VET S.O.S. Podcast

Latest Episodes:

VERS - Maritime Careers for Veterans: From Service to Success Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Educational Resources Spotlight, Dr. Hira speaks with Edward Lewis, Vice President of Operations at the Maritime Institute and retired U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief.

Edward explains how veterans with maritime backgrounds can move directly into well-paying civilian roles without starting over—thanks to gap training programs, funding options, and strong industry networks. Learn about the 28-day boot camp program that equips veterans to earn their Merchant Mariner Credential, and hear real success stories from graduates working across the globe.

Whether you’re interested in sailing internationally, working in ports, or starting a shore-based maritime career, this episode is packed with practical tips, funding insights, and career strategies for veterans.

#VETSOS #VeteranTransition #MaritimeIndustry #VeteranEmployment #MerchantMarinerCareer #MilitaryToCivilian #CareerReadiness #GIbillBenefits #VeteranTraining #VeteranSuccessStories #SkillBridgeOpportunities

Feeding Veterans with Dignity: Farm2Veteran’s Mission Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the VET S.O.S. Military Transition Resources Show, Shawn and Keith welcome Michelle Keller, Senior Director of Development for Farm2Veteran. This innovative nonprofit is tackling veteran food insecurity by delivering fresh, locally-sourced meals to those who need it most—all at no cost to the veteran.

Michelle discusses the powerful mission behind Farm2Veteran, their national expansion to 9 states in just 5 years, and how partnerships with other veteran service organizations allow them to focus on what matters—feeding heroes with dignity.

Get the inside scoop on the upcoming Farm Fresh Hope Gala featuring comedian David Spade and how this event will help expand support to veterans across the country. Hear real stories from the “scooter brigade” of older vets, the impact of meals during natural disasters, and the organization’s holistic approach to wellness and community.

🌱 It’s not a handout—it’s a heartfelt thank you. Learn more at farm2veteran.com.

#VeteranFoodSecurity #MilitaryTransitionSupport #FarmToVeteran #VETSOS #VeteranStories #HolisticVeteranSupport #MilitaryNonprofit #VeteranWellness #SupportOurVets #DavidSpade

Psychedelic Therapy for Veterans: A Healing Path Forward Aug 16, 2025

Show notes

What if the next chapter of your military transition wasn’t about struggle—but breakthrough?

In this episode of VET S.O.S. “The Scoop,” host Kings welcomes Matt Zemon, a leading voice in the growing field of psychedelic therapy for veterans. Matt shares the insights behind his groundbreaking book The Veterans Guide to Psychedelics and reveals why more and more veterans are turning to psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat PTSD, depression, and emotional detachment after service.

Matt and Kings explore:

Why conventional treatments are not enough for many veterans
What a psychedelic therapy journey looks like—from preparation to integration
The life-changing role of ceremonies, coaching, and community
Options for legal access in the U.S. (like ketamine clinics and Oregon retreats)
How nonprofits like Heroic Hearts Project are offering fully funded retreats to help veterans heal

Kings gets vulnerable, sharing his personal battle with mental health, isolation, and post-service weight gain. His story mirrors countless others who feel stuck after transition—and his journey of transformation is a testament to the power of seeking new tools.

This episode is your invitation to step outside the stigma and into a conversation about healing with integrity, science, and soul.

🎧 Whether you're a veteran, spouse, caregiver, or advocate—this is the episode you need to hear.

Resources Mentioned:📚 The Veterans Guide to Psychedelics – Available on Amazon🌐 ⁠www.mattzemon.com⁠🎥 Matt’s TEDx Talk – Psychedelics Are Catalysts, Not Cures🤝 ⁠www.heroicheartsproject.org⁠ – Apply for a veteran healing scholarship

🔔 Subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.#PsychedelicTherapy #VeteranSupport #VETSOS #MentalHealthMatters #PTSDHelp #MilitaryTransition #MattZemon #AlternativeHealing #CombatPTSD #VeteransVoice

VES - Penn State’s Veteran Career Support Blueprint Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Mary Fisk, Marine Corps veteran and Student Veteran Career Counselor at Penn State University, joins us to talk about proactive veteran career support and how higher education can be a powerful anchor in the military-to-civilian transition.

Mary shares how Penn State offers one-on-one advising, career fairs, lunch & learns, and hybrid-access workshops to support more than 3,000 military-connected students across 24 campuses and its World Campus. She also gives advice on internships, resume building, and why engaging early in your career journey is essential for success.

If you're a veteran or military-affiliated student looking to thrive after service, this episode is packed with insight, tools, and motivation.

🎓 Learn more at vetsospodcast.com
📬 Contact Mary: svcc@psu.edu
🎙 Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

#VETSOS #VeteranCareerSupport #PennStateVeterans #MilitaryTransition #VeteranSuccess #StudentVeterans #CareerCounseling #VeteranReadiness #MilitarySupport #HigherEducationForVets #GIbillResources

Resilient Veteran Advocacy at Empath Health Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful episode of the VET S.O.S. Military Transition Podcast, we speak with Ashley Sard, an Air Force veteran and Community Partnership Specialist at Empath Health. Ashley shares her deeply personal military transition story, from medical retirement and career uncertainty to championing hospice and palliative care for veterans in Florida.

We explore:

The impact of medical retirement on military families
Women Veteran advocacy at the VA
Empath Health’s veteran-focused hospice, palliative, and grief support services
Unique programs like “We Honor Veterans” and personalized pinning ceremonies

Ashley’s journey is one of resilience, purpose, and compassionate service. If you’re a veteran or caregiver, this episode offers crucial insights on community resources and how end-of-life care can honor military service.

🎙️ Tune in to hear how one veteran turned transition challenges into lasting impact.
#MilitaryTransition #VeteranSupport #HospiceCare #PalliativeCare #EmpathHealth #WomenVeterans #VeteranAdvocacy #EndOfLifeCare #WeHonorVeterans #VETSOS

Redefining Veteran Identity and Purpose with Steven Eugene Kuhn Aug 09, 2025

Show notes

After decades of service, what comes next? For many veterans, the answer lies in rediscovering who they are without the uniform—and reclaiming their mission in life. In this powerful episode of The Scoop, part of the VET S.O.S. Podcast series, host Kings speaks with Steven Eugene Kuhn, a Bronze Star recipient turned business strategist, international advisor, and co-author of Unleash Your Humble Alpha.

Steven shares how he went from feeling lost after his military transition to running global companies, advising royalty, and building a personal brand rooted in Veteran Identity and Purpose. Through raw stories, humor, and real-life examples, he explores how identity, leadership, and purpose must evolve after service.

Key takeaways from this episode:

How to create your personal identity statement and moniker
The importance of living with urgency, presence, and integrity
What “HIT” (Honesty, Integrity, Transparency) means in everyday leadership
Why many veterans remain stuck—and how to break free
The power of relational capital in building your post-military network
How to elevate others while staying true to yourself

Steven also explains why authenticity is your most valuable currency—and how veterans can amplify their leadership and legacy through clarity of purpose.

🎧 Whether you’re in the middle of your transition or years removed from service, this episode will challenge, empower, and equip you to become the leader of your life.

📕 Book: Unleash Your Humble Alpha (Amazon/Audible)🔗 Connect with Steven on:LinkedIn: Steven Eugene KuhnInstagram & TikTok: @steveneugenekuhnX (Twitter): @steveneugenekuhn

🎙 Hosted by Kings | VET S.O.S. Podcast🌐 Learn more at vetsospodcast.com

#VeteranSupport #MilitaryTransition #HumbleAlpha #VeteranLeadership #VeteranIdentity #PostMilitaryLife #VETSOS #VeteranPodcast #StevenEugeneKuhn #TheScoop

Veteran Resilience: Scott DeLuzio’s Story of Strength Aug 02, 2025

Show notes

Scott DeLuzio shares a deeply emotional story of loss, leadership, and healing in this episode of The Scoop. Deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 alongside his younger brother, Scott’s world was forever changed when Stephen was killed in action during the final stretch of their deployment. In a moment that defines veteran resilience, Scott had to push down unimaginable grief and continue leading his squad through enemy fire—just minutes after receiving the news.

This episode explores the quiet aftermath: returning home, managing survivor’s guilt, and finding a way forward through storytelling and service. From writing Surviving Son to launching the Drive On Podcast, Scott's journey is an inspiring example of how purpose can emerge from pain.

We talk about:

Living through trauma and leading during crisis
The emotional weight of coming home
Mental health stigma and how veterans can safely ask for help
The power of purpose in rebuilding your post-service identity
Why veteran stories need to be told—and heard

Whether you're in transition, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking hope, Scott's story will move you and leave you with tools for resilience.

🖥️ Visit driveonpodcast.com for episodes and resources📖 Get Surviving Son on Amazon

📱 Follow @DriveOnPodcast everywhere

#VeteranResilience #DriveOnPodcast #ScottDeLuzio #SurvivingSon #MilitaryLoss #VeteranHealing #CombatVeteran #MentalHealthSupport #PostTraumaticGrowth #VETSOS

AI Tools Transforming the Military Job Search Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

Christian Echeverri, Navy veteran and outreach lead at Best Military Resume and Hire Valor, joins the VET S.O.S. Podcast to share how cutting-edge AI is helping veterans bridge the gap between military service and civilian employment.

He dives into the challenges of rediscovering identity after retirement, adjusting post-COVID, and how his journey led him to help others find meaningful careers. Christian explains how Best Military Resume’s AI system builds tailored resumes and elevator pitches while Hire Valor acts as a job placement ally—not just a recruiter.

Tune in to hear how this combination of tech and human connection is creating better career outcomes for transitioning veterans and military families.

🎙️ Catch every Wednesday at 5 AM EST for more inspiring stories.

#MilitaryTransition #VeteranEmployment #HireValor #BestMilitaryResume #TransitionSupport #VETSOS #VeteranCareerHelp #MilitaryToCivilian #CareerCoaching #JobSearchAI

Veteran MIA Recovery | Colonel PJ Dermer's Mission of Legacy and Healing Jul 26, 2025

Show notes

What if your next mission was to serve those who never came home?

In this compelling episode of The Scoop on the VET S.O.S. podcast, Colonel PJ Dermer shares how his journey didn’t end with retirement—it just transformed. As the founder of TerraSearch Promise, PJ now leads veteran-powered recovery missions that bring closure to families of missing U.S. service members.

We dive into PJ’s post-service transformation, from battlefield negotiator to nonprofit leader, and explore how Veteran MIA Recovery provides a powerful outlet for purpose, healing, and community. Learn how veterans can transition into meaningful service roles and why honoring the past is a vital part of shaping the future.

Whether you’re a transitioning veteran, a volunteer looking to get involved, or someone who believes in the sacred promise of never leaving a comrade behind—this episode delivers insight, inspiration, and impact.

🎧 Highlights:

PJ's unique military-to-mission transition story
The realities and emotions of MIA recovery operations
Opportunities for veterans to stay engaged and find new purpose
Why more support and awareness are needed for this national promise
How TerraSearch is creating space for legacy work and healing

🌐 Learn more or support the mission: ⁠www.terrasearchmia.org⁠💬 Join the community: Follow @vetsospodcast across all platforms

🎙 VET S.O.S. – Don’t drown in the sea of transition. Grab the lifeline.

#VeteranMIARecovery #MilitaryLegacy #VETSOS #VeteranPurpose #BringOurHeroesHome #TransitionWithPurpose #VeteranSupportNetwork #FieldRecoveryMissions #NeverLeaveABrotherBehind #PostServiceMission

Veteran Resilience Training: A Path to Purpose After Military Service Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Marine Corps veteran and resiliency coach Garret Biss joins us on the VET S.O.S. podcast to share his journey through anxiety, addiction, and identity loss—and how those experiences led to the creation of Valiant Path, a revolutionary program in Veteran Resilience Training.

Garret explains how most veterans lose more than just a job when they leave the military—they lose connection, meaning, and identity. Through the lens of applied positive psychology and post-traumatic growth, he introduces a powerful framework for rebuilding emotional strength and direction. You’ll learn about the Three C’s—Confidence, Competence, and Capacity—and how they help veterans reclaim control of their future.

We also discuss his work with incarcerated veterans, his collaboration with Boulder Crest Foundation’s Warrior PATHH program, and the urgent need for strength-based recovery solutions in the veteran community.

If you or someone you know is navigating life after military service, this episode will give you hope, insight, and a practical blueprint for resilience.

💡 Download Garret’s free guide: www.thewarriorreset.com

#VeteranResilienceTraining #ValiantPath #VetSOS #VeteranMentalHealth #PostTraumaticGrowth #VeteranSupport #WarriorPATHH #MilitaryTransitionHelp #PositivePsychology #VeteranReintegration

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