1 Mile 1 Veteran

Jesse Iwuji is a NASCAR Xfinity driver and team co-owner. He is also a seven-year Navy veteran and currently serves as a reservist. Jesse's achievements include running multiple businesses, playing football at the Naval Academy for four years, and winning all four Army-Navy games. He is known for his passion, determination, and ability to overcome adversity in pursuing his dreams. Jesse believes i...

In this inspiring interview, we sit down with Air Force Veteran Nicole Malachowski to discuss the importance of asking for help. Nicole shares her incredible journey as a fighter pilot, her experience as the first female Thunderbird, and her time working at the White House. Join us as we delve into the challenges she faced, the lessons she learned, and how she overcame adversity to become a true i...

Are you ready to hear an incredible story of adventure and service? On this episode of the 1 Mile 1 Veteran podcast, I sit down with retired Navy captain, Chris Cassidy. From combat operations in Afghanistan to walking in space aboard the International Space Station, and now serving as the CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum, Chris has an extraordinary career that will leave you in awe. We'l...

In this episode of the 1 Mile 1 Veteran podcast, we are joined by Air Force veteran Ralph Galati. Ralph shares his incredible journey as the second youngest prisoner of war during the Vietnam War and discusses his contributions to the veteran community. He talks about the challenges he faced during his time in captivity, the lessons he learned, and the importance of resilience, personal growth, an...

Ronald "Jake" Clark, a former U.S. Army, LAPD, U.S. Secret Service, and FBI member, shares his journey of finding purpose and creating the nonprofit organization, Save a Warrior. He discusses his upbringing, struggles with addiction and mental health, and the transformative power of the Save a Warrior program in helping veterans overcome post-traumatic stress and find a sense of purpose in life. J...

In this episode of the 1 Mile 1 Veteran podcast, Air Force veteran Patrick Little joins as a guest. Patrick is the co-founder of 22 Sierra Coffee Company, a mission-driven company that supports the prevention of veteran suicide. Patrick shares about his life before joining the Air Force, his career in the military, and his transition to the civilian sector. The conversation also delves into the gr...

In this episode of the "1 Mile 1 Veteran" podcast, former Army Infantry Squad Leader John Davis joins the show to discuss various topics related to veterans' well-being and post-military life. John shares his personal experiences and insights on the therapeutic benefits of reading and writing, advocating for veterans' rights, and the challenges faced by student veterans transitioning into college....

In this episode of the 1 Mile 1 Veteran podcast, Danny welcomes retired Air Force colonel Mo Barrett. Known for her infectious smile, Mo shares her background growing up in Northern Virginia and her journey into joining the Air Force. With a passion for laughter, Mo uses her experiences to bring humor into teaching and changing the way people laugh, learn, and think. Tune in to hear Mo's inspiring...

In this episode, I interviewed Jim Elliott and Tinamarie Hernandez, the leaders of Diveheart, a nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities through scuba-related activities. They discuss the importance of self-identification and empowerment for individuals with disabilities and the impact that scuba diving can have on their lives. The conversation also touches on the support availab...

In this 1 Mile 1 Veteran podcast episode, I talk to Phil Palmer, the President and Executive Director of WarriorWOD. As a Marine Corps veteran, Phil has dedicated his life to helping fellow veterans recover from invisible wounds. Through WarriorWOD, he prioritizes exercise and nutrition as prescriptions for post-traumatic stress and other challenges. Phil shares his journey, the impactful example...

On this episode of the 1 Mile 1 Veteran podcast, we interview Army First Lieutenant Allene (Ally) Somera. She is a competitive athlete and volunteer coach for judo and wrestling. Ally is also the first woman from Hawaii to become an Army Ranger. In the interview, Ally talks about her upbringing in Hawaii and the importance of family and community. She also shares her experiences as an active duty...

Mark Zambon is a former Marine Corps EOD staff sergeant, two time Purple Heart recipient, an ambassador for the nonprofit "The Heroes Project," and current law student seeking to become a criminal defense attorney specializing in serving veterans with PTSD and mental health conditions. For more information, visit The Heroes Project . Visit 1 Mile 1 Veteran for show notes for this episode.

When we experience challenges or obstacles in our lives, some people seem to collapse under the pressure or turn away from adversity, while others stay the course, overcome the roadblocks and keep moving forward. And you don't have to guess to determine which type of person today's guest is. Brian Fleming is an Army veteran that survived a blast from a suicide bomber and now speaks on resilience,...

Ashlee Leppert is a Coast Guard veteran, author, motivational speaker, and life coach. After 14 years of military service and over 100 rescues throughout her career, Ashlee began her journey of finding healthy ways to live with her physical and mental injuries. We talk about her rescue missions in the Coast Guard, the therapeutic process of writing a book, and how her faith got her through the sto...

Steve Nisbet is an Air Force veteran and the Co-Founder and President of Shields and Stripes. After losing several team mates throughout his career as a Special Warfare Pararescueman, Steve decided to not only address his own mental health and PTSD, but help others as well. We talk about his military service, the misconceptions surrounding mental health, and how his organization is providing care...

Prime Hall is a former Special Operations Marine Raider, the CEO of Deep End Fitness, and the founder of Underwater Torpedo League. Prime is an expert in water survival, and uses underwater training to help veterans and other participants overcome obstacles in life. We talk about his time in service, breathing techniques to stay relaxed and focused, and the importance of sharing our experiences wi...

David Crenshaw is an Army veteran and ambassador for K9s For Warriors. After his time in the military, David continued his career in law enforcement and began noticing signs of PTSD. He turned to K9s for Warriors and was matched with his service dog, Doc. In this episode, we talk about his experience during bootcamp when 9/11 occurred, the relationship he has with his service dog, and how K9s for...

Colonel Nick Nichols is an Air Force veteran and the current President of Folds of Honor. After serving 30 years as an F-16 fighter pilot with seven combat deployments, Nick  now works to provide educational scholarships to the families of fallen or disabled military and first responders. We talk about what inspired him to join the Air Force, the role education plays in a person's overall health,...

JP Lane is an Army veteran, singer, inspirational speaker, and double-amputee. While deployed to Afghanistan as a combat engineer, JP was blown up by an IED, suffering a number of injuries including the loss of both of his legs. After 28 surgeries, JP began his healing process and relied on his faith, family, and friendships to help him through. We talk about why he joined the military, what his r...

Martha LaGuardia-Kotite is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain, award-winning author, and professional speaker. As one of the first female officers to serve aboard ships with all-male crews, Martha developed bold leadership skills which she now shares with audiences today. We talk about her time in the Coast Guard, where her desire to save lives comes from, and her advice on how to achieve anything...

Kevin Garrad is a former Green Beret and the founder of Wild Response, a wildlife conservation organization. Kevin moved to the United States two days before 9/11, and joined the Army months later. After a career in Special Forces, he reignited his passion for conservation and moved to South Africa where he still lives. We talk about his time in service, the similarities between the military and a...

John Henry Parker is a Marine Corps veteran, Gold Star father, and accomplished author. In his latest book, Be the Dawn in the Darkness, John Henry details his own traumatic experiences, shares his path to recovery, and provides hope to those seeking their own personal transformation. We talk about his time in the military, the lessons he discovered through therapeutic writing, and how he honors h...

Jay McGinnis is an Army veteran and cofounder of the Valhalla Sailing Project. After serving in the military as a medic with Special Forces and later as a Physician Assistant, Jay found healing in sailing. We talk about his time in service, his own 5-pillar framework that helped him become the person he wanted to be, and the amazing work he is doing by helping veterans find camaraderie out on the...

Austen Alexander is a digital media producer, fitness enthusiast, and the creator and host of Battle Bunker. Austen served 7 years in the Navy as a Master at Arms, before combining his passion for physical fitness and video production. We talk about his experience in the military, the importance of prioritizing your time and health, and how he grew his YouTube channel to over a million subscribers...

Today's guest is Althea Williams, founder of She Vets It, an online community that connects women veterans and provides resources. Though Althea had a successful career, she joined the Army at age 39 and was deployed to Afghanistan. After losing several battle buddies and suffering a traumatic brain injury, Althea returned home and began addressing her PTSD. We talk about what inspired her to join...