Free Thinking with Montel

What happens when the war ends, but the promises made on the battlefield remain unfulfilled?

On this episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with U.S. Army combat veteran, author, and Afghan refugee advocate Spencer Sullivan, co-author of Not Our Problem: The True Story of an Afghan Refugee, an American Promise, and the World Between Them.

While serving in Afghanistan, Spencer formed an unlikely friendship with Afghan interpreter Abdulhaq Sodais, a man who risked his life working alongside American forces. But when Spencer returned home, Abdulhaq's fight for survival was far from over.

After another interpreter Spencer served with was murdered by the Taliban, Abdulhaq disappeared, eventually resurfacing in Germany following a harrowing escape from Afghanistan.

What followed was a years-long struggle to secure safety, navigate immigration bureaucracy, and hold America accountable to the people who stood beside its troops.

In this powerful veteran-to-veteran conversation, Montel and Spencer explore:

• The extraordinary bonds forged between American troops and Afghan interpreters.
• The dangers faced by Afghan allies long after U.S. forces departed.
• The human cost of America's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
• The challenges of navigating the refugee and asylum systems.
• Moral injury, loyalty, leadership, and the military principle of never leaving anyone behind.
• The remarkable friendship at the heart of Not Our Problem.
• What America owes those who risked everything to help our military.

After years of uncertainty, Abdulhaq and his wife finally arrived in the United States in December 2025. But their story raises questions that extend far beyond Afghanistan.

When America asks someone to risk their life for us, does our responsibility end when the war does?

This is a conversation about service, sacrifice, friendship, and the promises we make—and whether we have the courage to keep them.

📖 Learn more about Spencer Sullivan and Not Our Problem: https://www.notourproblembook.com/

🎙️ Subscribe to Free Thinking with Montel for thought-provoking conversations with people challenging conventional thinking and making a difference.

Join the conversation: What responsibility does America have to the local allies who served alongside our troops? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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What happens when a healthcare professional suddenly becomes the patient?

In this episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with Selena Buongiorno, PA-C, a physician assistant, board-certified Lifestyle Medicine practitioner, clinical researcher, MS advocate, and host of the MSwired Podcast.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2020, Selena found herself navigating a lifelong neurological condition from the other side of the exam table. Despite her medical training, nothing could fully prepare her for the emotional and physical realities of living with MS, chronic pain, fatigue, and invisible symptoms.

Selena shares how her diagnosis transformed not only her personal life but also her approach to medicine, patient care, and advocacy.

Together, Montel and Selena explore the importance of taking an active role in your health, the science behind lifestyle medicine, the evolving landscape of MS research, and the power of turning adversity into purpose.

In this episode:

• Selena's journey from healthcare provider to MS patient
• The challenges of living with invisible symptoms and chronic neurological conditions
• How lifestyle medicine can complement traditional MS treatment
• The role of nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management
• Advances in neurological research and MS care
• Why Selena created the MSwired Podcast
• Finding community, resilience, and purpose through MS advocacy

With their shared experience of living with multiple sclerosis, Montel and Selena offer a candid, personal conversation about what it really means to live with a chronic illness while continuing to pursue a meaningful, fulfilling life.

Learn more about Selena and the MSwired Podcast:
https://linktr.ee/mswired.podcast

Subscribe to Free Thinking with Montel for more thought-provoking conversations about health, science, resilience, and the issues shaping our lives.

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What does it take to face cancer four times—including two ultra-rare tumors—and still refuse to let a diagnosis define your life?

On this episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with Judith Remekie, an award-winning television producer, writer, actor, host, and four-time cancer survivor whose extraordinary personal journey is one she has rarely shared publicly.

Diagnosed with breast cancer at just 29 years old, Judith has navigated a harrowing medical journey while building an impressive career in entertainment and journalism. From interviewing legendary athletes like Roger Federer, Nadia Comaneci, and Chris Evert to producing stories for ESPN, ABC, PBS, Discovery, and other major networks, Judith has spent much of her life telling other people's stories.

Now, she's sharing more of her own.

Montel and Judith explore the emotional and physical realities of surviving multiple cancer diagnoses, the importance of advocating for your own health, and the role fitness, discipline, and resilience can play when life presents unimaginable challenges.

They also discuss their shared backgrounds in track and field, the influence of culture and family, and why surviving a serious illness doesn't mean it has to become your identity.

In this episode:

• Facing a breast cancer diagnosis at just 29
• Surviving four cancers, including two ultra-rare tumors
• Navigating medical uncertainty and advocating for yourself
• The connection between athletics, fitness, and resilience
• Why some survivors choose to keep their experiences private
• Building a successful career in television and entertainment
• Finding purpose, strength, and identity beyond illness

This is more than a conversation about cancer. It's about courage, reinvention, and choosing how to live after life changes everything.

Subscribe to Free Thinking with Montel for more candid conversations with extraordinary people who challenge conventional thinking and inspire us to see the world differently.

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What happens when silence becomes a survival skill—and then follows you into adulthood?

On this episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with author Rich Dunning for a deeply personal conversation about his new memoir, Silence Was My First Language.

Rich opens up about growing up amid abuse, poverty, addiction, fear and instability—and how those childhood experiences continued to shape his relationships, identity and life long after he escaped them.

Together, Montel and Rich explore the lasting impact of childhood trauma, the complicated nature of healing, breaking generational cycles, forgiveness, addiction and recovery, and what it means to finally find your voice after spending years learning to stay silent.

Rich also shares why he decided to tell his story now, what writing the memoir taught him about his own past, and how he hopes his experiences can help others recognize that they are not alone.

The conversation also explores Rich's commitment to helping vulnerable children through The First Language Initiative and his decision to use his work as an author to support organizations addressing child abuse, homelessness, hunger and exploitation.

Silence Was My First Language is ultimately more than a story of what Rich survived. It's a conversation about what comes next—healing, purpose, connection and the courage to speak.

Subscribe to Free Thinking with Montel for more candid conversations with authors, thought leaders, advocates and people whose experiences challenge us to think differently.

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What happens when helping one veteran becomes a mission to help thousands?

On this episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with Marcie Polier Swartz, founder of Village for Vets, and her brother, Brad Zalben, a U.S. Navy veteran whose personal journey inspired the organization.

Brad served in the Navy from 1992–1999 as a Seabee, trained in welding and construction. After his honorable discharge, he faced challenges that eventually required treatment and support. Marcie stood beside him as he navigated the VA healthcare system—sometimes literally walking into appointments holding hands because of the fear and mistrust they both felt.

What they ultimately discovered changed both of their lives.

Marcie wanted to use what she had learned to help other veterans. In 2016, the successful entrepreneur and entertainment-industry pioneer founded Village for Vets, working alongside the Greater Los Angeles VA and other partners to help vulnerable veterans move from homelessness toward stability and permanent housing.

Since its founding, Village for Vets has helped house more than 1,000 veterans, and in 2026 the organization has been operating at a pace of approximately one veteran housed every day.

Montel, Marcie and Brad discuss the realities of transitioning from military to civilian life, why some veterans are afraid to seek help, the strengths and shortcomings of the VA system, the gaps that can prevent veterans from getting housed, and why simply putting a roof over someone's head isn't the end of the journey.

Marcie also explains the importance of Village for Vets' Emergency Fund, which allows the organization to step in when traditional grants and government programs can't cover the final needs standing between a veteran and permanent housing.

This is a conversation about veteran homelessness—but it's also about family, trust, persistence and the difference one person can make by refusing to let someone fall through the cracks.

Learn more and support Village for Vets:
villageforvets.org

Subscribe to Free Thinking with Montel for more conversations about health, veterans, leadership, innovation and the issues that impact our lives.

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What if one of the most consequential wars in American history might have taken a different course?

On this episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel sits down with distinguished attorney, historian, professor, and author C. Evan Stewart to revisit the turbulent months leading up to the American Civil War—and the largely overlooked role of William Henry Seward.

Best remembered today as Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of State and the man behind the purchase of Alaska, Seward was also one of the most influential political figures navigating the secession crisis of 1860–61. In his book, William Henry Seward Saves the Union During the Secession Winter, Stewart challenges conventional interpretations of this pivotal moment in American history and argues that Seward’s behind-the-scenes strategy may have done far more to preserve the Union than history has credited him for.

Montel and Stewart explore just how fragile the country was as Southern states began to secede, why Seward believed time, diplomacy, and compromise could prevent further division, and whether a different approach might have altered the path toward war.

They also tackle the harder questions: Was the Civil War truly inevitable? When does compromise represent pragmatic leadership—and when does it become morally unacceptable? How do leaders make decisions when every available option carries enormous consequences? And how much of what we believe about history is shaped by the narratives that survive?

It’s a fascinating conversation about a man often relegated to the margins of the Lincoln story, a nation on the brink, and what the choices made during moments of extraordinary political division can teach us today.

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#MontelWilliams #MultipleSclerosis #LivingWithMS 

In this special solo episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel Williams gets personal about his decades-long journey with multiple sclerosis—what the disease has taken from him, what it has taught him, and how his approach to living well has evolved since his diagnosis in 1999.

Drawing from his own experiences with pain, fatigue, cognitive changes, stress, and the unpredictable nature of an invisible illness, Montel shares the lessons that have helped him build a life around wellness rather than waiting for perfect health. He explores the importance of movement, nutrition, sleep, stress management, mindset, relationships, and learning when to rest and adapt.

Montel also looks at the evolving science of MS, the importance of recognizing progression, partnering with your medical team, asking questions, tracking symptoms, and becoming your own strongest health advocate.

This is more than an episode about managing a disease. It's a candid conversation about resilience, perspective, gratitude, and refusing to let a diagnosis define the boundaries of your life. As Montel reflects, MS has taken things from him—but it has also taught him patience, empathy, gratitude, and the value of every single day.

What I've Learned Living with MSis an episode for anyone living with MS, caring for someone who is, or navigating a life that hasn't gone exactly according to plan.

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#FreeThinkingWithMontel #MontelWilliams #ForgedValor

What happens when military service ends—but the mission doesn't?

In this inspiring episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel Williams talks with Colonel John Mayer, USMC (Ret.) and Mo Smith, co-founders of Forged Valor, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans, first responders, spouses, and young adults rediscover purpose through horsemanship, ranch work, craftsmanship, and leadership.

John shares his extraordinary journey from leading Marines in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and commanding the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment to helping fellow veterans rebuild their lives after service. Mo brings decades of experience as a rancher, horse trainer, builder, and entrepreneur, offering a perspective grounded in hard work, resilience, and the enduring value of traditional skills.

Together, they explain why healing isn't always found in a therapist's office—it can also be found in the quiet trust between horse and rider, the discipline of blacksmithing, the satisfaction of building something with your hands, and the community formed through shared purpose.

This conversation explores:

Why purpose is essential after military service

How horses teach leadership, confidence, and emotional awareness

The surprising connection between craftsmanship and mental resilience

Why Forged Valor includes spouses and young adults alongside veterans and first responders

Real stories of lives transformed through meaningful work and authentic connection

How traditional skills remain relevant in an AI-driven world

Whether you're a veteran, first responder, parent, leader, or simply someone searching for greater purpose, this conversation offers powerful lessons on resilience, service, and what it truly means to lead.

Learn more or support Forged Valor at forgedvalor.org.

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#FreeThinkingWithMontel #MontelWilliams #MultipleSclerosis 

What happens when one life-changing diagnosis becomes the catalyst for helping thousands of others?

In this inspiring episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with Victoria Reese Brathwaite, Founder and President of We Are ILL, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Black women living with multiple sclerosis, lupus, and other autoimmune diseases.

Diagnosed with MS at just 25 years old, Victoria found herself searching for something that didn't seem to exist—a community of women who looked like her, understood her experience, and could remind her she wasn't alone. Instead of waiting for that community to appear, she created it.

As two people who have spent years navigating life with multiple sclerosis, Montel and Victoria share an honest conversation about the realities of living with an invisible illness, overcoming isolation, advocating for better healthcare, and transforming adversity into purpose. They also explore why representation matters, how community can become a powerful form of healing, and why joy remains essential—even in the face of chronic illness.

Whether you're living with a chronic condition, caring for someone who is, or simply looking for an inspiring story about resilience and leadership, this episode is a reminder that our greatest challenges can become our greatest calling.

Victoria's personal MS diagnosis and journey

The inspiration behind founding We Are ILL

The importance of representation in healthcare

Living with an invisible illness

Building community through advocacy

Finding joy, purpose, and resilience despite chronic disease

Advice for anyone newly diagnosed with MS or another autoimmune condition

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#FreeThinkingWithMontel #MontelWilliams #Podcast 

What if climate change, rising inequality, declining public health, political polarization, food insecurity, and our growing loss of trust aren't separate crises—but symptoms of the same underlying problem?

On this episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel talks with investigative journalist, entrepreneur, and author Fons Burger to explore the powerful ideas behind his new book, The Only Possible Solution: How to Shape the Future for our Next Generations. Together, they examine why traditional approaches often fail to create lasting change and why solving complex challenges requires a systems-based way of thinking.

From healthcare and technology to economics, democracy, and the search for meaning in modern life, this conversation challenges conventional wisdom and offers a hopeful vision for building a more resilient future. Rather than focusing on isolated problems, Burger argues that the solutions we need may already exist—we simply need to connect them.

If you've ever wondered why progress can feel so elusive, this episode offers a fresh perspective on what it will take to create meaningful change for the next generation.

In this episode:

Why today's biggest crises are deeply interconnected

The hidden costs of short-term thinking

How technology, economics, and governance influence one another

Rebuilding trust in institutions and communities

Why hope depends on changing how we think—not just what we do

Practical ideas for creating a healthier, more sustainable future

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