S.O.S. (Stories of Service) - Ordinary people who do extraordinary work

Theresa Carpenter
  • 4.0 (15)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semiweekly

This channel confronts power, exposes institutional failure, and gives a platform to people willing to tell the truth when silence is easier and safer. We cover the stories the military, media, and influencers would rather bury, because reform does not happen without friction.

  1. 6d ago

    Why America Wins Battles but Loses the Peace | Lt Col Eric Hommel S.O.S. #288

    Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! America can deploy forces anywhere, destroy targets, and win fights with stunning speed. The question that haunts me, and drives this conversation, is what happens next. If we cannot secure the peace, rebuild institutions, and earn the trust of the local population, what does “winning” even mean? I sit down with Eric Hummel, a former enlisted Navy submariner and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, and the author of *The Losing Game: How to Lose a War and Fail Veterans*. Eric has lived the messy middle of war: reconstruction funding, congressional travel, NATO exposure, and on-the-ground stability operations as a provincial reconstruction team commander in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Province. He lays out the five phases of warfare, explains why the US military is trained to “clear” but rarely prepared to “hold, build, and transition,” and connects the dots between mission creep, career incentives, and the kind of fake progress reporting highlighted by the Afghanistan Papers. We also look at what successful nation building and post-conflict reconstruction can teach us, from America’s own Reconstruction to the Marshall Plan, Japan, and South Korea, and why those efforts required strategy, competence, and sustained commitment. Eric shares a hard lesson from Panjshir: stopping road contracts until Afghans were compensated for seized land, because legitimacy and rule of law are not optional in counterinsurgency. We close with a direct challenge to senior military and civilian leaders to take responsibility in public, and to treat veterans with the truth they deserve. Subscribe for more long-form conversations, share this with a friend who thinks about national security, and leave a review so more people find the show. Stories of Service presents guests’ stories and opinions in their own words, reflecting their personal experiences and perspectives. While shared respectfully and authentically, the podcast does not independently verify all statements. Views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the host, producers, government agencies, or podcast affiliates. Support the show Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/ Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com Watch episodes of my podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

    Why America Wins Battles but Loses the Peace | Lt Col Eric Hommel S.O.S. #288

  2. Oct 9

    F*ck Veterans: Dating, Desire & Life After the Uniform | S.O.S. #287

    Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! A phrase that sounds like pure chaos becomes a surprisingly thoughtful answer to a real problem: how do veterans date, connect, and feel understood after the uniform comes off? We sit down with MJ and Dave, the minds behind “F**k Veterans, I Do,” to unpack how an outrageous joke turned into a genuine veteran community where civilians are welcome too, and where dark humor opens the door to something honest. We get into Dave’s Army story, MJ’s perspective as a self-described “civvy” learning military culture from the inside, and the moment they realized the internet wasn’t just buying merch, it was asking for connection. MJ breaks down how “Hooking Up Heroes” works, why it’s hard for many veterans to talk about themselves, and what happens when someone else hands them the microphone and says, “Let me brag about you.” The numbers are wild, but the trend is even better: most people applying aren’t looking for a quick hookup, they’re looking for a life partner. We also talk real-world impact: “Thank You Thursday,” the opt-in flirting ritual that’s helped people through rough seasons, the push toward in-person events (Philly now, Vegas next), and the giveback model that donates to Team Red, White, and Blue. There’s even a story about turning community energy into morale support for sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. If you care about veteran dating, military culture, and building belonging without losing your sense of humor, press play. If this conversation hits for you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show and the community. Stories of Service presents guests’ stories and opinions in their own words, reflecting their personal experiences and perspectives. While shared respectfully and authentically, the podcast does not independently verify all statements. Views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the host, producers, government agencies, or podcast affiliates. Support the show Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/ Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com Watch episodes of my podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

    F*ck Veterans: Dating, Desire & Life After the Uniform | S.O.S. #287

  3. Oct 7

    Cornell Case: When Consent, Memory & Evidence Collide | S.O.S. #286

    Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! A single headline can’t carry the weight of a sexual assault allegation, especially when intoxication, fragmented memory, and missing digital evidence are part of the story. We wanted a conversation that slows everything down and asks the harder question: what can actually be proven, and what are we merely assuming? I’m joined by military defense attorney Jocelyn Stewart, known online as the “messy military lawyer,” to unpack how attorneys evaluate credibility, consent, and corroboration when the public only sees partial reporting. We dig into why police summaries often fail to capture what a full recording reveals, how forensic interviewing should avoid leading questions, and why “sincerity” is not the same thing as “accuracy.” We also talk about the evidence everyone keeps overlooking, texts, photos, possible videos, witness statements, and the chain of who said what to whom and when. From there, we zoom out to the bigger legal landscape: how Title IX proceedings differ from criminal court, how a civil lawsuit can change witness incentives, and why New York Penal Law 130 creates real challenges around voluntary intoxication, physical helplessness, and compulsion. We close with a due process debate that rarely gets real attention: whether it is fair for a plaintiff to proceed as Jane Doe while the accused are named and tried in the court of public opinion. If you care about justice, accountability, and getting the facts right, listen through to the end, then subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review so more people demand evidence over outrage. Support the show Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/ Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com Watch episodes of my podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

    Cornell Case: When Consent, Memory & Evidence Collide | S.O.S. #286

  4. Oct 2

    From NYPD to Hollywood | Steven Stanulis S.O.S. #285

    Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! A job can end fast. Identity usually doesn’t. That tension sits at the center of my conversation with Steve Stan Toulus, a Staten Island native whose path runs through the NYPD, performance, Hollywood sets, independent filmmaking, podcasting, and private investigation work. His story isn’t about chasing fame. It’s about what you do after the plan breaks, and how you turn real-life experience into something you can build on. We talk about growing up in a family where becoming a police officer felt inevitable, then living a double life that sounds impossible today: policing by day and performing at night, before social media made everyone’s side hustle public. Steve shares what people get wrong about that world, and how those years quietly sharpened skills that later mattered in acting and producing. From there, we get into the hard truth of entertainment: access can vanish overnight. Steve explains how he went from unexpected opportunities on major sets to having to rebuild the “slow way” with classes, reps, and self-made work. He also breaks down the business side of independent film, including why action and horror often travel better internationally than comedy, and how making your own projects can be the difference between waiting and moving. We close on entrepreneurship and staying driven: building podcasts for love and networking, creating a PI and security company for stability, and choosing action over fear of failure. Subscribe, share this with someone in a career transition, and leave a review if it helps. What would you rebuild first if your main job disappeared tomorrow? Stories of Service presents guests’ stories and opinions in their own words, reflecting their personal experiences and perspectives. While shared respectfully and authentically, the podcast does not independently verify all statements. Views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the host, producers, government agencies, or podcast affiliates. Support the show Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/ Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com Watch episodes of my podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

    From NYPD to Hollywood | Steven Stanulis S.O.S. #285

  5. Oct 2

    From Poverty to Politics | Carl Boyanton - S.O.S. #284

    Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! A lot of political talk starts with slogans. We start with receipts and a life story. I’m Teresa Carpenter, and I sit down with Carl Lester Boyenton, an independent candidate for Congress in Mississippi’s 4th congressional district, to ask the questions voters rarely get to ask: what shaped you, what do you actually believe, and what happens when party power collides with real-world accountability? Carl lays out how growing up poor, working as a kid, and leading blue-collar teams built his view of responsibility and leadership.  Carl’s career runs from warehouse labor to managing a produce company that grew into a near-billion-dollar operation, then back to Mississippi to build again and get wiped out overnight by Hurricane Katrina. That experience feeds his blunt take on Washington: campaign finance incentives are stronger than campaign promises. We walk through how FEC filings, PACs, leadership funds, and joint fundraising committees can blur who is really bankrolling a candidate and why voters often never see the trail. If you care about political corruption, ethics enforcement, and transparency, this conversation puts a spotlight on how the system works when nobody is watching.  We also get practical about solutions Carl says he would pursue, including term limits with a realistic path to passage, a truth in legislation requirement that names who wrote a bill, and a push for single-issue bills so massive packages can’t hide surprises. He connects “affordability” to food supply chain realities, farmer impacts, and smarter food safety policy, and he talks about supporting veterans through community partnerships and on-the-ground needs. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels politically homeless, and leave a review with one reform you want Congress to tackle first. Stories of Service presents guests’ stories and opinions in their own words, reflecting their personal experiences and perspectives. While shared respectfully and authentically, the podcast does not independently verify all statements. Views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the host, producers, government agencies, or podcast affiliates. Support the show Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/ Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com Watch episodes of my podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

    From Poverty to Politics | Carl Boyanton - S.O.S. #284

  6. Sep 25

    Women in combat: Have Drones Changed The Debate? | S.O.S. #283

    Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Combat doesn’t care about your politics, your bio, or your social media takes. It cares whether you can think clearly under pressure, carry what you must carry, and keep moving when the plan breaks and the fight gets close. That’s where our conversation goes as I sit down with Marine veteran Assad Khan to talk about women in combat, infantry reality, and what “combat ready” should mean in 2026. We start with Afghanistan, when cultural imperatives made women volunteers essential for searches and engagement. Assad shares the kinds of stories that cut through stereotypes: a woman Marine pilot landing a CH-46 medevac in darkness and dust to evacuate casualties, and a woman officer pushing up a mountainside into an ambush because duty demanded it. Those moments matter, not as propaganda, but as evidence that competence shows up in real conditions, and it looks like performance, not labels. From there, we get blunt about physical standards, load carriage, injury risk, and unit cohesion. We talk about the “last 300 meters” of combat, why drones and electronic warfare don’t erase the need for bodies that can close with the enemy, and why one honest, job-specific standard protects everyone. Then we widen the lens to senior leader reform and the new Joint Warfighter Evaluation, asking whether the military is finally ready to measure warfighting ability instead of rewarding career optics. If you care about military readiness, infantry standards, leadership accountability, and an honest women in combat debate grounded in modern warfare, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who will argue in good faith, and leave a review. What should the single non-negotiable standard be for the roles that fight up close? Support the show Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/ Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com Watch episodes of my podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

    Women in combat: Have Drones Changed The Debate? | S.O.S. #283

  7. Sep 21

    Who Are You When No One Is Watching? | S.O.S. #282

    Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! The most dangerous leadership failure rarely happens on a stage. It happens in a quiet moment when you can protect your reputation or protect your integrity and you pick the one that gets you promoted.  I’m joined by John Constantine, a former United States Secret Service agent who spent nearly 23 years in protection work, including the Special Operations Division and the counter assault team. We talk about what people don’t see: the ego traps inside high-status institutions, the cultural pressure to “do what everyone else does,” and the private compromises that can stack up into moral injury. John shares why innovation is non-negotiable in security work, how professionalism means doing the mission no matter who is in the protectee seat, and what it costs when leaders quietly put “me” first.  A big thread is identity. We get real about what happens when the badge comes off and your job title disappears, especially for veterans, law enforcement, and first responders. John breaks down a powerful framework for self-esteem versus self-worth, why external validation can’t hold you up forever, and how routine, discipline, journaling, and community can help you rebuild a life that’s yours. We also get practical with the small, unseen choices that restore self-worth, including doing good things with zero need to be noticed.  If you’ve ever wondered who you are without the uniform, or how to lead without needing applause, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more stories of service, share this with someone navigating a transition, and leave a review with the habit that keeps you grounded when nobody’s watching. Stories of Service presents guests’ stories and opinions in their own words, reflecting their personal experiences and perspectives. While shared respectfully and authentically, the podcast does not independently verify all statements. Views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the host, producers, government agencies, or podcast affiliates. Support the show Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/ Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com Watch episodes of my podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

    Who Are You When No One Is Watching? | S.O.S. #282

  8. Sep 12

    9/11: The Heroes We Forgot with Michael Gier | S.O.S. #281

    Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! We all remember what we lost on September 11th, 2001. But 25 years later, there’s another question that matters just as much: do we remember what rose?  We sit down with award-winning filmmaker Michael Geyer, director and producer of The Heroism and Resiliency of 9-11: From Tragedy to Triumph, narrated by Gary Sinise, to talk about the stories that rarely make the headlines. Michael shares why he set out to spotlight courage and compassion across the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93, and how he found people whose names most of us have never heard, including quiet leaders who helped prevent a financial collapse and everyday New Yorkers who stepped into service without being asked.  We also get into the craft behind the documentary: the deep research, tracking down interview subjects, the decision to add reenactments, and why Gary Sinise was the perfect narrator given how 9/11 changed his own life of service. Along the way, we keep returning to a simple theme that hits hard: unity doesn’t have to require tragedy, and helping your community can be as real as showing up, volunteering, or choosing basic kindness when it’s easiest to look away.  You can stream the film on Amazon Prime Video, Google TV, Apple TV, and YouTube Movies. Watch the trailer and find links at www.the911film.com, then tell us what story stayed with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people find Stories of Service. Stories of Service presents guests’ stories and opinions in their own words, reflecting their personal experiences and perspectives. While shared respectfully and authentically, the podcast does not independently verify all statements. Views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the host, producers, government agencies, or podcast affiliates. Support the show Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/ Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com Watch episodes of my podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

    9/11: The Heroes We Forgot with Michael Gier | S.O.S. #281
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This channel confronts power, exposes institutional failure, and gives a platform to people willing to tell the truth when silence is easier and safer. We cover the stories the military, media, and influencers would rather bury, because reform does not happen without friction.

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