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We talk with Navy veteran and combat photographer Paula Kemp about how a career she loved collided with military sexual trauma and how silence can shape everything that comes after. We also dig into what real healing looks like, from VA care and post traumatic growth to storytelling, claims support, and policy change through the Bears Act.
• joining the Navy Reserves as a mother of three and finding a path into combat photography
• what the camera changes about how you see risk, people, and memory
• the Fleet Week assault, the fear of reporting, and why many survivors stay quiet
• anger, nightmares, drinking, and the delayed surfacing of trauma after service
• early VA experiences, co-ed treatment pitfalls, and the need for trauma-informed care
• helping veterans navigate VA disability claims with an impactful personal statement
• building Unjustly Served and why telling the story can support healing
• the Bears Act concept for tracking harmful behavior across commands
Go read the book, visit the website, and reach out, please. Reach out.Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We talk with Marine veteran Freddie Mendez about why veteran mental health care breaks down after treatment and how better behavioral health software can give clinicians time back to actually listen. We dig into outcomes data, privacy, and aftercare systems that spot relapse risk early without turning veterans into numbers.
• Freddie’s Marine background and what he learned overseas about culture and hard choices
• The “void” of transition and why adrenaline chasing can slide into addiction
• Why he walked away from pharma and toward behavioral health and addiction recovery work
• How Sunwave aims to cut clinician charting time and reduce burnout
• Outcomes measurement for PTSD, addiction, and depression using structured data points
• Alumni aftercare check-ins that trigger early outreach before relapse
• Data security concerns and avoiding third-party PHI leakage
• Partnering with nonprofits through conversations about pain points and workflows
• Why listening and cultural competence matter more than perfect scripts
My email is Freddie at sunwavehealth.com.Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We talk with two veteran professionals from Berry Law about what it takes to move a VA disability claim forward when denials, confusion, and misinformation stack up. We break down how VA accreditation, deadlines, evidence, and clear expectations can turn a frustrating process into an organized plan.
• why veterans are skeptical of law firms and how trust gets built
• what VA accreditation means and why it protects veterans
• how a case moves from intake to legal strategy to written appeals
• common VA appeals process pitfalls like missed deadlines and incomplete forms
• why PTSD claims often hinge on verifying a stressor
• how nexus letters buddy statements and record details strengthen service connection
• how increases work when symptoms get worse after a prior decision
• the difference between temporary 100% Permanent and Total and TDIU
• how spouses parents and kids can help start the process
Go hit up the website. If you're a new veteran, if you're new to the veteran world and you're trying to file your claim and you're getting frustrated, give it a shot. You know, talk to them. It can't hurt.Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We reconnect with my friend and fellow veteran Delton Walker and talk about the road from military life and hard memories to healing through connection, therapy, and music. He shares how a saxophone became his church, his career, and his way to give peace back to other veterans.
• meeting through the Herd Foundation Freedom Patch program and why it changes lives
• using humor to cover pain and calling out the “trauma Olympics” mindset
• life on the flightline, fighter jets, noise exposure, and what service feels like
• choosing the Air Force, going overseas, and growing up fast away from home
• dealing with racism on base and the long tail of hypervigilance
• culture shock returning stateside and why trust can disappear overnight
• the rough edges of transition out of the military and why support matters
• picking up sax later, practicing relentlessly, and finding a real voice
• getting endorsed, working with Walter Beasley, and hearing his music went to space
• playing at the VA hospital to give other veterans a break from the noise
If you like it, share itLike, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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I talk with Rick Chirac from Exokinetics about ZEEN, a lift-assist mobility device that blends a walker and wheelchair to help people stand, move, and transfer with more safety. We connect the origin story to Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown, then get practical about fit, training, fall prevention, and how veterans can get ZEEN through the VA.
• Garrett Brown’s Steadicam history and how it inspires ZEEN
• What ZEEN is and who it helps: balance, strength, endurance issues
• How the gas-spring lift works and why the seat and strap improve safety
• Real-world use: ramps, turning radius, terrain, restaurants, storage
• Fitting and customization: spring levels, height setup, Zoom training
• Transfers and daily living tasks, including bathroom and bed height changes
• VA access: Federal Supply Schedule, physical therapy clinic workflow, medical necessity
• Why naming fear of falling matters and how pride can block care
• Warranty, repairs, and simple maintenance expectations
• Financial help for civilians through Project Elevate Mobility grants
Go to the website and check it out. Go to the VA when you see this product and you say, I want it, I need it. Talk to your physical therapist. “I have a fear of falling. I don’t want to fall. Put that in my medical record.”Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We talk with Andrea Sok about what a nonprofit fractional CMO actually does, how she prices and scopes the work, and why boards often need a reality check grounded in data and comparable benchmarks. Then Blake Allison walks us through Lifecents and Vetcents, a free, veteran-focused financial wellness toolkit built for trust, privacy, and real outcomes without selling anything to users.
• fractional CMO work as executive-level nonprofit marketing leadership without full-time cost
• smooth transitions during leave coverage through overlap and clear handoffs
• pricing based on time, deliverables, team structure, and budget realities
• board dynamics and how proof and peer examples reset expectations
• blurred line between marketing and development for fundraising events and sponsorship materials
• warning signs of broken nonprofit marketing, including doing nothing or repeating stale tactics
• founder-led growth challenges, especially letting go and prioritizing highest ROI actions
• storytelling as a core marketing lever, shaped by audience and delivery channel
• LifeSense as a digital financial coach focused on outcomes, not “butts in seats” education
• VetSense tailored guidance for veterans, with trusted resources and no monetization of participants
• partnerships that add credibility, including VA-connected pathways and veteran-serving nonprofits
• success story of delaying a home purchase to improve credit and save tens of thousands
• web-based access at vetsense.org, quick intake, personalized coach report, and crisis resources
Check them out once again, Vetcents.org
For the nonprofits, soakinfluencerpr.com.
If you like this, share it.Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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I sit down with lifelong friends from Clark Air Base and tell the stories that shaped our bonds, from culture shock and terror threats to moments that still hit decades later. We also talk about what happens when young troops face trauma with no real support, and how friendship, recovery, and purpose can finally fill that gap.
• arriving at Clark Air Base as teenagers and feeling instant culture shock
• a fellow airman assassinated off base and the operational ripple effect
• the night escaped horses hit razor wire and the long tail of that memory
• “kids taking care of kids” and the habit of going right back to work
• K9 patrol life on a dark jungle perimeter with intruders and wildlife threats
• earthquake response at a collapsed school and the weight of seeing children lost
• Mount Pinatubo, lahar, ash, looting, evacuation choices, and coming home
• post-military transitions into law enforcement, corrections, sobriety, and the VA
• traumatic brain injury, delayed diagnosis, and what clarity looks like later
• therapy through building things, podcasting, and blacksmithing
If you like it, share it.Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We go back to Clark Air Base in the late 1980s and talk honestly about why that overseas tour still sits in our bones. The stories land on one point we can all prove 30 years later: the people you leaned on back then can still show up for you now.
• why Clark Air Base felt different from stateside duty
• arriving in the Philippines and the culture shock of Manila and Angeles City
• Security Police and canine work on a huge perimeter with constant pressure
• how the assassinations and threat level changed daily life and schedules
• why reunions turn old coworkers into brothers over time
• the hard parts of transitioning out and starting over as a civilian
• what it means to call a friend first when life falls apart
• a real example of veterans helping veterans on short notice
• living closeted in the 1980s military and the fear of being found out
• how acceptance and friendship outlast time, distance, and loss
If you like vintage collectibles, give Paul's Picker Palace.Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We talk with Suzanne MacPhail about how horses help people access truth, regulation, and connection when talk therapy alone hits a wall. Along the way we trace her path from trauma counseling to founding Hands for Healing Equine and building a hands-on veteran program where the animals lead the learning.
• Suzanne’s route into mental health counseling and trauma work
• How early horse experiences shape a lifelong attachment
• Why EGALA-style groundwork differs from riding programs
• What separates equine-assisted therapy from equine-assisted learning
• How horses respond to heartbeat, emotion, and body language
• Suzanne’s personal trauma story and using EMDR for healing
• The bond with a “heart horse” and why it matters
• Building a 501(c)(3) and what nonprofit life really requires
• The Windrush Farm partnership and an eight-week veteran curriculum
• Meet the herd: Mama, Sophie, Poe, and Autumn
• Donkey behavior, protection instincts, and what “stubborn” really means
• Fundraising realities when the horses’ care comes first
If you liked this, share it.Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We sit down with Marine veteran James Jackson to talk about the “creep up” of stress, stigma, and silence that can follow veterans long after service. We also unpack how Call On Me Foundation responds when the unthinkable happens by delivering immediate financial support and staying present for surviving families.
• James’ path from Virginia to the Marine Corps and Iraq deployment work on ordnance
• Why comparing trauma shuts down veterans’ stories and delays healing
• The hard reality of transition after service and finding a new career lane
• How Call On Me Foundation starts by helping one fallen Marine’s family
• The foundation’s mission to provide immediate assistance after unexpected loss with a focus on suicide
• What it feels like to call a grieving spouse and hear the full story
• PTSD, anxiety, depression and the danger of letting it all boil over
• Finding the right mental health support when the first provider is not a fit
• Building partnerships with other veteran nonprofits for referrals and resources
• Fundraising through events, corporate sponsors, and recurring donations that fuel rapid response
go to the website and give them your money.
If you liked it, please share it.Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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Once again I record live from Herd Foundation in Delray Beach during a veteran barbecue that shows how grants, community partners, and horses come together to create real healing. We hear why equine assisted services build patience, calm, and connection, plus why a handmade Quilt of Valor can break through walls that nothing else touches.
• partnering with Delray Beach Elks Lodge to fund Herd programming through a $10,000 grant
• why locals miss the ranch even after decades nearby
• veterans describing equine assisted services as calming and life changing
• lessons from the arena about stories we make up and self regulation
• the meaning of Quilts of Valor and why they feel different than awards
• nonprofit collaboration, referrals, and supporting veteran families after loss
• Herd Foundation growth, upcoming spring dinner, and expanded support for families and kids
• patience defined as not letting emotions drive actions
If you liked it, share itLike, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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I sit with Eric Weaver to trace the road from Gulf War service through hidden trauma, the life-changing role of a service dog, and the rise of Broward Vet Working as a practical, human network for veterans across South Florida. The talk blends hard truths, humor, and clear steps anyone can take to plug in.
• RIF fallout, base closures, and early exit impacts
• The slow arrival of trauma and loss of empathy
• How Gent the service dog interrupts panic and nightmares
• Inside Patriot Service Dogs training and pairing
• Founding Broward Vet Working from 10 to 350 members
• Jobs, VA navigation, legal help, and emergency support
• Activities that rebuild connection and purpose
• Becoming a 501c3 to fund meals and expand reach
• Membership options and transition support for new vets
• How to join and what meetings feel like
Go to oneman1micfoundation.org to learn more and apply
Go to browardvetworking.com to join, donate, or find a meetingLike, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We trace Thomas Coles-Reyes’s path from a draft-day shock and a brutal homecoming to two years on the streets, a life-saving mentor, and the creation of A Vets Place. He explains why permanent housing beats transitional models, how he built a one‑stop hub for veterans and families, and what it took to rebuild after losing everything.
• core theme of dignity through permanent, affordable housing
• childhood instability, institutional care, and forgiveness
• homelessness in New York and the mentor who opened a door
• early advocacy wins, including a direct line to the mayor
• building A Vets Place: property, partnerships, and services on-site
• food pantry, clothing closet, notary, and VSO under one roof
• coffee socials as early-warning and community care
• growth to 30 apartments, then property loss and reinvention
• funding realities and the nonprofit “two-tier” problem
• female veterans’ hidden homelessness and suicide risk
• jobs, training, and entrepreneurial bootcamp for veterans
• current caseload, how to book help, and how to support
If you like what Thomas is doing and you feel passionate about this, give him your money. Give him your Money. Go to vetsplace.org and donateLike, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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I talk with Natasha and Lee from Points for Patriots to explore Battle Buds, a veteran wellness program that pairs yoga with hydroponic gardening to rebuild structure, lower stress, and deliver fresh food to neighbors in need. Former NFL player Lee Hightower and Army veteran yogi Natasha Rector share how breath, plants, and community help veterans find purpose and calm.
• origin of Points for Patriots and its three pillars of wellness, connectedness, social entrepreneurship
• Lee’s path from NFL to Japan to urban gardening
• Natasha’s Army Guard service, deployment, and yoga certification
• why yoga and hydroponics align for veteran wellness
• how Battle Buds works week to week on Zoom
• what cohorts grow and why leafy greens win
• patience, breath, and routine as transition tools
• bridging veterans, civilians, spouses, and youth
• Boca cohort details and donating produce locally
• ways to join, volunteer, or give
Give them your money. Go to pointsforpatriots.org and give them your moneyLike, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We sit down with Marine veteran and counselor Tim Roberto to trace how pain became purpose and why Stomping Out The Stigma offers ten free, confidential therapy sessions to first responders and veterans. We follow his 100-mile Surfside walk, the moments that changed minds, and the simple systems that save lives.
• origins of long-term recovery and stigma
• Marines, AWOL, addiction and depression
• first 20-mile walk and organic momentum
• why confidentiality beats fear of HR and EAP
• ten free sessions with licensed therapists
• kitchen table culture in firehouses
• Surfside tribute: 98 lives, 100 miles
• expansion to Georgia, North Carolina and New Jersey
• small costs like 35 dollar copays change outcomes
• mentorship, vulnerability and speaking up
• how to reach SOTS and get help
If this episode touched you in any way, shape, or form, and you know somebody or you are somebody, please reach out to Tim. Do it. Don’t white knuckle it. If you know somebody or you are somebody, reach out. And it’s free. First name only. No HR. Nothing. We don’t report to any agency.Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We talk with filmmaker and actor Robert X. Golphin about Chest Candy, a 17-minute short that shows how PTSD reshapes a home and how three generations of women fight for one veteran. We explore craft choices, authentic casting, festival wins, and why community screenings matter.
• origin of the story in a 30-second reel and veteran feedback
• why the film focuses on family impact over battlefield scenes
• research, consultants, and restraint to avoid sensationalism
• casting serendipity and a military child’s authentic perspective
• a compressed 48-hour shoot and visual claustrophobia
• festival grind, awards, and deeper validation from veterans
• Brian McKnight Jr.’s intimate score and framed dedications
• title meaning linking medals to family as true chest candy
• veterans’ benefits battles, stigma, and better language for thanks
• plans for screenings, talkbacks, and possible expansion
If you want to find the short film, go to YouTube and type “Chest Candy film.” To request a screening or connect: robertxgolphin.com • robertxgolphinentertainment.com • [email protected]Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We open the year with a candid look at veteran transition, from hard knocks to a practical roadmap that turns service into civilian success. Natalie Schibell, Navy veteran and founder of Mission to Commission, shares how a 60-page playbook, secure tools, and “always care” support veterans, spouses, and even students.
• origin story in Navy medicine and recruiting
• painful transition lessons and repeated resets
• why “everyone hires veterans” is a myth
• translating rank and billets into business outcomes
• the 50–60 page career strategy playbook
• certifications, ATS keywords and targeted outreach
• TAP strengths and limits for personalization
• AI as a research and resume ally with guardrails
• virtual reach, secure portal and weekly content
• donations, employer matching and merch on the way
• “always care” approach beyond first job offer
Give Natalie a call at 877-622-7473 (RISE)
“If you liked it, share it. If you didn’t like it, well, thanks for watching and listening for one hour and 27 seconds.”Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We trace Haley’s path from Navy Master-at-Arms to K9 handler, through injury, loss, and COVID isolation, and into a Skillbridge placement at an equine nonprofit that helped her reframe control, connection, and purpose. Candid stories of hypervigilance, TBI questions, therapy wins, and the reality of starting over as a single mom sharpen a hopeful blueprint for transition.
• choosing the Navy and MA route amid height and weight assumptions
• earning the leash, certification pressure, and kennel culture
• Bahrain duty, mentorship, and leadership’s impact on morale
• injury, family loss, COVID quarantine, and mental health fallout
• clear Skillbridge guidance, timelines, and approval insights
• equine-assisted learning at Herd and the predator vs prey shift
• transition stress, hypervigilance, sleep images, and TBI questions
• therapy as a performance system and guarding care continuity
• faith, single motherhood, and redefining purpose and leadership
• future plans: MBA path, nonprofit vision, serving veterans
If you liked it, share it. If you didn’t like it, well, thanks for watching and listening for an hour and seven minutes, eight minutes.Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We trace Jalen Auer’s path from Air Force rescue pilot to South Florida program manager at The Fire Watch, and we go deep on grief, stigma, and the tools that save lives before a crisis explodes. A full-circle Huey Helicopter story sets up a candid look at transition, mental health, and community action that works.
• origins in Boynton Beach and drive to serve
• rescue pilot training, Huey inspiration, instructor years
• duty stations, family life, and tough transition out
• sudden loss, depression, attempts, and getting help
• clearing up PTSD myths and stigma across veteran and civilian life
• the strain on first responders and why small cracks grow
• what The Fire Watch is, who it serves, and how training works
• VA SAVE steps, 988 Press 1, and practical tools that help
• real saves after training and how to access it statewide
• holidays, vigilance, and why one trained person matters
If you liked it, share it
If you want to get in touch with me, you can email me at VetsConnection Podcast at gmail.com
Go to thefirewatch.org. There’s a donate button right on there. Every penny countsLike, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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We record live at Fall at the Farm, where veterans, families, and neighbors gather to celebrate HERD Foundation’s Freedom Patch program. Short conversations show how horses teach presence, why aftercare keeps people connected, and how community partners expand the work.
• live fundraiser energy and purpose
• overview of Freedom Patch equine-assisted services
• veteran reflections on reading horse signals
• skepticism turning into trust and change
• Tiffany on camps, families, and Fallen Friday aftercare
• Carly on mutual relationships with horses
• Glenn on legacy of service and nonprofit impact
• Rhonda on founding HERD and a place to belong
• Do Good Delray partnerships building awareness and funds
• city perspective on a hidden community gem
• kids’ joy with pony rides and minis
• alumni veteran return and the power of welcome
Join us for our many events at Do Good DelrayLike, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: [email protected]. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
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