This Christmas episode slows things down for a moment and acknowledges how the season can affect everyone differently.

Scott shares a straightforward holiday message and introduces a new chatbot on the Drive On website that can help you find support without digging through years of episodes. Whether you are dealing with stress, old injuries, sleep issues, or trouble staying connected at home, the chatbot can point you toward conversations that may help. You will also hear how to submit topics or share your own story if you want to be part of a future episode.

Scott also talks about the return to a weekly Tuesday release schedule starting in January 2026. This shift keeps the show strong without piling on a workload that would burn it out.

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Army combat medic veteran Adam Fluegel talks about answering the call for medics after 9/11, running patrols during the first Iraqi elections, losing a brother-in-arms in his first real trauma case, and coming home with no decompression. To hold it together, he leaned on alcohol, hydrocodone, and Adderall, which fueled anxiety, insomnia, paranoia, and eventually a stay in a psychiatric ward.

He then walks through the night, he took his pistol from the safe, and almost ended his life before the thought of his daughters pulled him back. That choice started him on the path of PTSD recovery through journaling, facing memories from Iraq, and using medication as a tool instead of a crutch. Adam and Scott dig into veteran mental health, suicide prevention, therapy dogs and service animals, and the damage of pretending to be fine at work, then pivot to Operation Overwatch, a veteran nonprofit and app that connects vets and veteran nonprofits for community, PTSD support, fly-fishing and skydiving groups, GI Bill-backed scuba therapy, and more.

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The climb out of the lowest moments isn't clean or quick, and this conversation holds nothing back. A young airman who sprinted out of a rough home life, Brandon Held built a future through grit, service, and education. Then life took the legs out from under him. Losing his marriage. Losing daily life with his kids. Losing his career. Losing his footing. One night, he downed a bottle of sleeping pills and waited for the silence. Someone found him in time. That one act gave him a second chance he didn't think he deserved.

Brandon opens up about how he rebuilt his mind, confidence, habits, and purpose. He talks through the years of suicidal ideation, how old patterns nearly destroyed him, and the moment he drew a line and chose to fight his way back.

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A lot of vets say music is the only thing that still makes sense, and for Tony Kessel, that idea runs deep. He built a 366-song playlist of his life, wrote the story tied to each track, and found himself looking at a full account of growing up in a foster home, serving in the Army National Guard, and working through suicidal thoughts. With more than two decades in uniform, he talks about being raised by a Vietnam veteran NCO, commissioning as an officer, and learning to lead while valuing the experience that NCOs bring. Music runs through all of it, from Garth Brooks and old country to heavy metal and the tracks that shaped the post-9/11 years.

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When the Army chapter closed, Cory Brown didn't know what came next. A decade later, he's a veteran, entrepreneur, and creator of "Eat Your Feelings," a YouTube show that pairs cooking with honest talk about mental health. What started as a lighthearted project became a space for veterans and civilians alike to laugh, cry, and talk about the heavy stuff while breaking bread.

In this conversation, Cory shares how food became his outlet as a way to manage stress and reconnect with others. He opens up about the transition from the military to the corporate world, the pull to create something meaningful, and how showing vulnerability on camera helped others do the same.

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A submarine is one of the most demanding workplaces on Earth. Confined, tense, and utterly dependent on trust and focus. William Spears has spent his career in that world, learning how to lead and think clearly when everything around him demands perfection. His journey led him to Stoicism, a philosophy that teaches emotional discipline, clarity, and responsibility.

In this episode, William explains how the same ideas that once guided ancient philosophers can help today's service members, veterans, and families face the stress of modern life. He talks about the link between Stoicism and modern therapy, how the idea of total responsibility changes how we lead and parent, and why writing down our thoughts can be one of the most powerful tools for mental clarity. This conversation is a practical guide to keeping your balance when life feels like it's closing in.

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Cheri Carandanis spent her career caring for others as an Air Force nurse and later in hospice. After two brain injuries forced her to retire, she had to face life without the role that once defined her. What began as a simple attempt to follow medical advice led her to something unexpected: painting. Through it, she found healing, direction, and a deeper understanding of herself.

In this episode, Cheri talks about growing up in a military family, serving through deployments, and learning to rebuild after loss. Her story is a reminder that recovery takes time, creativity can be medicine, and there's always a way forward, even when life throws you a curveball.

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When your mission shifts from the battlefield to the bedside, how do you keep going? This episode features Dan Contreras from Disabled American Veterans, who opens up about the emotional realities of becoming his wife's caregiver after her cancer diagnosis and how that experience reshaped his understanding of service. Dan shares how DAV's Caregiver Support Program empowers those who carry the invisible weight of caring for a loved one, connecting them to resources, community, and hope.From learning to accept help to balancing self-care and duty, Dan's story reminds us that strength comes from knowing when to reach out. Whether you're a veteran, spouse, or friend, this conversation shines a light on the people who quietly keep others alive and the programs that stand ready to support them.

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After serving in the Air Force, Billy Rudd spent over two decades leading massive teams in corporate America. On paper, he had everything figured out. He had a great title, a solid paycheck, and constant travel. But something had to give. With two growing kids and a business idea that wouldn't leave him alone, Billy took the leap and turned his side hustle into a full-time gig.

In this episode, he shares what it takes to walk away from "safe," how his military background shaped his leadership style, and why authenticity matters more than marketing. He also talks about bringing his kids into the business, the lessons they're learning, and what it means to finally have control over his own time.

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He thought he'd miss the war, but fate had other plans. Marine aviator Don Eggspuehler's story begins with a stack of letters written from the jungles of Thailand during the last year of Vietnam. Those letters, saved by his mother and rediscovered decades later, became the foundation for something bigger. A way to connect generations through humor, heartbreak, and hard-won wisdom.

In this conversation, Don opens up about the fear of flying through tracer fire at night, the loss of fellow Marines, and the long road toward peace that followed. He draws parallels between Vietnam and Afghanistan, the shared feeling of coming home to a country that doesn't quite understand, and the importance of preserving your story before it disappears.

Don also shares how writing helped him heal not just from combat, but from losing his wife, facing grief, and finding purpose again through storytelling. His message is clear: your memories, your lessons, and your story matter. Whether it's for your kids, your grandkids, or someone you'll never meet, those stories have power.

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