Home Base Nation

This Episode is dedicated to the memory and honor of the service of Dan Allen and Dominic Snyder.Special Thank You to the Liverpool Football Club and the Royal British Legion for hosting these families."Thank you to the amazing organizations of TAPS, SSAFA, and Home Base for bringing together healed hearts and healed families." - Dustin Snyder.The 2nd Annual Run To Anfield is coming up – AUGUST 2nd, 2025 – So come join us or Run/Walk or support with us virtually anywhere in the world. Especially if you are a Liverpool fan of course.Go to: www.liverpoolfc.com/foundation/run-anfield ______________Run To Home Base: Join Ron and his team and sign up individually or on another team at the 16th annual Run To Home Base on July 26th, 2025, at Fenway Park! Go to runtohomebase.orgPlease go to homebase.org for updates, programming, and resources if you or anyone you know is struggling. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for the Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families. Our team sees veterans, service members, and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation. If you want to learn more about how to help, visit us at www.homebase.org. If you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests on the Home Base Nation podcast are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation, or any of its officials.

We have published 120 episodes since 2019. For this new season, we thought we would look back on some of the highlights of our conversations and choose 20 episodes that resonated with veterans, service members, military families, and the civilians who support them.But first up, you'll hear from some of the folks at Home Base who wake up every day with the same mission in mind, no matter what they do at the Center of Excellence in the Navy Yard and beyond.Over the next twenty weeks, we will share these staff conversations I had with some of the hard-working professionals at Home Base who help treat the invisible wounds of veterans and military families.For this episode, you will hear a brief conversation with Clinical Social Worker Kate Basile, who works in the Intensive Clinical Program at Home Base. This will be followed by our very first episode, in which we sat with journalist, author, and filmmaker Sebastian Junger.Many thanks to Kate Basile for all her work at Home Base in support of this mission to stomp stigma and treat the invisible wounds of veterans and military families.Run To Home Base: Join Ron and his team and sign up individually or on another team at the 16th annual Run To Home Base on July 26th, 2025, at Fenway Park! Go to runtohomebase.orgPlease go to homebase.org for updates, programming, and resources if you or anyone you know is struggling. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for the Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families. Our team sees veterans, service members, and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation. If you want to learn more about how to help, visit us at www.homebase.org. If you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests on the Home Base Nation podcast are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation, or any of its officials.

We have published 120 episodes since 2019. For this new season, we thought we would look back on some of the highlights of our conversations and choose 20 episodes that resonated with veterans, service members, military families, and the civilians who support them.But first up, you'll hear from some of the folks at Home Base who wake up every day with the same mission in mind, no matter what they do at the Center of Excellence in the Navy Yard and beyond.Over the next twenty weeks, we will share these staff conversations I had with some of the hard-working professionals at Home Base who help treat the invisible wounds of veterans and military families.For this episode, you will hear a brief conversation with Home Base Marine Veteran Alexander Hohl, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, followed by one of the earlier episodes, in which Ron sat with the US Army Colonel and Combat Surgeon Dr. David King and Red Sox legend David "Big Papi" Ortiz.  Boston just celebrated the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, and we felt it a good time to re-share the episode that remembers the Boston Marathon bombing and the inspiration Big Papi brought to the city during that time.Many thanks to Alexander Hohl for all his work at Home Base to support this mission to stomp stigma and treat the invisible wounds of veterans and military families.Run To Home Base: Join Ron and his team and sign up individually or on another team at the 16th annual Run To Home Base on July 26th, 2025, at Fenway Park! Go to runtohomebase.orgPlease go to homebase.org for updates, programming, and resources if you or anyone you know is struggling. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for the Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families. Our team sees veterans, service members, and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation. If you want to learn more about how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org. If you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests on the Home Base Nation podcast are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation, or any of its officials.

We have published 120 episodes since 2019. For this new season, we thought we would look back on some of the highlights of our conversations and choose 20 episodes that resonated with veterans, service members, military families, and the civilians who support them.But first up, you'll hear from some of the folks at Home Base who wake up every day with the same mission in mind, no matter what they do at the Center of Excellence in the Navy Yard and beyond.Over the next twenty weeks, we will share these staff conversations I had with some of the hard-working professionals at Home Base who help treat the invisible wounds of veterans and military families.For this first episode, you will hear a brief conversation with Home Base Navy Veteran Jessica Covitz, Director of Veteran Outreach. This will be followed by one of the earlier episodes, in which Ron sat with the incomparable Bob and Lee Woodruff of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. Many thanks to Jessica Covitz for all her work at Home Base in support of this mission to stomp stigma and treat the invisible wounds of veterans and military families.Run To Home Base: Join Ron and his team and sign up individually or on another team at the 16th annual Run To Home Base on July 26th, 2025, at Fenway Park! Go to runtohomebase.orgPlease go to homebase.org for updates, programming, and resources if you or anyone you know is struggling. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for the Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families. Our team sees veterans, servicemembers, and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation. If you want to learn more about how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org. If you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests on the Home Base Nation podcast are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation, or any of its officials.

Three-time All-Star Pitcher, Six-time Roberto Clemente Award nominee, (and Run to Home Base Captain) Liam Hendriks, and entrepreneur and philanthropist Kristi Hendriks join Dr. Ron Hirschberg for a conversation at Home Base. As the Red Sox welcome Liam to the team, he and Kristi reflect on living the baseball life over the years including the comaradarie and the challenges, the causes they support, and how military lineage runs in their families. Liam talks about his own battle against Stage IV non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2022, and the return to pitching the following year along with Kristi's ongoing support. Kristi highlights the key bonds with fellow baseball wives and the special connection to each community, and both Liam and Kristi share their love for the Bruins and how they enjoy kicking back to watch a great hockey game. Many thanks to Kristi and Liam Hendriks for visiting us at Home Base and for your support of this mission to stomp stigma, treat invisible wounds of veterans and military families, and be part of a growing team charged with saving lives. Best of luck Liam in the upcoming 2025 Season after reporting at Pitchers and Catchers - in just a few weeks.Thank you to our friends and partners at the Red Sox Foundation for all you do for Home Base and all the communities you serve in healthcare, children in need and education. To learn more about the Foundation, please go to redsoxfoundation.orgAnd join Kristi and her team and sign up individually or on another team at the 16th annual Run To Home Base that will be July 26th 2025 at Fenway Park! Go to runtohomebase.orgPlease go to homebase.org for updates, programming, and recourses if you or anyone you know is struggling in anyway. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Kicking off 2025, Navy Veteran Vann Morris sits with Dr. Ron Hirschberg and talks about his journey from young sailor, to Lieutenant Commander, and a man on a mission to heal America through his patriotism and infectious personality. Vann is a teacher, preacher, and leader. Retired after 30 years, his last 3 tours were at the Pentagon, the 82nd Airborne Division in Bagram, Afghanistan, and US Special Operations Command. Vann talks about love for country, family and the fact that we all should be aware that our best friend and our worst enemy are actually the same person – ourselves. He talks about the power of influence and how it can be used for good, and how when it comes to veteran suicide, it's about making ourselves more approachable than we think we are, and therefore to ask each other if we are not doing OK. ______Many thanks to Navy Veteran Vann Morris for sitting with me, along with Army Veteran and wife Rita Morris. Thank you for your ongoing service in many ways, your leadership and lessons to both kids and adults – And for your whole family's military service. You can learn all about Vann, his life and work at healingamerica.com.Please go to homebase.org for updates, programming, and recourses if you or anyone you know is struggling in anyway. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

This week three years ago, we told the story of “Operation Christmas Drop” after discovering the oldest ongoing Department of Defense mission - the world's longest running humanitarian airdrop - to deliver critical supplies to remote islands in the Pacific. On 12/14/24, Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Airforce Base in Guam was another success, and the 73rd annual drop delivered 220 bundles to 58 islands, helping more than 42,000 people. Ron Hirschberg and Lucy Little told this story in 2021 including Zoom interviews east to Guam with (now) former President of OCD2021 Air Force Capt. Matt Carrowan, and north to Canada with the 2021 Netflix Movie "Operation Christmas Drop" Director, Martin Wood. Happy holidays all and enjoy this amazing story of giving, and making a true difference for thousands of people every year. Operation Christmas Drop - Official Trailer / NetflixHome Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials. 

Home Base Brain Health Summit 2024 Conversations: Marine Veteran and Chief Programs Officer of Navy SEAL Foundation Alison Messick, and Command Chief Master Sergeant (Ret) Greg Smith. On September 11th 2024, Home Base held its first Brain Health Summit. Spearheaded by Home Base Senior Directors Dr. Sofia Matta and Retired Navy Captain Dr. Joe Bonvie – The Summit highlighted brain health but at the same time aimed to cover the whole person: Mind, body, and soul – Targeting not just longer lifespan, but living well longer, or… HealthSpan.First Up: Chief Program Officer of Navy SEAL Foundation Alison Messick. Alison is a Marine Veteran, and has been a leader in the Special Operations space for 15 years including her time at Naval Special Warfare prior to the Foundation. When Alison took the mic at the Brain Health Summit, she gave a captivating talk about Collective Impact when it comes to doing right by this community as collaborators not competitors. Alison Messick networks for success and listens to her fellow leaders in order to work together for all things – as she tells us - energy giving… Second Up: Command Chief Master Sergeant (Ret) Greg Smith – looks back at the time he was called to lead the first team deployed after the twin tower attacks, while at the same time reflects on military and civilian medical “wins” over stigma and addressing invisible rounds. From operator to senior leader at USSOCOM, to his current work at the Pentagon with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he has been a trusted voice in the Special Operations community - And we are honored to now have Greg as a member of the Home Base Honorary board.Many thanks to Greg Smith and Alison Messick for your years of service and leadership, and ongoing partnership – Humans are more important that hardware is a driving core principle of USSCOM and something you both not only believe in, you walk the walk in every day. Special thanks to Sofia Matta and Joe Bonvie for all your work in putting together the first annual Brain Health conference at Home Base.Please go to homebase.org for updates, programming, and of courses if you or anyone you know is struggling in anyway. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials. 

Marine Veteran and Home Base Florida colleague Jaime Fernandez came up to Boston this month to help bring to fruition the first Spanish speaking veteran two-week Intensive Clinical Program. Born in Nicaragua, Jaime moved to Miami at age 6, and after high school joined the Marines in 2001. After 3 tours in Iraq and back home, he would pursue degree in Human Performance at Florida Gulf Coast University, which launched a prolific career in strength and conditioning with Red Sox affiliate in Greenville, SC. In 2015, he joined Home Base Southwest Florida led by fellow Marine Veteran Armando Hernandez. As a bilingual veteran, Jaime continues to speak the language of service in both English and Spanish, while speaking other languages of mindfulness, meditation, and fitness. Many thanks to Marine Veteran and fellow Home Base colleague Jaime Fernandez for your service and ongoing service to so many veterans and military families. A special shout out to ICP director Laura Harward for all you do to lead innovative programs, and the Home Base Boston team, including Elizabeth Valencia, Nilea Silva, Kelly Sarsfield, Kassandra Iliadis, Clare Stupinski, Dr. Stephanie Stamph, Army Veteran Katrina Echevarria, Navy Veteran Jessica Covitz, Luiza Welton – with support from Home Base Florida with Armando Hernandez, and Angie DeLima. Also thanks to Wounded Warrior Project for helping Home Base make Puerto Rico veteran outreach possible.And thanks to Drs. Rachel Millstein and April Hirschberg for your leadership in mind body health and wellness. Make sure to check out a full spectrum of meditations curated by the Home Base team, and HBN editor and producer Chuck Clough, at homebase.org/meditations. Please feel free to sign up for Resilience programming at homebase.org/program/rwarrior, and of note in February 2025 when Jaime leads the first Spanish speaking Resilient Warrior course._____Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Happy Veterans Day! Chrystal and Mike Campbell are two Navy veterans who grew up with service on their minds, became pilots, and met while sharing the same hanger in Pensacola, FL. Mike was a Naval flight officer after graduating Wesleyan in 1981 and selected as a Blue Angel in 1987. In 1980, Chrystal was one of the first 50 women to graduate from the Naval Academy. She first served in the Philippines, and then became flight instructor, and impressed with Mike during back-seat-training, midflight. Mike talks about the daily Blue Angels debrief ritual after a long day of training – The "Oh By The Way" - That moment at the end of each meeting, when everyone is allotted time to offer whatever is on their mind, some challenge of the day or week, something personal or something special – To a circle of trust and support. _____Many thanks to Chrystal and Mike Campbell for your service, and ongoing service to so many veterans and military families since 2016, enabling transitioning, mental health, and family support. Your leadership gives hope for more healing to our wounded warriors, and at the same time teaches all of us that we can not only get a little better every day, we should strive to trust each other in order to have that Oh By The Way moment no matter who we are, or what we do.The Blue Angels Foundation is an all-volunteer Board composed of former Blue Angels and Honorary Blue Angels. Their philosophy is to give back to the next generation of warriors who have sacrificed so much to preserve our freedoms. The Foundation has been supporting causes from Cystic Fibrosis to Breast Cancer - And since 2016 has been targeting that support to transitioning warriors and their families to home and daily life, and making it possible for so many to receive expert assessment and treatment at Home Base and our partners in the Warrior Care Network. Learn more at www.blueangelsfoundation.orgHome Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

It's fitting that the melodic lyric connecting Liverpool Football Club fans is "You'll Never Walk Alone," when chatting with Football Veteran (and Army Veteran) Goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, who joined the Rhodesian Army in 1975, speaking about bonded brotherhood during bloody conflict – While in an ambush, Bruce yelled to a buddy, “When we get out of here, I'd like to play football for Liverpool.” Fast forward to 1980, and the great LFC Coach Bob Paisley spotted Bruce warming up in the rain under an umbrella, and from that moment on, that figherfight banter 5 years earlier became a reality. Over 14 years, Bruce and LFC won 6 Premier League championship and many other major trophies. As an Army Veteran of the current Zimbabwe who experienced trauma on both battlefield and the pitch during 2 horrific stadium tragedies, Bruce's own life was saved by football, owing much to the fans who support him and his iconic team. _________Many thanks to Bruce Grobbelaar for sitting with me in the great city of Liverpool and teaching us about brotherhood, the religion of football, and even getting to sing together from South African sounds of Paul Simon to his adopted homeland sound of The Beatles. Bruce has an autobiography you can check out in 2019 called: Life in a Jungle: My Autobiography. And for a good read about Bruce, football and the Rhodesian War, I recommend an article from that same year in The Guardian. A very special thank you to Rob Glover – our friend from Boston and Liverpool for all you do in helping and connecting with others, who graciously connected us with Bruce. And of course, thank you to our Chief Development Officer at Home Base for the great work you and team do with LFC Foundation partners, Karianne Kraus.To learn more about the Run to Anfield and find out about next year's event, you can go to: https://www.liverpoolfc.com/foundationAnd we didn't forget to find the Anfield Rap with Goalkeeper, Jungle-Man, Bruce Grobbelaar to take us out!MUSIC:You'll Never Walk Alone - Rodgers and Hammerstein, 1945 / Gerry and The Pacemakers, 1963_________Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Home Base Nation is Back with its 8th Season and 110th Episode of the show. In this episode Dr. Ron Hirschberg reviews some of the news and updates from Home Base since summer, highlighting the All-Star Forum Honoring Women Service Members and Veterans on 7-26-24 at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway just prior to the 15th Annual Run To Home Base. This powerhouse panel was hosted by former ABC News Chief Health and Medical Correspondent / Emmy Award Winning Journalist, Dr. Jen Ashton. On September 11th, Drs. Sofia Matta and Joe Bonvie launched the 1st Annual Home Base Brain Health Summit which was a big success. Later in September at the Seaport in Boston, the New England Council honored General Jack Hammond as one of the recipients of the esteemed "New Englander of the Year Award."  We had a bittersweet farewell to Chief of TBI Services Dr. Ross Zafonte at Home Base is heading to Missouri as Medical School Dean, and a recent pivotal visit by Senator Elizabeth to Warren Spaulding Rehabiliation Hospital for a Forum on Blast Injury and Special Operator Health along with Dr. Zafonte and others. Thanks for your support and tuning in to our 8th Season kick-off!In The News at Home Base!First, if you didn't know – In 2015 Home Base opened its doors in Fort Meyers, Florida, more recently expanded to Tampa, and now working with partners in Pensacola. This month our Home Base colleagues and all the community they serve are on our minds - in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton – Resilience and recovery is what our teams do for patients – But building back up your own body, mind and soul is another challenge - that is necessary to help take care of others. So, Marine Veteran Armando Hernandez heads up the FL team, thinking of you all.On September 11 and 12, the brainchild of Drs. Sofia Matta and Joe Bonvie – The 1st Annual Home Base Brain Health Summit, was a great success. With local and national experts at the podium, the Summit recognized the evolution of military medicine since 9/11, and focused on brain health and performance medicine in the Special Operations community, and a strong emphasis on not just living long, but living well – something we focus a lot of energy on at Home Base – Healthspan. Check out link here: https://homebase.org/events/brain-health-summit/Later in September, at the New England Council's massive event in the Boston Seaport, General Jack Hammond was one of the annual recipients the New Englander of the Year Award. Chairman of the Boston Red Sox and Co-Founder of Home Base Tom Werner's words summed it up, introducing our Executive Director: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHMYXDC6MBQLast week, we said our bittersweet farewells to Dr. Ross Zafonte who is heading to Missouri to lead the medical school. Ross received the prestigious Warren Award at Home Base from General Hammond and Michael Allard. AND, last month, Senator Warren visited Spaulding Rehab Hospital for a Forum on Blast Injury and Special Operator Health with Dr. Zafonte. Take a Listen: Senator Elizabeth Warren Forum at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in collaboration with Home Base (youtube.com)__________Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

In Season 7's final episode, Dr. Ron Hirschberg sits with Dr. Ali Raja, MGH's Executive Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine, in his office in the heart of the Bulfinch Building at Massachusetts General Hospital, est. 1811... 159 years prior to establishing Emergency Medicine training programs in 1970. Dr. Raja's life and work are discussed, from growing up in Houston looking towards an Air Force career - a family legacy - to a journey into medicine, business, service, and leadership - while along the way juggling all the balls in the air with his eye always on the most important (and delicate) "glass ball" - his family.Thanks very much for joining today on our final episode of Season 7 of Home Base Nation. Many thanks to Dr. Ali Raja for your service and ongoing service to your staff at MGH and of course the patients who come in every day to the ED who may be unlucky to be there, but lucky to have you and your team at the bedside. Learn more about Dr. Ali RajaAnd on behalf of Home Base, thank you to all who've served. Hoping to see you at the 15th Annual Run To Home Base on July 27th at Fenway Park. You can still Run virtually with us and donations are accepted and appreciated – Go To: www.runtohomebase.org.____Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Let's rewind 5 years-back on conversations that stick with us at Home Base, with amazing women who leave a mark on service, sacrifice and leadership, and teach us how recovery and resilience become a reality. (With - 77th USS Constitution Commander Billie J. Farrell / Air Force Veteran and TAPS Founder Bonnie Carroll / Army Veteran, Author and Cancer Survivor Brandi Benson / Navy Veteran, Home Base Marathoner, and Commercial Truck Driver Yuma Haidara / Army Veteran / Army Veteran and America's Got Talent Finalist and Singer Christal Rheams / Marine Veteran, Paralympian and Adventurer Kirstie Ennis / Army Active Duty Soldier and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Sagen Maddelana / Marine Veteran, Pilot and Founder of Dogs on Deployment Alisa Johnson). Thank You all for listening today and we hope to see you at Fenway Park on July 27th for the 15th Annual Event. And remember, you can also join us virtually from anywhere - to Run, Walk, Support and Share in a common mission to stomp stigma and address the invisible wounds of war affecting Women and Men, Children and Families of all who've served.This month, we will continue our commitment to celebrate those who have served and are serving at the 15th annual Run to Home Base presented by RTX – our unique 9K run and 5K run/walk through Boston that ends with the unforgettable experience of crossing “home base” at historic Fenway Park. On Saturday, July 27, we will once again gather at “America's Most Beloved Ballpark” for this moving occasion and, special to our 15th year, will honor Women Veterans and Service Members.The day prior to the Run, we will host an All-Star Forum honoring Women Veterans and Service Members alongside the Red Sox Foundation. This panel discussion, hosted by Emmy-Award winning journalist and former ABC News Chief Health and Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, will highlight the triumphs and challenges; accomplishments and sacrifices; and future of women's service. We are thrilled to announce this esteemed panel of five women –General Mary K. Izaguirre (Army Surgeon General)Major Sidney Jacques (Army Ranger)Kaci Clark (Army Veteran, former pilot in the 160th SOAR, West Point Grad)Jennifer Silva (Army Veteran, current Chief Program Officer for Wounded Warrior Project, West Point Grad)Lieutenant Madison Marsh (Air Force Academy Graduate … And First member of the US Military to become Miss America)CLICK HERE:To submit a question for the forum and stay tuned for details on how to watch it. The weekend's events will culminate with a poignant, on-field pregame ceremony to recognize the service and sacrifice of Women Veterans and Service Members before the hometown Boston Red Sox take on their fiercest rival, the New York Yankees. If you are a Woman Veteran or Service Member interested in joining us for the ceremony.CLICK HERE: for a chance to join us._____Home Base Nation will be sharing episodes every two weeks up through the Run To Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veteran, servicemember and family care, and as we celebrate women in the military this year. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

In May 2024, Dr. Jarone Lee from Mass General Hospital Center for Global Health, and Global Response Medicine welcomed a Ukrainian of doctors to Boston for two weeks – to train, collaborate and build comradery for care on the frontlines. One of those physicians, Dr. Bohdan, asked if there was a piano he could play while visiting Boston. It turned out that it had been two years since he last played, which was just following the Russian invasion in February 2022. Along with colleagues at Berklee College of Music, Home Base cohosted a memorable performance and conversation about trauma and resilience in war, and how music is a common language that connects and heals people, across generations.___Many thanks to - Andrea Leiner, Dr. Steve Donnelly and Kelsey Gonzalez of the amazing organization Global Response Medicine, and your team for all you do to bring together the right people, from US Special Operators to Medical partners and staff from around the world, and of course for facilitating this unforgettable visit from our Ukrainian friends.Thank you Dr. Jarone Lee of MGH Center for Global Health and Health Tech Without Borders for visiting Home Base and shining the light on acute medical need wherever it may be….We are so grateful for our music-medicine partners in Boston – The Berklee Music and Health Institute, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, with special thanks Dr. Joy Allen and her team – Professor Brian Jantz, Clinical Director of Music Therapy Cynthia Koskela, and Christina Quarles. And of course thank you to Home Base Communications Director and Army Veteran Kelly Field.For video content of this episode, stay tuned for YouTube version with cinematography and production by Luke Zvara. This episode was edited by Chuck Clough.___Home Base Nation will be sharing episodes every two weeks up through the Run To Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veteran, servicemember and family care, and as we celebrate women in the military this year. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

There are 56,254 Navy Reserves, with typical civilian jobs in law enforcement, medicine, government, and business. One day-job not commonly on the list: Pro-Football. Enter Joe Cardona, who joined the New England Patriots as the 2nd highest-drafted long snapper in NFL history in 2015, and as a Reservist heads up Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron-Eight in Newport, RI overseeing 500 sailors. As the NFL's 13th annual Salute To Service Award recipient presented by USAA, Joe talks about teammates and brotherhood, service, getting the mental health you need, and what leadership means both on and off the football field. Salute to Service represents the NFL's unwavering dedication to honoring, empowering, and connecting with our nation's service members, veterans, and their families. It is grounded in deep partnerships with the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF), Pat Tillman Foundation (PTF), Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), United Service Organizations (USO) and Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). Since 2011, more than $66 million has been raised for these Salute to Service partners.------Home Base Nation will be sharing episodes every two weeks up through the Run To Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veteran, servicemember and family care, and as we celebrate women in the military this year. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

The National Memorial Day Concert features Marine Veteran Kirstie Ennis and others and a conversation with Yuliia Matvieieva, working with Ukrainian Veteran Amputees on mental and physical health - Nearly 60,000 people have lost limbs over the the past two years since the Russian envarion of Ukraine in February 2022, the vast majority being servicemembers. Yuliia came to Home Base during a two week Ukrainian physician visit to MGH, a collaboration with Global Response Medicine, the W.H.O. and our colleague at MGH Center for Global Health, Dr. Jarone Lee. Yuliia finished medical school in Ukraine in 2013, and has been in the US for the past 8 years – now focusing on the mental and physical health for this massive group of veterans with limb loss. Yuliia and Ron sat for a conversation about life before the War in 2014, and how the Big War in 2022 changed everything. As a military-mental health specialist, she runs peer support for Ukrainian veteran amputees with non-profit Volia Fund, who's mission is the protect and boost wellbeing in Ukraine.Many thanks Yuliia Matvieieva for you ongoing service to those who've served. And thank you for telling your story about perseverance and your new chapter, while helping so many others get back to a new normal life and reintegrate back to their own.Thank you Dr. Jarone Lee of MGH Center for Global Health and Health Tech without borders, and Deputy Director of Global Response Medicine Andrea Leiner for making this special visit from Kharkiv to Boston possible.Thanks for joining us everyone. And on Memorial Day - Today and every day we honor our fallen heroes and the families who have supported them. Have a great couple weeks folks and see you next time. This is Ron Hirschberg at Home Base. ____And of course, Home Base Nation will continue to share episodes every two weeks up through the Run to Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veterans, servicemembers and families, and as we celebrate and honor women in the military this year in 2024.Home Base Nation will be sharing episodes every two weeks up through the Run To Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veteran, servicemember and family care, and as we celebrate women in the military this year. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Bryan Fuller and John Lowry met in kindergarten on the north shore of Massachusetts in 1974. They were living the adventurous life back in elementary school, getting home just before dark – most of the time. After rooming together at UMass-Amherst, John's path would eventually lead to medicine and Bryan to Army intelligence during the Bosnian War.  It's now been 50 years since these two buddies met - and along with Klara Anstey from Wales and Elizabeth Gilmore from Virginia, they are about to venture across the Atlantic Ocean on the first fully human-powered boat traveling from Boston to London... on June 1. Join them for a conversation with Dr. Ron Hirschberg at Home Base Program for Veterans and Family Care, on supporting the care of the invisible and visible wounds - and crossing one's own ocean.-----Many thanks to Bryan Fuller and John for visiting us at Home Base and bringing us back to their first days of friendship in 1974, to an epic 5-part journey across the Atlantic in 2024. Talking about crossing an ocean for many reasons, and for many people who need our support is something I will never forget - Please follow this crew with us throughout their journey – Visit www.longcallingrow.com for daily updates, photos and videos all the way from Boston to London.And of course, Home Base Nation will continue to share episodes every two weeks up through the Run to Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veterans, servicemembers and families, and as we celebrate and honor women in the military this year in 2024.Home Base Nation will be sharing episodes every two weeks up through the Run To Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veteran, servicemember and family care, and as we celebrate women in the military this year. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

We had the pleasure to host Kingston, Ontario's own Boston Bruins Stanley Cup winner Rick Smith at Home Base recently, and sit with our own Senior Director of Clinical Services Navy Capt (Ret.) Dr. Joe Bonvie. Joe and Rick talk about the mental and physical toll on the mind and body that happens in and outside the rink. Rick tells us about his journey post-retirement in the woods up north, and how finding new identity and purpose that he always had in hockey for years was far from easy to come by. Rick and Joe talk about a social hub of sorts in Kandahar, Afghanistan that existed for years on a military base with a full-sized ball-hockey rink transported by the Canadians in 2007, and how bringing the Stanley Cup with them overseas was good medicine for many in need.A happy 100th Anniversary to the mighty Boston Bruins, as they lead 3:1 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, facing off TONIGHT April 30th at Game 5! Here is our conversation with Rick Allen and Joe Bonvie on hockey, brotherhood, competition, and comradery. Home Base Nation will be sharing episodes every two weeks up through the Run To Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veteran, servicemember and family care, and as we celebrate women in the military this year. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

In this episode, Dr. Ron Hirschberg talks with Navy Veteran and 7-time marathoner Yuma Haidara about her journey to the Navy, nursing, and a path to a career in commercial truck driving with Walmart. Yuma sees the road in front of her as an opportunity, and at the same time with just enough adventure. She holds a unique balance of bonding with fellow veterans, while finding strength on her own, trucking cross country, running anywhere from 3.1 to 26.2-mile races, and building her own business of organic skincare products, “A Yummy Life.” Yuma's strength also comes from confronting vulnerability and accepting the fact that asking for help makes us stronger.Many thanks Navy Veteran Yuma Haidara for your service in many ways, and how you always see the road as a new opportunity for helping others as you take care of yourself at the same time. You can connect with Yuma on Instagram @Yumahaidara – links to A Yummy Life, other podcasts and articles including Women's Running Magazine she has been featured in and more…Thank you to the Nashua Public Library for your hospitality for this conversation, and of course thanks to the great people at Walmart who have helped so many people into and post-pandemic as trusted employers and support system._____Home Base Nation will be sharing episodes every two weeks up through the Run To Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veteran, servicemember and family care, and as we celebrate women in the military this year. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

In this episode, Dr. Ron Hirschberg sits with Lauren Monroe and Rick Allen: Couple, and Cofounders of Raven Drum Foundation, leading events to heal and build resiliency through the arts for 23 years. Prior to experiencing a community drum circle with over 70 veterans and 1st responders hosted by philanthropist Ernie Boch Jr., Lauren takes us to 2001 - helping Rick through his own trauma with mindfulness, and describes mind-heart-coherence for ourselves and community. Rick reminds us that we are rhythmic beings, how he's seen people open up in a sacred space that the drum circles create, and how in 2006 a visit to Walter Reed Medical Center connected him to injured veterans in a powerful way, bringing us further back to the 1984 accident when he lost his arm, went through rehabilitation, PTSD and discovered new possibilities for a continued career with Def Leppard. Lauren tells us about next identities and training yourself to be the warrior you need to be, and how people can heal their own pain through helping others, and about her song Brave's echoing line, "Shine the light through the dark, and carry what's been broken apart."_______Many thanks To Lauren Monroe and Rick Allen of the Raven Drum Foundation for 23 years and counting- reaching so many people in need of healing. Your service to others is both tangible through feel of the drum, and intangible with the feeling you get when you are mid-way through each drum circle beat. You can learn all about their foundation at https://ravendrumfoundation.org/, for more about Lauren and to catch up on all her new music go to https://laurenmonroe.com/. And of course, remember Def Leppard is on tour this Summer, along with Journey so check out the schedule. I know I'll be at Fenway Park with the good Colonel Dan Arkins cheering on Rick the Thunder God and his band….Thank you to Peggie Rose for all your support and making our conversation happen, and for all you have done to bring veterans and 1st responders together for such a powerful and unique experience. Many thanks to Ernie Boch, Jr. for your generosity and for hosting this event and for allowing our interview amidst classic guitars and inviting vibes. Enjoy Lauren Monroe's song "Brave" at the end of this episode which is featured on her latest album Messages from AphroditeThis episode is dedicated to two members of the Home Base family: Colonel (Ret.) Dan Arkins who is probably practicing the drums somewhere in an undisclosed location while preparing a new mission to conquer the drum kit. And Coreen Field, mom of our own Army Veteran Kelly Field, wife of her late husband Army Veteran Mike Field, and a lifelong Def Leppard fan….______Home Base Nation will be sharing episodes every two weeks up through the Run To Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veteran, servicemember and family care, and as we celebrate women in the military this year. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Many thanks to Commander BJ Farrell for your service, ongoing support and leadership to your sailors and to everyone you meet here in Boston. Best of luck back at the Naval Academy, mentoring the many lucky students ahead.Special thanks to the USS Constitution Public Affairs Officer, First Class Ray Minami, for all your help and support of Home Base. Thanks to the great crew at the MGH Photography lab too and please note you can find this conversation on Home Base's YouTube channel soon.Home Base Nation will be sharing episodes over two weeks up through the Run To Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veteran, servicemember and family care, and as we celebrate women in the military this year. If this is your first time joining us, welcome -Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veteran and Family Care, in Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, MA. Every two weeks we share conversations and stories about service, mental health, and recovery with great military and civilian guests. We are over 100 episodes since the start, a few months prior to the pandemic on Veterans Day 2019.Home Base continues to grow in terms of care, awareness and research, working with veterans and active duty servicemembers across the US and from several other countries. Our programs are continuing to expand right here in Boston, in Florida, Arizona and more news to come.Here are a few 2024 highlights around Home Base since January. Many great things happening, but here are just a few…-Arizona State University hosted a successful launch party in Phoenix to announce our partnership to deliver Warrior Health and Fitness on the university's Downtown Phoenix campus beginning this month.-Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona, received the NFL's prestigious Salute to Service Award, to those supporting the Military community. Joe is a lieutenant in the Navy Reserves and came by Home Base to take a tour and talk about the needs of servicemembers and veterans. -Home Base Florida's Air Force Veteran Angie De Lima and Marine Veteran Jaime Fernandez participated in workshops in Puerto Rico for veterans and families, and Jaime delivered content from our Resilient Warrior program in Spanish!-Just last month, Senator Elizabeth Warren invited Spaulding Rehabilitation President and Home Base Chief of TBI Dr. Ross Zafonte to testify to the Senate Armed Forces Committee about the impacts of TBI and blast exposure on active-duty Special Operations Forces.We wanted to highlight just a few of the many women who have served and have made history along the way…General Ann E. Dunwoody: In 1992, General Dunwoody was the first female battalion commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, and the first female in US Military history to be promoted to four-star general .Navy Flight Nurse Jane Kendeigh (Ken-dee): At Iwo Jima in 1945, Jane Louise ‘Candy' Kendeigh, was one of 122 women with specialized training, not only caring for battlefield wounds, but direct hand-to-hand combat.Army soldier Cathay Williams: Was the first African American female soldier to enlist in the Army – in 1866 and the only documented black woman to serve in the 19th century, serving with the 38th infantry regiment, or the Buffalo the soldiers – joining under her pseudonym, William Cathay.---Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Retired Navy SEAL Capt. Ryan Croley founded the Warrior For Life Fund (WFLF) in 2012 after never skating or picking up a hockey stick until his mid-thirties, creating an opportunity for veterans, active duty service members, and families to meet and compete on the ice no matter the skill level, ability…or disability. Frank Simonetti played for the Boston Bruins from 1984-1988, and as a Bruins Alumni continues to help raise funds and awareness for people in need through organizations like WFLF. With some pre-game smack talk for the tied series between the Bruins Alumni and WFLF Teams and a conversation about the therapeutic bonds on and off the ice, Dr. Ron talks with Ryan and Frank at Home Base, overlooking the USS Constitution – an appropriate backdrop for a Bostonian Bruin, and a Navy Veteran.Thank you Ryan Coley ,of the Warrior For Life Fund and Frank Simonetti of the Boston Bruins Alumni  for your service on and off the ice and for connecting people through the great sport of hockey. Thanks for visiting us at Home Base and for all your work in bringing the Bruins-Military worlds together for some great therapy and great times. Special thanks to colleague Dr. Joe Bonvie who has been bringing sport, psychology and service together with passion for many years.Make sure to check out the BFit Challenge that will take place January 28th 2024, or sign up virtually for January 19th-26th, and the Home Base BFitTeam!Ryan's wife Annie Tamburello is a SLP and Brain Injury Specialist who treats veterans, servicemembers and civilians with TBI who need cognitive rehab. Check out Cortex Initiative at VA Beach for more information. Through the WFLF they are doing great work, and along with Frank Simonetti and others it's about that impact factor and showing that support for those who need the help.Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

On the show today, Marine Veteran, teacher in the classroom and on the track – Hal Croft, including two of his former Reading, MA High School students – Film Producer Brandon Millett, and Home Base's Executive Director Brigadier General Jack Hammond. Host Ron Hirschberg sits with Hal, Brandon and Jack to talk teaching, building bonds on and off the track and battlefield, and healing wounds of war in and out of the clinic. It was just a few years prior to starting his teaching career that in 1967 in Vietnam Hal Croft would earn both a Silver Star for valor in action, and a Bronze Star for saving four fellow Marines at Khe Sanh. We also learn that Hal taught track and field just like the classics in his English literature class, and like Hemingway's quote "Courage is grace under pressure," Hal lived it every day on his track. Thank you Hal Croft, General Jack Hammond and Brandon Millett, for joining us on Home Base Nation. Service, leadership and creativity all come together in talking with you all, and the story of resilience and comradery of the Reading High School Track Team is awesome – We are very excited to see CROFT the film soon, and you can go to www.halcroftfilm.com for all information and updates on the documentary release.Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing he invisible wounds of war at no cost. If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Thank you Jennifer Jenkins for How You Serve, and a very happy Thanksgiving to the Jenkins family! Wounded Warrior Project's Jennifer Jenkins is the spouse of a Navy Veteran, the sister of an Army Veteran and the mom of a Marine. She is an award-winning author and has helped build a community of support for military families and veterans for more than 8 years in her role as a Warrior Speaks Communication Specialist. Jennifer was “drafted” into the military the same day her brother Army Specialist James Smith was injured from an IED blast in Iraq in 2005, and for the past 18 years Jennifer has empowered him and many others to regain independence and live fulfilled lives as wounded-but-not-broken, warriors. And although her Marine son was injured years later less severely, she says that that phone call felt exactly the same. Many thanks to our friends at WWP for this opportunity to share Jennifer's story – Author, Advocate, and a unique military family member trifecta – Spouse, Sister, and Mom. Many thanks to our guest Jennifer Jenkins of the Wounded Warrior Project, a triple military family member who connects, serves and empowers so many across the country who have served. Thank you WWP for all you do for our veterans and military families, and for Home Base and our Warrior Care Network sisters and brothers in Atlanta, LA and Chicago. For more, please check out woundedwarriorproject.orgHome Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing he invisible wounds of war at no cost. If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

US Navy Combat Veteran Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld has worn two hats, both literally and figuratively whether donning his surgical cap in the OR, or his camouflage cap down range, and they seem to blend together when you talk with him about humanity, what the right thing to do is when it comes to stigma, equity in healthcare and equality for all, no matter who we are, both at home and abroad. In this episode, host Dr. Ron Hirschberg talks with Dr. Ehrenfeld about his role as the current President of American Medical Association and how his military experience has shaped it, about stigma in mental health, about the fight for rights in the LBGTQ+ community - in and out of the military - and current issues in Israel and Gaza that are on all of our minds.        This episode was recorded on 10-23-23 at Home Base Center of ExcellenceMany thanks to our guest Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, Navy Veteran, and current president of the American Medical Association for being on the podcast and your visit to Home Base. Thank you for your service in many ways in the operating room both overseas and stateside, with your work in medical leadership hat that has been shaped by the military hat you have worn over your career.Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing he invisible wounds of war at no cost. If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials. 

Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Mariel Hemingway is known for her iconic roles in Lipstick, Manhattan, and Star 80. But did you know she created a Mental Health Foundation, and that she is from a military family? Her dad enlisted in WWII just after Pearl Harbor, was in the OSS which would become the CIA. Her grandfather, the great American writer Ernest Hemingway was denied enlistment for visual impairment but served the frontline in Italy with the Red Cross as an ambulance driver in 1917. Ron and Mariel talk about service, wellness, mental health, about her 2015 memoir "Out Came The Sun," and being able to tell your story no matter the challenge, and never being afraid to let that story go. Many thanks Mariel Hemingway for joining us on Home Base Nation. Thanks for your passion for mind body health, and helping others through your work with the Foundation and the collaboration with partner Bobby Williams on all things wellness. Your family story and legacy are remarkable and at the same time as you say, there is nothing unique about many of these challenges and triumphs we all share. Please check out the memoir Out Came the Sun: Overcoming the Legacy of Mental Illness, Addiction, and Suicide in My Family which is also read by the author on Audible. And of course, follow our friend's Melissa and Mariel's great podcast Out Comes The Sun Podcast and for wellness and mental health resources, please check out Mariel Hemingway Foundation. Special thanks to Dr. Rudy Tanzi, MGH scientist and artist for the introduction to our guest. If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

On October 9th, 2023 we reflect on the contributions of Indigenous peoples in the US, and what is more of a profound contribution than dedication to and protection of our country? In Post 9/11 times, about 1 in 5 Native Americans have joined the armed forces, and we recognize and salute the service and resilience that runs deep and strong throughout our military history. This episode highlights a recent visit to Home Base from Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee, sharing discussions on the Indian Health Service, and an abridged special conversation with Marine Veteran and Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald.Our heartfelt thanks to Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald and your family for your ongoing service, and of course the three things we all need to hold onto tightly: Knowledge, Wisdom, and Strength. Thank you to Admiral Michael Weakhee for your presentation and partnership as we optimize care for our Native veterans and their families. WWII Navajo Code Talker Hon. Peter MacDonald at the Home Base National Center of Excellence - YouTubeAs Home Base moves forward with planning in Arizona and Navajo Nation, we aim to carry on the Mass General Brigham initiative that started in 2010 with colleague Ellen Bell and others to partner in healthcare, battling health disparities while always chipping away at stigma in mental health especially in these regions. For more information and to access care and or provide support to our growing programs, please connect with us at www.homebase.org.If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythClosing Guitar Music: Lucy LittleSpecial thanks to David Schmitz and the Waves Media Team for curation of content both live and multimedia videoHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

On the show today, The Honorable Carlos Del Toro, the 78th Secretary of the Navy. Dr. Ron Hirschberg and Home Base COO Michael Allard visit the Pentagon and have the opportunity to sit with SECNAV and staff and discuss how great leaders need to know what their troops are going through, they need to be empathic and above all - know that mental health IS health. The SECNAV takes pride in the people - the sailors, marines, reservists and civilians and their families who all make it possible for our Navy and Marine Corps to succeed. Recorded in May, 2023 during "Mental Health Awareness" it was 100% clear that all other 11 months of the year are just as important, and as he reflects on his visit to Home Base, it was an honor to be partners in service to the active duty, veterans and families who need the help. Our own Marine Veteran Jake McCaffrey (Peer Recovery Specialist at Home Base) is interviewed on his strong work in healing others through their recovery, while telling his own story.                                                                                                          ____________________Thank you, Secretary Carlos Del Toro, for your service, leadership and for truly caring for the more than 900,000 sailors, marines and civilians who are all part of the US Navy and Marine Corps. It was an honor to have you and your wife visit Home Base and returning the favor at the Pentagon was something we at Home Base will never forget - as you obviously place health and wellbeing at the highest priority. Thank you, Marine Veteran and Home Base Peer Recovery Specialist Jake McCaffrey, for your service, and for your candid conversation on life's challenges and successes. The Home Base team is lucky to have you as someone who can help many others heal in similar struggles…Special thanks to LT Gabrielle Dimaapi and Chief Shannon Renfroe from Office of the Sec of the Navy for your stewardship and hospitality, and for your ongoing service. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free and available 24/7. Calls are confidential, available to any person in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, and supports people calling for themselves or with concern for loved ones.  The Veterans Crisis Line connects Service members and Veterans in crisis, as well as family members or friends, with qualified VA responders through a confidential call, online chat, or text. Veterans can Dial 988 and Press 1 to talk, or text 838255 to connect with a VA responder. And remember, You can make a difference by learning warning signs and knowing the risk factors of suicide Learn more with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, at www.afsp.orgThis episode was recorded and edited by Chuck Clough, of Above The Basement Productions.If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

On this week's Home Base Nation, host Dr. Ron Hirschberg interviews the interviewer at NPR Studios in New York City, with the award-winning correspondent and author, Quil Lawrence. Quil has been walking the walk with correspondence on war, government, culture and more for more than 25 years, down range during OIF and OEF, and NPR's Bureau Chief in both Baghdad and Kabul beginning in 2009. Since returning home in 2012, Quil covers veterans' issues, in addition to national security, and climate for NPR News.This week, September 10-16 is National Suicide Prevention Week, and September is National Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month. Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background but there are certain groups of people who are at higher risk of suicide. Suicidal thoughts, although common should not be considered normal and often indicate a more serious issue. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free and available 24/7. Calls are confidential, available to any person in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, and supports people calling for themselves or with concern for loved ones.  The Veterans Crisis Line connects Service members and Veterans in crisis, as well as family members or friends, with qualified VA responders through a confidential call, online chat, or text. Veterans can Dial 988 and Press 1 to talk, or text 838255 to connect with a VA responder. And remember, You can make a difference by learning warning signs and knowing the risk factors of suicide Learn more with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, at www.afsp.orgThank you Quil Lawrence for joining the conversation on serving our veterans and military families in your own way, on reporting and connecting with so many, and for making a difference in this space for more than 20 years. For more information and his Story Archives, you can simply go to NPR website and search for Quil. His latest report on September 1st is a timely piece Marking 2 years since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, on all the efforts to an ongoing crisis of inability to evacuate Afghan allies, on the moral injury to our troops and the politics behind the issue. In addition to his work as a correspondent and journalist, Quil is the author of Invisible Nation: How the Kurds' Quest for Statehood is Shaping Iraq and the Middle East,and editor for Pictures on the Radio, a book of the late photographer David Gilkey's work for NPR News.Thank you to colleague Colonel Dan Arkins, US Army, Retired - Director of Development at Home Base, who first introduced us to Quil Lawrence and his great work with veterans and much more.This episode was recorded and edited by Chuck Clough, of Above The Basement Productions.If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

In Part II of this conversation, Ron and Garry talk about gaining the trust from military leadership during wartime, with the opportunity to visit Kuwait during the Gulf War after getting the call directly from the battlefield, and how just like visiting Walter Reed, these are chances to Get it Right in order to follow him or her from servicemember to veteran and from deployment to home. They discuss how he's not really that guy who could ever really tell a joke, and where his humor seems to come from, about his love for putting on a show ever since he was a little kid, and how he shares the mission to support veterans with fellow cartoonist (among other things), Jake Tapper.Thanks for tuning in to Home Base Nation with writer, cartoonist and longtime supporter of our veterans and military families, Garry Trudeau. Thank you Garry for your unwavering support of veterans and their families, and expertise in creating worlds that tell stories that make us think, feel, laugh, and smile. Make sure to pick up his series of four books on these journeys of recovery!Home Base has a serendipitous connection with Garry and our mutual respect and connect to the incredible Fisher House. Proceeds from sales of the four books we discuss, which feature forewords by the late Senator and Veteran John McCain and General Richard B. Myers, former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, benefit Fisher House providing temporary lodging for military families - currently at 92 homes across the country, with more expanding overseas. Home Base has partnered with Fisher House for many years and we are grateful every day for the ongoing support they provide our veterans, servicemembers and families, enabling them to visit and stay in Boston at our Center of Excellence.This episode was recorded and edited by Chuck Clough, of Above The Basement Productions.___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.___Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

In Part I of this conversation, Dr. Ron Hirschberg talks with the Pulitzer Prize and Emmy winner, and Army's Commander's Award for Public Service honoree Garry Trudeau. Garry talks about learning that characters need to "known who they are" from his days working with MASH's Robert Altman, and tells us that not only did his dad and grandfather both serve, they were also both physicians. He talks about an eye-opening visit to Walter Reed Medical Center, with stories of injury and resilience that not only informed his storytelling, but have had lasting impacts on him for the long haul. As a big fan of author Sebastian Junger, he talks about that innate need for the tribe to survive, and of course explains a bit of his own creative process. ___Thanks for tuning in to Home Base Nation with writer, cartoonist and longtime supporter of our veterans and military families, Garry Trudeau. Thank you Garry for your unwavering support of veterans and their families, and expertise in creating worlds that tell stories that make us think, feel, laugh, and smile. Make sure to pick up his series of four books on these journeys of recovery!Home Base has a serendipitous connection with Garry and our mutual respect and connect to the incredible Fisher House. Proceeds from sales of the four books we discuss, which feature forewords by the late Senator and Veteran John McCain and General Richard B. Myers, former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, benefit Fisher House providing temporary lodging for military families - currently at 92 homes across the country, with more expanding overseas. Home Base has partnered with Fisher House for many years and we are grateful every day for the ongoing support they provide our veterans, servicemembers and families, enabling them to visit and stay in Boston at our Center of Excellence.This episode was recorded and edited by Chuck Clough, of Above The Basement Productions.___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.___Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Today is August 14th - And US Navajo Code Talker Day. Many do not know about the Code Talkers and what they did for our nation  - and the world  - starting in 1942. On the show today, we are thrilled and honored to share a live conversation that took place on July 23rd 2023 at the Home Base Center of Excellence in Charlestown Navy Yard, with WWII Marine Veteran, Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald. Hon. Peter MacDonald is one of three surviving Navajo Code Talkers and his Knowledge, Wisdom, and Strength all come through in this special episode. ___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.___This interview followed the 14th annual Run To Home Base at Fenway Park where we honored the Special Operator Community. And along with Red Sox Nation that night in a pregame ceremony, Sox fans (along with many Mets fans at their side) gave a standing ovation to Mr. MacDonald as he and his family got a taste of Fenway spirit, honoring a legend right there in the historical park.Thank you to our honorable guest, Marine Veteran and Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald for visiting Home Base and for this live, unforgettable conversation. Thank you for teaching us about service and sacrifice and of course the 3 guiding principles you offer to the next generations: 1. Knowledge, 2. Wisdom, and 3. Strength. We were so grateful to you and your family for visiting us in Boston and hope and look forward to returning the visit in Arizona soon. Many thanks to Hope and Charity MacDonald and your families for making this visit possible- At Home Base, thanks to the great team including Army Veteran Felicia Pinckney, Erin Dwyer, Air Force Veteran Marcus Denetdale, Dr. Louis Chow, Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Marine Veteran Derek Goodwin, Justin Scheinert, Phebe Garver, with leadership support COO Mike Allard and ED Brigadier General Jack Hammond.Thank you to Chuck Clough for editing and production on this episode and David Schmitz at Waves Media for live-video recording and production – You can find the full length video of this conversation on our YouTube channel."Hozho Nahasdlii'" is a Navajo (Dine') Prayer-Song written by Clara Natonabah from the Tachii'nii Clan. Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Secretary Jon Santiago has had more than a few roles that have brought him to listen and lead in Veterans Services for Massachusetts along side Govenor Healey: A Multilingual Peace Corps Alum, Public Health Grad, Emergency Room Physician, Major in US Army Reserves, and Mass State Representative. And along with wife Alexandra, his proudest role to date as dad to Rafael, their 14-month-old who inspires him daily to do right by the community now and for the future. Ron Hirschberg talks with the Secretary about the journey so far, and how his drive to support and serve all veterans and families comes from within, and the calling to help all people in need or crisis, with DEI and the social determinants of health at the core of his mission.   -Thank you to Secretary Jon Santiago for your service in many ways. You are indeed a role model for all of us and of course your little guy's generation to come. Home Base looks forward to your great work for all veterans of all eras, and their families throughout Massachusetts as a model Nationally as well. Thank you very much to Jackie Manning for all your efforts to make this conversation possible and to all the great staff at the Secretary's office.-Remember you can sign up any time for the 14th annual RTHB at Fenway Park on Saturday July 22nd. This year we honor the Special Operator community and will have special guests visiting on field as always, with a 5K 9K Walk Run throughout Boston, ending right on home plate.-With Chairman of the Media Lab at Home Base Peter Smyth and the support and counsel of COO Mike Allard and Executive Director Brigadier General Jack Hammond, we started this podcast in November 2019. The goal was and remains twofold: To highlight the great work that so many are doing to lift awareness and help veterans and military families, and to connect with leaders from both military and civilian worlds to talk about service and mind-body health. -As we head towards one hundred episodes, I want to acknowledge and thank this great team of collaborators, beginning day one with Steve Monaco, Cassie Falone, Charlotte Lucky, Army Veterans Bill Davidson and Armand Hunter, Lucy Little and Laurie Gallagher, and our new team - Army Veteran Kelly Field, Steve Monaco, Justin Scheinert, Phebe Garver, and Chuck Clough. -We are closing today with our 5th Season of Home Base Nation and on behalf of all of us at Home Base, we appreciate you – a Grateful Nation, for taking the time to listen during part of your day, whenever and wherever you are. We will be back this Summer with new great content and conversations. Thanks.___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.REMINDER... If you are a runner, walker, or want to sponsor either one, the 14th annual Run To Home Base is coming soon, of course back at Fenway Park with our great partners the Red Sox Foundation, on Saturday July 22nd 2023! Thank you for all your support of the mission to take care of all of our veterans their families. Hope to see you there and as always you can join, run and support anywhere virtually…At www.runtohomebase.orgTheme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Today's episode features a conversation with co-directors of the film Music Vets, Jon Kaufman and El Sawyer who discuss their new documentary that shows us how trauma and challenges brought out by war are healed with music. Music Vets highlights the experience of three US Veterans as they process emotions, build coping skills and resilience while combating common and debilitating invisible wounds - posttraumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. It is also a story about transitions, and coming back to one's community, which is not a new concept to El and Jon who discuss their 2013 film, Pull Of Gravity, a documentary that follows the lives of three people in maximum security prison who transition home – One of those three being El himself. ___Thank you Jon Kaufman and El Sawyer, our guests for your time and for doing your own part and service with creativity to honor veterans and healing through music, through your expertise of film. Music Vets was created by co-directors Jon Kaufman and El Sawyer, Producer Gabe Wiener, and Executive Producers Rodd Berro and Paula Katz. The filmmakers would like to sincerely thank the veterans and their families who shared their stories and lives with them in the film, with the goal of spreading this message of healing.To get updates on screening and where you can find the film, you can go to musicvetsfilm.com, and check out MING media (Media In Neighborhood Group) for all projects and for more on thoughtful community-minded filmmaking. Thank you very much- Joy Allen, Brenda Ross, Julia Cuellar and colleagues at Berklee College of Music for developing the Institute of Music and Health series and for supporting our veterans and military families. ___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.REMINDER... If you are a runner, walker, or want to sponsor either one, the 14th annual Run To Home Base is coming soon, of course back at Fenway Park with our great partners the Red Sox Foundation, on Saturday July 22nd 2023! Thank you for all your support of the mission to take care of all of our veterans their families. Hope to see you there and as always you can join, run and support anywhere virtually…At www.runtohomebase.orgTheme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

We knew it was a matter of time before Pickleball would come for a visit... and stay at Home Base. Mission Pickleball tells the story of the first pickleball tournament and fundraiser for Home Base on March 31st, 2023, partnering with our friends at the Naples Pickleball Center, in Naples, Florida. It is fitting that 3 WWII veterans created this infectious sport on a summer day in 1965. Word has it that they were trying to help a bunch of bored kids to find something to do, which may be true, but little did they know that it would create community and comradery not only around the country but the whole world 50+ years later. Big thanks to team Home Base Pickleball – Moe Roderick, Steve Monaco, Jason Cooper, Armando Hernandez, Angie De Lima, Larry Whitmore, Lindsey Stiefvater, Nicole Culver, and Jaime Fernandez, and again thanks to our NPC partners Bob Strommen, Holly Bacon, Will Blanchette, and Pat Shea.Many thanks to our Florida healthcare partners Lee Health, The David Lawrence Center, and to the tournament presenting sponsors, Florida Gulf Coast University who helped make this great event possible.___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.REMINDER... If you are a runner, walker, or want to sponsor either one, the 14th annual Run To Home Base is coming soon, of course back at Fenway Park with our great partners the Red Sox Foundation, on Saturday July 22nd 2023! Thank you for all your support of the mission to take care of all of our veterans their families. Hope to see you there and as always you can join, run and support anywhere virtually…At www.runtohomebase.orgTheme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Laura Harward, MSW, LICSW has been the director of the Intensive Clinical Program (ICP) - Home Base's signature program for the past 4 years. In 2015 while working in research at Mass General Hospital, she saw the need for veteran and military family care, and so Home Base was lucky to bring her on board. Laura always has a pulse on the Home Base program, and she shares where it has been, where it is now, and where it is going. Thanks for joining us for this special conversation – Home Base Nation correspondent Chuck Clough brings us this interview with Home Base's very own, Laura Harward._____If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.REMINDER... If you are a runner, walker, or want to sponsor either one, the 14th annual Run To Home Base is coming soon, of course back at Fenway Park with our great partners the Red Sox Foundation, on Saturday July 22nd 2023! Thank you for all your support of the mission to take care of all of our veterans their families. This year we will highlight and honor the Special Operators, including our Navy SEAL, Green Beret, Ranger, Delta force and other communities. Hope to see you there and as always you can join, run and support anywhere virtually…At runtohomebase.orgTheme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor and corresponded (Home Base Staff Picks): Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Today on Home Base Nation, we'll first hear from Dr. Rachel Millstein who works at Home Base and the Benson-Henry Institute (BHI) for Mind Body Medicine at MGH on what meditation is, why we do it, and how people can elicit the "Relaxation Response." Resilient Warrior was adapted from the great work at the BHI and is now delivered to not only veterans but military families and kids nationwide. Following this, please enjoy our past episode on resilience and healing through comedy and laughter with Army Veteran Thom Tran! Thom Tran wears many hats...He's a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant and paratrooper, a first generation Vietnamese-American, a Purple Heart recipient, and a ‘triple-threat' entertainer - an actor, musician, and comedian. Thom and Ron talk about mental health through the lens of comedy, laughter and we learn about his and his family's journey and service.___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Thank you Dr. Rachel Millstein for all you do for veterans and families at Home Base and at The Benson-Henry Institute at Mass General. Will be sharing more than 20 meditations soon, from Rachel and many others at Home Base, so please keep a watch out for those.Make sure to Check out Thom Tran online or live and local when he is touring your town, you will be doing a lot “internal jogging” and quite out of breath from laughing I promise. Thanks, Thom, for your service and ongoing service in new ways. Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor and corresponded (Home Base Staff Picks): Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Our Home Base Staff Pick this week is "The Service of Sesame Street – Featuring Rocio Galarza." You'll first hear from Home Base's Family Outreach Coordinator, military spouse and military daughter Betsy Hart. Betsy was in this original episode in April 2021, and talked about the time when her kids were really little, how Sesame Workshop for Military Families was a saving grace for them and for the whole family during all their deployments and transitions. Rocio Galarza is Vice President of US Social Impact at Sesame Workshop, and she and Dr. Ron talk about Sesame's partnerships with the military community, DoD, and content experts, and how they create the energy behind those beloved "service-monsters" and their own military families. Thank you, Betsy Hart, and to your whole family for the service you've provided for many years and that continue to provide for the patients and families at Home Base. Thank you to Rocio Galarza our guest and Brit Edwards, at Sesame Steet for Military Families.Many thanks to Chuck Clough - editing and interviewing for Home Base Staff Picks, Justin Scheinert - photos and socials, Army Veteran Kelly Field – Communications, Steve Monaco Marketing, and Phebe Garver, coordination and consultation. We will connect back in 2 weeks for more Home Base Staff Picks, remember this is Military Appreciation Month, thank you all who have served and all the families who serve with you. We are back with new conversations and stories in April, so please subscribe or follow, tell a friend about us. For more about the military family programs and team, and all things Home Base please go to www.homebase.org_____If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor and corresponded (Home Base Staff Picks): Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials. 

For our 1st Home Base Staff Pick, Our very own Team Leader of Veteran Outreach Marine Veteran Ryan Casavant gives some love to fellow Marine Veteran and … Dancehall and Reggae artist Orville Burrell, AKA Shaggy. Ryan talks about his road to the Marines, his deployment experience, and what he does at Home Base to support his peers and families. And as we look at those making history, this month in Black History Month, you cannot find any other GRAMMY-winning Marines out there… Shaggy has released 'Com Fly Wid Mi which has 11 Frank Sinatra songs all done in his own Reggae style, produced by collaborator Sting. Cheers to these two Marines who have served and continue to serve in many ways.Some news:-As we know, it's been 1 year as of Feb 24th since the War in Ukraine. It is hard to believe, and not only do we think of those Ukrainian troops when it comes to their needs body-mind and soul, we think of the trauma that the civilians have been enduring. There are many people around MGB who have been helping since the get-go like BWH Navy Veteran Dr. Eric Goralnick and MGH's Dr. Jarone Lee and many others - and now there seems to be even more need when it comes to mental health, not surprisingly. -In more celebratory news, Home Base was very happy to officially announce on Feb 22nd Last week, a first of its kind major federal funding of $5 million as we welcomed a visit from Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representatives Stephen Lynch (MA-08) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) to our national center of excellence.These funds will help support Home Base's signature clinical programs serving families of the fallen - and active-duty special operations forces experiencing ongoing issues from traumatic brain injury – TBI.Senator Warren who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke some familiar words, not unlike what our friend and colleague Green Beret Jillian Kitching said that always resonates with me…About the simple equation, that their service = our service to help them to take care of them, when they return.Warren said, “I think of it this way - A lot of what we do is about military weapons and all the technology. But The other half is about the people.”- “If we are going to have a strong military, then we have to treat our people better.”Thank you Shaggy, and Ryan for your service, and your ongoing service to your fellow comrades and families. Special thanks to Tracy Bufferd for all your efforts and support in connecting Home Base with Dancehall, Reggae and all the genuine support of service from Shaggy and team. And… If you want more Shaggy at Home Base, check out the LIVE conversation at the Veterans Day Dinner we released February 2020. __If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor and corresponded (Home Base Staff Picks): Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials. 

In our last episode of Season 5, Dr. Ron Hirschberg talks with Survivor's Season 43 Winner Mike "Gabler" Gabler, the first winner to give their entire $1 Million to a deserving cause close to our hearts at Home Base. As a heart valve specialist from a military family, Gabler talks about the inspiration of service he's had from his dad and friends in the military, and an unforgettable veteran named Lester who lived well into his 90s, following his team's transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. While thinking literally under the stars over the island for days, things started to come together for a guy who has served many people's hearts, about how a grateful civilian could best help many more veterans in need. 2.14.23Remember that tomorrow 2/15/23 is the final day to take advantage of discounted fundraising minimums for the RUN TO HOME BASE At Fenway Park July 22nd, 2023 - GO TO – www.runtohomebase.orgIt's February, 2023 – It's American Heart Month and today is Valentine's Day folks… So it's also the perfect time to talk about a special person who not only has shown his massive heart for giving to veteran mental health, but happens to work in the business of giving people new functioning hearts - Mike Gabler. Gabler is a heart valve specialist, who's lived most of his life in Texas, and last year found his way from his family home base in Idaho to Fiji as one of 18 contestants on the CBS show Survivor. Gabler is the winner of this past season #43, he is 1 of 2 winners over 50, and is the first winner in Survivor history since its first year in 2000 to give the entire $1M dollar prize to charity. He is supporting the veteran community with this gift, specifically in PTSD and mental health, gifting under his dad's name, Army Veteran and Green Beret Robert Gabler.___Thank you Gabler, for your serving those who've served through this more than generous gift, and the chance to make a difference in an ongoing way. Survivor has been right in our living rooms around the country for almost 23 years and getting the chance to lift awareness about the needs for returning and all recovering veterans is huge, so thank you sir. Special thanks to Betty Diaz at Paramount and Jennifer Mendez-Ruiz at CBS for bringing us together and for all you do to support mental health, veteran and other efforts!For all returning Survivor fans and for anyone who's never seen it, it's never too late to start - Survivor 44, which has been the twelfth consecutive season to be filmed in Fiji is set to premiere on March 1, 2023, on CBS, coming right up in 2 weeks. ___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

In this episode, Navy Veteran Montel Williams sits with Dr. Ron Hirschberg to discuss his three 17-year long careers, the first of which as Navy Intelligence Officer, followed by his prolific and award-winning talk show, which led to work and support in veteran trauma, a multiple sclerosis foundation, and bringing service and giving to military families together with Lifetime's Military Makeover. Among other decorated honors, Mr. Williams holds two Navy Commendation Medals, two Humanitarian Service Medals, and...two Emmys, and has shown the world many forms of service with interwoven themes of leadership, storytelling, wellness, and always gving back.___Thank you Navy Veteran Montel Williams for your service and ongoing service in many ways - shining the light on veterans and families with the Military Makeover crew, and for all you do in health advocacy and growth. We look forward to more conversations with you on veteran and military family needs as someone who really walks the walk. Check out Military Makeover on Lifetime and of course we will tune in especially for Lynn, MA family this summer.Remember for that Early Bird discount for the 14th annual RTHB, NOW through February 15th___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsPhoto Credit, Montel Williams: Joe Wallace PhotographyClip: Pepsi Salutes the Glory of Black History, with Montel Williams - 1989Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

WWII Marine Veteran and Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald reflects on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service, and at the same time points out that Dr. King would not simply want a day of service, but a way of service. As one of the only three living Code Talkers of more than 400 from WWII, Mr. MacDonald embodies grace and gratitude, and teaches us that although these codes may have been used as weapons, war is never the goal. His ongoing wish is for peace, balance and being one together with the world among all cultures – With one Navajo word that sums this up, and what Dr. King was all about: Hozho. Thank you for joining this conversation with Marine Veteran and Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald, and wishing you all to be in Hozho not only on this day of service, but everyday.Special thanks to Charity MacDonald for making this conversation with your Dad possible. You have served as a military family member and obviously helping to carry his, Navajo and other Native American Veterans' torches in order to educate generations. And many thanks to Army Veteran Regan Hawthorne, son of the late Marine Veteran and Code Talker Roy Hawthorne for your service, support of the upcoming Navajo Code Talker Museum, and for your stewardship in connecting with Home Base, and Marine Veteran Andrew Appleton, for all your ongoing service to veterans and your support of the Navajo Code Talker Museum.___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Today on the show, host Dr. Ron Hirschberg chats with friend and colleague Dr. Eddie Phillips, Whole Health Medical Director at the Boston VA, and Associate Professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, about asking not what's the matter with you - but what matters to you, about Eddie's "Bike Desk" that keeps him moving while working, moderate and vigorous intensity exercise, and learning while laughing with his cohost Juna Gtata on PRX's Food, We Need To Talk.___I first met Dr. Eddie Phillips back in… 2003 (gasp), which is officially now 20 years ago when I was a resident, training at Spaulding Rehab Hospital and he was an attending physician. Eddie was then in the process of essentially grass roots education to not only patients but all healthcare workers - that exercise is medicine. Something was catching on in looking at not only exercise, but patient lifestyle more than before - such that in 2007 he founded the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Before long, Eddie and team were developing multiple Harvard CME courses around the world… So it was no surprise to me that in 2016 Dr. Phillips was approached by WBUR the NPR Boston affiliate to host The Magic Pill along with cohost WBUR's Carey Goldberg – This show won an Edward R. Murrow Award which is basically like getting an Emmy for broadcasting. Very cool. Fast-forward a couple years and Eddie joined the very talented Juna Gjata – on a fantastic new podcast produced with PRX call Food We Need to Talk – essentially educating and entertaining us all about nutrition and food and how it relates to our lives - Make sure to check out this show, perhaps as your New Year's resolution (and hint-hint that's the topic of their episode this week – all you need to know about New Years' resolutions, including the science behind it)…-Cheers all and Happy New Year! - Ron____If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

On our last episode of 2022, Dr. Ron Hirschberg talks with Journalist Sarah Sicard about growing up in a military family, and growing an interest in shining light on the 1% military community through stories on culture, humor, history and all things entertainment in the military and veteran space. Sarah writes for Military Times and you'll find her work in Task and Purpose, National Defense News, and stay tuned of course for her upcoming first novel. Happy Holidays and we look forward to connecting back soon in 2023!I also noticed that three people/organizations I admire and follow also follow Sarah – The Bob Woodruff Foundation, Marine Veteran Kate Mannion from Barstool Sports, and Veteran supporter, CNN Anchor Mr. Jake Tapper.  I thought that was pretty cool and spoke to her work on culture, humor and the ability like some creatives and leaders like Sarah, to bridge that military-civilian divide in a unique way. If you are interested in learning more about Sarah, check out her work at Militarytimes.com and follow her @smsicard on Twitter. And speaking of Twitter, please follow us on Twitter @homebaseprogram, and you can find me @DeerMountainRH (Deer, like the animal). ___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Army Veterans Caleb Green, Christal Rheams, Ron Henry, and Jason Hanna join host Dr. Ron Hirschberg for a conversation about the love of music, singing and one another as brothers and sisters that runs as deep as their harmonies, backstage at the Home Base Veterans Day Dinner on November 12th 2022. Their mission to help others heal those invisible wounds through song and bringing people together in both the military and civilian community hit a new level in 2019 when they became Top 5 finalists in the 14th season of America's Got Talent. They continue to tour, create and inspire wherever they go.Thank you to Army Veterans Caleb Green, Christal Rheams, Ron Henry, and Jason Hanna of Voices Of Service for joining us on Home Base Nation, and for all your talents. Thanks for your service and how you continue to serve others with inspiring music and song. Now during this holiday month, make sure to check out their new EP – “Deck The Halls”Many thanks for Cathie Lachereas of CAMMO and the whole VOS team._____If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

In this episode, host Dr. Ron Hirschberg sits on the bank of the Charles River in Cambridge, MA with Navy Veteran and Rowing Coach Patrick Johnson, at the famous Head of The Charles Regatta. Coach Johnson is National Director at Athletes Without Limits (AWL), and DC Strokes integrated rowing program, a USRowing Freedom Rows designated adaptive program for the Armed Forces. Ron and Patrick talk about his joining the Navy as a musician, finding a new family in the military music community, and how his band of military-music brothers and sisters decided to partake in a Learn To Row program in DC, which led to Patrick's impactful coaching at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with disabled veterans. Patrick talks about healing others and himself after experiencing lung injury, TBI and anxiety, through both the arts and athleticism, and how there is something about being on the water that can be the right medicine for the soul.___Thank you Navy Veteran Coach Patrick Johnson for your service, and your ongoing service to all the adults, kids, both in and out of the military that you mentor in many ways. I wish we could have talked longer and hope we have a chance to meet again perhaps in your neck of woods in DC someday. The two themes that come to mind after meeting you are: Family and Healing - And whether through military, music, or rowing, you embody both. To learn more about Patrick and AWL, please go to www.athleteswithoutlimits.orgAnd a special thanks to Marylin Koblan for all you do for rowers of all abilities, who is the executive director of Para Rowing Foundation, and who introduced us to Coach Johnson prior to the Head of The Charles. Please check out the great work being done by Marylin and her team at www.pararowingfoundation.org___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Home Base Nation Thanksgiving Message from host Ron Hirschberg 11-23-22“Thank you sir, for your service.” I said this to a Marine Veteran in the hospital the other day who was admitted with a bad pneumonia, and he was getting back on his feet to get home hopefully for Thanksgiving. He said Thank YOU doc for yours. I nodded and lifted my brow, knowing that like every other day I would still take the train home to my suburban neighborhood, sleep in a comfy bed and feel safe at home.As doctors we sign up to help treat disease, help function - but we don't sign up to get in harms way to keep others safe and free. Covid changed things around the hospital, and in the thick of things the real and raw emotional and physical struggles many healthcare workers went through changed the conversation – Yes, do no harm, Yes, heal the sick… But risk your life in the process? We are amazingly almost 3 years from the start of the pandemic. Things are different now, mostly for the better. Sports are back. Music is back. Politics aside, we are also safer due to vaccines. However, we lost many people, the world lost many people. Today on Thanksgiving, I am thankful for a kind of new normal.But most of all, I am thankful for the men and women who have served - out there right now and every day around the world who wake up every morning and genuinely not only think of others welfare but to do it while their own safety or life may be at risk. That's why we need to take care of them. Our Home Base friend Green Beret Julian Kitching said at Fenway this summer something I will never forget – He summed this up in what he calls The Equation – He said, “This is about simple math: When we sign people up to go do difficult things for all of us – We need to automatically sign up for that other side of the equation, which is making sure we are taking care of those families and servicemembers when they come back. We must pour in as much as they have given.”We are grateful for all of you who support this great program to address the other side of The Equation. If you want to make a donation during this holiday season, Home Base thanks you! Go to www.homebase.org/donate______Thank you to Matt Battaille for your service and all you continue to do.To learn more about how you can help your Ukrainian refugee neighbors, please go to www.cuttingthered.com______Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

In this Season 5 opener, come back to Fenway Park on July 30th, 2022 for the 13th Annual Run to Home Base. This is our first RTHB at the Park since Covid, and this year Home Base and The Red Sox Foundation honors and celebrates Black Veterans and Families of all eras. From the first base line and Sam Adams Deck, Dr. Ron Hirschberg interviews WWII Tuskegee Airman Enoch "Woody" Woodson II, WWII Army Veteran Marvin Gilmore, Brigadier General Joe Carter, Lieutenant Colonel Brian Kitching, Green Beret Julian Kitching, Colonel Dana Sanders-Udo, Mass General Brigham leaders who have and continue to support the Home Base mission, and other champions like NESN's Tom Caron and famed Red Sox Pitcher Tim Wakefield. Happy Veterans Day to all who've served and to all the families who have served along with you. We are very grateful for the efforts of the following staff at Home Base who made RTHB 2022 as special and inspirational as ever:-Cheryl Brathwaite, Daughter of Army Veteran, Home Base Office Manager -Leonard Montgomery, Marine Veteran, Home Base Veteran Outreach Coordinator-Kevin Dillon, Navy Veteran, Home Base Veteran Outreach Coordinator-Felicia Pinckney, Army Veteran, Home Base Program Manager Network Development___If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythTo Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcastThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Today's episode is another installment of Home Base Nation: Veteran Stories with Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Monica "Mo" Southall. Mo participated in Home Base's Intensive Care Program (ICP) in January 2022. Mo is an athlete and adaptive sports athlete, having competed multiple times in the Invictus Games, and competed and coached in the Department of Defense Warrior Games. Mo was gravely injured in 2009 while on deployment, and speaks openly about how finding her way into adaptive sports saved her life. In this conversation, Mo and Ron talk about her time in the Army and her love of service, into the world of adaptive sports,  what it was like to be a gay woman during the time of Don't Ask Don't Tell, what led her to Home Base, and why she feels it is so important to talk about mental health care and struggles, and why it is okay to ask for help. ###If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsAdditional music in today's episode: "Cadillac" by Ron HirschbergFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Maureen Roderick, Laurie Gallagher, Karianne Kraus, Lucy Little, Taylor Orlando, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergProducer, Editor: Lucy LittleChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/homebasenation. To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.The views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

Home Base is all about helping veterans and military families thrive. Mental health and addressing the invisible wounds are part of the equation – And Inspire Up with help from AFFN is such a good example of that needed collaboration to make that thriving a reality.Thanks to our guests – John Broda and Scott Duszynski, of Armed Forces Financial Network, and Jessica Manfre of Inspire Up for your service and for all you do for military families. ###If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.Sign up to join us in person or virtually for the 13th Annual Run to Home Base  at runtohomebase.org.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsBacking music and outro: "Warrior-Healer" by James and House and Air Force Veteran Blair MorinFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Maureen Roderick, Laurie Gallagher, Karianne Kraus, Lucy Little, Taylor Orlando, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergProducer, Sound, Editor: Lucy LittleChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/homebasenation. To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.The views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.