Some of the most important people serving our veteran community never wore the uniform themselves.

They stand beside those who did.

My conversation with Valerie Mulikin is a reminder that behind every veteran is often a family, a caregiver, or an advocate fighting just as hard to navigate life after service.

After years of helping her husband through serious medical challenges following his military career, Valerie chose not to let that experience end with her own family. Instead, she built Operation Veteran & Caregiver Support to help veterans and their families find the resources, guidance, and community they deserve.

What stood out to me most wasn't just the organization she created.

It was her commitment to serving others, even after years of personal hardship.

That's the kind of leadership and resilience I hope more people get to hear about.

If you're a veteran, caregiver, family member, or someone who simply believes in taking care of those who served, I think you'll appreciate this conversation.

Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode encouraged you or you know someone who could benefit from these resources, please share it with a veteran, friend, or family member.

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Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more people who need these stories and resources.

Website: https://www.pitbull214.com/
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I've always believed one of the most important things we can do is preserve the stories of veterans while we still have the chance to hear them firsthand.

Some of those stories made the history books.

Some didn't.

My conversation with Colonel Darrell Whitcomb falls into that second category.

Like many veterans I've met over the years, he served, did his job, and came home without asking for recognition. But the missions he flew and the experiences he shares offer a glimpse into a part of military history that many Americans still know very little about.

What struck me most wasn't the danger or the combat.

It was the sense of duty.

The commitment to the people beside you. The responsibility of bringing others home. The willingness to keep going when the mission demanded it.

Those values don't belong to one generation of veterans. They carry forward.

If you enjoy hearing veterans tell their own stories, and you want to learn about a chapter of service that often gets overlooked, I think you'll appreciate this conversation.

Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

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Website: https://www.pitbull214.com/
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One thing I've seen happen to a lot of veterans is this:

They spend years serving something bigger than themselves.

Then one day the military chapter ends, and they're left trying to figure out what the next mission looks like.

That's why I enjoyed this conversation with Colonel (Ret.) Brian Yolitz.

We talked about life after service, the challenges that come with transition, and why purpose doesn't disappear when the uniform comes off.

What I appreciated most is that Brian doesn't just talk about helping veterans. Through the Big Fish Foundation, he's helping create opportunities for veterans to reconnect, serve, and be part of something bigger than themselves again.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: veterans do best when they're connected to other veterans.

Not because anyone understands everything you've been through, but because they understand enough.

If you're a veteran trying to find your next mission, or you know someone who is, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.

Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more people who need these stories and resources.

Website: https://www.pitbull214.com/
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Over the years, I've met a lot of veterans who have talked about starting a business.

Most of them don't lack motivation.

What they're missing is a roadmap.

They have the work ethic. They have the leadership experience. They know how to solve problems under pressure.

What they don't always know is where to start.

That's why I wanted to talk with Elizabeth Harding about the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans at Wright State University.

What caught my attention about this program is that it isn't just another class where people sit around talking about business ideas. It's designed to help veterans take an idea and turn it into something real.

I've always believed that veterans have the skills to be successful business owners. Sometimes they just need the right people around them and the right opportunity to get started.

If you've ever thought about owning a business, or know a veteran who's been kicking around the idea, I think you'll find a lot of value in this conversation.

Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more people who need these stories and resources.

Website: https://www.pitbull214.com/
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One thing I've noticed after talking to veterans for years...

Most aren't asking for special treatment.

They're just trying to figure out what's available to them.

The frustrating part is that there are a lot of good programs, benefits, and organizations out there. The problem is many veterans never hear about them until someone points them in the right direction.

That's why I wanted to have Dr. Cassie Barlow back on the podcast.

We talked about some of the work being done to connect veterans with resources, jobs, support networks, and opportunities that can make a real difference after military service.

What I appreciate about Cassie is that she doesn't just talk about helping veterans. She's spent years building programs that actually do it.

The uniform eventually comes off for all of us.

The question becomes: what's next?

I think this conversation offers some good answers for veterans, military families, and anyone who wants to see veterans succeed long after their service ends.

Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more people who need these stories and resources.

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Over the years, I've met a lot of veterans who have been through things most people can't even imagine.

What always amazes me isn't what happened to them.

It's what they did afterward.

In this episode, I sat down with Marine veteran Larry, who survived an IED blast in Afghanistan that changed his life forever.

We talked about service, loss, recovery, and the long road that comes after a traumatic injury.

What stuck with me was his mindset. Even after everything he went through, he found a way to keep moving forward.

That's not something you learn from a book.

That's the kind of perspective that only comes from living it.

I think every veteran has a story worth hearing. Larry's is one of those stories that reminds us what resilience really looks like.

I hope you'll take some time to listen to this one.

Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

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One of the things I enjoy most about this podcast is getting the chance to sit down with veterans who helped shape the people around them.

Colonel Herman Cole is one of those people for me.

In this episode, we talked about his journey from Tuskegee University to serving as a combat engineer during Vietnam, the leadership lessons he learned along the way, and the challenges he faced during a very different time in our military's history.

What stood out to me wasn't just his military career.

It was his commitment to service long after the uniform came off.

The older I get, the more I appreciate veterans like Colonel Cole who took the time to mentor others, share their experiences, and help the next generation find their way.

There are a lot of lessons in this conversation. Not just for veterans, but for anyone who believes leadership is about serving others.

I think you'll enjoy this one.

Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

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Website: https://www.pitbull214.com/
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One thing I've learned from talking to veterans over the years:

Getting out of the military is rarely the hard part.

Figuring out what comes next is.

That's why I wanted to sit down with Dr. Cassie Barlow. She's a retired Air Force Colonel who has spent years helping service members navigate that transition.

We talked about starting early, translating military experience into something employers understand, and why finding the right fit matters just as much as finding a job.

A lot of veterans leave the military with leadership skills, problem-solving skills, and years of experience. The challenge isn't whether they have value.

The challenge is recognizing it and finding a place where those skills can continue to make a difference.

If you're getting ready to separate, retire, or you're helping someone who is, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.

Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more people who need these stories and resources.

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Most veterans know what a DD-214 is.

What many don't realize is how much of a headache it can become if you can't find it when you need it.

I've talked to veterans and families over the years who suddenly needed a DD-214 for benefits, burial honors, healthcare, or other services, only to discover they had no idea where it was.

That's why I wanted to have Greene County Recorder Joe on the podcast.

We talked about why protecting these documents matters, how the Recorder's Office helps preserve them, and some simple steps veterans and their families can take now to avoid problems later.

It's not the most exciting topic in the world... until the day you need that paperwork.

Then it becomes one of the most important documents you own.

If you're a veteran, or you have a veteran in your family, this is one conversation worth listening to.

Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more people who need these stories and resources.

Website: https://www.pitbull214.com/
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In this episode of the Pitbull214 Podcast, host Rick “Pitbull” Perales sits down with veteran advocate Gil Esparza to discuss his lifelong commitment to serving fellow veterans both inside and outside the military.

Gil shares his personal journey of service and how that experience led him to become deeply involved in supporting veterans who find themselves navigating challenges after leaving the uniform behind. The conversation explores his work with Veteran Treatment Court, a program designed to help veterans address legal issues while receiving the support, accountability, and resources they need to move forward.

Rick and Gil also discuss the meaning behind Gil’s “Life Behind Bars” message, the importance of mentorship, and why second chances can make a life-changing difference for veterans struggling to find direction, purpose, or stability. Through lived experience and honest conversation, Gil explains how compassion, responsibility, and community partnerships can help veterans rebuild their lives and reconnect with their potential.

This episode highlights the power of service beyond the military, reminding us that some of the most important missions happen after the uniform comes off.

Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more people who need these stories and resources.

Website: https://www.pitbull214.com/
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Thank you for listening to the Pitbull214 Podcast, where veterans, service, resilience, and real conversations come first.

If this episode helped you, inspired you, or made you think differently, please share it with another veteran, friend, or family member.

Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help us reach more people who need these stories and resources.

Website: https://www.pitbull214.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Pitbull214podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rckprls/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pitbull214/