Shoulder to Shoulder

Grumpy Combat Veteran is honored to share Teri and Patrick Caserta’s story of their remarkable son, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Caserta. https://thebrandonact.org/ https://brandoncasertafoundation.org/ https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/caserta-brandon-act-awareness-push-naval-station-norfolk-suicides-jan-6-2024 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subs...

Grumpy Combat Veteran welcomes back the GOAT, Bill Roggio. The dynamic duo discusses Ukraine, SECDEF Hegseth, Iran, and, as always, the state of the Long War . Grumpy Combat Veteran is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...

Grumpy Combat Veteran 6 is joined by Sara Davidson & Sara Pflugradt . The dynamic trio discusses the problems affecting military families. https://www.o2x.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grumpycombatveteran.substack.com

Grumpy Combat Veteran welcomes Ambassador Eric Edelman to the show. The two The Bulwark contributors discuss Turkey, Syria, Israel, Ukraine, and whole lot more. Grumpy Combat Veteran is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acces...

***Sorry about the misfire earlier. I loaded the wrong video. It’s been a long week without my faithful companion, Bucky Boy. :( *** Holly Berkley Fletcher and Grumpy Combat Veteran discuss their lives in the intelligence community, writing, and Ukraine’s bleak future. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grumpyco...

Grumpy Combat Veteran speaks with his good friend Ahmadullah, who survived a likely domestic terror attack in Lancaster, Pennsylvania . https://abc13.com/post/coworkers-find-man-dead-inside-office-building-harwin-drive-southwest-houston-police-say/16090448/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grumpycombatveteran....

Grumpy Combat Veteran talks with Lynne O’Donnell of Project Taliban . The dynamic duo discusses the latest from Afghanistan. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grumpycombatveteran.substack.com

Grumpy Combat Veteran is joined by his old Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, James. The dynamic duo speaks with Rebekah Edmondson of NXT Mission , who also leads our Moral Injury Support Group, which provides free monthly support to active-duty servicemembers and veterans. https://www.nxtmission.org/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...

Grumpy Combat Veteran welcomes Katherine Selber , a full professor at Texas State University. The dynamic duo discusses GCV’s many deployments and their thoughts on veterans’ issues. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grumpycombatveteran.substack.com

Grumpy Combat Veteran welcomes Natalie Stosberg & Sara Davidson to the show. The trio discuss their time in service, their new show ( Service Unplugged ), and the journey forward. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grumpycombatveteran.substack.com

GCV sits down with his Mom’s colleague, Monteigne Long of Texas A&M University (Whoop!). The two discuss grief, purpose, and the journey forward for all veterans. Monteigne Long works for Texas A&M University System’s Office of Veteran and Military services . Apple Podcast Spotify Youtube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epis...

Grumpy Combat Veteran + Friends is thrilled to publish this incredible conversation between Will Selber and Scott Mann . Scott discusses his new book, Nobody is Coming to Save You and the Heroes Journey . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grumpycombatveteran.substack.com

Bill Kristol, the The Bulwark ’s editor at large, joins Grumpy Combat Veteran + Friends . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grumpycombatveteran.substack.com

(Editor’s Note: We apologize (again) for another double tap. We’re training some new interns on this process. Please show us a little grace) In this bonus episode, Kate K returns from her trip abroad to discuss the upcoming election with GCV and why both of them support VP Harris. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, vi...

In the compelling finale of Season 1, Kate engages with Chris Purdy and Crystal Ellington from The Chamberlain Network, an innovative organization dedicated to empowering veterans to champion democratic values at local, state, and national levels. Together, they explore Chris and Crystal’s military backgrounds, the vital role of civic engagement for veterans transitioning to civilian life, and eff...

Episode 25 holds a special place in our hearts as we welcome Jennifer Lawrence, a dedicated clinical social worker who worked closely with Kate to support the mental health needs of the Afghanistan volunteer community. In this episode, Jennifer shares her insights on building trust within the veteran community, her experiences with Afghanistan volunteers, and the crucial need to recognize and addr...

In episode 22, we sit down with Bobby Miner, a West Point graduate who, as he puts it, is an "occupational dilettante." Bobby reflects on realizing his childhood dream of attending West Point and shares his experiences leading and building trust with his unit during his deployment in Iraq. He also delves into the challenges of navigating cultural differences while serving overseas and explores how...

We were deeply honored to have Vietnam veteran Steve Williams join us for episode 24. In this compelling hour, Steve shares his harrowing experiences as a tunnel rat in Vietnam, the difficult return home to a country that openly opposed the war, and his journey through PTSD, including the challenges of accepting that diagnosis. He also discusses how his faith has helped him come to terms with his...

In episode 23, we sit down with Chris Izant, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Afghanistan. Chris shares his experiences with the Afghan Border Police, his evolving views on the military after his deployment, and his insights into the Taliban as a formidable and strategic adversary. He also opens up about how writing became a crucial part of his healing process, helping him navigate and reconci...

In episode 21, Will welcomes Stephan Jensen, the Country Director for Ukraine, at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. They delve into the intricate landscape of Afghan politics and military cooperation, explore the profound moral injuries experienced by foreign veterans of the Afghan conflict, and examine the severe gender apartheid affecting Afghan women and girls. Additionally, they disc...

In Episode 20, we delve into the remarkable story of Nasirullah “John” Safi, an Afghan combat interpreter who began his courageous work at just 15 years old.  Join us as Nasirullah recounts his most perilous missions, the relentless threats from the Taliban, and the formidable challenges he encountered while navigating the U.S. immigration system. www.combatinterpreter.com Get The Terp up Here Ind...

Episode 19 boasts a fascinating conversation between co-host Will, a combat veteran, and Joanna Naples-Mitchell, a human rights attorney working with families harmed by U.S. foreign military actions. Over the hour, we discuss the Department of Defense’s budget for making apology payments to such families (and how it largely goes unused); the challenges in choosing which families to represent and t...

In episode 18, we are graced by the lovely Sara Davidson, retired USAF and current GCV+F teammate.  She talks about her motivations for joining the military, the challenges in building a strong team identity and culture, lessons learned from her deployment to Iraq, and her experience with transitioning out of the military.  We were so grateful for the opportunity to learn more about one of our fav...

In this poignant episode, we mark the anniversary of Kabul's fall by exploring Kate and Will's extraordinary efforts to aid Afghans in the aftermath. Tune in to hear their personal stories, the challenges they faced, and the impact of their work on those in need. Join us for a powerful discussion on resilience, moral injury, and the powerful friendships we’ve formed.  www.gcvfriends.com This is a...

Episode 16 is a bit more academic, as Kate and Dr. Rev. Michael Yandell discuss the definition of moral injury and whether it best belongs under a clinical or humanities model. Coming into the conversation with two different perspectives, we both left with the shared understanding that those dealing with moral injury deserve to have their harm validated and would best be served by a joint treatmen...