Eye on Veterans

After Maddie Smith quit drinking, she just didn’t know what to do with her hands ... until she discovered Cross Fit and built her epic physique!

Now she’s a top contender for “Ms. Health and Fitness 2026”, and she’s doing it all for a veteran nonprofit.

We talked about how she overcame alcoholism, an eating disorder, and endured recovery groups that didn’t understand her trauma. Now, in peak physical condition she shared advice on conquering addictions and helping veterans through a partnership with Shields and Stripes, a veteran support program founded by Steve Nisbet, fellow athlete and Air Force Pararescue Specialist veteran.

Nisbet described the life of an elite “PJ”, conducting casualty evac missions in combat zones, the tragic death of a fellow PJ, the Army's betrayal and the emotional toll of his service.

But he powered through the pain and used his physical training expertise to create the acclaimed Shields and Stripes veteran support program.

The program draws from the type of sports therapy used by pro athletes and Special Operations teams and combines it with customized nutrition plans and therapy from experienced psychologists.

Nisbet described the incredible results attendees experienced at recent programs in Arizona and Florida, and shared stories of vets who no longer need the medications doctors said they couldn’t live without.

Smith also expressed her shared love of fitness as medicine, and what she will do if crowned contest winner, “If I win, I’m donating the $20K prize to the Shields & Stripes Foundation. I’m competing to break the stigma around recovery & mental health, not to win money. Giving the prize to a nonprofit founded by someone who rebuilt his life after tragedy & now helps others find their strength, means more than anything $20K could buy me.”

When Navy vets Joe Lloyd and Loaman “Nelly” Nelson served together aboard USS San Diego, they never dreamed they would be attending the Super Bowl. But thanks to the Wounded Warrior Project and Jacksonville Jaguars Devin Lloyd, this weekend, they’re living a football fantasy!

During Media Week, we swapped sea stories about ship life, port calls, and casinos, and lessons about what it takes to be a true leader.

Joe Lloyd shared how those leadership lessons helped him guide his son, Devin Lloyd, to become an elite college football player, a #1 NFL Draft pick, and a Pro-Bowl Linebacker with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

They described how, together with Devin, they served their fellow vets at Project Odyssey, a healing retreat that offers outdoor adventures like hiking, biking, rafting, skiing, boarding, and more.

Afterward, Devin Lloyd gave the coveted tickets to Nelly, and he described his call to Joe, announcing their epic road trip to San Francisco to attend the big game.

From leadership to fatherhood to a love of sports, these two veterans represent what it means to be a football fan and a friend!

More on Project Odyssey, outdoor adventures here:

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/project-odyssey

Support our veterans and donate to Wounded Warrior Project here:

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

We’re talking about Physical and Mental fitness with Army combat veteran entrepreneur, speaker, and Founder of Soldier Fit, training centers, Danny Farrar.

He achieved success as a business owner, MMA fighter and endured events like the Pentagon on 9/11 and combat in Iraq. But we open with one of Farrar’s most challenging chapters- his childhood.

Like he’s done for thousands of fitness clients over the years, Farrar preached lessons he learned from his past, the military and one vivid memory of almost getting choked-out during a mixed martial arts match.

However, whether it’s a lesson from his life or an observation of society today, Farrar consistently helps people believe they can achieve anything.

From fitness to career goals to just wanting to live a better life, Farrar gives the hard truth and often surprising advice.

Farrar also shared how the ongoing wave of polarizing news stories; ICE, immigration, social media anger and political unrest, actually reveals a deeper issue within ourselves.

And once we conquer it, “anything is possible”.

Reach your fitness goals with Soldier Fit here:

https://soldierfit.com/

Check out The Herd, Mindset Coaching here:

https://www.instagram.com/dannyfarrar_theherd

Get a daily dose of motivation from Danny on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/danny.farrar1

The Netflix documentary “In Waves and War” reveals the stunning results of psychedelic therapy and how medicines like Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT are proving to help warriors overcome their demons, which all too often drive them to suicide.

Former Navy SEAL Chief Anthony Rivera completed this groundbreaking treatment back in 2020 and shares vivid memories from his experience.

We start with a gripping look at what life on the SEAL teams was like, and the troubling after effects of combat.

After attempting to fight the battle alone, Rivera was eventually convinced by a fellow team mate to undergo a powerful medically assisted session in Mexico, thanks to Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions.

Rivera described in detail, the vivid images and feelings he experienced during the sessions. And he shared the profound connection between psychedelic therapy and feeling the presence of God.

As the medicine coursed through his veins, the results that he and hundreds of other Special Operations veterans experienced, are nothing short of miraculous.

Rivera also makes a powerful case for why psychedelic therapy is more effective than traditional mental health treatment and the overwhelming number of medications widely prescribed.

Now a devout Christian, Rivera continues to serve his fellow veterans through his company Vetavize, which helps them navigate the VA benefit claims process, and receive the benefits they earned.

Watch In Waves and War on Netflix

https://vetsolutions.org/news/netflix-in-waves-and-war-vets/

For more on Medical Psychedelic Therapy Sessions, check out Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) here:

https://vetsolutions.org/

For VA claims assistance using AI-powered Vetavize, Connect with SEAL veteran, Anthony Rivera here:

https://vetavize.com/

We take a deep dive into the covert mission where Delta Force, Navy SEALs and the Night Stalkers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment boldly extracted the notorious Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to the US to face drug trafficking charges.

Special Operations, Ranger, and acclaimed journalist Jack Murphy shares some fascinating insight.

Murphy’s deeply classified and anonymous sources in the Intelligence and Special Operations community offer us a glimpse at how these operations are conducted.

Murphy deftly examines covert mission tactics, the legal set up for the mission, the Trump administration’s admission of their desire to control Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

We also hear more about CIA sources on the ground, what may have turned them toward supporting the US strategy and how they cleared the way long before the strike was launched.

Murphy also describes an interesting connection between Black Ops and the FBI’s elite counter-terrorism tactical unit, Hostage Rescue Team (HRT).

We also dive deeper into the exfil timeline, the role of USS Iwo Jima, some key take ways about the use of Joint Special Operations forces and how this mission echoes the not so distant sounds of unresolved wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

For more incredible National Security reporting check out The High Side:

https://thehighside.substack.com/

And to hear fascinating interviews with Special Operations veterans check out Jack Murphy and Dave Parke on The Team House Podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheTeamHousePodcast

CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

Luxury purses, handbags and carry-ons can’t compete with story behind the handmade leather and canvas bags from “R Riveter”. Military spouse Lisa Bradley co-founded the company and revolutionized the fashion manufacturing industry, by recruiting military spouses located across the country, to stitch together the bags in their homes.

Now, a multi-million-dollar business, we hear how this military spouse founded brand got its humble start in an attic.

From a small home-based endeavor, Bradley shares how she was inspired to enlist her fellow military spouses, who often have challenges finding reliable employment, to join the company.

After initial success, Bradley described how they scaled revenue, expanded operations and eventually made an appearance on the network TV show, Shark Tank.

Bradley spoke about working with business icon Mark Cuban, and how despite their growth, R. Riveter stayed true to the original mission- helping military families.

Over the years R. Riveter has sold thousands of bags, and Bradley offered a story about a family who is able to keep their father’s memory alive, through a truly unique line of handbags.

Check out R. Riveter Bags, for women and men here:

https://www.rriveter.com/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans

Phil Briggs, Host

[email protected]

After a former Afghan ally attacked West Virginia National Guard troops in Washington DC, killing Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounding SSgt Andrew Wolfe, we’re hearing a National Guard veteran’s view of these deployments to major US cities, and the vetting process of allies seeking asylum.

National Guard veteran and CEO of The Chamberlain Network, Chris Purdy has served both in Iraq, and with organizations to bring our Afghan allies to the US for their safety.

Purdy offers a deeper look at the intended role of National Guard troops, the issues related to being assigned law enforcement duties, and the actual results of these deployments.

Purdy shares his personal experience assisting Afghani asylum seekers who fought along US forces, and discusses missteps often made in resettling foreign allies.

He also describes how The Chamberlain Network seeks to amplify veteran voices in an effort to solve many local and national issues .

Learn more about veteran advocacy and activism from The Chamberlain Network here:

https://www.chamberlainnetwork.us/

[email protected]

This week Eye on Veterans and Connecting Vets, Reporter Julia LeDoux had an informative conversation with VA Secretary Doug Collins. We asked many of the questions veterans have today.

Collins shared his goals of lowering benefit claims processing times, simplifying the system and a revealed plans to overhaul the application.

We also got a rare look at his military background as an Air Force Reserve Colonel, Chaplain and deployment to Iraq. He shared memories of a Thanksgiving, while stationed at Balad Air Base, and how his experience and faith guide his work today.

We dove into topics like; veteran mental health, what's being done to lower veteran suicides and the connection between mental health and the medications so many veterans are prescribed. We asked his position on alternative treatments like psychedelics and cannabis.

We also sought an explanation for why Congress recently blocked passage of The Maj. Richard Star Act. which defends veterans ability to receive both retirement and disability benefits.

And we learned who he's (always) rooting for in college football!

Find your VA benefits, and resources for all veterans here:

https://www.va.gov/

Connect:

CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

[email protected]

Connecting Vets.com, Senior Veteran Affairs Reporter, Julia LeDoux

[email protected]

Simply put, Boone Cutler, was one of the most influential veterans of the post 9/11 era.

His recent passing comes too soon but reminds us to remember the alarms he sounded for improving VA care and properly addressing mental health. Cutler called out Congress, DoD and VA for overloading vets with prescription meds while holding an outdated stance on cannabis. And he worked to save countless veterans from the suicide epidemic, through The Spartan Pledge.

In this episode we hear rare conversations recorded in 2019, where we discussed his life, combat in Sadr City, Psy Op (Psychological Operations) tactics and the gripping origin story of his advocacy.

We began at a saloon in Nevada, where Boone shared his family’s rich military tradition. Later we heard Boone’s miraculous, autobiographical story, recorded at his kitchen table, where we truly got to know the man behind those distinctive black sunglasses.

The experiences he shared, would eventually be heard by Congress, and trigger the VA to address the over-prescribing of pills- an issue Cutler dubbed, “The Combat Cocktail”. He powerfully described the pharmaceutical link to the suicide epidemic and illustrated through his own difficult memories, how veterans can consider ending their life.

Cutler’s story also revealed how he was one of the first vets to reveal the second order effects that stem from TBIs and blast injuries. He further shared fierce advocacy for cannabis, and offered vivid examples of how it effectively replaced the pain killers and heavy psychoactive drugs, which are still prescribed too often today.

We finally dove into his love for his wife, family, veteran brothers and sisters, and how The Spartan Pledge, was forged as a battle plan to save veteran lives.

There will never be another vet like Boone Cutler.

I am honored to have known Boone and called him a friend.

Till Valhalla my brother.

More on Boone Cutler- his advocacy, and award winning books here:

https://boonecutler.com/home/

Let’s face it, we’re not getting any younger ... So how should we be saving and what makes a good plan? CDs, 401K vs. Roth, and college funds for our kids? We asked Sarah Sealey, a Navy Federal Credit Union, Manager and Certified Financial Planner, who shared what veterans should consider for a healthy financial future.