VET S.O.S. Podcast

In this powerful episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn and Eric sit down with Denise Lewis, the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility for Corporate America. Denise shares her personal journey and shines a spotlight on the life-changing work of Vet Jobs and Military Spouse Jobs—two leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping veterans, military spouses, and military-affil...

In this powerful episode of VET S.O.S., we welcome Jordana Megonigal, CEO of Recon Network. Jordana shares her inspiring journey from a successful marketing career to becoming CEO of Recon Network, driven by her passion for supporting veterans and their families. She explains how her grandfather's experience as an Iwo Jima Marine influenced her understanding of veterans' unique challenges and moti...

In this powerful episode of VET S.O.S., we sit down with Chris Lancia, a U.S. Army veteran with over 25 years of distinguished service, now serving as Tennessee's first Director of Military and Veterans Initiatives. Chris opens up about his personal journey transitioning out of the military and the challenges service members face when reentering civilian life. Chris co-founded Grid Square Recon LL...

Are you a veteran struggling to break into the federal job market? This episode is for YOU! In this insightful continuation, Hope White, an entrepreneur and leading expert in the federal hiring process, returns to VET S.O.S. to dive deeper into how veterans can successfully transition into stable, long-term federal careers. With firsthand experience navigating the federal employment system, Hope s...

Join us for an inspiring episode of VET S.O.S. Season 3, Episode 6, featuring Stephen Kaplan, retired Navy SEAL and owner of Trident Adventures in Hawaii! Stephen shares his journey from military service to founding an adrenaline-filled adventure company that offers scuba diving, snorkeling, skydiving, shooting experiences, and exclusive helicopter casts into the ocean. Learn how Stephen's mission...

In this powerful episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn and Eric sit down with Rich LaMonica, an Army veteran and the host of the Misfit Nation Podcast. Rich opens up about his personal transition out of the Army in 2015 and the initial struggles he faced in finding civilian employment. Despite doing everything "by the book," including submitting countless applications, Rich's military-focused resume...

In this episode of VET S.O.S., Shawn and Eric welcome Robyn Grable, the founder and CEO of Talents Ascend, a platform designed to help veterans, military spouses, and other underserved communities transition into meaningful civilian careers. Robyn shares her personal journey as a Navy veteran and the inspiration behind Talents Ascend, emphasizing the importance of a skills-based approach to job se...

In this powerful episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn and Eric welcome Jon Doolen, a U.S. Army veteran and expert recruiter at Movement Search and Delivery, who has dedicated his career to guiding veterans and transitioning service members toward meaningful civilian employment. Drawing from his own journey from the Quartermaster Corps in the First Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, to becoming...

In this impactful episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn and Eric welcome retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Chris Roness, founder of Chris Roness Enterprises and creator of the transformative human performance and mindfulness system, "You Matter." Known by his call sign "Switch," Chris shares his extraordinary journey from enlisting in the Air Force to becoming a Special Operations helicopter pilot and o...

Welcome back to VET S.O.S. for an exciting launch of Season 3! In this powerful episode, hosts Shawn and Eric sit down with Jerry Young, the Director of Veteran Ambassadors at INVets—a dynamic nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses to high-quality career opportunities in Indiana. INVets has experienced incredible growth over the...

In this powerful episode of VET S.O.S., we welcome William Chesnutt, Marine Corps veteran and the visionary founder and CEO of Strategic Development Group LLC. William opens up about his transition from military service in 2021 to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He dives deep into how he leveraged his 3P Business Framework (People, Process, Performance) to help veterans and aspiring business o...

In this powerful episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn Welsh and Eric Brew sit down with Stacey Gordon, a dedicated veteran advocate and life skills educator. Stacey shares her inspiring journey transitioning from a New Jersey public school teacher to a passionate military transition coach. Her personal experiences during 9/11, her mother’s brain aneurysm, and her grandmother’s battle with breast can...

In this powerful episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn Welsh and Eric Brew sit down with Justin Pearson, a two-time founder and CEO of Mission Box Solutions. Justin opens up about his 20-year military career in the Airborne Infantry and US Army Recruiting Command and shares his deeply personal transition story. Drawing parallels between a near-drowning experience during a whitewater rafting trip and...

In this powerful episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn Welsh and Eric Brew sit down with John Ellis, the inspiring founder and CEO of Mission Rehab, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering veterans through job placement, skill building, and homeless prevention. John, a former Army food service specialist, opens up about his personal journey transitioning from military service to civilian lif...

Join us for an inspiring and deeply moving episode of VET S.O.S. as we welcome Amber Kulesza, a disabled Air Force veteran and founder of Amber's Adventures. Amber shares her powerful and transformative story of transitioning from 12 years of dedicated military service to becoming a passionate advocate for veterans navigating disabilities and prioritizing their mental and physical health. In this...

In this compelling episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn and Eric sit down with Chris Lancia, a Tennessee Governor's Veteran Fellow and decorated U.S. Army veteran with over 25 years of service. Chris offers a deep dive into the Tennessee Governor's Veteran Fellowship Program, an innovative 12-month paid initiative that equips veterans with the skills and experience needed to transition into impactfu...

In this insightful episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn Welsh and Eric Brew sit down with Lori Norris, the dynamic host of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast and a leading authority on veteran career transitions. With nearly two decades of experience helping service members and veterans successfully navigate the civilian workforce, Lori shares invaluable strategies to help you thrive after militar...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn Welsh and Eric Brew engage in an in-depth conversation with Army veteran and dedicated mental health advocate Manny Vera. Manny shares his inspiring journey from serving as a Military Police officer to transitioning into law enforcement and ultimately finding his calling as a military peer recovery specialist at Here Tomorrow, a non...

In this insightful episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn and Eric dive deep into the world of cybersecurity and how veterans can successfully transition into this high-demand field. Joining them are two industry leaders: Gunnar Kallstrom, a cyber team lead and former Army musician, and Keith Cassant, a veteran employment program manager at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)....

In this powerful episode of VET S.O.S., hosts Shawn Welsh and Mark Elder sit down with Jim Zenner, the Director of Military and Veteran Affairs for Los Angeles County. Jim shares his inspiring journey from serving in the U.S. Army to becoming a leading advocate for veterans' mental health and homelessness support. His firsthand experience of overcoming adversity fuels his passion for creating impa...

In this impactful episode of VET S.O.S., Shawn and Mark sit down with Mark Casper, President and CEO of Tech for Troops, to explore how the organization is transforming the lives of veterans through technology and sustainability. Tech for Troops provides veterans and their families with access to essential IT training and computer literacy programs, helping them build valuable skills for the moder...