Podcasts about gi bill

Spencer Reese welcomes Lieutenant Commander Webster Felix, a Navy prosthodontist, for an in-depth discussion about maximizing military medicine benefits. Webb's journey from enlisted E6 dental student to O5 prosthodontist showcases the incredible opportunities available in military healthcare. This episode unpacks lesser-known scholarship programs, specialty training funding, loan forgiveness strategies, and GI Bill transfers that enabled Webb and his wife to complete advanced degrees debt-free while building generational wealth for their family. Lieutenant Commander Webster Felix, USN Specialty: Prosthodontist (restorative dentistry expert, full mouth rehabilitations) Current Station: Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Career Timeline: 14 years active duty, recently selected for O5 Education: Bachelor's in Biology, Temple University (2011) DDS, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (2015) Master's in Dental Education (completed during dental school using GI Bill) Prosthodontics Residency, USC (2021-2024, funded by DUIN) Instagram: @prosthopapi - Features clinical cases and prosthodontic work Personal Background: Son of Haitian immigrants who arrived in the US in 1987; first-generation college graduate demonstrating how military medicine can transform generational wealth trajectories HSCP vs HPSP - The Scholarship Most People Don't Know About: HPSP covers full tuition but you're not active duty during school HSCP means active duty status (E6/E7 pay + BAH + TRICARE) but you take loans for tuition Webb entered dental school as E6, commissioned directly to O3E in 2015 Critical advice: Apply for BOTH programs simultaneously The $500K Student Loan Forgiveness Strategy: Graduated Columbia dental school with ~$400-500K in loans Enrolled in Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) immediately First payments: $170/month (based on E6 salary) Current payments: ~$800/month (O4E salary) Hitting 10-year mark in October 2025—expecting full forgiveness Must consolidate to federal direct loans or you won't qualify Duty Under Instruction (DUIN) - Free Specialty Training: Navy funded Webb's 3-year USC prosthodontics residency Continued receiving full salary, BAH, and bonuses—zero out-of-pocket costs FTOS (Full-Time Out-Service) allows civilian residency attendance Competitive annual program—check BUMED notices for available slots Strategic GI Bill Transfers: Webb transferred 15 months of GI Bill to his wife She completed UCLA nurse practitioner program debt-free Still has 15 months remaining for kids' education Transfer requires 4-year commitment—sign paperwork strategically Career Highlights: Temple University → Columbia DDS → O3 commission (2015) San Diego (AEGD) → Port Hueneme/Okinawa (Seabees, 2 deployments) → Key West → LA (USC residency) → Pearl Harbor Wife completed NP degree concurrent with his residency while caring for one-year-old Key Takeaways Military Medicine Benefits Add Up Fast: TRICARE coverage during school and career Active duty time counting toward retirement during education PSLF potential for massive loan forgiveness Specialty training fully funded (DUIN) GI Bill transfers for spouse education No pressure to over-treat patients for profit Civilian vs Military Prosthodontist Pay: Civilian side approximately 2X on paper But when factoring TRICARE, BAH, pension, education benefits—much closer Some civilian practices sacrifice autonomy for high volume/pay Military provides genuine patient care without profit motive Critical Actions: Apply for both HSCP and HPSP if pursuing military medicine Consolidate all student loans to federal direct loans immediately Enroll in PSLF and never miss payments Join Facebook group: "Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Support" (216K members) Sign GI Bill transfers concurrent with existing obligations Resources Mentioned Kate Horrell's episodes - GI Bill expert (new book: "College Planning for Military Families") Dr. Pritish Sahoo episode - Army medicine path MMM Podcast #181 PSLF Facebook Group - "Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Support" Naval Postgraduate Dental School (Bethesda) BUMED annual DUIN notices Who This Is For Pre-med/dental students considering military service, active duty members interested in medical careers, medical officers with student debt, anyone pursuing PSLF, families planning GI Bill transfers, or those comparing military vs civilian healthcare compensation.

On this episode of The Scoop from the VET S.O.S. Network, host Kingsley “Kings” Scott sits down with two veterans who turned their service experience into stories of impact and creativity.

Losing the uniform can mean losing identity, reputation, and even the sense of mission that kept you moving forward. For many, the transition feels like starting from zero. That is exactly what Stephen Bump faced after 12 years in the Air Force. His journey carried him from aerospace engineering to Eli Lilly, through business school, and finally into building his own consulting firm. Along the way, he learned to trust others, embrace humility, protect family time, and make career moves that aligned with his own values, not just someone else's definition of success. This conversation is about facing the uncomfortable reality that no one in your civilian job cares about your rank or medals, and how that is not the end but the beginning. From finding purpose in unexpected industries, to reclaiming fitness and family balance, to using the GI Bill and veteran resources to carve a better future, Stephen lays out a roadmap any veteran can use to transition with clarity and confidence. Timestamps: 00:07:45 - The hardest part of starting over in civilian careers 00:15:45 - Losing fitness and regaining it through entrepreneurship 00:22:15 - The freedom and responsibility of choosing your own clients 00:28:30 - Breaking free from other people's definitions of success 00:39:00 - The veteran resources that made the biggest difference Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.persperity.net Follow Stephen Bump on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbump/ Resources mentioned in the episode: Cameron Brooks Headhunter: https://www.cameron-brooks.com/ Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families: https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/ GI Bill: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/ Transcript View the transcript for this episode.

BIO:The Reverend Dr. Starlette Thomas is a poet, practical theologian, and itinerant prophet for a coming undivided “kin-dom.” She is the director of The Raceless Gospel Initiative, named for her work and witness and an associate editor at Good Faith Media. Starlette regularly writes on the sociopolitical construct of race and its longstanding membership in the North American church. Her writings have been featured in Sojourners, Red Letter Christians, Free Black Thought, Word & Way, Plough, Baptist News Global and Nurturing Faith Journal among others. She is a frequent guest on podcasts and has her own. The Raceless Gospel podcast takes her listeners to a virtual church service where she and her guests tackle that taboo trinity— race, religion, and politics. Starlette is also an activist who bears witness against police brutality and most recently the cultural erasure of the Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C. It was erected in memory of the 2020 protests that brought the world together through this shared declaration of somebodiness after the gruesome murder of George Perry Floyd, Jr. Her act of resistance caught the attention of the Associated Press. An image of her reclaiming the rubble went viral and in May, she was featured in a CNN article.Starlette has spoken before the World Council of Churches North America and the United Methodist Church's Council of Bishops on the color- coded caste system of race and its abolition. She has also authored and presented papers to the members of the Baptist World Alliance in Zurich, Switzerland and Nassau, Bahamas to this end. She has cast a vision for the future of religion at the National Museum of African American History and Culture's “Forward Conference: Religions Envisioning Change.” Her paper was titled “Press Forward: A Raceless Gospel for Ex- Colored People Who Have Lost Faith in White Supremacy.” She has lectured at The Queen's Foundation in Birmingham, U.K. on a baptismal pedagogy for antiracist theological education, leadership and ministries. Starlette's research interests have been supported by the Louisville Institute and the Lilly Foundation. Examining the work of the Reverend Dr. Clarence Jordan, whose farm turned “demonstration plot” in Americus, Georgia refused to agree to the social arrangements of segregation because of his Christian convictions, Starlette now takes this dirt to the church. Her thesis is titled, “Afraid of Koinonia: How life on this farm reveals the fear of Christian community.” A full circle moment, she was recently invited to write the introduction to Jordan's newest collection of writings, The Inconvenient Gospel: A Southern Prophet Tackles War, Wealth, Race and Religion.Starlette is a member of the Christian Community Development Association, the Peace & Justice Studies Association, and the Koinonia Advisory Council. A womanist in ministry, she has served as a pastor as well as a denominational leader. An unrepentant academician and bibliophile, Starlette holds degrees from Buffalo State College, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and Wesley Theological Seminary. Last year, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in Sacred Theology for her work and witness as a public theologian from Wayland Baptist Theological Seminary. She is the author of "Take Me to the Water": The Raceless Gospel as Baptismal Pedagogy for a Desegregated Church and a contributing author of the book Faith Forward: A Dialogue on Children, Youth & a New Kind of Christianity.  JennyI was just saying that I've been thinking a lot about the distinction between Christianity and Christian supremacy and Christian nationalism, and I have been researching Christian nationalism for probably about five or six years now. And one of my introductions to the concept of it was a book that's based on a documentary that's based on a book called Constantine Sword. And it talked about how prior to Constantine, Christians had the image of fish and life and fertility, and that is what they lived by. And then Constantine supposedly had this vision of a cross and it said, with this sign, you shall reign. And he married the church and the state. And ever since then, there's been this snowball effect of Christian empire through the Crusades, through manifest destiny, through all of these things that we're seeing play out in the United States now that aren't new. But I think there's something new about how it's playing out right now.Danielle (02:15):I was thinking about the doctrine of discovery and how that was the creation of that legal framework and ideology to justify the seizure of indigenous lands and the subjugation of indigenous peoples. And just how part of that doctrine you have to necessarily make the quote, humans that exist there, you have to make them vacant. Or even though they're a body, you have to see them as internally maybe empty or lacking or less. And that really becomes this frame. Well, a repeated frame.Jenny (03:08):Yep. Yeah. Yeah. And it feels like that's so much source to that when that dehumanization is ordained by God. If God is saying these people who we're not even going to look at as people, we're going to look at as objects, how do we get out of that?Danielle (03:39):I don't know. Well, definitely still in it. You can hear folks like Charlie Kirk talk about it and unabashedly, unashamedly turning point USA talk about doctrine of discovery brings me currently to these fishing boats that have been jetting around Venezuela. And regardless of what they're doing, the idea that you could just kill them regardless of international law, regardless of the United States law, which supposedly we have the right to a process, the right to due process, the right to show up in a court and we're presumed innocent. But this doctrine applies to people manifest destiny, this doctrine of discovery. It applies to others that we don't see as human and therefore can snuff out life. And I think now they're saying on that first boat, I think they've blown up four boats total. And on the first boat, one of the ladies is speaking out, saying they were out fishing and the size of the boat. I think that's where you get into reality. The size of the boat doesn't indicate a large drug seizure anyway. It's outside reality. And again, what do you do if they're smuggling humans? Did you just destroy all that human life? Or maybe they're just fishing. So I guess that doctrine and that destiny, it covers all of these immoral acts, it kind of washes them clean. And I guess that talking about Constantine, it feels like the empire needed a way to do that, to absolve themselves.Danielle (05:40):I know it gives me both comfort and makes me feel depressed when I think about people in 300 ad being, they're freaking throwing people into the lion's den again and people are cheering. And I have to believe that there were humans at that time that saw the barbarism for what it was. And that gives me hope that there have always been a few people in a system of tyranny and oppression that are like, what the heck is going on? And it makes me feel like, ugh. When does that get to be more than just the few people in a society kind of society? Or what does a society need to not need such violence? Because I think it's so baked in now to these white and Christian supremacy, and I don't know, in my mind, I don't think I can separate white supremacy from Christian supremacy because even before White was used as a legal term to own people and be able to vote, the legal term was Christian. And then when enslaved folks started converting to Christianity, they pivoted and said, well, no, not all Christians. It has to be white Christians. And so I think white supremacy was birthed out of a long history of Christian supremacy.Danielle (07:21):Yeah, it's weird. I remember growing up, and maybe you had this experience too, I remember when Schindler's List hit the theaters and you were probably too young, but Schindler's listed the theaters, and I remember sitting in a living room and having to convince my parents of why I wanted to see it. And I think I was 16, I don't remember. I was young and it was rated R and of course that was against our values to see rated R movies. But I really wanted to see this movie. And I talked and talked and talked and got to see this movie if anybody's watched Schindler's List, it's a story of a man who is out to make money, sees this opportunity to get free labor basically as part of the Nazi regime. And so he starts making trades to access free labor, meanwhile, still has women, enjoys a fine life, goes to church, has a pseudo faith, and as time goes along, I'm shortening the story, but he gets this accountant who he discovers he loves because his accountant makes him rich. He makes him rich off the labor. But the accountant is thinking, how do I save more lives and get them into this business with Schindler? Well, eventually they get captured, they get found out. All these things happen, right, that we know. And it becomes clear to Schindler that they're exterminating, they're wiping out an entire population.(09:01):I guess I come to that and just think about, as a young child, I remember watching that thinking, there's no way this would ever happen again because there's film, there's documentation. At the time, there were people alive from the Great war, the greatest generation like my grandfather who fought in World War ii. There were other people, we had the live stories. But now just a decade, 12, 13 years removed, it hasn't actually been that long. And the memory of watching a movie like Schindler's List, the impact of seeing what it costs a soul to take the life of other souls like that, that feels so far removed now. And that's what the malaise of the doctrine of Discovery and manifest destiny, I think have been doing since Constantine and Christianity. They've been able to wipe the memory, the historical memory of the evil done with their blessing.(10:06):And I feel like even this huge thing like the Holocaust, the memories being wiped, you can almost feel it. And in fact, people are saying, I don't know if they actually did that. I don't know if they killed all these Jewish peoples. Now you hear more denial even of the Holocaust now that those storytellers aren't passed on to the next life. So I think we are watching in real time how Christianity and Constantine were able to just wipe use empire to wipe the memory of the people so they can continue to gain riches or continue to commit atrocities without impunity just at any level. I guess that's what comes to mind.Jenny (10:55):Yeah, it makes me think of, I saw this video yesterday and I can't remember what representative it was in a hearing and she had written down a long speech or something that she was going to give, and then she heard during the trial the case what was happening was someone shared that there have been children whose parents have been abducted and disappeared because the children were asked at school, are your parents undocumented? And she said, I can't share what I had prepared because I'm caught with that because my grandfather was killed in the Holocaust because his children were asked at school, are your parents Jewish?(11:53):And my aunt took that guilt with her to her grave. And the amount of intergenerational transgenerational trauma that is happening right now, that never again is now what we are doing to families, what we are doing to people, what we are doing to children, the atrocities that are taking place in our country. Yeah, it's here. And I think it's that malaise has come over not only the past, but even current. I think people don't even know how to sit with the reality of the horror of what's happening. And so they just dissociate and they just check out and they don't engage the substance of what's happening.Danielle (13:08):Yeah. I tell a friend sometimes when I talk to her, I just say, I need you to tap in. Can you just tap in? Can you just carry the conversation or can you just understand? And I don't mean understand, believe a story. I mean feel the story. It's one thing to say the words, but it's another thing to feel them. And I think Constantine is a brilliant guy. He took a peaceful religion. He took a peaceful faith practice, people that literally the prior guy was throwing to the lions for sport. He took a people that had been mocked, a religious group that had been mocked, and he elevated them and then reunified them with that sword that you're talking about. And so what did those Christians have to give up then to marry themselves to empire? I don't know, but it seems like they kind of effed us over for eternity, right?Jenny (14:12):Yeah. Well, and I think that that's part of it. I think part of the malaise is the infatuation with eternity and with heaven. And I know for myself, when I was a missionary for many years, I didn't care about my body because this body, this light and momentary suffering paled in comparison to what was awaiting me. And so no matter what happened, it was a means to an end to spend eternity with Jesus. And so I think of empathy as us being able to feel something of ourselves in someone else. If I don't have grief and joy and sorrow and value for this body, I'm certainly not going to have it for other bodies. And I think the disembodiment of white Christian supremacy is what enables bodies to just tolerate and not consider the brutality of what we're seeing in the United States. What we're seeing in Congo, what we're seeing in Palestine, what we're seeing everywhere is still this sense of, oh, the ends are going to justify the means we're all going to, at least I'll be in heaven and everyone else can kind of figure out what they're going to do.I don't know, man. Yeah, maybe. I guess when you think about Christian nationalism versus maybe a more authentic faith, what separates them for youAbiding by the example that Jesus gave or not. I mean, Jesus was killed by the state because he had some very unpopular things to say about the state and the way in which he lived was very much like, how do I see those who are most oppressed and align myself with them? Whereas Christian nationalism is how do I see those who have the most power and align myselves with them?(16:48):And I think it is a question of alignment and orientation. And at the end of the day, who am I going to stand with even knowing and probably knowing that that may be to the detriment of my own body, but I do that not out of a sense of martyrdom, but out of a sense of integrity. I refuse. I think I really believe Jesus' words when he said, what good is it for a man to gain the world and lose his soul? And at the end of the day, what I'm fighting for is my own soul, and I don't want to give that up.Danielle (17:31):Hey, starlet, we're on to not giving up our souls to power.The Reverend Dr.Rev. Dr. Starlette (17:47):I'm sorry I'm jumping from one call to the next. I do apologize for my tardiness now, where were we?Danielle (17:53):We got on the subject of Constantine and how he married the sword with Christianity when it had been fish and fertile ground and et cetera, et cetera. Yeah, that's where we started. Yeah, that's where we started.Starlette (18:12):I'm going to get in where I fit in. Y'all keep going.Danielle (18:14):You get in. Yeah, you get in. I guess Jenny, for me and for you, starlet, the deep erasure of any sort of resemblance of I have to look back and I have to be willing to interrogate, I think, which is what a lot of people don't want to do. I grew up in a really conservative evangelical family and a household, and I have to interrogate, well, one, why did my mom get into that? Because Mexican, and number two, I watched so slowly as there was a celebration. I think it was after Bill Clinton had this Monica Lewinsky thing and all of this stuff happened. My Latino relatives were like, wait a minute, we don't like that. We don't like that. That doesn't match our values. And I remember this celebration of maybe now they're going to become Christians. I remember thinking that as a child, because for them to be a Democrat in my household and for them to hold different values around social issues meant that they weren't necessarily saved in my house and my way because they hadn't fully bought into empire in the way I know Jenny muted herself.(19:31):They hadn't fully bought into empire. And I slowly watched those family members in California kind of give way to conservatism the things that beckoned it. And honestly, a lot of it was married to religion and to what is going on today and not standing up for justice, not standing up for civil rights. I watched the movement go over, and it feels like at the expense of the memory of my grandfather and my great-grandfather who despised religion in some ways, my grandfather did not like going to church because he thought people were fake. He didn't believe them, and he didn't see what church had to do with being saved anyway. And so I think about him a lot and I think, oh, I got to hold onto that a little bit in the face of empire. But yeah, my mind just went off on that rabbit trail.Starlette (20:38):Oh, it's quite all right. My grandfather had similar convictions. My grandmother took the children to church with her and he stayed back. And after a while, the children were to decide that they didn't want to go anymore. And I remember him saying, that's enough. That's enough. You've done enough. They've heard enough. Don't make them go. But I think he drew some of the same conclusions, and I hold those as well, but I didn't grow up in a household where politics was even discussed. Folks were rapture ready, as they say, because they were kingdom minded is what they say now. And so there was no discussion of what was going on on the ground. They were really out of touch with, I'm sending right now. They were out of touch with reality. I have on pants, I have on full makeup, I have on earrings. I'm not dressed modestly in any way, shape, fashion or form.(21:23):It was a very externalized, visible, able to be observed kind of spirituality. And so I enter the spaces back at home and it's like going into a different world. I had to step back a bit and oftentimes I just don't say anything. I just let the room have it because you can't, in my experience, you can't talk 'em out of it. They have this future orientation where they live with their feet off the ground because Jesus is just around the corner. He's right in that next cloud. He's coming, and so none of this matters. And so that affected their political participation and discussion. There was certainly very minor activism, so I wasn't prepared by family members to show up in the streets like I do now. I feel sincerely called. I feel like it's a work of the spirit that I know where to put my feet at all, but I certainly resonate with what you would call a rant that led you down to a rabbit hole because it led me to a story about my grandfather, so I thank you for that. They were both right by the way,Danielle (22:23):I think so he had it right. He would sit in the very back of church sometimes to please my grandmother and to please my family, and he didn't have a cell phone, but he would sit there and go to sleep. He would take a nap. And I have to think of that now as resistance. And as a kid I was like, why does he do that? But his body didn't want to take it in.Starlette (22:47):That's rest as resistance from the Nat Bishop, Trisha Hersey, rest as act of defiance, rest as reparations and taking back my time that you're stealing from me by having me sit in the service. I see that.Danielle (23:02):I mean, Jenny, it seems like Constantine, he knew what to do. He gets Christians on his side, they knew how to gather organically. He then gets this mass megaphone for whatever he wants, right?Jenny (23:21):Yeah. I think about Adrian Marie Brown talks a lot about fractals and how what happens on a smaller scale is going to be replicated on larger scales. And so even though there's some sense of disjoint with denominations, I think generally in the United States, there is some common threads of that manifest destiny that have still found its way into these places of congregating. And so you're having these training wheels really even within to break it down into the nuclear family that James Dobson wanted everyone to focus on was a very, very narrow white, patriarchal Christian family. And so if you rehearse this on these smaller scales, then you can rehearse it in your community, then you can rehearse it, and it just bubbles and bubbles and balloons out into what we're seeing happen, I think.Yeah, the nuclear family and then the youth movements, let us, give us your youth, give us your kids. Send us your kids and your youth to our camps.Jenny (24:46):Great. I grew up in Colorado and I was probably 10 or 11 when the Columbine shooting happened, and I remember that very viscerally. And the immediate conversation was not how do we protect kids in school? It was glorifying this one girl that maybe or maybe did not say yes when the shooters asked, do you still believe in God? And within a year her mom published a book about it. And that was the thing was let's use this to glorify martyrdom. And I think it is different. These were victims in school and I think any victim of the shooting is horrifying. And I think we're seeing a similar level of that martyrdom frenzy with Charlie Kirk right now. And what we're not talking about is how do we create a safer society? What we're talking about, I'm saying, but I dunno. What I'm hearing of the white Christian communities is how are we glorifying Charlie Kirk as a martyr and what power that wields when we have someone that we can call a martyr?Starlette (26:27):No, I just got triggered as soon as you said his name.(26:31):Just now. I think grieving a white supremacist is terrifying. Normalizing racist rhetoric is horrifying. And so I look online in disbelief. I unfollowed and blocked hundreds of people on social media based on their comments about what I didn't agree with. Everything he said, got a lot of that. I'm just not interested. I think they needed a martyr for the race war that they're amping for, and I would like to be delivered from the delusion that is white body supremacy. It is all exhausting. I don't want to be a part of the racial imagination that he represents. It is not a new narrative. We are not better for it. And he's not a better person because he's died. The great Biggie Smalls has a song that says you're nobody until somebody kills you. And I think it's appropriate. Most people did not know who he was. He was a podcaster. I'm also looking kind of cross-eyed at his wife because that's not, I served as a pastor for more than a decade. This is not an expression of grief. There's nothing like anything I've seen for someone who was assassinated, which I disagree with.(28:00):I've just not seen widows take the helm of organizations and given passion speeches and make veil threats to audiences days before the, as we would say in my community, before the body has cooled before there is a funeral that you'll go down and take pictures. That could be arguably photo ops. It's all very disturbing to me. This is a different measure of grief. I wrote about it. I don't know what, I've never heard of a sixth stage of grief that includes fighting. We're not fighting over anybody's dead body. We're not even supposed to do it with Jesus. And so I just find it all strange that before the man is buried, you've already concocted a story wherein opposing forces are at each other's throats. And it's all this intergalactic battle between good and bad and wrong, up and down, white and black. It's too much.(28:51):I think white body supremacy has gotten out of hand and it's incredibly theatrical. And for persons who have pulled back from who've decent whiteness, who've de racialize themselves, it's foolishness. Just nobody wants to be involved in this. It's a waste of time. White body supremacy and racism are wastes of time. Trying to prove that I'm a human being or you're looking right at is a waste of time. And people just want to do other things, which is why African-Americans have decided to go to sleep, to take a break. We're not getting ready to spin our wheels again, to defend our humanity, to march for rights that are innate, to demand a dignity that comes with being human. It's just asinine.(29:40):I think you would be giving more credence to the statements themselves by responding. And so I'd rather save my breath and do my makeup instead because trying to defend the fact that I'm a glorious human being made in the image of God is a waste of time. Look at me. My face is beat. It testifies for me. Who are you? Just tell me that I don't look good and that God didn't touch me. I'm with the finger of love as the people say, do you see this beat? Let me fall back. So you done got me started and I blame you. It's your fault for the question. So no, that's my response to things like that. African-American people have to insulate themselves with their senses of ness because he didn't have a kind word to say about African-American people, whether a African-American pilot who is racialized as black or an African-American woman calling us ignorance saying, we're incompetence. If there's no way we could have had these positions, when African-American women are the most agreed, we're the most educated, how dare you? And you think, I'm going to prove that I'm going to point to degrees. No, I'll just keep talking. It will make itself obvious and evident.(30:45):Is there a question in that? Just let's get out of that. It triggers me so bad. Like, oh, that he gets a holiday and it took, how many years did it take for Martin Luther King Junior to get a holiday? Oh, okay. So that's what I mean. The absurdity of it all. You're naming streets after him hasn't been dead a year. You have children coloring in sheets, doing reports on him. Hasn't been a few months yet. We couldn't do that for Martin Luther King. We couldn't do that for Rosa Parks. We couldn't do that for any other leader, this one in particular, and right now, find that to beI just think it just takes a whole lot of delusion and pride to keep puffing yourself up and saying, you're better than other people. Shut up, pipe down. Or to assume that everybody wants to look like you or wants to be racialized as white. No, I'm very cool in who I'm, I don't want to change as the people say in every lifetime, and they use these racialized terms, and so I'll use them and every lifetime I want to come back as black. I don't apologize for my existence. I love it here. I don't want to be racialized as white. I'm cool. That's the delusion for me that you think everyone wants to look like. You think I would trade.(32:13):You think I would trade for that, and it looks great on you. I love what it's doing for you. But as for me in my house, we believe in melanin and we keep it real cute over here. I just don't have time. I think African-Americans minoritized and otherwise, communities should invest their time in each other and in ourselves as opposed to wasting our breath, debating people. We can't debate white supremacists. Anyway, I think I've talked about that the arguments are not rooted in reason. It's rooted in your dehumanization and equating you with three fifths of a human being who's in charge of measurements, the demonizing of whiteness. It's deeply problematic for me because it puts them in a space of creator. How can you say how much of a human being that's someone? This stuff is absurd. And so I've refuse to waste my breath, waste my life arguing with somebody who doesn't have the power, the authority.(33:05):You don't have the eyesight to tell me if I'm human or not. This is stupid. We're going to do our work and part of our work is going to sleep. We're taking naps, we're taking breaks, we're putting our feet up. I'm going to take a nap after this conversation. We're giving ourselves a break. We're hitting the snooze button while staying woke. There's a play there. But I think it's important that people who are attacked by white body supremacy, not give it their energy. Don't feed into the madness. Don't feed into the machine because it'll eat you alive. And I didn't get dressed for that. I didn't get on this call. Look at how I look for that. So that's what that brings up. Okay. It brings up the violence of white body supremacy, the absurdity of supremacy at all. The delusion of the racial imagination, reading a 17th century creation onto a 21st century. It's just all absurd to me that anyone would continue to walk around and say, I'm better than you. I'm better than you. And I'll prove it by killing you, lynching you, raping your people, stealing your people, enslaving your people. Oh, aren't you great? That's pretty great,Jenny (34:30):I think. Yeah, I think it is. I had a therapist once tell me, it's like you've had the opposite of a psychotic break because when that is your world and that's all, it's so easy to justify and it makes sense. And then as soon as you step out of it, you're like, what the what? And then it makes it that much harder to understand. And this is my own, we talked about this last week, but processing what is my own path in this of liberation and how do I engage people who are still in that world, who are still related to me, who are, and in a way that isn't exhausting for I'm okay being exhausted if it's going to actually bear something, if it's just me spinning my wheels, I don't actually see value in that. And for me, what began to put cracks in that was people challenging my sense of superiority and my sense of knowing what they should do with their bodies. Because essentially, I think a lot of how I grew up was similar maybe and different from how you were sharing Danielle, where it was like always vote Republican because they're going to be against abortion and they're going to be against gay marriage. And those were the two in my world that were the things that I was supposed to vote for no matter what. And now just seeing how far that no matter what is willing to go is really terrifying.Danielle (36:25):Yeah, I agree. Jenny. I mean, again, I keep talking about him, but he's so important to me. The idea that my great grandfather to escape religious oppression would literally walk 1,950 miles and would leave an oppressive system just in an attempt to get away. That walk has to mean something to me today. You can't forget. All of my family has to remember that he did a walk like that. How many of us have walked that far? I mean, I haven't ever walked that far in just one instance to escape something. And he was poor because he couldn't even pay for his mom's burial at the Catholic church. So he said, let me get out of this. And then of course he landed with the Methodist and he was back in the fire again. But I come back to him, and that's what people will do to get out of religious oppression. They will give it an effort and when they can. And so I think it's important to remember those stories. I'm off on my tangent again now because it feels so important. It's a good one.Starlette (37:42):I think it's important to highlight the walking away from, to putting one foot in front of the other, praying with your feet(37:51):That it's its own. You answer your own prayer by getting away from it. It is to say that he was done with it, and if no one else was going to move, he was going to move himself that he didn't wait for the change in the institution. Let's just change directions and get away from it. And I hate to even imagine what he was faced with and that he had to make that decision. And what propelled him to walk that long with that kind of energy to keep momentum and to create that amount of distance. So for me, it's very telling. I ran away at 12. I had had it, so I get it. This is the last time you're going to hit me.Not going to beat me out of my sleep. I knew that at 12. This is no place for me. So I admire people who get up in the dead of night, get up without a warning, make it up in their mind and said, that's the last time, or This is not what I'm going to do. This is not the way that I want to be, and I'm leaving. I admire him. Sounds like a hero. I think we should have a holiday.Danielle (38:44):And then imagine telling that. Then you're going to tell me that people like my grandfather are just in it. This is where it leaves reality for me and leaves Christianity that he's just in it to steal someone's job. This man worked the lemon fields and then as a side job in his retired years, moved up to Sacramento, took in people off death row at Folsom Prison, took 'em to his home and nursed them until they passed. So this is the kind a person that will walk 1,950 miles. They'll do a lot of good in the world, and we're telling people that they can't come here. That's the kind of people that are walking here. That's the kind of people that are coming here. They're coming here to do whatever they can. And then they're nurturing families. They're actually living out in their families what supposed Christians are saying they want to be. Because people in these two parent households and these white families, they're actually raising the kind of people that will shoot Charlie Kirk. It's not people like my grandfather that walked almost 2000 miles to form a better life and take care of people out of prisons. Those aren't the people forming children that are, you'reStarlette (40:02):Going to email for that. The deacons will you in the parking lot for that one. You you're going to get a nasty tweet for that one. Somebody's going to jump off in the comments and straighten you out at,Danielle (40:17):I can't help it. It's true. That's the reality. Someone that will put their feet and their faith to that kind of practice is not traveling just so they can assault someone or rob someone. I mean, yes, there are people that have done that, but there's so much intentionality about moving so far. It does not carry the weight of, can you imagine? Let me walk 2000 miles to Rob my neighbor. That doesn't make any sense.Starlette (40:46):Sounds like it's own kind of pilgrimage.Jenny (40:59):I have so many thoughts, but I think whiteness has just done such a number on people. And I'm hearing each of you and I'm thinking, I don't know that I could tell one story from any of my grandparents. I think that that is part of whiteness. And it's not that I didn't know them, but it's that the ways in which Transgenerational family lines are passed down are executed for people in considered white bodies where it's like my grandmother, I guess I can't tell some stories, but she went to Polish school and in the States and was part of a Polish community. And then very quickly on polls were grafted into whiteness so that they could partake in the GI Bill. And so that Polish heritage was then lost. And that was not that long ago, but it was a severing that happened. And some of my ancestors from England, that severing happened a long time ago where it's like, we are not going to tell the stories of our ancestors because that would actually reveal that this whole white thing is made up. And we actually have so much more to us than that. And so I feel like the social privilege that has come from that, but also the visceral grief of how I would want to know those stories of my ancestors that aren't there. Because in part of the way that whiteness operates,Starlette (42:59):I'm glad you told that story. Diane de Prima, she tells about that, about her parents giving up their Italian ness, giving up their heritage and being Italian at home and being white in public. So not changing their name, shortening their name, losing their accent, or dropping the accent. I'm glad that you said that. I think that's important. But like you said though, if you tell those stories and it shakes up the power dynamic for whiteness, it's like, oh, but there are books how the Irish became White, the Making of Whiteness working for Whiteness, read all the books by David Broer on Whiteness Studies. But I'm glad that you told us. I think it's important, and I love that you named it as a severing. Why did you choose that word in particular?Jenny (43:55):I had the privilege a few years ago of going to Poland and doing an ancestry trip. And weeks before I went, an extended cousin in the States had gotten connected with our fifth cousin in Poland. We share the fifth grandparents. And this cousin of mine took us around to the church where my fifth great grandparents got married and these just very visceral places. And I had never felt the land that my ancestors know in my body. And there was something really, really powerful of that. And so I think of severing as I have been cut off from that lineage and that heritage because of whiteness. And I feel very, very grateful for the ways in which that is beginning to heal and beginning to mend. And we can tell truer stories of our ancestry and where we come from and the practices of our people. And I think it is important to acknowledge the cost and the privilege that has come from that severing in order to get a job that was not reserved for people that weren't white. My family decided, okay, well we'll just play the part. We will take on that role of whiteness because that will then give us that class privilege and that socioeconomic privilege that reveals how much of a construct whitenessStarlette (45:50):A racial contract is what Charles W. Mills calls it, that there's a deal made in a back room somewhere that you'll trade your sense of self for another. And so that it doesn't, it just unravels all the ways in which white supremacy, white body supremacy, pos itself, oh, that we're better. I think people don't say anything because it unravels those lies, those tongue twisters that persons have spun over the centuries, that it's really just an agreement that we've decided that we'll make ourselves the majority so that we can bully everybody else. And nobody wants to be called that. Nobody wants to be labeled greedy. I'm just trying to provide for my family, but at what expense? At who else's expense. But I like to live in this neighborhood and I don't want to be stopped by police. But you're willing to sacrifice other people. And I think that's why it becomes problematic and troublesome because persons have to look at themselves.(46:41):White body supremacy doesn't offer that reflection. If it did, persons would see how monstrous it is that under the belly of the beast, seeing the underside of that would be my community. We know what it costs for other people to feel really, really important because that's what whiteness demands. In order to look down your nose on somebody, you got to stand on somebody's back. Meanwhile, our communities are teaching each other to stand. We stand on the shoulders of giants. It's very communal. It's a shared identity and way of being. Whereas whiteness demands allegiance by way of violence, violent taking and grabbing it is quite the undoing. We have a lot of work to do. But I am proud of you for telling that story.Danielle (47:30):I wanted to read this quote by Gloria, I don't know if you know her. Do you know her? She writes, the struggle is inner Chicano, Indio, American Indian, Molo, Mexicano, immigrant, Latino, Anglo and power working class Anglo black, Asian. Our psyches resemble the border towns and are populated by the same people. The struggle has always been inner and has played out in outer terrains. Awareness of our situation must come before interchanges and which in turn come before changes in society. Nothing happens in the real world unless it first happens in the images in our heads.(48:16):So Jenny, when you're talking, you had some image in your head before you went to Poland, before it became reality. You had some, it didn't start with just knowing your cousin or whatever it happened before that. Or for me being confronted and having to confront things with my husband about ways we've been complicit or engaged in almost like the word comes gerrymandering our own future. That's kind of how it felt sometimes Luis and I and how to become aware of that and take away those scales off our own eyes and then just sit in the reality, oh no, we're really here and this is where we're really at. And so where are we going to go from here? And starlet, you've talked from your own position. That's just what comes to mind. It's something that happens inside. I mean, she talks about head, I think more in feelings in my chest. That's where it happens for me. But yeah, that's what comes to mind.Starlette (49:48):With. I feel like crying because of what we've done to our bodies and the bodies of other people. And we still can't see ourselves not as fully belonging to each other, not as beloved, not as holy.It's deeply saddening that for all the time that we have here together for all the time that we'll share with each other, we'll spend much of it not seeing each other at all.Danielle (50:57):My mind's going back to, I think I might've shared this right before you joined Starla, where it was like, I really believe the words of Jesus that says, what good is it for someone to gain the world and lose their soul? And that's what I hear. And what I feel is this soul loss. And I don't know how to convince other people. And I don't know if that's the point that their soul is worth it, but I think I've, not that I do it perfectly, but I think I've gotten to the place where I'm like, I believe my interiority is worth more than what it would be traded in for.(51:45):And I think that will be a lifelong journey of trying to figure out how to wrestle with a system. I will always be implicated in because I am talking to you on a device that was made from cobalt, from Congo and wearing clothes that were made in other countries. And there's no way I can make any decision other than to just off myself immediately. And I'm not saying I'm doing that, but I'm saying the part of the wrestle is that this is, everything is unresolved. And how do I, like what you said, Danielle, what did you say? Can you tune into this conversation?Jenny (52:45):Yeah. And how do I keep tapping in even when it means engaging my own implication in this violence? It's easier to be like, oh, those people over there that are doing those things. And it's like, wait, now how do I stay situated and how I'm continually perpetuating it as well, and how do I try to figure out how to untangle myself in that? And I think that will be always I,Danielle (53:29):He says, the US Mexican border as like an open wound where the third world grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages again, the lifeblood of two worlds. Two worlds merging to form a third country, a border culture. Borders are set up to define the places that are safe and unsafe to distinguish us from them. A border is a dividing line, a narrow strip along a steep edge. A borderland is a vague and undetermined place created by the emotional residue of an unnatural boundary is it is in a constant state of transition. They're prohibited and forbidden arts inhabitants. And I think that as a Latina that really describes and mixed with who my father is and that side that I feel like I live like the border in me, it feels like it grates against me. So I hear you, Jenny, and I feel very like all the resonance, and I hear you star led, and I feel a lot of resonance there too. But to deny either thing would make me less human because I am human with both of those parts of me.(54:45):But also to engage them brings a lot of grief for both parts of me. And how does that mix together? It does feel like it's in a constant state of transition. And that's partly why Latinos, I think particularly Latino men bought into this lie of power and played along. And now they're getting shown that no, that part of you that's European, that part never counted at all. And so there is no way to buy into that racialized system. There's no way to put a down payment in and come out on the other side as human. As soon as we buy into it, we're less human. Yeah. Oh, Jenny has to go in a minute. Me too. But starlet, you're welcome to join us any Thursday. Okay.Speaker 1 (55:51):Afternoon. Bye. Thank you. Bye bye.Kitsap County & Washington State Crisis and Mental Health ResourcesIf you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 911.This resource list provides crisis and mental health contacts for Kitsap County and across Washington State.Kitsap County / Local ResourcesResourceContact InfoWhat They OfferSalish Regional Crisis Line / Kitsap Mental Health 24/7 Crisis Call LinePhone: 1‑888‑910‑0416Website: https://www.kitsapmentalhealth.org/crisis-24-7-services/24/7 emotional support for suicide or mental health crises; mobile crisis outreach; connection to services.KMHS Youth Mobile Crisis Outreach TeamEmergencies via Salish Crisis Line: 1‑888‑910‑0416Website: https://sync.salishbehavioralhealth.org/youth-mobile-crisis-outreach-team/Crisis outreach for minors and youth experiencing behavioral health emergencies.Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS)Main: 360‑373‑5031; Toll‑free: 888‑816‑0488; TDD: 360‑478‑2715Website: https://www.kitsapmentalhealth.org/crisis-24-7-services/Outpatient, inpatient, crisis triage, substance use treatment, stabilization, behavioral health services.Kitsap County Suicide Prevention / “Need Help Now”Call the Salish Regional Crisis Line at 1‑888‑910‑0416Website: https://www.kitsap.gov/hs/Pages/Suicide-Prevention-Website.aspx24/7/365 emotional support; connects people to resources; suicide prevention assistance.Crisis Clinic of the PeninsulasPhone: 360‑479‑3033 or 1‑800‑843‑4793Website: https://www.bainbridgewa.gov/607/Mental-Health-ResourcesLocal crisis intervention services, referrals, and emotional support.NAMI Kitsap CountyWebsite: https://namikitsap.org/Peer support groups, education, and resources for individuals and families affected by mental illness.Statewide & National Crisis ResourcesResourceContact InfoWhat They Offer988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (WA‑988)Call or text 988; Website: https://wa988.org/Free, 24/7 support for suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, relationship problems, and substance concerns.Washington Recovery Help Line1‑866‑789‑1511Website: https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/injury-and-violence-prevention/suicide-prevention/hotline-text-and-chat-resourcesHelp for mental health, substance use, and problem gambling; 24/7 statewide support.WA Warm Line877‑500‑9276Website: https://www.crisisconnections.org/wa-warm-line/Peer-support line for emotional or mental health distress; support outside of crisis moments.Native & Strong Crisis LifelineDial 988 then press 4Website: https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/injury-and-violence-prevention/suicide-prevention/hotline-text-and-chat-resourcesCulturally relevant crisis counseling by Indigenous counselors.Additional Helpful Tools & Tips• Behavioral Health Services Access: Request assessments and access to outpatient, residential, or inpatient care through the Salish Behavioral Health Organization. Website: https://www.kitsap.gov/hs/Pages/SBHO-Get-Behaviroal-Health-Services.aspx• Deaf / Hard of Hearing: Use your preferred relay service (for example dial 711 then the appropriate number) to access crisis services.• Warning Signs & Risk Factors: If someone is talking about harming themselves, giving away possessions, expressing hopelessness, or showing extreme behavior changes, contact crisis resources immediately.Well, first I guess I would have to believe that there was or is an actual political dialogue taking place that I could potentially be a part of. And honestly, I'm not sure that I believe that. Well, first I guess I would have to believe that there was or is an actual political dialogue taking place that I could potentially be a part of. And honestly, I'm not sure that I believe that.

Tom Brokaw famously described America's World War II servicemen as the “Greatest Generation”. But according to the historian David Nasaw, the Americans who fought in the Second World War are better understood as The Wounded Generation. His eponymous new book describes the pain and hardships that 16 million veterans endured upon their return home - a tragic story of PTSD, racism and family breakup. Brokaw celebrated the nobility with which these ex-soldiers got on with civilian life without either complaining or even talking about the war. But for Nasaw, this silence wasn't just stoicism—it was often undiagnosed and sometimes even untreatable trauma.1. WWII Was America's Longest and Most Brutal War The average soldier served nearly three years in uniform (compared to less than one year in WWI), with 75% deployed overseas. Combat on the European front was relentless, especially in the final year, with severe manpower shortages keeping GIs on the front lines for weeks or months without relief.2. Millions Returned with Undiagnosed PTSD Veterans came home with what we now recognize as PTSD, but it was neither diagnosed nor treated. Unable to talk about their experiences, many self-medicated with alcohol. The silence wasn't stoicism—it was trauma. Writers like Salinger and Vonnegut could only process their experiences through fiction years later.3. The GI Bill Excluded Most Black Veterans While celebrated as transformative legislation, the GI Bill's benefits were distributed by local officials. In the South, this meant Black veterans were systematically denied college access (segregated schools were full) and unemployment benefits (they were told to return to sharecropping). Only Northern Black veterans like Harry Belafonte, John Coltrane, and Tito Puente could fully access their benefits.4. America Faced Its Worst Housing Crisis Ever No homes had been built during the Depression or the war years, creating unprecedented shortages when 16 million servicemen returned. This housing crisis, combined with fears of renewed economic depression, added to veterans' anxiety about rebuilding their lives. Politicians like JFK and Jacob Javits fought hard for veterans' housing subsidies.5. The War's Aftermath Lasted Decades 1946 saw record divorce rates and increased lynchings as racial tensions exploded. Veterans who liberated concentration camps or survived POW camps (especially in the Pacific) carried lifelong trauma. Nasaw's central message: wars don't end with peace treaties—the harm to soldiers and civilians lasts for generations.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Prof. David Nasaw comes on to discuss his book, The Wounded Generation: Coming Home After WWII. The GI Bill was the least Washington could do for the returning GIs, not that they were all treated equally. Mr. Nasaw brings stories and lessons that should not be forgotten. Book release-10/14/25. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does real veteran support in higher education look like? At the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Veterans Center Manager and Missouri Army National Guard Sergeant Martina Meng is leading the way.In this episode, she shares how UMSL serves over 523 military-connected students with personalized benefits support, hands-on learning, and a community that feels like home. She explains why starting 60 days early matters, how veteran-inclusive differs from veteran-friendly, and why camaraderie is the key to retention.Highlights:One-on-one GI Bill & State Tuition Assistance help.Student workers trained to guide peers.Partnerships with Veterans United, Northwestern Mutual & more.A safe, welcoming community that reduces isolation.Why UMSL is a top choice for veterans seeking belonging.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is the second largest government agency. The Secretary of the VA has an operational responsibility to support our Veterans and a moral obligation to ensure that those who defend and protect American interests are returned from service as contributing members of society. To explore what it takes to transform one of America's biggest bureaucracies, Fran Racioppi sat down with the Secretary of the VA, Doug Collins. As a former US and Georgia Congressman, and a Chaplain having served in both the Air Force and Navy, Secretary Collins knows what a Veteran needs and how to navigate Washington to get it done. The Secretary and Fran broke down the pillars of VA support: including the VA Health Care System, the Disability and Pension process, education support programs like the GI Bill and Vocational Rehab, the importance of Veteran-Owned Businesses, and the no down payment VA mortgages. Most importantly the Secretary shared his vision to stop Veteran suicide and why despite spending billions to reduce it over the years, we must forge a path that actually works. Fran has personally leveraged almost every single pillar of support the VA has to offer. And although it hasn't always been perfect, Secretary Collins explains why the VA leads industry in many domains and how under his leadership the VA will be held to a defined standard of excellence. This episode is about bridging the gap between military service and civilian life, the responsibility the VA has in supporting our nation's most important asset, and why Veterans are critical to American strength. Highlights0:00 Introduction1:48 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast7:06 Leading the VA11:09 VA Healthcare15:12 Reducing wait times18:20 Partnering with institutions20:20 Addressing Veteran suicide29:45 Disability Benefit Claims Process39:17 Education Benefits43:10 VA Home Loans43:57 VA Reduction in size49:41 Is Veteran Capitalized?Quotes“Everybody's going to have a problem. I'm committed to fixing those problems.” “We're the largest physical department in the government.”“Defense and VA are fraternal twins.”“60% of every time the phone rings at a Congressman's office it's about a VA issue.”“The VA's not gonna be a whipping post for anybody anymore.”“There's some things that the VA does better than private healthcare.”“No other hospital system in the world judges wait time. They judge on quality and how they get it.”“We're the largest trainer of doctors in the country.”“The shorter the service time, the higher the risk for suicide.”“Are we getting them out of the DoD system in a way that we can help them?” “I don't want a day to go by that a Veteran that needs help doesn't feel like they have it.”“If you've just transitioned out, DON'T QUIT.”“The standard is we're going to be excellent.”“I learn every day here and if you quit learning, you're really in trouble.”“If you've been to one VA, you've been to them all. That's the biggest lie that's ever been out there.”“Is the word Veteran capitalized?”The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by University of Health & Performance, providing our Veterans world-class education and training as fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs.Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.The opinions presented on The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of my guests and myself. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy, nor does the Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.

In this episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, Vinny sits down with friend and author Zeke Stout to unpack a heavy week in America, the way media narratives get weaponized, and what it takes to keep your head and heart steady when the internet won't let you look away. Zeke also unveils his new fiction novel “Exit to Now”, why he self-published, and how he used AI in the writing process.   They dig into: The aftermath and discourse around the Charlie Kirk assassination and why celebrating violence is a societal dead end How both political sides exploit social media, attention, and emotion—and what “psyops” looks like in civilian life Raising kids with room to choose their own beliefs, while modeling civil disagreement Simple ways to protect your mental health when the feed turns toxic The creative grind, self-publishing on Amazon, and making art under pressure MGS Trade School's distance-learning approach to gunsmithing and GI Bill support   If you value real talk over outrage and want practical ways to decompress, think clearly, and contribute better, this one's for you. Guest: Zeke Stout — author of Exit to Now Sponsor: MGS Trade School (MGS.edu) — distance gunsmithing education, GI Bill approved   Subscribe for more conversations on culture, mindset, resilience, faith, and free speech. Drop a comment with your takeaways or questions for a follow-up episode.  

Is the wrong strategy for your GI Bill costing you over $100,000?! Today's guest is Kate Horrell, author of the new book "College Finances for Military Families," reveals why the "fair share" approach to education benefits might be the most expensive mistake military families make, GI Bill basics, and all the things to know about college for your military kids. Key Topics: GI Bill Transfer Strategy Why transferring your GI Bill at exactly 6 years of service is important The one-time 4-year service obligation that trips up many service members How to add dependents and redistribute benefits after initial transfer Documentation tips to protect your family's benefits Beyond Equal Distribution Real case study: How strategic planning saved one family $110,000 Why thinking "flexibly" about family resources beats rigid equal splits When to give one child the entire GI Bill and another child all the 529 funds 529 Plans and Military Families State residency confusion solved for military families Qualified expenses include K-12 private school, technology, and more How grandparents can contribute while maximizing tax advantages Why "it's too late to start" thinking costs families money Yellow Ribbon Program Essentials The motorcycle and sidecar analogy that clarifies everything (Yellow Ribbon always goes along with the GI Bill- can't be separate) How "full Yellow Ribbon" schools eliminate out-of-pocket tuition costs Maximizing Benefits for Veterans Why veterans aren't optimizing their benefits like military families do Strategic timing for undergraduate vs. graduate school usage Location arbitrage opportunities with Military Housing Allowance Links mentioned today: Kate's website: katehorrell.com Kate's book: "College Finances for Military Families" (available on https://www.katehorrell.com/books/ or Amazon) Kate's amazing resources include:  Military Family Confidently Prepared Life Binder katehorrell.com/confidently-prepared-life-binder/ Military Separation Checklist katehorrell.com/military-separation-checklist/ Military Retirement Checklist katehorrell.com/military-retirement-checklist/ Kate's LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/katehorrell Kate's Facebook facebook.com/KateHorrellFinanceExpert/ Kate's Instagram: instagram.com/realkatehorrell/ Kate's coaching services and free consultations at katehorrell.com/work-with-kate/ Bottom Line: Stop thinking about education benefits as individual entitlements and start thinking about them as family resources to be strategically deployed. The difference could save your family tens of thousands of dollars.   Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/ https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/ Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE! If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

Welcome back to America's #1 Daily Podcast,  featuring America's #1 Real Estate Coaches and Top EXP Realty Sponsors in the World, Tim and Julie Harris. Ready to become an EXP Realty Agent and join Tim and Julie Harris?  Visit: https://whylibertas.com/harris or text Tim directly at 512-758-0206. ******************* 2025's Real Estate Rollercoaster: Dodge the Career-Killers with THIS Mastermind!

Keys to the Future: Navigating Today's Housing Market Together In this Keep It Simple Podcast episode, host Joey Badinger joins advisors Adam Morse and Tommy Williams at AssetBuilder's Plano HQ to unpack what's really going on in today's housing market—and how families can work together to help Gen Z and Millennials become homeowners. They trace the arc from early 20th-century mortgages to post-WWII suburbia, the 1970s rate shock, 2000s subprime bubble, post-COVID surge, and today's challenging mix of higher rates, compressed affordability, insurance spikes, student debt, and constrained supply. What You'll Learn Housing history in a hurry: From 5-year loans and big down payments to the 30-year mortgage, GI Bill suburbs, the 1970s rate peak, the subprime crisis, and COVID-era price jumps. Why affordability is strained now: Home-price-to-income ratios, higher mortgage rates vs. locked-in low-rate owners, insurance costs, and student debt. Supply vs. demand realities: Aging-in-place, building restrictions, private investors in starter homes, and why listings can rise even as affordability falls. Programs that help first-time buyers: Where to look for down-payment assistance, reduced-rate programs (e.g., HomeReady, Home Possible), and local buyer education courses. Family strategies that work: How grandparents/parents can gift earlier, reframe big-ticket events (e.g., weddings) vs. down payments, and coach smart savings habits. Episode Highlights Rates matter—but so does the price base. A 6–7% mortgage is tough; the bigger problem is prices outpacing wages. Locked-in effect: Owners with 2–3% mortgages aren't moving—tightening the starter-home pipeline. Costs beyond the mortgage: Insurance premiums and maintenance have significantly outpaced wages. Education pays: City/county first-time buyer classes can prevent costly surprises (inspections, foundation/piping, etc.). Timing gifts can change trajectories: Front-loading support (within a plan) can beat waiting for inheritances. Chapters 00:00 – Disclaimer & intro 00:18 – Welcome from Plano HQ + today's topic 01:02 – Why this matters to Gen Z & Millennials 02:04 – Housing history in 5 minutes (setup) 03:02 – Early 1900s: short loans, big down payments 03:40 – Post-WWII & GI Bill: the suburban boom 04:48 – 1970s shock: inflation & 18% mortgage rates 06:20 – 1990s–2000s: innovation → subprime bubble 08:08 – 2006–2012: crash, foreclosures, recovery 10:40 – 2020–2022: ultra-low rates, 40% price surge 11:50 – Today's landscape: rates ~6–7%, slower demand 12:35 – Affordability math: price-to-income has doubled 13:45 – “Locked-in” owners with 2–3% mortgages 14:38 – Insurance & maintenance costs outpacing wages 15:28 – Student debt + wages: the squeeze on buyers 16:35 – Supply constraints, regs, and investor buyers 18:10 – What helps first-time buyers (overview) 18:38 – Down-payment assistance: HomeReady & Home Possible 19:30 – City/county first-time buyer education (why it matters) 20:28 – Family strategies: earlier gifting, matching, trade-offs 22:05 – Process over outcome: SMART savings goals 23:10 – Weekly money check: kill leaks, automate saving 24:12 – Build a “buy box”: price, payment, area, size 25:06 – Portfolio & plan check for parents/grandparents 26:02 – Action checklist (6 quick wins) 27:05 – Closing thoughts & how we can help 27:40 – Contact: assetbuilder.com to meet with an advisor. SEO Keywords & Hashtags Keywords: housing market 2025, first-time homebuyer tips, home affordability, mortgage rates vs prices, down payment assistance, HomeReady, Home Possible, starter homes shortage, budgeting for a house, Gen Z home buying. Hashtags: #HousingMarket #FirstTimeHomebuyer #HomeBuyingTips #MortgageRates #Affordability #PersonalFinance #WealthBuilding #GenZ #Millennials

Episode 276: In this interview episode, Nik speaks with Army aviator Vinh Do about his path from military flying to pursuing a civilian aviation career. Vinh shares how he used his GI Bill, earned a fully funded ATP-CTP scholarship, and built flight hours while serving on active duty and in the Army National Guard. He also talks about moving to Alaska, how he found flying jobs by showing up in person, and what it's like to fly in one of the most challenging and rewarding places in the U.S. Vinh's story is a practical example of how hard work, networking, and persistence can open doors in aviation—no matter where you start. What You'll Learn: How Vinh transitioned from Army aviation to civilian flight training How Vinh earned an ATP-CTP scholarship from RTAG Why in-person networking is essential—especially in Alaska's tight-knit aviation community How to stay motivated during slow hiring cycles Why “casting a wide net” and taking chances pays off in this industry CONNECT WITH US Are you ready to take your preparation to the next level? Don't wait until it's too late. Use the promo code “R4P2025” and save 10% on all our services. Check us out at www.spitfireelite.com! If you want to recommend someone to guest on the show, email Nik at podcast@spitfireelite.com, and if you need a professional pilot resume, go to www.spitfireelite.com/podcast/ for FREE templates! SPONSOR Are you a pilot just coming out of the military and looking for the perfect second home for your family? Look no further! Reach out to Marty and his team by visiting www.tridenthomeloans.com to get the best VA loans available anywhere in the US. Be ready for takeoff anytime with 3D-stretch, stain-repellent, and wrinkle-free aviation uniforms by Flight Uniforms. Just go to www.flightuniform.com and type the code SPITFIREPOD20 to get a special 20% discount on your first order. #Aviation #AviationCareers #aviationcrew #AviationJobs #AviationLeadership #AviationEducation #AviationOpportunities #AviationPodcast #AirlinePilot #AirlineJobs #AirlineInterviewPrep #flying #flyingtips #PilotDevelopment #PilotFinance #pilotcareer #pilottips #pilotcareertips #PilotExperience #pilotcaptain #PilotTraining #PilotSuccess #pilotpodcast #PilotPreparation #Pilotrecruitment #flightschool #aviationschool #pilotcareer #pilotlife #pilot

Think your military career ends with active duty? Think again. Sam Lewis reveals how Guard and Reserve service can unlock financial freedom, career flexibility, and long-term stability...without sacrificing family life or future goals Guest: Sam Lewis, CFP®, ChFC®, MQFP Founder of SJL Financial | Delaware Air National Guard | Member of Military Financial Advisors Association Key Topics Covered: Transitioning from active duty to Guard/Reserve service Flexibility in career paths, retraining, and deployment options AGR (Active Guard Reserve) positions and lifestyle benefits Retirement points system and pension planning VA disability eligibility and pay coordination Healthcare options: TRICARE Reserve Select vs. civilian plans GI Bill usage, transfer strategies, and state-level tuition assistance Dual-income household stability and homeownership advantages Civilian employer benefits during military service (e.g., double-dipping, 401k match) State-level Guard benefits: education, emergency relief, childcare subsidies Managing TSP and 401k contributions across military and civilian careers Importance of understanding retention vs. accession standards for reentry Strategic use of military leave and maximizing compensation Resources Mentioned: Sam Lewis's website: https://wecanplanforthat.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samlewisfinancial Military Financial Advisors Association (MFAA): https://militaryfinancialadvisors.org Friendly Forces employer benefits directory: https://friendlyforces.org Childcare Aware through NACRA: https://www.childcareaware.org Remember: Your military career doesn't have to end (or begin) with active duty. Guard and Reserve service offers flexibility, financial stability, and continued access to valuable benefits, often with fewer disruptions to family life and career goals.   Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor Over 19,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/ https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/ Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE! If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

Today, Cora has her most personal conversation to date. At her home in Maine, she speaks to her childhood friend Graham Platner about his unique campaign for U.S. Senate. Running as a progressive democrat, Graham hopes to change the American system to support working class families and fight the oligarchy."My hope, at its core, is that working people in this country begin to realize that many of the divisive issues that we all find ourselves on opposite sides of are merely there to keep us all divided. And that we can build a real sense of true solidarity with each other over the fact that we all know that the system is not built for us, it is not representing us, and the more of that solidarity that we can build, the more organizing capacity that we can build on the ground amongst working people, the more power that we can take back from the political structure that have left us so unrepresented for so long." – Graham PlatnerGraham and Cora discuss everything from how his military service has influenced his thoughts on foreign policy to the importance of family farms. This is an intimate conversation had in her living room, with Graham sharing his lived experiences that have shaped him into the man who is becoming the political movement of Graham for Maine. About Graham: Graham Platner is a Marine and U.S. Army veteran, oyster farmer, and chair of the Sullivan Planning Board, and candidate running for U.S. Senate in Maine, to defeat Susan Collins and win back the seat for working Mainers. Whether it was enlisting in the US Marine Corps, or coming back home to Maine to work in his community, or running for Senate, at the core of every decision Graham has made has been how he can best serve the people of Maine.After graduating high school in 2003, during the height of the Iraq War, Graham snuck his birth certificate out of his father's office to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. After completing his infantry training, Graham was assigned to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 8th Marines and deployed to Al-Anbar Province, Iraq in January of 2005 where the battalion served primarily in the area east of Fallujah. In 2006, he was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq and served as machinegun section leader at the Government Center. He was deployed again in 2007.After his third deployment, Graham enrolled at The George Washington University using the GI Bill. Graham quickly realized that his time serving in uniform was not over. So in 2009, he joined the Maryland Army National Guard. He was deployed to Afghanistan the following year where he served as a rifle team leader. 

He returned from Afghanistan and went back to school at The George Washington University in 2011. Like many veterans, Graham struggled with undiagnosed PTSD and physical challenges that come from heavy infantry combat. Graham eventually withdrew from George Washington University and moved back home to Maine where he used the resources from the Department of Veterans Affairs to get the help he needed.After four tours overseas, Graham was deeply disillusioned with America's failed foreign policy and endless wars and decided to focus on serving his local community in Maine.In 2018, Graham started working on his friend's small oyster farm in his hometown of Sullivan. He quickly felt deeply connected with the sea and the community. He eventually took over the oyster farm and built it into a business that produces high quality oysters. Graham also began a diving and mooring service to help out around the bay, and serves the town of Sullivan as Harbormaster and Planning Board Chair. 

He met Amy Gertner in 2023, fell in love, and got married soon after. They now reside in Sullivan—three doors down from where Graham grew up—with their two dogs Gryffin and Zevon and their cat Neptune.

This week, I welcome back Rob Henderson, the social psychologist, author, and commentator who coined the concept of luxury beliefs: ideas that confer status on the upper class while inflicting real costs on lower-income communities. Rob was last here in early 2024 discussing his memoir, Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class, which chronicles his journey through California's foster system to the Air Force, and onward to Yale and Cambridge. In this conversation, we explore what he's been thinking about since the book's release—particularly the so-called “mating crisis,” why many young people delay or avoid partnerships and family, and what that means for the future. We also dissect the emergence of Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayoral hopeful who, according to Rob (and I would concur), embodies luxury beliefs in action. Finally, Rob answers questions from Substack readers. Rob will be a speaker at our Unspeakeasy Small Gathering for Big Ideas weekend, October 11-12 in New York City. Programming and ticketing info here. GUEST BIO Rob Henderson is the author of Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class. He grew up in foster homes in Los Angeles and in the rural town of Red Bluff, California. After enlisting in the U.S. Air Force at the age of seventeen, he subsequently attended Yale on the GI Bill and was then awarded the Gates Cambridge Scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge, where he obtained a PhD in psychology in 2022. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and his Substack newsletter is sent each week to more than 70 thousand subscribers. HOUSEKEEPING

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In this engaging episode of #StillServing, Rob Couture and co-host Brittany Dymond Murray sit down with Tammy Barlet, Jennifer Ross, and Kristina Keenan for a deep dive into the partnership between the VFW and Student Veterans of America (SVA). Together, they explore how SVA chapters support student veterans on campus, the impact of the GI Bill, and the opportunities created through the VFW–SVA Legislative Fellowship. From personal journeys to national advocacy, the conversation highlights how the next generation of veterans is shaping policy, building community, and carrying forward the VFW's legacy of service. From the campus lounge to Capitol Hill, today's student veterans are tomorrow's leaders — still learning, still leading, and still serving. Featured Guests: Tammy Barlet – Vice President, Government Affairs, Student Veterans of America; VFW Legacy Life Member (PA) Jennifer Ross – VFW–SVA Legislative Fellow Alum; VFW Life Member Kristina Keenan – Director, VFW National Legislative Service Brittany Dymond Murray – Co-host & Associate Director, VFW Public Affairs & Strategic Outreach Episode Highlights: 0:00 Welcome 2:15 Spotlight on Student Veterans of America and VFW partnership 4:54 Tammy Barlet's journey from student veteran to national advocate 10:01 What SVA chapters offer on campus vs. VFW posts in the community 13:43 SVA's 1,600+ chapters worldwide and their role in student success 18:33 The VFW–SVA Legislative Fellowship: purpose, process, and impact 20:19 Jennifer Ross shares her fellowship experience and advocacy on Guard/Reserve GI Bill parity 22:47 Application process, mentorship, and building a community action plan 25:18 Preparing student veterans to brief Congress alongside the VFW 27:02 Advocacy paths for introverts and extroverts alike 29:25 Fellowship open to all fields of study — passion drives impact 31:16 Balancing school, SVA, VFW, and fellowship commitments 1:06:54 Afghanistan War Commission session 1:08:27 Historic election of Carol Whitmore as the VFW's first female Commander-in-Chief 1:11:01 Good of the Order: Tammy on how SVA modeled claims clinics after the VFW convention 1:14:13 Kristina Keenan previews the upcoming Fall Legislative Conference and expanded grassroots advocacy 1:17:22 Call to action: Afghanistan veterans encouraged to share experiences with the Afghanistan War Commission   For more information or to continue the conversation, please visit: Veterans of Foreign Wars Website VFW Podcast Page @VFWHQ on Twitter VFW on Facebook @RobCoutureVFW on Facebook Call 1-888-JOIN-VFW Text “NEEDS” to 20222 to donate to the Unmet Needs Program. Today's VFW — Share Your #StillServing Story Sports Clips Help A Hero — Text HERO to 71777 to donate online

Misha Tseytlin, Attorney with Troutman Pepper, joins Lisa Dent to discuss a lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs to stop shorting up to 1.7 million veterans out of their GI Bill benefits.

J.C. and Bev Webber's late-starter journey is proof that resilience + innovation can outrun even a Great Financial Crisis. J.C. gives us his real numbers and how he sprinted from a net worth of ~$120k (age 51) to $1.5M (age 57)—only to see it crash to ~$864k in early 2009. But that didn't derail their plans because he and his wife Bev still retired early and hit the road in their RV. You could say they reached FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) before it was hot! In this episode they walk us through all the twists and turns, giving us the excruciating details that you rarely hear about, including: J.C.'s brother-in-law bailing him out of credit-card debt by loaning him money J.C.'s military service and using the GI Bill hack college Ditching dead-end jobs for higher paying tech careers and eventually retiring from Apple Weathering multiple divorces and proving that it doesn't have to ruin your finances The unshakeable confidence in their human capital  Plans to live out their later years in Mexico   ===    VOTE FOR US: PLUTUS AWARDS  === We need your vote for the 2025 Plutus Awards! You can now vote for your hosts behind "Catching Up to FI” - Bill Yount & Jackie Cummings Koski.   ✅ WHAT IS THE PLUTUS AWARDS? The Plutus Awards recognize excellence in independent financial content. That's the best podcasts, books, video channels, blogs, and more.     ✅ VOTE  If you've gotten value from our content and think we are worthy of recognition,  please support by casting your votes here > >>  https://plutus.awardsplatform.com/. There's a short registration needed to vote and you'll be in and out in just a few minutes.    ✅ DEADLINE The deadline to vote is August 30th, 2025. Winners will be announced in October.   ✅ CATEGORIES Below are the categories we have been nominated for and we'd love your vote in each of them.  Catching Up to FI Best New Personal Finance Content Creator - Audio Content Creator of the Year: Audio People's Choice: Audio Best Financial Advisor Content/Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP Plutus Storyteller Award Best Traditional Retirement Content Best Personal Finance Content for Underserved Communities Best Personal Finance Content for Women   Other categories  Best New Personal Finance Content Creator - Written (F.I.R.E. for Dummies) Best New Personal Finance Book (F.I.R.E. for Dummies) Plutus Resilience Award (Jackie Cummings Koski) Best Financial Independence or Retire Early Content (F.I.R.E. for Dummies)  

This week, I welcome back Rob Henderson, the social psychologist, author, and commentator who coined the concept of luxury beliefs: ideas that confer status on the upper class while inflicting real costs on lower-income communities. Rob was last here in early 2024 discussing his memoir, Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class, which chronicles his journey through California's foster system to the Air Force, and onward to Yale and Cambridge. In this conversation, we explore what he's been thinking about since the book's release—particularly the so-called “mating crisis,” why many young people delay or avoid partnerships and family, and what that means for the future. We also dissect the emergence of Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayoral hopeful who, according to Rob (and I would concur), embodies luxury beliefs in action. Finally, Rob answers questions from Substack readers. Rob will be a speaker at our Unspeakeasy Small Gathering for Big Ideas weekend, October 11-12 in New York City. Programming and ticketing info here. GUEST BIO Rob Henderson is the author of Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class. He grew up in foster homes in Los Angeles and in the rural town of Red Bluff, California. After enlisting in the U.S. Air Force at the age of seventeen, he subsequently attended Yale on the GI Bill and was then awarded the Gates Cambridge Scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge, where he obtained a PhD in psychology in 2022. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and his Substack newsletter is sent each week to more than 70 thousand subscribers. Want to hear the whole conversation? Upgrade your subscription here. HOUSEKEEPING

Rob Henderson is the best-selling author of Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class. He grew up in foster homes in Los Angeles and in the rural town of Red Bluff, California. After enlisting in the U.S. Air Force at the age of seventeen, he subsequently attended Yale on the GI Bill and was then awarded the Gates Cambridge Scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge, where he obtained a PhD in psychology in 2022. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Rob's writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe, among other outlets, and his Substack newsletter is sent each week to more than 70 thousand subscribers.FOLLOW: @robkhendersonhttps://substack.com/@robkhenderson?utm_source=global-searchIn this thought-provoking episode, Kelsi Sheren sits down with Rob Henderson to explore the concept of "luxury beliefs"—ideas and opinions that confer status on the affluent while imposing costs on the less fortunate. Delve into how these beliefs shape societal norms and policies, often leaving the most vulnerable to bear the consequences. Through engaging dialogue, Rob shares insights from his personal journey and research, challenging listeners to reconsider the impact of their own beliefs. Tune in for a compelling discussion on the intersection of privilege, policy, and social responsibility.Substack: https://substack.com/@kelsisheren - - - - - - - - - - - -SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS - - - - - - - - - - - -RHO Nutrition - Code: KELSI20 -  https://rhonutrition.com/KELSIKetone IQ- 30% off with code KELSI - https://ketone.com/KELSIGood Livin- 20% off with code KELSI - https://www.itsgoodlivin.com/?ref=KELSIBrass & Unity - 20% off with code UNITY - http://brassandunity.com - - - - - - - - - - - - -SHOPB&U Jewelry & Eyewear: https://brassandunity.com - - - - - - - - - - - - -Follow #thekelsisherenperspective- - - - - - - - - - - - -CHARITYHeroic Hearts Project - https://www.heroicheartsproject.orgAll Secure Foundation - http://allsecurefoundation.orgDefenders of Freedom -https://www.defendersoffreedom.usBoot Campaign - https://bootcampaign.org

Travis Winfield takes us on a powerful journey from his 24-year Navy career to becoming a successful real estate entrepreneur with a mission to revolutionize how military families experience real estate transactions nationwide.The conversation begins with raw honesty as Travis shares the profound impact of traumatic experiences during his military service, including losing a sailor under his command and the subsequent suicide of his commanding officer. These events shaped his understanding of mental health challenges facing veterans—a critical issue with 22 military members taking their lives daily. His vulnerability in discussing his PTSD and healing journey provides rare insight into the unseen battles many veterans face after service.Travis's entrepreneurial path perfectly illustrates the ancient wisdom "he who chases two rabbits catches none." After attempting to juggle multiple businesses simultaneously—a real estate team, brewery ownership, non-profit leadership—he experienced complete burnout compounded by personal losses. This breaking point became the catalyst for his most important business lesson: the power of singular focus.The heart of our conversation centers on Travis's visionary creation—Military Operator Real Estate (MORE)—addressing a critical gap in the veteran experience. While military-focused financial institutions like USAA command 92% market share among veterans, no trusted national brand exists in real estate. MORE's mission creates a network of military-affiliated agents who understand the unique challenges of military life, while also tackling employment challenges for military spouses and transitioning service members through innovative GI Bill-approved training programs.Travis's story brilliantly demonstrates how entrepreneurship can solve systemic problems while creating sustainable business models. Whether you're a veteran considering your next chapter, an entrepreneur seeking clarity, or simply someone who appreciates stories of reinvention with purpose, this conversation will leave you inspired to find the place where your experience, passion and opportunity intersect.Welcome to the ATLG podcast I am your host Ken Joslin, former pastor turned coach & host of CREATE, the #1 Faith-based Entrepreneur conference in America. My mission is to help faith-based entrepreneurs become the best version of themselves by growing in our Core 5: Faith, Health, Relationships, Business & Finances. You can get more information as well as join our FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/676347099851525

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5 Money Traps Service Members Fall Into (Before It's Too Late!) Hosted by: David Pere Episode Type: Military Finance, Mindset, Real Talk Length: ~21 minutes Watch on YouTube: Watch Now

In this episode of "Veteran On the Move," host Joe Crane speaks with Marchem Pfeiffer, a veteran who enlisted at 17 and served in Air Force finance. Marchem discussed his transition out of the military, driven by a desire an improved for work-life balance. He candidly shared the struggles of transitioning to college life, specifically the loss of the military community. This personal experience propelled him into education coaching, leading him to serve as an Education Service Officer (ESO) for the Ohio National Guard. The discussion highlighted his motivation to become a leadership coach and author. Marchem, who wrote Navigating Leadership: From Toxicity to Triumph, now openly addresses critical veteran issues like PTSD, identity loss, and rebuilding after military service. Episode Resources: Leadership Rewired      About Our Guest Marchem Pfeiffer enlisted at 17 and served as a Senior Airman before transitioning into leadership roles supporting military members as Director of Education Services for the Ohio National Guard. His work involved managing crisis response, GI Bill access, and suicide prevention, giving him firsthand insight into the emotional burdens many veterans face. Today, Marchem speaks openly about PTSD, identity loss, and rebuilding after military life. Hes the creator of the CORE Alignment Index and author of Navigating Leadership: From Toxicity to Triumph.   About Our Sponsors Navy Federal Credit Union   Whether you're looking to buy a new or used car or maybe you want to refinance your current car loan, Navy Federal Credit Union has great rates on auto loans and discounts for Active Duty servicemembers and Veterans. You can apply via their mobile app or online and, in most cases, get a decision in seconds. For those of you looking to refinance your current auto loan, you could get $200 cash back when you refi your loan from another lender. Find out more at navyfederal.org/auto.  At Navy Federal, our members are the mission.    Join the conversation on Facebook! Check out Veteran on the Move on Facebook to connect with our guests and other listeners. A place where you can network with other like-minded veterans who are transitioning to entrepreneurship and get updates on people, programs and resources to help you in YOUR transition to entrepreneurship.   Want to be our next guest? Send us an email at interview@veteranonthemove.com.  Did you love this episode? Leave us a 5-star rating and review!  Download Joe Crane's Top 7 Paths to Freedom or get it on your mobile device. Text VETERAN to 38470. Veteran On the Move podcast has published 500 episodes. Our listeners have the opportunity to hear in-depth interviews conducted by host Joe Crane. The podcast features people, programs, and resources to assist veterans in their transition to entrepreneurship.  As a result, Veteran On the Move has over 7,000,000 verified downloads through Stitcher Radio, SoundCloud, iTunes and RSS Feed Syndication making it one of the most popular Military Entrepreneur Shows on the Internet Today.

A Message From Our Sponsor:Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team.  Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights!To contact us go to: http://allredgroup.comIntro:In today's episode, we sit down with Andrew Glauser, a veteran elevator mechanic, adjuster, NEIEP instructor, QEI, and Foreman who's been keeping people moving safely for over two decades. From working on the new Buffalo Bills stadium to training the next generation of technicians, Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to our conversation.Summary:Andrew Glauser discusses his career in the elevator industry, starting with a family friend's influence and his own recruitment in 2004. He highlights his role in the Buffalo Bills stadium project and the pride he feels in his work. Andrew emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, mentorship, and safety. He notes the industry's growth, particularly in residential elevators, and the challenges of finding inspectors. Andrew also mentions the benefits of vocational training and the opportunities available, including the potential for veterans to leverage their GI Bill for education. He advises newcomers to ask questions, be eager, and prioritize safety.

Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks to Rep. Jim Himes about the evolving identity of the Democratic Party; the importance of government programs like Social Security and the GI Bill in addressing economic inequality; the role of government in uplifting marginalized communities; how identity politics can both help and hinder the party's image; the controversial debate around transgender athletes in women's sports; the balance between cultural issues and economic priorities; if he thinks Zohran Mamdani should be supported by centrist Democrats; what Republicans get wrong about the Big Beautiful Bill and how it will impact people on Medicaid; the effectiveness of government intervention in solving real-world problems; and much more.

7 SIMPLE Steps That Made Me a Millionaire in the Military Hosted by: David Pere Episode Type: Personal Finance, Wealth Building Length: ~16 minutes Watch on YouTube: 7 SIMPLE Steps That Made Me a Millionaire in the Military

Leah sits down with VA-accredited attorney Rebecca Deming to deliver an in-depth overview of how veterans can maximize their VA benefits for their families. They cover everything from who qualifies as a dependent, how to access healthcare options like CHAMPVA, and how to unlock education programs such as Chapter 35 and the GI Bill transfer. They also highlight lesser-known opportunities like the Hazlewood Act, Folds of Honor, caregiver stipends, and dependency indemnity compensation (DIC). With clear explanations and practical examples, this episode is a valuable resource for veterans and their families navigating the often confusing landscape of VA benefits.

What do you get when you combine a passion for service, a pivot to medicine, and a mastery of money? In this episode, Army doctor Pritish Sahoo breaks down how he leveraged military programs to fund $700K in education—and built a real estate empire along the way. Topics Covered: Pivot from engineering to medicine Navigating the HPSP (Health Professions Scholarship Program) and USUHS paths Real numbers: military pays, stipends, bonuses, and educational benefits available to military doctors Financial edge of military medicine vs. civilian practice Real estate investing as a service member: lessons, wins, and close calls Using the GI Bill and TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) strategically Building a $5M financial independence goal Advice for young officers and enlisted members starting their wealth journey How mentors and books shaped his approach to money and meaning

A listener asks if being eligible for the GI Bill might reduce his merit aid. Ben and Nathan say it's possible schools assume GI benefits mean guaranteed payment, but it shouldn't stop him from getting great offers if he applies broadly with a strong LSAT. Read more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!

"Don't settle for 'just good enough' when it comes to liberty."Episode SummaryIn this lively episode of The Gun Experiment, we are joined by returning guests Ben Dewalt and Rachel Maloney for an in-depth discussion on current Second Amendment issues, gun culture, and the evolving landscape of firearms legislation in America. The group tackles timely topics like the suppressor movement, state reciprocity agreements, and the Rhode Island assault weapons ban—unpacking how such regulations impact everyday gun owners.The conversation also veers into broader societal issues, comparing limits on firearms to other forms of personal risk, like driving and unhealthy lifestyle choices. The hosts advocate for the value and resurgence of practical trades, such as gunsmithing, stressing the importance of skills that can't be shipped by drone or replaced by AI.Rachel Maloney offers insights into the intersection of design and firearms, while Ben Dewalt shares poignant anecdotes from the front lines of the 2A community. The team discusses the impact of financial discrimination against the gun industry, how to support pro-2A businesses, and the need for unity and resilience in the face of increasing restrictions.Trending news stories—ranging from the LA riots and the media's role, to the latest on area 51 and viral stories from the gun world—keep the conversation dynamic but always rooted in the essential message: Stand up for your rights, stay informed, and seek out community.Call to Action1. Join our mailing list: Thegunexperiment.com2. Subscribe and leave us a comment on Apple or Spotify3. Follow us on all of our social media: Instagram Twitter Youtube Facebook4. Be a part of our growing community, join our Discord page!5. Grab some cool TGE merch6. Ask us anything at AskMikeandKeith@gmail.com5. Be sure to support the sponsors of the show who make the show possible.Show SponsorsModern Gun Trade SchoolTake your gun hobby to the next level with an accredited, self-paced online gunsmithing program. GI Bill approved and affordable—get started for as low as $69/month.Visit MGS EDU or call 1-800-493-4114 and mention The Gun Experiment!Key TakeawaysSuppressor Legislation: The Hearing Protection Act and ongoing debate about why suppressors are still heavily regulated, despite evidence from Europe that they are considered necessary safety equipment.State Reciprocity: Recent agreements between states like Pennsylvania and Virginia highlight ongoing challenges around recognizing gun rights across state lines.Assault Weapons Bans: The realities of new bans in states like Rhode Island, why these are...

Too restrictive or a key part of a military families financial planning? Today's episode is a no-holds-barred discussion about the pros, cons, and real-life strategies behind 529 plans. Episode Summary: In this episode, Spencer and Jamie dive deep into the world of 529 college savings plans—a tax-advantaged tool designed to save for qualified education expenses. They explore the basics of how 529 plans work (after-tax contributions, tax-free growth, and penalty-free withdrawals on qualified education expenses) and highlight recent changes that expand their flexibility beyond just college tuition. The conversation unfolds as Spencer raises his skeptical questions, while Jamie defends the plan's benefits by sharing personal experiences and strategies. From multi-generational planning to overcoming the challenge of overfunding, the discussion covers everything you need to know to determine if a 529 plan fits into your family's financial strategy. Key Discussion Points & Takeaways: Understanding 529 Fundamentals: Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, but the account grows tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified expenses (college, K–12 tuition, apprenticeship programs, computer equipment, and internet access) remain tax-free. Jamie explains the flexibility and evolving nature of 529 plans, including options to roll over funds to a Roth IRA (subject to annual limits and other restrictions) if the money isn't immediately needed for education. Flexibility vs. Restriction: Spencer shares his concerns about the plan's restrictions and whether the benefits favor high-income families more than those who might truly need the tax advantages. Jamie counters by emphasizing that the primary goal is to ensure your child's educational expenses are covered, while also noting that any “overfunding” isn't a total loss—it comes with backup options like beneficiary changes and penalty adjustments if funds are withdrawn for non-qualified purposes. Practical Money Management: Real-life insights on how to balance your overall financial strategy: build a solid retirement plan, clear debt, and then contribute to a 529 plan once you've established your own financial security. Jamie outlines his personal approach, including how much he's contributed over the years and his strategy for managing contributions as his children get closer to college age. Discussion of exit strategies: potential rollovers, transferring balances between beneficiaries, and even using scholarship funds to unlock part of the 529 savings without penalties. Generational and Strategic Considerations: Beyond college savings, the episode explores whether 529 plans can serve as a mechanism for a multi-generational legacy—providing educational support for nieces, nephews, or future grandchildren. The balance between maximizing tax-free growth and maintaining account flexibility is a recurring theme, with both hosts stressing the importance of aligning a 529 plan with your broader financial plan. Actionable Insights for Listeners: Evaluate Your Priorities: Before you start pouring funds into a 529 plan, ensure you've taken care of high-priority items like debt repayment and retirement savings. Start Early: Open an account when your child is young. Even small, regular contributions can accumulate significantly over time. Customize According to Your Needs: Understand that the “perfect” plan isn't one-size-fits-all. Consider factors like potential state tax deductions, investment options (like Vanguard 529's low-cost index fund style), and your own financial situation. Plan for Flexibility: Keep in mind exit strategies (such as rollovers to Roth IRAs and changing beneficiaries) so that if your situation changes, you're not locked into funds you can't use as intended. If this episode sparked some thoughts about your child's educational future or your family's financial planning, drop us a message on Instagram or visit our website at MilitaryMoneyManual.com.  Links mentioned: Kate Horrell's College Savings resources Episode 124 w/ Kate Horrell Episode 165 w/ Daniel Kopp FINRED flyer on 529s For a limited time, Spencer is offering one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions! Get your personal military money and investing questions answered in a confidential coaching call. Our new TSP course is live! Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE! If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual or email podcast@militarymoneymanual.com. If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. I also offer a 100% free course on military travel hacking and getting annual fee waived credit cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card in my Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3. Learn how to get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards from American Express in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3. The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card waive the annual fee for active duty military servicemembers, including Guard and Reserve on active orders over 30 days. The annual fees on all personal Amex cards are also waived for military spouses married to active duty troops.

Planning for college is already overwhelming, but for military families, the maze of VA and DoD education benefits adds another layer of complexity. The good news? These resources can be a huge asset—if you know how to use them. In this episode, Kate Horrell shares smart, practical strategies from her new book College Finances for Military Families. You'll learn how to maximize the GI Bill, avoid common pitfalls, and create a college funding plan that actually works for your family. Whether you're a service member, spouse, or parent of future college students, this episode will help you turn confusion into confidence—and save real money in the process. Kate is an award-winning personal financial educator who helps the military community make the most of their pay and benefits.  With over 10 years working with thousands of clients and readers, she understands the concerns of currently serving, retired, and veteran families. She shares the most up-to-date information in understandable terms, and highlights how rules, programs, and laws will directly impact our personal finances. https://milmo.co/podcast/college-money-moves-for-military-families For more MILMO, follow at: MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook

This week on The Gedunk Show, Dan and I dive into one of the most transformative forces in American history: the GI Bill. We explore how this single piece of legislation didn't just send veterans to college — it launched a middle class, fueled the economy, and laid the foundation for post-WWII innovation. We connect the dots from federally funded university research to life-saving medical advances, tech breakthroughs, and global leadership. But here's the catch: all of that is now under threat. As Donald Trump and his allies move to defund public education and slash research budgets, the very engine that built modern America — and much of the modern world — is grinding to a halt. We break down why that matters, what's at stake, and how this rollback isn't just short-sighted… it's a global risk.

Send us a textAaron Moncur sits down with Dean Odell, a distinguished mechanical engineering instructor and YouTube educator, to explore the fascinating world of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T). Dean shares his journey from a welder to an engineering instructor, discusses the importance of GD&T in manufacturing, and reveals insights from his popular YouTube channel, dedicated to technical education.Main Topics:Origins and evolution of GD&TCommon misconceptions about geometric tolerancingPractical applications in engineering and manufacturingDean's approach to teaching technical conceptsThe importance of understanding design intentInspection techniques and measurement toolsAbout the guest: R. Dean Odell is a distinguished mechanical engineering educator and consultant, specializing in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) technologies. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from SUNY Polytechnic Institute and an A.A.S. from Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC), where he currently teaches courses in GD&T, CAD, CMM, metallurgy, and robotics as an assistant professor.Dean is also a prominent online educator with over 32,000 YouTube subscribers, offering tutorials on GD&T, CMM operation, print reading, and metallurgy. Beyond academia, he conducts in-person training across the United States, particularly in GD&T and Zeiss CMM, known for his clear and hands-on teaching style. His work reflects a strong dedication to advancing precision manufacturing and engineering education.Links:Dean Odell - LinkedInWebsiteYouTube

In this episode of "Discovering Grayslake," welcomes Jeff Myhra, the Chief of Police of Grayslake. Jeff shares his inspiring journey from childhood dreams of becoming a police officer to his current role, highlighting his dedication to community service and the challenges of balancing work and family life. The conversation delves into the evolution of Grayslake, the importance of community engagement, and practical safety advice. Jeff's passion for fostering a safe, connected community shines through, making this episode a heartfelt tribute to the values that bind Grayslake together. Discovering Grayslake: A Deep Dive into Community Safety with Chief Jeff Myhra Welcome back to "Discovering Grayslake," your go-to podcast for all things related to our beloved community. After a two-year hiatus, we're thrilled to bring you an insightful episode featuring Jeff Myhra, the Chief of Police of Grayslake. In this episode, we delve into Chief Myhra's journey in law enforcement, his connection to the community, and valuable tips for ensuring safety in our town. Whether you're a long-time resident or new to Grayslake, this episode offers a wealth of information to help you stay informed and engaged. Meet Chief Jeff Myhra: A Journey from Aspiration to Leadership Early Aspirations and Career Path Chief Myhra's journey in law enforcement began with childhood aspirations inspired by his grandparents, immigrants from Norway. His early interest in becoming a police officer was solidified during a career day at school, where a police officer's presentation left a lasting impression. After high school, Myhra joined the military, which provided him with the opportunity to further his education through the GI Bill. He attended the College of Lake County, earning his degree while working at Menards in Fox Lake. From Community Service Officer to Chief of Police Myhra's career in law enforcement started with a community service officer position in Grayslake. His dedication and work ethic quickly earned him a full-time position as a police officer. Over the years, he has held various roles within the Grayslake Police Department, including investigator and sergeant. His passion for investigations and commitment to community service have been the driving forces behind his successful career. The Evolution of Grayslake: Reflections on Community Changes Transformations Over 26 Years During his 26 years of service, Chief Myhra has witnessed significant changes in Grayslake. He recalls the days when local establishments like Carmine's and Pat's Pizza were prominent and praises the vision of village managers and trustees who have worked diligently to enhance the town's appeal. The landscape of Grayslake has changed dramatically, making it unrecognizable compared to what it was decades ago. Staffing and Community Safety The Grayslake Police Department currently has 31 designated officers, with a few part-time officers to fill in gaps. Rather than focusing solely on population numbers, the department prioritizes call volume and response times to ensure effective service to the community. This practical approach contributes to the town's financial stability, as they avoid unnecessary debt. Common Issues and Practical Advice for Community Safety Opportunistic Crimes and Preventive Measures Many crimes in Grayslake are opportunistic, often stemming from residents forgetting to lock their car doors or leaving keys inside their vehicles. Chief Myhra emphasizes the importance of simple preventive measures, like locking doors, to reduce crime rates. Identity theft is another concern, particularly with the rise of online scams, which sometimes require federal intervention. The Importance of Community Engagement Chief Myhra believes that police work is fundamentally about serving the public and providing excellent customer service. He stresses the importance of listening to the community's needs and building trust between law enforcement and residents. The department aims to foster compliance through education rather than generating revenue through tickets, reflecting a philosophy that prioritizes community trust and cooperation. Personal Insights and Community Connection Balancing Work and Family Life Chief Myhra reflects on the challenges of balancing his career with family life, especially as a father of four. He acknowledges the stress of working in major crime investigations, which often require long hours and can be emotionally taxing. Despite these challenges, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong work ethic and being present for his family. Personal Interests and Hobbies Outside of his professional life, Chief Myhra enjoys the outdoors, including hunting and fishing. He recently took up guitar lessons at the age of 45, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and personal growth. His love for the outdoors and fascination with Bigfoot add a personal touch to his professional persona, allowing the community to connect with him on a more personal level. Practical Tips for Community Safety Parental Guidance and Technology Chief Myhra emphasizes the importance of parental vigilance in keeping children safe. He advises parents to stay engaged and aware of their children's activities, especially as they spend more time on their devices. Using apps like Life 360 to monitor children's whereabouts can be helpful until they are old enough to manage their own phones. Navigating Online Transactions Safely With the growing trend of online transactions through platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Chief Myhra advises conducting such transactions at the police department, where there is always some level of surveillance and personnel available. He encourages community members to be cautious and to trust their instincts when dealing with potential buyers or sellers. Payment Safety Tips For smaller purchases, Chief Myhra prefers cash, while for larger transactions, he recommends using cashier's checks or money orders to ensure safety. He expresses caution about digital payment methods, as they can sometimes lead to complications or disputes. Conclusion: Fostering a Safe and Engaged Community This episode of "Discovering Grayslake" provides valuable insights into the challenges of modern parenting, the impact of technology on safety, and practical advice for community members to enhance their personal and collective security. Chief Myhra's dedication to the community, commitment to transparency, and focus on proactive policing strategies highlight the values that underpin the Grayslake Police Department. As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern life, staying connected, informed, and vigilant is more important than ever. We encourage you to engage with your local officers, recognize their hard work, and perform random acts of kindness to foster a supportive and engaged community spirit. Thank you for tuning in to "Discovering Grayslake." Subscribe to our podcast for more insights into the Grayslake community and its residents. Let's continue to make Grayslake a vibrant and safe place to live.

Trump plans a big ol' parade. Ben riffs. Charles Henderson returns to talk the state of America on Memorial Day. Including...Trump's newfound "pacifism". Why Kamala Harris lost. Would Biden have done any better? Royko's Boss. The GI Bill then and now. Congressman John Rankin's not-so-pretty legacy. And Ben's Rhode Island past. Charles is an Army Desert Storm vet and an activist in Chicago.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1047: Kia's veteran apprenticeship program is creating certified techs and stronger stores, while “American-made” is a lot harder to accomplish than it sounds. Plus, OpenAI is taking on software engineering with a new update.Show Notes with links:Kia America's Veterans Technician Apprenticeship Program is helping dealers find, train, and retain top-tier tech talent by giving veterans a fast path to certification—and the results are showing up in the service drive.Launched in 2023, the program combines mentorship, on-the-job training, and a 30-day certification bootcamp.Approved by the DOL and VA, it offers tax credits and GI Bill stipends to offset dealer costs.462 Kia dealerships have enrolled; 278 veterans—including 16 women—have been hired so far.Participating stores report higher appointment volume, productivity, and lower tech turnover.Speaking about program graduate Caleb Samsel, Anthony Catalanotto of Generation Auto Group said “He's a leader. He says the right things. He does the right things. He's always in his uniform. He's always working hard. If someone can't figure something out, he's right with them.”Despite political pressure and patriotic branding, building a truly American-made vehicle is still more fantasy than factory reality. Ford's latest Expedition highlights just how global even U.S.-assembled vehicles remain.The Expedition is assembled in Kentucky, but only 58% of its parts are North American, with key components like engines and semiconductors still coming from overseas.Automakers say sourcing 90% U.S. content could raise vehicle prices $10K–$20K, pricing out many buyers.Past vehicles reached 90%+ U.S./Canada content; today's tech and globalization make that rare.“We can move everything to the U.S., but if every Ford is $50,000, we're not going to win,” said Ford CEO Jim Farley.OpenAI is expanding its capabilities in one of AI's most competitive frontiers: software engineering. Its new Codex agent is designed to handle complex coding tasks autonomously and at scale.Codex performs tasks like writing code, fixing bugs, running tests, and reviewing codebases.Built on the new codex-1 model, optimized from OpenAI's o3 reasoning architecture.Available to ChatGPT Pro, Team, and Enterprise users during a research preview.Competitors like Anthropic's Sonnet models still lead developer adoption, but the field is evolving quickly.“It is a fundamentally new way of working,” said OpenAI VP of Engineering Srinivas Narayanan.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

You know those moments when a photograph or film clip feels like it's speaking hidden truths? New School professor and interdisciplinary artist Isaiah Winters returns to share how rigorous archival research fuels his photography, film, and mixed-media practice. From earning his MFA at Parsons to documenting pro-Palestinian campus protests and exposing housing inequities, Isaiah shows how historical fragments—old photographs, 16 mm and 35 mm film, collages—become living narratives that confront nationalism, indexicality, and structural racism.MFA to professor: completing his Parsons MFA and stepping into a full-time teaching role in The New School's photo departmentArchival layering: fusing historical photographs, film, and collage to interrogate narratives of nationalism and memory“This Land Is Your Land” revisited: investigating segregation, Indigenous displacement, and public memory in national parksUnpacking housing myths: exposing GI Bill disparities, postwar suburbanization, and systemic racism in American housingOn-campus documentation: capturing student-led pro-Palestinian encampments and the resurgence of fascist undercurrentsAnalog expansion: why he embraces 35 mm and experimental video to turn archives into urgent calls for changeCatch Isaiah Winters's first conversation here:  Whether you're an educator, activist, or lover of visual storytelling, Isaiah's approach will open new pathways for seeing archives as living tools—and may inspire your next creative act. Photograph by Isaiah Winters Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis. Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Full episode available on Patreon: patreon.com/containInterview with Anthony Darnell, aka Darnell the Artist, known for his daily social media posts of cryptic and hallucinatory artwork based on conspiracy theories, politics, and his military experience. He shares his experiences in the US Marine Corps, using art as therapy, PTSD, the GI Bill, conspiracy theories, and more. This is Anthony's first spoken interview. 

Matt Walker MA, is a dedicated men's psychologist and international mountain guide based in Washington, USA. With a mission to help men navigate mid-life challenges, Matt empowers his clients to define success, align their values with actions, and live unapologetically. Through 1:1 coaching, group programs, immersive retreats, and transformative climbing expeditions, Matt creates opportunities for growth, adventure, and community. His work is rooted in fostering clarity, boldness, and a life lived in alignment with personal values. Matt lives in a mountain town in Washington State with his two children and balances parenting with a full workload which includes coaching individual and groups, leading climbing expeditions both professionally and personally Matt Walker Vroom Vroom Veer Show Summary Matt's Balancing Act and Life Shifts Matt discusses his work as both a mountain guide and a psychologist, supporting men through major life transitions. He is excited about the balance in his calendar between traditional coaching and field work in the mountains. Matt mentions he has a new book coming out after a 10-year publishing hiatus. He also reflects on how his values and priorities have shifted with age, emphasizing the importance of embracing these changes rather than judging oneself based on past expectations. Skepticism and the Shaping of Belief Matt and Jeffery discuss their approaches to knowledge and belief. Jeffery describes himself as highly skeptical, avoiding absolute certainty and viewing most things on a spectrum of probability. Matt agrees with this perspective, sharing an example from a memoir that acknowledged multiple viewpoints of the same experience. They discuss the unreliability of memory and the impact of mentors and teachers in shaping their worldviews. Matt reflects on how early influences expanded his understanding of career possibilities beyond his suburban upbringing. Mountain Climbing and Post-Military Life Matt shares his experience of moving from Northern New Jersey to Washington State after high school, motivated by his desire to be in the mountains following an Outward Bound course. He became involved in the climbing community, joining a group of experienced climbers and participating in significant expeditions. Matt later pursued a degree in philosophy but ultimately worked as a full-time mountain guide, leading international expeditions including the Seven Summits. Jeffery, in contrast, completed a bachelor's degree in psychology using his GI Bill after retiring from the Air Force, but chose not to pursue a career in that field. Matt's Approach to Existential Crises Matt discusses his approach to helping clients who are experiencing existential crises. He explains that he combines his background in psychology with outdoor experiences, particularly mountain climbing, to create a more effective therapeutic environment. Matt emphasizes the importance of having a guide during these experiences, comparing it to psychedelic journeys with proper set and setting. He notes that the most powerful moments for clarity and transformation occur during the descent from a summit, before transitioning back to everyday life. Matt sees his role as a supportive guide rather than actively doing the work for his clients. Challenging Experiences and Personal Growth Matt and Jeffery discuss the transformative power of challenging experiences, particularly in the context of personal growth and self-awareness. They explore how these experiences can lead to clarity, alignment between values and actions, and a sense of awakening. Jeffery shares his recent experience with a meditation app called "Way App," which he finds more effective than typical meditation apps due to its foundation in authentic Zen practices. They both agree that consistent, thoughtful practice can lead to gradual but meaningful increases in awareness and personal growth.

A discussion of the recent HTDS narrative episodes on FDR and the New Deal. Think of it as a book club for additional insights into these latest chapters of the HTDS chronological story of America. Professor Greg Jackson is joined by Professor Lindsey Cormack to discuss the government's response to the Great Depression and the legacy of the New Deal. They explore the causes of the Depression, the government's initial missteps, and the eventual successes of programs like the CCC. The episode also features an interview between Professor Cormack and historian Neil Maher, who wrote a book about the CCC. They discuss the history of the CCC, its impact on the environment and the economy, and its legacy today.   Lindsey Cormack is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Stevens Institute of Technology and the former Director of the Diplomacy Lab. She is the creator of DCInbox, a comprehensive digital archive of Congress-to-constituent e-newsletters, and the author of How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It's Up to You to Do It) and Congress and U.S. Veterans: From the GI Bill to the VA Crisis.  Neil M. Maher is a Professor of History and Master Teacher in the Federated History Department at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University-Newark.  He is an award-winning author, instructor, and public speaker interested in the environmental and political history of the United States. Maher's scholarship and teaching explore how the natural environment has mediated power relationships between people over time.  His most recent books include Apollo in the Age of Aquarius (Harvard University Press, 2017) and Nature's New Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Roots of the American Environmental Movement. ____ Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations join discussions in our Facebook community get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette  come see a live show get HTDS merch or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks. HTDS is part of Audacy media network. Interested in advertising on the podcast? Contact Audacyinc.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Struggling to get hired as a pilot? In this episode, Ralyn Wheeler shares her journey from estate management to aviation and her role as a Part 135 pilot recruiter. She dives into what recruiters actually look for in a resume, how to make yours stand out in the right way, and common mistakes that could cost you an opportunity. She also discusses the benefits of flying Part 135, including variety, scheduling, and how to leverage SkillBridge and the GI Bill for your career. If you're looking to land your next aviation job, this episode is packed with insider advice! What You'll Learn from this Episode: The #1 thing recruiters look for on a pilot's resume Why your resume should be one page (and what happens if it isn't!) How to structure your flight hours for maximum impact Key differences between Part 135 and Part 121 flying How to use SkillBridge and the GI Bill to boost your career The power of networking and a simple tip to improve your resume today  #Aviation #AviationCareers #pilotcareer #pilottips #pilotcareertips #aviationcrew #AviationJobs #AviationLeadership #flying #PilotSuccess #pilotpodcast #PilotPreparation #Pilotrecruitment #AviationEducation #AviationOpportunities #AviationPodcast #flyingtips #AirlineInterviewPrep #PilotDevelopment #PilotFinance #PilotExperience #PilotTraining