Waking Up with the VFW Combat Tested Gaming

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
  • 5.0 (1)
  • VIDEO GAMES

The official podcast and initiative by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), aiming to build community and support for veterans and service members through video games, featuring veteran hosts Smank and Cootie Shadow, guest interviews, and discussions on veteran mental health and videogames.

Episodes

  1. The First CTG Roundtable

    APR 6

    The First CTG Roundtable

    In this episode, Shadow and Smank invite on many of the friendly faces of CTG.

    1h 26m
  2. Smankolish

    MAR 30

    Smankolish

    In this episode... well? what did you learn? Listen and find out.

    1h 30m
  3. The Mitch Fuller Episode

    MAR 23

    The Mitch Fuller Episode

    In this episode Cootie Shadow and Smank invite in our Producer Mission Commander as an aid with the "terrible weather." The Podcast also invites in a fan favorite Mitch Fuller as they discusses the legislative efforts of the VFW, the Grunt Style Foundation and the force multiplication factors, and hemp products usage by veterans who are looking for relief and its barriers.

    1h 30m
  4. Sarge and the CTG iRacing Race Team

    MAR 16

    Sarge and the CTG iRacing Race Team

    In this episode of Waking up with the VFW's Combat Tested Gaming Podcast, Host Cootie Shadow and Co-host Smank explore the world of iRacing: as they interview Game/Race Team Lead Chris "Sarge" Norris.

    1h 29m
  5. Bonus Army March 2026- By the VFW

    MAR 9

    Bonus Army March 2026- By the VFW

    Cootie Shadow and Smank are rambling as normal, with the spritz of VFW. Producer Mission Commander "Ronnie Steele" attended and shared the walk with the Podcast.

    1h 12m
  6. An Episode about Social Anxiety

    FEB 23

    An Episode about Social Anxiety

    Cootie Shadow gives Discount Dad some advice. Cant say it is good or if its bad, you can listen and tell

    1h 27m
  7. Healing Properties of Video Games

    FEB 16

    Healing Properties of Video Games

    Discount Dad and Cootie Shadow discuss many ways that video games are a way of the future. Ways that video games and shenanigans create comradery and change veterans lives.

    1h 40m
  8. What a Monday

    FEB 9

    What a Monday

    Discount Dad is not feeling of the weather, but CTG makes him feel better. Cootie Shadow has been snowed in for the past week. Listen in to Discount Dad and Cootie Shadow recollect whatever that they can from their mind boggling weeks

    1h 37m
  9. Cootie Episode

    FEB 2

    Cootie Episode

    In this episode our host Stocker says his farewell as Discount Dad is introduced. We also introduce our listeners to the World of Cooties, as we introduce the National Commander Tracy Woodman, National Sr Vice Commander Ronnie Steele, and National President Dawn VanTassel to the outside world.

    1h 42m
  10. Always Give Back

    JAN 27

    Always Give Back

    Stocker, Cootie, and Peeps are delving out Mental Health and Gaming as we hear about the Non Profit Always Give Back, and how it was founded, their mission. The solid take, "do something with no expectations."

    1h 54m
  11. Stress and Hobbies

    JAN 19

    Stress and Hobbies

    Our Hosts dive into the importance of Hobbies and why veterans can use it to help with mental health.

    1h 35m
  12. Waking up 2026

    JAN 10

    Waking up 2026

    In this episode our hosts tap VFW Programs, as well as talk about 2026 and Holidays, helping veterans, and videogames.

    1h 43m
  • 12 Episodes

About

The official podcast and initiative by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), aiming to build community and support for veterans and service members through video games, featuring veteran hosts Smank and Cootie Shadow, guest interviews, and discussions on veteran mental health and videogames.

Information