Veteran Sound Podcast Shane Axten

Mike, the founder of Veterans and Video Games, found a love for the game before the age of five. He began playing various MS-DOS titles and things like Burger Time and Tank Wars on the original Atari console, compliments of his grandfather a World War II veteran and Pearl Harbor Survivor.

Mike's grandfather taught him computer basics like changing the directory in MS-DOS (Command Prompt now), a lesson that was required before being allowed to game. Mike's self-proclamation to fame came by the age of 10 in beating the original Super Mario Bros on the original Nintendo console, six times in a row without dying or stopping... (he did use the warp tunnels).

He has maintained his love of the game back and forth between PC and console-systems alike well through his military career. Now, he wants to use it to help other veterans that are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Struggling to find his purpose in life and still wanting to contribute to the world, he aspired to combine his passion for gaming with his need to serve others. Veterans and Video Games was born. He is constantly on the lookout for veterans that want and need their story to be shared as well as looking for contributions to funnel into other charities. 100% of all donations received by Veterans and Video Games is passed on to other vetted charities of choice. You have his word on it.

James enlisted as a musician in the United States Navy in 2011. He was honorably discharged from active duty, January 24th 2016, after five years of service as a Trombonist and Auxiliary Security Force member with Navy Band Northeast in Newport, Rhode Island. Prior to his enlistment, he performed for two years in the pit for the National Broadway Tour of Hairspray, and more recently for eight months with the International Broadway Tour of Shrek, The Musical. He has also completed multiple contracts with several cruise lines including Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, spanning all of Alaska, British Columbia, and the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Black seas.

He has been a member of the Patriot Brass Ensemble since relocating back to New York and has also performed with The Hudson Valley Philharmonic, The Choral Society of the Hamptons, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Burlington Choral Society Orchestra, and The Orchestra of Northern New York. He has a DMA in Performance from Stony Brook University, MM in Performance from Florida State University, a BM in Performance from The Crane School of Music, and is currently pursuing an MBA from Stony Brook University.

Jason Burt is a writer, historian, teacher and the music producer of the 746th Far East Air Force album “Sentimental Journey.” His writing has been published by History News Network, The Havok Journal, and for the 75th Commemoration of The End of WWII.  He is the grandson of 746th Far East Air Force lead trumpet player, Cpl. Richard Burt, whose musical journey through World War II will be the focus of his first book.

As a lifelong artist, Glenn has worked on stage and directed many well-known actors; some of whom were academy award nominated and Emmy winning stars such as Esther Rolle, Ted Lange, Marla Gibbs, William Allen Young, Margaret Avery, Robert Hooks, Carl Anderson and many others.

Glenn attended film school at the prestigious Columbia College Hollywood, where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree and graduated Valedictorian of the class in 1997. He was the first African American to accomplish that goal in the 60-year history of the school, and he produced his award-winning short film “FREQUENCY” at Columbia College Hollywood.

He is also the founder of the Veterans Suicide Prevention Channel (VSPChannel), an online mental, emotional and physical health channel for veterans. The VSPChannel was founded to help prevent suicides in our veteran communities that are at an all-time high. The VSPChannel is available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www.vspchannel.vet

The VSPChannel is also planned and sponsored a national AUSTIN VETERAN ARTS FESTIVAL (AVAFEST) for veterans and their family members in Austin, Texas. The AVAFEST ran from October 12, 2019, to November 16, 2019. The next festival is scheduled for 2021 and the dates will be announced shortly after the beginning of 2021. For more information on how you may be able to get involved visit: www.avafest.org

Richard co-founded CreatiVets and currently serves as the CreatiVets organization’s executive director.  Richard served four years as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps, with a combat deployment in Fallujah, Iraq.  During his deployment, he was hit by four IEDs in just four short months, causing him to suffer from a traumatic brain injury.  Upon returning home, Richard found it hard to adjust and suffered from PTS until he discovered the healing power of music and art.  After experiencing firsthand the impact music and art had on his own recovery, Richard co-founded CreatiVets to help other veterans who are suffering.

Gregory Watton is an Air Force veteran and song-writer in the pop and K pop world. During his time in the Air Force, he deployed to Kuwait at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Gregory has co-written the following "Please" by Kim Hyun Joong; "Gravity" by Brooklyn Haley; "Sinner" by Tae Yang; "Guitar" by Varsity Fanclub; "It Isn't Love" by Select Three; "Battle Scars" by Will Champlin; "Fly Away" by Park Jung Ah; "Ghost" by Varsity Fanclub; "Out of Time" by US5. He continues to write songs in the southern California area.