating base in Afghanistan, and the early days of Arbo’s Cheese Dip. He also explains how Bunker Labs played a pivotal role in the explosi...
Spec Forces video game: Puts players in battles they fought, helps mental health
November 17, 2023 21:22 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBToday we’re talking about how a Special Forces veteran met a Hollywood actor on a career website and the result was a groundbreaking new video game “With Them: Frontlines” where players experience combat ops in the places where US forces actually fought. Army Special Forces vet Shawn Piatz received creative help from Hollywood Actor/Producer Devin Reeve when they met on the veteran career site Heroes Linked. We start with some fascinating stories about Shawn’s experiences as a G...
Veterans Fight Club! How Jiu Jitsu and Air Force Spec Ops vet are changing lives
November 11, 2023 14:41 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBOn Veterans Day, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines will grapple, choke and arm bar each other to determine which branch has the ultimate fighter. Although it sounds brutal, off the mat it’s a brotherhood and the story of how Air Force veteran Pow Srikachorn founded a martial arts training facility that is helping his community and vets thrive through their love of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Pow’s journey into martial arts began in Afghanistan, where he worked on some of the most imp...
The Best and Worst Places for Veterans to Live, 2023
November 10, 2023 17:44 - 18 minutes - 17 MBWe look at the recent survey of “The Best Places for Veterans to Live” with Cassie Happe from Wallet Hub dot com. Their recent survey analyzed the top 100 US cities and looked at where veterans are finding employment, great health care and the best quality of life. (Hello Florida and Texas) We also looked closely at additional metrics used to rank US cities, including growing economies and places where veterans are likely to find jobs based on their military experience. Find why v...
BOOK REPORT: “A Watchman in The Night” by Cal Thomas; Veteran, legendary Conservative Columnist, and Fox News broadcaster
November 03, 2023 17:22 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBToday we’re talking with Cal Thomas, about his latest book, “A Watchman in the night: What I’ve seen over 50 years reporting on America”. Thomas is a Vietnam era veteran who served as a radio broadcaster on Armed Forces Radio and then went on to become a legendary conservative journalist and Fox News broadcaster. We discuss what inspired his thoughts on American culture and conversations with Presidents, politicians, and world leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Neta...
WARNING: Do Not Escalate! Former Pentagon advisor, USAF vet warns of war with Iran and how US should broker peace
October 27, 2023 19:21 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBWe investigate another side of the Israel-Hamas War raging in Gaza through the eye of a veteran who was an advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Iraq War. In a recent op-ed, Dennis Fritz (Ret.) Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant, Pentagon Senior Enlisted Advisor called out those in Congress who favor an escalation of fighting in Gaza, and even call for attacks on Iran. He calls for; the US to be a formidable peace broker in the region, lead efforts for real negoti...
Veteran Health Update: VA's National Lung Cancer Screening Day
October 27, 2023 18:47 - 9 minutes - 9.02 MBLung cancer is the deadliest cancer among cancer-afflicted Veterans. In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, VA is proud to participate in the second annual National Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) Day. This significant day coincides with Veterans Day (November 11) emphasizing VA's commitment to our Veterans. We spoke with Dr. Chris Slatore, Chief Consultant, National Center for Lung Cancer Screening for the Veterans Health Administration, about the importance of this cancer scr...
Israel-Hamas war explained: Army Delta Force veteran, best-selling author Brad Taylor
October 23, 2023 15:02 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBWe take a deep look into the Israel-Hamas war through the eyes of a combat veteran and author with decades of experience fighting terrorism. Brad Taylor is a former Special Forces Lt. Colonel, who served in the Army’s most elite unit, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta … aka Delta Force. But more than just a Tier 1 Operator with vast tactical experience, Taylor’s knowledge of Hamas, Hezbollah and other Islamic terror groups stems from years of research as the best-se...
Is Ecstasy the cure for PTSD? Clinical trials show powerful results
October 06, 2023 18:19 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBMDMA, commonly known as “Ecstasy” offers way more than its psychedelic, glow stick and rave reputation lead us to believe. Marine Corps veteran Juliana Mercer, Policy Director for Healing Breakthrough, a nonprofit organization leading the charge to get the VA to begin using MDMA Assisted Therapy, shares the incredible results of a Phase 3 clinical trial. We take a detailed look at the trials, where 67% of veterans who underwent MDMA Assisted Therapy were completely healed and exa...
Mountain Rhythm Reset: Def Leppard's Rick Allen & Lauren Monroe on the power of drums and mindfulness
September 29, 2023 21:51 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBDef Leppard drummer Rick Allen and his wife Lauren Monroe, a musician and holistic wellness expert, founded Raven Drum Foundation to help veterans, first responders and other trauma survivors heal. They recently hosted Mountain Rhythm reset, a weekend retreat in Jackson Hole Wyoming. The weekend included rock star friends (like Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue and Guns and Roses drummer Matt Sorum) but the real stars of the retreat were the veterans, first responders and trauma survivors...
Vets can find career success in the trades via new program from Home Depot Foundation, Bunker Labs
September 29, 2023 21:49 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBWe talked with Heather Prill, Senior Director of Strategy and Partnerships at The Home Dept Foundation about a recent multi-million-dollar grant and partnership with Bunker Labs which aims to help vets find jobs in the skilled trades and launch their own business in the trades. The partnership is part of the Foundation’s latest $6 million investment in skilled trades training through its “Path to Pro Program”, which aims to bridge the skilled labor gap by providing free, skilled tr...
"Veteran Entrepreneur Success! How Danielle Smith went from Soldier to hot franchise owner, Perspire Sauna Studio
September 28, 2023 13:38 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBArmy Public Affairs Officer, Danielle Smith shares how she found financial and personal success after opening a Perspire Sauna Studio franchise. However, it was her military experience that played a huge role in her story. She describes how the intensity of her job at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay changed her perspective on life. But it also armed her with everything she needed to invest in her own business. Smith explained that the sauna business was not her first choice conside...
Veteran Entrepreneur Success! How Alejandra Amegin built a holistic empire during a pandemic, credits Business Boot Camp
September 16, 2023 00:21 - 37 minutes - 34 MBToday we look at how Navy veteran Alejandra Ameigan built the incredibly successful Vive Yoga and Jacksonville Natural Healing Wellness Center. She launched during the height of the pandemic and was on a crash course before attending a “business boot camp” which taught her how to scale her holistic health empire. Her journey began as a Respiratory Therapist in a hospital during the deadliest days of COVID. She describes how the toll of being on the front lines forced her to chang...
September 11th Tribute - “First Casualty: The CIA’s mission to avenge 9/11”
September 09, 2023 07:01 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBToby Harnden, Royal Navy veteran, and award-winning author talks about his best-selling book “First Casualty: The CIA’s mission to avenge 9/11”. It follows the thrilling story of Team Alpha, an eclectic band of linguists, tribal experts, and elite warriors, who were the first Americans to operate behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. The veteran author offers vivid details about how CIA Officers and Special Forces soldiers were dropped into the mountains of northern Afghanistan on Oc...
Is the #1 veteran issue Mental Health or Money? America’s Warrior Partnership can help with it all
September 08, 2023 19:10 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBThere is a tremendous focus on mental health in America today. But what are the real sources of pain for many vets? Making enough money to pay the bills. Air Force veteran and America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP), President, Jim Lorraine shows how this issue is the driving force behind anxiety, depression and even the suicide epidemic. However, help is available. We look at how AWP helps vets with emergency finances through local resources. And ways veterans can connect with AW...
Crime Files: Indictment sheds light on Ft Bragg murders and Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill arrest in Dallas
September 01, 2023 19:21 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBSpecial Forces veteran and Connecting Vets.com Investigative Reporter, Jack Murphy, describes how a recently unsealed grand jury indictment is shedding light on murders that occurred on Ft. Bragg in 2020. When the bodies of an Army Delta Operator, William "Billy" Lavigne, 37, and U.S. Army veteran Timothy Dumas, 44, were found shot to death on the base there were instantly many unanswered questions. Murphy has tracked the investigation over the years and spoken with law enforcem...
Vets lead the charge for cannabis legislation, USMC combat vet’s memoir about the mission to save his AFG interpreter
August 26, 2023 00:09 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBVeterans are creating a groundswell of support for federal marijuana legislation. Marine Special Operations (MARSOC) combat veteran Bryan Buckley is the co-founder of the Helmand Valley Growers Company, a retail cannabis company in California, talks about his own experience treating war wounds with medical marijuana, his foundation’s clinical research trials, and his meetings with politicians during a trip to Capitol Hill. We also talk with Marine Corps Major (Ret.) Tom Schueman a...
Is enough being done to help Maui? Cajun Navy Ground Force updates from Lahaina
August 18, 2023 18:39 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBWe hear a detailed update on what is being done to help residents of Maui, who saw their town burned to the ground during the recent wildfires. Earlier this week we spoke with Cajun Navy Ground Force Founder, Rob Gaudet who described what it was like on the ground when he arrived last week. Gaudet also describes the search for survivors, what they are calling a slow federal government response, and what we can all do to help residents struggling. You want to help a local charity...
Army vet’s combat survival story and how Building Homes for Heroes gives way more than just a free house
August 11, 2023 18:31 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MBToday we have 2 incredible stories! They highlight how Building Homes for Heroes helps combat veterans overcome traumatic injuries, with the gift of a free home. We start with the story of Army Special Forces, Master Sergeant (Ret.) George Vera. He shares the gripping story of his “Alive Day” after being shot during a vicious firefight in Afghanistan that left him paralyzed. Next, BHH founder Andy Pujol describes how the idea of helping his fellow Americans was born while volunteeri...
“Chameleon” CIA Black Ops Thriller! by SEAL vet Remi Adeleke
August 04, 2023 17:51 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBNavy SEAL veteran Remi Adeleke is truly one-of-a-kind! Born the son of an African tribal Chief, his family wealth was stripped by a corrupt government, his father tragically died, and he eventually landed on the dangerous streets of The Bronx. He beat all odds and became a SEAL, then went on to star in blockbuster films and became a best-selling author. In this episode we follow his journey from Africa to NYC, hear details about his adolescent life of crime and the faithful ...
How psychedelics saved a Navy SEAL, and inspired new technology for mental health
July 28, 2023 15:13 - 51 minutes - 47 MBWe 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 covert 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 his post-military pain in vivid detail, and how ta...
Delta Force vet Brad Taylor’s book exposes how vulnerable we are to terrorist cyber attacks
July 21, 2023 17:00 - 37 minutes - 34 MBSpecial Forces veteran, Delta Force 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 fro...
Climbing Everest: USMC vet Kirstie Ennis shares the drama, danger and her toughest decision
July 19, 2023 02:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBThis week we hear what it’s like to climb Mt. Everest … with only one leg! After surviving a helicopter crash while deployed in Afghanistan, Marine Corps veteran (Ret) Sgt. Kirstie Ennis endured a grueling recovery. But she went on to accomplish huge goals. From snowboarding champion to acclaimed mountaineer, she has used her athleticism and sheer determination to help her fellow vets live their best life. During our conversation she shared her story, and details about her secon...
Inside Tecton Energy Drink: A Spec Forces combat medic, a TBI and the power of Ketones!
July 03, 2023 17:37 - 37 minutes - 34 MBCan an energy drink be good for you? Former Special Forces combat medic Mike Chesne believes he and his team have developed one. Tecton Ketone Hydration is an energy drink that relies on the power of ketones, a chemical our body uses for energy when our liver burns fat, typically while fasting. We discussed how his idea was born after surviving many combat deployments and a career ending IED explosion. Struggling with constant brain fog and an endless list of VA prescribed drugs, C...
Maddie Smith is jacked! How Army spouse kicked booze, depression
June 23, 2023 18:28 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBMaddie Smith is a Spec Ops spouse, and her story is one that will inspire even the most hardened vets. She battled out of control drinking, postpartum depression, and crippling anxiety. We hear how her struggle with the bottle began, and how it almost drove her family apart. Maddie shares how she struggled to kick the habit, and how traditional recovery methods created other nightmare situations. After realizing Alcoholics Anonymous was not the right fit, Maddie was desperate. ...
War's Over, Come Home: A Father's love, search for homeless combat veteran son
June 16, 2023 17:45 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBThis week we focus on an incredible story of fatherhood, and its connection to veterans, PTSD, and mental health. Patrick Smithwick is a devoted father and author of the new book “War’s Over Come Home”. It’s the story of the ongoing quest to find his Marine Corps, combat veteran son, Andrew, who is currently roaming the country, homeless and fighting severe mental illness. We’ll hear how his son’s transition slowly went off the rails. And how his combat related PTSD may have pla...
Tribute to Doc Todd: Combat medic, Hip Hop trailblazer who made us feel Not Alone
June 09, 2023 17:43 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBOn today’s show we remember and honor the combat veteran, hip hop artist Doc Todd, whose life was cut short after a heart attack last month. George Michael Todd went by “Mik” but he was known to the rap world as “Doc Todd”. (Doc, a nickname for all Navy Corpsman, who are the first to respond to Marines and soldiers injured on the battlefield.) He was a big bear of a guy, who instantly made you feel good. Our friendship lasted several years, and over the course of several interviews...
Out of the Darkness: How walking city streets all night long, helped this Air Force veteran heal
June 02, 2023 16:22 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBOn June 3, thousands will gather in DC and walk the city streets all night, to raise funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Among those walking in the “Out of the Darkness; Overnight Walk” will be Air Force veteran Joan Pauling who shares how this all-night event was the first step on her journey to healing. Pauling offers a detailed discussion about how AFSP helps veterans, plus, how even people who appear to have it all together may be silently dealing with ...