VET S.O.S. Podcast

Host Kingsley Scott welcomes decorated British Army veteran, author, and business strategist Jay Allen to The Scoop for an inspiring conversation on leadership, resilience, and post-service success. Jay reveals how his experiences from the battlefield shaped his career in the boardroom, drawing from his acclaimed book Battlefield to Boardroom: A Tactical Field Guide . From navigating medical chall...

Transitioning out of the military isn’t just about a new job — it’s about rediscovering your identity, redefining success, and finding purpose again. In this compelling episode of the VET S.O.S. podcast , we sit down with Lacy Gunnoe , a U.S. Air Force veteran and Director of Veteran Wellbeing at Camp Southern Ground , founded by Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band. Lacy unpacks the three core veteran...

In this episode of The Scoop , Kingsley Scott interviews Dr. Robert Turrill and Dr. Eddie Arambula , co-editors of Veteran Stories of Transition and Transformation . This remarkable book features 25 authentic veteran journeys, told in their own words, reflecting resilience, growth, and the life-changing impact of education. Discover how USC’s Master of Business for Veterans (MBV) program became th...

In this episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Educational Resources Spotlight , host Dr. Hira speaks with Mary Bier, MBA, President & CEO of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) , about the critical work being done to support military-connected children. Mary shares her personal experiences as a military spouse and parent, her professional advocacy journey, and MCEC’s innovative programs...

In this inspiring episode of The Scoop from the VET S.O.S. Podcast Network, Kingsley welcomes Shannon Huffman Polson , one of the first women to fly the U.S. Army’s Apache helicopter and the founder of The Grit Institute . Shannon shares how her groundbreaking military career shaped her bestselling book The Grit Factor and her Grit Triad leadership model: Commit, Learn, and Launch. Through persona...

Marine Corps veteran and Homefront SitRep co-host David Willis joins the VET S.O.S. podcast to discuss his military transition journey and his commitment to highlighting grassroots veteran organizations. From reconnecting with fellow Marines to co-founding a podcast that gives voice to boots-on-ground nonprofits, David shares heartfelt stories, lessons from failed nonprofits, and why finding your...

In this episode of VET S.O.S. Presents The Scoop , Kingsley Scott welcomes Bob Sager , founder of Spearpoint Solutions and author of 101 Freaking Brilliant Business Ideas and More Freaking Brilliant Ideas . Bob reveals how veterans and leaders can leverage scientific creative thinking methods to succeed in business and life after service. From building a lasting legacy to applying the “Power of Th...

Host Dr. Hira welcomes Kittie Clark , Military Services Coordinator at Augusta Technical College, to the VET S.O.S. Veteran Educational Resources Spotlight . With a background in process improvement and a passion for military student success, Kittie shares how Augusta Tech supports over 700 military-affiliated students each semester through: A Military Service Center offering VA benefits assistanc...

In this episode of VET S.O.S., Shawn Welsh talks with outgoing VFW Commander-in-Chief Al Lipphardt and incoming Commander-in-Chief Carol Whitmore about their personal military transition experiences, the evolving role of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and their shared commitment to advocacy and veteran support. They discuss the importance of programs like “Still Serving,” combat-tested gaming, and...

In this heartfelt and humorous episode of The Scoop , Kings sits down with Navy veteran and leadership coach David Kiwimagi , also known as “Kiwi.” Together, they explore what it really takes to succeed after the military—from saving a marriage on the rocks to launching a thriving coaching business. David dives into: How to turn unspoken expectations into real agreements Why controlling your contr...

In this VET S.O.S. Transition Podcast episode, we welcome Ryan Woodruff, CEO of Clear Path for Veterans, for a compelling conversation on post-military purpose and recovery. Ryan opens up about his challenging transition from Marine infantryman to civilian, his battle with alcoholism, and the profound transformation he experienced through service dog programs. Now leading Clear Path’s multifaceted...

This episode dives deep into post-transition career success with Army veteran and author Bill Kieffer , who returns to discuss his latest book focused on what to do after you land the job . With decades of experience in HR and talent management, Bill reveals practical strategies veterans can use to thrive in the civilian workforce using his Landing → Integrating → Thriving model. 🎙️ In this episod...

On this episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Educational Resources Spotlight , Dr. Hira speaks with Edward Lewis , Vice President of Operations at the Maritime Institute and retired U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief. Edward explains how veterans with maritime backgrounds can move directly into well-paying civilian roles without starting over—thanks to gap training programs, funding options, and strong in...

On this episode of the VET S.O.S. Military Transition Resources Show , Shawn and Keith welcome Michelle Keller , Senior Director of Development for Farm2Veteran . This innovative nonprofit is tackling veteran food insecurity by delivering fresh, locally-sourced meals to those who need it most—all at no cost to the veteran. Michelle discusses the powerful mission behind Farm2Veteran, their national...

What if the next chapter of your military transition wasn’t about struggle—but breakthrough? In this episode of VET S.O.S. “The Scoop,” host Kings welcomes Matt Zemon , a leading voice in the growing field of psychedelic therapy for veterans . Matt shares the insights behind his groundbreaking book The Veterans Guide to Psychedelics and reveals why more and more veterans are turning to psychedelic...

Mary Fisk, Marine Corps veteran and Student Veteran Career Counselor at Penn State University, joins us to talk about proactive veteran career support and how higher education can be a powerful anchor in the military-to-civilian transition. Mary shares how Penn State offers one-on-one advising, career fairs, lunch & learns, and hybrid-access workshops to support more than 3,000 military-connec...

In this powerful episode of the VET S.O.S. Military Transition Podcast, we speak with Ashley Sard , an Air Force veteran and Community Partnership Specialist at Empath Health. Ashley shares her deeply personal military transition story, from medical retirement and career uncertainty to championing hospice and palliative care for veterans in Florida. We explore: The impact of medical retirement on...

After decades of service, what comes next? For many veterans, the answer lies in rediscovering who they are without the uniform—and reclaiming their mission in life. In this powerful episode of The Scoop , part of the VET S.O.S. Podcast series, host Kings speaks with Steven Eugene Kuhn , a Bronze Star recipient turned business strategist, international advisor, and co-author of Unleash Your Humble...

Scott DeLuzio shares a deeply emotional story of loss, leadership, and healing in this episode of The Scoop . Deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 alongside his younger brother, Scott’s world was forever changed when Stephen was killed in action during the final stretch of their deployment. In a moment that defines veteran resilience , Scott had to push down unimaginable grief and continue leading his...

Christian Echeverri, Navy veteran and outreach lead at Best Military Resume and Hire Valor, joins the VET S.O.S. Podcast to share how cutting-edge AI is helping veterans bridge the gap between military service and civilian employment. He dives into the challenges of rediscovering identity after retirement, adjusting post-COVID, and how his journey led him to help others find meaningful careers. Ch...

What if your next mission was to serve those who never came home? In this compelling episode of The Scoop on the VET S.O.S. podcast, Colonel PJ Dermer shares how his journey didn’t end with retirement—it just transformed. As the founder of TerraSearch Promise , PJ now leads veteran-powered recovery missions that bring closure to families of missing U.S. service members. We dive into PJ’s post-serv...

Marine Corps veteran and resiliency coach Garret Biss joins us on the VET S.O.S. podcast to share his journey through anxiety, addiction, and identity loss—and how those experiences led to the creation of Valiant Path , a revolutionary program in Veteran Resilience Training . Garret explains how most veterans lose more than just a job when they leave the military—they lose connection, meaning, and...

“Don’t just get a job—find your calling.” In this episode of The Scoop on the VET S.O.S. Podcast, we’re joined by Matthew Louis, veteran and author of Mission Transition . He walks us through his strategic blueprint for exiting the military with confidence—and entering the civilian world with clarity. 🔹 How to define your personal “True North”🔹 Resume translation, branding, and communication tip...

In this episode of the VET S.O.S. podcast, hosts Shawn Welsh and Keith Cassant talk with Katie Helbling, content creator at ClearanceJobs and host of the Security Clearance Careers podcast. Katie brings her trademark humor and honesty as she discusses how veterans can successfully navigate the security clearance job search after leaving the military. Katie offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Cl...

In this powerful episode of The Scoop , host Kingsley sits down with Air Force veteran and emotional intelligence expert Mary Polanco , founder of Lead and Lead Well, LLC and author of Your Final Debrief . Mary shares her deeply personal story of transitioning from the military, overcoming anxiety and depression, and rediscovering her identity outside the uniform. We explore the emotional and psyc...