Serving Veterans Podcast

Loneliness is one of the most pressing yet overlooked crises among veterans. After screenings reveal alarming levels of social isolation, the VA’s innovative interventions are connecting veterans to local community groups and peer networks. Dr. Amanda Lineau joins to share how these initiatives are improving mental health.

What do the people serving veterans think are the biggest challenges in the field? NNSI’s research assistant Tatum Thomas discusses our methodology and findings from interviews with providers nationwide, shedding light on frontline realities and what it takes to build trust across complex systems of care.

Behind every veteran in need is a web of referrals, forms, and waitlists. This episode unpacks the referral systems that connect veterans to housing, healthcare, and employment—and why they often fail. Gilly Cantor shares insights from national data on co-occurring needs and successful referral models, showing how coordinated networks can change outcomes.

In this introductory episode, NNSI’s founder Michelle Shumate reveals why the fragmented system of veteran services demands a closer look. Drawing from NNSI’s recent research, she discusses how uncoordinated networks and shrinking VA funding leaves many veterans underserved.