Helping The Brave Podcast

In this inspiring episode of Helping the Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with former Navy SEAL, football player, and debut author Tom Hruby, alongside seasoned writer James Pomerantz. Together, they reveal the stories behind their new novel, "The Breacher's Playbook"—a thrilling saga loosely based on Tom's real-life experiences from the battlefield to Big Ten football and beyond. You'll hear Tom'...

On this special Veterans Day episode of Helping The Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Joshua Marsden, Army National Guard veteran and founder of ARM5 Formula, to discuss his unique journey from military service to entrepreneurial success. Joshua Marsden shares honest reflections about finding direction after struggling in college, what inspired him to join the Guard, and how the discipline and...

Welcome to Helping The Brave with Ed Parcaut, where we share the real stories behind service, resilience, and transformation—on and off the battlefield. In this episode, Ed Parcaut sits down with Antoinette Lee, a Gulf War Army veteran, tech CEO, and adventure sports athlete. Antoinette opens up about her journey in the military, overcoming a traumatic brain injury, and building a successful caree...

In this powerful episode of Helping the Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Brandon Ashcraft, a U.S. Air Force veteran whose journey takes us from intense overseas tours to a decades-long fight for justice and healing within the military system. Brandon Ashcraft shares deeply personal stories about service, resilience, and the challenges faced upon returning home—from PTSD and service-related tr...

In this episode of Helping The Brave, host Ed Parcaut welcomes Chris Duprey, an Army veteran and leadership coach, for an open and inspiring conversation about military service, transition, and the surprising lessons that come with building a new life and career after the uniform comes off. Chris Duprey shares his story, from his early ambition to attend West Point, through his active duty years a...

In this episode of "Helping The Brave," host Ed Parcaut sits down with Corey Brown and Sam Matthews for a candid conversation about life after military service, mental health, and the power of finding purpose. Corey Brown, an Army veteran with over 16 years of service, shares his journey from the battlefield to becoming a business leader and his mission to support fellow veterans and first respond...

Join host Ed Parcaut for an inspiring episode of Helping The Brave, where he sits down with Marine veteran Rich Brown to discuss service, sacrifice, and the challenges veterans face after returning home. Rich Brown shares his journey from enlisting as a teenager, deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq, and overcoming the life-altering effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The conversation dives deep...

In this episode of Helping The Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Lee Allen to talk about Lee's journey through military service, business, and writing. From growing up in an Army family and joining the 82nd Airborne, to his advice on navigating real estate and his successful transition into entrepreneurship, Lee shares insights and stories that show how military experiences shape life after se...

Marine Corps officer, reservist, dad of four, and corporate consultant Francisco Garza joins Ed Parcaut for a real conversation about transition, purpose, and what leadership really means. From high-stakes military missions to the uncertainty of leaving active duty during a pandemic, Francisco Garza opens up about the hard moments, the questions, and the value of community—whether it's in uniform...

Tom Sauer – Resilience, Service & Recovery In this powerful episode, host Ed Parcaut welcomes Tom Sauer, a Navy and Marine Corps veteran turned entrepreneur. Tom Sauer shares his inspiring journey from military service to building Miramar Health, a mental health and addiction recovery center for veterans. Learn how personal loss and experiences with addiction and suicide in the veteran communi...

From Combat Flight to Compassion: Jared Lilje's Mission Against Human Trafficking In this inspiring episode of Helping the Brave, hosts Ed Parcaut and Jared Lilje dive deep into Jared's remarkable journey from Air Force crew chief to pilot, and how his military experiences shaped his mission-driven approach to life. Listen as Jared shares how he transitioned from flying C5s and C17s to launching J...

Join host Ed Parcaut as he welcomes U.S. Marine Corps veteran and author Rand Timmerman for a deeply moving conversation about resilience, brotherhood, and personal transformation. Rand shares powerful stories from his service with the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam, confronting PTSD and decades of alcoholism, and his inspiring journey hiking the Appalachian Trail in his seventies. Discover how Ra...

Join host Ed Parcaut for an inspiring conversation with Army veteran Justin Baucum. Justin shares his unique journey of growing up in Hong Kong and China, serving in Army Special Forces, and successfully transitioning to the world of tech and advanced manufacturing. Discover what it’s really like to leave the military, navigate civilian life, and find purpose in new ventures. In this episode, Just...

In this insightful episode of Helping The Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with retired Fleet Master Chief Raymond Kemp to discuss his remarkable 33-year journey in the U.S. Navy. Raymond shares his experiences with resilience, leadership, and breaking barriers—as the first Black Fleet Master Chief of Navy Europe and Navy Africa—and offers a candid look at the challenges he faced, from his early d...

On this episode of Helping the Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with bestselling thriller authors and Navy veterans Brian Andrews and Jeff Wilson. Together, they share their incredible journeys from serving in the military to partnering as full-time writers behind major series like Jack Ryan for the Tom Clancy estate, Tier One, Sons of Valor, and Shepherds. Tune in to hear how they met (not in the...

In this episode of Helping the Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with John Hillen, an Army veteran whose military career took him from patrolling the Iron Curtain on the night the Berlin Wall fell, to leading troops in the largest tank battle since World War II during Desert Storm. John shares stories of his family’s long Army tradition, his firsthand experience of historic events, and the lessons...

In this episode of Helping The Brave, hosts Ed Parco and Renzo Martinez welcome Remso Martinez, Army National Guard veteran and agency owner, for an honest conversation about finding purpose both in and out of military service. Remso shares his journey from growing up in a military family to serving in the National Guard, navigating the challenges of balancing civilian ambition with service, and h...

In this episode of Helping the Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with bestselling novelist and Marine veteran Michael Hopf for a wide-ranging, authentic conversation about life during and after military service. Michael shares his journey from growing up in Maryland to joining the Marine Corps, experiencing life on deployment, and successfully transitioning into civilian life through commercial div...

Join host Ed Parcaut on Helping The Brave as he sits down with Vietnam veteran, therapist, and author Connard Hogan. In this candid conversation, Connard shares his journey from being drafted into the Army, becoming an intelligence analyst in Vietnam, to his transition into civilian life and a long career in counseling and therapy. Connard discusses the challenges faced by Vietnam vets, the impact...

In this candid episode of Helping the Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Cole Grace, an Army National Guard combat engineer, for a real talk about military service, the challenges of deployment, living with PTSD, and navigating the complex world of VA disability benefits. Cole opens up about his experiences in Iraq as an IED hunter, the dangers he faced, and the aftereffects that followed him h...

In this episode of Helping The Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Vietnam-era Army veteran and acclaimed author Rick DeStefanis. Rick shares his fascinating journey—from enlisting during the height of the Vietnam War, to his transformative experiences as a paratrooper, and his unexpected path to becoming a prolific writer of military fiction. Together, Ed and Rick dive into the complexities of...

In this powerful episode of Helping the Brave, host Ed Parcaut talks with Army veteran Eric Donoho about the realities of military service, combat injuries, and the journey home. Eric opens up about his deployment to Iraq, his experiences with IEDs and traumatic brain injury, and how those moments shaped his life after service. Together, they delve into the challenges veterans face during transiti...

On this episode of Helping The Brave, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Dr. Amanda Zeine, a former Army pediatrician whose journey through military service, unexpected injury, and personal reinvention will inspire veterans and civilians alike. Amanda shares her accidental enlistment story—starting with a scholarship her mother encouraged her to pursue and leading to a 15-year career in the Army, incl...

In this inspiring episode of Helping The Brave, host Ed Parcaut welcomes Joseph Bolton, a 25-year Army veteran, author, and storyteller. Joseph shares his candid journey from enlisting right out of high school—at the insistence of his father—to reluctantly starting on what would become a distinguished military career. He recounts his experiences as a combat engineer, his turbulent path to and thro...

In this episode of "Helping the Brave," host Ed Parcaut sits down with Randall Surles—a retired Army Green Beret, former Ranger, and now a professional editor and writing mentor. Randall shares his remarkable 30-year journey in the military, from his early aspirations of adventure to facing the challenges of Ranger school, Green Beret training, and beyond. He dives deep into the realities of milit...