Veterans Radio

Jessica Meuse joins Veterans Radio to talk about what happens when your ambitions don’t fit together cleanly. A recording artist who competed on American Idol and played the Grammys, she’s now an officer candidate turned logistics officer in one of the most remote duty stations in the country — and still chasing a second degree in medicine.This conversation covers building boundaries under a microscope, why she stopped eating in high school and how that shaped her relationship with fitness and nutrition today, walking away from a manager who tried to take her music, and what she’s learned about worth that has nothing to do with how you look. She also gets into mentoring senior enlisted from an O-1 billet, and what “you just can’t win” actually means when you stop waiting for the friction to disappear.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER✓ How Jessica turned down officer packet into an OCS acceptance two weeks before boot camp ✓ Why she calls Hollywood the most superficial place she’s ever lived ✓ How she mentors senior enlisted from a junior officer’s chair ✓ Her honest answer on what it costs to hold three ambitions at once.Jessica MeuseUS Coast Guard Logistics OfficerJessica Meuse, widely known as Jess Meuse, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and U.S. Coast Guard officer currently stationed in Juneau, Alaska while pursuing a second degree toward a career in medicine. She originally shot to fame as a top finalist on American Idol. Notably, she was the first contestant in the series’ history to perform an original song during the live finals.Shelly RoodVeterans Radio Host - Hardcore & At EaseShelly C. Rood served across 16 years as a U.S. Army Reserves Intelligence Officer — Captain, Company Commander, and S2 — leading covert briefings overseas and overseeing security programs for nearly 4,000 soldiers. A Distinguished Military Graduate of Western Michigan University and a third-generation Detroit business owner, she brought that same standard of leadership into the private sector. She is the founder of a training and leadership development company, Mission Ambition, LLC, creator of the Others Over Self® leadership mindset, and the architect of Be At Ease, Woman Veteran™, a peer support program serving military women since 2019. She is host of Hardcore and At Ease, and author of Mission Wildflower 🌻. Today she leads a team of veterans who continue to serv

Jim Lynch served in the US Army for 31 years. A West Point grad who went to medical school and became a special ops physician after 10 years of service. Now out of service, he is a pioneer in the world of PTSD treatment using Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB). He explains the treatment and its impact to host Jim Fausone.

From a controversial new military health initiative to the long-overdue recognition of extraordinary courage in Vietnam, this week’s Veterans Radio explores two very different issues affecting America’s military community. Host Jim Fausone speaks with Dr. Robert Kelsch about proposed testosterone testing and hormone therapy for service members, then Medal of Honor recipient Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson shares the remarkable story of the actions that saved dozens of fellow soldiers in 1968—and the recognition that finally came nearly six decades later.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER✓ What testosterone does in the body and what service members should understand about Low-T ✓ The medical questions and potential concerns surrounding widespread testosterone testing and hormone therapy in the military ✓ How Terry Richardson’s actions on Hill 222 helped save the lives of fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War ✓ What it was like to receive the Medal of Honor nearly 58 years after the actions that earned it.Dr. Robert KelschPhysician & Hormone Therapy ExpertPhysician and hormone therapy expert who joins Veterans Radio to explain testosterone’s role in men’s health and examine the potential benefits, limitations, and medical concerns surrounding testosterone testing and hormone therapy for military personnel.Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. RichardsonU.S. Army - Medal of Honor RecipientU.S. Army Vietnam veteran, Michigan National Guard veteran, and Medal of Honor recipient. As a 20-year-old soldier in September 1968, Richardson distinguished himself through extraordinary acts of courage on Hill 222, helping protect his fellow soldiers during intense combat. His Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in March 2026, nearly 58 years later. Richardson joins Veterans Radio to reflect on his service, the Medal of Honor, his White House ceremony, and what it means to represent the communities that have shaped his life.

Pete Hegseth is mandating testosterone testing for soldiers 30 years and older. He wants them to consider hormone therapy to eliminate Low-T in the troops. Dr. Robert Kelsch, an expert in the field of hormone therapy, discusses with host Jim Fausone what testosterone does and the problems associated with this Low-T plan.

​GET ANSWERS FROM OUR EXPERT PANEL!Dale Throneberry – Founder and Host of Veterans RadioBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help For VeteransMatthew Kenney - Founding Partner of Echo Canyon Consulting.Next, we're joined by Matt Kenney, a Founding Partner of Echo Canyon Consulting. Matt is a specialist in public affairs with nearly a decade of experience. He has led national, statewide, and local political and initiative campaigns as well as corporate public affairs projects. Matt and his team have successfully assisted corporations, associations, and trade groups in creating effective communications and advocacy campaigns on a broad range of issues.Previously, Matt served as the executive director of a multi-million dollar independent expenditure effort to re-elect Senator John McCain in 2016 before becoming the Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party. During his tenure, Matt oversaw three special elections and managed the RNC’s National GOTV Program for Arizona, demonstrating his capability in steering significant political efforts.

Green Star Families of America was creaetd to recognize and respect those families that lost a loved one to veteran suicide. Matt Cahill founded the non profit in 2020 after losing a cousin and a combat buddy. He talks about he purpose and advocacy of Green Star Families. He is a 26 yr Army and Penn National Guard veteran and discusses all this with host Jim Fausone.

Every veteran leaves behind a legacy worth preserving—and every generation must prepare for the challenges ahead. This week, Veterans Radio welcomes Tom Pawlak, founder of Mission Restore Bronze Markers, to discuss the nationwide volunteer effort restoring veterans’ bronze grave markers at no cost to families. Then, in a replay of his January 2021 interview, bestselling author and combat historian Bing West returns to discuss his books, The Last Patrol and Call Sign Chaos. Available on Amazon. Look for his new book Cat5: The 2033 War.Tom PawlakFounder - Mission Restore Bronze MarkersFounder of Mission Restore Bronze Markers, a nationwide volunteer initiative dedicated to restoring weathered bronze veterans’ grave markers at no cost to families. Through his mission, Tom is helping preserve the memory and dignity of America’s veterans, one headstone at a time. Bing West in a replay of his appearance on Veterans Radio on January 17, 2021Author - The last Patrol and Call Sign ChaosMarine Corps veteran, former Assistant Secretary of Defense, acclaimed military historian, and bestselling author of The Last Patrol and Call Sign Chaos. Having embedded with combat units in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, West brings decades of firsthand battlefield experience and national security expertise to his analysis of America’s military and geopolitical future.

Army Ranger, with three tours in Afghanistan, Jesse Gould struggled with TBI and PTSD. The conventional therapies were not working and he turned to psychedlic therapies down in Peru. He is not an advocate of this method for some veterans and is founder and president of Heroic Hearths Project. After almost a decade of advocating, the Trump administrtion is accelerating research into psychedlic drungs for mental illness. Gould talks to host Jim Fausone about this treatment for veterans and his journey.

You’ve built your whole identity around what you accomplish, and it worked, until the day it didn’t. In this episode, host Shelly Rood sits down with a fellow Veteran – a retired Navy SEAL – who says the strongest people he’s ever known are the first ones to ask for help, and who’s still working out what it costs when you didn’t.Andy Stumpf has spent seventeen years as a Navy SEAL, six of those on SEAL Team Six. In February 2005, an insurgent shot him at close range on a deployment in Iraq; doctors weren’t sure he’d walk the same again. He came back and later set two world records skydiving from 36,500 feet to raise $750,000 for the Navy SEAL Foundation. His book, “Drownproof: Eight Life Lessons to Keep Your Head Above Water,” is a New York Times bestseller with a foreword from Jocko Willink.In this conversation, Andy talks candidly about why asking for help gets treated as weakness in high-performance cultures when it’s actually the opposite, why money is a tool to say no rather than a way to acquire things, and what his own career cost his marriage and his kids the first time around. We also get into a live, unresolved question: what happens when the label you’ve earned starts doing more work for your identity than you want it to.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER✓ Why the most capable people ask for help first, not last ✓ Reframing money as a tool to say no, not a way to acquire things ✓ The real cost of chasing danger and delaying what matters most ✓ Being more than the label you’ve earned, even one you’re proud ofAndy StumpfU.S. Navy SEAL (Ret.) - NYT Bestselling AuthorAndy Stumpf is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who served for 17 years, including six years with the elite SEAL Team Six. After being critically wounded by an insurgent during a deployment to Iraq in 2005, he made a remarkable recovery and went on to set two world records for high-altitude skydiving, raising more than $750,000 for the Navy SEAL Foundation. Today, Andy is a New York Times bestselling author and host of the Cleared Hot podcast, and a sought-after speaker who shares candid insights on leadership, resilience, identity, and navigating life’s toughest challenges both in and out of uniform.Shelly RoodHost - Hardcore & At EaseShelly C. Rood served across 16 years as a U.S. Army Reserves Intelligence Officer — Captain, Company Commander, and S2 — leading covert briefings overseas and overseeing security programs for nearly 4,000 soldiers. A Distinguished Military Graduate of Western Michigan University and a third-generation Detroit business owner, she brought that same standard of leadership into the private sector. She is the founder of a training and leadership development company, Mission Ambition, LLC, creator of the Others Over Self® leadership mindset, and the architect of Be At Ease, Woman Veteran™, a peer support program serving military women since 2019. She is host of Hardcore and At Ease, and author of Mission Wildflower 🌻. Today she leads a team of veterans who continue to serve beyond the uniform.

In Septeber 1968, a 20 yr old draftee into the Army took action to save 85 fellow soliders on Hill 222. It was not until March 2026 that his Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Command Sergean Major Terry P. Richardson talks to host Jim Fausone about his service , the Michigan National Guard, the incrediable honor of the MOH, White House cermony, and President Trump. Richardson explains life as a regular guy and the feeling of pride to represent his various communities.

This week, host Jim Fausone brings together two remarkable veterans whose stories highlight courage, service, and life after the military. First, Medal of Honor recipient Donald E. Ballard reflects on his service as a Navy corpsman in Vietnam, the actions that earned him the nation’s highest military decoration, and the lifelong impact of combat. Then, Navy veteran Neal Williams—better known as “The Flat Top King”—shares how his experience as a Navy cook inspired a successful second career as a YouTube creator celebrating military food, history, and culture.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER✓ The extraordinary acts of courage that earned Don Ballard the Medal of Honor ✓ What it was like serving as a Navy corpsman alongside Marines in Vietnam ✓ How military service can shape unexpected opportunities after leaving the uniform ✓ How Neal Williams built a loyal online following by sharing Navy culinary traditions and military storiesDonald E. BallardMedal of Honor Recipient - U.S. NavyMedal of Honor recipient and retired U.S. Army National Guard Colonel who first served as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman attached to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines during the Vietnam War. On May 16, 1968, while treating wounded Marines under heavy enemy fire in Quang Tri Province, Ballard selflessly threw himself onto an enemy grenade to shield his fellow servicemembers. When the grenade failed to detonate, he immediately resumed treating the wounded, actions that earned him the Medal of Honor. Following his Navy service, Ballard continued serving for three decades in the Kansas Army National Guard, retiring as a Colonel. Today, he remains an active advocate for veterans, sharing his story of courage, leadership, and service with audiences across the country.Neal WilliamsCreator/Host - The Flat Top KingBetter known as The Flat Top King, Neal Williams is a U.S. Navy veteran, former Navy cook, and popular YouTube creator dedicated to preserving military culinary traditions. Drawing on his experience serving in the Navy’s food service community, Williams recreates military recipes, shares life at sea, and tells stories that celebrate the culture, camaraderie, and humor of military service. His engaging videos have built a large following among veterans, active-duty servicemembers, and food enthusiasts alike, making him one of the internet’s most recognizable voices on military cooking and Navy life.

Host Jim Fausone interviews Brandon Weiss, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist. Brandon is a professor at Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Dr. Weiss trained at the VA in San Diego and has been researching psychedelic therapies for a decade. He updates Veterans Radio about that research and discusses the momentum building for veterans with PTSD to have access to this tool.

This Independence Day weekend, Veterans Radio celebrates America’s history, heritage, and the men and women who have defended our nation’s freedom with a special compilation of memorable moments from our Fourth of July broadcasts over the years.The program begins with highlights from our July 5, 2008 broadcast featuring host Dale Throneberry alongside Gary Lillie and Bob Gould, with special guest Theresa Sloat, filmmaker and vocalist, performing her inspiring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. Throughout the episode, you’ll also hear a collection of patriotic stories, reflections, music, and conversations pulled from Veterans Radio’s Fourth of July programs spanning the years.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER✓ Inspiring stories that celebrate America’s history and the sacrifices made to preserve its freedoms ✓ A moving performance of The Star-Spangled Banner by filmmaker and vocalist Theresa Sloat ✓ Patriotic reflections and memorable moments from Veterans Radio’s Fourth of July archives ✓ Timeless conversations honoring the service, courage, and legacy of America’s veterans

Navy Corps man Don Ballard jumped on and tossed away a gernade in Vietnam saving Marines. He talks about that day, the Medal of Honor ceremony , his transition for service, and his current passion project to engage veterans and service posts in HAM radio as a way to connect and have purpose. Don tells host Jim Fausone about Triumphant Spirit Foundation.

Transitioning from military service to college can be one of a veteran’s toughest missions. This week, Navy veteran and Veterans Radio board member Dr. Eric Fretz speaks with Ryan Pavel, CEO of Warrior-Scholar Project, about how the organization is helping enlisted veterans and transitioning service members build the confidence, academic skills, and support network needed to succeed in higher education—and beyond.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER ✓ Why the transition from military service to college can be more challenging than many veterans expect ✓ How Warrior-Scholar Project prepares veterans for success in higher education through immersive academic programs ✓ The skills, mindset, and confidence veterans need to thrive on campus and in civilian careers ✓ How education can become the next mission after military serviceDr. Eric FretzNavy Veteran - VRA Board MemberU.S. Navy veteran, Veterans Radio board member, and Teaching Professor at the University of Michigan. Dr. Fretz has spent his career helping students develop the critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills needed for success in higher education. Combining his experience as both an educator and military veteran, he brings a unique perspective to conversations about veterans’ transitions from military service to academic and professional life.Ryan PavelCEO - Warrior-Scholar ProjectU.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Warrior-Scholar Project. After serving in the Marine Corps, Ryan earned degrees from the University of Michigan and Harvard Law School before dedicating his career to expanding educational opportunities for enlisted veterans and transitioning service members. Today, he leads Warrior-Scholar Project’s national mission to help veterans succeed in higher education through transformative academic programming.

Dr. Elizabeth Swenor , a life style medicine and functional medicine specialist, has a conversation with host Jim Fausone about obesity, GLP1 weight loss drugs, and about life style changes veterans should consider for better health.

Host Jim Fausone examines two critical issues shaping today’s military and geopolitical landscape. First, author and maritime security expert Tom Duffy explores tensions in the Strait of Hormuz through the lens of the 1980s Tanker Wars, drawing striking parallels to current events in the Persian Gulf. Then, retired Army Col. Dean Winslow, MD discusses how modern drone warfare is changing the nature of combat injuries and what the U.S. military medical system must do to prepare for future conflicts.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER ✓ Why today’s tensions in the Strait of Hormuz echo the dangerous Tanker Wars of the 1980s ✓ How disruptions in the Persian Gulf can impact global security and energy markets ✓ The new battlefield injuries being caused by drones and unmanned systems ✓ How military medicine is adapting to the realities of modern warfareThomas DuffyMaritime Security Expert & AuthorFormer U.S. Navy officer, maritime security expert, and author of Tanker War in the Gulf: Operation Earnest Will, Diplomacy and Seapower in Practice. Through his research and writing, Duffy examines the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf and the lessons learned from the Tanker War, offering valuable historical context for understanding today’s tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and their impact on global security and commerce.Col. Dean Winslow, MD (Ret.)Professor of Medicine - Stanford UniversityRetired U.S. Army Colonel, infectious disease specialist, and Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. With decades of experience in military and civilian healthcare, Dr. Winslow studies the intersection of medicine, military readiness, and emerging threats. His work focuses on how modern warfare – including the growing use of drones – is changing battlefield injuries and challenging military medical systems to adapt to future conflicts.

Cody Husemann, an USAF vet, discusses joining up, four tours in Iraw, and being with Special Ops in logiastics and communications. Her "aha moment" was on a flight with injured soldiers going to Germany and watching the nurses keep everyone alive. That set her on a path to becoming a nurse, oncology and infusion specialist and nursing management. She talks about that path with host Jim Fausone.

Women Veterans Recognition Day was created to honor the historic moment when women earned the permanent right to serve in the U.S. military. Yet for many women veterans, the day can spark mixed emotions—ranging from pride and validation to frustration and exclusion. Host Shelly Rood explores what recognition means when equal standing is still questioned, featuring candid reflections from women veterans across multiple branches of service and introducing a unique tool designed to help women veterans better understand themselves and find a sense of belonging.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER ✓ Why Women Veterans Recognition Day can inspire both appreciation and resistance within the veteran community✓ How women veterans experience recognition, visibility, and belonging after military service ✓ What happens when service is acknowledged but respect and equal standing still feel uncertain ✓ How the Wildflower Assessment is helping women veterans better understand themselves beyond military and VA systems.Shelly RoodHost - Hardcore & At EaseShelly C. Rood served across 16 years as a U.S. Army Reserves Intelligence Officer — Captain, Company Commander, and S2 — leading covert briefings overseas and overseeing security programs for nearly 4,000 soldiers. A Distinguished Military Graduate of Western Michigan University and a third-generation Detroit business owner, she brought that same standard of leadership into the private sector. She is the founder of a training and leadership development company, Mission Ambition, LLC, creator of the Others Over Self® leadership mindset, and the architect of Be At Ease, Woman Veteran™, a peer support program serving military women since 2019. She is host of Hardcore and At Ease, and author of Mission Wildflower 🌻. Today she leads a team of veterans who continue to serve beyond the uniform.

Jim Evans served in the US Army for 10 years. His career took him into finance and ultimately project management of construction projects. Now Sevan MultiSitate Solutions has over 400 employees with at least 10% being veterans. It operates on a set of core values, not unlike the military. The company foundation supports veteran and civic organizations. Evans tells his stroy to host Jim Fausone.

VA disability benefits can be difficult to understand, especially when veterans are trying to navigate claims, appeals, healthcare, and available support resources. This Monthly Veterans Benefits Hour brings together Dale Throneberry, Brig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (Ret.), and Rick Sherak to answer questions from callers and share practical guidance. The episode also highlights Zeen, a mobility device designed to help veterans and others with limited mobility stand, walk, and move more independently.Rick SherakCEO - Zeen (Exokinetics)Former U.S. Air Force officer and CEO of Exokinetics, the company behind Zeen, an innovative mobility device designed to help people stand, walk, and move independently. With more than 30 years of experience in the medical diagnostics and healthcare technology industries, Rick has built and led high-performing teams for both Fortune 500 companies and emerging healthcare innovators. Today, he is focused on expanding access to mobility solutions that improve quality of life for veterans and others facing physical challenges, bringing innovative technologies to underserved communities while advancing the future of rehabilitation and independent living. Rick was interviewed in 2025 by Military.com about their new mobility device.

Marine Capt & Military.com writere Haley Fuller talks about how VA disability creates a stigma that should not exist. Service connected compensation is not about being disabled but recognizes military service cn cause health issues for which an employer should be responsible. Fuller talks to host Jim Fausone about the fine points of military workers compensation and the disability stigma.

As global conflicts and shifting alliances continue to challenge America’s place on the world stage, understanding U.S. foreign policy has never been more important. Dr. Rebecca Grant joins Veterans Radio to share her perspective on today’s international landscape and the decisions shaping America’s future. Then, following the passing of Vietnam veteran and advocate Diane Carlson Evans on May 20, 2026, we revisit a powerful interview from July 21, 2024 in which she reflects on her service as an Army nurse in Vietnam and her historic fight to establish the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on the National Mall.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER ✓ How current global events are influencing America’s foreign policy decisions ✓ Insights into the challenges facing U.S. leadership on the international stage ✓ The untold experiences of women who served during the Vietnam War ✓ How one veteran’s determination led to a lasting tribute honoring thousands of military women

Col. Dean Winslow, MD talks about combat medicine and how the new more powerful drones being used in Ukraine and Iran are changing battlefield injuries. In turn, military medicine is adjusting and training to protect the Golden Hour. Dr. Winslow discusses his experiences and thoughts on the future with host Jim Fausone.

What happens after the war ends – and how do we honor those who never made it home? In this episode, civilian war correspondent Joe Galloway shares the powerful stories behind They Were Soldiers, highlighting Vietnam veterans who returned home and continued serving their communities in extraordinary ways. Then, webmaster Michael Patterson takes us through the history, meaning, and sacred traditions of Arlington National Cemetery, one of America’s most revered memorial sites.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER: ✓ How Vietnam veterans transformed hardship into lives of service and leadership ✓ The untold personal stories behind the book They Were Soldiers ✓ Why Arlington National Cemetery remains one of America’s most powerful symbols of service ✓ The history and meaning behind iconic sites like the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierJoseph L. Galloway was an acclaimed American war correspondent, author, and military historian best known for his fearless reporting during the Vietnam War and for authoring/co-authoring the bestselling books: They Were Soldiers; We Were Soldiers Once… and Young; and We Are Soldiers Still. As one of the few civilians awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor in combat, Galloway earned national recognition for his frontline coverage and deep respect for the men and women who served in the military. Throughout his distinguished journalism career with United Press International and Knight Ridder, he became a trusted voice on war, leadership, and the lasting impact of combat on veterans and their families.Michael Patterson is the founder and webmaster of ArlingtonCemetery.com, a respected online resource dedicated to preserving the history, traditions, and stories connected to Arlington National Cemetery. Through his extensive research and passion for honoring America’s fallen heroes, Patterson has created a valuable educational platform visited by veterans, families, historians, and visitors from around the world. His work helpsensure that the sacrifices, valor, and legacy of those laid to rest at Arlington continue to be remembered and shared with future generations.

Tom Duffy, Navy Commander (ret) and US foreign diplomat , wrote Tanker War in the Gulf, Operation Earnest Will. He talks about this 1987 naval operation, Iran's attacking merchant ships, missiles and mines, the US response, the lackluster NATO response and the 45 naval convoys, This echoes what is happending today in the Persian Gulf. Duffy gives his compare and contrast to host Jim Fausone.

Join host Shelly Rood and her guest Adam Castillo.You gave everything to a country that claimed to want you back. Corporate America hung the banners. Then wouldn’t hire you. So Adam Castillo gave it double middle fingers, moved to Myanmar, and built a security company that employed thousands. Twelve years later, he’s coming home with gifts for his people—and a book about what leadership looks like in a war zone.In This Episode You’ll Discover:✓ Why rejection can become either your exit or your engine ✓ How to lead a business community through a military takeover with no playbook ✓ What changed when a fellow veteran told him “it’s time to let go” ✓ What he’s carrying back to Riverside, California—and why it fits this timeFeatured Guest: Adam Castillo — U.S. Marine, combat veteran, founder of AGS Myanmar security firm and former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar. Author of Finding Our Voice. Connect: Finding Our Voice: A Story of Leadership in Crisis and the American Spirit Abroad

Scott Davis interviewed over 100 Marines between ages of 95 -102 that participate in the liberation of the Pacific. They tell their stories unfiltered. Their recollections are full of candid and truthful statements of being young bucks at war. Spokane Washington historian Scott Davis talks to host Jim Fausone about the process of collecting and organizing these stories from men before the Last of the Old Breed pass away.

Our first guest is Lawrence MillerWe welcome our first guest, Lawrence Miller of Trek For Vets Coffee who is walking 500 Miles from St. Ignace to Royal Oak to raise funds for veteran causes. He started May 1st and finishes on Memorial Day.Our next guest is Elliot RattnerElliot Rattner did 10 yrs in the Navy as an enlisted with a focus on linguistics. He went to law school at night and graduated in 2022 before being commissioned into the Navy JAG Corps. Elliott transitioned to a man during law school and became the first Navy JAG officer trans-man. He talks to host Jim Fausone about leaving the Navy he loved because of the policies of Trump/Hegseth designed to force transmen and trans women out of military service.

Major General Matt Smith (Ret.) is the Executive Director of Veteran Initiatives at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, which includes the Masters in Business for Veterans program. He discusses Emory University and its support for veterans at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Explaining the unique Masters in Business for Veterans program that recognizes their leadership and life skills while providing business skills. Matt talks to host Jim Fausone about veterans transitioning to civilian life and the importance of having a veteran community in academia.

GET ANSWERS FROM OUR EXPERT PANEL!Dale Throneberry – Founder and Host of Veterans RadioBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help For VeteransDavid Saims – Director, Washtenaw County Veteran Service OfficeSuzanne Gordon-Senior Policy Fellow at the Veterans' Healthcare Policy Institute discusses what they see as some of the major issues with the VA Healthcare SystemJoin Dale and the rest of the panel for our live broadcast on Sunday at 5:00pm ET or stream later on your preferred podcast platform.Visit our LISTEN LIVE page for streaming and podcast information.

The Mighty Oaks Foundation is a faith-based Veteran service organization that teaches combat Veterans struggling with Post Traumatic Stress how to get beyond combat trauma and live their lives in the manner God intended. Many combat vets are unable to reintegrate back into civilian life, leaving their families to deal with the aftermath of broken homes and suicide at times. Co Founder, Marine, Pastor Jeremy Stalnecker talks to host Jim Fausone about his upbringing as a pastor's son, his military career and his work in the church and Mighty Oaks mission and process.

Our first guest is Justin BillardJustin Billard is a U.S. Marine and Iraq War veteran who turned his passion for craftsmanship into a mission of service for his fellow soldiers. After serving in Iraq, Billard founded Tools For Veterans. Based in Brighton Township, Michigan, the company is dedicated to employing and supporting veterans by collecting, restoring, and selling vintage hand tools. Through his “zero waste” approach, Billard provides a space where veterans can reconnect with their sense of purpose and community, proving that just like the rusted tools he saved, every veteran has a story that deserves to be restored and continued.Our next guest is Faust RuggieroFaust Ruggiero is a clinical therapist with over 40 years of experience. He has developed counseling programs for prisons, corporations, and clinics. He is best known for his award-winning Fix Yourself book series. His latest work is The Fix Yourself Handbook. It offers a practical step-by-step approach to healing from trauma. Ruggiero focuses on internal balance through his “Process Way of Life.” He remains a leading voice in the field of mental health and recovery.

Recon Marine Lawrence Miller of Royal Oak, Mi talks about his transition from the Corps , starting a coffee business and treking 500 miles in Michigan to raise money to support efforts to help fellow veterans. Lawrence talks with host Jim Fausone about the challenges he has faced and the miles he is willing to walk for other veterans.

Our first guest is Melissa WashingtonYou can see exactly what’s missing. You know you’re the one to fill it. But you’re waiting for the plan, the money, the perfect moment. What if the gap itself is the signal to move?Melissa Washington didn’t wait. With no business plan and no financial safety net, she built Women Veterans Alliance from a single Sacramento meetup into a global organization reaching thousands — with a giving foundation, a national broadcast event, and a Thrive Causemetics shade named after her. This conversation is for anyone building something that matters without a roadmap telling them how.Melissa brings the kind of candor that mission-driven leaders rarely hear: talking openly about refinancing her house to keep the mission alive, giving a business award the same year she was personally struggling financially, and why saying “money is not a dirty word” is an act of leadership.In This Episode You’ll Discover:✓ Why building without a plan isn’t recklessness — it’s what happens when your Tactical Center is clear ✓ How one woman turned a 2009 layoff into a global organization serving millions ✓ Why talking openly about money is a leadership skill, not an overshare ✓ What the Wilderness terrain looks like for leaders who built something from nothingFeatured Guest: Melissa Washington — Navy veteran, CEO, founder of Women Veterans Alliance and Women Veterans Giving, author, publisher of Women Veterans Magazine, 2025 Military Friendly National Navy Veteran of the Year. Connect: womenveteransalliance.comWomen Veterans Giving Small Business Award — Applications open May 1, 2026. Up to $5,000 cash plus coaching. Founders who served only. womenveteransgiving.orgWomen Veterans Engage Conference — May 30, 2026: womenveteransengage.comLearn More: othersoverself.com | [email protected]

Marine Mary Ann Merritt talks about the upcoming Women Marines Association (WMA) convention in Frankenmuth Michigan in September 2026. WMA has 78 chapters and has been around since 1978. Mary Ann talks about her time in the Marines (active and reserves) back in the 1970s with host Jim Fausone.

Join host Jim Fausone on today's Veterans Radio.Our first guest is Landon LongrearLandon Longrear, a Marine out of Texas, shares his firsthand experience in the Battle for Sangin—one of the most intense fights in Afghanistan. He talks openly about what he went through and how his deeply rooted Christian faith shaped the way he faced it all. It’s honest, raw, and pulled straight from his story told in US Marines at the Battle for Sangin.Our next guest is Jeremy StalneckerJeremy Stalnecker, a Marine from California, takes us through a different kind of journey. Growing up as a pastor’s son, serving in the military, drifting away, and eventually finding his way back to faith—now as a pastor himself. He also talks about starting the Mighty Oaks Foundation and the work they’re doing to help veterans and their families dealing with PTSD.

Mark Salloum, a documentary film maker, took up the project to tell stories of WWII veterans and Metro Detroit's effort in the war effort before the generation passed. "A Salute to our WWII Generation - Let Us Not Forget" tells a great story wrapped in education for the current high school generation. Mark explains to host Jim Fausone the eight year effort to bring this film to fruition and its distribution by PBS and how to purchase the film.

This is one of our favorite and most inspirational programs first heard on 23 October 2010Tear In The DesertA Journey into the Heart of the Iraq War with Navy Chaplain Father Ron Moses CamardaYou don’t want to miss this story of Fr. Ron Moses Camarda’s tour of duty in late 2004 as the Chaplain at the Surgical Hospital in Fallujah, Iraq, including the Battle of Fallujah, ministering to over 1500 casualties and 81 KIA including 12 in front of him.His story of faith is an inspiration to all of us. Father Ron ministered to everyone he came in contact with. Friend or foe, it made no difference to this amazing man of God.Tune in to hear Fr. Camarda’s stories about the men and women he met and ministered to during his tour in Iraq.Keep listening after Father Carmada plays Taps for an additional reading from Tear in the Desert and two songs by W.Keith Moore.

US Army Reserve officer Shelly Rood talks about leadership training and coaching in the private sector with her team at Mission Ambition. Shelly talks about her podcast "Hard Core and At Ease" with host Jim Fausone.

Dr. Rebecca Grant & Operation Epic FuryDr. Rebecca Grant is a national security analyst based in Washington, DC specializing in defense and aerospace research and national security consulting. She has over 20 years experience working with the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and top aerospace clients. In addition, Dr. Grant has often appeared on television as an expert on national security for Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, and MSNBC and as a series regular on The Smithsonian’s Air Warriors.Learn more about Dr. Rebecca Grant.Trinidad Aguirre & VetsForeverTrinidad Aguirre is a U.S. Navy veteran and Co-Founder/CEO of VetsForever, a law group focused on helping veterans secure VA benefits and discharge upgrades. Driven by his own challenges as a 100% P&T disabled veteran, he is dedicated to bringing clarity and support to fellow service members navigating the system. With 20 years of leadership experience across major companies and nonprofits, he is also a member of the 2026 IVMF CEOcircle cohort for veteran entrepreneurs.Learn more about Trinidad Aguirre & VetsForever.

Elliott Rattner did 10 yrs in the Navy as an enlisted with a focus on linguistics. He went to law school at night and graduated 2022 before being commissioned into the Navy JAG Corps. Elliott transitioned to a man during law school and became the first Navy JAG officer trans-man. He talks to host Jim Fausone about leaving the Navy he loved because of the policies of Trump/Hegseth designed to force transmen and trans women out of military service.

Erin Dunn: “When the World Won’t Calm Down: Leading From Your Center”You can’t eliminate the chaos. But you can stop letting it run you. What if the real leadership skill isn’t handling pressure — it’s building something inside you that pressure can’t reach?Every ambitious leader knows what it feels like when everything hits at once. The demands stack, the environment is loud, and you’re expected to perform anyway. Most leaders white-knuckle it — they power through, suppress the signal, and wonder why they feel scattered three days later. This episode is for the leader who is ready to stop surviving the chaos and start operating from above it.Erin Dunn spent 10 years in the Air Force — six in public affairs and four as a special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. She went on to serve as a geopolitical planner and foreign policy advisor with the joint staff, earned her law degree while deployed as a government civilian to Iraq as a single mom, and retired from federal service. She is now focused full-time on veteran advocacy. What she learned — through post-traumatic stress, through grief, through a VA system that largely failed her — is a masterclass in Tactical Center. The chaos outside you does not have to mean chaos inside you.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER: – ✓ Why controlling your environment — not eliminating chaos — is the skill that sustains high performance – ✓ The difference between post-traumatic recovery and post-traumatic growth – ✓ Practical grounding tools for any high-stimulus environment – ✓ Why suppressing negative emotions doesn’t protect performance — it erodes it10-year Air Force veteran | Air Force Office of Special Investigations | Geopolitical planner and foreign policy advisor, joint staff | Federal civilian retiree | Veteran advocateEnjoy the full interview on Hardcore and At Ease – powered by Others Over Self®Erin holds a law degree and has spent a decade helping veterans access the benefits they have earned. She is available for public speaking — to book her, contact [email protected].

Eric Fretz has a long association with the Student Veterans Association (SVA) including as a faculty mentor at the University of Michigan. Dr Fretz has taught and mentored thousand of veteran students for decades. He talks with host Jim Fausone about his Navy career, the value of SVA and the Veteran Studies Association.

Learn about VETLIFE and its new app for Vets, Battle BuddyIn this episode, VR Board Member and US Navy Veteran Dr. Eric Fretz interviews Josh Parish, an Iraq and Army Veteran who has become a major figure in the Veteran helping space in Michigan and is growing nationwide. His nonprofit, Vetlife, serves veterans all across the state and hosts huge veteran-friendly events throughout the year.Major focus of the episode is a new app that he has developed called BattleBuddy which provides easy access to just about any Veteran benefit and national level veteran assisting charities. The app is free to download. Tune in to the episode to learn more about Battle Buddy, and download the app for free!Learn more about VETLIFE here.

This is a personal story of a Christian warrior's experiences in war. Landon Longgrear talks about his book "U.S. Marines at the Battle for Sangin: Operation Enduring Freedom" .The reader feels the author's angst, threat awareness and a growing sense of hostility toward his elusive enemy. Landon talks with host Jim Fausone about his tour and resulting struggles.

Our first guest is Col. Michelle RuehlWe first talk to Col. Michelle Ruehl (ret.) who is involved with StableStrides in Colorado. StableStrides is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides equine-assisted therapies and activities to individuals with physical, mental, and developmental challenges.Learn more about Col. Michelle Ruehl.Our next guest is Representative William BruckNext we’ll talk to Chief Warrant Officer 4 William Bruck of Monroe, Michigan. Bruck is involved with Little Blessings Veteran Outreach. He is President of the non-profit and a user of this therapy to deal with personal issues he discusses.Learn more about William Bruck.

The Battle of Fort Myers in February 1965 was a small engagement known as the southernmost land battle of the Civil War. Author Mark Barie explains how this little fort was a thorn in the side of the Confederates and put at risk its supply of food from the area. The fort was defended by a small , under resourced, unit of African American US Army soldiers. Barie explains this history to host Jim Fausone.

GET ANSWERS FROM OUR EXPERT PANEL!Dale Throneberry – Founder and Host of Veterans RadioBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help For VeteransDavid Saims – Director, Washtenaw County Veteran Service OfficeJoin Dale and the rest of the panel for our live broadcast on Sunday at 5:00pm ET or stream later on your preferred podcast platform.Special Guest Dr. Rebecca Grant with an update on the attacks on Iran. Operation Epic Fury.

Maurice Imhoff researched and wrote on The 1st Michigan Colored Regiment: Free Men Who Fought Slavery, It reconstructs the formation, service, and legacy of Michigan’s first African American Civil War regiment. Utilizing letters, diaries, newspapers, and military records, the work offers new perspectives on African American military and social history while contributing to broader research on the Civil War and emancipation. Imhoff discusses this history with host Jim Fausone.