The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices

Andrew Cox

Mission The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records. New episodes Daily - Monday thru Friday Live recordings on Sundays & Thursdays @ 7 PM Central Time (Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn) About the Project The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is an independent oral-history initiative dedicated to preserving first-person accounts of U.S. military service, leadership, and veteran life. Through long-form conversations, the project captures unfiltered testimony from service members and veterans across ranks, roles, and generations. Unlike traditional history podcasts that interpret past events, this project creates primary historical sources by recording lived experience in real time — before memory fades and before stories are lost. With more than 580 recorded episodes, the collection represents one of the most extensive independently produced oral-history archives focused on modern American military and veteran culture. Episodes are publicly available and preserved to ensure long-term access by families, researchers, educators, and historians. All recordings from The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, including FireSide Chats, Veteran Stories, and Jarhead Jabber, are being archived with the Marine Corps History Division, ensuring permanent historical preservation. This work serves not only as a record of individual service, but as documentation of evolving leadership philosophy, unit culture, transition experiences, and the broader social impact of military service in the 21st century. The project exists to ensure these voices are not summarized, edited out, or forgotten — but preserved as they were lived and spoken. Nonprofit Status The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This designation confirms that the project operates exclusively for educational and historical preservation purposes. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law, and all funding directly supports the recording, production, and long-term archiving of veteran oral histories. Becoming a nonprofit strengthens the project’s sustainability, transparency, and ability to preserve veteran stories at scale. Two Segments. One Mission.🔥 Segment One: FireSide Chat The FireSide Chat is a relaxed, conversation-style segment focused on current veteran topics and community impact. These episodes often explore: • Issues affecting veterans today • Leadership, resilience, and mindset • Life after military service • The importance of community and accountability A key component of the FireSide Chat is highlighting veteran-owned businesses and organizations. This segment provides exposure to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and initiatives making a difference within the veteran community and beyond. 🎖 Segment Two: Veteran Stories Veteran Stories is a one-on-one interview format dedicated entirely to the individual. These episodes walk through the veteran’s life journey, including: • Background and upbringing • Decision to serve • Military experiences and defining moments • Challenges faced during and after service • Lessons learned and advice for others Each story is unique, personal, and preserved in the veteran’s own words. The goal is simple: capture the story before it’s lost. Mission The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records. What We Do • Record long-form oral history i

  1. 52m ago ·  Video

    #746 FireSide. Chat w/ Douglas Kaluhiokalani & The Crew; 8 Oct 2026

    🔥 #746 FireSide Chat w/ Douglas Kaluhiokalani & The Crew 8 October 2026 | The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices How safe are you in today's digital world? And how much information about you is already available to someone who wants to use it against you? In this episode of FireSide Chat, host Andrew “AJ” Cox and the crew welcome Douglas Kaluhiokalani, a United States Air Force veteran and cybersecurity professional with approximately 17 years of experience, for an eye-opening conversation about cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital warfare, online scams, and the threats hiding in everyday technology. Douglas shares his journey from being a young computer enthusiast to serving in Air Force special operations and eventually working in defensive and offensive cybersecurity. Drawing on his experience supporting cybersecurity exercises involving Army Cyber Command and NATO, he explains how modern warfare has evolved far beyond traditional weapons and battlefields. The conversation explores how military communications, satellite technology, digital footprints, and artificial intelligence are changing the way military operations are conducted. The crew discusses how quickly technology advances, the difficulties of keeping military systems current, and the risks that arise when organizations depend on technology they don't fully understand. But the discussion doesn't stop with national security. Douglas brings cybersecurity down to a personal level, explaining how easily criminals can gather publicly available information, create convincing phishing emails, impersonate trusted individuals, and use artificial intelligence to make scams increasingly believable. From compromised social media accounts and identity theft to outdated routers, smart televisions, weak passwords, and suspicious text messages, the crew explores the vulnerabilities that ordinary people encounter every day. One particularly interesting discussion centers on how artificial intelligence can collect publicly available information about someone and help identify the types of scams that person might be most likely to believe. It's a powerful reminder that the information we share online can sometimes be used against us. Throughout the conversation, AJ, Mike, Jess, and Douglas mix serious discussions with the humor, military stories, and good-natured trash talking that make FireSide Chat what it is. There are plenty of laughs about outdated military computers, Marines breaking equipment, technology frustrations, and even a few technical difficulties during the show itself. The crew also discusses the importance of maintaining mental health in an increasingly connected world. Douglas explains why people working in high-stress environments need to recognize their limits, step away from technology, and make time to recover mentally. As the episode moves toward its conclusion, Douglas shares cybersecurity resources, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), where individuals can learn more about online safety and report suspected cybercrime. And, as always, the crew closes with their Words of Wisdom, reflections on life, and a reminder that looking out for one another remains just as important today as it was during military service. Words of Wisdom from the episode: Jess shares a recommendation for a World War II history book. Mike reminds everyone not to save their kindest words for someone's funeral—say them while they can still hear them. Douglas recommends Sandworm by Andy Greenberg and The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal, emphasizing the importance of understanding both cybersecurity threats and how to manage stress. 🎙️ On This Episode Host: Andrew “AJ” Cox — United States Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant (Ret.) | Founder & Executive Director, The Lost Art Project Special Guest: Douglas Kaluhiokalani — United States Air Force Veteran | Cybersecurity Professional FireSide Chat Crew: Mike McNany — United States Marine Corps Veteran Jess Kindelspire — FireSide Chat Crew 🇺🇸 A Reminder to Our Veteran Community If you're struggling, please reach out. The Veterans Crisis Line is available by dialing 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or visiting VeteransCrisisLine.net. And if you're doing well, take a moment to check on someone you served with. Sometimes a simple conversation can make all the difference. The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies. Collect • Preserve • Educate • Inspire 🌐 www.thelostartprojectveteransvoices.org ▶️ YouTube: @TheLostArtProject

  2. 2d ago ·  Video

    #745 Dr. James Walsh Air Force Veteran; 6 Oct 2026

    🎙️ #745 James Walsh — Air Force Veteran In this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, host Andrew “AJ” Cox sits down with James Walsh, a United States Air Force veteran whose lifetime of service, education, and leadership took him from the enlisted ranks to the officer corps and ultimately to decades of continued service supporting Airmen and their families. James entered the Air Force in 1966 at just 19 years old, choosing to enlist while facing the possibility of being drafted. His journey would take him far from his home in Hartford, Connecticut, beginning with an assignment to Taiwan and continuing through assignments and experiences in places including Korea and Greece. Throughout the conversation, James reflects on his transition from enlisted Airman to commissioned officer and the responsibilities that came with leadership. As a young lieutenant, he found himself responsible for approximately 500 people, experiences that helped shape a leadership philosophy centered on listening, understanding people, earning their trust, and having the courage to make decisions. That philosophy eventually earned James a description that followed him throughout his career: “Tough, but fair.” Education also became a defining part of James’ life. What began with taking college courses while serving overseas grew into a lifelong commitment to learning and teaching. His experiences in uniform eventually allowed him to pass those lessons on to others through leadership and management education. James’ service to the Air Force continued long after his active-duty career ended. He returned as a Department of Defense civilian, eventually spending more than two decades working at the Pentagon. His work included personnel policy, benefits and entitlements, Airmen and Family Readiness, and programs directly affecting service members and their families. He ultimately retired from federal civilian service in February 2025. AJ and James also discuss the lessons behind James’ book, You’re a Leader, Now What? Build Trust, Inspire Teams, Drive Results, including communication, collaboration, conflict management, situational leadership, and the importance of understanding the people you lead. The conversation even turns to artificial intelligence and its place in modern leadership. James explains why leaders should embrace useful tools while never allowing technology to replace their own responsibility to think, evaluate information, and make decisions. And, of course, James takes on the rapid-fire questions, including a memorable zombie-apocalypse combination involving a bazooka and the National Anthem, and why a German Shepherd best represents his military career. When asked whether he would do it all again, James doesn’t hesitate: Absolutely. No regrets. After a lifetime dedicated to service, leadership, education, and helping others, James leaves listeners with a simple but powerful message: “Be kind. Gain trust.” 🎙️ Host: Andrew “AJ” Cox — U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant (Ret.) 🇺🇸 Guest: James Walsh — U.S. Air Force Veteran The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies. Collect • Preserve • Educate • Inspire

  3. 4d ago ·  Video

    #744 FireSide Chat w/ Barry Morris & the Crew; 4 Oct 2026

    🔥 #744 FireSide Chat w/ Barry Morris of Mission Roll Call & the Crew In this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, host Andrew “AJ” Cox and the FireSide Chat crew welcome Barry Morris, Marine Corps veteran and Communications Director for Mission Roll Call, for a conversation about something that should matter to every veteran: making sure our voices are actually heard. Barry begins by sharing his own journey—from growing up in a military family and enlisting in the Marine Corps, to becoming a Staff Sergeant, earning a commission through MECEP, serving as a Public Affairs Officer, and deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. That background eventually led him into communications and veteran advocacy and, today, his work with Mission Roll Call. The heart of this episode focuses on what Mission Roll Call actually does and why it matters. Barry explains how the organization regularly goes directly to veterans through polling and surveys to find out what issues are affecting them—not what someone assumes veterans need, but what veterans themselves say is important. Mission Roll Call then takes that information, along with veterans’ testimonials and experiences, and puts it in front of decision-makers. As Barry explains during the conversation, the goal is to collect that information and present it so leaders can make better decisions “for the greater good of our veteran community.” The discussion covers issues facing veterans across the country, including care for service-connected conditions, disability compensation, military retirement, VA healthcare, mental health and suicide prevention, education benefits, civilian employment, housing and home-loan assistance, caregiver support, survivor benefits, long-term care, and veteran homelessness. The crew also digs into the importance of identifying the gaps between what veterans need and the services available to them, and how many issues that appear to be local problems are directly connected to larger national challenges. One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation is the importance of participation. If organizations like Mission Roll Call are going to carry the veteran community's priorities forward, veterans have to be willing to speak up, complete the surveys, share their experiences, and make their voices part of the data being presented to those making decisions. This episode is also a reminder of how much stronger the veteran community can be when organizations work together instead of operating in isolation. Whether the mission is advocating for veterans today or preserving their stories for tomorrow, it begins with listening to the people who served. And, as always with a FireSide Chat, AJ, Barry, and the crew mix an important conversation with plenty of camaraderie, Marine Corps stories, humor, and the unscripted back-and-forth that makes these episodes what they are. 🎙️ Host: Andrew “AJ” Cox — U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant (Ret.) 🇺🇸 Special Guest: Barry Morris — U.S. Marine Corps Veteran | Communications Director, Mission Roll Call 🔥 Andrew “AJ” Cox — Host Jess — FireSide Chat Crew Mark O’Loughlin — FireSide Chat Crew Mike — FireSide Chat Crew Vic — FireSide Chat Crew The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies. Collect • Preserve • Educate • Inspire

  4. 5d ago ·  Video

    #743 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew & Quarterly Raffle Winner Announcement; 1 Oct 2026

    🎙️ Episode #743 — FireSide Chat w/ the Crew | Saddleback Leather Raffle Drawing This episode of FireSide Chat w/ the Crew brought plenty of laughs, current events, veteran conversation, and one moment everyone had been waiting for — the LIVE drawing for our Saddleback Leather Co. Flight Bag raffle! The crew covered a wide range of topics, from unusual stories making headlines and military news to COVID, flu shots, movies, history, and the kind of good-natured back-and-forth that has become a regular part of the FireSide Chat. The conversation even wandered into George Washington, the Sons of the American Revolution, information-age warfare, and the importance of understanding history. But the big event of the evening was the raffle. With AJ's sister Sheila doing the honors, the winning ticket was pulled LIVE — and Mike Francis was announced as the winner of the Saddleback Leather Co. Flight Bag! Mike even called back during the show and got the news live from AJ and the crew. The episode also introduced the next quarterly raffle, featuring a Vortex Triumph HD 10x42 binocular and Vortex Triumph HD 850 laser rangefinder, along with additional Vortex gear. The crew wrapped things up with their usual Words of Wisdom, some final laughs, and an important reminder to veterans: if you're struggling, reach out. And if you're doing well, check on the men and women you served beside. Andrew “AJ” Cox — Host, Founder & Executive Director, The Lost Art Project Mark O’Loughlin — FireSide Chat Crew Mike — FireSide Chat Crew Jess — FireSide Chat Crew Craig — FireSide Chat Crew Sheila — Joined AJ for the live raffle drawing Mike Francis — Saddleback Leather Co. Flight Bag raffle winner, who called into the show after the drawing 🎙️ ON THIS EPISODE

  5. Sep 29 ·  Video

    #742 Keith Wiesman Marine Veteran; 29 Sep 2026

    Veteran Story | Keith Wiesman — United States Marine Corps Veteran In this Veteran Story, The Lost Art Project Historical Archivist Christopher Campbell sits down with fellow Marine and Marine Corps League member Keith Wiesman to preserve the story of his service in the United States Marine Corps. A Tulsa, Oklahoma native and 1975 graduate of Nathan Hale High School, Keith recalls how a summer job at a local foundry—and a buddy unexpectedly announcing that he had joined the Marine Corps—helped set him on a completely different path. Keith entered the Marine Corps in 1975 and trained at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. In a remarkable coincidence, his platoon graduated on November 10, 1975—the 200th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. After communications training at Twenty-Nine Palms, Keith served as a communications center Marine, MOS 2542, with assignments that took him to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Korea during Exercise Team Spirit, and eventually Camp Pendleton, California, where he served with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. Keith shares memories of serving in the Pacific during the Cold War, visiting Hiroshima, participating in cold-weather training in Japan, and being placed on alert during the tensions surrounding Operation Paul Bunyan in Korea. He also remembers the friendships, motorcycles, liberty, field exercises, amphibious training, and everyday experiences that became some of the most enduring memories of his time as a Marine. After leaving active duty in 1978, Keith attended Oklahoma State University using the GI Bill before beginning a career in financial services and eventually returning to the Tulsa area. Throughout the conversation, Keith reflects on much more than duty stations and dates. He talks about the lessons the Marine Corps taught him about communication, leadership, perseverance, dealing with different personalities, and discovering that people are often capable of enduring far more than they think. More than fifty years after stepping onto the yellow footprints, the influence of those experiences—and the Marines who shared them with him—remains. Veteran: Keith Wiesman Branch: United States Marine Corps Years of Active Service: 1975–1978 MOS: 2542 — Communication Center Man Duty Stations/Assignments Discussed: MCRD Parris Island; Twenty-Nine Palms; MCAS Iwakuni, Japan; Korea/Exercise Team Spirit; Camp Pendleton; 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines Historical Archivist / Interviewer: Christopher Campbell Every Veteran Has a Story. Every Story Is a Piece of History. The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies. Collect · Preserve · Educate · Inspire

  6. Sep 25 ·  Video

    #740 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew; 24 Sep 2026

    FireSide Chat with the Crew | Episode #740 Sometimes the best FireSide Chats are the ones where there is no agenda and no telling where the conversation is going to go. In this episode of The Lost Art Project FireSide Chat, AJ Cox is joined by fellow Marine veteran Mike McNany for an open conversation about veterans, the growth of The Lost Art Project, old Marine Corps memories, family, getting older, podcasting, and plenty of humor along the way. Later in the show, Nelson Zapata, a Marine musician veteran who served alongside Mike in the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band, jumps into the conversation as well. AJ gives an update on just how far The Lost Art Project has come. The podcast has now reached 38,800+ all-time downloads, 737 episodes, 1,032 veteran appearances, 255 unique veterans, and more than 678 hours of recorded content. AJ and Mike talk about what those numbers really represent—not simply podcast statistics, but hundreds of veterans and thousands of hours of history being preserved for future generations. The conversation also gets into the continued expansion of the Historical Archivist Program and AJ's goal of having more archivists around the country recording veterans in their own communities. As that program grows, The Lost Art Project could eventually be releasing veteran stories every day while continuing the regular FireSide Chats. AJ and Mike also discuss something that separates The Lost Art Project from a traditional podcast. The podcast isn't the mission—the stories are. Downloads and views help people discover the veterans and their experiences, but the ultimate goal is to collect and preserve the firsthand accounts of ordinary service members. These are often the voices that don't make it into history books: the young Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardians and Coast Guardsmen who can tell history from where they actually stood. With The Lost Art Project preparing for the Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair, the conversation also turns to getting out into the community, meeting veterans and their families, inviting veterans to record their stories, and raising support for the mission. From there, as FireSide Chats tend to do, the conversation goes in every direction imaginable—with stories about fairs, amusement rides, childhood, Marine Corps nicknames, military humor, marriage, cruises, getting older, and some good old-fashioned trash talking. There may not have been an agenda for this one, but that's exactly what makes a FireSide Chat a FireSide Chat: veterans sitting around, telling stories, laughing at each other, talking about the things that matter, and seeing where the conversation takes them. Featuring: AJ Cox — Founder / Executive Director / Host Mike McNany — Marine Veteran / FireSide Chat Crew Nelson Zapata — Marine Musician Veteran / former Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band member 🇺🇸 Every Veteran Has a Story. Every Story Is a Piece of History. The Lost Art Project Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies. Collect · Preserve · Educate · Inspire

  7. Sep 23 ·  Video

    #739 A Commandant's Reflection - TJ Morgan Looks Back on His Term; 15 Sep 2026

    Episode 739 — A Commandant’s Reflection: TJ Morgan Looks Back on His Term Guest: TJ Morgan — 66th National Commandant, Marine Corps League Host: Andrew “AJ” Cox — Founder / Executive Director / Host, The Lost Art Project After two years serving as the 66th National Commandant of the Marine Corps League, TJ Morgan joins AJ for a special look back at the journey—the good, the difficult, the memorable, and the people who made it worthwhile. TJ traces his path through national leadership, from Assistant National Vice Commandant and Northwest Division National Vice Commandant through National Judge Advocate, Junior Vice, Senior Vice, and ultimately National Commandant. He talks candidly about the responsibility behind the title, the extensive travel required—especially as a West Coast Commandant—and why the real “paycheck” for this volunteer position is the satisfaction that comes from serving Marines and veterans. The conversation looks back on memorable moments from his term, including supporting Young Marines in Hawaii, presenting Marine Corps League awards directly to recipients and their families, representing the League in Washington, D.C., strengthening relationships with the Marine Corps and other veteran organizations, and using personal connections and networking to create new opportunities for the League. TJ also reflects on the importance of getting back to the grassroots level, connecting with local detachments, reaching younger Marines, expanding the League’s visibility, and leaving the organization better than he found it. He discusses the transition to the new National Commandant and why an additional year of continuity for future commandants could help long-term initiatives succeed. Most of all, this episode is a thank-you and a reflection on service. TJ shares what the experience meant to him, the people he met along the way, and his advice to Marines considering higher leadership in the Marine Corps League: if you have the opportunity and the time to serve—go for it. 🎙️ The Lost Art Project Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies. Collect · Preserve · Educate · Inspire Visit The Lost Art Project to learn more, listen to veteran stories, explore the archive, support the mission, or schedule a recording.

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Mission The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records. New episodes Daily - Monday thru Friday Live recordings on Sundays & Thursdays @ 7 PM Central Time (Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn) About the Project The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is an independent oral-history initiative dedicated to preserving first-person accounts of U.S. military service, leadership, and veteran life. Through long-form conversations, the project captures unfiltered testimony from service members and veterans across ranks, roles, and generations. Unlike traditional history podcasts that interpret past events, this project creates primary historical sources by recording lived experience in real time — before memory fades and before stories are lost. With more than 580 recorded episodes, the collection represents one of the most extensive independently produced oral-history archives focused on modern American military and veteran culture. Episodes are publicly available and preserved to ensure long-term access by families, researchers, educators, and historians. All recordings from The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, including FireSide Chats, Veteran Stories, and Jarhead Jabber, are being archived with the Marine Corps History Division, ensuring permanent historical preservation. This work serves not only as a record of individual service, but as documentation of evolving leadership philosophy, unit culture, transition experiences, and the broader social impact of military service in the 21st century. The project exists to ensure these voices are not summarized, edited out, or forgotten — but preserved as they were lived and spoken. Nonprofit Status The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This designation confirms that the project operates exclusively for educational and historical preservation purposes. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law, and all funding directly supports the recording, production, and long-term archiving of veteran oral histories. Becoming a nonprofit strengthens the project’s sustainability, transparency, and ability to preserve veteran stories at scale. Two Segments. One Mission.🔥 Segment One: FireSide Chat The FireSide Chat is a relaxed, conversation-style segment focused on current veteran topics and community impact. These episodes often explore: • Issues affecting veterans today • Leadership, resilience, and mindset • Life after military service • The importance of community and accountability A key component of the FireSide Chat is highlighting veteran-owned businesses and organizations. This segment provides exposure to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and initiatives making a difference within the veteran community and beyond. 🎖 Segment Two: Veteran Stories Veteran Stories is a one-on-one interview format dedicated entirely to the individual. These episodes walk through the veteran’s life journey, including: • Background and upbringing • Decision to serve • Military experiences and defining moments • Challenges faced during and after service • Lessons learned and advice for others Each story is unique, personal, and preserved in the veteran’s own words. The goal is simple: capture the story before it’s lost. Mission The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records. What We Do • Record long-form oral history i