The Lasting Mission

In this important episode of The Lasting Mission Podcast, MRC’s Britt Myers sits down with Katt Whittenberger, founder and executive director of Mountain Valor - an unwavering VSO (veteran service organization) advocating for rural Virginia veterans, empowering them to overcome challenges and thrive in their communities through multiple outlets.  In this installment, Katt details her mission to se...

In this special 9/11 episode of The Lasting Mission, we sit down with Army veteran and 9/11 first responder Ron Pastino at the World Trade Center Museum in Albany, New York—where his gear from that day is permanently on display. Ron shares his powerful story of service, sacrifice, and resilience, reflecting on the moments that changed our nation forever and the lasting impact of September 11 on ve...

🎙️ Welcome to part two of this two-part episode of The Lasting Mission featuring Army veteran Rick Welch. Mission Roll Call’s Britt Myers continues the discussion around Rick’s experience during the Iraq War, the unforeseen triggers of PTS, and his focus on healing after experiencing the worst, and best, parts of deployment. Rick reflects on brotherhood, having formed lifelong relationships in the...

🎙️ In part one of this two part episode of The Lasting Mission, Army veteran Rick Welch opens up about his experience during the Iraq War, the unseen toll of combat, and the difficult road back to civilian life. With gripping honesty, Rick shares the moments that shaped him—from the emotional weight of losing friends in combat to the moral injuries sustained by witnessing the chaos of war firsthan...

Welcome to Part 2 of our exclusive conversation with Wounded Warrior Project CEO, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Walter E. Piatt, on The Lasting Mission.  In this final installment of our two-part series, we go deeper into the evolution and impact of one of America’s most well-known veteran service organizations. With over 40 years of distinguished military service, Walt Piatt shares how his leadership journey h...

In the second installment of this powerful two-part episode of The Lasting Mission Podcast, MRC’s Britt Myers sits down with Michelle Lang, founder and executive director of Operation Honor: Rural Salute - a grassroots initiative committed to connecting veterans in rural America with the care and community they deserve.  In part 2 we explore the impact of Michelle’s work, the power of community pa...

In this powerful two-part episode of The Lasting Mission, we sit down with Wounded Warrior Project CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Walter E. Piatt to explore the evolution, challenges, and future of one of the most recognized veteran service organizations in the country.  In Part 1, we dive into Walter’s personal transition from active-duty military service to becoming the head of WWP, the deep-rooted respons...

In this powerful two-part episode of The Lasting Mission Podcast, MRC’s Britt Myers sits down with Michelle Lang, founder and executive director of Operation Honor: Rural Salute—a grassroots initiative committed to connecting veterans in rural America with the care and community they deserve. Michelle’s story starts in a small town in Pennsylvania, where she and her husband—recently retired from a...

Welcome back to the highly-anticipated, inspirational PART 2 of our 2 part episode featuring MRC's Britt Meyers as she continues our conversation with Air Force veteran Matthew Landis.   If you have not had the chance to watch or listen to the incredible beginning of Matthew's story, we strongly suggest you watch that episode first: https://youtu.be/b97DpkP8TAc  In this episode, Matthew...

Welcome back to part 2 of 2 in this incredibly important discussion with Voices for Non-Opioid Choices' Executive Director Chris Fox. Mission Roll Call CEO Jim Whaley sits down for a followup to part 1 featuring Congressman Greg Landsman (watch that full episode here: https://youtu.be/L6QHhnzdxL8 ).    As our nation faces an opioid epidemic, the gravity of the issue effects our nations vetera...

 Join Mission Roll Call’s Britt Meyers for a powerful and deeply human conversation with Air Force veteran Matthew Landis. Once a standout engineer, Matthew found himself homeless and battling addiction on the streets of Anytown, USA. His raw and redemptive journey will both chill and inspire you.  In this episode, Matthew shares how he rediscovered faith—in a higher power, in humanity, and most i...

Welcome to part 1 of this special 2-part episode of The Lasting Mission in which Mission Roll Call CEO Jim Whaley sits down with U.S. Representative Greg Landsman to discuss the opioid epidemic within the veteran community — and what’s being done to fight it. Congressman Landsman shares insights on his bipartisan efforts and his support of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices, a non-profit leading the ch...

In this powerful episode of The Lasting Mission podcast, we hear from Van, a former professional surfer who overcame years of addiction and incarceration to now give back to the veteran community through his love of surfing. Alongside him is John, a 14-year Army veteran who, after multiple deployments and a life-changing battle with depression and suicide, found healing through Operation Surf, whe...

Welcome back to The Lasting Mission Podcast. In this episode, MRC COO Ray Whitaker sits down with retired U.S. Army Colonel Sean Corrigan, former commander of Joint Operations Group Central within Special Operations and now Executive Vice President of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Sean shares insights from his distinguished military career and his transition to nonprofit leadership—fo...

In this inspiring episode of The Lasting Mission Podcast, Mission Roll Call’s Britt Myers sits down with Zaneta Adams, a dedicated advocate for veterans and a former Joint Counter Narcotics Task Force Agent. After serving for over eight years, Zaneta faced a life-changing challenge but defied the odds to not only recover but to thrive. Since her medical retirement from the military, she has made a...

Welcome to a special 2 part episode of The Lasting Mission Podcast featuring Mighty Hero Homes, a 501(c)(3) working to eradicate veteran homelessness by providing affordable, permanent, personal homes to all homeless veterans in safe environments with a full array of on-Base amenities and wraparound services... We also welcome special guest, and the country music recording artist responsible for c...

Welcome to a special 2 part episode of The Lasting Mission Podcast featuring Mighty Hero Homes, a 501(c)(3) working to eradicate veteran homelessness by providing affordable, permanent, personal homes to all homeless veterans in safe environments with a full array of on-Base amenities and wraparound services  In part 1, we sit down with Derek Layne, Director of Partnerships and Development for Mig...

Welcome to season 2 of The Lasting Mission Podcast...  Chive Charities has been a game-changer for veterans, military families, and first responders, providing life-changing grants for medically necessary needs often overlooked by traditional resources. From wheelchair-accessible vehicles to service dogs and adaptive home modifications, their support restores independence and well-being to those w...

Austin Carrigg’s passion for advocacy stems from her personal journey as a military spouse and mother of three children in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). As the founder of Exceptional Families of the Military (EFM), she shares how her organization is making a difference for families navigating complex needs. We discuss the challenges with Tricare and EFMP, legislative efforts, and t...

In this episode of The Lasting Mission, we sit down with Heba Abdelaal, a dedicated advocate for military families and spouses. Heba shares her inspiring journey from nearly a decade on Capitol Hill to becoming a military spouse herself, bringing unique insights into the challenges and rewards of supporting military communities. Heba offers unique insights as we discuss support networks, spouse em...

 On this inspiring episode of The Lasting Mission, we sit down with Jason Murff, an Army veteran, small business owner, and former professional motocross and quad competitor. Jason discusses what led him to be the first in his family to serve,  the difficulties he overcame in transitioning to civilian life after his service, and how he navigated the intricacies of a small business startup. Now ope...

In this episode of The Lasting Mission, we dive deep into the impactful work of Vet the Vote, an organization dedicated to mobilizing veterans as poll station workers. With a remarkable goal of enlisting 100,000 veterans, they have exceeded expectations, now boasting an impressive 161,000 volunteers! Join us as we speak with Ellen Gustafson, a passionate advocate for civic engagement, who shares i...

In this episode of The Lasting Mission, we sit down with Jim Lorraine, President and CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership, to discuss the organization's vital work in connecting veterans and their families with the resources they need. Jim, a 22-year Air Force veteran and former Special Operations Command Care Coalition director, shares more about AWP's proactive, upstream approach to ve...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Ty Buras, a 29-year Army veteran who bravely served in Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Through The Lasting Mission Podcast, Ty courageously shares his deeply personal journey of facing mental health challenges after returning from combat and transitioning from his military career. Through the unwavering support of his wife, a fellow veteran, and...

In this episode of The Lasting Mission Podcast, Ray Whitaker from Mission Roll Call sits down with Mike Sullivan from Team Red, White & Blue. Mike shares his insights on the power of teamwork, how his time in the military shaped his personal growth, and the remarkable resilience of veterans who continue to serve and strengthen their communities long after their service ends. Tune in to hear hi...