Welcome Home - A Podcast for Veterans, About Veterans, By Veterans

Larry Zilliox
  • 5.0 (2)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome Home is a Willing Warriors and the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run project. The program highlights activities at the Warrior Retreat and issues impacting all Veterans. For questions or feedback, please email us at podcast@willingwarriors.org.

  1. 1D AGO

    Inside The Stories Bringing Veterans’ Service To Young Readers

    A single word on a headstone—Unknown—sent author Jeff Gottesfeld on a path to write children’s books that carry the weight of service with grace. Today, we sit down with Jeff to trace that path from 21 Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to his new large-format book, Honor Flight: Celebrating America’s Veterans, and a forthcoming project that centers on the kids who also serve. We dig into how a writer chooses the right voice for young readers without softening the truth. Jeff shares why his early draft didn’t land, how a first-person perspective unlocked emotional clarity, and what collaborating with illustrator Matt Tavares adds to solemn subjects like the Tomb Guards. Then we climb aboard an actual Honor Flight as Jeff recounts serving as a guardian for a Vietnam-era sailor: the early-morning bustle, the wheelchairs rolling in formation, the crackle of stories traded on the bus, and the overdue homecoming so many never received. Honor Flight’s generous, coffee-table scale turns reading into a family ritual—perfect for parents and grandparents to point at the page and say, “That was me,” while kids learn what service and gratitude look like in real life. We also preview We All Serve, a book that gives military children a mirror and civilian classmates a window. Frequent moves, missed holidays, long deployments, and the quiet courage of welcoming a wounded parent home—these are the threads often unseen outside the base gate. Jeff explains why these stories matter now, when fewer than 1% serve but 100% can learn to honor sacrifice. Along the way, we highlight community efforts that lift up military families and show how schools, libraries, veteran groups, and neighbors can use these books to spark honest, hopeful conversations. If stories shape what a nation remembers, these pages help us remember well. Listen, share with a veteran or teacher, and help a child connect to the people behind the uniforms. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, leave a review, and pass the episode to someone who could use a new way to talk about service.

    22 min

  2. MAR 9

    Inside The Coast Guard Foundation’s Lifelines For Families

    When a cutter launches into a storm or a helicopter hovers over a capsized hull, the story we don’t see is the family at home watching the radar, praying for their service member going into harm's way, or the kid who just switched schools again. This episode pulls back the curtain on the Coast Guard Foundation—the nonprofit lifeline that helps Coast Guard members and their families stay ready, resilient, and focused when it counts most. We sit down with Ron LaBrec, a 29-year Coast Guard veteran and the Foundation’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, to explore what real support looks like on the ground. Ron shares how targeted emergency assistance steps in after hurricanes, floods, and wildfires so responders can save lives while their families rebuild. He walks us through a powerful education portfolio—scholarships for Coast Guard children, spouse education grants, and workforce development for members—that turns service into long-term opportunity. We also dig into youth enrichment programs that help kids find friends and confidence before the first day of school in a new town. Mental resilience takes center stage as Ron explains how first-responder stress tests even the strongest teams. From suicide prevention and marriage retreats to crew cohesion activities, the Foundation invests where readiness begins: with people. And with the Coast Guard poised to grow by 15,000 members, the need is rising across housing-challenged communities, high-tempo units, and families who serve alongside the mission every day. If you care about search and rescue, maritime safety, and the flow of commerce that touches nearly everything we eat, build, and use, this is a must-listen. Hear how the Foundation plans to triple its annual impact and why every donation fuels real outcomes—from faster recovery after disasters to more scholarships at the $5,000 level. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who loves the sea services, and leave a review to help more people discover these stories of service and support.

    35 min

  3. MAR 2

    Brain Injury Is A Journey

    What if recovery felt less like appointments and more like belonging? We sit down with Donna Meltzer, CEO of Brain Injury Services in Fairfax, to unpack why “brain injury is a journey” and how a purpose-built clubhouse helps survivors—veterans and civilians alike—reclaim identity, skills, and community. From the first welcome to setting personal goals, the model flips the script: members choose to participate, practice real-life tasks, and build confidence where it matters most—at home, at work, and in relationships. Walk through the Adapt Clubhouse’s core units that make progress tangible. In the culinary space, members plan menus, build grocery lists, navigate transportation, and cook safely in an accessible kitchen designed for independence. In the kitchen, conversation becomes therapy, restoring memory, sequencing, and social ease. In the technology unit, digital literacy turns into a bridge back to research, writing, and employability, with labeling systems—including braille—that reduce cognitive load and celebrate adaptation. With counseling and case management just steps away, support is coordinated rather than scattered. We also tackle the hidden layers of TBI: PTS, moral injury, and the emotional fallout of “I’m fine.” Donna explains how wraparound services complement VA care or provide an alternative path for veterans who hesitate to seek help. We widen the lens to stroke and heart health, highlighting practical prevention—know your blood pressure and cholesterol, move daily, sleep well—and why repeat injuries are so common without education and community. The biggest takeaway is simple and urgent: one call can start the right mix of group belonging, mental health care, tech coaching, and home strategies. Share this with someone who’s struggling in silence, and help them find a place to breathe, rebuild, and belong. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it to a friend or veteran who needs to hear it. Your share could be the nudge that changes a life.

    31 min

  4. FEB 23

    How One Combat Medic Built A Lifeline For Women Veterans

    The most powerful sentence in today’s conversation is also the simplest: “Actually, she’s the veteran.” We sit down with Brooke Jackson Kahn—Army combat medic, neurosurgery PA, and founder of She’s the Veteran—to explore what service, transition, and healing look like when the world still assumes the veteran is a man. Brooke brings clear, lived insight into how women experience PTS differently, why so many never seek help, and how community can change a life when therapy hours end. We walk through the rough edges of coming home—from culture shock to isolation—and why early VA claims matter for long-term health. Brooke reveals the research gap that pushed her to act and the program model she built on neuroplasticity: activity-based experiences that retrain the brain and reduce stress. Think stand-up comedy led by a retired Army colonel, virtual cooking classes, and monthly meetups that require one crucial boundary: no spouses, no civilians, no kids. That protected space lets women step out of their roles and reconnect with themselves, often realizing how much relief they’ve been postponing. We also talk scale and impact. With over 80% of eligible women not using VA healthcare and one in five military suicides involving a woman veteran, access must reach beyond traditional systems. She’s the Veteran, now runs chapters in Charleston, Columbia, and San Diego, and has an app that helps women find each other nationwide by location. Recognition from Evan Williams’ American-Made Heroes amplified the mission with grants and national visibility, but growth remains intentional—training leaders, centralizing logistics, and prioritizing programs that truly move the needle on mental health. If you’re a woman who served—or you love one—this episode offers a map: how to find your tribe again, why celebrating service matters, and where to plug in. Subscribe for more conversations that lift up veteran voices, share this with a woman warrior in your life, and visit shestheveteran.org to donate, join an event, or start a chapter in your city. Your share might be the connection that keeps someone going.

    29 min

  5. FEB 16

    Inside The Marine Raider Foundation: Care, Community, Continuity

    The quiet work after the mission often decides whether a family bends or breaks. We sit down with Marine Raider Foundation CEO Jessica McAndrews to open the door on a community that rarely seeks the spotlight and yet carries a heavy load long after the headlines fade. From emergency travel and uncovered medical devices to childcare during recovery, Jessica explains how a focused nonprofit moves fast to cover real gaps for Marine Raiders, their families, and Gold Star loved ones. We walk through what makes the Raider community unique within U.S. Special Operations, why the Foundation was started by Raiders themselves, and how trust with the Marine Corps enables quick, ethical support. Jessica shares how needs have shifted over 14 years—from acute battlefield injuries to long-tail challenges like traumatic brain injury and mental health—and why connection to the unit, the mission, and each other remains the strongest protective factor. You’ll hear about annual gatherings for Gold Star families, a 20th anniversary 5K near Camp Lejeune, and a celebration in Washington, D.C., all designed to keep this tight-knit community together. Practical help takes center stage: transition assistance grants for certifications and tools, mentorship and networking, and direct connections to expert partners for VA claims, resume writing, and interview prep. We talk entrepreneurship, too—how former Raiders are building businesses and purpose beyond the wire—and why the Foundation avoids duplicating services, choosing instead to partner smartly so veterans get the right help, right away. If you’ve ever wondered how to make a real difference for those who serve at the tip of the spear, this conversation is your guide. Listen now, share with a friend who cares about military families, and support the mission at the Marine Raider Foundation website. If the conversation resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what part inspired you to act. Your voice and your generosity keep the community strong.

    23 min

  6. FEB 9

    From Underserved To Seen: Holistic Support For Women Veterans

    Too many women who served are still asked to fight for basic recognition before they can access care. We sit down with Virginia Giordano, CEO and founder of the Barbara Giordano Foundation, to explore a different path: small, trauma‑informed retreats and holistic wellness programs designed by listening to women veterans first. From equine therapy and EFT tapping to reflexology and targeted workshops on issues like clutter, the approach centers on safety, trust, and practical tools that help women rebuild daily life. Virginia walks us through the foundation’s evolution from a broad women’s mission to a laser focus on women veterans after discovering the stark realities: higher rates of military sexual trauma, elevated suicide risk, and persistent underemployment. She explains why a 15‑woman cap is intentional—no one is invisible, everyone is heard—and how all‑female practitioners and cohorts create a protective space where healing can actually take hold. We discuss the tension between accessible online programming and the unique power of in‑person connection, where shared stories dissolve isolation and accelerate recovery. The conversation also surfaces systemic barriers: the default assumption that the veteran is a man, the maze of claims and bureaucracy, and the emotional cost of not being believed. Virginia shares a bold next step—a dedicated holistic retreat center for women veterans—with plans ready and partnerships welcome, whether through property donations, sponsorships, or aligned support. If you care about veteran mental health, MST recovery, equitable access, and trauma‑informed care, this is a blueprint for meaningful change that turns recognition into resources and resources into lives renewed. Subscribe for more candid conversations with leaders serving our veteran community, share this episode with a woman who served, and leave a review to help others find it. Want to help build the retreat center or sponsor a cohort? Visit GiordanoFoundation.org and get involved.

    25 min

  7. FEB 2

    Building On A Decade Of Healing At The Warrior Retreat

    Ten years in, the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run stands on stories that still move us—volunteers who swung the first hammers, families who found rest here, and a community that showed up in sunshine and storms. We take that history and turn it into fuel for a packed 2026, staying true to our core promise of five-night, no-cost respite for wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families while growing programs that answer urgent needs we see every week. We dig into the heart-work behind a moral injury initiative shaped by conversations with chaplains and hospital leaders. These gatherings help service members, first responders, and frontline medical staff name and heal wounds tied to guilt, loss, and values in conflict—pain that often hides behind diagnoses. We also share details on our new financial literacy series with ambassador Jeff Schlegel, built to replace checkbox training with real-world tools: budgeting, debt, emergency funds, investing basics, rent versus buy, and insurance essentials, all designed to ease transition and strengthen family stability. Partnerships bring even more impact to our grounds. The 9:57 Project returns with a fully sponsored student leadership week taught by veterans and anchored in the story of Flight 93, including a visit to Shanksville. Mighty Oaks and American Warrior Association schedule men’s and women’s retreats, 1010 for Life joins us for focused weekends, and DAV chaplains fill all three houses for intensive, restorative work. The Grand Lodge does what it was built to do—host, support, and give space to breathe—while miles of trails invite quiet reflection between sessions. Through it all, we keep sight of why we started: saving lives, strengthening families, and honoring service with compassion and action. Want to help sustain meals, transportation, materials, and the everyday costs that make this possible? Visit willingwarriors.org, choose donate, and, if you like, direct your gift to a program that speaks to you. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who cares about veterans and first responders, and leave a review to help more people find these stories.

    31 min

  8. JAN 26

    Green Berets, Still On Mission

    The question we ask is simple: Who watches the warriors when their war is over? Larry sits down with Denny Caballero, a former Green Beret and media entrepreneur, to explore how the Special Forces Foundation delivers rapid, peer-led support to Green Berets, their families, and Gold Star survivors—without red tape or delay. From crisis response to household needs, this is a ground-level look at a community taking care of its own. Denny shares his path from the National Guard to the 82nd Airborne and into Special Forces culture, then opens up about injuries, surgeries, and learning to navigate the VA with help from mentors. That experience shaped his next mission: bringing an authentic, Green Beret voice to a small, agile nonprofit. We talk about building reach the right way, connecting every contact to someone who understands TBI, PTS, moral injury, and the quiet burdens carried home. The result is a foundation that moves fast, funds the essentials, and keeps promises to families long after headlines fade. We dig into the QRF model—a quick reaction force for human crisis—where trained peers locate, de-escalate, and guide a teammate to care, often within hours. We spotlight the Brotherhood Blueprint, a simple QR code that drops members into trusted Signal groups where jobs, claims help, and honest answers flow. And we examine the future: growth without losing the core identity of “by Green Berets, for Green Berets,” because credibility and connection drive outcomes. If you’ve ever asked how a nonprofit can act like a team, this conversation maps the playbook. Explore resources, support the mission, and share this with someone who needs it. Subscribe for more candid, purpose-driven conversations, leave a review to help others find the show, and visit specialforcesfoundation.org to donate or get plugged in today.

    22 min
See All (150)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome Home is a Willing Warriors and the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run project. The program highlights activities at the Warrior Retreat and issues impacting all Veterans. For questions or feedback, please email us at podcast@willingwarriors.org.

Information