In this special Military Creator Con 2026 episode of Oscar Mike Radio, I sit down with Robin Johnson, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel who made the bold transition from 20 years of military service to the stand-up comedy stage.

In our conversation, Robin shares what it was really like to retire in 2020 and take a leap of faith into comedy. We talk about how her time in the military helped shape her voice as a comedienne, the real challenges of building a career in stand-up, and why humor can be one of the most powerful tools we have for connection and healing. 🇺🇸

Robin also opens up about the Best Medicine Brigade, a support network for military-affiliated comedians, and the meaningful work she’s doing today as a certified humor professional and a veteran fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. We explore how humor relates to neuroplasticity and mental wellness, and why laughter can truly make a difference in people’s lives.

This is an inspiring, honest, and uplifting conversation about service, reinvention, and the healing power of humor.

There is still time to get tickets to Military Creator Con 2026. Go to https://www.militarycreatorcon.com/ to learn more!

Thank you, Robin, for talking with me.

In this emotional episode of Oscar Mike Radio, I sit down with Elizabeth Dubois, a homeland security expert and cousin of Army National Guard veteran JJ Millet.

 We share a deeply emotional and urgent conversation about JJ’s case, where he now faces domestic terrorism charges after a psychiatric crisis triggered by medication prescribed by the VA.

Elizabeth gently guides me through what truly happened: how JJ made the brave choice to call the 988-crisis line, voluntarily surrender his weapons, and seek help. Actions like these, to us, show someone desperately in need of support, not punishment.

We also confront the painful reality of his personal therapeutic journals being wrongly labeled as a “manifesto,” and what that dangerous mischaracterization could mean, not just for JJ, but for every veteran who might hesitate to reach out for help out of fear of being criminalized.

JJ and Elizabeth are united in their message. This is not just about JJ’s story; it’s about ensuring that no veteran feels alone or afraid when seeking help. It’s about accountability, compassion, and the devastating consequences when the system fails to protect those who served.

 You can make a difference by sharing JJ’s story and raising your voice for help.

JJ, you are not alone.

This episode of Oscar Mike Radio is dedicated to the memoryof Jessie Liu and Justin Gingeleskie. Both faced pancreatic cancer with incredible strength. While they lost their battle, their lives and courage remind us to keep fighting, for ourselves and others. 💜

In this episode, I talk with my colleague Brian Howson, amarathon runner who started his journey during the pandemic and turned it into something much bigger. Brian shares why running the Boston Marathon became sopersonal while his daughter was attending Boston University, and how that journey led him to support Project Purple, a charity dedicated to pancreatic cancer research.

We discuss early detection, how this disease impacts veterans and families, and how communitysupport truly makes a difference.

This episode is about perseverance, purpose, and turningpain into something meaningful.

Brian is raising money for Project Purple, and I’m proud tosupport him. If you’d like to help, you can donate here:
https://donate.projectpurple.org/fundraiser/6471947

Thank you, Brian, for sharing your story and inspiring others to keep moving forward.

This episode of Oscar Mike Radio is one of the most personaland emotional conversations I’ve had.

I sat down with Courtney Millett to talk about her brother,Joseph “JJ” Millett, not as a headline, not as a court case, but as a human being. A brother. A veteran. Someone who served his country and then came home carrying wounds most people will never see.

Courtney opens her heart about JJ’s military service, hisbattle with PTSD, and the moment everything changed. What should have been a cry for help turned into something far more painful for their family:confusion, fear, and the shock of watching a mental health crisis treated like a crime instead of a call for compassion.

This episode isn’t just JJ’s story. It’s about every veteranwho feels like they must suffer in silence. It’s about families who are trying to hold everything together while watching someone they love struggle. And it’s about the urgent need to respond to mental health with understanding, support,and humanity, and not punishment.

If you listen to one episode that reminds you how powerfulempathy can be, let it be this one.

We are JJ Strong.
And JJ — you are not alone.

This one means a lot to me.

I had the chance to sit down with James and Marah VanProoyen, the powerhouse couple behind Military Creator Con. This conversationwas something special.

If you’re an active-duty service member, veteran, spouse, orcreative who wants to turn your passion into something meaningful, this eventis built for YOU.

We talked about:
 How Military Creator Con has grown intoa real community
 Why creativity matters for the militaryand veteran community
 The power of collaboration, networking,and supporting each other
 How this event helps people take thenext step with their creative goals

The conference is happening in Arlington, TX, April 16–18,and it’s packed with workshops, networking, and special events designed toinspire and connect military creators.

Want to go? Use code OMR202650 and get $50 OFFany ticket.

I truly hope to see you there. And James and Marah, thankyou both for taking the time to come on the show. This conversation reallymeant a lot to me. We are Mission in Flight!

This week on Oscar Mike Radio, I’m joined by my third guestfrom the United Kingdom, Ben Reed. Ben was a British Army veteran who served as a Rotary Wing Technician. Ben shares insights from his 12-year military career working on helicopters, his transition into the civilian workforce, and thechallenges many veterans face when navigating life after service.

We also dive into the mission behind Redeployable.io, theplatform Ben created. Using AI and personalized simulations, Redeployable.io helps veterans in both the UK and the U.S. translate their military experience into meaningful civilian careers, offering a more tailored and supportivetransition process.

I personally signed up and completed the program myself atRedeployable.io. The process took about 60 minutes from start to finish, and the platform guided me with clear prompts that helped me reflect on both my military background and current professional experience. While the systemcollects a significant amount of information, I found the insights at the end well worth the time invested.

Best of all, Redeployable.io is free for veterans. There’sreally nothing to lose by giving it a try.

Thanks to Ben for taking the time to share his story and talk about the work being done to support veterans in transition. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for Redeployable.io.

In this episode of "Oscar Mike Radio," I talk with Marie Henriksen, a former U.S. Army combat medic. Marie shares her journey through military service, trauma, addiction, and recovery, highlighting her nearly nine years of sobriety.

She discusses how creativity, through poetry, photography, and podcasting, became central to her healing. Marie emphasizes the importance of community, faith, and sharing one’s story to inspire others.

The episode is a candid, hopeful conversation about resilience, the power of vulnerability, and the value of helpingothers heal out loud.

Thank you for listening!

In this episode of Oscar Mike Radio, host Travis Partington interviews P.K. Edgewater, a veteran, author, and teacher, about his family’s remarkable military legacy and his novel, Passages.

PK discusses the psycho-emotional impact of war, the challenges Vietnam veterans faced, and how his book explores trauma, healing, and human connection. The conversation highlights the importance of empathy, storytelling, and community for veterans and civilians alike.

PK shares the inspiration behind his writing, while Travis reflects on his own journey as a Marine and podcast host, emphasizing the power of sharing veterans’ stories.

In this episode of Oscar Mike Radio, I sit down with Dr. Andrea-Gayle Bennett, Deputy Secretary of the Executive Office of Veteran Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and retired Brigadier General, in honor of Black History Month.

We have an important conversation about the vitalcontributions of Black veterans here in Massachusetts. We reflect on the legacy of trailblazers like Marvin Gilmore and highlight the leadership of changemakers such as Nicole McClain and Catherine King.

This episode is about more than history; it’s aboutresponsibility. We talk about why these stories must be told, shared, and preserved. By elevating the voices and experiences of Black veterans, we help educate the public, promote inclusion, and strengthen advocacy for equity,recognition, and opportunity within both the military and veteran communities.

These conversations matter. And I’m honored to help bringthem forward.

Go to https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-veterans-servicesto learn more about how Veterans are served in Massachusetts.

Thank you, Deputy Secretary, for talking with me!

Note: This episode draws extensively from the article byElizabeth De Pompei for Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Magazine (https://digital.dav.org/publication/?i=858943&p=20&view=issueViewer). Her research significantly informed this podcast, and select excerpts arequoted herein. I wish to express my gratitude to Elizabeth for her valuable contribution.

In recognition of the third week of Black History Month2026, this episode features Elizabeth De Pompei’s work and examines the Harlem Hellfighters, the 369th Infantry Regiment. Leveraging insights from her DAVMagazine article, the discussion explores the regiment’s exemplary service during World War I, the discrimination they endured, and the subsequent delay in their recognition.

This episode underscores the importance of commemorating the achievements of Black veterans and acknowledges the ongoing pursuit ofequality. I extend my appreciation to our sponsors and supporters. Listeners are encouraged to further explore this significant yet often overlooked chapter of American military history. Additional information can be found at:https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/one-hundred-years-ago-harlem-hellfighters-bravely-led-us-wwi-180968977/

Thank you for joining us. We are Mission in Flight.