Podcasts about veteran affairs

Show SummaryAs military-connected students head back to school, we're revisiting a conversation with Mary Bier, MBA, President and CEO of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). Mary joins host Duane France to discuss the unique educational experiences of military-connected children, the challenges families can face navigating school transitions, and how MCEC helps families, educators, and communities support military students throughout their educational journey.Episode Partner:Our sponsor this week is Aetna, a trusted health care company, committed to serving Veterans, military families, and caregivers through meaningful, community-centered care. Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who've served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor StoriesAbout Today's GuestMary Bier, MBA, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). A seasoned leader with more than 20 years of experience in business strategy, organizational leadership, and community engagement, she brings a dynamic vision to MCEC's mission of ensuring every military-connected child has access to quality educational opportunities.As a military spouse and parent, Bier has firsthand insight into the unique challenges and strengths of military families. This lived experience fuels her passion for advocating for military-connected students, ensuring they receive the educational support and opportunities they deserve.Bier's professional background spans both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, where she has successfully led high-impact initiatives, built collaborative partnerships, and served as a subject matter expert on veteran and military family issues. She has been invited to the White House to share insights on military-connected programs, testified before the New York City Department of Veteran Affairs, and facilitated expert panels on military family well-being.Prior to joining MCEC, Bier held leadership roles in business strategy, customer success, and military initiatives, where she was instrumental in scaling operations, optimizing talent development, and fostering inclusive organizational cultures. Her ability to translate strategic goals into actionable outcomes has driven mission impact across multiple organizations.At MCEC, Bier is committed to expanding the organization's reach, deepening partnerships, and championing the needs of military-connected children. Under her leadership, MCEC will continue to be a trusted resource for families, educators, and policymakers dedicated to supporting military students on their educational journey.Bier holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Management and Organizational Behavior and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from California Lutheran University.She resides with her family in Madison, Wisconsin.Links Mentioned During the EpisodeMilitary Child Education Coalition Website Heroic Hearts ScholarshipCall for the Arts ScholarshipMonth of the Military Child ToolkitPurple Star National AdvocateStudent to Student ProgramPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Supporting Children Who Support Veterans. Although your children may be small now, we hope this course gives you some building blocks to address any parenting challenges you may encounter as your children mature.You can find the resource here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Supporting-Children-Who-Support-Veterans  Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Jeb Hockman from the Virginia Department of Veteran Services joins the show to talk about their upcoming job fair on Hire a Veteran Day.

Tune in to hear about why I'd work at the Department of Veteran Affairs again if I wasn't an entreprenuer! Work with me at KatieDodd.com

President Trump unveils a brand new "flying White House" and NYC Mayor Mamdani responds to a tragic Times Square shooting.

For many people, the FDA-approved drug class called GLP-1s has been a game changer for managing type 2 diabetes and weight loss. An estimated one in eight US adults is using this type of drug, which mimics a natural gut hormone to regulate blood sugar, slow stomach emptying, and suppress appetite. Researchers and the public have been scrutinizing the pros and cons of taking these drugs for many years. One critical question that remains is does the use of GLP-1s translate into lower medical expenses for consumers, healthcare providers, insurance companies, and the government? Today, we're speaking with Duke University health economist Jonathan Zhang on the answer to these questions from his multi-year study of veterans who use GLP-1s. The results are surprising. Interview Summary Jonathan, first, let's talk broadly. Would you briefly describe the kinds of health benefits people are experiencing with GLP-1s, particularly in terms of changes in behavior and overall health? Yes. So GLP-1s are medications that manage body weight and improve metabolic health. The primary health benefits are via better blood sugar regulation and weight loss via reducing appetite. But there's larger health benefits that are much broader. So, trials have also shown that they lower blood pressure, reduce strokes and heart attacks, among other cardiovascular benefits. Overall also improves, so things like obstructive sleep apnea, improvements in inflammation-related measures. And recently it was FDA approved to treat MASH, which is a form of fatty liver disease. Finally, people also report feeling less hungry. They get full faster, fewer cravings, and reduction in what is often called food noise, which can potentially help people make a range of better behavior decisions and changes relating to food and perhaps even beyond food. However, the evidence on that seems to be promising, but new and less strong. Thank you for sharing those. I know a lot of our listeners have heard some of those issues and some of those points about how GLP-1s could change the way we behave, and some of the health outcomes. So, let's dig into your particular study. In your working paper for the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) you and your co-authors describe a natural experiment involving patients and doctors in the Department of Veteran Affairs, and their access to and use of GLP-1s. Would you lay out the general parameters of your study for our listeners? Yes, absolutely. So, like many medications, what we know about GLP-1s primarily comes from randomized controlled trials, which have small sample sizes and often select for quite sick patients. As GLP-1s reach a broader population, the population becomes less pro-comparable to those in trials, so the real-world impacts become less obvious. Moreover, there are some outcomes such as healthcare utilization or spending costs that are incredibly important for policy but not directly studied in trials. We were interested in studying in a very large healthcare system, that is the VA, the Veterans Health Administration, the real-world impacts of GLP-1s using readily collected data from the healthcare system and a quasi-experiment. So that is we try to emulate a real experiment where some patients get GLP-1s from their primary care doctor and others do not. And the reason one patient might get it while the other doesn't is because their doctors differ in their likelihood or propensity to prescribe these drugs. And we focus on the Veterans Health Administration, the VHA, because the veteran population is quite diverse, at least in terms of comorbidities relative to the trials per se and also in age, say, compared to Medicare. And GLP-1s are provided in the VA to eligible patients at a pretty affordable cost. So, sort of a nice policy playground for us to think about what outcomes might look like when GLP-1s become readily available and affordable to all Americans. Great. Thank you for sharing that because now we have a good sense of the quasi experiment that you all were able to exploit. That there were providers who had a high tendency to prescribe GLP-1s versus those who didn't. And looking at that difference, you were able to see how GLP-1s may have affected the outcomes that you were interested in. So now tell us a bit about the findings, and I think there's some surprising results here. So, first we replicate many of the findings from the randomized trials for this diverse, veteran population. We see reductions in body weight, we see hemoglobin A1C blood glucose levels improve and blood pressure improvements as well. Even a reduction in heart attacks and strokes for patients with existing cardiovascular conditions, and even a small reduction in moderate drinking risk as well. The trial evidence seems to hold up in this large and diverse population of we have 1.4 million patients that we're studying. Second, despite these improvements though, we do not see a reduction in healthcare spending. This is actually excluding the cost of the medication, the GLP-1. It's not because GLP-1s are expensive. We're taking that out of the equation. Over four years, this is how long we're able to track these patients for, we're able to rule out reductions of more than 7% in healthcare spending. And we see no reductions in whether that's outpatient clinic or in inpatient hospitalization. We also don't see any reductions in emergency department visits more generally, despite seeing a reduction in heart attack and strokes for those patients with existing cardiovascular condition. Jonathan, that sounds great, but it's a little hard to understand. So why is it that you're seeing no real changes in the consumer healthcare spending? What's going on? Yes, we were a little surprised as well. We think there could be a myriad of potential reasons. But first, I want to note that there's also at least three other studies that use real-world data to look at a similar question, and all the studies find no statistically significant spending reductions. And in fact, all of us, we all find a slight positive increase. I think the first explanation is that while heart attacks and strokes are very expensive and obviously, very serious events, they are still thankfully quite rare and thus are not very common in our three to five-year period in which these studies are looking at. But perhaps over ten or twenty years, you could start seeing some healthcare spending materialize. I think that's totally possible. Most cost projection models, whether that's from the CBO or other organizations, they project healthcare spending reductions to accumulate over time. But these models also project immediate spending reduction, which is not yet supported by the data. Another potential explanation is what I would call these behavioral responses. So, you can imagine that a patient sees some improvement in their health, and that changes their expectation of, "Oh, wow, I could actually make some changes to my health." And they actually go and get some more care. This can also be driven by the physician as well. So, sort of, "Look, things are working. This patient's seeing improvements. Maybe we should treat some of your other health problems and issues." This is what I would call sort of a behavioral response. A third explanation could be that some of these patients have conditions that have progressed to be irreversible even with metabolic health gains. So, for example, late-stage kidney disease would be a good example. We find some suggestive evidence that this might be happening in our study. In other words, for these patients where they have some potentially irreversible health conditions, the metabolic health improvements - that's not a primary reason for their healthcare spending. This is helpful. That explains why we're seeing some of these challenges with healthcare spending. And I appreciate your point of taking a longer view may actually reveal some differences. And also, the responses of doctors and patients to the benefits that they gain and how that might expand opportunities for healthcare. So, thank you for sharing that. I want to shift focus a little bit. And it is taking a step beyond the paper, but I think it's a natural extension of the work. As you know, I'm an agricultural economist, and I've been interested in obviously food policy issues. And the fact that we're seeing weight loss, the fact that we're seeing better management of A1C suggests that there's something probably happening with food consumption and food patterns. I'd be interested to learn from you if you have any ideas about what this work suggests about the impact of GLP-1s on consumer food choices. Yes, I think there's a fair amount of both trial and real-world grocery purchase evidence that GLP-1s are impacting consumer food choices. In the randomized trials, GLP-1s reduce, calories consumed, reduce the desire to eat sweet, salty, and savory foods and high fat fast foods in their meals. For example, these trials will look at what people eat for lunch. In real world data, there's a study out of Denmark that found that after patients' first GLP-1 prescription, their grocery store purchases went on to have fewer calories, sugars, saturated fats, carbohydrates, and more protein over the one-year period after they initiate GLP-1s. The share of ultra-processed foods also decreased. The effects were actually quite modest, so there was only about a one percent reduction in calories and a four percent reduction in sugar and a five percent increase in protein in the year after versus the year before in this Danish study. In the US, there's a similar study using kind of this transactional level data as well. And they find that households after they start GLP-1s also reduce caloric intake, fast food consumption, caloric dense processed foods. And there it's a little larger in the US by about five to ten percent. Then the question is, you know, are they shifting towards healthier foods or is it sort of a uniform reduction in calories across all different food classes? And there the evidence is a little less strong. There's some evidence that consumers are shifting towards healthier foods, but if that is the case, the shift is quite small. In both the Danish and the US study, it's roughly looking like a level shift for all different categories. And this is also in terms of not food so much anymore, but there's also been studies looking at alcohol consumption, which has been very interesting and promising. There's a phase two study pilot trial with only forty-eight participants, but the randomized control trial found that among patients with existing alcohol use disorder GLP-1s led to a reduction in the average number of drinks per day. No change in the number of days drinking, but conditional on drinking, the average number of drinks per day declines in the treatment group that get GLP-1s. And then for out of the 48 patients that are also smokers, there's also a reduction in smoking as well in that population. So, very promising early evidence there as well. Jonathan, this is critical information, and I know some colleagues in the Ag econ profession, folks like Brian Roe, Tim Richards and Glenn Townsend have also worked in this space, and some of the work is showing some issues around the quality of protein or overall food spend is going down. And the choices or the responsiveness of people to prices when it comes to proteins. There's some evidence, some causal evidence to suggest GLP-1s are changing the way people are even looking at food markets. And so that raises a really important issue. If consumers are changing when they're exposed to GLP-1s, I have got to imagine that the food industry, grocery stores, food manufacturers, restaurants are making some adjustments. What have you to say on that particular point? So, we're both economists, right? We both, of course, believe that producers and grocery stores are adjusting to demand. We do know a lot less about how the supply side is adjusting compared to the demand, and that's because there's just less data and fewer studies on patients. There's more data and more studies on patients and consumers than on grocery stores and restaurants. I've seen a lot of anecdotal evidence, often reported in the mainstream media or reports from various market research agencies that GLP-1s are having this large impact on the food industry. I've seen claims like GLP-1s are hurting Walmart sales or why are beer company sales down, like AB InBev, and range into things like why restaurants are reducing their portions or recently I actually also saw over the past couple weekends claims of why Coachella portions are smaller because everyone's on GLP-1s. So, the best estimates from last year are that one in eight Americans are using GLP-1s. And if each of these users are cutting back in consumption by 5% to 10%, as in those studies, it's totally plausible this leads to a large population reduction that the food industry just cannot ignore, right? I think it's important to note a couple things. First is that the long-term adherence of GLP-1s is generally quite low, with more than 50% discontinuing within a year in most of the studies I've seen in the US. And after discontinuation, most of these patients will gain back a large fraction of their weight. And in that US groceries transactional study I told you about, they find that after discontinuation, purchases at fast food, grocery, restaurants, et cetera, they go up beyond baseline, in fact. So, beyond six months prior to when they were on GLP-1s. It's still an open question to whether these 5% to 10% individual consumption reductions will become long-term and manifest in the population level, especially if adherence is not very high. Second is that up until very recently, there's been a very strong demographic and socioeconomic profile of these GLP-1 users, right? So, they tend to skew near elderly and also a little bit more female, and generally fall in the middle- or higher-income brackets because previously Medicaid, for example, did not cover GLP-1s, right? Until earlier this year. And it still does not cover it for many states. So, any food industry changes will likely be concentrated in the restaurants and the food chains that sort of have these consumer demographic and economic base. That's something to keep in mind. Certainly, there are examples like, you know, Smoothie King has introduced a GLP-1 smoothie. But even in these clear-cut cases where the producer is clearly trying to appeal to this demand shock, it's still very difficult to disentangle the producer's stated intent from general industry market trends, right? So, general trends like rising cost of living. There's been more demand for protein. You can see protein in everything now, right? Even water. Rise in sort of small plates or family-style tapas at restaurants. Feels like every restaurant's doing this now. Or for example, a decline in alcohol consumption or interest in alcohol consumption, especially among young people around the world. I think some of this is certainly happening. Producers are listening, but it's hard to disentangle the general trends from a specific GLP-1 impact. I'm grateful for you taking some of the hype out of this and thinking through carefully what the economic implications are of this change and recognizing that there's some real important context that people don't stay on these drugs for long. Or there are certain types of folks who are more likely to use them, and therefore we can't assume that there's this massive wave of change that's going to happen, but that there are some responses. These are important ways of framing this discussion. I have one final question. Based on what you're seeing now with the use of GLP-1s and considering their use over time, what would you say is the key takeaway for policymakers? I think there are a few takeaways. Most importantly, I think policy makers should think about the rapid change in profile of patients who are using this drug. Just because it's beneficial for sick patients doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be equally as beneficial for patients who are less sick. One of the findings in our paper is that as the veteran population that starts to initiate GLP-1s in the more recent years, these patients actually are healthier, so their treatment effects are not quite as strong as those who were initiated in the very early period who in our setting were among the sicker veterans. Policy makers shouldn't extrapolate the potential benefits to a broader population since there's so much demand for this drug, right? This also means that some of the downstream improvements like cost savings or even improved labor outcomes like absenteeism or being able to return to work, while these things might seem logical, it's not fair to assume that it's going to be automatic, especially at a population level. Related to that last point, we should encourage additional research on important socioeconomic outcome that might completely change the calculus of the cost benefit of these drugs, right? So, labor force participation, earnings, use of government transfer programs like disability insurance, even some interesting patterns of household formation and fertility. These are all fascinating and important questions. However, it is imperative to note that GLP-1s already have incredible health benefits for many people. While it's possible that these benefits might spill over to broader societal benefits, these benefits should not be presumed. And at the same time, we shouldn't be holding GLP-1s to a higher standard, say, to reduce healthcare spending or increase earnings just because we know that it does a bunch of wonderful things for a range of conditions. So, maybe it does this and this as well, and suddenly we're less excited if there's no evidence of that and that, right? These things have incredible health benefits. Let's appreciate them for that, and we shouldn't be holding them up to a higher standard just because it appears to do so many wonderful things. BIO Jonathan Zhang is a health economist at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and the Margolis Institute for Health Policy. He is a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research and an evaluator at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He researches how policy can improve mental health and substance use outcomes using quasi-experimental methods.

At the end of this year... eligible men will no longer have to register for the military draft. It will now be an automatic registration. Joining me live is the former Executive Director of the Utah Department of Veteran Affairs... Terry Schow.

Send us Fan Mail Senator Ruben Gallego came to Kingman Arizona to host a town hall about Veteran Affairs and how it affects the communities of Mohave County. This is the audio where he discusses and takes questions about the challenges veterans face after serving the country. There is a lot of great information here about that , the war, the SAVE act and more. Thank you to the Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council for hosting the event and visit them at jvac.org to learn more and donate to a good cause  Follow us at Reality Redemption on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky and Tik Tok

Our most favorite day at the fair is the first Monday, Veteran Day! SIMON talks to KARL LETTOW of the Iowa Dept of Veteran Affairs about how veteran and military organizations can submit their applications to walk in the parade. Then SIMON discusses 2A Day at the Iowa Capitol next week with MICHAEL WARE from The IOWA FIREARMS COALITION.

It might be cold right now but the heat will be here soon enough and when it's here you know what that means...the IOWA STATE FAIR!!! Our most favorite day at the fair is the first Monday, Veteran Day! SIMON talks to KARL LETTOW of the Iowa Dept of Veteran Affairs about how veteran and military organizations can submit their applications to walk in the parade.

Stability in Motion  Description: Listen as Mary Bier, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), discusses what military-connected children need most to thrive amid constant change. Drawing on both professional leadership and lived experience as a military parent, she reflects on the importance of stability, belonging, and prepared adults. This conversation offers parents and educators thoughtful insight into how consistent support helps military kids learn, lead, and feel grounded wherever they go.  This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.     Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.   Bio:  Mary Bier, President & Chief Executive Officer of MCEC  Mary Bier, MBA, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). A seasoned leader with more than 20 years of experience in business strategy, organizational leadership, and community engagement, she brings a dynamic vision to MCEC's mission of ensuring every military-connected child has access to quality educational opportunities.   As a military spouse and parent, Bier has firsthand insight into the unique challenges and strengths of military families. This lived experience fuels her passion for advocating for military-connected students, ensuring they receive the educational support and opportunities they deserve.   Bier's professional background spans both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, where she has successfully led high-impact initiatives, built collaborative partnerships, and served as a subject matter expert on veteran and military family issues. She has been invited to the White House to share insights on military-connected programs, testified before the New York City Department of Veteran Affairs, and facilitated expert panels on military family well-being.   Prior to joining MCEC, Bier held leadership roles in business strategy, customer success, and military initiatives, where she was instrumental in scaling operations, optimizing talent development, and fostering inclusive organizational cultures. Her ability to translate strategic goals into actionable outcomes has driven mission impact across multiple organizations.   At MCEC, Bier is committed to expanding the organization's reach, deepening partnerships, and championing the needs of military-connected children. Under her leadership, MCEC will continue to be a trusted resource for families, educators, and policymakers dedicated to supporting military students on their educational journey.   Bier holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Management and Organizational Behavior and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from California Lutheran University.   She resides with her family in Madison, Wisconsin.               

In this episode of Talk of Fame, Kylie Montigney chats with Linda O'Boyle Zaneski. Linda is a former Miss Pennsylvania who took home a community service and talent award at the Miss America Pageant in 1991. She was Mrs. Pennsylvania United States in 1996 and was a top 15 finalist in Las Vegas. She was Mrs. Pennsylvania International 2022 before retiring from the competitive pageant world. She has been a certified pageant judge, director, contestant and loved many years of being a pageant mom. She remains proud that she was the Pittston Tomato Festival Queen in 1988! Linda has been recognized for over 38 years of volunteer service with the Alzheimer's Association and currently sits on the Governor's State Task Force for Alzheimer's. She is a certified Dementia Champion and a three time Walk Chairperson. She continues to serve on the NEPA Walk to End Alzheimer's and fundraises for her team. Again, this year, she reached Grand Champion status by raising money from her annual Duck Derby and through sales of her latest children's book- A Walk for GG Lou. Linda is also very active with Lions Clubs International- the largest service organization in the world. She has served in many positions at the club level, including Club President and Club Secretary. She served as the District 14-W (Luzerne County) District Governor in 2022- 2023 and is currently the State Council Chairperson for 2023-24. She has received several awards for her service including the International Presidential Medal for Leadership- the second highest award in International Lions. Professionally, Linda is employed by the US Dept of Veteran Affairs and is a National Program Manager for Facility Based Care in the office of Geriatrics and Extended Care. She earned her Doctorate in Nursing and two Masters degrees- one in Health Care Administration and one in Nursing. She has earned 3 certifications (gerontological nursing, case management and Certification as a Dementia Care Specialist) She also maintains an active nursing home administrator license. Linda is an adjunct professor at Wilkes University in the School of Nursing. Linda resides in Edwardsville with her husband Stan. They have 2 children, Rebecca, who earned her Masters in Organizational Management in Healthcare from Misericordia University in 2020; and Stanley, who earned his Master's Degree in Business Management from Ithaca College in New York in 2022.Listen in as we discuss Linda's Mrs. Pennsylvania journey. You'll be inspired by her dedication to inspiring others through her experience as Mrs. Pennsylvania and her work with Alzheimer's. Follow Me:Instagram:@Officialkyliemontigney@TalkoffamepodFacebook:OfficialkyliemontigneyTalkoffameTwitter:@Kyliemontigney4About Me:Hi, I'm Kylie! I'm passionate about sports, spending time with family, traveling, and connecting with people who inspire me. I love listening to people's stories and sharing their journeys with the world!

Eric Lazar, owner of SpeedPro Chicago Loop and a Service-Disabled Veteran, joins Lisa Dent to discuss a roundtable SpeedPro Chicago Loop hosted that discussed the difficulties that veterans face when transitioning to normal life today. Lazar shares that some of the services Veteran Affairs supplied before the cuts brought on by DOGE are needed in veteran […]

Secretary Doug Collins tells Vineeta that the Government shutdown has been particularly hard on our nations Veterans. Listen to their chat on The WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar.

However, we will get a credit for our premium at the end of the year The 3 factors holding up progress that is set to last the duration of our current president's term Agriculture FDA, Military Construction, Veteran Affairs, Legislative Branch appropriation bill

Karl and Chief start the show with a conversation about the death of Dick Cheney and the medical industry. Joel calls in to talk Bitcoin and the market. Kenny joins the show to discuss Veteran Affairs and the military. Finally, Hal calls in to talk about big moves in the market and Trump's financial plans […]

Welcome to The Chrisman Commentary, your go-to daily mortgage news podcast, where industry insights meet expert analysis. Hosted by Robbie Chrisman, this podcast delivers the latest updates on mortgage rates, capital markets, and the forces shaping the housing finance landscape. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just looking to stay informed, you'll get clear, concise breakdowns of market trends and economic shifts that impact the mortgage world.In today's episode, we look at how veterans are being helped during the government shutdown. Plus, Robbie sits down with Tavant's Mohammad Rashid for a discussion on how automation and artificial intelligence will reshape customer experience, streamline operations, and address key lender challenges, positioning technology as the catalyst for modernizing and transforming the mortgage landscape. And we close by examining what data points are being released during the government shutdown.Today's podcast is brought to you by Floify, an industry-leading point of sale platform. With Floify's new Dynamic AI feature, lenders can modify applications with no coding required and rely on AI to autofill key application fields, allowing borrowers to fill out only a few fields relevant to their needs. The result? Faster completions, fewer drop-offs and smoother approvals. Discover smarter lending at www.floify.com or visit Floify in person at MBA Annual.

Leah provides a focused breakdown of how hepatitis B and C can be service-connected for VA disability claims. She explains the basics of hepatitis, common ways veterans may have been exposed during service (such as air gun injections or pre-1992 blood transfusions), and the criteria needed for direct or secondary service connection, including the importance of a medical nexus. Leah also highlights VA rating criteria, C&P exam expectations, and useful strategies like gathering strong medical documentation, requesting nexus letters, and referencing VA fast letters. 

Show Summaryfeaturing a conversation with PsychArmor's own Jenna Pryor, Vice President of Partnerships, and the Co-Hosts of Humana Radio's The Debrief Podcast, Donny Distler and Leigh Barnett. Donny and Leigh have a great conversation about how PsychArmor's courses can support Suicide Prevention and greater awareness of military culture in the health provider community.  Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today's GuestThis week's episode is a replay of a conversation with PsychArmor's Vice President of Partnerships, Jenna Pryor, and the Co-Hosts of Human Radio's The Debrief Podcast, Leigh Ann Barnett and Donnie Distler. Leigh Ann is a military family member who serves as an SNP Care Management and Case Manager with Humana, and Donnie is a Navy Veteran and Senior Acquisition Integration Professional with Humana. The Debrief Podcast is a series that is produced on behalf of Humana's SALUTE network resource group for Humana staff that have a military and veteran affiliation. Links Mentioned During the EpisodeHumana's SALUTE Network Resource GroupVA S.A.V.E. Training15 Things Veterans Want You to Know PsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the VA S.A.V.E. course. In collaboration with the Department of Veteran Affairs, this course covers suicide risk in the military and Veteran communities. Learn to identify at-risk Veterans and use S.A.V.E. steps to help make a difference.   You can find the resource here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/va-s-a-v-e Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on XPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Leah explains how veterans may qualify for VA disability compensation if they experience side effects from medications prescribed for service-connected conditions. She outlines what the VA recognizes under 38 CFR 3.310, provides real-world examples such as ulcers from NSAIDs, metabolic syndrome from antipsychotics, sexual dysfunction from SSRIs, and liver damage from anticonvulsants, and stresses the importance of proving secondary service connection with medical diagnoses, documentation, and nexus statements. Leah also highlights relevant medical literature, explains the potential for special monthly compensation or TDIU in severe cases, and warns about common pitfalls like failing to directly link symptoms to medications. 

Send us a textNavy veteran Saja Ramos shares her powerful journey from military service to addiction recovery, now serving as VP of Military and Veteran Affairs at American Addiction Centers. After a traumatic brain injury and vision loss from a car accident in Italy, she transformed her personal struggle with opioid addiction into a mission helping other veterans find treatment and purpose.• Joined the Navy in 2008 after high school, working in Information Technology in Sicily, Italy• Suffered a car accident resulting in TBI, PTSD, and vision loss in her right eye• Medically transitioned from service in 2011, leading to struggles with opioid addiction• Completed four months in residential treatment and nine months in sober living• Earned degrees in interdisciplinary studies and social work using her GI Bill• Now helps veterans access addiction treatment at American Addiction Centers• Works with clinical teams to ensure veterans receive appropriate, specialized care• Advocates for better veteran screening and assessment in healthcare settings• Challenges the stigma around veteran identity, especially for women and non-combat veterans• Practices "recovering out loud" to inspire others on their journey to healingFor veterans seeking help with addiction or substance use disorders, call American Addiction Centers at 866-288-1836 or reach Saja directly at 908-239-6417.

Today, September 3, is the last day for public comment on a newly proposed rule for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The draft regulation would ban VA doctors from performing most abortions.

Today, September 3, is the last day for public comment on a newly proposed rule for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The draft regulation would ban VA doctors from performing most abortions.

In this episode, we dive into the complex topic of Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) and its role in VA disability claims. Veterans experiencing chronic back pain or spinal issues may be struggling with DDD, a condition that can significantly impact daily life and work. Whether you're a veteran filing a claim or an advocate assisting others, this episode offers clarity on diagnosis, compensation, and common challenges in the VA claims process.

This episode of Veteran On the Move features Chris Moore, Director of Veteran Services at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) and a retired Command Sergeant Major. Chris shares his personal journey and the challenges veterans face when transitioning to higher education. He explains his role in helping veterans adapt and succeed as students, discussing common struggles and misconceptions, and highlighting how NYFA provides unique support to nearly 3,000 veterans pursuing their passion for film. Tune in to learn more about the critical resources and support systems available to veterans who pursue higher education.   Episode Resources: Veterans & Military Dependent Students - NYFA   About Our Guest Chris Moore, Director of Veteran Services (DVS) at New York Film Academy (NYFA). Alongside his role, Chris is also a Retired Command Sergeant Major and served as a Inter-Agency Coordinator for the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs.   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 forActive 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. Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you purchase via the link provided.

In this episode, we sit down with Mr. Wayne Berry, a Senior Procurement Analyst and Small Business Specialist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), part of the Department of Health and Human Services. With over 15 years of experience in federal contracting, Wayne provides valuable insights into how small businesses can navigate the complex landscape of government procurement. He breaks down the differences between agencies, highlighting the contrast between Veteran Affairs and HHS, shedding light on how each agency's unique mission shapes their purchasing strategies. Wayne emphasizes that understanding not just what an agency buys, but how they buy it, is crucial for success. From GSA schedules to the nuances of the small business program, Wayne's expertise shines through as he simplifies intricate concepts for newcomers to the world of federal contracting. Join us as Wayne Berry guides us through the intricate world of government contracts, offering practical advice for small businesses seeking to make their mark. Remember, government contracts might seem like one big entity, but it's a landscape made up of diverse agencies with distinct approaches to procurement. Tune in to this episode to learn how to navigate the system and position your small business for success!

EPISODE 142 | Project 2025: The First 180 Days (World Is Weird 15) Donald Trump said he didn't really know much about Project 2025 except that they sure liked him. And yet, of 313 specific Project 2025 initiatives, he's already enacted 108 of them, and another 63 are actively in the works as of this recording. Quite a coincidence, wouldn't you say? Project 2025 put a lot of importance of a sort of blitzkrieg if their boy won the 2024 election, a flurry of activity to define the first 180 days of his presidency and hopefully create so much change that, no matter what happens in future elections (if there are any) many of the changes they want to see happen will end up sticking around. That benchmark date was July 19.  So, let's look at Project 2025. What they say, and some of their own justifications for why they say it. And we'll also see just how much Trump has actively assisted them in realizing their vision for a very different America than the world has ever seen.  Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our page on Buy Me a Coffee.  Review us here or on IMDb. And seriously, subscribe, will ya?  SECTIONS 02:40 - The Mandate for Leadership, Version IX - The first of the Four Pillars, "cultural Marxism"; yes, it really is Gilead; white nationalists and Christian nationalists, family is the key, four main goals 08:52 - Three More Pillars - Info gathering, the Presidential Administration Academy, "climate change" is code for Christian depopulation, a secret playbook, Carter was evil, the DoD and Space Force 13:16 - Economy - General ideas, "fair trade" vs. "free trade", the Consumer Protection Bureau, the Department of Labor, the Department of Commerce 21:05 - Environment - General ideas, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior 25:09 - Transportation - General ideas, get married and make babies or no funding, the Department of Transportation, the FAA 27:11 - Education - General ideas, education is a private good, not a public one; the Department of Education, Parental Bill of Rights 33:12 - Identity - General ideas, LGBTQ+ and trans people ("radical gender ideology"), DEI, pornography 36:15 - Journalism - General ideas, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the FCC, the US Agency for Global Media (now a One America News organ), the Open Technology Fund 38:39 - Healthcare - General ideas, Medicaid, Medicare, the Department of Veteran Affairs, the CDC, the Department of Health is really the Department of Life, marriage, abortions, Planned Parenthood, in vitro fertilization, teen pregnancy, the Department of Health and Human Services 47:43 - Legal - General ideas, affirmative action, the FBI, the death penalty, the Secret Service as military cops, the Department of Justice, FACE Act no longer enforced, don't say trans 53:16 - National Security - Foreign policy shifts, USAID, NATO, nukes, the Department of Defense, Cybercom, the State Department, strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia 57:26 - Immigration - CBP, ICE, TSA, USCIS, refugees, asylum pay-to-stay scheme, birthright citizenship, mass deportations, more police, FEMA funds, the Department of Homeland Security 01:04:42 - Elections - General ideas, the FEC gets limits, photo ID to vote, armed police at polling stations 01:06:58 - Expansion of the Executive - The President is boss, loyalists only, the Insurrection Act of 1807, more surveillance 01:09:24 - Federal Staffing - Bring back the spoils-and-patronage system, the White House, the National Security Council 01:12:01 - Final Thoughts - Trump totally knows about Project 2025, the vision for an America-that-never-was, why the hell didn't you vote? Music by Fanette Ronjat More Info Project 2025 Tracker website (updated daily) r/Keep_Track Full text of "Project 2025 Mandate For Leadership" The “Mandate for Leadership” Series Inside Project 2025's Secret Training Videos - video on ProPublica YouTube channel 5 Reasons Leftists HATE Project 2025 from the Heritage Foundation Project 2025 Quick Read

On this podcast pt. 2, I sit down with the Neysa Holmes-wife of Erick Holmes. Erick selflessly served as a green beret, including 5 combat rotations to war. He suffers from diagnosed and admitted PTS and TBI. Throughout his journey he's pleaded for help and was repeatedly denied from a broken Veteran Affairs and Justice system. We discuss this journey from a wife's perspective and the challenges that brought her to step up and fight against the lack of process, empathy, and medical treatment available to our most vulnerable and deserving citizens-our combat veterans. Follow Neysa Holmes and check out her site to support her journey against a broken system that has abandoned her husband. Website: https://combatsupportinstitute.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/drneysaholmes/Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/555sfgwife?r=2i8dwb&utm_medium=iosNeysa Book: http://neysaholmes.com/Link to Articles on Erick:https://townlift.com/2025/07/after-more-than-a-week-in-solitary-new-plea-deal-offered-to-veteran-in-mental-health-crisis/https://www.newsbreak.com/townlift-562167/4088130506261-local-army-veteran-s-dangerous-i-80-standoff-was-foretold-and-ignored

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games is taking over Minneapolis this weekend. It's the largest annual wheelchair sporting event for veterans in the world. The games bring together hundreds of veterans from across the country for a week of athletic competition and community building.Dave Tostenrude, the director of the program for the Department of Veteran Affairs, and Mark Schultz, a Marine Corps veteran, Vietnam War combat vet, and a multi-sport athlete from Victoria, Minn., competing this weekend, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the event.

On this podcast I sit down with the Neysa Holmes-wife of Erick Holmes. Erick selflessly served as a green beret, including 5 combat rotations to war. He suffers from diagnosed and admitted PTS and TBI. Throughout his journey he's pleaded for help and was repeatedly denied from a broken Veteran Affairs and Justice system. We discuss this journey from a wife's perspective and the challenges that brought her to step up and fight against the lack of process, empathy, and medical treatment available to our most vulnerable and deserving citizens-our combat veterans. Follow Neysa Holmes and check out her site to support her journey against a broken system that has abandoned her husband. Website: https://combatsupportinstitute.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/drneysaholmes/Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/555sfgwife?r=2i8dwb&utm_medium=iosNeysa Book: http://neysaholmes.com/Link to Articles on Erick:https://townlift.com/2025/07/after-more-than-a-week-in-solitary-new-plea-deal-offered-to-veteran-in-mental-health-crisis/https://www.newsbreak.com/townlift-562167/4088130506261-local-army-veteran-s-dangerous-i-80-standoff-was-foretold-and-ignored

During this episode, we catch up with Angie Griffith. Angie is member of the University of Virginia's Registrar Office, and she works closely with Darden's students who are using military benefits to pay for their education. We talk with Angie about her background, what attracted her to her role, what she enjoys about supporting military students, her advice for military benefits users and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

During this episode, we catch up with Angie Griffith. Angie is member of the University of Virginia's Registrar Office, and she works closely with Darden's students who are using military benefits to pay for their education. We talk with Angie about her background, what attracted her to her role, what she enjoys about supporting military students, her advice for military benefits users and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz has been describing the flood devastation at Camp Mystic. A judge has handed Planned Parenthood a temporary win. The Department of Veteran Affairs won't be laying off as many workers as planned. A man has been deported to a country he has never even visited before. Plus, a study says there is a way to make your workout more enjoyable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Danielle Green is a true hero whose journey embodies resilience and courage. A former basketball player at the University of Notre Dame, Danielle's life took a profound turn when she enlisted in the U.S. Army, answering a lifelong call to serve her country. While serving in Iraq in 2004, Danielle was severely injured by a rocket propelled grenade, an event that would alter her life, but not her spirit. After her injury, Danielle dedicated herself to helping fellow veterans navigate their physical and emotional traumas, working first as a counselor for the Department of Veteran Affairs and now with the Wounded Warrior Project. Danielle has also been honored with the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPY Awards.Her remarkable story is not just about overcoming adversity, but finding purpose.Follow To Dine For:Official Website: ToDineForTV.comFacebook: Facebook.com/ToDineForTVInstagram: @ToDineForTVTwitter: @KateSullivanTVEmail: ToDineForTV@gmail.com Thank You to our Sponsors!Coca-ColaAmerican National InsuranceWairau River WinesFollow Our Guest:Official Site: WoundedWarriorProject.orgInstagram: @WWPFollow The Restaurant:Official Website: Aladdin's Eatery - Mishawaka, INFacebook: Aladdin's EateryInstagram: @AladdinsEatery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Cancer Registry World, Kerry Rowe, Oncology Data Program Manager for the National Oncology Program at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, joins Dr. Rick Greene to share insights about the critical role cancer registries play within the VA system. They also explore the history and future direction of the Veterans Cancer Registry. Tune in to learn more about this vital work supporting veteran cancer care.

Zoë Schiffer is joined by WIRED's Vittoria Elliott to discuss her conversation with Sahil Lavingia. Lavingia worked at Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency, within the Department of Veteran Affairs, until he was fired for speaking out about his experience. Lavingia said his time at the VA was marked by a lack of transparency from DOGE leadership, and chaotic day-to-day operations– the ramifications of which are still being felt today. Just this week, Senators called for a federal investigation into the Trump administration's killing of hundreds of contracts for the Department of Veterans Affairs Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan joins Hysteria to share about the tragic shootings in her state and honor the legacy of her friend and colleague, State Representative Melissa Hortman. Erin and Alyssa also discuss the latest on RFK Jr.'s vaccine quakery, new (bad) discrimination rules in VA hospitals, and their skepticism of Amy Coney Barrett's drift to the left. They wrap up with a petty conversation about shopping cart etiquette and the atrocious styling in Ryan Murphy's latest adaptation. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Southern Baptists move to end same-sex marriage in the US (BBC 6/11)‘Extremely disturbing and unethical': new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veterans (The Guardian 6/16)!RFK Jr. replaced everyone on the CDC's vaccine panel. Here's why that matters (NPR 6/13)Baby of Georgia woman who was kept on life support has been delivered: Report (USA Today (USA Today 6/17)A ‘formidable public servant.' Who was Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota state representative assassinated in her home? (CNN 6/14)The suspect in the shooting of 2 Minnesota lawmakers had a 'hit list' of 45 officials (NPR 6/16)How Amy Coney Barrett Is Confounding the Right and the Left (NYT 6/15)Supreme Court upholds Tennessee's youth transgender care ban (The Hill 6/18)

About 10% of babies nationwide are born prematurely, with some ending up in neonatal intensive care. During childbirth and critical natal care, the spotlight is on mom and baby – often leaving fathers in the shadows. But a program at Northwestern aims to give new fathers the support they need. Reset learns more about the program from Brad O'Conner, a NICU Dad and therapist at theDepartment of Veteran Affairs and Dr. Cameron Boyd NICU Fellow at Northwestern. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

What was it like to work inside Elon Musk's DOGE? The cost-cutting initiative promised transparency, but most of its actions have been shrouded in secrecy.For months, there were reports of software engineers and Trump loyalists entering agencies and accessing sensitive data. DOGE also helped the Trump administration lay off thousands of government workers. NPR reporters have been trying for months to get anyone from DOGE to talk on the record. Now, Sahil Lavingia, a former DOGE staffer assigned to the Department of Veteran Affairs, is speaking. Today, what drew Sahil to DOGE and what he learned about the inner workings, in a way we've never heard before.For more on DOGE and the federal workforce: - The last time we shrank the federal workforce - Can... we still trust the monthly jobs report? - Can the Federal Reserve stay independent?This episode was hosted by Kenny Malone and Bobby Allyn. It was produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler and Emma Peaslee. It was edited by Jess Jiang and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. It was engineered by Neal Rauch. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.Listen free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Empowering Men's Mental Health: A Conversation with Justin GarberIn this episode of the Beacon Way podcast, we are joined by Justin Garber, a clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience in various settings, including the Department of Veteran Affairs. Justin, who specializes in the relationship between psychological stress and the body's response system, shares his personal journey into the field of psychology and the founding of Restorative Psychological Services. The discussion delves into the unique challenges and strategies for engaging men in psychotherapy, as well as the importance of mental health awareness across different generations. Justin also shares insights into managing work-life balance as an entrepreneur and highlights the importance of focusing on core values and mission in business. Tune in for an enlightening conversation on mental health and entrepreneurship.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:44 Justin's Journey into Psychology04:20 Veterans Affairs and Personal Connection06:54 Starting Restorative Psychological Services08:37 Challenges and Rewards of Entrepreneurship12:54 Focus on Men's Mental Health17:56 Balancing Work and Personal Life24:47 Empowering Employees and Final ThoughtsBooks referenced in today's podcast: https://www.aileadership.com/bookhttps://www.amazon.com/Who-Not-How-Accelerating-Teamwork-ebook/dp/B0867ZJ151https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280https://www.amazon.com/ONE-Thing-Surprisingly-Extraordinary-Results/dp/1885167776Learn more about Justin and Restorative Psychological Services:https://restorativepsychservices.com/justin-garber-psyd/_____________________________________________________________________Beacon Media + Marketing is an Alaska-based digital marketing agency with a proven track record of success, harnessing the power of data and award-winning creative to deliver outstanding results for our clients. It all starts with data, because data drives results! We are a data-driven agency because we know that in the business world, success is measured by the numbers. We pride ourselves in award-winning work that marries the best of data analytics with stunning creative to deliver the right message, at the right time, to the right demographic. Our power lies in the clicks, leads, engagement, and conversions we produce for our clients!Learn more about us at BeaconMM.com

In this episode, Secretary of Veteran Affairs Doug Collins discusses the challenges faced by veterans, including media misrepresentation, budget allocation, and the pressing issue of veteran suicides. He emphasizes the need for efficiency in government operations and the importance of public-private partnerships to improve veteran care. Collins also addresses the bureaucratic hurdles that veterans encounter when seeking benefits and advocates for a streamlined process to ensure timely assistance. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. For more visit TudorDixonPodcast.com #VeteranAffairs #DougCollins #mediachallenges #veteransuicide #public #private #partnerships #governmentefficiency #bureaucracy #veterancareSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is in the Philippines today as scrutiny over his role in the Signal group chat intensifies. We'll tell you which state has become the first to officially ban fluoride from drinking water. Call center jobs at the Department of Veteran Affairs are being slashed. A bid to stop the government from immediately deporting a Cornell University student has been denied. Plus, why Duke University is criticizing HBO series "The White Lotus". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The head of a national veterans group is on tour in Minnesota this week to talk about preventing suicide. Suicide rates are consistently higher for those who have served in the military, compared to non-veterans according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The American Legion's Be the One campaign aims to get veterans and their communities talking more openly about mental health. James LaCoursiere Jr., the group's National Commander, is promoting the initiative all over the country. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the initiative.If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Call or text 988 to get connected with trained counselors who can help. The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is available 24/7.

WMAL GUEST: 7:35 AM - INTERVIEW - SECRETARY DOUG COLLINS - United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/secvetaffairs VA secretary accuses reporter of spreading 'rumors' about DOGE that hurt veterans in tense clash Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Thursday, March 13, 2025 / 7 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to one of Holly's friends who works in Veteran Affairs to see how life really is as a Federal Employee in a time government gutting.

Hey there Lemon Community! Co-Founder and CEO of The Seneca Project, Tara Setmayer brings us this week's episode of The Setmayer Sound Off! Tara dives into the layoffs at the Department of Veteran Affairs and takes a broader look at the impacts Trump policies are having on veterans across the country. Join Tara as she breaks it all down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey there Lemon Community! Co-Founder and CEO of The Seneca Project, Tara Setmayer brings us this week's episode of The Setmayer Sound Off! Tara dives into the layoffs at the Department of Veteran Affairs and takes a broader look at the impacts Trump policies are having on veterans across the country. Join Tara as she breaks it all down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The DiMe Seal is a new initiative designed to help healthcare systems and consumers identify high-quality, trustworthy digital health software products. In this episode, Jennifer Goldsack, CEO of the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), and Kimberly McManus, Deputy Chief AI Officer at the Department of Veteran Affairs, discuss the DiMe Seal, a new program designed to evaluate and recognize trustworthy digital health software. They explain the challenges healthcare systems face in evaluating the vast market of digital health products, the criteria used by the DiMe Seal, and the benefits for both developers and end-users. Both Jen and Kim highlight the importance of evidence-based claims, robust privacy and security measures, and user-friendly design in digital health. They also believe in the potential for the DiMe Seal to improve the quality of digital health products and streamline the adoption process for healthcare systems and consumers.  Tune in and learn how the DiMe Seal is working to bring order and trust to the digital health market! Resources: Connect with and follow Jennifer Goldsack on LinkedIn. Connect with and follow Kimberly McManus on LinkedIn. Learn more about Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) on their LinkedIn. Start with the DiMe Seal program today. Use the code “OutRock25“ to save 25% today. Find out more about the Dime Seal Governance Committee here.

Dr. Peter Rios, PhD, is a respected bilingual speaker, organizational consultant, and leadership coach with over 20 years of experience in leadership development across diverse industries. Dr. Rios has consulted for prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, the Lilly Endowment, and the Department of Veteran Affairs. He is the author of Maximize!: 12 Keys to Unlocking Your Greatest Potential. Driven by his own transformative journey from overcoming early trauma, Dr. Rios, alongside his spouse Dr. Ruby Gonzalez Rios, is dedicated to empowering individuals to realize their full potential.Episode Summary:Host Myrna Young engages in a riveting conversation with Dr. Peter Rios on how to maximize your life. Dr. Rios shares his transformative journey from struggling in community college to becoming a leader with two doctoral degrees. Central to this theme is the mindset shift required to overcome personal challenges and foster growth. Dr. Rios highlights the importance of mentorship, self-exploration, and seizing opportunities as cornerstones for achieving success and fulfillment.He delves into the specific challenges faced by people of color and minorities, emphasizing actionable strategies to redefine personal stories into narratives of empowerment. They discuss how embracing one's identity and recognizing inherent value is crucial to confronting societal inequities. Alongside, the conversation examines how disciplined actions, no matter how small, contribute to long-standing positive changes, equipping listeners with practical steps to forge their paths toward realizing their dreams.Key Takeaways:Overcoming trauma and transforming obstacles into opportunities is essential for personal growth and maximizing potential.Developing a mindset that challenges mediocrity is a cornerstone of leadership and self-improvement.Understanding and leveraging your unique story can serve as a profound superpower in personal and professional arenas.Practical and consistent discipline, small daily actions, and focused goals can create substantial cumulative transformations.ShopifyShopify makes it simple to create your brand, open for business, and get your first sale. Go to SHOPIFY.COM/transform to start selling with Shopify today.HeadwayHeadway turns complex non-fiction content into simple, engaging summaries—short and focused insights that matter to you. Head over to http://makeheadway.com/transform and start your self-growth journey today. To advertise on our podcast, visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TransformyourMindor email kriti@youngandprofiting.com See this video on The Transform Your Mind YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MyhelpsUs/videosTo see a transcripts of this audio as well as links to all the advertisers on the show page https://myhelps.us/Follow Transform Your Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/myrnamyoung/Follow Transform Your mind on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063738390977Please leave a rating and review on iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transform-your-mind/id1144973094

Peter O'Rourke, former Acting Secretary of Veteran Affairs, reacts to the news that Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz declined to deploy to Iraq for combat duty as a high-ranking member of the Minnesota National Guard. “When you're in a guard unit and you get called up by your nation to deploy and to serve in a combat zone, that's the pinnacle of your service especially in a guard unit. And to see your senior enlisted guy decide that his personal ambition was much more important than that unit's ambition, that had to have been a blow to their morale," he says. Additional interviews with President of Job Creators Network Elaine Parker on her company's debut of 'Kamala's California' Eagles parody and Foreign Policy Expert Dr. Walid Phares sounds the alarm on the Iranian regime's level of influence over the Democratic Party.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Escalante is currently a Professor of Kinesiology and Assistant Dean for the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, San Bernardino. He is a scholar in the areas of exercise science, sports nutrition, and sports medicine. His research interests include sports nutrition/supplementation, body composition assessment, physique enhancement, and sports injury prevention/rehabilitation. Dr. Escalante has over 75 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts in the fields of exercise science, sports nutrition, sports medicine, and kinesiology. He regularly presents at regional, national, and international conferences on his research and serves as a sports nutrition/exercise science consultant to various companies in the health/fitness/sports supplement space. Additionally, he has served as an expert witness in the areas of sports nutrition and sports medicine. Dr. Escalante has secured over $150,000 of internal funding to support his teaching and research as well as over $5 million in external funding as principal investigator or co-investigator through various businesses and agencies, inclusive of the US Department of Education and the US Department of Veteran Affairs. Dr. Escalante holds a BS in Athletic Training with a Biology minor and an MBA with concentrations in Marketing and Healthcare Management from the University of La Verne. He also received a Doctor of Science in Athletic Training from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and is certified as an athletic trainer through the National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA), a strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and as a Sports Nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN). In 2021, Dr. Escalante became one of only 36 fellows (out 36,000+ members) of the ISSN for his contributions in the field of sport nutrition. Dr. Escalante is an active member of the NATA, NSCA, and the ISSN. He serves as a reviewer and associate editor for the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (JISSN), Vice-President for the ISSN, and chair of the NSCA Bodybuilding and Fitness Special Interest Group. He also serves as a reviewer for 8 major journals including the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and the British Journal of Nutrition. Dr. Escalante also has over 50 publications in mainstream fitness magazines and websites including Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Bodybuilding.com, Muscular Development, and MuscleMag International Magazine. He has appeared on television, radio shows, and podcasts discussing fitness, health, bodybuilding, and performance enhancement drugs. He has been a competitive bodybuilder since 2000, a bodybuilding/physique coach since 2004, and was a bodybuilding judge and/or sports medicine provider for MuscleContest International from 2010-2019. Prior to going into higher level education, Dr. Escalante owned and operated an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy and personal training business for 18 years and was an owner/operator of 2 World Gym franchises. He also served as interim head athletic trainer for East Los Angeles Community College, was a fitness/health consultant for the US Department of Defense, and was the Chief Operating Officer and Sports Medicine Coordinator for a large physical therapy/sports medicine practice in Southern California. Over the course of his 20+ year career, Dr. Escalante has had the opportunity to train, treat, coach, and/or consult with thousands of athletes and non-athletes alike inclusive of professional athletes in the NFL, MLB, NBA, LPGA, Olympians, and IFBB bodybuilders/physique competitors. Work with RAPID Health Optimization Dr. Guillermo Escalante on Instagram Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram