The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices

Andrew Cox
  • 5.0 (15)
  • History
  • Updated Weekly

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. 20h ago ·  Video

    #725 Kasey Slaton Air Force Veteran; 25 Aug 2026

    Episode #725 — Kasey Slaton | U.S. Air Force Veteran For more than 21 years, Kasey Slaton called the United States Air Force home. What began as a 19-year-old becoming the first person in her immediate family to join the military grew into a career that took her around the world, built lifelong friendships, and ultimately shaped the woman, wife, mother, and veteran she is today. Kasey's journey even began with an unexpected twist—arriving at basic training a day late and finding herself assigned to a band flight, despite never having played an instrument! Handed a pair of cymbals and told they always needed a cymbal player, she embraced the experience and discovered an early lesson that would follow her throughout her career: sometimes the unexpected opportunities become the most memorable. Kasey went on to become an Air Force medic, training at Sheppard Air Force Base before completing hands-on hospital training at Offutt AFB. Her career would eventually take her to Randolph AFB, a deployment to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Kunsan Air Base in Korea, Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Turkey, Alaska, and beyond. Throughout the conversation, Kasey shares what it was like serving as a woman in the Air Force, the strong female leadership and sisterhood she experienced, balancing military service with motherhood, and the relationships that have lasted long after leaving uniform. After joining in May 2004, Kasey completed her Air Force career on September 30, 2025, with more than 21 years of service. She also talks candidly about how strange it felt to suddenly become a civilian after decades of military structure and how programs such as SkillBridge and the Seven Eagle Group helped prepare her for that transition. One of the most meaningful moments comes when Kasey leaves a message directly to her children—Kenzie, Maddox, Jack, Eliana, and Asher—creating exactly the kind of family history The Lost Art Project was created to preserve. This episode isn't simply about where Kasey served. It's about the people, experiences, family, camaraderie, service, and memories collected over more than two decades in uniform. 🎙️ The Lost Art Project: Veterans' Voices 🇺🇸 Episode #725 — Kasey Slaton, U.S. Air Force Veteran 🌐 thelostartprojectveteransvoices.org Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies.

  2. 1d ago ·  Video

    #724 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew 29 Aug 2026

    🔥 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Episode #724 What happens when you put a group of Veterans together, give them an open microphone, and let the conversation go wherever it needs to go? You get a FireSide Chat. Episode #724 of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices brought the crew back together for an evening filled with humor, military memories, leadership lessons, changing warfare, AI, drones, and a serious discussion about whether joining the military is still a good decision for today's young men and women. The night began on a personal note as the crew celebrated Jess Kindelspire's birthday. Jess reflected on a surprise party that brought friends together from across the country and shared how humbled he was by the people who had traveled to celebrate with him. From there, the conversation moved through the kind of stories only Veterans can tell—from weather and cigars to memories from deployments and military life—before turning toward leadership and today's military. When a viewer asked what the crew thought about a young person joining the Army today, the answer sparked one of the strongest conversations of the evening. The crew discussed the importance of small-unit leadership, trusting NCOs, giving junior leaders responsibility, developing the people beneath you, and how good leaders create an environment where their people can rise to the occasion. The discussion then turned toward the changing battlefield. AI, drones and new technologies may change the tools of warfare, but the crew agreed that the fundamentals remain: leadership, initiative, decision-making, adaptability and brilliance in the basics. Technology changes. People still matter. The evening wrapped up with Words of Wisdom, Mark's Humdinger, a book recommendation from Jess, and the crew's reminder that history shows Americans have faced difficult and divided times before—and found ways to overcome them. 🎙️ Host: AJ Cox — Founder/Executive Director, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran 🔥 Crew: Jess Kindelspire, Mike McNany, Mark O'Loughlin & Vick Ney — Veterans bringing their experience, humor and leadership perspectives to the conversation. These conversations are exactly why Veterans' voices matter. Beyond the battles and deployments are decades of experience, leadership, mistakes, friendships, lessons learned and wisdom worth passing to the next generation. The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices Collect. Preserve. Educate. Inspire. Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies.

  3. 4d ago ·  Video

    #723 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew; 20 Aug 2026

    🔥 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Supporting Today’s Service Members The FireSide Chat crew is back together for another unscripted evening filled with military camaraderie, serious conversation, personal updates, history, sports, and the kind of humor that only veterans can truly appreciate. AJ welcomes Jim Russell back following their first opportunity to meet in person at the Marine Corps League National Convention. Jim—the crew’s ALS warrior—demonstrates his new communication device and reminds everyone that an ALS diagnosis does not erase a person’s voice, humor, determination, or ability to make a difference. The crew also discusses upcoming Marine Corps League events in the Knoxville area, including the Marine Corps Mud Run on September 12. The most important discussion of the evening centers on the sailors serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and the criticism directed toward today’s service members by some within the veteran community. Jess challenges veterans to stop the generational hazing and recognize the realities facing those currently serving through long deployments, continuous operations, limited port calls, family separation, and changing threats. The crew agrees that veterans must remember an important truth: once we leave the military, we become alumni. Our experience still matters, but our responsibility should be to mentor, encourage, and advocate—not publicly tear down the generation that followed us. The conversation asks veterans to break the cycle. If today’s service members are struggling, they do not need to hear, “That’s what you signed up for.” They need the veteran community to listen, understand, and stand beside them. Of course, it would not be a FireSide Chat without plenty of laughter. The crew also covers artificial intelligence, runaway robots, unusual sports ideas, football rivalries, Florida drivers, military travel stories, extreme desert heat, and the questionable decisions that somehow make perfect sense when veterans are together. Jess closes his historical segment by recommending John Keegan’s Intelligence in War, explaining that technology and battlefields may change, but sound intelligence must always shape operations—not be altered to support a predetermined plan. The crew’s final words of wisdom offer two powerful reminders: “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.” — Ernest Hemingway “You only fail when you do not try in the first place.” Episode Participants 🎙️ Andrew “AJ” Cox — Host; Founder and Executive Director of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices 🔥 Aaron Davis — FireSide Chat crew member; veteran advocate and contributor 📚 Jess Kindelspire — FireSide Chat crew member; historical and military affairs contributor 💪 James “Jim” Russell — FireSide Chat crew member, veteran advocate, and ALS warrior This episode is a reminder that service does not end when the uniform comes off. Veterans still have a responsibility to support those serving today, check on the people beside them, and use their experience to strengthen—not divide—the military community. 🌐 thelostartprojectveteransvoices.org Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies.

  4. 5d ago ·  Video

    #722 James Pennington Army Veteran; 20 Aug 2026

    James Pennington | U.S. Army Veteran What begins as the story of a young man from rural northwest Alabama becomes an incredible journey of service, medicine, faith, leadership, and caring for America’s warriors in some of their most difficult moments. In this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, AJ sits down with Army veteran James Pennington to preserve a military story spanning decades. James grew up with military service already woven into his family. His grandfather served during World War II in the Pacific, and his father served during Vietnam. In 1984, James followed that tradition, entering the Army shortly after high school. Originally hoping to become an 11B Infantryman with Airborne and Ranger options, the needs of the Army changed his direction. James became a medic, completed Airborne School, and served with the 82nd Airborne Division. He later transitioned into the National Guard, but another calling was beginning to take shape. James remembered something his father had taught him years earlier: when you need help, go see the chaplain. That lesson eventually helped lead James from caring for soldiers physically as a medic to caring for them spiritually and emotionally as an Army Chaplain. His story takes listeners through service in the post-9/11 era, deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, ministry in combat, work at Walter Reed, and the enormous responsibility of supporting service members carrying the physical and emotional consequences of war. James also shares one of the most solemn responsibilities of his career—serving in mortuary affairs in Afghanistan, praying over fallen Americans, reading scripture, and helping ensure they were treated with dignity before their final journey home. This conversation goes far beyond military assignments. It explores what it means to be present when someone is hurting, the burden carried by those who care for others, the realities of combat, and the importance of preserving these experiences. James closes with a message that fits the mission of this project perfectly: Veterans—tell your stories. And for those who haven't served—listen, and make the effort to understand. 🎙️ Guest: James Pennington — U.S. Army Veteran 🎙️ Host: AJ Cox — The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices Every Veteran carries a piece of history. By preserving these firsthand accounts, we ensure those experiences remain available for families, educators, historians, researchers, and future generations. Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies.

  5. Aug 18 ·  Video

    #720 Johnny Unvaccinated Air Force Veteran; 18 Aug 2026

    🇺🇸 EPISODE #720 — JOHN UNVACCINATED | U.S. AIR FORCE VETERAN This is a Veteran Story unlike any we’ve shared before. On this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, AJ Cox sits down with U.S. Air Force Veteran John Unvaccinated to preserve a story of military service, caring for America’s fallen, personal conviction, and a decision that put his military career on the line. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, John eventually found his way to military service. He initially joined the Navy with hopes of pursuing the SEAL pipeline, but after an injury changed those plans, his journey ultimately led him to the United States Air Force. John entered the Services career field and found a mission he considered deeply honorable: mortuary affairs. His service took him to Dover Port Mortuary, where he worked with America’s fallen service members. It was difficult work that gave John a unique perspective on service, sacrifice, death, and the responsibility of caring for those who gave their lives. Then came COVID-19. As the military moved from encouraging vaccination to mandating it, John found himself increasingly conflicted. He ultimately decided he would not receive the COVID-19 vaccine, knowing that decision could end his military career. What followed was a long and contentious battle with Air Force leadership. John discusses his refusal, his attempt to seek an exemption, disciplinary action, being kept away from his normal duties, his eventual separation, and the legal proceedings that followed. He also shares one of the most unusual parts of his story: He legally changed his last name to “Unvaccinated.” John eventually fought his case before a military board—and was allowed to return to service. Whether you agree or disagree with his decision, this episode isn't about telling you what to think. It is about preserving what one Airman experienced, why he made the decisions he made, and allowing him to tell that story in his own words. That's what Veterans’ Voices is here to do. 🎙️ Host: AJ Cox 🇺🇸 Guest: John Unvaccinated — U.S. Air Force Veteran 🎧 Episode #720 Every veteran has a story. Every story is a piece of history. 🌐 TheLostArtProjectVeteransVoices.org More than just a podcast. A living digital history. 🇺🇸 Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies.

  6. Aug 18 ·  Video

    #12.5 Jarhead Jabber - August 2026

    🎙️ JARHEAD JABBER #12.5 — THE OFFICIAL PODCAST OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE Fresh off the Marine Corps League National Convention in Indianapolis, the Jarhead Jabber crew is back—and this episode brings together some major voices from across the League to talk about leadership, service, the Military Order of the Devil Dogs, veteran advocacy, and where the organization goes from here. Joining AJ Cox, Carlos Garcia, and Ericka Hedlin is newly elected Marine Corps League National Commandant Russ Miller, who lays out his vision for putting the “service” back into Veteran Service Organization. Russ discusses reaching Marines transitioning from active duty, strengthening communication across the League, supporting veterans as they return to civilian communities, and introducing more Marines to what the Marine Corps League can offer. 🐾 Chief Devil Dog Joe DeAngelo joins the conversation with an update from the Military Order of the Devil Dogs. Joe talks about a Supreme Growl that saw approximately 300 Dogs attend and 111 advance to Pedigree Devil Dog. He also shares major news about Operation Chowhound, which is expanding its mission to help provide service dogs to veterans. The Dogs also celebrated raising $110,000 for Riley Children’s Hospital and supporting Indy Humane. 🇺🇸 Philip Du, leading the Marine Corps League’s Veteran Service Officer effort, gives an update on the tremendous work being done by the League’s VSOs. At the National Convention claims clinic, the team assisted scores of veterans with VA claims and benefits. Philip shares the powerful example of one veteran whose disability rating increased from 50% to 90% within days after receiving assistance at the clinic. This episode captures exactly what Jarhead Jabber is about: Marines talking to Marines, sharing information, giving each other a hard time, and—most importantly—finding better ways to serve veterans and their families. There’s plenty of Devil Dog trash talk, discussion about next year in Buffalo, some good laughs at Carlos and AJ’s expense, and a serious look at the future of the Marine Corps League. AJ Cox — Host Carlos Garcia — Co-Host Ericka Hedlin — Co-Host Russ Miller — National Commandant, Marine Corps League Joe DeAngelo — Chief Devil Dog, Military Order of the Devil Dogs Philip Du — Marine Corps League Veteran Service Officer leadership Special recognition also goes to Stephanie Abbott, who was unable to join the episode, with the crew wishing her a speedy recovery. 🇺🇸 Jarhead Jabber — The Official Podcast of the Marine Corps League Once a Marine, Always a Marine. Semper Fidelis! 🌐 thelostartprojectveteransvoices.org Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies. 🎙️ ON THIS EPISODE

  7. Aug 18 ·  Video

    #719 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew; 16 Aug 2026

    🔥 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Episode #719 Fresh off the Marine Corps League National Convention in Indianapolis, the crew is back around the virtual fire for another night of stories, laughs, veteran camaraderie, and a look at where The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is headed next. AJ and Jess recap the convention and the journey home, including Jess’s back-road adventure through the Midwest. Vick talks about getting back into the school year, his work in music education, and—of course—brings another cigar to the conversation for a full review. A major part of this episode takes viewers behind the scenes of the growing Veterans’ Voices Digital Archive. AJ demonstrates how researchers can search veterans, people, episodes, topics, and transcripts and then dig deeper into individual Veteran Research Records. The crew explores how service history, archived appearances, transcript evidence, citations, and source material can be connected to create a research resource for educators, historians, students, military leaders, veterans, and families. The live demonstration also does exactly what a developing research archive should do—it exposes areas that can be improved. The crew discovers that recurring FireSide Chat appearances are not always reflected correctly in individual episode counts, leading to a discussion about making those records more complete and accurate. The conversation moves from the archive to road trips, the Marine Corps League, school, cigars, puppies, upcoming projects, veteran humor, and plenty of the usual crew banter. The episode wraps up with a discussion of Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, including the 10,000-hour concept and the many factors that can contribute to success. Andrew “AJ” Cox — Host Founder & Executive Director, The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices | Retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant Jess Kindelspire — FireSide Chat Crew Veteran and recurring member of the FireSide Chat crew Vick Ney — FireSide Chat Crew President, The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices | Retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant | Music Educator 📅 August 16, 2026 🎙️ Episode #719 The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is more than a podcast. We are building a searchable digital oral-history archive designed to preserve veterans’ experiences while making those stories discoverable, researchable, and citable for generations to come. Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies.

  8. Aug 16 ·  Video

    #718 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew; 13 Aug 2026

    🔥 FIRESIDE CHAT W/ THE CREW — THE LOST ART PROJECT: VETERANS’ VOICES Pull up a chair—the crew is back! Tonight on FireSide Chat w/ the Crew, we get together for another unscripted conversation where you never really know where things are going to go—and that's exactly the point. FireSide Chat isn't a formal interview. It's veterans and friends sitting down together, talking about military service, life after the uniform, current events in the veteran community, old stories, lessons learned, and whatever else happens to come up. There will be opinions. There will be stories. There will definitely be some laughs. And there's a pretty good chance someone will take the conversation completely off the rails before the night is over. But underneath all of it is something important—camaraderie. These are the kinds of conversations veterans have been having for generations. In barracks, squad bays, motor pools, flight lines, ships, smoke pits, VFWs, Marine Corps League Detachments, and around kitchen tables. FireSide Chat gives us a chance to preserve some of that too. Because military history isn't only battles, dates, units, and decorations. It's also the friendships, humor, personalities, experiences, and conversations shared by the people who wore the uniform. So grab your favorite drink, jump into the comments, and join the conversation. 🔥 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew 🎙️ Hosted by AJ Cox and the FireSide Chat Crew Mark O'Loughlin, Mike McNany, Jess Kindelspire, and Chris Campbell 🇺🇸 The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices We're more than just a podcast. We're building a living digital history—one conversation at a time. 🌐 TheLostArtProjectVeteransVoices.org Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies.

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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

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