Spirits and Stories With Donald Dunn

From a childhood of chaos and abuse to military service in both the Air Force and Army, Brandon Held’s life has been anything but ordinary. In this raw and powerful conversation, Brandon opens up about growing up in a home marked by alcoholism and violence, joining the military twice, overcoming betrayal and career sabotage, and rebuilding his life after multiple divorces, job loss, and a suicide...

In this deep-pour episode of Spirits and Stories , we sit down with Dominic Guglielmi — one of the world’s foremost Blanton’s bourbon collectors and author of Blanton’s: America’s Most Influential Whiskey . Dominic shares how a single bottle sparked a passion that turned into a one-of-a-kind collection and a compelling historical book. We explore the fascinating rise of Blanton’s, its connection t...

Raised in a strict religious cult on Chicago’s South Side, Logan grew up isolated, broke, and suicidal by eighteen. He ran toward the sky—joining the Air Force—and then straight into two combat tours in Iraq at “Mortaritaville,” where daily attacks rewired his understanding of fear, purpose, and survival. Coming home brought a new fight: anxiety, depression, a divorce, and the long crawl back thro...

In this powerful episode of Spirits & Stories with Donald Dunn , we sit down with Logan , a former U.S. Air Force airman turned live TV director whose life journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Born into a religious cult on the south side of Chicago, Logan grew up in poverty, stripped of a normal childhood and driven to the edge by age 18. But Logan didn’t give up. He escaped the pain by...

In this gripping episode of Donald Dunn’s Studio , Jenisue Jessen shares her extraordinary journey from surviving child trafficking to becoming a global force for freedom. Exploited from the age of four and enduring unimaginable trauma, Jenisue not only found the strength to break free but went on to found Compass 31 , an international counter-trafficking organization operating in over 40 countrie...

In this soul-shaking episode of Donald Dunn’s Studio , Brandon Hughes , a former soldier turned evangelist, shares his powerful testimony of trauma, transformation, and truth. After surviving the horrors of war—including time at Saddam Hussein's palace, near-death encounters, and the emotional fallout of deployment—Brandon found himself broken, addicted, and on the edge of despair. But what follow...

From the battlefields of Iraq to the courtroom battlefield for veterans' rights, John Berry embodies what it means to serve. In this unforgettable episode of Drunk Dudes in a Gun Room , we sit down with the Army veteran, Ranger-qualified officer, and renowned trial lawyer behind Berry Law , a firm that has secured over $350 million in backpay for disabled veterans. John opens up about his deep fam...

In this powerful episode, Donald Dunn sits down with U.S. Army veteran, author, and advocate Naomi Reynolds . Born in segregated Dallas and driven by patriotism, Naomi joined the Army during the Vietnam War. Her service was marked by both honor and heartbreak — surviving military sexual trauma, raising a daughter as a single mother, and later facing homelessness. Through resilience, therapy, and u...

In this powerful episode of Spiri ts and stories with Donald Dunn sits down with Vietnam veteran and author David Chung , who shares his remarkable story of being drafted during the Vietnam War, navigating identity as an American of Asian descent, and facing the realities of combat logistics in a divided country. David opens up about his experiences in Vietnam during the Easter Offensive of 1972,...

In this episode of 2 Drunk Dudes in a Gun Room , host Donald Dunn sits down with Len May, MSc , a global authority in personalized medicine and CEO of EndoDNA. Len shares his remarkable journey from being diagnosed with ADD as a child to discovering cannabis as a life-changing alternative—and ultimately pioneering DNA-based wellness solutions. With over 25 years of experience at the cutting edge o...

In this episode, Donald Dunn sits down with Scotty — a West Point graduate, former U.S. Army officer, and entrepreneur whose life took an extraordinary turn after a near-fatal experience with hypothermia and frostbite. After losing toes and leaving the military, Scotty chased success in the business world, launching and selling two SaaS companies, only to discover that money didn’t bring fulfillme...

In this powerful episode, combat veteran Cole Grace shares his journey from clearing IED routes in Iraq to battling the silent war within after returning home. Facing chronic pain, PTSD, and addiction, Cole reveals how he turned suffering into strength through healing, faith, and writing his book Internal External: Calming the Chaos Within . With raw honesty, he opens up about trauma, resilience,...

In this powerful episode of Drunk Dudes in a Gun Room , Donald sits down with Kyle “The Coyote” Yates, host of the Vibes Broadcast Network . From paranormal investigations to inspiring interviews with veterans, authors, and musicians, Kyle shares how podcasting became his therapy and his mission to give others a voice. Together, they dive deep into the challenges facing homeless veterans, the real...

In this powerful episode, Donald Dunn sits down with author Martin Bodek , best known for his witty Haggadah parodies, to discuss his most personal and profound book yet: Zadie’s War . The book tells the extraordinary true story of Bodek’s grandfather, who against all odds served in four different armies during World War II —Romanian, Hungarian, German (forced), and Russian—before walking 1,600 mi...

On this episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn , we sit down with Kristoff Morrow —a Navy veteran, award-winning journalist, and author of the epic fantasy novel The Second Son . Over drinks and real conversation, Kristoff opens up about: His journey from poverty to Navy service as a corpsman. The impact of losing a shipmate to suicide and the struggle of veteran mental health. Living wit...

In this episode of Two Drunk Dudes in a Gun Room , host Donald Dunn sits down with stand-up comic and writer Meryl Clemo — founder of Pre-Cancelled Apparel and a veteran of California’s comedy circuit. They dive into the realities of life on stage, from crushing sets to awkward silences, and the behind-the-scenes hustle it takes to make people laugh. Meryl shares her journey from marketing at musi...

Caleb Campbell’s story is one of grit, service, and transformation. A West Point graduate, former Army officer, and the first Army player in over a decade to be drafted into the NFL, Caleb’s journey looked like a highlight reel from the outside. But behind the scenes, he was battling pressure, identity struggles, and the weight of expectations. In this powerful conversation, Caleb opens up about h...

What if your credit card balance wasn’t what it seemed? In this thought-provoking conversation, author and former controller Tommy Kilpatrick shares his personal journey from $85,000 in credit card debt to a surprising outcome—without bankruptcy, collections, or a credit hit. Tommy outlines his theory that some bank-issued credit card balances are “alleged” debt, and explains the strategy he belie...

In this powerful episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn , we sit down with acclaimed author and Army veteran Rick DeStefanis . A former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne during the Vietnam War era, Rick shares the personal origins of his award-winning novels, including The Gomorrah Principle , Valley of the Purple Hearts , and The Birdhouse Man . This deep and emotional conversation expl...

In this behind-the-scenes episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn , we sit down with Emmy-nominated television producer Gary DeFranco , whose 20-year career spans UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter , Street Outlaws , Playboy TV , and beyond. Gary shares insider stories from the set — from intense fighter casting and bare-knuckle brawls to the chaotic, high-stakes world of street racing. Hear first...

Joshua Goodart didn’t leave service behind when he took off the uniform—he just found a new mission. In this powerful and emotional episode, Joshua shares: What life looked like after deployment How the sudden loss of his son changed his outlook forever His journey from grief to grace Why brotherhood doesn’t end after the military—it evolves How he found strength in faith and now gives it back thr...

n this deeply moving episode of our podcast, we sit downwith Scott Deluzio, an Army veteran and the author of "SurvivingSon." Scott shares his poignant journey through grief and healingfollowing the tragic loss of his brother, Stephen, in Afghanistan. We delveinto his experiences serving in the military, the heart-wrenching moment hereceived the news of his brother's death during his own deploymen...

Today’s guest is Luis Ewing , U.S. Marine Corps veteran, public school teacher, and the passionate voice behind the podcast The Problem with Tim . Born in Colombia and raised on service, Luis opens up about his journey from immigrant to Marine, from band director to bold truth-teller. In this no-holds-barred episode, we unpack the broken promises made to veterans, the underfunding of public school...

Join us for an extraordinary conversation with Tim Thomas, former Special Forces operator turned wellness visionary, whose transformative work in veteran mental health has impacted countless lives. In this episode, Tim shares powerful insights from his own journey through PTSD and trauma, revealing the profound lessons he’s learned about resilience, connection, and the untapped healing power withi...

In this heartfelt and powerful episode, host Donald Dunn reconnects with Scott DeLuzio, the voice behind the Drive On Podcast , to explore the evolution of his mission to support fellow veterans. Scott opens up about the deeply personal reasons behind starting his show, including the tragic loss of his brother in Afghanistan and the startling reality that many veterans struggle most after returnin...