Podcast Summary: "Redefining the Veteran Narrative: Kevin Schmiegel's Mission Beyond the Uniform"

Podcast: We're Out of Time
Host: Richard Taite
Guest: Kevin Schmiegel, Founder of Zero Mills
Date: November 11, 2025
Theme: Challenging stereotypes of veterans; creating a thriving reality for veterans post-service; bridging service, mental health, and community solutions.

Episode Overview

This episode takes a deep dive into the experience of veterans transitioning to civilian life, shining a spotlight on the damaging "broken veteran" narrative and offering a new framework for supporting their thriving, not just surviving. Richard Taite welcomes Kevin Schmiegel—former Marine and founder of Zero Mills—who shares personal stories, outlines systemic challenges, and proposes integrated approaches that connect purpose, community, and employment for veterans, all while pushing back against stigma and tokenism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Kevin Schmiegel’s Background and Motivation

• Early Life and Military Service
  • Kevin describes coming from a family rooted in service; his father was a Marine, and his mother also modeled dedication to others ([01:10]).
  • Served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1989–2009, including deployments to over 50 countries.
  • Sacrificed time with his family, emphasizing that “the family serves too” and highlighting the unseen burdens of military spouses and children ([02:04], [02:52]).
• Transition to Civilian Life
  • Left the military for the sake of his children’s stability, particularly as his eldest started high school ([02:52]).
  • Still compelled to serve: took a high-level job at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, then founded Hiring Our Heroes in response to the employment crisis facing veterans ([03:40], [04:47]).

Challenging the "Broken Veteran" Narrative

• Employment and the Real Story

  • In 2011, veteran unemployment was 10%—30% for those under 24—but now stands at record lows ([05:08]).
  • A disconnect persists: society and many nonprofits portray veterans as damaged, even when statistics contradict that narrative ([05:08], [06:20]).
  • Notably, veteran unemployment has been LOWER than civilian unemployment for the past decade ([06:20]).

• Why Does the Narrative Persist?

  • Money and Sympathy:
    • “Sympathy and pity sells.” – Kevin ([06:23]).
  • Impact on Service Propensity:
    • Only 9% of young Americans feel compelled to serve; 62% believe most veterans suffer psychological disorders—with the truth being closer to 5–10% that need extra support ([07:04], [07:32]).

The Five Pillars of Veteran Thriving

Kevin outlines the essential elements that allow veterans to move beyond survival:

1. Meaningful Employment
2. Sense of Purpose through Service
3. Connected Community (Tribe)
4. Health and Wellbeing
5. Continuous Self-Improvement (“Filling the kit bag”)
   • “We must seek out these five things in our lives because we had them in the military… Employment is not the only thing we have in our lives. We need those other four things too.” – Kevin ([08:04], [09:55])

• The Danger of Missing Pillars
  • Kevin confides his personal mental health spiral after leaving Hiring Our Heroes, caused by the sudden lack of purpose, tribe, and wellbeing ([11:05]).

Veteran Success Stories & Lessons Learned

• Scaling Hiring Our Heroes

  • Helped a million veterans and spouses find meaningful employment through the program ([10:46]).

• The Power of Purpose in Recovery

  • Personal depression and self-medication period; returned to purpose through service and mentoring ([11:05], [12:16]).
  • “You're no good to anyone if you don't take care of yourself to make the change that you want to make.” – Kevin ([12:16])

• The Importance of Leadership and Self-Belief

  • The greatest barrier for transitioning veterans is a loss of self-belief, not capability ([13:00]).
  • Military service creates outstanding leaders and problem-solvers—skills often overlooked in the civilian sector but invaluable ([18:22]).
  • “I think it’s leadership. 100% leadership… and work ethic.” – Kevin ([18:22])

Employer and Community Responsibility

• How Employers Can Do Better

  • Not just hiring: provide opportunities for ongoing service, health, education, mentorship ([14:06], [15:46]).
  • Enable affinity groups and allow veterans to connect, serve, mentor, and be mentored. Examples include Team Red, White & Blue, Team Rubicon ([17:08], [17:46]).
  • Demonstrate commitment publicly to attract and retain top veteran talent ([18:00]).

• Collaborative Solutions

  • Too many nonprofits work in isolation and compete for resources ([32:39]).
  • Kevin’s new mission: build military “thriving regions” where nonprofits, employers, and communities collaborate for maximum impact ([31:27]).

Addressing Mental Health, Addiction, and Treatment

• Link Between Employment, Identity, and Mental Health

  • Unemployment weakens identity, dignity, and mental health for veterans ([19:52]).
  • Jobs supply pride and structure, but aren’t the whole picture ([20:37]).

• Treatment & Recovery Pathways

  • Kevin’s own experience: self-medication, depression, and how both treatment and supportive relationships (“my soulmate”) were instrumental in recovery ([21:46], [29:29]).
  • Emphasis on integrated support: therapy can disrupt damaging internal narratives and empower true thriving ([28:35]).
  • Collaboration between treatment centers and employment-focused nonprofits is essential for post-recovery stability ([34:38]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Veteran Narrative:

  "The truth is, the vast majority of us are thriving as a result of our service and not in spite of it." – Kevin Schmiegel ([06:33])

• On Values Learned:

  "No man left behind. That's just what you guys were taught. That's just part of your DNA." – Rich ([07:53])

• On What Veterans Need:

  "We must seek out these five things in our lives because we had them in the military." – Kevin Schmiegel ([08:21])

• On employers’ perspective:

  “If an employer says they're military friendly, say, what does that mean? What are you doing to help me thrive not just in the workplace, but in society?” – Kevin Schmiegel ([14:06])

• On Leadership:

  "I think it's leadership. 100% leadership." – Kevin Schmiegel ([18:22])

• On Early and Orderly Habits:

  "If you're not 10 minutes early, you're 10 minutes late." – Kevin Schmiegel ([19:20])

• On Loss of Identity:

  "They lose their identity. We have a very purpose-driven life in the military." – Kevin Schmiegel ([19:52])

• On Battling the Broken Veteran Stereotype:

  "I want people to see what you see right now. I don't want them to know what happened to me alone over those three or four years. I'm telling veterans my story now, but I think a lot of young people have gotten to believe the BS that's out there." – Kevin Schmiegel ([27:59])

• On Collaboration:

  "This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life is trying to get people to work together to achieve a greater impact." – Kevin Schmiegel ([32:52])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Kevin’s Background & Military Service: [01:10] – [02:52]
• The Problem with Veteran Narratives & Stats: [05:08] – [07:32]
• The Five Pillars & The Origin of Zero Mills: [08:04] – [09:55]
• Hiring Our Heroes & Impact: [10:46] – [11:05]
• Personal Mental Health Struggles: [11:05] – [12:16]
• Transition Barriers & Self-Belief: [13:00] – [14:06]
• Employer Culture & Community: [15:33] – [18:00]
• Leadership & Work Ethic: [18:22] – [19:20]
• Identity, Employment & Wellbeing: [19:52] – [21:14]
• Support for Addiction & Rehabilitation: [21:38] – [23:58]
• Nonprofit Collaboration Challenge: [32:39] – [33:27]
• Vision for “Military Thriving Regions”: [31:27] – [34:38]
• Final Thoughts on Collaboration & Next Steps: [34:38] – [36:48]

Tone and Final Thoughts

The conversation is sincere, passionate, and at times raw—a mix of tough love, hope, and pragmatic advice. Both Kevin and Rich challenge prevailing narratives with data and experience, while calling for more nuanced, holistic approaches to support veterans—not just to avoid crisis, but to build lives filled with meaning, connection, and contribution.

As Kevin succinctly puts it:

“We are veterans, we served, and we are thriving as a result of our service and not in spite of it… The reality is that message is not being said enough.” ([29:58])

For Listeners

This episode is essential for anyone interested in veterans’ affairs, nonprofit work, workforce development, or mental health. If you want to support veterans—whether as an employer, community member, or policymaker—begin by recognizing and amplifying the strengths and resilience of those who have served.

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