Behind The Mission

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Navy Veteran and military spouse Melissa Washington. Melissa is the CEO of the Women Veterans Alliance, Women Veterans Giving, and publisher of Women Veterans Magazine.   Provide Feedback As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about th...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Marine Corps Veteran Dr. Derek Abbey, President and CEO of Project Recover, the nation’s leading citizen-led non-profit organization to search, locate, document, recover, and repatriate the over 81,500 American service members missing in action.   Provide Feedback As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Army Veteran Chuck Hodges, President of the Education and Training Division at Transforce, an organization and network of transportation professionals across the US. Provide Feedback As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the sho...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Lorrena Black, a retired U.S. Army Major, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for veterans' success. Lorrena is the Founder and CEO of She Served LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to helping veterans and professionals find their purpose and unlock their fullest potential, equipping them with tools to succeed in their careers and...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Dave Knott, founder of the Veterans and First Responders Foundation, an organization in the greater Cleveland area that exists to provide the support that First Responders, Veterans, Military, K-9s, and their families need to live the fulfilling lives. We’re going to talk about how his organization is looking to support wellness...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re replaying a PsychArmor Conversations with Caregivers featuring how VSOs can support Caregivers. This conversation was recorded in June of 2023 and featured the host, PsychArmor Trusted Advisor Shaina Purser, having a conversation with Madison Moore, VP of Programs & Partnerships at The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and Michael S. Figlioli, Director of Nation...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Victoria Ring, the National Alliance for Care at Home’s Manager of Veterans Services. In this role, Tori manages the We Honor Veterans program, ensuring hospice and palliative care providers are supported and connected with the resources and tools needed to provide quality care that meets the unique needs of Veterans at end of li...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Amy Alvarez, Vice President of Marketing and Communications with the Avalon Action Alliance, and John and Cheryl Burns, a veteran family whose lives have been changed through support from Avalon Action Alliance partners. The Avalon Action Alliance is a network of treatment, service and support providers that takes a comprehensive...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Special Operations Spouse KaLea Lehman. She is the Executive Director of The Military Special Operations Family Collaborative, a nonprofit public health initiative to enable the success of America’s special operations warriors and families through collaborative health and well-being research and programs.   Provide Feedback As a...

Show Summary In this episode, we feature a conversation about Moral Injury with Dr. Shira Maguen, Mental Health Director of the Post-9/11 Integrated Care Clinic and Staff Psychologist on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team (PCT) at the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), and Professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry, UCSF School of Medicine. Provide Feedback As a dedicated member...

Show Summary This episode features a conversation with Navy spouse Vicky Perkins, Senior Director for Impact Programs at Blue Star Families. Among other programs, Vicky is responsible for leading the team that manages Blue Star Support Circles, facilitated nonclinical cohorts for veterans and service member supporters to help reduce crisis and suicide in the military affiliated population. Provide...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Dr. Julie Goldstein, Director of the Zero Suicide Institute, and Lisa Sabey, President of Parents-to-Parents. We’re going to be talking about a video resource called Parents to Parents: After Your Child’s Suicide Attempt.   Provide Feedback As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Plea...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we feature a conversation with Denise Olsen, a grief mentor, national public speaker, registered nurse, yoga instructor, and published author. Her book, Strong and Soulful: Graced by Grief is a look at Denise’s personal journey from catastrophic grief and trauma to a life filled with abundance.   Provide Feedback As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Kari McDonough, Vice President of Welcome. US and Senior Advisor to the Welcome Fund, a program of Welcome.us that provides a source for grantmaking to organizations as they involve community members to welcome newcomers.   Provide Feedback As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Plea...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we feature a conversation with Dr. Khadija Boyd, a retired United States Army Combat Veteran, who is currently the Editor in Chief for the Journal of Veterans Studies. The mission of the Journal of Veterans Studies is to sustain international research in veterans studies, facilitate interdisciplinary research collaborations, and narrow gaps between cultures, instit...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we feature Veteran Rocio Palermo, Program Coordinator for Women Vets On Point, a program of U.S. Vets. WVOP is designed and informed by women veterans for women veterans in order to address critical needs and barriers to mental health care after military service.   Provide Feedback As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we feature Tom Chiodo, Executive Producer of Special Projects, National Productions for WETA, he flagship PBS station in Washington DC. We discuss the upcoming PBS Documentary, Caregiving, which will examine both systematic issues within the care system as well as tell personal stories of people who care for loved ones.      Provide Feedback As a dedicated member o...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we feature a conversation that first aired on the Head Space and Timing Podcast on the Psychology of Saving Private Ryan. Dr. Katie Gordon and Dr. Brandon Saxton, hosts of the Jedi Counsel Podcast, join me to explore the film Saving Private Ryan through a mental health and psychology perspective.    Provide Feedback As a dedicated member of the audience, we would l...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we feature a replay of a recent PsychArmor Conversations Webcast, an engaging conversation on the past, present, and future of the LGBTQIA+ community in service and beyond. We hosted a diverse panel of individuals with lived experience in both the military and the LGBTQIA community   About Today’s Guests Allison Jaslow is the CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we feature a conversation with Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Robin Johnson, CEO of the Best Medicine Brigade and Executive Director of Heal*arious a nonprofit offering therapeutic humor programming for improved psychological performance.   About Today’s Guest Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Johnson served over twenty years in the U.S. Army before making her transiti...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we feature a conversation with Navy Veteran Jenn Kerfoot, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer at DUOS. We talk about accessing healthcare for veterans and a partnership with Humana and a collaborative program to enhance the healthcare experience and improve health outcomes for Louisiana Veteran members of Humana with chronic conditions.   About Today’s Guest Jenn K...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we feature a conversation with John Pray, Brig. Gen., USAF (Ret), CEO of Operation Homefront. Operation Homefront provides relief and recurring family support programs and services throughout the year to help military families overcome short-term difficulties so they don’t become long-term hardships   About Today’s Guest John I. Pray, Brig. Gen., USAF (Ret.) has se...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we take a look at year one of the Behind the Mission Podcast, as well as provide listeners with an opportunity to provide feedback on the show  Provide Feedback As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey . By doing so, you will be...

Show Summary On today’s episode, we feature a conversation with Emma Payne, Founder and CEO of HelpTexts, a company that delivers asynchronous grief, caregiver and mental health support via text message.  About Today’s Guest Emma Payne is a seasoned technology entrepreneur, MIT graduate, and award-winning change-agent, who started building online communities before Netscape was born. Her 25 year c...