Filmmaker Jake Rademacher honors his brothers’ service by creating award-winning movies about their deployments and life after the war. Between 2005-2007, Jake risked everything, including his life, to tell the story of his brothers serving in Iraq in the award-winning feature film, Brothers at War – which has led to resiliency workshops and much more.

20 years later, Jake traveled to four continents to reconnect with his brothers as well as the other elite soldiers and Marines he embedded with during the Iraq War. Intercutting footage past and present, movie watchers are led on an insightful, humorous and moving journey as warfighters explore loss, meaning, and hope on their path from warfighter to veteran.

Jake shares the story of his journey between the two films, his passion for helping servicemembers and now veterans, tell their own stories through resiliency workshops.

Special Guest: Jake Rademacher .

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Be The One | The American Legion
• Save Our Air Medical Resources
• Home - Brothers After War
• Boys State & Boys Nation | The American Legion
• Our Programs | Gary Sinise Foundation

Scary Bad Halloween Dad Jokes

THE INTERVIEW

He talks about staying connected to your military identity, embracing discomfort as a stepping stone toward growth and overcoming self-doubt to accomplish goals.

SCUTTLEBUTT

Duke linemen go extra mile to restore power to Asheville VA Hospital after Helene

Reddit Rabbit-hole: Base hotel horror stories.

Special Guest: Alden Mills.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Dental - Home
• The American Legion and Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans for Legionnaires | Wellcare
• Alden Mills - On A Mission To Get 100 Million People To Be UNSTOPPABLE
• Be The One | The American Legion
• 'No Hesitation': Vietnam's Lifesaving 'Dustoff' Medevac Crews to Get Congressional Gold Medal | Military.com — Vietnam's Lifesaving 'Dustoff' Medevac Crews to Get Congressional Gold Medal
• Duke Energy Linemen Hike Nearly 2 Miles To Restore Power To Asheville Veterans Hospital
• TangoAlphaLima
• Join The American Legion
• Gold Medal Approved for Army Dustoff Crews | AUSA

Duct Tape debuts at Paris Fashion Week

THE INTERVIEW

Danielle also shares how she honors Heath's legacy as an activist and advocate for Burn Pits 360, fighting for servicemembers and veterans exposed to hazardous environments while serving.

SCUTTLEBUTT

U.S. Army helicopter repurposed into an Airbnb in Florida

Remembering country music legend and U.S. Army veteran, Kris Kristofferson

Special Guest: Danielle Robinson.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Gigi Hadid walks the runway in a DHL packing tape mini dress | CNN
• Vision care for federal employees - BCBS FEP Vision
• BurnPits360
• The American Legion and Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans for Legionnaires | Wellcare
• 'Area 52' Veterans Call Out US Government for Refusing to Acknowledge Health Issues Caused By Radiation Exposure | War History Online
• Army helicopter Airbnb open in Brooksville, Florida | wtsp.com
• Kris Kristofferson, country music legend, Army veteran, dead at 88 - Task & Purpose — Kris Kristofferson, country music legend, US Army veteran

Blue Star Families founder and CEO, Kathy Roth-Douquet, is dedicated to her organization's mission to reshape the way America supports its military. Kathy shares how her own family's military journey led her to help military families by connecting them with their neighbors to create communities of mutual support.

She discusses how Blue Star Families works to tackle issues faced by military families, such as military spouse unemployment, financial insecurity, and the challenges more than 600,000 families face each year when they relocate to new communities.

SCUTTLEBUTT

Amid setbacks in Ukraine, Russia is stepping up its recruiting efforts.

Dive down the Reddit Rabbit-hole with Tango Alpha Lima

Special Guest: Kathy Roth-Douquet.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Dental - Home
• Welcome to Blue Star Families
• Do Your Part
• More on Do Your Part
• Blue Star Welcome Week 2024: Fostering Community and Belonging for Military Families — 600,000 military families who recently moved to a new community.

Monica Bassett, founder and CEO of Stronghold Food Pantry, is a Military Food Insecurity Expert and a dedicated advocate for military families facing this issue.

A military spouse and the daughter of a Vietnam War veteran, Monica knows first-hand the struggle some families face when it comes to food insecurity. She shares how her own experiences influenced her commitment to helping others, and why she continues to build trust and serve others with dignity. 

SCUTTLEBUTT

The U.S. Navy has run out of pants

Special Guest: Monica Bassett.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Home - Heroes With Hearing Loss
• Stronghold Food Pantry | Military Families
• The American Legion and Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans for Legionnaires | Wellcare
• John J. Morris Post 62 partners to provide free food to veterans | Legiontown U.S.A.
• Navy suffers shortage of working uniform trousers
• Join The American Legion

THE INTERVIEW

Baca shares how he founded Exit 12 Dance Company to give veterans a storytelling platform through dance, theater and movement.

SCUTTLEBUTT

Special Guest: Román Baca.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Improve Financial Health with VetCents 🇺🇸 Veterans Benefits Banking Program
• Exit12 Dance Company
• The American Legion and Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans for Legionnaires | Wellcare
• Raygun Window Wiper!! #raygun #olympics - YouTube
• The defense of Australian breakdancing girl "Raygun" is stupid : r/TrueUnpopularOpinion
• How are new sports chosen for the Olympics? : NPR
• How Navy chiefs conspired to get themselves illegal warship Wi-Fi
• Vets help Canton teen reach dream of joining Marines | Legiontown U.S.A.

Suicide awareness advocate Jerri Reed shares the story of losing her son, Iraq War veteran Cody Comacho, who took his own life after a 20-year battle with PTSD. Reed is striving to educate others about the dangers of using psychiatric drugs as PTSD treatment.

Special Guest: Jerri Reed.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Veterans Crisis Line
• Michigan Veteran Harm Reduction Summit Tickets, Tue, Oct 15, 2024 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite
• General 1 — Grunt Style Foundation
• Veterans - Mad In America

The gang is back together - and things get a little hairy before our guest arrives.

THE INTERVIEW

Miska talks about his military experience, the journey that led him to his role at VA, his work in the veteran non-profit space and his involvement with resettlment of interpreters from conflict zones.

SCUTTLEBUTT

Years into civilian jobs, vets struggle with networking, resume skills

Navy SEAL astronaut doctor Jonny Kim will blast off into space next year

Special Guest: Steven Miska.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Improve Financial Health with VetCents 🇺🇸 Veterans Benefits Banking Program
• First Amendment Voice| Own your liberty.
• Home - SLC Consulting
• VA May Owe Millions in Benefits to Vietnam Veterans - The War Horse
• Agent Orange and intergenerational effects - Public Health
• Action Center
• The PACT Act And Your VA Benefits | Veterans Affairs
• Saving lives of veterans, their families, and communities with the Columbia Protocol | The American Legion
• From formation to tent city: New doc follows vets’ fight for housing
• Watch: 14 Veterans Suing the VA in an Epic Fight for Housing
• Years into civilian jobs, vets struggle with networking, resume skills — Years into civilian jobs, vets struggle with networking, resume skills
• Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) | U.S. Department of Labor
• NASA puts Navy SEAL astronaut doctor on space station mission — Navy SEAL astronaut doctor Jonny Kim will blast off into space next year

Joe marks his “hurt-a-versary” by looking back to the day 20 years ago when he was injured while running to assist a vehicle that had been hit by an IED.

THE INTERVIEW

Brown shares how he proved the doubters wrong, the story of his military and federal law enforcement careers, and his book "And Goliath" in this week's episode.

SCUTTLEBUTT

Rocky, a formerly-stray rescue dog who is now a Service Dog in training, is throwing his paws into the 2024 race to the White House.

The Legion "Get Out the Vote" program encourages all Americans to register and vote in all elections.

Special Guest: David Brown.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Navy Seal Memoirs | Udtdave
• And Goliath | Live your Biggest Life – by David Brown with Robert Gettlin
• Improve Financial Health with VetCents 🇺🇸 Veterans Benefits Banking Program
• Both VP picks are military veterans
• From Stray to Statesman: Rocky, the Resilient Rescue Dog, Runs for President - K9s for Warriors
• Rocky For President - K9s For Warriors - Service Dogs For Veterans
• Get Out the Vote | The American Legion

How we continue to remember September 11

THE INTERVIEW

This was the fuel to write his book, "Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth and Happiness" in order to help others navigate their own suffering and turn it into nirvana, turn it into bliss.

It is also fuel for his own extreme adventuring.

In November, Nanavati will begin a 110-day, 1,700-mile solo trek across Antarctica, wher he'll ski for 10 to 12 hours a day hauling a 400-pound sled full of supplies and become the single most isolated being on the planet. He shares how he has been preparing for the grueling physical and mental challenges he will face along the way.

SCUTTLEBUTT

Post 58 in Oklahoma using gaming to provide veterans camaraderie and support.

Special Guest: Akshay Nanavati .

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Tango Alpha Lima 9/11 Series Playlist
• September 11: A Day of Remembrance and Service - NPS Commemorations and Celebrations (U.S. National Park Service)
• Improve Financial Health with VetCents 🇺🇸 Veterans Benefits Banking Program
• Home - Heroes With Hearing Loss
• Home - Fearvana
• The Great Soul Crossing
• Saving lives of veterans, their families, and communities with the Columbia Protocol | The American Legion
• VA worker errors when reviewing claims for full disability cost $100M, auditors say | The American Legion
• A new way to Be the One: Post to use gaming to reach struggling veterans  | The American Legion