Veteran Made with Carey Kight

TJ Millard flew Apache helicopters in the Army. Now he flies camera-mounted drones for some of the biggest shows on television. On this episode of Veteran Made, TJ joins Carey Kight to talk about his transition from Army aviation into Hollywood drone cinematography, working across the Taylor Sheridan universe, The Terminal List, Succession, SEAL Team, 9-1-1: Lone Star, the Marvel Cinematic Univerese, Star Trek, and more. TJ breaks down how drones have changed film and television production, what they can and cannot replace, how aerial cinematography actually works on set, and why being a good collaborator matters just as much as being technically skilled. This conversation is also about veteran transition, relationships, creative work, social media, indie filmmaking, and the simple advice that keeps showing up across every successful career: Work hard. Be kind. Don’t be a dick. Topics Include: Transitioning from Army aviation to the film and television industry Flying Apache helicopters and discovering early drone technology How drones changed aerial cinematography in Hollywood Working across the Taylor Sheridan universe, including Lioness and Landman Collaborating with aerial DPs, directors, and camera teams on set What drones can and cannot replace compared to helicopters, cranes, dollies, and arm cars The difference between operating a drone and creating a cinematic shot Breaking into Hollywood through relationships, reputation, and trust Working on projects like The Terminal List, Succession, SEAL Team, Marvel, Star Trek, and 9-1-1: Lone Star The power of social media as a working portfolio Balancing major studio work with indie filmmaking Acting, producing, and aerial cinematography on Sheepdog Developing original scripts and pursuing directing after military service Why “don’t be a dick” is still elite career advice Work hard, be kind, and build a reputation people can trust Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/tj.millard/

On episode 182, I’m joined by actor and Marine Corps veteran Michael Broderick. Michael has built the kind of career a lot of actors dream about but not overnight, not through some clean, easy path. He built it by staying in the work. He’s been on shows like 24, NCIS, True Detective, The Terminal List, American Horror Story, and a whole lot more. In this conversation, we talk about what it actually looks like to become a working actor: the classes, the auditions, the co-stars, the guest stars, the momentum, the mistakes, the luck, and the preparation required to be ready when the opportunity finally shows up. We also talk about Michael’s journey from theater kid in Spring Lake, New Jersey, to the Marine Corps, to New York, Los Angeles, and now Nashville — and how his military background helped him first break into the industry through military advising and special-ability work on set. But the heart of this episode is storytelling. Michael talks about the joy of being on set, the discipline of staying in class, the humility of serving the story, and what it means to come full circle by bringing Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret back to the Spring Lake Theatre, the same place where he first fell in love with performing more than forty years ago. Topics Include: Building a working acting career after the Marine Corps Breaking into Hollywood through military advising and special-ability work Landing a role on 24 through preparedness meeting opportunity The grind of co-stars, guest stars, auditions, classes, and momentum Why actors have to “stay in class” and keep training Working on True Detective, The Terminal List, Jarhead, and more The difference between serving the story and trying to steal the scene Finding joy in the privilege of being on set Michael’s experience in New York City on 9/11 Returning home to Spring Lake Theatre with Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret How storytelling opens conversations between veterans, families, and civilians Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/thatbroderick/

Episode 181 features Army Special Forces veteran, Alex Dekker, debut author of Desert Heist, a high-adventure thriller in the vein of Indiana Jones and National Treasure. Desert Heist smashes a lot of things together in a really fun way that feels both familiar and fresh because Alex spent twenty years in special operations, including time in the Middle East, and he brings that experience to the page. But Desert Heist isn’t just a military thriller. It’s a high-adventure story about a former Green Beret named Nate Wilde — a skeptic by nature and by training — who gets pulled into the mystery of the Lost City of Ubar also known as the Atlantis of the Sands. Alex and I talk about the power of fiction, how stories shape us when we’re young, what it’s like to take real experiences and put them into a fictional world, and why sometimes the best thing a writer can do is tell the kind of story we already love — and tell it really, really well. Topics include: The power of fiction and why the stories we love as kids stay with us Writing a fictional adventure story from real special operations experience The Lost City of Ubar and the hidden-history rabbit holes behind Desert Heist Nate Wilde as a skeptical Green Beret who wants to believe — but needs proof Why the book feels like a throwback in the best possible way Building a team dynamic that feels real to veterans and non-veterans alike Transitioning out of the military and into a completely new creative world The author community, ThrillerFest, blurbs, publishing, and learning a new industry Why former operators reconnecting can feel like finding home again What it means to tell the kind of story we already love — and tell it really, really well Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/alxdekker/

Christian Brunetti joins Carey Kight for a deep-dive conversation on military realism, Hollywood stunts, veteran storytelling, and the hard transition from special operations into the film industry. Known for his work on Army Wives, A24's Civil War, Marvel's Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and The Terminal List universe, including Dark Wolf and True Believer, Brunetti breaks down how his Army and special operations background shaped his path as a military technical advisor, stunt performer, filmmaker, and storyteller. He explains why tactical realism on screen is about far more than weapons handling, room clearing, and gear accuracy — it is about character, psychology, stakes, and helping actors understand the “why” behind the movements. Carey and Christian discuss the relationship between military advisors, stunt teams, actors, directors, and production crews, and how the best on-screen action comes from trust, humility, preparation, and collaboration. Brunetti also shares what he learned transitioning from the Army into Hollywood, how he found his way onto Army Wives almost by accident, and why relationships, adaptability, and service-minded leadership matter just as much on a film set as they do in uniform. The conversation also turns deeply personal as Christian opens up about PTSD, veteran suicide, failure, fear, creative risk, and the short film he is writing, directing, acting in, and producing to show what PTSD can actually feel like from the inside. He discusses Brothers Keepers Veteran Foundation, the legacy of his friend Chris Cathers, and why he believes veterans and creatives have a responsibility to tell real stories with honesty, courage, and humanity. This episode is for veterans, filmmakers, actors, stunt performers, military technical advisors, fans of The Terminal List, and anyone interested in how authentic warfighter experience can shape better storytelling on screen. Topics include: Christian Brunetti’s transition from the Army into film and television Working as a military technical advisor on Army Wives and The Terminal List Dark Wolf, True Believer, and the world of Jack Carr adaptations The difference between tactical accuracy and true military realism How actors prepare for military and special operations roles What stunt teams and military advisors each bring to action scenes Why elite actors and elite operators share similar traits PTSD, veteran suicide, and the unseen weight many veterans carry Brothers Keepers Veteran Foundation and the legacy of Chris Cathers Making independent films without waiting for permission Why failure, selection, and creative risk can become a path forward Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/cbrunettifilm/ https://www.instagram.com/ghostsinthedaylightfilm/

Do it right, or don’t do it at all. In episode 179, Nick Koumalatsos returns to Veteran Made to talk about his work as a consulting producer on The Punisher: One Last Kill and his collaboration with Jon Bernthal to bring Frank Castle back to the screen with honesty, weight, and realism. Nick shares how his own background as a Force Recon Marine and special operations veteran helped shape the character, from the tactical details to the deeper emotional truth of a man who has lost his identity, his purpose, and the people who mattered most to him. We talk about how Nick’s book, Excommunicated Warrior , influenced parts of Frank’s arc, why the story needed to show rock bottom instead of explain it, and what it means to portray veterans and special operations service members as human beings rather than untouchable icons. We also get into the craft behind the film itself — working with Jon Bernthal and the stunt team to build realistic action sequences, refining weapons manipulation and close quarter combat, and understanding the difference between what is real in life and what reads as real on camera. This is a conversation about transition, accountability, purpose, brotherhood, pain, and the responsibility of telling these stories the right way in the most grounded depiction of a modern veteran in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/nickkoumalatsos/

Discipline, humility, resilience, and what it means to serve the story first. In episode 178, I sit down with acclaimed actor and audiobook narrator Ray Porter for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, performance, and how a workmanlike approach to the craft has shaped his career. Ray discusses narrating Jack Carr’s The Fourth Option , the start of a new series and character outside the Terminal List universe, and what it’s like to bring Jack’s words to life after years of collaboration across fiction and nonfiction. He shares his unconventional approach to audiobook narration — reading cold, letting the text lead, and trying to disappear so the listener can connect directly with the story. We also dig into the physical, mental, and creative demands of narration, the difference between acting on stage, screen, and behind the mic, and why audiobook work is far more difficult than many people assume. The conversation moves from craft to calling, touching on burnout, creative renewal, theater, imposter syndrome, and the importance of building a full life outside the work itself. Ray also reflects on his role as Darkseid in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the long road from being cut out of the theatrical release to finally hearing audiences cheer when the #SnyderCut arrived. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/the.ray.porter/

Forgotten history, political complexity, storytelling, and the strange ways oil, empire, and ideology have shaped the modern world. In episode 177, I sit down with bestselling author Douglas Brunt to discuss The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel , a sweeping narrative history about oil, revolution, and the forgotten Nobel heir who helped power the war machine. Doug shares how Emanuel Nobel’s story emerged from his previous book on Rudolf Diesel, why the Russian Nobel family was effectively erased from history, and how Emanuel’s oil empire collided with the rise of Stalin, Lenin, the Bolsheviks, and the violent upheaval of the Russian Revolution. Our conversation explores how narrative nonfiction can make history feel alive, why history is often more complicated than textbooks suggest, and how massive global shifts are experienced by real people on the ground. We also dig into the craft of writing: research rabbit holes, index cards, archival discoveries, footnotes, building narrative momentum, and the challenge of turning dense historical material into a story with real forward thrust. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/douglas_brunt/

Jack Carr is back on episode 176 to talk about The Fourth Option — his first thriller outside of the James Reece and Terminal List universe. This one still has all the flavor: authenticity, action, and the kind of detail that only comes from lived experience. But it also introduces a new character, Chris Walker, who brings a very different energy — part warfighter, part searcher, part philosopher, and very much his own man. Jack and I talk about building a new universe, collaborating with co-author M.P. Woodward, the challenge of letting someone else into your creative process, and why Jack still feels responsible for making every book better than the last. We also get into what it means to write honestly about the Afghanistan withdrawal, suicide in the veteran community, and the weight veterans carry when the right decisions still lead to painful outcomes. It’s a conversation about craft, responsibility, service, storytelling, and the pursuit of doing the work better every single time. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/jackcarrusa/

On episode 175, I’m joined by writer, educator, and friend Jessica Danger to talk about her memoir, No Heroic Measures . This conversation is about grief, addiction, caregiving, estrangement, sobriety, and the responsibility that comes with telling the truth on the page. Jessica and I talk about how she shaped an incredibly personal story into a memoir, what it means to tell the truth, and why specificity really is generosity. We also get into the writing process itself — the messy drafts, the revisions, the details you keep, the details you cut, and how sometimes the story you think you’re writing is not the story at all. This one is personal, thoughtful, and deeply human. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/mamadanger/

Responsible storytelling + creative collaboration = veteran characters who have depth, purpose, and a future. In episode 174, I sit down with Luke Tennie to talk about his role as Sean on Apple TV's Shrinking and why the character has resonated so deeply. Luke shares how he approached playing Sean with care, how he and one of the writers on the show, Bill Posley, crafted him Sean as a full human being instead of just a stereotype, and why humor, pain, community, and accountability all matter in telling this kind of story. We also dig into the deeper themes behind Sean’s arc: PTSD, self-harm, isolation, entrepreneurship, group therapy, and the hard work of full reintegration after service. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/luke.tennie

We must be the ones telling these stories. Not just consulting. Not just advising. Leading. Creating. Producing. Representing ourselves with precision and truth across every level and in every facet of the industry. If we don’t step up, culture will continue to get it wrong. In episode 173, I sit down with the wild man himself, Rudy Reyes — Marine Corps veteran, actor, stunt coordinator, producer, the driving force behind FOX’s Special Forces. Our conversation cuts straight to the core of what authentic storytelling demands. Rudy doesn’t just play roles — he lives them, bringing hard-earned truths from the battlefield to film, television, and commercial advertising. We dive into his latest work as the lead in the VA’s Face Your Dragon campaign, a powerful PSA focused on securing firearms in the home to prevent veteran suicide. This is more than representation, it’s responsibility. Rudy breaks down how his experience as a warfighter directly informs his work as an actor, stunt coordinator, and producer, and why that level of authenticity cannot be faked or outsourced. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/realrudyreyes/ https://www.instagram.com/newwarproductions/

On episode 172, I sit down with my friend Mark Harper — Air Force veteran, executive producer, and founder of GigLine Media — to unpack how a group of military storytellers pulled off one of the most ambitious PSA campaigns the VA has ever attempted. Mark’s journey runs from combat camera documenting the wars in Iraq and Africa to helping build We Are The Mighty into one of the most influential online media platforms for veterans before launching his own advertising agency. In this conversation, we dig into the real mechanics of representation in media — why veteran stories should be written, produced, and directed by the people who actually lived them — and how that philosophy shaped the VA’s bold “Face Your Dragon” campaign. Mark and I break down how he partnered with director Ryan Curtis, producer Chase Milsap, and star Rudy Reyes to build a piece of storytelling that’s unapologetically cinematic, deeply creative, and unmistakably direct. We talk about the risks of pitching a VFX dragon for a government campaign, the realities of producing high-end visual effects on a shoestring budget, and why veterans working as writers, producers, and creators matters more than ever. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/markharper147/

Does it matter who’s telling the story? In episode 171, I sit down with my friend, Ryan Curtis — an accomplished director, filmmaker, and producer — to unpack the creative and emotional mission behind the powerful new PSA campaign for the VA and DoW, “Face Your Dragon.” This campaign tackles one of the hardest conversations in the veteran and military community: suicide prevention. Ryan walks me through how he approached concepting a message that had to be both responsible and deeply human, and we talk about the role of storytelling in public service campaigns that carry real-life consequences. From concept to execution, Ryan shares what it means to direct a national message for the veteran community while balancing authenticity, trust, and impact. We also dig into the bigger picture of representation and storytelling in media targeted to the veteran community. Ryan breaks down the creative choices behind Face Your Dragon, the challenges of producing meaningful PSA content, and what filmmakers and producers can learn from working on campaigns that aim to save lives. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/ryan32curtis/

Can we build a blueprint for how the right content can pressure institutions to evolve? In episode 170, I sat down with my buddy Ethan Nagel — veteran infantryman and lethal filmmaker who lives at the intersection of modern warfare and modern media. He breaks down exactly what he and the team at VET TV are building with BattleLab, a new live action show that drops two teams of elite operators into high pressure missions that push new military technology to its limits. This episode is a straight shot of reality: FPV attack drones are the new IEDs, and the next war is going to punish anyone clinging to comfort. Ethan explains how BattleLab fuses real-world lessons from Ukraine with hands-on experimentation — pitting elite, Tier One operators against emerging drone tactics to expose what works, what fails, and what gets people killed. He also gets brutally specific on storytelling and craft because BattleLab isn’t “tactical content,” it’s a serious training-adjacent series built by people who actually understand the battlefield and how audiences learn. Ethan walks through the production reality: why the first “sports broadcast” approach didn’t hold attention, how they rebuilt the format around after-action breakdowns, and how he balances cinematic filmmaking with capturing honest, usable footage that infantry leaders can actually apply. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/ethan.nagel.films/ https://www.instagram.com/vet_tv/ https://www.instagram.com/battlelabhq/ https://www.instagram.com/jeddoc_labs/

What really makes great storytelling work in the modern thriller genre? In episode 169, I sit down with two powerhouse thriller authors — Brad Thor and Ward Larsen in a conversation about COLD ZERO, their latest thriller. Centered on shared experience, military service, discipline, and a relentless respect for the craft, our conversation explores why authenticity matters in thrillers and how deep genre knowledge — from tradecraft to aviation — creates books that feel cinematic without losing emotional weight. What really stood out to me is how aggressively Brad and Ward lean into collaboration as a competitive advantage. These are two seasoned writers who didn’t just co-author a novel, they merged similar work ethics, complementary skills, and a shared belief that the best stories come from trust, humility, and putting in the work. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/realbradthor/ https://www.instagram.com/wardlarsenbooks/

In episode 168 of Veteran Made, I sit down with actor and indie film producer Matt Dallas to dig into what it really means to commit more than a decade of your life to one movie and one story. We talk about how Sheepdog grew over a 10-year journey across the country, sitting with veterans, Gold Star families, and mental health professionals in living rooms, dive bars, and VA clinics . Matt opens up about breaking out of typecasting, transforming himself physically and emotionally for the role of Daryl, and learning to trust his craft as an actor while juggling the chaos of being a hands-on filmmaker responsible for casting, background, and logistics. If you care about movies, cinema, and honest performances that come from real human connection, this conversation shows what it looks like when an actor and producer refuses to phone it in and instead builds a character from years of direct engagement with the veteran community. We also get unapologetic about why independent film — especially adult dramas like Sheepdog — has to exist in theaters and why audiences have to show up if they want better movies. Matt and I talk about getting laughed out of rooms and the pressure to swap out the director or cast a bigger name just to unlock financing. We break down how hard it is for a small, veteran-centered drama to secure a 500-screen theatrical run, why dumping these films straight to streaming buries them, and how voting with your ticket — by actually going to the theater — directly decides which stories actors, producers, and filmmakers get to tell next. If you’re a veteran, a movie lover, or someone who believes cinema still matters, this episode is a call to action: fund indie films, buy tickets, bring your friends, and help keep real, grounded stories on the big screen where they belong. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/mattdallas/ https://www.instagram.com/sheepdogthemovie/ https://www.instagram.com/teamhousestudios/

In episode 167, I sit down with actor, writer, director, and producer Steven Grayhm to dig into the 14-year journey behind his new movie Sheepdog and why truthful storytelling about veterans and combat trauma cannot afford to be filtered through a political lens. From his first encounter with a struggling tow truck driver in 2011 to years embedded with veterans, families, and VA clinicians, Steven shares how listening without prejudice became the foundation of this film and why he refused to “bend the knee” to Hollywood to get it made. Sheepdog is not another war movie or PTSD cliché but a deeply human story about post-traumatic growth, fragmented families, and the way ordinary people carry extraordinary burdens. Throughout our conversation, we challenge the idea that stories about war, veterans, and mental health should serve any party, policy, or culture-war narrative, and argue aggressively that they must exist to serve the people who actually lived them — period. We unpack how character, craft, and performance can honor veterans and Gold Star families without turning them into propaganda pieces or pity objects, and why audiences deserve movies and podcasts that tell the truth as we see it, even when that truth is messy, uncomfortable, or unflattering to anyone’s politics. If you care about actors doing the work, about movies that respect the veteran community, and about storytelling that refuses to be weaponized, this episode will give you a clear, uncompromising case for art that chooses honesty over agenda every single time. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/sheepdogthemovie/ https://www.instagram.com/sgrayhm/ https://www.instagram.com/teamhousestudios/

In episode 166, I sit down with Matthew Modine who played Private Joker in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, for a direct and powerful conversation about the intersection of art, memoir, and the real experiences of Veterans. Our discussion went past surface nostalgia and straight into war, trauma, and the lifelong transition veterans face after leaving service. Matthew’s journey as both an actor and memoirist — through his Full Metal Jacket Diary — demonstrates the force of honest storytelling in giving veterans a space to process and share the truth. We focused on the way art and memoir can offer authenticity and connection, which is crucial for those looking to make sense of war’s realities and the transition home. Storytelling matters to the veteran community because it allows us to recount sensitive subjects like war and combat trauma without agenda or politics. The real power comes from telling our stories exactly as we see and remember them, openly and honestly. In our discussion, Matthew and I made it clear that sharing these narratives is critical—not just for healing, but for ensuring veterans aren’t left isolated with their experiences. By holding up a mirror to our journey, rather than a mask, we help others understand the costs and complexities of service, validating the memoir, the film, and every veteran’s art as necessary acts of truth. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/matthewmodine/

In episode 165, I sit down with my friend Stan Lake — author, poet, naturalist, filmmaker, and veteran — to dig into his new poetry collection, “Toad in a Glass Jar,” published by Dead Reckoning Collective . Stan and I have shared campfires, conversations about art, music, and nature, and countless stories about the weird, wild intersections of service and life after the military. His writing pulls from his deep love of nature and his lived experience as a veteran, exploring the messy integration and disintegration that comes with transition. Our discussion gets to the heart of why art and honest storytelling around combat trauma, war, and the veteran transition matter and not just for those who’ve served, but for anyone who cares about understanding real human experience in all its contradictions and complexity. Storytelling is more than just catharsis; it’s survival. Veterans need to connect with each other and with broader audiences, to name, shape, and share their stories — including the hard and the sensitive stuff — because it’s how we combat isolation, build meaning, and lower the risk of mental health challenges that can haunt our community. As a veteran, author, and creative, I believe it’s absolutely necessary to claim the power in our own voices, whether through poetry, essays, music, or conversation. If this episode shows anything, it’s that writing and art aren’t luxuries but essential tools for processing experience, finding connection, and supporting each other through the ongoing work of transition. If you’ve got something to say, say it. If you need a community, build it. Your story matters. We need to hear it. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/catchingcreation/

In episode 164, I sat down with Jake Tapper, acclaimed journalist, author, and host of The Lead with Jake Tapper and State of the Union on CNN, to dive deep into his forthcoming book “Race Against Terror.” Our conversation covered why history, especially the stories of terrorism and the global war on terror, must be told through the human perspective. Jake talked about how he blends journalistic accuracy with the compelling narrative techniques of fiction to keep difficult subjects accessible and — yes — entertaining. It’s not enough to list facts or relay tragedies; the only way to reach people is to show why these stories matter on a personal level, connecting readers to the real emotions and experiences of those swept up in events that shape our world. Storytelling about terrorism and history isn’t just about recounting the headlines. It’s about making sure the stories don’t lose their humanity or get buried by controversy. Jake and I agreed that the reason podcasts and books about true crime resonate is because they deliver messy realities with genuine empathy and a structure that draws people in. If we treat terrorism, ideology, or even trauma as disconnected cases or dry bullet points, we lose the chance to learn, empathize, and possibly prevent the next tragedy. Entertaining, accessible storytelling brings people together at the deepest level. It demands answers and spurs personal reflection while empowering us to see the past not just as a series of political moves but as an ongoing human drama full of heartbreak, forgiveness, and difficult choices. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9 . SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/jaketapper/