Coming Home Well

Forget everything you know about stuffy, glass-case museums. In this episode, Tyler sits down with Dennis Brant to explore the Americans in Wartime Experience, a massive 70+ acre, hands-on "military Disney World" coming to Virginia. From operational WWII tanks and immersive WWI trenches to critical 9/11 artifacts and oral history archives, discover how this unique destination is redefining how we honor our veterans and keep history alive.

Links & Resources

• Explore the Mission: Americans in Wartime Experience Website
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• Listen to Interviews: Check out the Voices of Freedom archive online.
• Get Involved: Sign up for the newsletter, volunteer, or look into donating vehicles, uniforms, and memorabilia.

Connect with our partners:

Big Frog Custom T-shirts & More (New Braunfels, TX): bigfrognb.com

V2M Veteran Magazine at v2mag.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Host Tyler Pieron chats with Dr. Amanda Kline, Executive Director of the Patriotic Kenny Foundation and Head of Creator Partnerships at Remento. They discuss how a chance neighborhood encounter with the late social media sensation 84-year-old Navy veteran Kenny Jary ("Patriotic Kenny") sparked a nationwide mission to help veterans overcome isolation.

Resources & Links

• Patriotic Kenny Foundation: patriotickenny.com (Nominate a veteran or donate)
• Remento: remento.co (Preserve family voices and create keepsake books)
• Contact Amanda: [email protected] or [email protected]

Connect with our partners:

Big Frog Custom T-shirts & More (New Braunfels, TX): bigfrognb.com

V2M Veteran Magazine at v2mag.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Changing careers or transitioning out of the military can feel like an uphill battle, especially in today’s digital-first job market. In this episode of Coming Home Well, host Tyler sits down with Charlotte Creech from Hire Heroes USA to discuss how veterans, active duty service members, and military spouses can find meaningful, long-term careers. They break down the common pitfalls of modern job applications, the realities of skills translation, and how personalized, free career coaching can transform the transition process.

Important Links & Resources Mentioned

• Hire Heroes USA Official Website: hireheroesusa.org
• Recommended Timeline: Ideally start engaging with career advisors about 6 months prior to your military transition (though active duty members can register up to a year out).

Connect with our partners:

Big Frog Custom T-shirts & More (New Braunfels, TX): bigfrognb.com

V2M Veteran Magazine at v2mag.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Tyler talks with veteran and author Steven Andrews about his unique historical fiction book, See the Light, Kiss the Ground. Andrews shares what it was like being drafted in 1969, thrust into leadership as an E-6 Staff Sergeant, and using his contemporaneous notes to capture the realities of combat, gallows humor, and moral injury.

Key Takeaways

• The "Shake and Bake" Route: The Army's urgent need for small-unit leaders rushed Andrews through NCO school straight into Vietnam as an inexperienced E-6.
• Docu-Novel Format: The book pairs fictional combat timelines with real historical events like Kent State and the My Lai trials.
• Processing Trauma: Andrews discusses how writing honest letters home and documenting his experiences acted as a critical pressure release.
• Veterans Across Eras: A comparison of the hostile homecomings Vietnam veterans faced versus today's community support.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Book: See the Light, Kiss the Ground by Steven Andrews (available on Amazon)
• References: Kent State, My Lai Massacre, Karl Marlantes' What It Is Like to Go to War

Our Partners

Big Frog Custom T-shirts & More (New Braunfels, TX): bigfrognb.com

V2M Veteran Magazine: v2mag.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Tyler sits down with Drew LaBoon, a 17-year U.S. Army Special Operations veteran and Chief Operating Officer of Warrior's Heart. Drew shares his raw, powerful journey through severe TBI, complex PTSD, and alcoholism, and explains how finding a specialized, peer-driven treatment community changed everything.

Warrior's Heart: Co-occurring treatment programs for warriors in Bandera, TX, and Milford, VA. Visit warriorsheart.com.

Our Partners

Big Frog Custom T-shirts & More (New Braunfels, TX): bigfrognb.com

V2M Veteran Magazine: v2mag.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

What do the Revolutionary War, Navy P-3 Orion flights, and modern executive boardrooms have in common? In this episode, host Tyler Pieron sits down with Navy veteran and author Dr. Andy Moye to unpack his book, From Bunker Hill to the Boardroom. Tune in as they reveal how a 250-year family military lineage sparked a blueprint for translating battle-tested grit into civilian leadership success.

Get the Book: From Bunker Hill to the Boardroom: Battle-Tested Leadership for Today's Executives by Andy Moye

Andy Moye, PhD

Check out V2M Veteran Magazine: v2mag.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

 Tyler welcomes licensed therapist and author Cyndi Doyle to discuss the unique challenges faced by law enforcement families. Cyndi, who is also the wife of a police officer, shares insights from her book, Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship, focusing on the psychological and biological impacts of the profession on both the officer and their family.

Resource Mentioned

• Book: Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship
• Website: codeforcouples.com.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

In this episode, Tyler sits down with Heidi Langbein-Allen to discuss her father's harrowing experience as a conscripted boy soldier during the final, brutal days of World War II. At just 13 years old, Heidi's father was taken from his parents under the guise of "protection," only to be indoctrinated and thrust into combat against the Russian advance on the Eastern Front.

Heidi shares how she eventually turned her father’s taped recollections into a poignant memoir, detailing his journey from a child in the Hitler Youth to a soldier in the Wehrmacht, and his eventual post-war life dedicated to diplomacy and the defense of democracy in Europe. This conversation serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting trauma of war and the critical importance of documenting oral histories before they are lost to time.

Featured Resources

• Book: Save the Last Bullet: Memoir of a Boy Soldier in Hitler's Army by Heidi Langbein-Allen.
• Upcoming Work: Heidi discusses her upcoming anthology, Lost Youth: The Horrors of World War II Seen Through Young Eyes, which collects firsthand accounts of childhood survivors of the war.

Connect with Coming Home Well

• Listen to more episodes on your favorite podcast platform.
• Follow us on social media for show updates and additional resources.

Disclaimer:

"The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government."

Why do standard post-deployment screenings miss the mark? What happens when a warrior loses their "tribe" and transitions back to civilian life? In this episode, Tyler sits down with Dr. Shauna "Doc" Springer—a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and one of the world's leading experts on psychological trauma, military transition, and suicide prevention.

Doc Springer breaks down why lumping trauma, grief, and moral injury together leads to poor treatment outcomes, and she shares groundbreaking insights on why moral injury may be more closely linked to suicide attempts than trauma exposure itself. From the cutting-edge neuroscience of Stellate Ganglion Blocks (SGB) to actionable strategies like navigating "Hulk mode" at home, this conversation is an essential blueprint for veterans, first responders, and the families who love them.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Featured Book: Fallout: Ten Common Beliefs that are Killing our Bravest and the Truths that Can Save Them by Dr. Shauna Springer — BOOKS
• Book: Warrior: How to Support Those Who Protect Us by Dr. Shauna Springer — BOOKS
• Book: Beyond the Military: A Leader's Handbook for Warrior Re-entry by Dr. Shauna Springer & Jason Roncarati — BOOKS
• Biological Treatment: Stella Mental Health (SGB Treatments for Veterans & First Responders) — Visit Website

Disclaimer:

"The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government."

Navigating the mental health care system can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Tyler sits down with Kate Weaver, Executive Director of NAMI Charlotte, to discuss free, peer-led support networks and revolutionary new tools designed to connect individuals, veterans, and families to care faster than ever.

Key Highlights

• The 11-Year Gap: It takes an average of 11 years from the onset of a mental health issue to receive treatment. NAMI is working to shrink that timeline to just 4 weeks.
• The NAMI Navigator: A groundbreaking new tool featuring a searchable provider directory (by ZIP, insurance, language, and diagnosis) backed by personal follow-up calls to ensure connection to care.
• Confidentiality Matters: Critical insights into how NAMI protects anonymity, especially for first responders and veterans concerned about career impacts.
• Targeted Support: Overview of specialized groups for veterans (Homefront course), LGBTQ+, young adults, neurodivergent individuals, and faith communities (Bridges to Hope).
• The Impact of 988: Discussion on how states with higher 988 utilization saw an 18% reduction in young adult suicide rates.

Resources Mentioned

• NAMI National: nami.org
• NAMI Charlotte & Navigator Tool: namicharlotte.org (Email: [email protected])
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7, free, and confidential)

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Disclaimer:

"The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of War or the U.S. Government."