This week, host Jim Fausone talks with Jesse Gould and Matt Cahill about PTSD, Veteran suicide, and organizations whose missions are to help Veterans and their families with life after service. Jesse Gould Founder & President, Heroic Hearts Project After being deployed as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan three times, he founded the Heroic Hearts Project in 2017 to spearhead the acceptance and use of ayahuasca therapy as a means of addressing the current mental health crisis among veterans. Jesse Gould is Founder and President of the Heroic Hearts Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pioneering psychedelic therapies for military veterans. After being deployed as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan three times, he founded the Heroic Hearts Project in 2017 to spearhead the acceptance and use of psychedelic-assisted therapy as a means of addressing the mental health crisis among veterans. What began as a focus on ayahuasca has since expanded into a broader mission encompassing psilocybin and ketamine therapies, reflecting the organization’s evolution into a leading force in veteran mental health innovation. To date, the Heroic Hearts Project has helped over 1,500 veterans and their spouses access life-changing psychedelic treatment programs, raised over $20 million, and built partnerships with the world’s leading treatment centers. The organization has also sponsored and supported clinical research with institutions including the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Georgia, helping to advance the scientific legitimacy of psychedelic medicine and push for wider clinical acceptance and policy reform. Matt Cahill Founder, Green Star Families of America Sergeant First Class (Retired), U.S. Army Medic | Master of Social Work (MSW) | PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning Matt Cahill is a 26-year Army and Pennsylvania National Guard veteran who served as a combat medic, including deployment to Iraq. Like many veterans, his service did not end when he came home. He has lived with the lasting effects of war, including PTSD and traumatic brain injury, experiences that deeply shaped both his perspective and his purpose. After losing close friends and witnessing the devastating impact veteran suicide leaves on families, Matt recognized a reality that had long gone unaddressed: families of veterans lost to suicide have no national recognition, no defined place, and are too often left invisible. He founded Green Star Families of America to change that. What began as a deeply personal mission has become a growing national movement to establish the Green Star Service Banner as an official symbol recognizing families of veterans and service members lost to suicide. Through advocacy, legislative initiatives, and public awareness efforts, Matt is working to ensure these families are seen, acknowledged, and no longer overlooked. His work is grounded in lived experience and driven by a simple belief: recognition matters.
