Hope in the Trenches

Jed Morgan is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who sustained life changing injuries during a deployment to Afghanistan on June 21st, 2012, in Sangin and Helmand Province. He was critically injured in an IED explosion. Despite those challenges, Jed's determination and positive outlook have led him to become a passionate advocate for fellow veterans and first responders.

Chaplain Scott sits down with Staff Sgt. Michaela Thompson, a firefighter with the 142nd Wing, Oregon Air National Guard, and discusses her journey with the military and competitive bodybuilding.

Chaplain Scott and guest co-host Chaplain Shane Yates sit down with Vanessa Munson, a U.S. Army veteran and Miss Washington 2023, and find out more of what it took for her to successfully navigate the challenges of serving as a Soldier and a pageant contestant.

Chaplain Scott and guest co-host Chaplain Shane Yates, ORNG Deputy State Chaplain, meet with Deputy O'Reilly and his dog Radar. O'Reilly and Radar are a K-9 team with the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Oregon and also have a popular social media channel, @deputy_dog_radar, where the pair help bring smiles to their viewers.

Chaplain Scott and guest co-host Lt. Col. Carmen Barteling chat with Jessica Pekari, a U.S. Army veteran who recently completed the Pacific Crest Trail in record time. Pekari shares stories about her military service, becoming an ultramarathoner and her battle with PTSD and how these experiences led her to this incredible accomplishment.

Chaplain (COL) Jacob Scott and guest co-host Steve DeLuna speak with Mike Erwin about positive psychology and leadership. Erwin is the founder of Team RWB, co-founder of the Positivity Project and a combat veteran.

Chaplain Scott and guest co-host Staff Sgt. Justin Miller, speak with Oregon Army National Guard medical officer MAJ Tommy Vu, who set the world record for the most chest to ground burpees in one hour on March 27, 2023. MAJ Vu will attempt a second world record for most chest to ground push-up burpees on Sept. 4, 2023.

Chaplain (COL) Jacob Scott and guest co-host Sgt. 1st Class Anna Rutherford speak with Staff Sgt. Emma Harvang, a member of the Warrior Fitness Team, about Holistic Health and Fitness and how she combines her military experience with her love of fitness and competition.

On this episode of Hope in the Trenches, Chaplain Scott and HITT producer SFC Zach Holden speak with Austin Vonletkemann, creator of the social medial channel ‘Mandatory Fun Day’ and an officer in the United States Army.

Chaplain Scott and Command Sgt. Maj. Smith speak with two Oregon National Guard Soldiers about the reasons and motivations that led them to join the Guard and why they continue to serve, as well as some of the many benefits service in the National Guard can provide.

In this episode, Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott and acting Oregon National Guard State Command Sergeant, Command Sgt. Maj. Lee Smith, talk with SGT Wyatt Walls, military Occupation Skill (MOS) 13 "Fox" Forward Observer with Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 218th Regiment Field Artillery, in Salem, Oregon. In 2021, then-SPC Walls placed first in the Oregon Army Natio...

In this episode, Chaplain Scott talks with "Tip of the Spear," Author and retired Army Green Beret Special Forces Engineer Sergeant, Sgt. 1st. Class Ryan Hendrickson. Hendrickson joined the Army in 2008 after completing enlistments in the Navy and Air Force. He served on multiple deployments, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and several South and Central American countries. His book, Tip of the Spear,...

In this episode, Chaplain Scott talks with Mr. Steven DeLuna and Ms. Vicki Farnsworth, of the Oregon National Guard’s Resiliency, Risk Reduction, and Suicide Prevention program, part of the Service Member and Family Support (SMFS) directorate at the Joint Force Headquarters in Salem, Oregon. September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Chaplain, Steven, and Vicki discuss resiliency, why it’s im...

In this episode, Chaplain Scott talks with John Ondrasik, the platinum-selling, Grammy®-nominated singer and songwriter known more broadly by his performance name, Five for Fighting. In the two decades since Five for Fighting's first major single, "Superman (It's Not Easy)," hit the stratosphere, Five For Fighting has released six studio L.P.s, including the platinum-certified "America Town" and "...

In this episode, Chaplain Scott talks with John Ondrasik, the platinum-selling, Grammy®-nominated singer and songwriter known more broadly by his performance name, Five for Fighting. In the two decades since Five for Fighting's first major single, "Superman (It's Not Easy)," hit the stratosphere, Five For Fighting has released six studio L.P.s, including the platinum-certified "America Town" and "...

In this episode, Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott and co-host Lt. Col. Paul Dyer talk with Dave Grossman. Retired Army Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is an internationally recognized scholar, author, soldier, and speaker who is one of the world's foremost experts in human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime. He has written numerous books and scholarly articles in journals and periodicals. Hi...

In this episode, Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott talks with Kris Paronto "Tanto." Kris was part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012, helping to save over 20 lives while fighting off terrorists from the CIA Annex for over 13 hours. Kris and his fellow brothers-in-arms' story was chronicled in the boo...

In this episode, Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott talks with Jason Gardner and the top three senior enlisted leaders for the Oregon National Guard. The podcast occurred at the 2022 Oregon National Guard Joint Senior Leader Workshop and Oregon National Guard Association Conference (ORNGA) on April 30, at Camp Withycombe, Oregon; Gardner was the keynote speaker. (U.S. Army National Guard audio engineerin...

In this episode, Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott talks with Cpt. Erik Nowak, U.S Army Reserve (USAR), a national leader in the F3 Nation. F3 is a national network including 3,178 free, peer-led physical fitness workouts for men in 241 regions. Its mission is to plant, grow and serve small workout groups for men to invigorate male community leadership. Learn more about F3 Nation at https://f3nation.com...

In this episode, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jacob Scott talks with Gold Star Spouse and Oregon National Guard Military and Family Readiness Specialist Stephanie Torres. Torres works in our state's Service Members and Families Support (SMFS) office helping Oregon National Guard Families. She is also the only person to obtain citizenship during the initial lockdown from COVID in Oregon. If you want more in...

In this episode, Chaplain (Ltc.) Jacob Scott talks with Maj. Gen. John L. Gronski Gronski (U.S. Army, Retired) Gronski is a proven combat leader with over forty years' service in the United States Army, including active duty and in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. His military assignments include the 28th Infantry Division; Brigade Commander of 2nd Brigade, 28th Infantry Division in Ramadi, I...

In this episode, Chaplain (Ltc.) Jacob Scott talks with two long-distance runners from the Air National Capt. Kristi Raudy and 1st Lt. Jared Boyer serve with the 173 FW at Kingsley Field in beautiful Klamath Falls, Oregon. Recently the two were featured in an article highlighting their participation in the 2021 All-Air Force Marathon, which was supposed to happen at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio bu...

In this episode, Chaplain (Ltc.) Jacob Scott talks with two incredible officers with long histories in the Oregon Army National Guard, Brig. Gen. (Retired) Doug Pritt and Brig. Gen. Eric Riley currently serves as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Oregon National Guard. They discuss why they joined and stayed in the military and their daily routines for resiliency and success. U.S. Army Nation...

In this episode, Chaplain (Ltc.) Jacob Scott and Chaplain (Maj.) Shane Yates sits down with Chaplain (Cpt.) Wes Moldogo talks about a wide range of resilience and spiritual care topics. Chaplain Moldogo is currently the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment Chaplain. In 2019, he deployed with the 1st Battalion, 186 Infantry Regiment to the Horn of Africa. On the civilian side, he serves as a Hosp...

In this episode, Chaplain (Lt. Col) Scott interviews Chaplain (Maj.) Shane Yates. Chaplain Yates entered the Army chaplaincy in 2007 after a career in Law Enforcement. He holds a bachelor of arts in comparative religions and a Master's of Divinity. Yates has held a variety of assignments as a chaplain, including serving Cavalry, Infantry, Field Artillery, Engineers, and Aviation units. Chaplain Ya...