In Episode 27 of Echoes Unfiltered, I sit down with Army veteran Jason Madaus for an honest conversation about service, trauma, and rebuilding life after Iraq.

Jason shares what it was like deploying early in the war, surviving a Christmas Day mortar attack, and living with lasting physical and mental injuries. We talk about the long road home, fitness as a coping tool, navigating the VA system, and what it really means to keep moving forward when life does not go as planned.

This is not a highlight reel. It is a real conversation about responsibility, discipline, faith, and choosing growth instead of silence.

If you are a veteran or someone carrying more than you talk about, this episode is for you.

If you'd like to order my book, it's available on Amazon:
Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. Stratton

Follow the mission: https://linktr.ee/echoesunfiltered
YouTube – Echoes Unfiltered
Spotify – Echoes Unfiltered
Facebook – Echoes Unfiltered
TikTok – @echoes_unfiltered
Podcast available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio

Real talk, raw faith, stay unfiltered.

In Part Two of Sam’s conversation with Richard, the discussion moves from reflection into responsibility.

This half focuses on faith, accountability, and what it looks like to move forward honestly when life does not offer clean answers or quick fixes. We talk about growth, integrity, and the long work of becoming who you are meant to be instead of staying stuck in who you have been.

This is where the conversation gets practical. It is about choosing honesty over avoidance, presence over distraction, and faith over fear.

If you have not listened to Part One yet, it is recommended to start there for the full context of the conversation.

Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered.

My book available on Amazon:
Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. Stratton

Follow the mission:
YouTube – Echoes Unfiltered
Spotify – Echoes Unfiltered
Facebook – Echoes Unfiltered
TikTok – @echoes_unfiltered

At some point, every grown man has to face this truth: no one is coming to save you. Not the perfect timing. Not the right feeling. Not someone else stepping in to fix it.

That realization isn’t hopeless. It’s empowering.

When you stop waiting for permission, motivation, or rescue, you start moving. You start owning your choices, your discipline, and your next step.

This Echo Short is a reminder that faith isn’t passive. It requires movement, responsibility, and action even when it’s uncomfortable.

This week, notice where you’re still waiting. Own it. Then move.

Real Talk, Raw Faith, Stay Unfiltered

In Part One of Episode 25, Sam sits down with Richard for an honest, unfiltered conversation about the things we carry but rarely talk about.

This is not a polished story or a highlight reel. It’s a real discussion about life, responsibility, faith, and the quiet weight that builds when hard truths go unspoken. We talk about showing up as you are, the cost of avoidance, and why healing begins with honesty, not answers.

This first half sets the foundation for the conversation. There is more to unpack, and Part Two continues next episode.

Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered.
#dadsupportingdads #echonation #EchoesUnfiltered #PTSD #CopStories #LawEnforcement #Army #Marine

This episode was recorded at the cabin with my family and it’s a reminder that being present is part of the mission.
We talk about slowing down, resisting the constant grind, and choosing moments that actually last.

This week’s challenge: do one thing fully present.
No phone. No multitasking. Just be there.

Echoes Unfiltered
Real Talk, Raw Faith, Stay Unfiltered

Order my book on Amazon:
Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. Stratton

Follow the mission:
YouTube – Echoes Unfiltered
Spotify – Echoes Unfiltered
Facebook – Echoes Unfiltered
TikTok – @echoes_unfiltered
Podcast available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio

In this episode, Sam sits down with his Aunt Mary for a powerful conversation about addiction, recovery, and the long road to rebuilding a life. Mary spent decades struggling with alcohol and drugs, and today she shares openly about the chaos, the consequences, and the moment she decided to change. She’s been clean and sober for five years, and her story is packed with honesty, pain, strength, and hope.

If you or someone you love is fighting addiction, let this episode remind you that you’re not alone. Recovery is possible. Hope is real.

You can also check out Sam’s book, Echoes from the Sandbox, available now on Amazon. And for more raw, real, everyday content, follow Echoes Unfiltered on Facebook Reels, TikTok, and YouTube.

Real talk, raw faith, stay unfiltered.

Sometimes the hardest thing isn’t pushing forward.
It’s holding steady.
Staying anchored.
Not giving up when the noise gets loud and the pressure hits.

This Echo Short is about resilience, faith, and choosing to stand firm when quitting would be easier.

Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered.

Order my book on Amazon:
Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. Stratton
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7J41G4F

Watch & listen to Echoes Unfiltered:
🎥 YouTube (full video episodes) – Echoes Unfiltered
🎧 Spotify – Echoes Unfiltered
🎧 Apple Podcasts – Echoes Unfiltered
🎧 Amazon Music – Echoes Unfiltered
🎧 iHeartRadio – Echoes Unfiltered

Follow the mission:
📘 Facebook – Echoes Unfiltered
🎵 TikTok – @echoes_unfiltered

Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered.
#EchoNation #dadssupportingdads

Today’s episode is something special. I’m joined by my brother from Iraq, David "DJ" Engel from Second Platoon. We rolled the same roads in Ramadi, faced the same threats, and carried home different battles afterward. David opens up about joining the military, serving alongside his brother Mitch, what they went through overseas, and how life has been since coming home.

This is the first episode of Echoes Unfiltered that includes full video, now available on YouTube.

My book Echoes from the Sandbox is also available now on Amazon for anyone who wants the deeper story behind these conversations.

Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered.

If you want to go deeper into our story in Ramadi, my book Echoes from the Sandbox is available now on Amazon. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it tells the truth about what we lived through over there.

And for the first time ever, this episode has a full video version on my YouTube channel. Just search Echoes Unfiltered on YouTube and you’ll find it. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next video episode.

You can forgive someone and still have no place for them in your life today. That isn’t bitterness. That’s healing. In this Echo Short, Sam talks about closing the door on abuse, choosing freedom, and walking forward without carrying the weight of someone else’s sin.

Real talk, raw faith, stay unfiltered.

Order my book on Amazon:
Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. Stratton
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7J41G4F

Follow the mission:
YouTube – Echoes Unfiltered
Spotify – Echoes Unfiltered
Facebook – Echoes Unfiltered
TikTok – @echoes_unfiltered
Podcast available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio

Real talk, raw faith, stay unfiltered.

#EchoesUnfiltered #EchoNation #healingjourney #faith #mentalhealthmatters #dadssupportingdads

Today I sit down with Nick Polce, a former U.S. Army Green Beret, for real talk about service, sacrifice, healing, and faith. No politics — just two men being honest about the things we’ve carried and the work it takes to walk in freedom.

If you’re struggling, trying to make sense of your story, or just need to hear a raw and unfiltered conversation between brothers, this episode is for you.

If you want to know more about my own journey, you can find my book Echoes from the Sandbox on Amazon.

Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered. God bless.

If you’d like to support Echoes Unfiltered, your prayers mean the world to me — that’s always first.
And if you ever feel led to help the podcast grow in other ways, here’s my Amazon wish list. I’m truly grateful for anything, even just taking the time to look:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/270W6ZWGXJJHU?ref_=wl_share

#EchoNation