Mission Transition: A Podcast for Veterans

James Welch, former Brigade Commander to host Corey Hopkins, talks about what inspired him to join the military originally, and what has happened since getting out. 

After 21 years in the U.S. Army, retired Sergeant Major Miguel Hernandez knows what it takes to rebuild life after service. From enlisting as a mechanic to leading soldiers worldwide, Miguel’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and purpose. In this episode of Mission Transition, powered by Still Serving Veterans, host Cory Hopkins talks with Miguel about: How his Army journey began with a r...

In this episode of Mission Transition, we sit down with retired Sergeant First Class Walter Drysdale as he reflects on his 20 years of service and the lessons learned during his journey out of the Army. Walter shares why he joined the military later in life, how recruiting duty gave him transferable skills for the civilian workforce, and the pivotal role family played in his decision to retire.

In this episode of Mission Transition, Corey Hopkins from Still Serving Veterans interviews retired Air Force Colonel Mark Jones. They talk about the pivotal moment that led him to retire in 2025, driven by family considerations, particularly his sons' schooling needs. Jones outlines his extensive preparation for retirement, including attending TAP classes and networking, emphasizing the importanc...

In this episode of Mission Transition, host Cory Hopkins sits down with Dr. Willie Wilson to discuss the highs and lows of leaving the military. From the loss of identity and the challenges of job hunting, to the importance of education, family, and support networks, Dr. Wilson shares hard-earned lessons and practical advice for veterans at every stage of their transition.    Conversation Points:...

Host Corey Hopkins and guest Mike Davenport discuss the first few weeks and months of the military transition and how a healthy mix of time and preparation helped Mike navigate his new life. 

The "feeling lost" when transitioning out of the service is real. It can be even more real after you start your first few jobs out of the service. Host Dave Lakin sits down with Bill Korman, a Navy Veteran who shares the lows and highs of his own transition along with how he's giving back to Veterans.  Still Serving Veterans (no cost transition help) - https://ssv.org/ Lawrence "Bill" Korman - htt...

A decorated Marine transitions to being a Public Affairs Officer to Secretary of Defense, award winning video producer, entrepreneur and so much more - Riccoh Player has done it all. But he has not lost sight of his roots and he wants to make sure Veteran tribes stay in tact well after military service comes to and end.  Mission Transition learns about Riccoh and his ParadeDeck.com project among o...

This episode featuring Call of Duty Endowment Executive Director Dan Goldenberg touches on the current state of Veteran employment through data, sometimes the lack of it as well as what should be done to improve transition outcomes for service members moving forward. Learn more about how Call of Duty Supports Vets: https://www.callofdutyendowment.org/ Get free career help from a fellow Veteran: ht...

Highlights & Points of Interest: - What qualities transfer from military service to the business world? - The notion that all Veterans are bulls in a China cabinet. - Having different mentors at different stages of your post-military life. - Continuing service through other routes when you leave military service to avoid isolation.   You don't want to miss this insightful and powerful conversa...

Host Dave Lakin sits down with SMA Jack Tilley, host of Your Next Mission.  The pair discusses a wide-range of relevant military transition topics. One major point being the importance of finding your tribe and not waiting for the transition to simply happen. Planning 2-years out is not wrong by any means and is even becoming more common.

The military transition can go so badly. We see this with Veterans becoming homeless almost immediately. That's exactly what happened to Dr. Steven Crane. Despite having a roadmap to a rewarding civilian career set as he made the transition, the unexpected led him to the streets. Clearly, the story turns. Now with several Doctorate degrees, Steven is connecting Veterans to resources and hoping he...

Mission Transition launches with an in-house discussion with retired US Navy Rear Admiral Richard "Rich" Landolt, now the President and CEO of Still Serving Veterans.  Host Dave Lakin introduces SSV and asks Landolt about the evolution of technology in the hiring process as well as the importance of setting expectations when transitioning out of the military.