DAV Podcast

This podcast episode features Elizabeth Stetler interviewing Karen Owoc, a clinical exercise physiologist at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center and a specialist in preventative cardiology and functional longevity. The conversation centers around the critical issue of veteran loneliness and isolation. Karen draws on her experience working with veterans, particularly through a remote cardiology program...

The PACT Act brought a wave of hope for veterans and a promise of recognition for their service. But what happens when that promise is targeted by those seeking to exploit the very people it was meant to help? Join us as we delve into the alarming rise of predatory claims companies – businesses illegally preying on veterans navigating the complexities of their earned VA benefits. This isn't a matt...

 In this DAV Podcast, Rob Lewis engages in a crucial discussion with Dr. Allen Teo, a psychiatrist, to delve into the pervasive issue of loneliness and its profound impact on mental health, particularly within the veteran community. Dr. Teo provides a clinical definition of loneliness, distinguishing it from mere solitude, and highlights the unique challenges faced by veterans due to factors like...

This DAV Podcast delves into the often-overlooked struggles veterans face after returning home, where the battles are fought internally against invisible wounds. This episode features an in-depth conversation between DAV's Rob Lewis and Sam Juan, a combat veteran who found relief from severe mental health challenges through ibogaine therapy. Sam's journey is a raw and honest exploration of her exp...

In this episode of the DAV Podcast, we shift the focus on veteran suicide from despair to action. Join DAV's Jonathan Kaupanger and Dr. Russell Lemle, a leading expert in firearm suicide prevention, as they discuss lethal means safety - a practical approach to saving lives. Learn how simple steps can create crucial distance between a veteran in crisis and the means to harm themselves.

The Independent Budget podcast is an annual collaboration by DAV, PVA and VFW. It recommends budget priorities for the Department of Veterans Affairs. This conversation highlights the critical need for consistent and adequate VA funding to ensure veterans receive necessary healthcare, benefits and long-term care. This group podcast advocates for a veteran-centric approach to VA budgeting, emphasiz...

DAV's Elizabeth Stetler sits down with DAV member leader Shannon Sander, of the DAV Department of New York. The two discuss how a recent recruitment push can influence potential members. To become a member, go to https://www.dav.org/join-2/ to join our ranks. 

In this interview, Matt Saintsing sits down with Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), on how the department tracks down and identifies American Missing in Action. Listen to learn about the homecoming journeys that can be decades in the making. 

Veterans who served in the Second Battle of Fallujah share their service, sacrifice, and healing stories. This conversation was taken from a panel discussion at DAV's 2024 National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more about these veterans and read their stories at FallujahStories.org. 

DAV Patriot Boot Camp Director Nick Brophy discusses Sargent Initiatives' business and story with CEO Kristin Sargeant. Kristin is a DAV Patriot Boot Camp alum who now mentors other entrepreneurs. Listen now to learn more about this Army veteran's journey. 

DAV's 2023 Disabled American Veteran of the Year Kim Hubers sits down with fellow Iraq War Army veteran Melissa Stockwell. Just three weeks into Stockwell's deployment to Iraq in 2004, a roadside bomb struck her Humvee, causing the loss of her left leg above the knee. Now, she's a Paralympian, triathlete, author, motivational speaker and mother.

Elizabeth DePompei speaks with DAV life member and former Air Force combat photographer Stacy Pearsall about the highs and lows of her more than 10 years in uniform and her PBS show dedicated to sharing veterans' stories far and wide.

As DAV unveils its newest women veterans report, a group of women veterans gathers to discuss the facts, figures, and paths forward for our sisters in arms. You can read the report, "Women Veterans: The Road to Mental Wellness," at www. WomenVeterans.org . The DAV document is the third to focus on women veterans in the last decade, and the first to focus exclusively on mental health.

DAV 1st Junior Vice Commander Coleman Nee reflects on his recent trip to climb Africa's tallest peak with other disabled veterans. DAV's Elizabeth DePompei gets to the bottom of how they got to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Brian Buckwalter speaks with Jacob Weber about how his relationship with his Vietnam veteran grandfather sparked an enduring passion for volunteering for veterans. Now a college student and a top recipient of a DAV scholarship, Jacob continues to serve but also wants to make a career out of helping veterans.

Rob Lewis speaks to Robert Spangle, a Marine and fashion photographer, on how clothing and dress impact Afghan men as they navigate living with armed conflict. 

Matt Saintsing speaks with Mark Bowden, author of "Black Hawk Down," to discuss the book's impact 30 years later and the heroism exhibited during the Battle of Mogadishu. 

Brian Buckwalter speaks with Marine veteran Carrie Roeger, a business owner and vetpreneur, on how DAV helped grow her restaurant and bar and what other veteran entrepreneurs need for success.

In this episode, Rob Lewis sits down with DAV Membership Director Doug Wells to discuss the value and opportunities of DAV membership. 

DAV's Elizabeth DePompei speaks with Army veteran Ginger MacCutcheon, DAV Department of Ohio's 2nd Junior Vice Commander on her experience with military sexual trauma. This episode contains descriptions of violence that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. 

DAV's Brian Buckwalter sits down with Sebastian Junger, author of Tribe and other works, to discuss the civilian-military divide and what veterans should know about fostering community.  Brian and Sebastian participated in a DAV Distinguished Speaker Series at Harvard Law School. That panel can be found here: https://www.legalservicescenter.org/presenting-the-dav-distinguished-lecture-series-bridg...

Marine Corps veteran John Hinners opens up to Camille Cates about his time in Vietnam, the conflict's aftermath and how DAV helped him secure the benefits he earned. 

Now that the Honoring Our Pact Act is law, DAV Deputy Legislative Director Shane Liermann spells out what the landmark bill does for veterans of all generations. 

In this episode, DAV Membership Director Doug Wells breaks down the many advantages of becoming a DAV member, including discounts. 

The 2022 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic wrapped up in Snowmass, Colorado this spring, with disabled veterans reaching new heights in adaptive sports.