Thank You, Now What?

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“Thank You, Now What?” is a biweekly podcast about life after service, where we explore what veterans are doing after separating from the military.

Matt & Ben


    • Jun 11, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 37m AVG DURATION
    • 59 EPISODES

    5 from 62 ratings Listeners of Thank You, Now What? that love the show mention: matt and ben, military members, vets, civilian, transitioning, tara, veteran, big fan, experiences, together, guests, life, new, great podcast, show, good, like, listen.


    Ivy Insights

    The Thank You, Now What? podcast is a highly relatable and insightful show that caters to individuals who have gone through periods of significant life transitions, while also offering a candid perspective on the challenges and sacrifices faced by service members. As someone who used to be a corporate workaholic but is now a stay-at-home mom with no military experience, I find the content of this podcast to be incredibly relatable.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the wide range of smart and dynamic guests that Matt and Ben bring onto the show. Each episode serves up big doses of human spirit, providing listeners with plenty of learning opportunities. The interviews are engaging and Matt proves to be an excellent interviewer, making it easy for listeners like me to connect with the guests' experiences. It's particularly enjoyable to hear what other veterans have been up to since leaving the service, as it offers valuable insights into different paths post-military life.

    On the downside, while the show offers diverse perspectives from different generations and services, it would be great to see even more diversity in terms of guest backgrounds and experiences. This could further enrich the content and provide an even wider range of perspectives for listeners.

    In conclusion, The Thank You, Now What? podcast is a must-listen for anyone going through or interested in periods of transition. It provides honest conversations between veterans that feel authentic and relatable. The insights shared by guests from various backgrounds offer valuable information for both military members transitioning back into civilian life and civilians looking to understand their military friends better. Overall, this podcast showcases top-tier career military professionals discussing their transition experiences with professionalism and authenticity, making it an invaluable resource for anyone navigating major life changes.



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    Latest episodes from Thank You, Now What?

    TYNW at the movies: Starship Troopers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 182:29


    Chase, Matt, and Jeramiah (Ep 50) discuss the 1997 film Starship Troopers and the eponymous 1959 novel.

    50. Jeramiah Wegner

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 144:52


    Jeramiah is a Federal Wildlife Officer and former U.S. Army Ranger.

    49. Kyle Eberly

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 56:37


    Kyle is a helicopter pilot who transitioned to consulting and tech. His platform Sitreps 2 Steercos helps veterans navigate business school and professional careers.

    Bonus: Female Veterans' Roundtable (2025)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 83:24


    Former guests Tara Heidger (ep. 1), Tammy Bonzanto (ep. 27) and Rebecca Bennett (ep. 46) join us to discuss some of their experiences as female service members and veterans.

    48. Brady Foster

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 129:06


    Brady is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and owner of K9 Gunner Tactical, a multidisciplinary dog training business.

    47. Shelane Etchison

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 179:05


    Shelane is a military policewoman and special operator who ran her congressional campaign in 2024.

    46. Rebecca Bennett

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 140:09


    Rebecca is a naval aviator and helicopter test pilot who has transitioned to business roles in healthcare.

    45. Chris Heidger

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 158:50


    Chris is an acquiring entrepreneur of a regional HVAC company and former investment banker. He is a U.S. Army psyop veteran, and his wife Tara was our very first interviewee.

    TYNW at the movies: Blade Runner

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024 158:26


    Ben, Chase, and Matt talk about the movies Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017) along with the book “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick. We strongly recommend watching the movies before listening, book optional.

    44. Dave Wilkie

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 111:03


    Dave is a New York City Firefighter and former U.S. Army Ranger.

    43. Zach West

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 106:31


    Zach is a former U.S. Army Green Beret now working in SaaS business development.

    43. Drew Martin

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 151:57


    Drew Martin is a Nurse Practitioner who specializes in Cardiac Surgery. Drew is a former USMC rifleman who served in the Second Battle of Fallujah and is unapologetically Chase Martin's twin brother.

    42. TYNW returns with Chase Martin, we talk The Big Lebowski

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 128:57


    After a yearlong hiatus, the guys return to welcome a new co-host and unearth another movie episode we recorded a year ago. Important show note: we have discontinued Paypal and Patreon in a decision to self-fund the podcast, but... we still encourage you to support a whole bunch of great organizations linked conveniently at thankyounowwhat.com/support

    41. Josh Appel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2022 97:53


    Dr. Josh Appel is a retired U.S. Air Force Pararescueman and emergency medical physician.

    40. Jenny Grace

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2022 88:08


    Jenny Grace is a U.S. Army veteran and country music singer songwriter.

    39. Mike Erwin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 107:10


    Mike Erwin is an Army veteran and reservist, author, educator, and entrepreneur.

    38. Manny Jacobs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 100:51


    Manny Jacobs is a parachute instructor and Australian Army Veteran.

    37. Sonali “Sunny” Tinsley

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022 92:55


    Sonali “Sunny” Tinsley is a medical researcher and former U.S. Army medic.

    36. Steve Marley

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 139:28


    Steve is a former U.S. Marine and current New York City Firefighter. After enlisting post-9/11and seeing some of the early years in Iraq and Afghanistan, he returned to fulfill his childhood dream and family tradition of joining the FDNY.

    Ben's Big Premiere

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 27:58


    Bonus Episode

    35. Ian Rivers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 77:06


    Ian returns to talk about his 85-day solo row across the Atlantic Ocean.

    34. “The sex episode” with Dr. Kathryn Ellis

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 125:30


    Dr. Ellis is an occupational therapist specializing in sex and intimacy. She worked at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for nearly a decade, treating injured veterans and often working with their significant others. She is the Founder and CEO of the Institute for Sex, Intimacy & Occupational Therapy, a continuing education company for occupational therapy professionals. She is the co-author of “Sex and Intimacy for Wounded Veterans: A Guide to Embracing Change.”

    33. “Life after hockey” with Shane Hnidy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 81:57


    Shane is a retired NHL player and member of the 2011 Stanley Cup winning Boston Bruins. He is currently a member of the Vegas Golden Knights broadcast team. Shane and Matt discuss the similarities between transitioning careers from the military and pro sports.

    32. Nate Spearing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2021 72:05


    Nate from Episode 3 rejoins the show to talk small business, branching out to multiple ventures, parenting, challenging himself, and being a faith leader.

    31. Zac Rhyner

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2021 72:56


    Zac served 11 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Combat Controller, medically retiring as a result of injuries sustained in combat. Inspired by his own road to recovery, Zac decided to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

    30. Guillermo “Bill” Ravelo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 99:39


    Bill served in the U.S. Army for 23 years as a forward observer, both in the 75th Ranger Regiment and 7th Special Forces Group. In 2015 he retired and took an internship on Wall Street at a bank where he still works today.

    Bonus 07. Apocalypse Now & Heart Of Darkness with Chase Martin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2021 118:47


    We brought back former guest Chase Martin to talk about one of the greatest war movies and the book it was adapted from.

    29. Brady Speth

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 88:25


    Brady served as an Air Traffic Controller in the Air Force and a Capitol Police Officer. He founded Riton Optics with his wife Carrie and currently serves as its CEO.

    28. Ian Rivers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 100:04


    Ian is a retired British SAS soldier. After 27 years of service and an incredible warzone encounter post-service, he decided to start a risk management firm with some former colleagues. This summer he'll be taking a “break” to row his boat across the Atlantic Ocean.

    27. Tammy Bonzanto

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 127:43


    Tammy is the former Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy before becoming a registered nurse and earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice.

    26. Steve Chang

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 92:24


    Steve is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer and veteran of the Global War on Terror. Before retiring, he commanded an Army Recruiting battalion. Steve recently founded a professional career transition company, Headlamp.

    25. Brad Thomas

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 119:17


    Brad is a retired U.S. Army Ranger and veteran of Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia in 1993, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan in the Global War on Terror. In 2017 Brad teamed up with some other special operators to form the rock band Silence & Light, a union of his professional military experience and lifelong love of music.

    24. Ben Bunn

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 106:16


    Ben is a retired airborne infantry officer, former enlisted green beret, and veteran of the global war on terror. He is the owner of Cigar City CrossFit in his hometown of Tampa, Florida and Director of Business Development for Bravo Sierra.

    23. Noah Harris

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 97:37


    Noah is a former Green Beret and veteran of the global war on terror. After serving for more than 15 years, Noah separated from the Army to pursue film school, his love for science, and being a dad.

    Bonus 05. Female Veterans’ Roundtable

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 81:17


    Former guests Tara Heidger, Katie Neff, Hannah Ambrozewski, and Meaghan Mobbs join us to discuss some of their experiences as female service members and veterans.

    22. Joe Kent

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2021 67:44


    Joe is a retired Green Beret and veteran of the Global War on Terror. He is a father, Gold Star husband, and congressional candidate for Washington’s 3rd District.

    21. Karen Gallagher

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 122:06


    Karen Gallagher is a senior postdoctoral research scholar with the Global Sport Institute at Arizona State University. Her research focuses on the impact of service-related conditions on higher-order cognitive processes in military veterans. Karen is a veteran of Desert Storm and Desert Shield. She served as a U.S. Army paratrooper and chemical operations specialist.

    20. Nelson Miller

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 87:00


    Nelson is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He lives in Tucson, Arizona, where he owns a group of (great!) restaurants and spends the rest of his time doing a whole lot more.

    19. Meaghan Mobbs

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 110:09


    Meaghan is a former US Army Captain and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. She specialized in aerial delivery and led a unit of parachute riggers. Today, Meaghan is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Columbia University Teachers College, and serves as a clinician in training while pursuing her PhD.

    18. Kevin Flike

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 79:30


    Kevin is a former Green Beret and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. In 2011, he was critically wounded during combat operations which would lead him to medically retire. He went on to receive a dual master’s from MIT and Harvard and works in corporate strategy. He is a board member for the Green Beret Foundation and an avid public speaker. Check him out at www.woundedbywar.com Look for “Three Wise Men” by Beau Wise and Tom Sileo: https://www.amazon.com/Three-Wise-Men-Brother-Survivor/dp/1250253446

    17. Glenn Cowan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 93:10


    Glenn is a retired Canadian Army Special Operations Officer and founder of One 9 Investments. Check him out at one9investments.com

    16. Jason Brezler

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 72:11


    Jason served as a Marine Corps Engineer Officer in Iraq and Afghanistan. After five years on active duty, he transitioned to the reserves while getting to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a New York City Firefighter. Jason also founded Leadership Under Fire, a leadership and human performance training organization.

    afghanistan iraq marine corps engineer officer
    15. Chase Martin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 116:59


    Chase is a former U.S. Marine Corps Infantryman and veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. During a 2005-06 deployment to Fallujah, Chase was critically injured by a roadside bomb which ended his career and nearly cost his life. After a lengthy recovery, Chase began to explore the world by visiting more than 70 countries as a traveling photographer. Follow Chase @chase_mearoundtheworld on Instagram. Check out our new show website at thankyounowwhat.com for more info and ways to support.

    14. Avi Deutsch

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 87:43


    Avi served in the Israeli Army as a tank crew member and armor officer. He is a veteran of the Second Lebanon War. After working for the Bank of Israel and then at a youth village in Rwanda, Avi combined his skills and passion to enter the business of impact investing.

    13. Marshall Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 81:55


    Marshall followed a family tradition of service by attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served as an Airborne Infantry Officer in the 173rd Airborne Brigade and is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. After attending Wharton Business School, he began another career as an investment banker before pivoting to corporate strategy and large-scale data operations. He lives a life of consistent improvement and has a track record of always leaving places better than he found them.

    12. Sally Roberts

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2020 90:50


    Sally is a three-time National Champion and otherwise incredibly accomplished wrestler. She is a former U.S. Army psychological operations specialist and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. During her career, Sally wrestled for the Army’s World Class Athlete Program and competed for Team USA. In 2016 Sally founded Wrestle Like A Girl, a nonprofit whose mission is to empower girls and women using the sport of wrestling to become leaders in life. Support: wrestlelikeagirl.org elitemeetus.org

    11. Andrea Goldstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2020 72:33


    Andrea is a Congressional Senior Policy Advisor, working on matters pertaining to women in the armed forces and female veterans. She is also a Navy Intelligence Officer, still serving in the reserves years since leaving active duty. She has been a nonprofit CEO, NATO policy advisor, and columnist. Please check out: coastxcoast.org smallstepsinspeech.org service2school.org thankyounowwhat.com patreon.com/thankyounowwhat instagram/com/thankyounowwhat twitter.com/thankyounowwhat

    10. Jim Matheson

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 105:05


    Jim is a career Naval Aviator and former TOPGUN instructor. He is now a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, where he teaches Entrepreneurial Finance and works on business issues related to the environment. Jim has spent the past two decades focusing on socially-responsible investing and advisory, and served as CEO for a sustainable water technology firm for 10 of those years. Jim continues to work with veterans and other servant leaders running for office through Boston-based nonprofit, New Politics.

    9. Hannah & Tristan Ambrozewski

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 81:49


    Hannah and Tristan met each other at basic training and would go on to serve as intelligence analysts in the U.S. Army, deploying to combat zones both together and separately. After 14 years of marriage, two kids, two career transitions, several businesses, and plenty of stories to tell, they're still closer and happier than ever. It wasn't easy. We talk about the importance of seeking challenges, fostering teamwork, and how personal relationships can enrich small businesses.

    8. Mike Steadman

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2020 82:42


    Mike won three National Collegiate Boxing Championships at the U.S. Naval Academy before becoming an infantry officer in the Marine Corps. After serving overseas in Afghanistan, Japan, and the Philippines, Mike moved to Newark, New Jersey to work at an all-boys school. He then quickly turned his love for boxing into a hybrid nonprofit, for-profit business. He remains deeply invested in his community and truly loves coaching and mentoring kids to be their best. Check him out at ironboundboxing.org

    7. Katie Neff

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2020 68:21


    Katie served eight years as a combat engineer officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. After multiple overseas deployments, she commanded a unit of drill instructors and recruits at Marine Corps Boot Camp at Parris Island. She is the first female Marine to complete U.S. Army Sapper School. After separating from service and earning a dual master’s degree, she continues to work in social enterprise and nonprofit endeavors. Links: coastxcoast.org smallstepsinspeech.org newpoliticsacademy.org

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