Podcast
The VetsConnection Podcast
Hosted by Scott McLean · EN
Join host Scott McLean, a veteran and also a passionate advocate for veterans' well-being. Each week Scott will bring you an episode that will feature insightful conversations with representatives from non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting veterans, as well as experts discussing programs within the Veterans Affairs (V.A.) aimed at assisting veterans with their needs. From discussing innovative therapies to highlighting community resources, this podcast sheds light on the myriad of ways veterans can find support and healing thru nonprofit organizations and also to connect nonprofits with each other in hopes of creating a network that will be beneficial to all.
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep. 81 - Musician And Air Force Veteran Delton Walker Talks About His Air Force Days Working On Fighter Jets. Being Young And Overseas, Facing Racism Back Home And How Music Was His Saving Grace
2d ago01:31:02Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWe reconnect with my friend and fellow veteran Delton Walker and talk about the road from military life and hard memories to healing through connection, therapy, and music. He shares how a saxophone became his church, his career, and his way to give peace back to other veterans. • meeting through the Herd Foundation Freedom Patch program and why it changes lives • using humor to cover pain and calling out the “trauma Olympics” mindset • life on the flightline, fighter jets, noise exposure, and what service feels like • choosing the Air Force, going overseas, and growing up fast away from home • dealing with racism on base and the long tail of hypervigilance • culture shock returning stateside and why trust can disappear overnight • the rough edges of transition out of the military and why support matters • picking up sax later, practicing relentlessly, and finding a real voice • getting endorsed, working with Walter Beasley, and hearing his music went to space • playing at the VA hospital to give other veterans a break from the noise If you like it, share it Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transcribe →Ep. 80 - Rick Sherak from ZEEN - The VA-Approved Mobility Device That Blends Walker And Wheelchair
1w ago01:01:52Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailI talk with Rick Chirac from Exokinetics about ZEEN, a lift-assist mobility device that blends a walker and wheelchair to help people stand, move, and transfer with more safety. We connect the origin story to Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown, then get practical about fit, training, fall prevention, and how veterans can get ZEEN through the VA. • Garrett Brown’s Steadicam history and how it inspires ZEEN • What ZEEN is and who it helps: balance, strength, endurance issues • How the gas-spring lift works and why the seat and strap improve safety • Real-world use: ramps, turning radius, terrain, restaurants, storage • Fitting and customization: spring levels, height setup, Zoom training • Transfers and daily living tasks, including bathroom and bed height changes • VA access: Federal Supply Schedule, physical therapy clinic workflow, medical necessity • Why naming fear of falling matters and how pride can block care • Warranty, repairs, and simple maintenance expectations • Financial help for civilians through Project Elevate Mobility grants Go to the website and check it out. Go to the VA when you see this product and you say, I want it, I need it. Talk to your physical therapist. “I have a fear of falling. I don’t want to fall. Put that in my medical record.” Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transcribe →Ep. 79 - What Changes When Veterans Trust A Free Money Tool
3w ago01:05:33Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWe talk with Andrea Sok about what a nonprofit fractional CMO actually does, how she prices and scopes the work, and why boards often need a reality check grounded in data and comparable benchmarks. Then Blake Allison walks us through Lifecents and Vetcents, a free, veteran-focused financial wellness toolkit built for trust, privacy, and real outcomes without selling anything to users. • fractional CMO work as executive-level nonprofit marketing leadership without full-time cost • smooth transitions during leave coverage through overlap and clear handoffs • pricing based on time, deliverables, team structure, and budget realities • board dynamics and how proof and peer examples reset expectations • blurred line between marketing and development for fundraising events and sponsorship materials • warning signs of broken nonprofit marketing, including doing nothing or repeating stale tactics • founder-led growth challenges, especially letting go and prioritizing highest ROI actions • storytelling as a core marketing lever, shaped by audience and delivery channel • LifeSense as a digital financial coach focused on outcomes, not “butts in seats” education • VetSense tailored guidance for veterans, with trusted resources and no monetization of participants • partnerships that add credibility, including VA-connected pathways and veteran-serving nonprofits • success story of delaying a home purchase to improve credit and save tens of thousands • web-based access at vetsense.org, quick intake, personalized coach report, and crisis resources Check them out once again, Vetcents.org For the nonprofits, soakinfluencerpr.com. If you like this, share it. Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transcribe →Ep. 78 - Part 2 of a 2 Part Episode. Clark Air Base In The Republic of the Philippines Is Gone, But The Friendships It Built 40 Years Ago Are Still Very Much Alive.
4w ago01:49:37Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailI sit down with lifelong friends from Clark Air Base and tell the stories that shaped our bonds, from culture shock and terror threats to moments that still hit decades later. We also talk about what happens when young troops face trauma with no real support, and how friendship, recovery, and purpose can finally fill that gap. • arriving at Clark Air Base as teenagers and feeling instant culture shock • a fellow airman assassinated off base and the operational ripple effect • the night escaped horses hit razor wire and the long tail of that memory • “kids taking care of kids” and the habit of going right back to work • K9 patrol life on a dark jungle perimeter with intruders and wildlife threats • earthquake response at a collapsed school and the weight of seeing children lost • Mount Pinatubo, lahar, ash, looting, evacuation choices, and coming home • post-military transitions into law enforcement, corrections, sobriety, and the VA • traumatic brain injury, delayed diagnosis, and what clarity looks like later • therapy through building things, podcasting, and blacksmithing If you like it, share it. Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transcribe →Ep. 77 - Part 1 of a 2 Part Episode. Clark Air Base In The Republic of the Philippines Is Gone, But The Friendships It Built 40 Years Ago Are Still Very Much Alive.
Apr 2901:30:06Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWe go back to Clark Air Base in the late 1980s and talk honestly about why that overseas tour still sits in our bones. The stories land on one point we can all prove 30 years later: the people you leaned on back then can still show up for you now. • why Clark Air Base felt different from stateside duty • arriving in the Philippines and the culture shock of Manila and Angeles City • Security Police and canine work on a huge perimeter with constant pressure • how the assassinations and threat level changed daily life and schedules • why reunions turn old coworkers into brothers over time • the hard parts of transitioning out and starting over as a civilian • what it means to call a friend first when life falls apart • a real example of veterans helping veterans on short notice • living closeted in the 1980s military and the fear of being found out • how acceptance and friendship outlast time, distance, and loss If you like vintage collectibles, give Paul's Picker Palace. Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transcribe →Ep. 76 - Suzanne MacPhail, Founder and Executive Director of Hands For Healing Equine Located in topsfield Ma.
Apr 2200:53:29Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWe talk with Suzanne MacPhail about how horses help people access truth, regulation, and connection when talk therapy alone hits a wall. Along the way we trace her path from trauma counseling to founding Hands for Healing Equine and building a hands-on veteran program where the animals lead the learning. • Suzanne’s route into mental health counseling and trauma work • How early horse experiences shape a lifelong attachment • Why EGALA-style groundwork differs from riding programs • What separates equine-assisted therapy from equine-assisted learning • How horses respond to heartbeat, emotion, and body language • Suzanne’s personal trauma story and using EMDR for healing • The bond with a “heart horse” and why it matters • Building a 501(c)(3) and what nonprofit life really requires • The Windrush Farm partnership and an eight-week veteran curriculum • Meet the herd: Mama, Sophie, Poe, and Autumn • Donkey behavior, protection instincts, and what “stubborn” really means • Fundraising realities when the horses’ care comes first If you liked this, share it. Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transcribe →Ep. 75 - Talking With James Jackson, Co- Founder of Call On Me Foundation. Helping Families After A Veteran’s Sudden Death
Mar 1500:51:32Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWe sit down with Marine veteran James Jackson to talk about the “creep up” of stress, stigma, and silence that can follow veterans long after service. We also unpack how Call On Me Foundation responds when the unthinkable happens by delivering immediate financial support and staying present for surviving families.• James’ path from Virginia to the Marine Corps and Iraq deployment work on ordnance • Why comparing trauma shuts down veterans’ stories and delays healing • The hard reality of transition after service and finding a new career lane • How Call On Me Foundation starts by helping one fallen Marine’s family • The foundation’s mission to provide immediate assistance after unexpected loss with a focus on suicide • What it feels like to call a grieving spouse and hear the full story • PTSD, anxiety, depression and the danger of letting it all boil over • Finding the right mental health support when the first provider is not a fit • Building partnerships with other veteran nonprofits for referrals and resources • Fundraising through events, corporate sponsors, and recurring donations that fuel rapid response go to the website and give them your money. If you liked it, please share it. Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transcribe →Ep. 74 - (Recorded on location) HERD Foundation Teamed Up With The Delray Beach Elks To Show Appreciation To Veterans And Their Family Members With A Free Barbecue And Also Meet The Real Stars Of HERD Foundation, The Horses!
Mar 1301:10:59Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailOnce again I record live from Herd Foundation in Delray Beach during a veteran barbecue that shows how grants, community partners, and horses come together to create real healing. We hear why equine assisted services build patience, calm, and connection, plus why a handmade Quilt of Valor can break through walls that nothing else touches. • partnering with Delray Beach Elks Lodge to fund Herd programming through a $10,000 grant • why locals miss the ranch even after decades nearby • veterans describing equine assisted services as calming and life changing • lessons from the arena about stories we make up and self regulation • the meaning of Quilts of Valor and why they feel different than awards • nonprofit collaboration, referrals, and supporting veteran families after loss • Herd Foundation growth, upcoming spring dinner, and expanded support for families and kids • patience defined as not letting emotions drive actions If you liked it, share it Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transcribe →Ep. 73 - Eric Weaver - From Service To Support: Building Broward Vet Working
Mar 900:52:31Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailI sit with Eric Weaver to trace the road from Gulf War service through hidden trauma, the life-changing role of a service dog, and the rise of Broward Vet Working as a practical, human network for veterans across South Florida. The talk blends hard truths, humor, and clear steps anyone can take to plug in.• RIF fallout, base closures, and early exit impacts• The slow arrival of trauma and loss of empathy• How Gent the service dog interrupts panic and nightmares• Inside Patriot Service Dogs training and pairing• Founding Broward Vet Working from 10 to 350 members• Jobs, VA navigation, legal help, and emergency support• Activities that rebuild connection and purpose• Becoming a 501c3 to fund meals and expand reach• Membership options and transition support for new vets• How to join and what meetings feel likeGo to oneman1micfoundation.org to learn more and applyGo to browardvetworking.com to join, donate, or find a meeting Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transcribe →Ep. 72 - Tomas Coles-Reyes, Founder of A Vets Place - How One Vietnam Veteran Turned Homelessness Into A Lifeline For Others
Feb 1701:36:10Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWe trace Thomas Coles-Reyes’s path from a draft-day shock and a brutal homecoming to two years on the streets, a life-saving mentor, and the creation of A Vets Place. He explains why permanent housing beats transitional models, how he built a one‑stop hub for veterans and families, and what it took to rebuild after losing everything.• core theme of dignity through permanent, affordable housing• childhood instability, institutional care, and forgiveness• homelessness in New York and the mentor who opened a door• early advocacy wins, including a direct line to the mayor• building A Vets Place: property, partnerships, and services on-site• food pantry, clothing closet, notary, and VSO under one roof• coffee socials as early-warning and community care• growth to 30 apartments, then property loss and reinvention• funding realities and the nonprofit “two-tier” problem• female veterans’ hidden homelessness and suicide risk• jobs, training, and entrepreneurial bootcamp for veterans• current caseload, how to book help, and how to supportIf you like what Thomas is doing and you feel passionate about this, give him your money. Give him your Money. Go to vetsplace.org and donate Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transcribe →