Veterans Don’t Need Sympathy. They Need Community. | S.O.S. #269

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Social media can make you feel surrounded and alone at the same time, and veterans often get hit hardest by that whiplash. I sit down with Jenna Carlton, a former U.S. Navy aerographer’s mate and the creator behind The Millennial Veteran, to talk about the double-edged reality of online community: it can save you on your worst day, but it can also drag you into outrage, anxiety, and burnout if you don’t set boundaries.We get into what Jenna learned after service while studying politics and interning with the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs, including how influence, ego, and access shape veteran policy. From there, we pull the camera back to the real problem many of us see every day: younger veterans trying to navigate transition with limited local connection, confusing benefits systems, and the pressure to “advocate” nonstop online. We talk about a healthier model for veteran advocacy, one rooted in empathy, coalition-building, and showing up in real places like VSOs and local meetings.Jenna also shares the story behind her Veteran Workbook, a guided journaling tool designed to help veterans process experience, rebuild structure, and move into the next chapter with intention. Her current work as a housing navigator for homeless veterans brings the conversation into the loneliness epidemic, romance scams, and exploitation that can leave even high-income disabled veterans without stable housing. We close with hope and action, including her Women Veterans Workbook launch and what happens when women veterans create spaces where honesty is allowed.If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who’s navigating transition, and leave a review so more veterans can find it. Where have you found real community when the internet wasn’t enough?Stories of Service presents guests’ stories and opinions in their own words, reflecting their personal experiences and perspectives. While shared respectfully and authentically, the podcast does not independently verify all statements. Views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the host, producers, government agencies, or podcast affiliates.Support the showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76