Eye on Veterans

This week we share our conversation with Army combat veteran, and Purple Heart recipient turned TV celebrity JR Martinez, about the inspiring podcast, “Medal of Honor, Stories of Courage”.

We begin with a closer look JR’s life, who went from surviving an IED attack and severe burns, to winning “Dancing with The Stars” and a role on the daytime TV drama “All My Children”. He shared incredible moments from his personal recovery, inc...

This week we’re hearing about a major mental health milestone for psychedelic assisted therapy, after President Trump signed a landmark Executive Order demanding research on alternative treatments for severe mental illness. We broke it down with Marcus Capone, Navy SEAL veteran, Founder of Veterans Seeking Treatment Solutions and an elite combat vet whose life was saved after his experience with the psychedelic, Ibogaine.

Capon...

On Wednesday Apr 22 we remember the ultimate sacrifice of Army Ranger Pat Tillman who was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan. A unique Ranger in that he left a pro football career with The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals to join the Army shortly after 9/11, along with his brother.

On the evening of April 22, 2004, Pat’s unit was ambushed as it traveled through the rugged, canyon terrain of eastern Afghanistan. His heroic effort...

This week we’re checking out the Spring ski action in Snowmass Co, at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. Every year incredible wounded warfighters gather for a week of skiing, boarding and the kind of healing only mother nature can provide. Our guest is Retired Army Major, Dr. Lisa Maddox, who overcame a leg amputation and proves that with the right mindset anything is possible.

Lisa Maddox describes the feeling ...

Take control of your financial future with the Command Your Cash course.

Whether you are currently serving, a veteran, or a military spouse, this comprehensive personal finance course addresses the unique challenges of military life. The program is designed to be self-paced, helping learners sharpen their skills through key topics to build, grow, and protect their finances.

We talked with two veterans about the course. Army veter...

We take a deeper look at the rapidly escalating War with Iran, with former Ranger, Special Forces and National Security writer Jack Murphy. We open with how veterans across the country feel about it, considering many have already endured decades of combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Murphy also discusses the news of Special Forces veteran Joe Kent, whose resignation from National Counter Terrorism Center stirred up controversy earlier...

This week we discuss Operation Epic Fury, with Army veteran and former SFOD-Delta, Lt. Colonel Brad Taylor. A veteran with years of covert operations experience, best-selling author and detailed researcher, Taylor looks at all sides of this war with Iran, which has broadened to a level not seen since WWII.

We begin with what initiated the US-Israeli attack on Iran, and the dangers the world now faces.

We looked back at Iran’s su...

This week we meet Navy veteran John Gully, who went from Navy ships and sonar frequencies to a career behind the mic on radio frequencies.

Today he’s the Evening News Anchor for Prescott Tonight on News Talk Radio 103.5 FM in Prescott, AZ, but broadcasting was not his original plan.

Gully shared memories of his days aboard ship and what it was like being a Sailor during the Cold War era … and any dangerous encounters with Russians...

This week we honor a fallen Marine, Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, who was KIA during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, at Abbey Gate in Kabul, on Aug 26, 2021.

Our guest is Jared’s father, Mark Schmitz, who founded the non-profit organization “The Freedom 13”. He shared his mission and details about the veteran retreat and recreation center being built on a beautiful 171-acre property in the heart of Missouri.

We begin with ho...

After Maddie Smith quit drinking, she just didn’t know what to do with her hands ... until she discovered Cross Fit and built her epic physique!

Now she’s a top contender for “Ms. Health and Fitness 2026”, and she’s doing it all for a veteran nonprofit.

We talked about how she overcame alcoholism, an eating disorder, and endured recovery groups that didn’t understand her trauma. Now, in peak physical condition she shared advice ...

When Navy vets Joe Lloyd and Loaman “Nelly” Nelson served together aboard USS San Diego, they never dreamed they would be attending the Super Bowl. But thanks to the Wounded Warrior Project and Jacksonville Jaguars Devin Lloyd, this weekend, they’re living a football fantasy!

During Media Week, we swapped sea stories about ship life, port calls, and casinos, and lessons about what it takes to be a true leader.

Joe Lloyd shared how...

We’re talking about Physical and Mental fitness with Army combat veteran entrepreneur, speaker, and Founder of Soldier Fit, training centers, Danny Farrar.

He achieved success as a business owner, MMA fighter and endured events like the Pentagon on 9/11 and combat in Iraq. But we open with one of Farrar’s most challenging chapters- his childhood.

Like he’s done for thousands of fitness clients over the years, Farrar preached les...

The Netflix documentary “In Waves and War” reveals the stunning results of psychedelic therapy and how medicines like Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT are proving to help warriors overcome their demons, which all too often drive them to suicide.

Former Navy SEAL Chief Anthony Rivera completed this groundbreaking treatment back in 2020 and shares vivid memories from his experience.

We start with a gripping look at what life on the SEAL teams...

We take a deep dive into the covert mission where Delta Force, Navy SEALs and the Night Stalkers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment boldly extracted the notorious Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to the US to face drug trafficking charges.

Special Operations, Ranger, and acclaimed journalist Jack Murphy shares some fascinating insight.

Murphy’s deeply classified and anonymous sources in the Intelli...

Luxury purses, handbags and carry-ons can’t compete with story behind the handmade leather and canvas bags from “R Riveter”. Military spouse Lisa Bradley co-founded the company and revolutionized the fashion manufacturing industry, by recruiting military spouses located across the country, to stitch together the bags in their homes.

Now, a multi-million-dollar business, we hear how this military spouse founded brand got its humble ...

After a former Afghan ally attacked West Virginia National Guard troops in Washington DC, killing Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounding SSgt Andrew Wolfe, we’re hearing a National Guard veteran’s view of these deployments to major US cities, and the vetting process of allies seeking asylum.

National Guard veteran and CEO of The Chamberlain Network, Chris Purdy has served both in Iraq, and with organizations to bring our Afg...

This week Eye on Veterans and Connecting Vets, Reporter Julia LeDoux had an informative conversation with VA Secretary Doug Collins. We asked many of the questions veterans have today.

Collins shared his goals of lowering benefit claims processing times, simplifying the system and a revealed plans to overhaul the application.

We also got a rare look at his military background as an Air Force Reserve Colonel, Chaplain and deploym...

Simply put, Boone Cutler, was one of the most influential veterans of the post 9/11 era.

His recent passing comes too soon but reminds us to remember the alarms he sounded for improving VA care and properly addressing mental health. Cutler called out Congress, DoD and VA for overloading vets with prescription meds while holding an outdated stance on cannabis. And he worked to save countless veterans from the suicide epidemic, th...