Hope For The Warriors Podcast

Kate Dudley

HOPE. It's what military families need today. Join Hope For The Warriors monthly as we talk with America's heroes and those that support them. Through open conversations and honest dialogue, learn more about the topics most impacting the military community.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. From Clay Shoots to Fishing Boats

    May 21

    From Clay Shoots to Fishing Boats

    What started with one question, “What can I do to help?” grew into a movement that has raised millions for veterans, service members, and military families through Hope For The Warriors. In this special episode of the Hope For The Warriors Podcast, host Kate Dudley sits down with Stirling Collins and Bernie Ruf during two of HOPE’s signature events: the 15th Annual Clay Shoot at Orvis Sandanona and the 5th Annual Striped Bass Fishing Tournament on the Hudson River. Together, they reflect on: • How these events began • The powerful connections formed between veterans and supporters • Why participants return year after year • Stories of healing, camaraderie, and purpose • How one act of service inspired even more events like Riding For Warriors and No Obstacles More than fundraisers, these events have become a family, bringing together veterans, donors, volunteers, celebrity supporters, and communities united by a shared mission to serve those who served. 00:00 On the Hudson Intro 00:59 Event Vibe and Welcome 03:46 Why It Hooks People 05:05 Fishing Tournament Explained 06:32 Breaking Barriers Together 09:37 Veteran Impact Stories 12:27 Clay Shoot Memories 14:02 How It All Snowballed 17:55 Message to Supporters 21:43 What HOPE Means to Bernie and Stirling 28:47 Gary Sinise Community Service Award Moment 31:19 Heartfelt Blanket Auction 33:27 Passing the Torch Forward 36:25 Final Thanks and Wrap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  2. Headfirst Into Purpose: The Para Skeleton Movement

    Apr 2

    Headfirst Into Purpose: The Para Skeleton Movement

    In this powerful episode of the HOPE podcast, host Kate Dudley sits down with U.S. Para Sliding Development Director Kim Seevers from Lake Placid during a stop on the inaugural Para Skeleton Legacy Tour. Born out of the energy of the Invictus Games, this international tour is creating new pathways for veterans and adaptive athletes to stay connected to sport, purpose, and community. From Norway to Switzerland to the U.S., athletes are not only learning new tracks, but they’re also rediscovering confidence, identity, and what’s possible after injury. Kim shares how the tour came to life, why expanding beyond Lake Placid was critical, and how partnerships, including Hope For The Warriors, helped remove financial barriers so athletes could fully commit to the experience. More than just a sport, Para Skeleton offers something deeper: a powerful mix of adrenaline, focus, and healing. As Kim explains, it mirrors the intensity of combat while also demanding mindfulness, discipline, and control. With eyes set on growing the sport globally, and a long-term goal of reaching the Paralympic Games, this movement is just getting started. 0:00 – Welcome from Lake Placid & intro to the Legacy Tour 1:10 – How the Invictus Games sparked the movement 3:15 – Why para skeleton is so powerful (and accessible for beginners) 5:20 – Taking the tour global: Norway, Switzerland & beyond 7:10 – Why international experience matters for athlete growth 9:00 – How Hope For The Warriors helped fund the tour 11:15 – Athlete impact: confidence, identity & recovery 14:00 – The mental + physical transformation through sport 16:10 – Why veterans are drawn to sliding sports (adrenaline + focus) 18:30 – Chaos vs. control: the meditative side of skeleton 20:30 – Camaraderie and connection among military athletes 22:30 – David Snypes’ story: resilience, innovation & breaking barriers 27:00 – The future: World Cup dreams & Paralympic goals 30:00 – Why these stories matter—and what we can all take away 32:00 – Closing + (maybe) taking a run down the track Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

HOPE. It's what military families need today. Join Hope For The Warriors monthly as we talk with America's heroes and those that support them. Through open conversations and honest dialogue, learn more about the topics most impacting the military community.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.