Welcome Home - A Podcast for Veterans, About Veterans, By Veterans

Hosted by Larry Zilliox

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183

Latest episode

Nov 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome Home is a Willing Warriors and the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run project. The program highlights activities at the Warrior Retreat and issues impacting all Veterans. For questions or feedback, please email us at podcast@willingwarriors.org.

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60 recent

November 9, 202628 min

Standards, Not Stereotypes: Rita Graham on SWAN's Fight for Women Who Serve

The Pentagon can say “it’s just a study” all day, but when the topic is women in combat roles, silence and secrecy have consequences. Chef Larry Zilliox sits down with Rita Graham, a former Army artillery officer and now the policy director at the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), to unpack what happens when women are asked to meet the standard, but the system still is not designed to include them. From missing bathrooms to ill-fitting equipment, Rita shares what it looks like to be an early integrator and why strong leadership and clear requirements matter more than stereotypes ever will. We also get into the work SWAN does every day for women veterans and service members: policy advocacy that brings real stories to Congress, hands-on case management that connects people to vetted free resources, and community spaces for women who do not feel comfortable walking into traditional veteran groups. Along the way, we talk about military sexual trauma as an ongoing reality and why many women still do not self-identify as veterans, which can delay VA health care and disability benefits. Then the conversation turns to the FOIA lawsuit seeking documents behind a Department of Defense study that may be used to push women out of combat jobs. Rita explains why SWAN is concerned about bias and why transparency in defense research is essential for military readiness and trust. If you care about women veterans, VA benefits, evidence-based policy, or equal opportunity in the armed forces, this one is worth your time. Subscribe, share this with a veteran you care about, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

November 2, 2026Episode 18130 min

Her Battle, Our Fight: A Lifeline For Women Veterans

One story can expose a whole system’s blind spots. When Dr. Paulette Hubbert, retired Marine Corps veteran and licensed clinician, met a woman veteran referred for “anxiety,” the session quickly revealed something far deeper: decades of silence after rape by a supervisor, carried through marriage, motherhood, and an entire second career. That kind of hidden pain is why women veterans face unique risks, including a suicide rate far higher than that of civilian women, and why “military sexual trauma” and moral injury still echo long after discharge. We talk with Dr. Hubbert about the realities women face in uniform, the betrayal that lands differently when the military promises family and protection, and the barriers that keep many women from identifying as veterans or using VA benefits. We also get into what’s changing, including improvements in women-specific VA care, the growing role of the VA Community Care Network, and why the right treatment setting matters when trauma is involved. Dr. Hubbert also breaks down her nonprofit, Warrior And Her Truth , and the structure behind it: a six-week virtual cohort that meets twice weekly, led by an all-veteran team covering trauma-informed care, emotional intelligence and relationships, spirituality, Eastern medicine approaches, and women’s health and nutrition, followed by a four-day retreat designed for real peer support and lasting connection. We close with the biggest challenge: funding travel, lodging, and meals so women can attend without financial barriers. If this conversation moves you, subscribe, share it with someone who served, and leave a review so more women veterans can find support when they need it most.

October 26, 2026Episode 18030 min

An FDA Cleared Device Helps Veterans Improve PTS Symptoms At Home

A lot of veterans know the feeling of being handed yet another medication plan for PTS symptoms and thinking, “There has to be a better way.” That’s why we sat down with Dr. Jason McKeown, an MD and the CEO of Neurovalens , to discuss a noninvasive, drug-free neurostimulation headset that recently earned FDA approval to help veterans with PTS. It’s worn at home for 30 minutes a day and targets nerves just behind the ears to influence deep brain systems tied to stress response, anxiety, sleep, and circadian rhythm. We walk through the story behind the technology, including a vivid moment from Dr. McKeown's neurosurgery work that pushed him toward more precise, less systemic treatments than “flood the whole body and hope the brain target responds.” Then we get into the evidence: an independently run, gold-standard study with a real-device group and a sham-device group, nationwide recruitment across the US, and outcomes measured over 12 weeks. We talk about the PCL-5 scoring system, what “clinically meaningful” change actually means, and why framing results as “what are my odds of improvement?” can matter more than averages. We also make it practical. You’ll hear exactly how a session works, what the stimulation can feel like (including the gentle rocking sensation), how people often move from daily use to a maintenance schedule, and why we see this as part of a comprehensive treatment plan with your clinical team rather than a standalone cure. We cover VA access, ongoing research efforts, and why this option may be especially important for women veterans who want to avoid certain drug regimens during key seasons of life. If this conversation helps, share it with a buddy, bring the info to your provider, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Will you ask your VA clinician about Modius Spiro and tell us what they say?

October 19, 2026Episode 17940 min

"I Don't Have a Story": Tracer Burnout on Why Every Veteran Does

A lot of veterans swear they “don’t have a story,” and then, the moment someone who gets it starts asking the right questions, the real memories show up. That’s why we brought on Dan and Roger from Tracer Burnout , a veteran-run YouTube channel and podcast built around honest conversations with people who served across every branch and every kind of job. We get into where they came from, how they joined, and the duty stations that left the biggest marks, from Fort Drum cold to Fort Bragg’s nonstop pace, with a few laughs along the way. We also talk about the tough stuff that follows a long Army career: bodies breaking down, surgeries, constant pain, and the decision to retire for reasons that have nothing to do with headlines and everything to do with family. Dan and Roger share why they encourage veterans to use VA benefits without guilt, and they unpack the old “zero-sum” myth that still keeps some people from filing claims or getting care. Then we dig into what Tracer Burnout is really trying to build: a living archive of military service stories that families can hear years from now. In a world where the written word is fading and social media disappears in a scroll, recording voices becomes its own kind of history. If you care about veteran mental health, military transition, leadership, and preserving firsthand accounts, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share this with a veteran in your life, and leave a review so more people find these stories.

October 12, 2026Episode 17831 min

VA Home Loans Made Clear: Use the Benefit You Earned

Only a small slice of eligible veterans ever use a VA home loan, and that number should bother all of us. We sit down with Eric Bernstein, founder of LendFriend Mortgage , to get brutally clear about what’s actually stopping veterans and active duty families from using one of the most powerful mortgage benefits in the United States. We talk through the real reasons the VA loan gets misunderstood: the myth that you need a down payment, the belief you can only use the benefit once, and the confusion around entitlement and restoring eligibility. Eric explains how a strong VA-focused mortgage broker can act like an advocate, not just a rate quote, especially when sellers or builders hesitate because of outdated fears about VA appraisals and requirements. We also get practical about the timing of transitioning service members, including how preapproval can start early and what lenders look for in documents such as a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). Then we go deep on VA refinancing and the IRRRL streamline refi. We cover the 210-day rule, how to calculate break-even, why a full point rate drop often matters, and how discount points and padded closing costs can make a “great deal” far less great. If you’re seeing nonstop mailers, this conversation gives you a checklist to stay safe and compare offers apples to apples. If this helped you, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share it with a veteran who’s house hunting, and leave a quick review so more military families can find the facts. What VA loan myth did you hear first?

October 5, 2026Episode 17725 min

Beyond Resilient — What Military Kids Need When Life Keeps Changing

A PCS can look routine on paper and feel like an earthquake at home. We sit down with Dr. Michelle Bubnik-Harrison, a licensed psychologist leading work with military families through Kennedy Krieger Institute , to talk about what military-connected kids actually carry when they change schools, lose hard-won friendships, and rebuild their lives over and over again. Yes, military kids are resilient, but she makes a sharp point: resilience has limits, and a single tough move can tip stress into anxiety, worry, sleep problems, or blowups that confuse parents who are used to their child “handling it.” We get specific about access to care because logistics are often the biggest barrier. Dr. Butnick-Harrison explains how telehealth therapy supports highly mobile families, how family-based sessions work, and why caregivers stay involved even when a teen needs private time. We also dig into practical questions families ask right away: what ages the program serves, what a first appointment looks like, how long counseling typically lasts when the goal is getting back to everyday functioning, and how coordination works if ADHD or other concerns bring medication into the picture. We also talk about heavier chapters of military family life, including what can happen when a parent returns from deployment with PTS or TBI and kids get pulled into adult roles. Throughout it all, the focus stays on realistic coping skills, early support, and building a plan that fits your timeline, whether you need a few sessions or ongoing check-ins. If you know a military parent, educator, or caregiver, share this one, subscribe for more, and leave a review so more families can find help when they need it.

September 28, 2026Episode 17628 min

From Patient to Provider: Col. Ed Yackel's Journey in Army Nursing

A nurse’s kindness can change a life, and sometimes it can change a career. I sit down with retired Army Colonel Ed Yackel, RN, to trace how childhood surgeries and long hospital stays became the first spark for a lifetime in the Army Nurse Corps. From commissioning as an officer to learning the rhythms of real clinical work, Ed shares the moments that shaped him as a nurse and as a leader. We also get honest about what military nursing looks like when the stakes are high. Ed explains how care works inside a combat support hospital, what “treat everyone who needs help” means in practice, and how the evacuation chain connects frontline medicine to larger facilities like Landstuhl and stateside specialty care. If you’ve ever wondered how medical teams operate during deployments to places like Iraq and how civilian casualties fit into the mission, this conversation makes it clear and human. Then we shift to the systems that keep patients safe. Ed describes why standardization across military medicine matters, from shared formularies to consistent sets, kits, and equipment, and how those choices reduce risk when teams deploy. After leaving the Army, he brings that same mindset to the Veterans Health Administration as the leader of the VA National Center for Patient Safety, where he focuses on preventing harm by designing processes that account for normal human error. We also highlight the Army Nurse Corps Association , including scholarships, research and evidence-based practice funding, conventions, and current advocacy priorities. If you’ve ever been cared for by a military nurse, consider supporting the people who supported you. Subscribe, share this episode with a nurse veteran, and leave a review. What part of Ed’s story hit home for you?

September 21, 2026Episode 17531 min

The Care That Comes Next: Surviving a Suicide Loss

Suicide doesn’t just take one life. It can leave an entire family, unit, and friend group trying to function while carrying grief, trauma, and a thousand urgent decisions they never asked for. We sit down with Dr. Carla Stomf Patton, Director of Suicide Postvention at TAPS ( Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors ), to talk about what actually helps after a suicide death and why the right response can reduce risk for everyone left behind. We get clear on a term many people mishear: postvention. It’s the care and coordinated support that happens after a suicide attempt or suicide death, and it’s tightly linked to prevention because isolation, shame, and untreated trauma are real risk factors. Dr. Patton explains how peer-based grief support creates safety fast, why talking openly about suicide matters, and how accurate training helps us ditch the myths that keep people silent when they should be reaching out. You’ll also hear what the TAPS process looks like from the first contact, including how survivors find support through TAPS.org and the 24/7 helpline, how peer mentoring works, and how caseworkers help families address immediate needs such as talking to kids, navigating benefits, and finding trauma-informed resources. We close with a simple action step anyone can take today: save 988 plus one in a buddy’s phone to create a pause that can save a life. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with one person, and leave a review so more veterans and families can find these resources.

September 14, 2026Episode 17423 min

Cultural Support Teams - Women In The Shadows of Combat

Some stories from Iraq and Afghanistan still get told like footnotes, even when they changed how missions worked on the ground. We sit down with Heidi Rippy, Vice President of Development for the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) , to talk about what it meant to serve as one of the small number of women selected for Cultural Support Team work alongside special operations and civil affairs. Heidi walks us through enlisting at 17, choosing the Army airborne path, and what selection and training can look like at Camp Mackall, from language training and cultural studies to negotiation skills and high-risk driving. We also slow down on the parts of service that don’t fit neatly into a highlight reel: medical retirement, living with a 100% disability rating, and the shock of transitioning out during peak COVID when so many offices and programs felt out of reach. That transition story matters for every veteran planning a civilian career because it shows how quickly identity, paperwork, healthcare, and community can collide. Then we get into the mission that drives Heidi’s work at SOAA: advocacy, policy, and ensuring no brother or sister feels alone after taking off the uniform. We talk suicide loss, the importance of community, and the JAX Act , including why recognition for CST and female engagement work connects directly to VA benefits, combat-related care, and long-term health outcomes for women veterans. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s navigating transition, and leave a review so more veterans can find it. Learn more at soa.org and consider hitting the donate button to support the work.

September 7, 2026Episode 17328 min

Raised Everywhere, From Nowhere: The Hidden World of Military Kids

You can spot a military kid in a crowd, not because of a uniform, but because they learned to adapt before they learned to drive. Chef Larry welcomes Lisa and Rose, the sisters behind the Punk Brats YouTube channel, for a sharp, funny, and honest talk about what it’s really like growing up as military brats across continents. We trace their story from Seoul and Fort Hood to Camp Zama, and then Germany, where living off base brought a level of independence that still surprises people today. They unpack the hidden stressors civilians rarely see: curfews, last-minute moves, the pressure of representing your parents’ career, and the strange feeling of being “from everywhere and nowhere.” Along the way, we talk about culture and identity, too, including what it means to juggle American life, host-nation life, and a parent's nationality at home. From there, we get into the why behind Punk Brats: military nonprofits often focus on service members and spouses, while military children are often overlooked. Lisa and Rose explain how their interviews span generations, why mental health for military kids deserves real attention, and which guests have stuck with them most. We also spotlight their nonprofit, Hats Off for Veterans , including peer support groups , scholarships and grants, and their upcoming Courage to Connect, Breaking the Silence effort addressing military sexual trauma. If you want to support the mission, visit hofv.org , then subscribe, share this with a fellow military family, and leave us a review so more people can find these stories.