The Veterans Project Podcast

Host Tim K. Sits down with Donna Kiernan Carter, a Gold Star Wife who lost her husband Chris Kiernan when he was Killed in Action on May 6, 2007 in Iraq. Donna created the Chris Krossing Foundation in aims of helping those who have also lost a loved one in the line of duty. The foundation is a non-profit 501c(3) organization that relies completely on the generosity of its supporters to host horseback riding workshops for Wounded Warriors, and families that have lost loved ones that were serving in the Unites States military, as well as family members of fallen first responders. They have horses of varying personalities to accommodate various experience levels of the riders and to ensure they can provide a good match for each individual. On the podcast Tim and Donna discussed everything from her childhood in Lake Charles, to the moment she met Chris, to his tragic loss of life, to her search for resilience in the midst of a storm. Donna’s path has led her to a place of healing help for others.

Check out there mission at chriskrossing.com and check them out on Facebook: Chris Krossing Foundation.

Host Tim K., sits down in Southern California at the Vet TV Studios with Donny O'Malley, the Founder of Irreverent Warriors and Vet TV. O'Malley served as a Captain in the USMC deploying to Afghanistan, shortly before being medically retired and ending his career in the Corps. Upon reentry into civilian society, O'Malley wrote the well-received "Embarrassing Confessions of a Marine Lieutenant: Operation Branding Iron." The book was so popular with fellow veterans that Donny decided to develop his satirical approach to serious issues, while raising awareness of the necessity of camaraderie in combatting veteran suicide.

This development led to the genesis of his non-profit, Irreverent Warriors and their popular "Silkies Hikes" as well as a subscription based, streaming platform called "Vet TV." Join your host Tim K. (Founder of The Veterans Project and The Caregiver Project) as he speaks with Donny about developing an entrepreneurial approach, O'Malley's approach to comedy, reintegrative issues in the veteran community, and the value of sweat equity.

Follow Vet TV on Instagram: @vet_tv, on Facebook: @veterantelevision, and subscribe to Vet TV at https://bit.ly/3aHkIgs

Check out Irreverent Warriors on Instagram: @irreverent_warriors, Facebook: @irreverentwarriors, and their website irreverentwarriors.com

Our host Tim K. sits down with friend and mentor, Duncan Butler, while he

is on the road with Zac Brown Band. Duncan Butler is founder of The Butler

Group Atlanta and is the former General Manager of Zac Brown Customs. The

Butler Group Atlanta specializes in developing dealers success in the

Power-sports industry. Duncan comes to you with over 20 years of in-store

dealership experience. He is not a "trainer" but executor of industry

processes with the key component being that he comes from the retail side

of the industry. The Butler Group Atlanta specializes in departmental

management and implementation procedures, sales processes, recruiting,

branding, advertising management and inputting operational controls. Duncan

Butler’s capacity reaches beyond just the Powersports Industry. Duncan also

loves our military, is a true purveyor of creating an incredible

experience, and is an ultimate professional at everything he does.

Our host, Tim K. sits down at the Black Rifle Coffee Company HQ with Logan Stark. Logan was an elite member of our United States Marine Corps Scout Snipers, a group known for its scathing psychological impact on the battlefield. To don the hogs tooth is to gain a singular status as a member of the cream of the crop, the dealers of death from a distance. Although his time of close calls in Afghanistan’s hellish landscape of Helmand Province certainly made a profound impact upon his life, ultimately the follow-up chapters were to be some of the more defining moments that have led him to a position as the digital content producer of the fastest-rising coffee brand in the nation. Throughout our podcast with Logan Stark you will gain the humble insight of a truly exceptional artist, an eagle-eyed warrior who honed his craft on the battlefield then through that same unsurpassed attention to detail and a project that would forever change his life, found a new path to possibly one of the most coveted positions in content creation. Logan discusses everything from his time in Sangin, to his growth as a creative, to how he employs various creative ideologies when it comes to managing social media for Black Rifle Coffee. Check out Logan's work on IG: @loganstark, @BRCC, Twitter: @LoganStewShark, @blckriflecoffee.

This podcast is brought to you by our friends at Hilton Hotels. Through the initiative “Operation Opportunity,” Hilton has hired 30,000 veterans, military spouses, and dependents since 2013. Their follow-up mission is to hire 25,000 more by the end of 2025. Check out all that Hilton Hotels is doing for our military at jobs.hilton.com/military

Tim K. sits down in downtown San Antonio with Canadian Army Veteran, Brass & Unity Founder Kelsi Sheren, to talk about her work as the visionary of a successful jewelry brand. Her art has been worn by the likes of Michael Bublè, Channing Tatum, Ellen Degeneres, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kevin Hart and many more. On top of a successful line of designer, hand-made wearables, her brand is all about giving back to the veteran and caregiver community while raising awareness about the challenges faced upon reintegrating back into civilian society. Tim and Kelsi discuss her brand, the warrior culture, differences in the Canadian and U.S. Armed Forces, her worst days in combat, reintegration, and being a female in a predominantly male environment. Check out Kelsi’s brand at www.brassandunity.com, follow them on Instagram: @brassandunity, and Facebook: Brass & Unity.

This podcast is brought to you by our friends at Hilton Hotels. Through the initiative “Operation Opportunity,” Hilton has hired 30,000 veterans, military spouses, and dependents since 2013. Their follow-up mission is to hire 25,000 more by the end of 2025. Check out all that Hilton Hotels is doing for our military at jobs.hilton.com/military

Host, Tim K., sits down in Starkville, Mississippi to speak with one of his closest friends and fellow artists, Marine Veteran Jesse Phillips. Tim and Jesse met at Sundance Film Festival in 2016, both there as representatives of their veteran-related art projects. The two bonded over a shared sense of humor, their similar backgrounds, love of the greatest generation, affinity for art, and their faith. This podcast serves as a conversational piece on the subjects of ethical values, social media in our culture, how to be a great storyteller, and the veteran community. Jesse also shares on the matters of overcoming the pain of losing his father, his thoughts on leadership, and his personal ideals on being a husband and father. Phillips' work as a storyteller has spanned every medium from film work to photography to the world of podcasting. The two also share their thoughts on one of their greatest days as artists, spent with a legend of WWII. Rest In Peace, Mark Gordon "Doc" Hazard.

Check out his website jesserphillips.com, his Instagram: @thejesserphillips, and Facebook: Jesse Phillips.

“I’ve had the pleasure of serving with several Texans, and they were all born fighters. It must be something in the water down there.” — Major Rusty Bradley, Author ‘Lions of Kandahar.”

Sergeant First Class Riley Stephens was born and raised in the sleepy farming town of Tolar, Texas about 45 minutes south of Ft. Worth. Places like Tolar are only further proof that some of our nation’s most elite warriors come from those towns barely discernible on a map, places that we might mention with the inevitable follow up question, “Where is that?” Six deployments, a litany of schools, and a legendary Special Operations career as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. Sergeant First Class Riley Stephens, a true legend of the Special Operations community, some of his life depicted in the epic novel “Lions of Kandahar.”

SFC Stephens took his last stand on September 28, 2012 providing covering fire for his unit in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. All of the words about Riley and an incredible career as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant pale in comparison though, to the memories of a father who witnessed his son’s first steps and supported him through his most painful tribulations as a Special Operations warrior. Mick Stephens might’ve been Riley’s father, but he was also his closest friend and on that day in September, Mick experienced one of the greatest tragedies that can possibly befall a father, he lost his first born.

Join us as our host Tim K. (Founder of The Veterans Project and The Caregiver Project) sits down in Austin with Green Beret, Tim Kennedy. Kennedy's resumè includes multiple combat deployments, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, his time in the octagon as one of the best MMA fighters in the world, host of multiple prime time TV shows, and ownership of numerous, successful business ventures. Tim and Tim discuss Kennedy's path into Special Operations, his successes and failures as a soldier, reintegration into polite society, conservation through hunting, and our current culture. 

Make sure you check out Tim's companies, Sheepdog Response and Ranger Up. To see what Tim Kennedy is up to currently, check him out on Instagram @timkennedymma, Facebook: Tim Kennedy, and at his website: timkennedymma.com

Our host and founder, Tim K., sits down with President and CEO of the GWOTMF (Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation), Michael Rodriguez, to talk about a lifetime of service. "Rod" spent 21 years in service to the nation, with most of it being in a Special Operations capacity. After finally being forced out due to his physical wounds, Rodriguez started a new path as the leader of one of our greatest historical initiatives to date. The Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation "...leads the efforts to build the National GWOT Memorial in our nation’s capital to commemorate and honor the members of the Armed Forces who served in support of our nation’s longest war, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Consistent with its mission, the Foundation will recognize and salute the service and sacrifices of all who served in defense of the nation in this conflict, as well as their families and friends." Tim and Michael talk about service in time of war, making it through one of the toughest courses in military history (18 Delta), and the journey to discovering a new identity post-service.

This podcast is sponsored by D-Dey Response Group, a tactical medicine company devoted to ensuring their clients receive the best possible training in preparation for the most strenuous real-world scenarios. Courses include marine medicine, tactical medicine, and elite weapons training. Check them out at d-dey.com.

Please be sure to check out the GWOTMF as well, at gwotmemorialfoundation.org, to find out what Michael and the team are up to in ensuring our GWOT legacies are never forgotten.

Our founder and host, Tim K., sat down with Rudy Reyes in Newport Beach, California to speak about his life lately. Rudy grew up in a merciless sequence of loveless behavior, one in which he found himself as a youth defending his brothers on the streets while being shuttled from one relative's home to another. Growing up in a rough neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri with few ways to break the cycle, Rudy turned to the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor as a beacon of hope layered in a structure of transformation. His path to becoming the warrior started as a youth, but the Marines would teach him how to harness his energy and shape him into the most efficient version of the Devil Dog, ready to take on the enemy at every turn. Like many veterans, Rudy's transition out of the Marine Corps wasn't seamless, but he found his identity again through a transcendent path into the world of the arts. He's an actor (HBO's Generation Kill, Apocalypse Man, Ultimate Survival Alaska), philanthropist, fitness expert and world renowned martial artist. Check out Rudy's philanthropic efforts with Force Blue Team, to learn more about how you can help former Special Operations warriors save the coral reefs. This episode is sponsored by Mayday Hemp Company, a veteran (Marine Force Recon) owned CBD company devoted to bringing the purest form of CBD products to market.