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

Hosted by Theresa Carpenter

Business Entrepreneurship Education

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Episodes

278

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

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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60 recent

June 5, 20261 hr 10 min

Duty to Disobey: The Veterans Who Refused and Paid the Price | S.O.S. #270

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Orders are supposed to be clear, lawful, and tied to mission. So what happens when a policy feels wrong in your gut, looks shaky in the paperwork, and gets enforced with threats, segregation, and career-ending consequences?I’m joined by Scott Lauderer, a retired Air Force reservist with 25 years of service across multiple branches, and former Army Sergeant First Class John Eugene Delarm, a combat veteran separated near retirement. We get specific about what they say unfolded during the military COVID-19 vaccine mandate: formations and “shot lines,” religious accommodation denials, repeated pressure from leadership, and the kind of retaliation that leaves troops feeling isolated and disposable. They also share why they believe protecting junior service members is part of the NCO and leader’s duty, even when the personal cost is brutal.John walks through the EUA argument in plain terms, including the Comirnaty vs Pfizer confusion and why 10 USC 1107a matters to the right to accept or refuse an Emergency Use Authorization product. From there, we zoom out to military accountability: what courts did and didn’t address, why many veterans still chase BCMR corrections and back pay, and why reinstatement offers can feel like a fix with strings attached. We also talk about the Declaration of Military Accountability, the Forgotten Soldiers podcast, and the documentary Duty to Disobey, premiering June 30, that centers the human stories behind the mandate era.If this conversation challenges you, share it with someone who thinks the debate is “over,” then subscribe, leave a review, and tell me: what should accountability actually look like now?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 showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

May 30, 202646 min

Veterans Don’t Need Sympathy. They Need Community. | S.O.S. #269

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Social media can make you feel surrounded and alone at the same time, and veterans often get hit hardest by that whiplash. I sit down with Jenna Carlton, a former U.S. Navy aerographer’s mate and the creator behind The Millennial Veteran, to talk about the double-edged reality of online community: it can save you on your worst day, but it can also drag you into outrage, anxiety, and burnout if you don’t set boundaries.We get into what Jenna learned after service while studying politics and interning with the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs, including how influence, ego, and access shape veteran policy. From there, we pull the camera back to the real problem many of us see every day: younger veterans trying to navigate transition with limited local connection, confusing benefits systems, and the pressure to “advocate” nonstop online. We talk about a healthier model for veteran advocacy, one rooted in empathy, coalition-building, and showing up in real places like VSOs and local meetings.Jenna also shares the story behind her Veteran Workbook, a guided journaling tool designed to help veterans process experience, rebuild structure, and move into the next chapter with intention. Her current work as a housing navigator for homeless veterans brings the conversation into the loneliness epidemic, romance scams, and exploitation that can leave even high-income disabled veterans without stable housing. We close with hope and action, including her Women Veterans Workbook launch and what happens when women veterans create spaces where honesty is allowed.If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who’s navigating transition, and leave a review so more veterans can find it. Where have you found real community when the internet wasn’t enough?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 showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

May 13, 20261 hr 3 min

Torched - What really happened with the Palisades Fires with Jonathan Vigliotti

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! A wildfire can look sudden on the evening news, but the real story often starts days or decades earlier. We sit down with CBS News correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti to talk about his book Torch and what he learned reporting from evacuation zones, burned communities, and alongside first responders during some of the worst fires in the American West. The Palisades Fire and the destruction tied to January 7, 2025 become a case study in how climate-driven extremes collide with policy failures and everyday human decisions.We dig into the uncomfortable mechanics behind catastrophe: the role of controlled burns and fuel buildup, how “contained” fires can smolder underground, and why National Weather Service warnings about historic Santa Ana winds should trigger urgent, visible action. We also unpack leadership and emergency management questions that still hang over Los Angeles: unclear handoffs of authority, delayed coordination, and the kind of normalcy bias that makes even “bright red” forecasts feel optional.Then we get personal about what these failures cost. Jonathan shares what it looked like on the ground as evacuation routes jammed, vulnerable residents struggled to move, and help arrived too late in too many places. He also tells the unforgettable story of turning back into the danger to rescue three trapped dogs, a moment that reframes “service” as a simple decision to say yes when it matters.If you care about California wildfires, disaster preparedness, public records transparency, and accountability in government, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who lives in a fire zone, and leave a review with the question you want answered next.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 showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

May 8, 20261 hr 12 min

Patrick Caserta on The Brandon Act and the Fight That Isn’t Over | S.O.S. #267

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! A service member shouldn’t have to gamble their career to get mental health care, but that’s exactly the fear too many people carry into a toxic command climate. We talk with Patrick Caserta, a retired US Navy senior chief and combat veteran, about the life and death of his son, AE3 Brandon Caserta, and why Brandon’s story became the catalyst for the Brandon Act, now federal law.Patrick walks us through Brandon’s path from SEAL training to a helicopter squadron, the breakdown of trust inside the chain of command, and the moments where basic leadership and bystander action could have changed everything. We also get specific about what the Brandon Act is designed to do: create a direct, confidential pathway to mental health care during working hours, without forcing a service member to justify their pain to a supervisor. If you’re searching for practical information on military mental health rights, retaliation concerns, and suicide prevention policy, this conversation lays it out in plain terms.But law on paper isn’t culture in real life. We dig into why implementation still depends on unit leadership, what “accountability” could look like when leaders ignore or block requests for help, and why education at the deckplate level is essential so people actually know the protections they have. Patrick also shares the ongoing work of the Brandon Caserta Foundation and why awareness is still dangerously low across the force.If this resonates, subscribe, share this episode with someone who serves, and leave a review so more people learn what the Brandon Act is and how to use it. What would make it easier for you to ask for help?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 showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

May 5, 202649 min

From Combat Cockpit to Congress | Rebecca Bennett - S.O.S. #266

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! A Navy helicopter pilot who has landed on aircraft carriers in the middle of the night is now trying to land something even harder: real accountability in Washington. I sit down with Rebecca Bennett, a veteran leader who served more than 15 years, moved through corporate healthcare and health tech startups, and is now running for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th district with a message that cuts through the partisan noise: country over party, results over reels.We start with Rebecca’s path from small town Texas to Navy aviation, what it means to lead under pressure, and why military life forces you to solve problems with the team you have. From there, we shift into the U.S. healthcare system, including women’s health, menopause care, and why a fragmented system makes continuity of care so difficult. We talk incentives too: fee for service vs outcomes, prevention vs reaction, and why rewarding health outcomes could lower costs and improve lives.Then we get into the gritty reality of modern politics. Rebecca explains what pushed her from volunteering to running, why campaign finance and fundraising rules block normal people from serving, and how she’s building a grassroots campaign without corporate PAC money. We also dig into veteran and military family issues like transition support, military spouse employment, the PACT Act, and why more women veterans in Congress matters.If you’re tired of performative hearings and want practical leadership, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a friend who cares about service and civic life, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Support the showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

April 24, 20261 hr 2 min

Power, Propaganda, and the Consequences of American Empire | S.O.S. #265

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Calling yourself patriotic is easy. Living like a patriot is harder, especially when the facts feel messy and the incentives in politics push us toward slogans instead of responsibility. We sit down with Michael T. Lester, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Desert Storm veteran, and cybersecurity leader, to talk about why he titled his book We Are the Bad Guys and what he means by it: not that Americans are bad people, but that U.S. foreign policy is often experienced abroad as coercion, not liberation. That outside view can be shocking, and it can also be clarifying. We unpack how beliefs are shaped through selective information, repetition, and social proof, the mechanics behind manufactured consent. Then we zoom out to history and geopolitics, touching on examples like Central America, Hawaii’s overthrow, and the 1953 Iran coup and why “it came out of nowhere” is often a symptom of missing context. We also connect the dots back home: opportunity costs in federal spending, a growing civic knowledge gap, and why performative patriotism can replace real involvement. Finally, we get practical. We talk campaign finance, super PACs, Citizens United, closed primaries, gerrymandering, and reforms like ranked-choice voting and the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Most importantly, we lay out steps you can take now: start local, keep conversations nonpartisan, learn who represents you, and hold them accountable in ways that actually get seen. If this made you rethink anything, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people find the conversation.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 showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

April 17, 202642 min

Healing ❤️‍🩹 the hidden wounds | The Restored Heart Collective - S.O.S. #264

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! The biggest military homecoming videos end with hugs and banners, but a lot of families know the harder chapter starts after the uniforms are folded and the photos stop. We sit down with Cathy Turner and Jackie Voytak, founders of the Restored Heart Collective, to talk about what reintegration really looks like when the spouse is quietly carrying anxiety, loneliness, and the constant pressure to keep everything functioning. We trace both of their paths through military life: learning the culture as an outsider, navigating officer spouse expectations, dealing with unspoken rank boundaries, and the slow drift of putting your own needs last while trying to “support” a partner through PTSD and post-deployment stress. Then we dig into what actually helped, from intimate retreat spaces to nervous system practices like breathwork, meditation, journaling, yoga, sauna, and cold plunge. The point isn’t trends or buzzwords, it’s reclaiming stability and identity so the whole household can breathe again. You’ll also hear how they turned one powerful retreat experience into a spouse-only 501(c)(3), why they chose the name Restored Heart Collective (inspired by kintsugi), and how their model builds community before and after a weekend retreat with structured Zoom calls and year-long follow-up. If you care about military spouse mental health, family readiness, and real-world healing support, this conversation offers a clear blueprint for what’s been missing. Subscribe for more Stories of Service, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review telling us what kind of support military spouses should have had all along.Support the showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

April 14, 20261 hr 10 min

Command in Crisis: Thomas B. Modly | S.O.S. #263

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! A single bad week can define a leader, especially when the whole country is watching and the information is incomplete. Former acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly joins us for a candid, detailed conversation about what it’s like to make consequential decisions at the highest levels of Navy leadership and the Department of Defense, then live with the second-guessing long after the moment has passed. We start with his Cleveland upbringing as the child of Eastern European immigrants, his path through the Naval Academy, and a career that blends military aviation, teaching, business leadership, and Pentagon service. From there, we get practical about change management inside enormous institutions: why bureaucracy resists innovation, how priorities vanish after leadership turnover, and why he believes longer terms for service secretaries could help sustain real defense reform. We also talk about military due process and what the Gallagher case revealed to him about investigative assumptions and the need for specialized expertise in laws of armed conflict cases. Then we go to the most scrutinized moment: the USS Theodore Roosevelt COVID-19 outbreak. Modly explains how he processed risk, command breakdowns, crisis communication, and accountability, including the decision to relieve Captain Crozier and what he wishes he could have done differently face to face with the crew. We close with a clear-eyed look at naval strategy and shipbuilding, including what the 355-ship goal actually measures, why industrial base capacity matters more than slogans, and how workforce shortages can become a national security constraint. If you value thoughtful leadership lessons, Navy history that’s still unfolding, and honest reflection without the partisan filter, subscribe, share this conversation, and leave a review so more listeners can 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 showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

April 10, 202657 min

Inside the VA: Former Secretary Dr. David Shulkin on Leadership, Politics, and Fighting for Veterans | S.O.S. #262

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! The VA is more than a healthcare system—it’s a lifelong promise to veterans, from the day they leave uniform through medical care, benefits decisions, and ultimately a dignified burial. I sat down with former VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin to talk about what it means to lead that mission at scale, often under intense public and political pressure.We dig into the VA wait time crisis and the leadership decisions required to fix access quickly, including why decisive priorities matter more than endless consensus when delays can cost lives. Dr. Shulkin also shares a defining realization from his tenure: many veterans need highly specialized, integrated care—behavioral health, substance use treatment, rehabilitation, and service-connected injury care—that the private sector isn’t always built to deliver. That’s why he argues against full privatization and instead supports a hybrid model that preserves VA expertise while using community care where it truly benefits veterans.We also explore the complexity of disability claims and benefits, including how so-called “fraud” can emerge from a system that forces veterans to prove what the government often already knows. We discuss barriers like DD214 access, classified service records, and the need for a unified DoD–VA electronic health record to reduce friction and improve outcomes.Finally, we cover public accountability, media transparency, leadership stability, and the often-overlooked importance of memorial affairs in honoring veterans. If you care about the future of VA reform, veteran healthcare, or disability policy, listen in—and decide for yourself: should the focus be on strengthening the VA, expanding private-sector care, or building a true hybrid system?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 showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

April 4, 202656 min

From Trauma to Power: How an Infantry Officer Rebuilt Her Mind and Body | Riley A. Gruppo S.O.S. #261

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! The loudest arguments about women in combat usually skip the only thing that matters: what it looks like on the ground when you are the one carrying the ruck, enforcing standards, and trying to stay safe inside a broken system. I’m joined by Riley Grupo, an Army officer who served in an infantry role and isn’t afraid to answer the question everyone dodges, “Were the standards lowered?” From the grenade toss to night missions on little sleep, Riley explains what was hard, what was fair, and where the pressure actually comes from.We also go where most conversations stop. Riley shares what she faced before formal infantry qualification training, including harassment and assault, and we talk about how leadership and accountability either protect people or quietly reward the worst behavior. Then we dig into the practical side of combat arms integration that affects readiness for everyone: plate carriers and rucks that do not fit, preventable injuries, and the lack of transparent long-term data. If you care about military standards, women in the infantry, combat arms readiness, and real solutions beyond politics, this is the nuanced middle-ground discussion we keep asking for.The second half shifts toward healing and rebuilding after service. Riley opens up about a recent traumatic brain injury discovery, how symptoms can overlap with PTSD, and a skiing and snowboarding program that produced measurable improvements in days. We close with what she’s building now, The Standard, a mind body mission framework for veterans, leaders, and high performers who want to close the gap between potential and execution.Subscribe for more honest stories, share this with someone who cares about military culture, and leave a review with your take: what needs to change first to make standards and safety coexist?Support the showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76