Urban Valor: the podcast

On today's episode of Urban Valor, we feature retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant Ryan Kuperus, whose story takes us from the dairy farms of Newark, New York, to the intense battlefields of Afghanistan. Inspired by his grandfather, a Korean War veteran, Ryan chose to serve his country as a Marine, using the work ethic instilled in him since childhood. Ryan details his experiences as a Reconnaissa...

On today's episode of Urban Valor, we interview Marine Veteran Matt Stack, who details his life from Miami, Florida, to Eden, North Carolina, and ultimately into the Marine Corps. Inspired by his sister's military career, Matt enlisted in hopes of becoming an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (EOD). However, due to a recruiter's misinformation, his path led him to aviation ordn...

On today's episode of Urban Valor, we present the story of Marine Veteran Markos Eugenios. From his youth in Monte Sereno, CA, where he cared for his diabetic mother, to his service as an Infantry Machine Gunner with 3rd Battalion 4th Marines, Markos's experiences offer a glimpse into military life.  He provides a firsthand account of the Iraq invasion in March 2003, sharing intense mome...

This week's Urban Valor episode features Giovanni "Gio" Roman, a Marine, Navy, and Ukrainian armed forces Veteran. Gio, who grew up in southern California, was inspired to join the Marines following his older brother's footsteps and the 9/11 attacks on America. His sense of duty led him to serve not only as a Marine but also as a Navy Corpsman. After leaving the Navy, Gio'...

This week's Urban Valor episode spotlights Andy Nelson, an Army Paratrooper veteran from Renton, WA. Inspired by classic military movies he watched with his father, Nelson enlisted in the Army on a paratrooper contract and was assigned to the prestigious 82nd Airborne Division.  During the episode, Nelson recounts his experiences parachuting into various countries and shares a tense moment wh...

Taylor Cavanaugh's life is a rollercoaster of highs and lows that would put most action movies to shame. This San Diego kid dreamed of becoming a Navy SEAL from age seven, but his path was far from straightforward. Despite multiple arrests, fights with police, and faced several years in prison! Taylor somehow made it into the elite SEALs. But the drama didn't stop there. After getting ki...

Growing up in Los Angeles, Alex Aguilar joined the Army at 21 to get his life on a better path. He became an elite Army Ranger, one of the toughest soldiers. In this Urban Valor episode, Alex shares his intense combat experiences hunting down and trying to capture or kill high-value targets in their own homes overseas. He talks about the life-or-death decisions he had to make on these dangerous mi...

Join us for an in-depth interview with Jake Edwards, a former Marine Corps Sergeant, as he recounts his gripping and emotional experiences during his service from 2003 to 2009. Growing up in Charlottesville, Virginia, Jake's life took a dramatic turn when he joined the Marines, seeking purpose and direction. In this video, Jake shares harrowing stories from the battlefield, including close en...

Mike Hanks and his sister Melissa grew up on a Michigan farm. Driven by patriotism, Mike enlisted in the United States Marines after high school. As Mike shipped off to serve, Melissa became his go to person, his trusted ear about things he needed to get off his chest – a terrorist attack in Kuwait, the invasion of Iraq, and impending battle that would ultimately claim his life in Fallujah on Nove...

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Henry Garcia spent over twenty years in the military, serving as a Motor Transportation Gunnery Sergeant from 1991 to 2013. In this episode of Urban Valor, Garcia doesn't hold back, describing his savagery as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor. Born in Tampa but moving frequently as an Air Force kid before settling in Sacramento, Garcia's Marine Corps career began...

In this powerful video, former U.S. Marine Austin Hancock shares a chilling tale from his boot camp, experiences with drill instructors, and much more. As an Anti-Tank Assaultman who served from 2006 to 2010, Austin witnessed a shocking moment when a recruit attempted to take his own life by jumping out of a third-story window. What followed was a reaction from a Drill Instructor that left Austin...

In the line of duty and at home, Staff Sergeant Devin Teeter's resilience has been put to the test time and again. Born and raised in Colorado, his passion for service was ignited by the iconic film "Top Gun." Enlisting as an Imagery Analysis Specialist, Devin's role was to gather intelligence and assist troops with accurate target acquisition, ensuring successful reconnaissanc...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Navy SEAL veteran, Mike O’Dowd. Mike was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He was inspired to be a Navy SEAL after watching a documentary on the Discovery channel about them.  When the 9/11 attack occurred, Mike felt an even greater calling to go fight for America and enlisted into the Navy to become a Navy SEAL.  In this episode, he talks about his comba...

This week's episode of Urban Valor highlights Marine veteran Tyler Grogg, who hails from Worthington, Ohio. Inspired by pivotal moments like Desert Storm and 9/11, Tyler enlisted in the Marine Corps with a passion for service. Originally trained in communications, he found his calling as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, facing the threat of improvised explosive devices head-on in th...

On this week's Urban Valor, we meet Danny Rivera, a former Navy Chief Petty Officer with roots in East Los Angeles. Following in his families footsteps, Danny joined the Navy. He began his Naval Career as a Sonar Technician on the USS Cochrane (DDG-21), stationed at Pearl Harbor, where he honed his skills in sophisticated naval technology and tactics. Danny speaks on navigating storms, confli...

Join us in this gripping episode of Urban Valor as we listen about the life of Paul Peng, an Army veteran with a remarkable story! Born in Taiwan and raised in Monterey Park, CA, Paul enlisted as an Army reservist military police officer in 2000, never anticipating active combat. However, the events of 9/11 altered his path, leading to two combat deployments in Iraq. Paul recounts his intense expe...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine Veteran, Savannah Cannon. Savannah grew up on a farm in a small town in Georgia. She had a very traumatic childhood and struggled deeply with thoughts of self-harm as a teenager.  Savannah enlisted into the Marine Corps to escape her unfortunate childhood. She was twenty years old when she deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. While on her combat deployme...

This week's episode of Urban Valor shines a spotlight on Bryan Buckley, a Marine veteran with a remarkable story. Hailing from Doylestown, PA, Bryan's early years were dominated by football, a sport in which he excelled, securing two state championships. His path seemed set on football until the events of 9/11 shifted his focus dramatically. Motivated by a sense of duty, Bryan joined the...

Navy Diver Tommy McConnell's story, as featured in this week's episode of Urban Valor, is both inspiring and heart-wrenching. Growing up in Louisiana with a passion for swimming and was inspired by his grandfather's service as a Navy Vet. Tommy's career, filled with dedication and love for his job, takes a tragic turn with the onset of neurological symptoms leading to the disco...

Join us on this week's episode of Urban Valor as listen to the story of Marine Sergeant Zach Snyder from Pennsylvania. Raised in a family of law enforcement officers, including his brothers and father, Zach found inspiration to serve his country.  Enlisting in the Marines in 2017 as an Amphibious Assault Crewmember, Zack Snyder shares insights into his deployment experiences, reflecting on th...

Watch this week's episode of Urban Valor for an incredible story featuring AJ Pasciuti, a retired Marine turned Scout Sniper. AJ's military journey took a dramatic turn in 2006 when he led a mission to take down "Juba," an enemy sniper in Iraq. This sniper had been using a stolen American sniper rifle to tragically target US forces.  AJ's team's mission was not just a...

Join us this week on Urban Valor as we listen to Nick Velez, a Marine Veteran whose roots are deeply planted in the vibrant streets of East Los Angeles. From his early dreams of military service to becoming an esteemed infantry rifleman with the "Magnificent Bastards," 2nd Battalion 4th Marines, Nick's story is a testament to courage, brotherhood, and the sacrifice. Born and raised...

In this week's episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with Mark Tyler, a retired Gunnery Sergeant from the Marine Corps, who shares his remarkable journey from his early days growing up in Las Vegas, after being born in Pennsylvania, to his extensive career in the military.  Initially joining the Marines as a military police officer with an eye on a future in law enforcement, Mark found his call...

Join us on Urban Valor for an exclusive interview with Lepcis Vasquez, a former sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, who shares her compelling and harrowing journey from 2016 to 2021. Lepcis opens up about her life, detailing her experiences with remarkable courage and honesty. Get an in depth look at the realities of military service, the personal battles faced both in and out of uniform,...

In this episode of Urban Valor, we dive into the extraordinary life of Navy veteran Luis Fonseca Jr., a man whose journey from the challenging streets of Fayetteville, NC, to the front lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Born into a military family, Luis’s early life was marked by the struggles of a military upbringing and the dangerous allure of drug trafficking, a...