We’re talking all about Cybersecurity with Dr. Calvin Nobles, (Ret.) U.S. Navy Cryptologic Warfare Officer and Dean of Cybersecurity & Information Technology at University of Maryland Global Campus.

We unpack the threats that exist all around us including how the military is defending against rogue nations, evolving AI, and drone technology. Nobles shared the threats he witnessed while commanding Cyber Operations for the US Navy and his time at the National Security Agency.

We also learned about cyber security education pathways and the certifications required for jobs in this rapidly growing field, which is actively recruiting veterans.

For more on cybersecurity opportunities, connect with Dr Calvin Nobles here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinnobles/

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Navy SEAL veteran Chief Anthony Rivera shares an inside look at Vetavize, the digital platform he founded to navigate the complex and frustrating VA Disability Benefit process. Powered by artificial intelligence, it guides veterans through filing their claim while helping them identify conditions and gather medical evidence needed to get their claims approved.

Rivera shared how after leaving the Navy he took a tactical approach and successfully managed his own VA claim, and then began personally assisting other veterans while working at Amazon.

Rivera shares how Vetavize is being used by local governments and law enforcement agencies to help their veteran employees.

We also discuss how Rivera has hope that the VA and Congress will start using this highly effective program to help all vets receive the benefits they earned. And, how he has some powerful, combat-tested allies in Congress- former Navy SEALs!

Find out more about Vetavize to get your correct disability rating and the benefits you’ve earned here:

https://vetavize.com/

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re talking with Army Cavalry Scout veteran, and Medal of Honor recipient SSGT Clint Romesha, who continues to serve his fellow vets though America’s Warrior Partnership.

We begin with a look at his service and a fascinating look into the reconnaissance missions of the elite US Army Cavalry Scouts. Known as the “eyes and ears of the battlefield” he shares a vivid, behind the scenes look at combat operations.

We discussed the day that changed his life forever. It was 2009 in Afghanistan, when Clint defended the remote Combat Outpost Keating when it was almost overrun by 300+ Taliban terrorist forces. He was repeatedly exposed to enemy fire, devised a counterattack, provided cover for fellow soldiers to retrieve the fallen and kill the enemy’s surge. For his actions that day, Romesha was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013.

Romesha shared the challenges he and many other veterans experienced after war, and how his initial career plans fell apart. He would eventually pursue hard and physical work in the oil fields of North Dakota. Leaning on his military training he also found success, and years after combat, received a mysterious phone from Pentagon.

We wrap our conversation with how he continues to serve his fellow vets through his work with America’s Warrior Partnership. He describes their mission to end veteran suicide by AWP’s ability to deliver mental health care, assist with financial issues, transportation and even help vets live better lives through better employment.

AWP and warriors like Romesha are always there their fellow vets and always have their six.

For more on Clint Romesha's inspiring life:

https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/romesha/

See how America's Warrior Partnership assists veterans in need and make a donation to this worthy organization here:

https://www.americaswarriorpartnership.org/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we’re with Navy veteran Matt Thompson who built an incredible post-military career in the skilled trades … and how his use of Tik Tok has made his heating and air conditioning business wildly successful in Southern California.

His story began with a love of auto mechanics, which included building a car that ran on airplane fuel. His knack for fixing engines helped him consistently advance though the ranks.

Thompson shared how his military experience and credentials put him on the fast track to getting a contractor’s license in California, but it was his interest in social media that helped his business experience explosive growth.

He shared how he used YouTube, Facebook and Tik Tok to promote his business through a mix of HVAC related videos and glimpses into his hobbies. He also described how his videos became popular, and how today, he receives sales leads and even gets paid by social platforms for his content and HVAC product demos.

However Thompson is not pushing people to become an “influencer”. Rather, he calls for more veterans (and our kids) to consider careers in the skilled trades and use social to help build a thriving business.

Find Matt Thompson on Tik Tok and other social @Matts_Crafty

https://www.tiktok.com/@matts_crafty

See more of Thompson’s thriving heating and air conditioning business, EMT HVAC here:

https://emthvacs.com/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re talking about the new book, “Forged in Chaos: A Warrior’s Origin Story” by Army Special Operations veteran Tyler Grey.

Tyler was the epitome of the modern warrior, a Delta Force operator, master of counterterrorism. He hunted the worst bullies on the world’s playground—high-value targets, bomb makers, warlords—executing covert missions that never made the news- until one mission in Sadr City, Iraq changed everything.” On what should’ve been a routine raid, an explosion ripped through the home shattering his arm and worse; it fractured his identity.

Grey describes “chaos addiction” and how most combat veterans share a similar past, which support his groundbreaking LTSD theory, “Lack of Traumatic Stress Disorder”. We hear how this theory explains why Grey managed his mental health crisis with drugs, sex and toxic relationships. We also examine two traits common among combat vets, which he calls “The Warrior and Destroyer”.

Grey also revealed serious flaws behind modern medicine’s current PTSD diagnosis, and how anyone who has experienced trauma can learn from his fight to conquer the battle within.

This book doesn’t challenge the narrative; it destroys it, laying bare the cost of being forged in chaos.

Check out “Forged in Chaos: A Warrior’s Origin Story” here:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Forged-in-Chaos/Tyler-Grey/9798895652626

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans Host and Navy veteran, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re firing up the grill and talking killer BBQ with Blazing Star BBQ, Founder and Air Force veteran Michael Starr.

We start with his Air Force days, where he was a satellite communications specialist aboard The National Airborne Operations Center, commonly known as “The Doomsday Plane”. These classified 747s are the nations’ mobile command center for The President, Pentagon and Joint Chiefs. Capable of withstanding the effects of nuclear and electromagnetic attacks, it follows the President everywhere and ensures the government and military can continue even amidst catastrophic attacks against our nation.

Starr, who grew up in North Carolina, shared how his global travels ignited a passion for food, flavors and great BBQ … despite being raised on “salt, pepper, butter and bacon grease.” He shared how he first began making sauces for local restaurants and revealed some of the special ingredients in his Blazing Star BBQ recipe.

We discussed his rise during the pandemic, and how his social media earned Starr recognition from some of the top BBQ Pitmaster Champions in the country.

We also heard more about Blazing Star seasonings, and how his products would eventually get picked up by some of America’s largest retailers like; Home Dept, Ace Hardware and more.

Get some Blazing Star BBQ essentials here:

https://www.blazingstarbbq.com/

Special Shout out …

Thanks to our delicious new sponsor “Eggland’s Best”.

From their unique hen feed and strict quality standards to a network of USDA-inspected local farms all over the United States, you can be confident that a classic, organic, or cage-free egg with the EB stamp on the shell is a superior egg that delivers farm-fresh taste.

https://www.egglandsbest.com/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re talking about veteran business success and the best steaks for your backyard BBQ, with Army Ranger veteran Patrick Montgomery.

He shared his journey from warrior to rancher to founder of Valor Provisions, an innovative e-commerce site where consumers can get prime cuts of steak, burgers, and world-famous hot dogs delivered right to their door. We start with his transition from the military to a career in the cattle industry.

Montgomery shared how his first attempt in the beef business almost failed. But his dedication to small ethical ranchers resulted in a break that would elevate his small business to a national brand.

After his first taste of success, Montgomery shared how rising prices, the corporate-owned beef industry and other factors almost crushed his business. He outlined his innovative e-commerce membership model, and how being open and honest with customers was the real key to Valor Provisions’ success.

Montgomery also talked about the premium meats Valor Provisions offers and new additions like grass fed beef and pasture raised chicken. We also learn the real origin story behind the wildly popular Wagyu beef.

Check out the great steaks and unique Valor Provisions Co-Op membership here:

https://valorprovisions.us/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we hear from Dr. Will Van Derveer about about the proven benefits of Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. Dr. Van Derveer shared how after working with veterans he became discouraged by the conventional treatments like talk therapy and endless medications which often fail to treat the root cause of conditions like anxiety, bi-polar, depression and PTSD.

After two decades of developing innovative approaches to address the root causes of symptoms, in 2018 he co-founded the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. A leader on a mission to transform mental healthcare, VanDerveer set a goal to train 10,000 providers in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

We started with a discussion about the failures of standard mental health treatment protocols.

Dr. Van Derveer shared data on the effectiveness of psychedelics, and updates on current VA, FDA trials, including MDMA, and Psilocybin. And how many vets are forced to “free-lance their own care” by going to Mexico to gain access to Ibogaine therapy.

Dr Van Derveer also shared the vicious mental cycle a PTSD patient endures, what a psychedelic treatment session is like, and how psychedelics are proving effective at helping veterans heal.

For more on psychedelic-assisted therapy, resources and training programs for mental care providers, check out The Integrative Psychiatry Institute:

https://psychiatryinstitute.com/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we’re hearing how veterans are being healed by the power of music, and collaborations with the organization “Songwriting with Soldiers”. Air Force veteran Bruce Anderson, his wife Lesley and SW:S Music Director Jay Clementi share how these weekend retreats pair award-winning songwriters with veterans to create songs that help them tell their story and bring them closure. (Clementi’s credits include hit songs with Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, and more)

We start with a look at Anderson’s deployments during the Global War on Terror. Anderson and his wife Lesley brilliantly recall the troubles he experienced after returning from war, and how they took a chance on attending a SW:S weekend retreat.

The Andersons describe the origin of their song, “The Man You Used to Know,” and how writing it with hit songwriter Trent Willmon, was more powerful than any medicine.

Jay Clementi describes the “Songwriting with Soldiers” writing process and a new music initiative where select songs from these powerful retreats are fully produced by award-winning Nashville producers and now available on all major streaming platforms.

Check more from “Songwriting with Soldiers”, Hear the latest songs, Donate or Register for upcoming retreats here:

https://songwritingwithsoldiers.org/

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we talk with Marine Corps veteran and acclaimed journalist Chas Henry about his dramatic new book, “Fuji Fire, Sifting Ashes of a Forgotten U.S. Marine Corps Tragedy”.

It's the story of how in 1979 the largest typhoon ever recorded hit Camp Fuji, Japan, ruptured a fuel tank, sending 5000 gallons of fuel into huts where Marines were staying, eventually engulfing the camp in walls of fire after the fuel was ignited by kerosene heaters.

Henry recalls the origin of the project was when he posted photos from his deployment there (before the fire), and how it inspired a multi-year investigation to finally tell their story.

In our detailed interview Henry shares first-hand accounts he gathered from veterans who lived through the tragedy. He also shares how Japanese forces assisted Marine forces despite strained relations with the US Government.

We also hear gripping stories about the crews who helped save Marines, a brave military doctor, advancements in emergency medicine and burn care and a Marine who inspired his fellow survivors. Plus how the work of legendary Hollywood actor Dick Van Dyke helped some Marines survive.

Get a copy of “Fuji Fire: Sifting Ashes of a Forgotten U.S. Marine Corps Tragedy” here:

https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/potomac-books/9781640126459/fuji-fire/

More on Marine Corps veteran, acclaimed journalist, and creator of CBS Eye on Veterans syndicated radio show and podcast, Chas Henry here:

https://chashenry.com/

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices