Eye on Veterans

We look at the recent survey of “The Best Places for Veterans to Live” with Cassie Happe from Wallet Hub dot com. Their recent survey analyzed the top 100 US cities and looked at where veterans are finding employment, great health care and the best quality of life. (Hello Florida and Texas) We also looked closely at additional metrics used to rank US cities, including growing economies and places...

Today we’re talking with Cal Thomas, about his latest book, “A Watchman in the night: What I’ve seen over 50 years reporting on America”.  Thomas is a Vietnam era veteran who served as a radio broadcaster on Armed Forces Radio and then went on to become a legendary conservative journalist and Fox News broadcaster.  We discuss what inspired his thoughts on American culture and conversations with Pr...

We investigate another side of the Israel-Hamas War raging in Gaza through the eye of a veteran who was an advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Iraq War.  In a recent op-ed, Dennis Fritz (Ret.) Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant, Pentagon Senior Enlisted Advisor called out those in Congress who favor an escalation of fighting in Gaza, and even call for attacks on Iran. He calls for...

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer among cancer-afflicted Veterans.  In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, VA is proud to participate in the second annual National Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) Day.  This significant day coincides with Veterans Day (November 11) emphasizing VA's commitment to our Veterans.   We spoke with Dr. Chris Slatore, Chief Consultant, National Center for Lung Cancer Scree...

We take a deep look into the Israel-Hamas war through the eyes of a combat veteran and author with decades of experience fighting terrorism.  Brad Taylor is a former Special Forces Lt. Colonel, who served in the Army’s most elite unit, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta … aka Delta Force. But more than just a Tier 1 Operator with vast tactical experience, Taylor’s knowledge of Hamas,...

MDMA, commonly known as “Ecstasy” offers way more than its psychedelic, glow stick and rave reputation lead us to believe. Marine Corps veteran Juliana Mercer, Policy Director for Healing Breakthrough, a nonprofit organization leading the charge to get the VA to begin using MDMA Assisted Therapy, shares the incredible results of a Phase 3 clinical trial. We take a detailed look at the trials, wher...

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen and his wife Lauren Monroe, a musician and holistic wellness expert, founded Raven Drum Foundation to help veterans, first responders and other trauma survivors heal. They recently hosted Mountain Rhythm reset, a weekend retreat in Jackson Hole Wyoming. The weekend included rock star friends (like Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue and Guns and Roses drummer Matt Sorum) but t...

We talked with Heather Prill, Senior Director of Strategy and Partnerships at The Home Dept Foundation about a recent multi-million-dollar grant and partnership with Bunker Labs which aims to help vets find jobs in the skilled trades and launch their own business in the trades. The partnership is part of the Foundation’s latest $6 million investment in skilled trades training through its “Path to...

Army Public Affairs Officer, Danielle Smith shares how she found financial and personal success after opening a Perspire Sauna Studio franchise. However, it was her military experience that played a huge role in her story. She describes how the intensity of her job at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay changed her perspective on life.  But it also armed her with everything she needed to invest in her ow...

Today we look at how Navy veteran Alejandra Ameigan built the incredibly successful Vive Yoga and Jacksonville Natural Healing Wellness Center.  She launched during the height of the pandemic and was on a crash course before attending a “business boot camp” which taught her how to scale her holistic health empire. Her journey began as a Respiratory Therapist in a hospital during the deadliest days...

Toby Harnden, Royal Navy veteran, and award-winning author talks about his best-selling book “First Casualty: The CIA’s mission to avenge 9/11”. It follows the thrilling story of Team Alpha, an eclectic band of linguists, tribal experts, and elite warriors, who were the first Americans to operate behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. The veteran author offers vivid details about how CIA Officers and...

There is a tremendous focus on mental health in America today.  But what are the real sources of pain for many vets? Making enough money to pay the bills. Air Force veteran and America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP), President, Jim Lorraine shows how this issue is the driving force behind anxiety, depression and even the suicide epidemic. However, help is available.  We look at how AWP helps vets wit...

Special Forces veteran and Connecting Vets.com Investigative Reporter, Jack Murphy, describes how a recently unsealed grand jury indictment is shedding light on murders that occurred on Ft. Bragg in 2020.  When the bodies of an Army Delta Operator, William "Billy" Lavigne, 37, and U.S. Army veteran Timothy Dumas, 44, were found shot to death on the base there were instantly many unanswered questio...

Veterans are creating a groundswell of support for federal marijuana legislation.  Marine Special Operations (MARSOC) combat veteran Bryan Buckley is the co-founder of the Helmand Valley Growers Company, a retail cannabis company in California, talks about his own experience treating war wounds with medical marijuana, his foundation’s clinical research trials, and his meetings with politicians dur...

We hear a detailed update on what is being done to help residents of Maui, who saw their town burned to the ground during the recent wildfires. Earlier this week we spoke with Cajun Navy Ground Force Founder, Rob Gaudet who described what it was like on the ground when he arrived last week. Gaudet also describes the search for survivors, what they are calling a slow federal government response, an...

Today we have 2 incredible stories! They highlight how Building Homes for Heroes helps combat veterans overcome traumatic injuries, with the gift of a free home. We start with the story of Army Special Forces, Master Sergeant (Ret.) George Vera. He shares the gripping story of his “Alive Day” after being shot during a vicious firefight in Afghanistan that left him paralyzed. Next, BHH founder Andy...

Navy SEAL veteran Remi Adeleke is truly one-of-a-kind!  Born the son of an African tribal Chief, his family wealth was stripped by a corrupt government, his father tragically died, and he eventually landed on the dangerous streets of The Bronx.  He beat all odds and became a SEAL, then went on to star in blockbuster films and became a best-selling author. In this episode we follow his journey from...

We take a deep dive into a Navy SEAL’s Journey with psychedelics and how it inspired him to create a wellness software program that is having incredible success. After years of covert special operations missions and deadly combat, former SEAL Jonathan Wilson found himself with a great job at Goldman Sachs. On paper everything was great. But like many combat veterans understand, life would soon get...

Special Forces veteran, Delta Force Team Leader and bestselling author Brad Taylor is back with “The Devil’s Ransom”. This high-octane combat adventure is the latest in the Pike Logan series, where Logan, (a fictional Spec Ops vet whose team conducts the highest classified missions) is tracking down cyber terrorists who attacked a commercial spacecraft in flight, all while trying to avoid being ta...

This week we hear what it’s like to climb Mt. Everest … with only one leg! After surviving a helicopter crash while deployed in Afghanistan, Marine Corps veteran (Ret) Sgt. Kirstie Ennis endured a grueling recovery. But she went on to accomplish huge goals. From snowboarding champion to acclaimed mountaineer, she has used her athleticism and sheer determination to help her fellow vets live their b...

Can an energy drink be good for you? Former Special Forces combat medic Mike Chesne believes he and his team have developed one. Tecton Ketone Hydration is an energy drink that relies on the power of ketones, a chemical our body uses for energy when our liver burns fat, typically while fasting. We discussed how his idea was born after surviving many combat deployments and a career ending IED explo...

Maddie Smith is a Spec Ops spouse, and her story is one that will inspire even the most hardened vets.  She battled out of control drinking, postpartum depression, and crippling anxiety.  We hear how her struggle with the bottle began, and how it almost drove her family apart. Maddie shares how she struggled to kick the habit, and how traditional recovery methods created other nightmare situations...

This week we focus on an incredible story of fatherhood, and its connection to veterans, PTSD, and mental health. Patrick Smithwick is a devoted father and author of the new book “War’s Over Come Home”. It’s the story of the ongoing quest to find his Marine Corps, combat veteran son, Andrew, who is currently roaming the country, homeless and fighting severe mental illness. We’ll hear how his son’s...

On today’s show we remember and honor the combat veteran, hip hop artist Doc Todd, whose life was cut short after a heart attack last month. George Michael Todd went by “Mik” but he was known to the rap world as “Doc Todd”. (Doc, a nickname for all Navy Corpsman, who are the first to respond to Marines and soldiers injured on the battlefield.) He was a big bear of a guy, who instantly made you fee...

On June 3, thousands will gather in DC and walk the city streets all night, to raise funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.  Among those walking in the “Out of the Darkness; Overnight Walk” will be Air Force veteran Joan Pauling who shares how this all-night event was the first step on her journey to healing.  Pauling offers a detailed discussion about how AFSP helps veterans, p...