The Common Veterans

The Digital Divide: When Technology Leaves Veterans Behind Technology connects the world—but what happens when Veterans don't have the computers, training, or resources needed to participate? In Episode 15 of the Common Veterans Podcast, Marine Corps Veteran Mark Casper, President and CEO of Tech For Troops , joins the crew for an honest, entertaining conversation about bridging the digital di...

What happens when the uniform comes off and the structure disappears? In Episode 14 of the Common Veterans Podcast , Kenny, Jeff, Casey, and Fred sit down for “Hobbies for Healing” —a conversation about what Veterans do with their time, why hobbies matter, and how something that starts as “just for fun” can become structure, purpose, connection, and a new challenge. The guys talk mountain biking,...

Every Veteran served in the military. But we didn’t all serve in the same military. In Season 4, Episode 13 of the Common Veterans Podcast , the crew sits down with Vietnam Veteran Bob Evans for a raw, funny, and at times heavy conversation about how military service changes from one generation to the next. We Didn’t Serve the Same War Vietnam. The Persian Gulf. Afghanistan. Iraq. Different branch...

Season 4, Episode 12 – Strong Enough Is Different Now For a lot of Veterans, physical fitness used to come with a schedule, a formation, a PT test, and somebody making sure you showed up. You didn't have to decide whether you felt motivated that morning. You had a place to be, a standard to meet, and a group of people going through it right alongside you. Then you leave the military, and all of th...

Sometimes, another person sees your potential long before you can see it yourself. In Season 4, Episode 11 of the Common Veterans Podcast , the crew discusses mentorship, leadership, confidence and the people who help shape us throughout military service and civilian life. What begins as borrowed confidence can eventually become something real. A mentor challenges you, pushes you beyond your comfo...

Networking is a mission, not a mystery. For many Veterans, the word “networking” can feel artificial, transactional, or uncomfortable. In this episode of The Common Veterans , Kenny and Jeff welcome retired Army Veteran Brian Beal for a conversation about replacing empty networking with genuine relationship building. Brian served for 22 years in the Army, working in field artillery, human resource...

When the Calls Stop Coming Military service creates bonds unlike any other. We train together, deploy together, struggle together, and celebrate together. There is always someone nearby who understands without needing an explanation. Then transition happens. Careers begin. Families grow. Life moves in different directions. Before long, some of the people we once talked to every day slowly disappea...

Military culture has its own language, humor, rhythm, and rules. The problem is that what makes perfect sense in uniform does not always land the same way in a civilian workplace, a customer service job, a staff meeting, or even a casual conversation. In this episode of Common Veterans , the hosts take on social rules, workplace landmines, and communication whiplash through the only way they know...

What happens when Veterans stop trying to tell the “perfect” story and start telling the honest one? In this episode of Common Veterans , the table gets practical about the power of storytelling. Not storytelling as performance, but storytelling as a tool for resilience, connection, healing, and helping others understand what lived experience really means. Guest host SGT Eric Donoho, U.S. Army Ret...

The Stuff We Don’t Diagnose is a conversation about the weight people carry when life does not fit neatly into a label. In this episode of Common Veterans , we sit down with Reverend Pastor Mason Vieth to talk about the things that do not always show up in a chart, a report, or a diagnosis, but still shape the way people live, think, and relate to the world around them. This episode steps away fro...

Episode 5: Permission to Fail Veterans are good at telling the version of the story that makes sense. Service. Transition. Forward movement. Progress. What often gets left out are the moments in between — the jobs that did not work out, the leadership decisions that fell short, the relationships that took a hit, and the seasons where nothing felt as steady as it was supposed to. In this episode, t...

Introduction One of the most common pieces of advice Veterans hear during transition is simple: “Translate your MOS.” The idea sounds reasonable. Replace acronyms with civilian terminology. Turn missions into projects. Convert leadership into management language. Take the language of the military and make it sound like something a corporate hiring manager might recognize. But for many Veterans, th...

Introduction We begin the way we always do. Host roll call. A moment to recognize the voices in the room and the stories behind them. This episode is brought to you by Winter Oak Studio, who continues to support conversations that matter. Toast: “ To the Uniform. There’s ceremony when you put it on. There’s paperwork when you take it off. There’s nothing in between. To the uniform that formed us,...

Movies, television, and social media have created familiar images of Veterans — the unstoppable warrior, the haunted survivor, or the flawless patriot. While often meant to honor service, these portrayals can quietly shape how civilians view and interact with Veterans in everyday life. In this episode, featuring guest host Goose , the conversation explores how media-driven perceptions follow Veter...

We’re not starting Season 4 quietly. We’re not easing in with a polite “welcome back.” We’re kicking off 2026 with a full-throttle “that’s bullsh*t!” and we’re doing it the only way we know how — loud, honest, and unfiltered. Welcome to Common Veterans Season 4 . This season is going to be bigger, bolder, and more unapologetically real than ever. And we’re starting with the topic that every vetera...

Veterans of different eras come together to share how military life and reintegration have evolved across generations. From early conflicts to modern warfare, this episode explores what has changed, what hasn’t, and how camaraderie continues to bind Veterans together. I. Introduction The episode opens with reflections on how service differs by decade while the core experience of wearing the unifor...

Veteran Homeless Veterans face unique housing challenges that ripple through lives and families. In Michiana, the gap between need and available, affordable units is painfully real. This episode explores practical steps to find stable housing and rebuild the sense of home many of us carry with us from service. We begin by laying out the common barriers: rising rents, credit challenges, lingering s...

Episode Summary: This week, we’re talking about how Veterans transition from mess hall meals and MREs to home cooking. From field hacks and chow hall laughs to the joy of sharing a meal with family again — this one’s all about food, memories, and connection. “To the ones that were the best barracks cooks with the hot plate they weren’t supposed to have… to the Divine Intervention that got us throu...

The Common Veterans – Season 3, Episode 14: The Battle Within Some battles aren’t fought on the field—they’re fought within. The Common Veterans continue their candid conversations about mental health, PTSD, and the resources available to support those dealing with invisible wounds. Welcome Back to the Fight Case of the Mondays: “This one’s for the Veterans who fight battles no one else sees.” Toa...

Hosts: Kenny Holmes, Jeff Schrock, Tony Buoscio Guest: Ty Bancroft — The Bancroft Companies In this episode we highlight Veterans who’ve built businesses and share practical tips for entrepreneurial success. We talk about stories and lessons from founders like Matt Best ( Black Rifle Coffee ), John Burk ( Shell Shock CBD ), Daniel Alerik ( Grunt Style ), and our guest, Ty Bancroft of The Bancroft...

How Veterans can leverage military skills to build networks and navigate civilian careers. To the Veterans who never stopped believing — in themselves, in their brothers and sisters, and in the future. We’ve all been those “streetlights, people, livin’ just to find emotion, hidin’ somewhere in the…” well, usually the VFW or the local dive bar. May we carry the skills we earned in service into ever...

The Gap We’re Closing Transitioning from military to civilian life can feel like stepping off a moving train. The speed changes, the rules change, and—surprise— and no one issued you a manual . That’s where mentorship and camaraderie step in. This episode digs into how Veterans can leverage local programs, especially county VSOs and groups like IN Vets and FreedomSystem.org, to build a real suppor...

Married to a Veteran – The Spouse Episode Season 3, Episode 10 of The Common Veterans When we think of service and sacrifice, it’s easy to focus on the Veteran — but what about the ones who held the line back home? In this episode of The Common Veterans , Jeff Schrock sits down with two of those very people: Sarah Holmes (wife of Army Veteran Kenny Holmes) and Katy O'Toole (wife of Marine Veteran...

Roll for initiative! In this high-spirited episode, the crew sits down to talk about the games that shaped them—on and off the battlefield. From heated rounds of beer pong in the barracks to late-night strategy battles over Axis & Allies, games have always been a part of the Veteran experience. But this week isn't just about dice and drinks—we're proud to welcome our keynote speaker fo...

For those who’ve served, transitioning to civilian life can feel like entering a different world. In Episode 8: You Can’t Do That , the hosts of The Common Veterans take a humorous but honest look at what doesn’t translate from the military to the civilian world—and how Veterans are forced to adjust. Field Habits Die Hard From combat parking at Target to scanning rooms like a security team, old ha...