Welcome to Episode 23 of The Afghanistan Project Podcast, where hosts Mikael Cook and Beth Bailey highlight the struggles of Afghans living under Taliban rule, and the efforts of individuals from a variety of backgrounds and political affiliations who have stepped up to provide support to the people of Afghanistan in the chaos that followed the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

This week continues our series returning to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan as we pass the two-year-mark of our departure. Hannah Williams and Braden Wayment joined us to talk about the mental impact that our withdrawal, and our almost 20-year presence in Afghanistan, have had on them and many other veterans over the past two years.

Listeners, please be advised that this episode includes stories of suicide and mental trauma. If you need help finding resources for managing these kinds of feelings, please reach out Fight the War Within Foundation, or call the national suicide and crisis hotline at 988. Patrol Base Abbate and Operation Allies Refuge Foundation are great organization that help forge community that strengthens veterans’ bonds and promote resiliency.

Both Hannah and Braden work to help our Afghan allies make their way out of Afghanistan. Their time is volunteered, but the pace and demands of their efforts are grueling. Both Hannah and Braden gave an unvarnished explanation of why – and for whom – they continue their work, and of the meaning Afghanistan continues to have for veterans like Braden who fought there, and for veterans like Hannah, who were close to individuals who spent time there, and care deeply about fulfilling America’s promises.

More about the evacuation groups Hannah and Braden support:

Hannah donates her time to Operation Sacred Promise. You can find their website here. Braden donates his time to Task Force Argo, which can be found online here.

About the hosts:

Mikael Cook was an Army non-commissioned officer and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He was an active member of the #DigitalDunkirk movement to evacuate our Afghan allies in August of 2021. You can follow his Instagram @Mikaelcook89.

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow her on Instagram @BWBailey85 or Twitter @BWBailey85.

For listeners in Afghanistan:

If you would like to have your story considered for a future episode, please send us a letter about your experiences to our show e-mail address, [email protected]. Please include as much detail as possible, and let us know if you would like us to give you a pseudonym to protect your identity.