The Other Side of Service

On this episode of The Other Side of Service , Brian Basham sits down with Hugh Tomes, a Vietnam veteran with a story as powerful as the heat behind his brand, Hotter Than Hugh . Hugh shares moments from his time in Vietnam and how those experiences shaped the man he is today. From service to storytelling to building something of his own, this episode brings heart, history, and a little heat. A st...

In Episode 13 of The Other Side of Service , we sit down with Bud Walters, a veteran who took the discipline, grit, and leadership learned in the military and turned it into something much bigger than himself. Bud is the founder of Cromwell Media, a company that now spans across Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. What started as a vision became a network of radio stations that inform, entertain, a...

In this episode of The Other Side of Service, Brian sits down with Chris Morrison, author of The Warrior Never Leaves. Chris shares his journey through military life, the highs of service, and the difficult road that followed. From intense experiences to personal struggles, this conversation takes you through the reality many veterans face when the uniform comes off, but the mindset never does. Be...

On this episode of The Other Side of Service, Brian Basham sits down with Joe Wesner of Ultimate Veteran Adventures, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans reconnect through the outdoors. After the uniform comes off, many veterans struggle to find purpose, connection, and that sense of brotherhood they once had. Joe shares how Ultimate Veteran Adventures is changing that through hunting trips,...

On this episode of The Other Side of Service , Brian Basham sits down with Army veteran and entrepreneur Aaron Barnes, founder of Compact Care. After serving in the U.S. Army from 2009 to 2017 in communications and intelligence roles, Aaron experienced firsthand the challenges soldiers face in tough environments where even basic hygiene can be difficult. Instead of accepting the problem, he turned...

Marine veteran and host of the JMach Podcast, Joshua “JMach” Mach joins The Other Side of Service to talk about identity after the uniform, the mental health battles many veterans face in silence, and why vulnerability is not weakness. This is a real conversation about purpose, transition, and continuing the mission long after service ends.

The battle doesn’t always end when the uniform comes off. On this episode of The Other Side of Service, Brian Basham sits down with Army veteran and national advocate Daniel O’Dell, known alongside his service dog, The Fluffy Poodle. Daniel shares his journey from military service to injury, chronic pain, and the difficult transition into civilian life. He opens up about PTSD, identity loss, and t...

On this episode of The Other Side of Service, I sit down with Lou Drawdy to talk about his time serving in the United States Marine Corps and the journey that followed after taking off the uniform. Lou shares what life looked like after service, the challenges of transition, and what continues to keep him motivated today. Alongside his wife, Linda, Lou never stopped serving. Together, they remain...

In this episode of The Other Side of Service , I sit down with Josh Givens to talk about a life shaped by service, storytelling, and unexpected connections. Josh shares his journey into the military, going active duty as a photographer, and how that path led to more than 30 years in journalism. We talk about seeing the world through a lens, capturing moments that matter, and how service can take y...

In Episode 6 of The Other Side of Service , Josh Givens shares a moment that changed everything. After decades without a relationship with his biological father, Josh receives a simple greeting card from our sister, Abigail, congratulating him on the birth of his new baby. No big speeches. No explanations. Just a card… and an open door. That small gesture became the start of something bigger, remi...

In Episode 5 of The Other Side of Service , we sit down with the nonprofit Operation Mind Body Soul to talk about life after the uniform. This conversation dives into the real struggles many veterans face, the wins both big and small that deserve to be recognized, and the importance of caring for mental, physical, and spiritual health. We also highlight the people and programs behind Operation Min...

Episode 4 of The Other Side of Service focuses on a powerful idea: service doesn’t end when military service does—it simply takes on a new mission. This episode features members of the Daughters of the American Revolutionary War (DAR), highlighting their continued commitment to honoring history, supporting veterans, and serving communities through education, remembrance, and civic engagement. We’r...

Episode 3 of The Other Side of Service brings together four guests whose work shows how service continues long after military life. Adrian Bambini joins the show to talk about his work connected to the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame, highlighting a simple but powerful way communities recognize and support veterans in everyday life. Marine veteran Matt Ralph stops by to discuss the Honor Flight Blu...

Service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off — it changes. In Episode 2 of The Other Side of Service , Brian Basham continues the conversation about life after the military and what it means for veterans to keep serving in new ways. This episode features conversations with Nick Hetman, Commander of American Legion Post 9, Melody Wallace from Veterans Empowered Together, and Bud Walters, veteran...

In the very first episode of Other Side of Service, host Brian Basham sits down with Nick Hetman for an honest conversation about what life really looks like after military service. Nick shares insight into the transition from service to civilian life, the challenges veterans face that often go unseen, and the importance of community, purpose, and knowing where to find the right resources. Togethe...