Urban Valor: the podcast

Dive deep into the captivating and genuine narrative of Kevin Wilson, a distinguished Marine Corps veteran who embarked on an unforgettable journey from the peaceful streets of South Pasadena, California, to the intense and demanding life of a Marine. In this exclusive video, Kevin Wilson shares his raw and unfiltered experiences, shedding light on the life of a Marine, from the adrenaline-pumping...

Once entangled in the dangerous gang life, Josue found a new path in the Marines. His journey through the rigors of boot camp, his struggle to adjust to military discipline, and his ultimate deployment to Afghanistan form the core of this powerful narrative. Experience the raw realities of the War in Afghanistan through Josue's eyes. From intense firefights to the camaraderie among brothers,...

Join us in this compelling video where Jennifer Skinner, a former U.S. Marine Corps sergeant, shares her remarkable story of resilience and growth. Born and raised in the rural outskirts of Charlotte, North Carolina, Jennifer's early life was filled with adventurous activities like doom buggy riding and cow tipping, typical of a Southern upbringing. This video delves deep into her transformat...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army veteran Jason Grammer. Jason grew up in Brewer, Mississippi, fishing, hunting, and spending most of his time outdoors.  Jason was inspired to join the Army after watching a special on Operation Gothic Serpent, commonly referred to as “Black Hawk Down.” He enlisted into the infantry and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne. In this episode, Jason details t...

In this gripping episode of Urban Valor, join us as we follow the journey of Army Staff Sergeant Mikael Cook, who hails from the sports-loving town of Ann Arbor, Michigan.  A former hockey player for Eastern Michigan University, Mikael shares his compelling story of transition from civilian life to the camaraderie and challenges of military service. In an emotional narrative, he recounts his deplo...

Discover the inspiring journey of Rich Reeves, a dedicated Marine veteran from the Riverdale Park public housing developments in Gloucester, Massachusetts, who transformed his life from facing the brutal realities of violence and poverty to achieving success in the world of boxing. Reeves shares his experiences of overcoming adversity, the rigorous training and discipline learned in the United Sta...

This week's Urban Valor episode features Antoinette Naddour, the co-founder and executive director of the Veterans Legal Institute, as she shares her personal journey and the groundbreaking work her organization is doing to uplift military veterans through legal advocacy. From her family's immigrant roots to her deep-seated patriotism, Antoinette's story is one of passion, dedicatio...

Join us in this inspiring story with Gunnery Sergeant Leticia Garcia as she shares her remarkable journey in the Marines.  From the streets of Anaheim to the challenges of Sana City, her story is a testament to resilience, discipline, and the power of determination. In this video, Gunnery Sergeant Garcia opens up about her early life struggles, including her family's encounter with domestic i...

This week on Urban Valor,  we chat with Sergeant Major Alex Caro. Alex's journey began in Brooklyn, NY, where he overcame the challenges of gang-dominated streets and avoiding the gang lifestyle. His inspiration to join the Marines came from when he joined the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). In his military career, Alex started with an open contract, assigned to be a Inv...

In Today's episode of Urban Valor, we have Guest Army veteran Chris Cleland. Growing up in El Monte, California, Chris found himself in trouble, leading to an arrest for grand theft auto. But he turned his life around by joining the Army Infantry, a decision that took him on several deployments to Iraq. You'll get to hear first hand the challenges Chris and his unit faced, especially the...

This weeks episode from Urban Valor features Robert Wood. Born in Bellflower, California, and raised in Buena Park, Robert's life was forever changed when his mother saw his bullet-riddled car on the news. Faced with a life-altering decision, Robert chose the path of Valor, enlisting in the Marine Corps over moving to Mexico or attending college out of state. His life in the military saw him...

From the small town of Bloomville, Ohio, Maranda Moon's early life was fraught with challenges. Her journey to the Marine Corps stands as a powerful testament to resilience and courage. Maranda's childhood was marked by financial hardship and a critical father, driving her to seek a new beginning. Enlistment became her escape route to California, a dream sold to her by Marine Corps recru...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine veteran Prime Hall. Prime grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas on North Padre Island. He battled his way out of a troubled childhood, attended military school to refine his discipline, and unexpectedly developed street smarts. Through his sit down with Urban Valor's Josh Gutierrez, Prime overcame an extensive criminal history to earn his spot inside...

Welcome back to Urban Valor, where we have the incredible Marine veteran, Byron Rodgers, joining us once again! In this episode, Byron shares his remarkable life experiences and discusses the profound belief that he has been divinely protected throughout his journey. His stories include a chilling childhood encounter when intruders broke into his family's home, a near-death experience in Iraq...

In this week's Urban Valor episode, we sit down with Marine Veteran Annika Hutsler to discuss her remarkable journey. Annika's story begins in Aurora, Colorado. Her life took a turn after high school when she decided that college wasn't for her. Inspired by a fellow student, she made the life-changing decision to join the military. Around the halfway mark of her boot camp, she began...

After witnessing the aftermath of 9/11 firsthand, more than the devastation, what stood out was the unyielding unity on 9/12, showcasing the resilience of the American people. You won't want to miss this week's Urban Valor episode! Kevin served as a Motor Transport Mechanic in the Marine Corps for 6 years. But life after service wasn't exactly what he thought it would be. After rece...

In this week's gripping Urban Valor episode, we listen to the extraordinary life of Coast Guard veteran, Juan Reyes. Born and raised in Colombia, Juan’s brave trek to the United States is a story of courage and resilience. At just 8 years old, Juan and his mother started the long trek from Colombia to the United States with the help of Coyotes. Their journey took them to a terrifying stay at...

Welcome to this week's Urban Valor episode, where we introduce you to the remarkable journey of Army veteran Hector Bravo. From Brawley, California, Hector enlisted in the Army's infantry to escape the confines of his small town. He was deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005, facing intense combat during the Iraqi insurgency and enduring the painful loss of close friends. Upon returning home...

In this week's Urban Valor episode, we're joined by Marine veteran Christopher Cendana. Hailing from Fremont, CA, Chris's journey into the military was inspired by his best friend and the uncertainty he faced after high school. He enlisted in the Marine Corps, specializing as a Diesel Mechanic. Chris shares his experiences from two deployments to Iraq, including a tragic incident wh...

In this week’s Urban Valor episode, we welcome back retired Marine First Sergeant Randall Parkes.  A dedicated Marine who served from 2001 to 2021, he recounts his experiences from his early inspirations in California to becoming a drill instructor at Paris Island, South Carolina.  In this gripping narrative, discover the challenges faced by Marines during training, the discipline instilled in rec...

In this week's episode of Urban Valor, we shine a spotlight on Juan Marquez, a Marine veteran with an inspiring journey. Hailing from a quaint town in Northeast Oklahoma, Juan's upbringing was shaped by its small community atmosphere. His high school graduating class comprised a mere 56 students, a testament to the tight-knit nature of his environment. Juan's journey was marked by i...

In this deeply personal video, Krishna America Flores, a dedicated member of the US Marines, shares her poignant journey from enlistment to combat deployment.  Born in New York and having grown up with a backdrop of the El Salvador Civil War, Flores enlisted as a Private First Class and quickly rose through the ranks. Her story takes us from the bustling streets of New York to the challenging terr...

In this week's Urban Valor episode, Marine veteran Don Tran takes the spotlight. Don's upbringing was in Long Beach, CA. Despite multiple arrests during his juvenile years, he made a pivotal decision to enlist in the Marine Corps, seeking a transformative path for his life. Don went on his Marine Corps journey as an 0341 Mortarman, gradually progressing to become a part of the Marine Spe...

This week's episode of Urban Valor introduces Jesse Galvan, an Army veteran hailing from the Inland Empire of Southern California. Jesse's early life was marked by a deeply challenging experience of childhood sexual trauma, significantly shaping his upbringing. As he approached adulthood, a pivotal decision arose when his father presented him with a choice between pursuing higher educati...

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine veteran, Spencer Zeisset, also known as Z. Z grew up in Bethalto, Illinois. As a kid, he and his friends would create fight games and engage in hand-to-hand combat. On one occasion, Z's eye was nearly injured by a sharpened spear during one of these games. He recounts the incident when he was sent flying through a van window as it rolled over an...