Military Matters
175 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 months ago - ★★★★★ - 31 ratingsMilitary Veterans and hosts Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy bring you stories and topics affecting our military, servicemembers, and veterans. Listen to the stories that matter, this is Military Matters.
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Episodes
Military Matters Review: Vets helping other vets with mental health care
April 23, 2020 09:00 - 12 minutes - 20.2 MBMilitary Matters podcast hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris continue to look at the mental health impact of the coronavirus pandemic by talking with Ellsworth Williams, a 24-year Army veteran, about what his organization, Veterans Counseling Veterans, is doing as we maneuver through and beyond the isolation induced by COVID-19. After seeing shortcomings during his internship at the VA, Ellsworth founded Veterans Counseling Veterans, a network of mental health professionals who are veter...
Episode 7: How COVID-19 is affecting mental health for service members and veterans
April 17, 2020 09:00 - 19 minutes - 26.5 MBThe COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world indoors with no clear end in sight. Military Matters podcast hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris talk to two mental health clinicians, both veterans, about how the isolation and uncertainty have impacted the mental health of veterans and service members across the country. Rod and Des talk with Dr. Carlos Garcia, a licensed clinical psychologist and Marine veteran, and Dennis Higgins, a mental health counselor and Army veteran, who share what ef...
How COVID-19 is affecting mental health for service members and veterans
April 17, 2020 09:00 - 19 minutes - 26.5 MBThe COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world indoors with no clear end in sight. Military Matters podcast hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris talk to two mental health clinicians, both veterans, about how the isolation and uncertainty have impacted the mental health of veterans and service members across the country. Rod and Des talk with Dr. Carlos Garcia, a licensed clinical psychologist and Marine veteran, and Dennis Higgins, a mental health counselor and Army veteran, who share what ef...
Military Matters Review: Coronavirus and finances
April 09, 2020 09:00 - 34 minutes - 79.7 MBIn this episode of the Military Matters Review, hosts Desmon Farris and Rod Rodriguez dig into the financial impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the military community. Rod and Des talk to Lacey Langford, a veteran and financial counselor who is known as the Military Money Expert, to find out what service members and their families can do to get through the crisis, which has catastrophic effects around the globe. Langford offers advice on money management and how to identify g...
Coronavirus relief efforts for service members and veterans
April 03, 2020 08:40 - 34 minutes - 47.9 MBAs coronavirus cases and deaths surge around the globe, Military Matters podcast hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris find out what is being done to help service members and veterans amid the pandemic. Rod and Des talk with top officials of each of the relief organizations of the different service branches — Army Emergency Relief, the Air Force Aid Society, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance. The officials discuss what their organizations have to offer ...
Episode 6: Coronavirus relief efforts for service members and veterans
April 03, 2020 08:40 - 34 minutes - 47.9 MBAs coronavirus cases and deaths surge around the globe, Military Matters podcast hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris find out what is being done to help service members and veterans amid the pandemic. Rod and Des talk with top officials of each of the relief organizations of the different service branches — Army Emergency Relief, the Air Force Aid Society, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance. The officials discuss what their organizations have to offer ...
Military Matters Review: Influencers
March 26, 2020 09:00 - 24 minutes - 34.9 MBIn this episode of the Military Matters Review, hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris jump back to the topic of military influencers in a visit with one of the earlier personalities to hit the social media sphere, former Army drill sergeant John Burk. Rod and Des interview Burk, an entrepreneur and influencer known in part for his often-controversial videos, who gives his thoughts on the world of military and veteran influencers. Burk talks about the evolution of his social media presenc...
Military Matters Review: Coronavirus
March 20, 2020 09:30 - 48 minutes - 67.2 MBIn this episode of the Military Matters Review, hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris continue the discussion from last week’s special edition podcast on the coronavirus pandemic. Rod and Desmon talk with Dr. Asha M. George of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, Connecting Vets reporter Elizabeth Howe, and Stars and Stripes reporter Kim Gamel, who shares what life is like in South Korea, one of the countries hit hardest amid the pandemic. Rod and Desmon go over the latest stats on c...
Special edition: Coronavirus – what you need to know
March 12, 2020 18:25 - 49 minutes - 67.9 MBIn this special episode of Military Matters, hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris shed light on the coronavirus that is causing major upheaval around the globe. What is the coronavirus? Is it as deadly as the flu? What does it look like if you have it? How is it impacting the DOD community? U.S. Army emergency room doctor Dr. Kamal Kalsi, reporter Elizabeth Howe from the online news organization Connecting Vets, and Max Brooks, the author of “World War Z,” share their expertise and rese...
The rise of the military influencer
March 05, 2020 10:00 - 36 minutes - 55.8 MBIn this week’s episode of Military Matters, hosts Desmon Farris and Rod Rodriguez examine influencers among the military community. While doing everything from funny skits, political rants, showing off their physiques, lip-syncing and dancing, veterans and service members are becoming increasingly visible on the internet. Black Rifle Coffee Company co-founder Mat Best, Sgt. 1st Class Astin Muse, and actor and Navy veteran Jennifer Marshall share their experiences and tell of opportunitie...
Episode 5: The rise of the military influencer
March 05, 2020 10:00 - 36 minutes - 55.8 MBIn this week’s episode of Military Matters, hosts Desmon Farris and Rod Rodriguez examine influencers among the military community. While doing everything from funny skits, political rants, showing off their physiques, lip-syncing and dancing, veterans and service members are becoming increasingly visible on the internet. Black Rifle Coffee Company co-founder Mat Best, Sgt. 1st Class Astin Muse, and actor and Navy veteran Jennifer Marshall share their experiences and tell of opportunitie...
Military Matters Review: Military gamers
February 27, 2020 10:00 - 27 minutes - 63.2 MBContinuing the discussion from the most recent episode of the Military Matters podcast, hosts Desmon Farris and Rod Rodriguez dig more deeply into the military’s outreach into the eSports community.. Rod and Desmon look at whether the U.S. Army eSports Team is having an impact on recruitment and whether the cost is worth it. They also examine the world of eSports itself and how it is similar to other competitive fields, particularly at its highest levels. Listen as Stars and Stripes’ p...
Military gamers – Army's eSports team aids recruitment effort
February 20, 2020 10:00 - 24 minutes - 55.5 MBOK gamers, in this week’s episode of Military Matters, hosts Desmon Farris and Rod Rodriguez delve into video games and how the Army is extending its recruitment outreach into the gaming community through its eSports team. The hosts and the eSports team’s leaders discuss how and why the team was formed, what it can do to engage with gamers. Also, eSports team members talk about how they joined, their experiences and their training. They come from a wide variety of occupational specialtie...
Episode 4: Military gamers – Army's eSports team aids recruitment effort
February 20, 2020 10:00 - 24 minutes - 55.5 MBOK gamers, in this week’s episode of Military Matters, hosts Desmon Farris and Rod Rodriguez delve into video games and how the Army is extending its recruitment outreach into the gaming community through its eSports team. The hosts and the eSports team’s leaders discuss how and why the team was formed, what it can do to engage with gamers. Also, eSports team members talk about how they joined, their experiences and their training. They come from a wide variety of occupational specialtie...
Military Matters Review: Military fitness 2.0
February 13, 2020 10:00 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBContinuing the discussion of military physical fitness assessments from the most recent episode of the Military Matters podcast, hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris talk with Megan Reed, deputy director of public affairs of the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training. Rod, Desmon and Megan talk about the purpose behind the design of the new Army Combat Fitness Test, its gender-neutral approach and key differences between the ACFT and the fitness test it is replacing. They talk a...
Episode 3: Military Fitness 2.0 — Tailoring training to today's needs
February 06, 2020 10:00 - 40 minutes - 57 MBThis week’s episode of Military Matters delves into military fitness, particularly the various branches’ efforts to revise their physical training and standards to meet the demands that service members face on today’s battlefields. Hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris talk to officials who have been involved in revamping the fitness programs; they discuss the recent history of the programs and how the science of fitness and the unique demands of each branch have impacted the development o...
Military Fitness 2.0 — Tailoring training to today's needs
February 06, 2020 10:00 - 40 minutes - 57 MBThis week’s episode of Military Matters delves into military fitness, particularly the various branches’ efforts to revise their physical training and standards to meet the demands that service members face on today’s battlefields. Hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris talk to officials who have been involved in revamping the fitness programs; they discuss the recent history of the programs and how the science of fitness and the unique demands of each branch have impacted the development o...
Military Matters Review: Red Flag Laws
January 30, 2020 10:00 - 42 minutes - 62.7 MBContinuing the discussion of red flag laws from the most recent episode of the Military Matters podcast, hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris respond to listener email and talk once again with Jake Charles, a lecturing fellow and executive director of the Center for Firearms Law at Duke University.
Red flag laws – are veterans & servicemembers vulnerable to these laws, can they be abused?
January 23, 2020 10:00 - 39 minutes - 59.1 MBHosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris talk about red flag laws, also known as extreme risk laws, and the implications they can have for gun owners. Rod and Desmon talk about what red flag laws are, the intent behind them, how they’re being used and the potential for their abuse. They also discuss the Second Amendment, gun control, suicide, and mass shootings. To separate the facts from the fiction, the hosts talk to experts in firearms law and gun safety, including retired Army Capt. Chr...
Episode 2: Red flag laws – do they help stop gun violence, and can they be abused?
January 23, 2020 10:00 - 39 minutes - 59.1 MBHosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris talk about red flag laws, also known as extreme risk laws, and the implications they can have for gun owners. Rod and Desmon talk about what red flag laws are, the intent behind them, how they’re being used and the potential for their abuse. They also discuss the Second Amendment, gun control, suicide, and mass shootings. To separate the facts from the fiction, the hosts talk to experts in firearms law and gun safety, including retired Army Capt. Chr...
Military Matters Review: Cannabis
January 16, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 43.8 MBHosts Desmon Farris and Rod Rodriguez look back at the inaugural episode of Military Matters, which focused on cannabis. Desmon and Rod talk about the response the episode has received and the misconceptions that persist about the controversial plant, which is being legalized in an increasing number of states. The hosts also discuss ongoing research into cannabis and why it's so difficult, why the Department of Veterans Affairs and others refrained from weighing in, and the plant's poten...
Cannabis – what are the facts, and can it be helpful?
January 07, 2020 10:00 - 40 minutes - 55.6 MBWelcome to Military Matters, the podcast that explores issues important to service members, veterans, contractors, and the communities that support them. In this debut episode, hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris focus on cannabis and shed light on what it is, what it isn’t, and what it could mean for the DOD and for veterans.
Episode 1: Cannabis – what are the facts, and can it be helpful?
January 07, 2020 10:00 - 40 minutes - 55.6 MBWelcome to Military Matters, the podcast that explores issues important to service members, veterans, contractors, and the communities that support them. In this debut episode, hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris focus on cannabis and shed light on what it is, what it isn’t, and what it could mean for the DOD and for veterans.
Episode 1: Cannabis
January 07, 2020 10:00 - 40 minutes - 97.7 MBWelcome to Military Matters, the podcast that explores issues important to service members, veterans, contractors, and the communities that support them. In this debut episode, hosts Rod Rodriguez and Desmon Farris focus on cannabis and shed light on what it is, what it isn’t, and what it could mean for the DOD and for veterans.
Military Matters intro
December 19, 2019 17:00 - 1 minute - 4.56 MBWelcome to Military Matters, the new podcast from Stars and Stripes. Listen as U.S. Air Force veteran Desmon Farris and U.S. Army warrant officer Rod Rodriguez examine the topics that matter to service members, veterans, and the people and communities that support them. Subscribe now to Military Matters, launching in January 2020.