Untold Valor: Veterans Recovery in Action

We are honored to have Joseph Daly on the show with us today. Joseph is the Chief of Police for Springfield Township and a former U.S. Marine, serving two tours in Vietnam. During his time of service, Joseph received a Bronze Star, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and the Purple Heart.  Join us as Joseph reflects on his remarkable journey from the battlefields of Vietnam to a lifelong career in law...

We have a fantastic conversation for you today. We are joined by Andrew Nelson, a Marine Corps veteran who served for 10 years and completed two combat tours. He’s here to discuss his experiences during and after his service, highlighting the challenges he faced and the support systems that helped him navigate through them.  From finding purposeful work to seeking therapy and building a support ne...

We are excited to sit down with Keith Moore and Danielle Veltri from EDSI (Educational Data Systems Incorporated) in today’s show. EDSI is a workforce development company that started in Dearborn, Michigan, and now operates in 30-40 offices across the US.  Listen in to learn how EDSI supports veterans in their post-military journey through job placement assistance, training, case management servic...

Join us for an inspiring episode with Colonel Arthur "Art" L. Jenkins, Jr.  We’ll learn more about his 40-year military journey, from his early enlistment to leading as the Taskforce Medical Commander for Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) in 2021, and what he has learned about veteran hardships along the way.  Stay tuned as Art talks about the important role that mentorship played throughou...

Dr. Nick Maio is joining us to kick off the new year. He is here to share his story, from an unstable early life to a challenging military deployment to Iraq, which left him vulnerable to PTSD. Ultimately, Nick was able to overcome depression, anxiety, and substance abuse through the support of his loved ones and VA resources. Listen in as he shares how he reclaimed his life, became a chiropractor...

During the holiday season, it's crucial to recognize the unique challenges faced by service members and their families. Valerie Melroy, the CEO of Voice and Vision, joins us in this week's episode. As a former military spouse and mother of a Marine, she shares some first-hand insights into the difficulties of managing family life when loved ones are deployed.  Reverend Ben then reflects...

We are honored to be joined by Matt Brown in today’s episode. Matt served in the Navy for over 12 years, holding various leadership and operational roles. Today, he is the CEO of Chimney Trail Health, which aims to eliminate destructive anxiety, depression, and suicide within the military.  We’ll learn more about Matt's time in the service and how Chimney Trail Health is providing essential t...

Join us for a powerful conversation with Chad Robichaux, BCPC, MBA, a Force Recon veteran, best-selling author, MMA champion, and founder of Mighty Oaks Foundation. In this episode, Chad shares his incredible military journey, his battle with PTSD, and the profound healing he found in faith. You’ll also learn more about the programs offered by the Mighty Oaks Foundation, including faith-based peer...

Today we are joined by Michael Bate, a veteran who served 21 years in the Marine Corps and is now a EDSI (Educational Data Assist Incorporated) veteran career coach. After a remarkable career in the military, Mike discovered the challenges of transitioning to civilian life firsthand.  He's here to share his story, from his personal struggle with this transition to finding support through a ve...

We're back to continue our conversation with Chaplain Justin Cohen, who shared his powerful story with us in the previous episode. Chaplin Cohen has dedicated his life to helping others and is here to share valuable insights into the challenges veterans face, from battling mental health issues like PTSD to rediscovering their sense of purpose. In part two of our discussion, Chaplain Cohen div...

Today, we're going to be talking with Chaplain Justin Cohen, who has an amazing personal story, first of all, but has also dedicated his life to helping others, especially when it comes to the role of spiritual gifts and leading people as a chaplain. We're also recording today's episode in the month of September, which is the suicide prevention and recovery month, and we're goi...

Life after the military is a time when so many veterans struggle. Trying to manage the physical and emotional pain can feel overwhelming, and many veterans turn to medication and pills to help ease the problems. But that can lead to even deeper issues like addiction and depression. Navy veteran Mike Jeffers was in that same position. Taking as many as 23 prescribed pills every day, Mike said he fe...

For many veterans, transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging. It is often an experience filled with mental health issues, feelings of isolation, and difficulty adapting to societal norms. Today, we delve into these struggles and more with Rob Yennuzzi, a U.S. submarine service veteran, CompeerCORPS program coordinator, and mayor of Eddystone Borough.  One of the reasons Rob w...

We are excited to be joined by Ryan Allman in today’s episode. After 21 years of service in the U.S. military, Ryan is passionate about serving in various military and Veteran affiliated organizations. Today, he is the Operations Manager at Compeer of Lebanon County. In this episode, Ryan provides an inside look into his life and the struggles he faced while navigating post-military life. He offer...

Today we are excited to be joined by Kyle Hanlan, the vice president of LLMC Partners. Kyle has served in the Army and Navy and talks with us about his diverse military experience, academic pursuits, and challenging transition from military service to civilian life.  In this episode, we shed light on the struggles that many veterans face when reintegrating back into civilian life. We also discuss...

Today we are joined by Richard A.J. Prebil, Esq., a Supervising Attorney of the Veterans Advocacy Project at Legal Aid of Southeastern PA. This project offers multi-faceted services to veterans in Pennsylvania, helping them navigate VA benefits, discharge upgrades, and Social Security matters.  With their unwavering dedication, the Veterans Advocacy Project has successfully helped numerous veteran...

Today we are back with John S. Berry, Jr., a veteran, and CEO of Berry Law, which has helped over 10,000 veterans nationwide, recovering over $500 million in backpay. John joins us to discuss some barriers veterans can encounter with filing claims and shares valuable insights on navigating the system to get the support they deserve. Tune in as John delves into the pivotal role that legal represent...

In this episode, we are joined by John S. Berry, Jr., who served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. He is here to share his experience with us, from his time at Airborne and Ranger School to his deployments in Bosnia and Iraq. As an attorney and former soldier, John offers a unique perspective on the complexities of military life and the importance of finding support as a veteran. He opens u...

Welcome to season 2 of Untold Valor! We are thrilled to be joined by a returning guest, Darcel (Darcy) Rideout, an 11-year PA Army National Guard veteran. We had the privilege of learning more about her story in season 1, and today she is back to talk with us about her inspiring journey from adversity to advocacy.  Darcy opens up about her experience with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, during and...

On Episode 20 of Untold Valor, we’re joined by Air Force veteran Cheryl Gricoski. Cheryl has the unique experience of being both a military veteran and the wife of a veteran. She candidly shares how her first marriage was affected by her husband's trauma and his reluctance to seek therapy. This took a toll on her own mental health. Cheryl highlights the stigma surrounding mental health, parti...

On Episode 19 of Untold Valor, we're joined by Nena Stetson, a licensed clinical social worker, and an army spouse for more than 20 years. Nena shares her unique perspective on the struggles and support systems within military families and delves into the challenges faced by spouses and children of veterans, emphasizing the importance of their mental well-being. Nena opens up about her own ex...

On Episode 18 of Untold Valor, Marine Corps veteran Brian Natali joins the show again to shed light on some of the essential services available to veterans. Tune in as Brian dives into the intricacies of real estate tax exemptions, explaining who qualifies, the impact it can have, and how to apply. Plus, discover the Veterans Temporary Assistance program, offering up to $1,600 to assist with daily...

On Episode 17 of Untold Valor, Marine Corps veteran Brian Natali joins the show to share his extensive knowledge about accessing care through Veterans Affairs. Brian is the Chief of the Division of Veterans Services and Programs for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and helps dispel some common myths about VA services and emphasizes the significance of effective outreach...

On Episode 16 of Untold Valor, we’re joined by Dr. John Taylor, a retired Marine who shares his inspiring story of service and sacrifice. You’ll learn about John’s unique personal and military background, his personal struggles with both mental and physical health issues, and why he’s so passionate about sharing his story with others. John has concrete advice about how veterans can improve their s...

On Episode 15 of Untold Valor, military veteran and therapist Jonathan Bittner returns to the show to give us further insight into the ways CompeerCORPS can help veterans. He’ll detail why the help veterans need often goes well beyond substance abuse and into more nuanced challenges in the mental health arena, like battling loneliness and isolation. Jonathan explores the reasons why a lot of veter...