Urban Valor: the podcast

Urban Valor
  • 4.9 (149)
  • 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. 4D AGO

    The Navy Sailor Who Rescued Survivors From a Floating Graveyard

    This one’s heavy. We’ve heard a lot of military stories over the years… but this one stuck with us. Rick served in the U.S. Navy during the late 80s, and during a deployment in the South China Sea, they got a call about a stranded refugee boat. What they found when they got there… was nothing like they expected. There were bodies everywhere. Survivors that couldn’t even stand. People so far gone they had to be carried onto the ship. And the part that really messes with you… what those people had to do to stay alive. It’s the kind of story you don’t forget. But what hit us just as hard wasn’t just what happened out there. It’s what came after. We talk about the transition out of the military, losing that sense of purpose, and how moments like this don’t just disappear when you come home. A lot of guys carry this stuff for years… and never say a word. 👍 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 – Brutal Navy Shellback Initiation 00:40 – “They Beat the Hell Out of You” 01:16 – Who Is Rick Estrada? (Navy Background) 03:26 – Why He Joined the Navy 04:15 – Boot Camp Reality vs Expectations 06:39 – Cold War Deployment & Russian Encounters 10:26 – Crossing the Equator Ceremony (Full Story) 14:18 – Mission Redirected: Refugee Distress Call 14:54 – Finding the Boat… Something Was Wrong 15:43 – Bodies Everywhere (First Discovery) 16:09 – 107 People… Only 57 Survived 16:41 – Signs of Cannibalism 17:20 – Carrying Survivors Onto the Ship 18:01 – The Most Disturbing Moment 18:50 – Burning the Boat 19:15 – Searching for More Survivors 20:12 – Dropping Them Off & Moving On 20:23 – Port Calls & Wild Deployment Stories 22:07 – “Peso Show” Culture Shock 27:40 – Wanting to Go to War (Desert Storm) 28:44 – Life After the Navy 29:28 – Losing Purpose After Service 30:40 – Reuniting With Shipmates 31:48 – Trauma From the Rescue Mission 32:34 – Getting Help & VA Struggles 33:31 – Advice to Veterans

    35 min

  2. MAR 23

    DEA Threats, Drug Labs, & Violence, the Army Vet Shaking up the Gun Industry!

    Ryan Spadafore grew up surrounded by chaos. His father, a former LAPD officer, was eventually caught running a drug manufacturing operation that exploded and triggered a federal investigation. Soon the DEA, FBI, and federal prosecutors were involved, and Ryan found himself caught in the fallout of a criminal case that shattered his family. At the same time, his older brother was battling addiction during the height of the OxyContin epidemic, creating a violent and unpredictable environment inside their home. Ryan describes growing up in constant fear, dealing with threats, family breakdown, and the psychological toll of living in a house filled with instability and danger. Trying to escape the chaos, Ryan eventually turned to the military. He enlisted on an Army 18X contract, entering the pipeline designed for candidates pursuing the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets). Although his military path didn’t unfold exactly how he planned, the experience gave him the discipline and direction he needed to rebuild his life. Today Ryan is working in the firearms industry, developing new technology and products that have sparked lawsuits, controversy, and intense debate among some of the largest companies in the industry. In this episode of Urban Valor, Ryan shares the full story of growing up in a violent household, the moment his father’s drug lab brought federal agents to his door, the death threats that followed, and how joining the Army became his way out! 👍 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:  #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

    1h 37m

  3. MAR 17

    Marine Raider Tells the War Story That Still Haunts Him!

    Former Marine Raider Prime Hall shares his unbelievable journey from growing up in South Texas, surviving childhood trauma, and getting involved in the drug world, to eventually becoming a U.S. Marine Corps Infantryman and Marine Raider (MARSOC). On today's episode of the Urban Valor Podcast, Prime breaks down the reality of Marine Corps boot camp, the mindset required to survive Marine Raider selection, and the leadership differences between traditional Marine infantry units and special operations teams. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a Marine Raider, how elite operators prepare mentally and physically, or what life is like inside the U.S. Marine Corps during the Iraq War era, this episode gives you a close look. Prime also talks about the discipline, mistakes, and personal transformation that shaped his career — including losing rank twice in the Marines, struggling with alcohol, and rebuilding himself through extreme physical training before earning his place in the Raider community. This is one of the most honest conversations you'll hear about Marine Corps culture, special operations leadership, and the mindset required to survive! 👍 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:  0:00 Taliban Uses a Child to Deliver a Motorcycle Bomb 1:05 Prime Hall Introduction – Marine Raider Background 1:44 Growing Up in South Texas 5:03 Sent to Marine Military Academy 7:31 Sneaking Out of School to Party in Mexico 9:43 Selling Drugs as a Teen 11:08 The Drug Deal Robbery 14:57 Why He Joined the Marines 20:07 Marine Corps Boot Camp Begins 31:44 Losing His Rank Twice in the Marines 37:06 Quitting Alcohol and Rebuilding Himself 42:26 Marine Raider Selection 53:07 Joining First Raider Battalion 1:01:47 Deploying to Afghanistan 1:02:54 Mass Casualty Bombing in Afghanistan 1:06:36 The Insider Attack That Haunted Him 1:22:14 Forced Medical Retirement from the Marines 1:27:00 The Healing Experience That Changed His Life 1:33:00 Losing Two Teammates 1:50:56 Writing the Book “Permission to Heal” #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

    1h 54m

  4. MAR 9

    WWII Soldier Tells the Story of the Deadliest Night of His Life!

    In this episode of the Urban Valor Podcast, we sit down with a World War II Army veteran who survived one of the deadliest moments of the European campaign...the Rhine River crossing! And later walked through a liberated Nazi death camp!  At just 19 years old, Paul A. Groves was drafted into the U.S. Army and assigned as an infantry messenger with E Company, 89th Infantry Division under General Patton. In January 1945, he landed in France before pushing toward the Rhine River — one of the final and most dangerous barriers into Nazi Germany. At 2:00 AM, his unit loaded into boats under darkness. Halfway across, German machine guns opened fire. His company commander was killed. His first sergeant was killed. Then the boat exploded. Thrown into the freezing river under direct fire, Paul became the only Soldier from his boat to survive. As American forces advanced into Germany, he helped liberate a Nazi concentration camp — describing the smell of death before they ever saw it. After surviving the Rhine and witnessing the camps, Paul was told he would likely be sent to invade Japan. Then the atomic bomb was dropped. Now over 100 years old, he reflects on combat, fear, survival, and what General Patton meant when he said a Soldier must learn to hate the enemy. This is a firsthand WWII testimony from one of the last living soldiers of that generation. 👍 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 – Landing in France at 10 Below Zero 02:00 – Drafted Into the Army in 1943 05:15 – Military Police Training & Infantry Assignment 15:20 – Shipping Out to Europe 17:49 – Frozen Boots at Camp Lucky Strike 21:50 – Preparing to Cross the Rhine River 23:12 – Boat Explosion & Becoming the Only Survivor 25:25 – Drifting Alone Under German Fire 31:03 – Liberating Ordorf Concentration Camp 33:37 – Facing the Russians in Vienna 46:54 – Coming Home After the War 50:31 – Nightmares & Life After Combat 53:24 – Politics, War & Truth 59:05 – Advice for Young Soldiers 1:00:59 – “You Have to Hate the Enemy” – Patton’s Words 1:01:29 – Secret to Living to 100 #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

    1h 3m

  5. MAR 3

    Long Beach Gangster Wanting a Warrior’s Death Survives 55 Months in Combat!

    55 months in combat. Three Iraq deployments. Countless missions in Mosul. And when it was over… he didn’t want to come home. In this Urban Valor Podcast interview, JayR McIntyre opens up about surviving 55 months in combat, losing over 20 soldiers, being issued a body bag, and battling severe PTSD after returning home. This is a powerful United States Army combat story about survival, mental health, and the reality of war. JayR grew up in gang culture in Long Beach before joining the U.S. Army after time in jail. He deployed to Iraq three times, served during some of the deadliest years in Mosul, and ran hundreds of combat missions. But what nearly killed him wasn’t the enemy...it was survivor’s guilt and the mental weight of coming home. In this episode, he discusses: • 55 months in combat • Iraq War missions in Mosul • Losing brothers in battle • Being issued a body bag before deployment • Contemplating suicide four times • PTSD in the military • Survivor’s guilt • Life after deployment • Becoming “The Hood Motivator” This is the truth about combat trauma, military mental health, and rebuilding your life after the battlefield. If you’re a veteran struggling with PTSD, you are not alone. 👍 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 – “I Wanted a Warrior’s Death” 00:50 – Growing Up in Gang Culture (Long Beach) 03:12 – Losing His Mother & Early Trauma 08:53 – Jail Before the Army 10:08 – Joining the U.S. Army 13:47 – 9/11 & The Turning Point 18:33 – First Deployment to Iraq 24:27 – Losing Brothers in Combat 27:15 – Coming Home Changed 33:06 – 15 Months in Mosul (Second Deployment) 37:53 – Issued a Body Bag With His Name On It 41:27 – Denied Leave for His Son’s Birth 44:24 – Article 15 & Betrayal 47:47 – Mental Health Breakdown 48:23 – Inpatient Treatment & Healing 52:17 – Contemplated Suicide Four Times 53:18 – Becoming The Hood Motivator 54:30 – Message to Veterans Struggling #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

    55 min

  6. FEB 24

    One Desperate Moment Turned This Single Mom Into a U.S. Marine

    Cynthia Garcia’s story is one of the most powerful Marine Corps stories you’ll ever hear. As a single mom, she ran into a Marine recruiting office seeking protection — and that moment changed her life forever. Today, she’s an active-duty United States Marine Staff Sergeant, but her journey through Marine boot camp, recruiting duty, deployment, and motherhood was anything but easy. In today's Urban Valor Episode, we look into what it really takes to become a female Marine, the mental battles of Marine Corps boot camp, the pressure of being a mother in uniform, and how the Marines gave her something she never had before — belonging. Cynthia enlisted in 2014 after struggling with identity, self-doubt, and adversity. She almost quit during the final hike at boot camp. She faced harsh leadership in the fleet. She served on deployment in Africa and the Middle East. She became a Marine recruiter and helped change the lives of dozens of young men and women — some of whom credit her for saving their lives. But this story goes deeper. From nearly stepping out of formation at the Crucible… To becoming the very leader others depend on… To raising a daughter diagnosed with a rare genetic condition while serving on active duty… Cynthia didn’t join for glory. She joined because she needed protection. And she never left! 👍 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 – Running Into the Recruiting Office for Protection 01:20 – Growing Up Feeling Like an Outsider 09:30 – Failing the ASVAB & Nearly Giving Up 16:40 – Why She Chose the Marine Corps Over the Navy 23:10 – Leaving for Boot Camp as a Mother 32:00 – Almost Quitting During the Final Hike 35:00 – Graduation & Earning the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor 39:20 – Fleet Life & Being Told She Didn’t Belong 52:30 – Becoming a Marine Recruiter 1:03:45 – The Recruit She Couldn’t Save 1:10:00 – Pregnancy on Recruiting Duty 1:12:30 – Her Daughter’s Rare Diagnosis 1:15:00 – Making Staff Sergeant 1:18:00 – Why She Reenlisted 1:19:30 – Final Advice for Anyone Considering the Military #military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

    1h 21m

  7. FEB 17

    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

  8. 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
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4.9
out of 5
149 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
    225
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sport of Business, LLC
  • Show Website
    Urban Valor: the podcast

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