In Episode 20, we delve into the remarkable story of Nasirullah “John” Safi, an Afghan combat interpreter who began his courageous work at just 15 years old.  Join us as Nasirullah recounts his most perilous missions, the relentless threats from the Taliban, and the formidable challenges he encountered while navigating the U.S. immigration system.

www.combatinterpreter.com

Get The Terp up Here

Indispensable: Tale of a Military Interpreter, A War Lived Through Two Languages

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Episode 19 boasts a fascinating conversation between co-host Will, a combat veteran, and Joanna Naples-Mitchell, a human rights attorney working with families harmed by U.S. foreign military actions. Over the hour, we discuss the Department of Defense’s budget for making apology payments to such families (and how it largely goes unused); the challenges in choosing which families to represent and the inevitable compassion fatigue in such work; and the benefits to engaging non-profit organizations in military strategies as a way to mitigate civilian harm. 

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In episode 18, we are graced by the lovely Sara Davidson, retired USAF and current GCV+F teammate.  She talks about her motivations for joining the military, the challenges in building a strong team identity and culture, lessons learned from her deployment to Iraq, and her experience with transitioning out of the military.  We were so grateful for the opportunity to learn more about one of our favorite team members AND to allow Sara to set the stage for her own upcoming podcast, Service Unplugged.

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In this poignant episode, we mark the anniversary of Kabul's fall by exploring Kate and Will's extraordinary efforts to aid Afghans in the aftermath. Tune in to hear their personal stories, the challenges they faced, and the impact of their work on those in need. Join us for a powerful discussion on resilience, moral injury, and the powerful friendships we’ve formed. 

www.gcvfriends.com

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Episode 16 is a bit more academic, as Kate and Dr. Rev. Michael Yandell discuss the definition of moral injury and whether it best belongs under a clinical or humanities model. Coming into the conversation with two different perspectives, we both left with the shared understanding that those dealing with moral injury deserve to have their harm validated and would best be served by a joint treatment method that addresses both the internal moral harm and the resulting symptoms. 

Moral Injury Support Group

War and Negative Revelation: A Theoethical Reflection on Moral Injury

Shay Moral Injury Center

Chemical Weapons in Iraq

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Episode 15 features Bilal Sarwary, a leading Afghan journalist. We delve into Afghanistan's military and political failures that contributed to the Taliban's rapid takeover, explore how U.S. policies supported their return, and examine the implications of their current status for the international community. Bilal’s insights are invaluable, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in Afghanistan's future.

www.gcvfriends.com

[email protected]

@bsarwary on X

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Thomas Kasza is a Green Beret turned humanitarian, innovator, and advocate for the oppressed. Prompted by the Taliban resurgence in August 2021, he founded the 1208 Foundation, an NGO that provides immigration assistance and life-saving aid for persecuted Afghan partners. This episode delves into an incredible Green Beret’s career. Even after he separated from the military, Thomas continues serving Afghanistan and caring for his allies.

https://1208foundation.org/

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Bill Roggio is one of our personal favorites over here at GCV+F.  In this episode, we learn more about Bill’s history covering military affairs despite his lack of formal journalism training; the moments he knew that his work had a true impact, including multiple invitations to embed with military units; and his thoughts on the current terrorism landscape, including the mounting threat posed by Islamic terrorism.

Bill is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy and currently serves as the editor of the Long War Journal, which you can check out here.

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Episode 12 with Dr. Tia Corbin-Myers showcases the many challenges veterans face after leaving service.  With candor and grace, she discusses the challenges in finding employment post-service; her decision to spend four years as a contractor in Afghanistan to support her young family; and her ongoing efforts to launch a housing/reentry program for homeless veterans.  

https://www.thepeacecenterdmv.com

[email protected]

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In episode 11, we sit down with Ian Patterson from Operation Recovery to discuss the fall of Kabul, subsequent evacuation work, and the mental toll it took on volunteers. Ian also introduces us to the Heroes Wellness Collective, a central collection of mental health resources for veterans with the goal of offering rapid and meaningful responses to requests for support.  

You can learn more about Operation Recovery here: https://operationrecovery.org

 And about the Heroes Wellness Collective here: https://operationrecovery.org/health-wellness-initiative/

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