TRIGGER WARNING! I don’t get graphic on this episode, but I do touch on some sensitive subjects. Not to mention the fact that a fellow veteran has been convicted of a heinous crime. I don’t have an interview for this episode, it’s just me pouring my heart out. Having said all of that, I highly encourage you to look into James’ case yourself. Here are the links to a few of the websites that I mentioned: https://abcnews.go.com/US/death-row-inmate-facing-execution-based-lying-jailhouse/story?id=73749507 https://flaglerlive.com/149706/james-dailey-appeal/

To start, I don’t know if I can do justice to Kaits’ story in a brief intro. Kait is a “gold star widow”, and we spend a great deal of time speaking about that, what it means, and some of the tools she used to recover and cope with that status. The only issue I had speaking with Kate, is that we did not get too deep into her service. But that gives me an excuse to have her on the podcast again in the near future!!!

So full disclosure, I’ve had this in “in the can” so to speak. After a bit, I just decided to do it after the new year. So after a bit of a break, I’m back! My guest for this episode is an inspiring young woman, whom i became aware of through social media. After hearing about her story, i decided that she was someone I had to get in touch with and hear more of her story. Hope you enjoy!

In this episode I sit down with fellow (former) sailor; Christian Garzone! Christian and sailed some similar waters during our careers! Further more Christian briefly details how the navy set him up for success in his civilian career! WARNING: towards the end of episode I experienced a glitch that resulted in a delay in the feed from Christian. In comes in towards the end, and does not affect the main portion of the podcast so I feel that it is a minor issue over all. But I’ve said before: I promise we did not talk over each other while we were recording! The links to the two websites Christian mentions are as fallows: mission22.com and operationbuildup.com So if you need support or looking to support a worthy mission, these 2 are a great place to start!

For this episode, I had the honor of speaking with Rob Kull! For me, talking with Rob was less intense than several other conversations I’ve had on the podcast, but it was no less enjoyable! We talked a little bit about how we served on the same platform (aircraft carriers) but had two completely differently experiences! Rob further shares how he has continued to serve his country and is active politics. And goes on to explain why he thinks the country needs a stronger veterans presence in politics and government!

In a special episode, I rounded up a couple of volunteers (and maybe a voluntold) so that we could express our gratitude to all of our nations veterans! A big part of that for me is helping and promoting the people that support our nations hero’s. I mention a couple of the podcast, they are: AMVETS, Final Salute Inc., and Code of Vets. All three organizations are doing amazing work and if you are interested in helping or supporting veterans, they would be a great place to start! Code of Vets is very active and social media; mainly twitter, and focus on getting money to veterans in need! Please look them up at codeofvets.com or on twitter @codeofvets Next is Final Salute. Final Salute does a number of things to help female veterans, one of which is fighting to give homeless female veterans safe places to stay and help them get on their on feet. Reach out to them at finalsaluteinc.org and on twitter @finalsaluteinc Last and certainly not least is AMVETS. AMVETS is an organization with a strong nationwide presence, that is doing a lot of great work to help and advocate for veterans on an individual and national level! I have spoken to several members of that organization and they have blown me away! You can find them online at AMVETS.org and twitter @amvetshq So please, support those that support our heroes! And if you want to get in touch with me, I’m on facebook at “Voices of Americas Veterans”, email is [email protected] and twitter @jverhalen

*Warning*- as what sadly seems to be becoming a pattern when I interview female veterans; I experience a technical difficulty on my side. My guest is a True Survivor, Hot Mom of the Year 2020, and Air Force veteran: Brandi Pett! I’m not gonna give anything away in the description; but for me, Brandis’ story was hard to listen to. But she overcame her challenges and took to the time to share with me and worked through my technical difficulties to bring this episode of the podcast!

To start each episode i introduce one of my “favorite people”. And I mean it! Veterans are my favorite people! But in this episode, I feel like my guest; Mr. Sherman Gillums, may be first among equals when it comes to my favorite people! In this episode, he explains why he chose to serve, what a “mustang” is, how “there is nothing new under the sun”, and how he continues to serve with the veterans advocacy organization , AMVETS. I don’t want to give away too much content, so I will just that I truly enjoyed talking with him and listening while he shared!

Have the honor of sitting down with the motivated and dedicated Dr Laura Lunsford! We touch on a lot of things in short amount of time. Dr. Laura shares how she has accomplished a number of childhood goals; including serving in the military, becoming a teacher and earning her doctorate! On a more servious note she talks about mental illness costing her a friendship, and how veteran suicide has touched her family.

This is a bonus episode in which i got too. Sit down and talk with my mom about something I hadn’t really talked with her too much in the past. I did the intro with my daughter Dani, because she wanted to doo a podcast with me. Of course being Dani, she wanted too steal the show! So maybe we will need to start her own podcast!