In this episode of VET’ed, host Jen M. Wagman looks ahead to the 2026 Warrior Games in San Antonio by sitting down with an extraordinary panel: Colonel David Paschal, US Army, (Ret.) , Director of the Warrior Games; Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Stephanie Shaver (USAF), founder of the Healing Hut; and Tish Stropes Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Fisher House Foundation. Together, they peel back the layers of what physical and mental recovery truly look like for our nation's wounded service members.

Dave shares how the nature of military injuries has fundamentally shifted over the years—moving from sustained battlefield trauma to devastating civilian accidents, cancer, and neurodegenerative illnesses like ALS—and explains why the need for a team identity remains a critical lifeline for these heroes. Dr. Shaver shares the raw, life-altering impact of the Healing Hut's integrative, alternative modalities, while Tisch highlights the quiet, exhausting sacrifices made by the caregivers and families standing on the sidelines. This conversation is a profound reminder that a gold medal is the least important thing happening on the field; the true victory is giving our veterans a launchpad to reclaim their lives, their community, and their sense of purpose.

To learn more about the Warrior Games, visit dodwarriorgames.com.

To learn more about Fisher House, visit fisherhouse.org.

To learn more about GenVETS, visit genvets.org.

To leave comments, suggestions or ask questions regarding VET’ed. with Jen M. Wagman, email VETed@genvets.org

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👍 Subscribe, Like & Follow @VETedPodcast for more episodes that inform and empower Veterans, transitioning service members, and their families.

#Veterans #MentalHealth #WarriorGames2026 #AdaptiveSports #FisherHouse #HealingHut #Resilience #Community #FamilySupport #InvisibleWounds

In this episode of VET’ed., host Jen M. Wagman sits down with Marty Trujillo, a 30-year Marine Corps veteran who is now leading the charge to heal families and veterans from the ground up. As the Executive Director for Colorado Youth Outdoors (Southern Region), Marty shares his insights into why our current approach to veteran mental health and transition is missing the mark. It isn't about adding more complex programming; it's about stripping away the noise, removing the technology, and rebuilding core human relationships.

From powerful metaphors about looking into a two-way mirror to personal stories of finding humility after hanging up the uniform, Marty explains how nature and shared experiences provide the ultimate space for genuine connection. Whether you're a veteran trying to navigate life after service or a family member looking to reconnect, this conversation is a powerful roadmap to finding your anchor and finishing the race strong.

To learn more about Colorado Youth Outdoors, visit www.coloradoyo.org

To learn more about the 501(c)(3) nonprofit veterans service organization GenVETS, Inc. visit www,genvets.org

To leave comments, suggestions or ask questions regarding VET’ed. with Jen M. Wagman, email VETed@genvets.org

🔔 Available wherever you get your podcasts!

👍 Subscribe, Like & Follow @VETedPodcast for more episodes that inform and empower Veterans, transitioning service members, and their families.

#Veterans #MentalHealth #ColoradoYouthOutdoors #FamilyConnection #Community #Resilience #MarineCorps #Healing #VeteranSupport #PostTraumaticGrowth

In this episode of VET'ed, host Jen M. Wagman sits down with veterans' attorney Benjamin Pomerance to talk about a fight too many of us know too well: the fight for the benefits we earned.

They walk through the VA's recent attempt to reduce disability ratings for veterans whose symptoms are managed by medication—a proposal that would have undone fifteen years of court precedent and told millions of veterans that getting better on paper means getting less in reality. It was stopped. But only after a lawsuit. Only after advocates refused to stay quiet.

They talk about the appeals backlog nobody wants to name. About the 93.4% accuracy rate that no advocate on the ground actually sees. About veterans who are told to stop complaining when what they're really doing is fighting to be heard.

And they talk about something that doesn't get measured enough: the weight all of this puts on a person's will to keep going.

This episode isn't here to make you angry. It's here because silence never fixed a broken system. And because the promise made to those who served should never have to be earned twice.

To contact Benjamin Pomerance, email: benjamin.pomerance@veterans.ny.gov

To learn more about GenVETS, visit https://genvets.org.

To leave comments, suggestions or ask questions regarding VET’ed. with Jen M. Wagman, email VETed@genvets.org

🔔 Available wherever you get your podcasts!

👍 Subscribe, Like & Follow @VETedPodcast for more episodes that inform and empower Veterans, transitioning service members, and their families.

#Veterans #VeteransBenefits #VETedPodcast #AdministrativeLaw #MilitaryFamilies #VeteranSupport #SpeakOut #SystemicChange #Accountability

In this soul-stirring episode of VET’ed, host Jen M. Wagman sits down with Brian Cain, a Marine Corps veteran and former law enforcement officer who found his way back from the brink through the strings of a guitar. Brian’s journey is one of raw honesty—from the adrenaline of undercover narcotics work to the quiet, devastating realization that he was losing his soul to the job.

As the Development Director for Guitars for Vets, Brian explains how a 10-week program does far more than teach chords; it provides a lifeline to veterans who feel isolated in their civilian lives. This isn't just about music; it’s about providing space to recreate the lost sense of camaraderie and rediscovering the community that many lose after hanging up the uniform.

Whether you are a veteran searching for a new way to regulate your emotions or a supporter looking to understand the "magic" that happens at the chapter level, this episode is a powerful reminder that while hope isn't a strategy, community is the answer.

To learn more about Guitars for Vets, visit guitarsforvets.org.

To learn more about GenVETS, visit genvets.org.

To leave comments, suggestions or ask questions regarding VET’ed. with Jen M. Wagman, email VETed@genvets.org

🔔 Available wherever you get your podcasts!

👍 Subscribe, Like & Follow @VETedPodcast for more episodes that inform and empower Veterans, transitioning service members, and their families.

#Veterans #MentalHealth #GuitarsForVets #MusicTherapy #Community #Resilience #MarineCorps #Healing #VeteranSupport

In this deeply moving episode of VET’ed., host Jen M. Wagman sits down with Kristen Christy, a "product of the Air Force" and the visionary co-creator of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This conversation transcends policy and numbers; it is a raw, heartfelt journey through the superpower of community, the devastating impact of loss, and the "3:00 AM idea" that changed mental health care in America forever.

Kristen shares the story of her husband, an Air Force leader who tragically took his own life just days before being promoted to Colonel. From the depths of that grief and her own son's subsequent struggles, Kristen found the strength to ask a simple, world-changing question: "Why don't we have a three-digit number for mental health emergencies?". This episode is a powerful reminder that our identity is not found in our rank or our uniform, but in our character and our capacity to hope.

For more information about the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, dial or text 988

To learn more about GenVETS, visit https://genvets.org.

To leave comments, suggestions, or ask questions regarding VET’ed. with Jen M. Wagman, email VETed@genvets.org.

🔔 Available wherever you get your podcasts!

👍 Subscribe, Like & Follow @VETedPodcast for more episodes that inform and empower Veterans, transitioning service members, and their families.

#988Lifeline #Veterans #MentalHealth #VetEdPodcast #MilitaryFamilies #Resilience #HopeIsNotCancelled #SuicidePrevention #AirForceFamily #VeteranSupport

In this powerful episode of VET’ed, host Jen M. Wagman welcomes a guest she has known and respected for decades: Inspector General Cheryl Mason. This isn't just a clinical look at government oversight; it is a conversation about a lifelong commitment to the men and women who served.

Inspector General Mason brings a "dangerous" amount of experience to her role—having seen the VA from every possible angle. Driven by a deep personal passion as a military and veteran spouse, Mason explains why oversight isn't about bureaucracy—it’s about ensuring the department lives up to its sacred promise.

Whether you are a veteran feeling frustrated by the system or an advocate looking for a path forward, this episode serves as a bridge back to the middle. It’s a reminder that behind the reports and investigations are individuals dedicated to driving the change our community deserves.

For more information about VAoig, visit www.vaoig.gov

To learn more about GenVETS, visit https://genvets.org.

To leave comments, suggestions or ask questions regarding VET’ed. with Jen M. Wagman, email VETed@genvets.org

🔔 Available wherever you get your podcasts!

👍 Subscribe, Like & Follow @VETedPodcast for more episodes that inform and empower Veterans, transitioning service members, and their families.

#Veterans #MentalHealth #VetEdPodcast #MilitaryFamilies #MilitarySpouses #VeteranSupport #Resilience #GoldStarFamilies #TheRosieNetwork #Sacrifice

A special episode marking 20 years since U.S. Marine Brian Letendre was killed in action in Iraq on May 3, 2006—through the voice of his wife, Autumn, and the life that she and their son Dillon continued forward in his honor and memory.

In this deeply moving conversation, we explore the profound realities of military life, the face of great loss, and the incredible resilience required to raise a family in the wake of sacrifice. From the personal journey of navigating grief to the mission of supporting fellow military spouses, this episode honors those who serve—both on the front lines and at home.

🎙️ Whether you are a member of the military community, a veteran, or someone looking to understand the depth of service to our country, this conversation serves as a powerful reminder of the human spirit's ability to endure and give back.

Resources Mentioned:

• Abbie Adams Project: https://autumnletendre.com/
• The Rosie Network: https://www.therosienetwork.org/

To learn more about GenVETS, visit https://genvets.org.

To leave comments, suggestions or ask questions regarding VET’ed. with Jen M. Wagman, email VETed@genvets.org

🔔 Available wherever you get your podcasts!

👍 Subscribe, Like & Follow @VETedPodcast for more episodes that inform and empower Veterans, transitioning service members, and their families.

#Veterans #MentalHealth #VetEdPodcast #MilitaryFamilies #MilitarySpouses #VeteranSupport #Resilience #GoldStarFamilies #TheRosieNetwork #Sacrifice

William Person is a former Team USA bobsledder. He battled with CTE and an hyperbaric oxygen chamber gave him his life back. His story mirrors the struggles faced by countless Veterans living with untreated TBI and PTSD, revealing the urgent need for new solutions and compassion in the system.

Through his mission “One Man with the Chamber,” William is fighting to bring healing and hope to those who’ve sacrificed everything, proving that with the right support, recovery is possible.

🔔Subscribe for more conversations that inform and empower Veterans, transitioning service members, and their families!

#veterans #veteranfamily #militaryfamily #ctevtentranceprep #braininjury #TBI #ptsd #veterancare #hyperbaricoxygentherapy #mentalhealthawareness #vetedpodcast