Urban Valor: the podcast

Urban Valor
  • 4.9 (148)
  • FILM INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Urban Valor, where we hear the stories of our veteran heroes in their own words. Within these vet interviews, you'll hear everything from combat stories, life stories pre/post military, military transition, and everything in between. Our interviews aren't just war stories or combat veteran interviews, but interviews from any military veteran willing to share. Our mission is to educate the masses with what military veterans go through while serving their country and how life has been since their military transition back to civilian life. Join our cause, online community, and show your support for Urban Valor at https://urbanvalor.com 

  1. 1D AGO

    The Marine Netflix Followed Whose Life Nearly Ended Before Deployment

    Before he ever wore the uniform, Rolan Smith lived a life of chaos, brotherhood, and near-death experiences that most people wouldn't survive. In this Urban Valor episode, Rolan shares what really led him to enlist in the United States Marine Corps — and how an 85 MPH crash in the middle of the desert nearly ended that path before it began. Raised in Amarillo, Texas, Rolan was the definition of a wild kid. Sports, trouble, loyalty — and a brotherhood with his best friend Price that would take them from Friday night lights to fire teams. This is the story of what happens before the war… when life itself is already throwing punches. 🚨 The crash. 🏈 The brotherhood. 🎖️ The decision to enlist. This is how Marines are forged before they ever hit the fleet. If you're looking for a perfectly polished military story — this ain't it. But if you want something real, raw, and relatable, you're in the right place. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

    1h 24m

  2. FEB 10

    Marine Featured on Netflix Opens Up About His Violent Childhood!

    Pryce Seymour opens up about growing up in chaos, being conceived in jail, surviving a violent and unstable childhood, and finding purpose in the United States Marine Corps. From prison visits as a kid… to boot camp prank wars… to brutal infantry training… to nearly dying in a high‑speed rollover accident… this story doesn’t let up. Pryce was later selected to be followed by Netflix for a Marine Corps documentary — but what you didn’t see on screen is even crazier. The drinking, the injuries, the culture shock, the fights, the deployments, and the mental toll of living life at full throttle. This Urban Valor episode goes deep into Marine infantry life, the reality of training and deployment, the brotherhood, and the mindset that forms when you’re pushed past what most people ever experience. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters:  00:00 – “The Marines Were Easier Than My Childhood” 01:27 – Conceived in Jail: Pryce’s Birth Story 03:53 – Violence, Addiction, and Abandonment at Home 07:20 – Learning Life Lessons Inside Prison Walls 10:57 – Being a Kid While Raising Kids 14:37 – Kicked Out and Finding Real Brotherhood 16:50 – Why He Chose the Marines 19:26 – Boot Camp Prank Wars and Brutality 28:07 – Infantry Life and SOI Targeting 32:56 – Breaking Points on 20K Hikes 37:07 – “Fight Night” in the Barracks 41:14 – Fleet Life, Baseball Bats, and Brotherhood 46:01 – The Worst Field Ops and ITX Training 55:52 – Netflix Starts Filming 58:07 – High-Speed Crash & Being Ejected 01:04:33 – Filming While Injured 01:09:15 – Deployment & What Netflix Didn’t Show 01:14:28 – What’s Next After the Marines 01:18:22 – Killing, Accountability, and Owning the Mission #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

    1h 20m

  3. FEB 4

    Air Force Combat Veteran Says Crisis Call Nearly Ended His Life!

    In today's Urban Valor Podcast, Raphael Valentino Williams Jr. shares his journey from Afghanistan to policing the streets to battling PTSD, trauma, and identity loss after service. This is the reality many veterans and law enforcement officers face when the uniform comes off, but the mission mindset never does. Raphael opens up about military service, security forces training, and the mental shift required to survive in combat — and how that same conditioning nearly destroyed him back home. From critical incident police shootings, to family court battles, to standing at the edge of suicide, this story exposes the unseen cost of service and why life after the military can be harder than deployment itself. This conversation discusses PTSD in veterans, police mental health, and what happens when trauma goes untreated. If you’ve ever struggled with transitioning out of the military, questioned your identity after service, or felt lost after dedicating your life to something bigger than yourself — this story will hit home. There is life after the uniform. But no one tells you how hard it is to find it. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters:  00:00 – Not Eating, Fear, and Brotherhood in Basic Training 01:15 – Growing Up Military & Identity Struggles 04:37 – Racism, Displacement, and Losing Stability 10:26 – Dropping Out & Joining the Military 16:22 – Air Force Basic Training Reality Check 23:33 – Becoming Security Forces 31:46 – From Military to Police Work 32:23 – Deploying to Afghanistan 37:07 – First Days in Kandahar 42:35 – First Convoys Outside the Wire 48:31 – Getting Shot At & Moral Injury 56:12 – Coming Home to Another War 1:00:12 – Trauma on the Streets as a Cop 1:04:35 – The Shooting That Changed Everything 1:15:05 – Aftermath, Drinking, and Spiraling 1:18:33 – VA Treatment & PTSD Recovery 1:21:03 – Losing the Badge & Identity 1:26:12 – Choosing to Live 1:32:13 – Finding Purpose After the Uniform 1:33:49 – Message to Veterans & First Responders #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

    1h 35m

  4. JAN 27

    Green Beret Tells the War Stories He Never Thought He’d Survive!

    This week on Urban Valor, we sit down with Herb Thompson — the only U.S. Army Soldier to ever earn both the Green Beret and Drill Sergeant of the Year honors. Herb shares war stories from his time in Afghanistan, what it takes to survive Special Forces selection, and how the very Army that built him later tried to tear his career apart from within. For 21 years, Herb led from the front...on the battlefield and in the barracks. But it wasn’t combat that almost broke him. It was the fight to defend his name when false accusations and internal politics put everything on the line. This is the story of a Green Beret who gave everything… and then had to fight harder than ever to protect what he built. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters:  00:00 – Ticks, War, and Dark Humor in Special Forces 00:38 – Afghanistan Ambush: “I Didn’t Think I Was Coming Home” 01:41 – Growing Up Poor & Joining the Army 05:53 – Discovering the Green Beret Dream 08:31 – Basic Training Chaos & Reality Check 12:20 – First Duty Station: Hawaii 18:54 – 9/11 and the Turning Point 23:57 – Becoming a Drill Sergeant 34:07 – Winning Army Drill Sergeant of the Year 36:31 – Special Forces Selection (SFAS) 45:06 – Green Beret Training Stories 48:17 – First Combat Missions with Afghan Commandos 53:19 – Gunfights, Ambushes, and Leadership Under Fire 59:07 – Losing Teammates & Brotherhood 1:02:50 – Facing Death, Nightmares, and Fear 1:06:07 – Transitioning Out of the Military 1:11:48 – PTSD, Anger, and Hitting Rock Bottom 1:15:54 – Purpose After War & Liberty Speaks #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

    1h 18m

  5. JAN 12

    33 Marines Killed in Fallujah - The Scout Sniper Who Survived the Aftermath

    The war didn’t end overseas. It followed them home. Justin Governale joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 17, driven by the aftermath of 9/11 and a chaotic upbringing in Laredo, Texas. What he found wasn’t just military structure—it was trauma, hazing, chaos, and survival. This raw episode pulls no punches as Justin exposes what it was like to deploy to Iraq in 2005 and 2007 with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines—one of the units hardest hit in Fallujah, losing 33 men. From becoming a Scout Sniper, surviving an IED, and earning a Purple Heart, to battling the mental scars that followed, Justin shares the brutal honesty most veterans never say out loud. In this episode or Urban Valor, you’ll hear: - How childhood trauma primed him for chaos - The insanity of Marine boot camp under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” - Why pretending to be gay was a strategy to escape service - The twisted coping mechanisms Marines used post-combat - How war turned a battalion into walking time bombs - His journey through combat, loss, and eventually—comedy If you want real Marine stories, raw Iraq War truths, or insight into the long-term cost of combat—you found it. 🔥 This isn’t the Hollywood version of war. It’s the truth. 🔔 Subscribe for more unfiltered veteran stories. 📩 Know a veteran with a story? Reach out via our website. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters:  00:00 – Intro: Meet Justin Governale 01:10 – Growing Up in Laredo: Chaos, Violence & Zero Structure 04:40 – Getting Caught Stealing & a Police Escort to School 06:25 – Losing His Best Friend in a Tragic Accident 08:00 – Post-9/11 Enlistment: “I Needed Purpose” 10:30 – Why He Chose the Marines Over SF 13:15 – Boot Camp Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” 17:00 – Pranked by Drill Instructors + Hazing Culture 20:00 – First Deployment to Iraq in 2005 22:45 – Joining a Unit Still Shattered by 33 Killed in Fallujah 26:30 – How Trauma Became Normal: Gallows Humor & Chaos 29:15 – Pranks, Fights, and Mental Breakdowns in the Barracks 32:10 – Becoming a Scout Sniper 35:00 – 2007 Deployment as Sniper: Missions & Trauma 38:30 – Surviving an IED Attack + Earning the Purple Heart 42:00 – Coping with Loss, Rage, and Survivor’s Guilt 45:45 – Coming Home and the Emotional Fallout 49:00 – The Truth About How Units Carry Trauma 52:30 – Transitioning to Civilian Life & Performing Standup 56:00 – How Comedy Helped Him Process Pain 1:02:00 – Advice to Struggling Veterans 1:06:00 – Behind the Scenes: Going Viral on Instagram 1:10:00 – Raising His Son After Trauma 1:14:00 – Redeployment 1:41:46 – On Stage, Healing, and Perspective 1:43:24 – Final Sign-Off: “Simplify. Me Too, Man.” #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

    1h 44m

  6. JAN 6

    Marine Assigned to a Unit Plagued by Death, Drugs & Misconduct

    Marine Seth Allen never saw it coming. Straight out of boot camp, he was dropped into 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines — a unit already under investigation for violence, drugs, and misconduct. What was supposed to be a proud chapter of service quickly spiraled into chaos. In this interview with Urban Valor, Seth pulls back the curtain on the gritty reality of life in the Marine Corps. From near-death firefights in Iraq to the dysfunction and violence he experienced even among his fellow Marines, this isn't the polished, glorified version of military service. ⚠️ This is the story the recruiters never tell you. Seth shares how his troubled youth led him to the military, the brutal boot camp experiences that shaped him, and the terrifying realization that his unit was broken before he ever arrived. From intense combat stories to internal fights and the emotional weight of surviving while others didn't — this is a brutally honest testimony of what some Marines face behind closed doors. This is a story worth hearing. If you want the truth about what it’s like to serve in a unit where violence, drugs, and loss were the norm... click play now. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

    1h 49m

  7. 12/29/2025

    Army Veteran Says One Call Nearly Killed His Entire Team

    Meet Billey Dooley — Army veteran, former foster kid, survivor of toxic leadership, fire missions labeled “danger close,” and a system that failed those who needed it most. In this episode of Urban Valor, Billey opens up about nearly being killed by incoming fire, surviving chaos both at war and at home, and the pain of losing a soldier to suicide just hours after a life-altering conversation. From a chaotic childhood in Riverside to jumping out of planes and calling fire missions in Afghanistan, Billey’s story is as gritty as it gets. But this episode isn’t about just survival. It’s about truth. Leadership. And the weight we carry when we make it out, but others don’t. We get into: - A near-death moment during a morning run. - His experience with abusive training environments. - Fire missions that almost killed friendly forces. - How leadership missteps led to a tragic suicide. And what he believes MUST change in military culture. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

    1h 26m

  8. 12/23/2025

    Marine Haunted by the Moment His Teammate Took His Place and Died

    His friend took his spot. The convoy was hit. Only one came home. In this Urban Valor episode, Marine Veteran Travis Pinn shares a devastating Iraq War story that changed his life forever. As an 0311 Infantry Rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Travis endured some of the war’s most brutal moments—multiple IED attacks, deadly ambushes, and the psychological trauma that followed him home. But the moment that haunts him most? The day a fellow Marine took his place in a convoy... and didn’t make it back. From surviving deadly routes in Iraq to battling PTSD and rebuilding after the war, Travis lays bare the truth of what it means to carry survivor’s guilt and live with invisible wounds. This episode is more than just a war story—it’s an honest look at what thousands of veterans face once the shooting stops. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

    1h 36m
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4.9
out of 5
148 Ratings

About

Welcome to Urban Valor, where we hear the stories of our veteran heroes in their own words. Within these vet interviews, you'll hear everything from combat stories, life stories pre/post military, military transition, and everything in between. Our interviews aren't just war stories or combat veteran interviews, but interviews from any military veteran willing to share. Our mission is to educate the masses with what military veterans go through while serving their country and how life has been since their military transition back to civilian life. Join our cause, online community, and show your support for Urban Valor at https://urbanvalor.com 

Information

  • Creator
    Urban Valor
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    219
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sport of Business, LLC
  • Show Website
    Urban Valor: the podcast

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