The Only Way Out Was Forward – Ulises Lopez, Two Purple Hearts & the Mission After War | Ep 58

I Thought I Failed My Mission | Veteran Mental Health & Purpose After Service

🎧 LISTEN ON 4 YEARS A SLAVE PODCAST Catch the full conversation on the 4 Years a Slave Podcast hosted by Cody. 🎙️ Spotify: Search “4 Years a Slave Podcast”🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@4YASpodcast📱 Instagram: @4years__a__slave.pod📘 Facebook: 4 Years a Slave Real conversations focused on veteran mental health, military transition, PTSD, identity after service, and finding purpose beyond the uniform. In this episode, JMach joins the 4 Years a Slave Podcast to talk about the side of military service that doesn’t always get discussed. From feeling like he “failed his mission” due to not deploying, to navigating mental health, identity loss, and purpose after the military, this conversation dives deep into what many Veterans experience—but rarely say out loud. This is a raw and honest discussion about: * Veteran mental health and suicide awareness * Life after the military and transitioning to civilian life * The hidden weight of not deploying * PTSD, identity, and rebuilding purpose * The importance of connection, community, and real conversations Too many Veterans are fighting battles after they come home. This episode is about breaking that silence and reminding you:👉 You are not alone. If this episode resonates:⭐ Follow the podcast📤 Share with someone who needs to hear this💬 Start the conversation—because it matters

The Only Way Out Was Forward – Ulises Lopez, Two Purple Hearts & the Mission After War | Ep 58

In this episode, recorded live at our monthly JMach Sandbox, Josh sits down with Ulises “Uli” Lopez, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the AYA Mission. The Sandbox brings veteran service organizations into the same room to connect, collaborate, and build relationships, while veterans and civilians gather as the live audience for the podcast. This particular event took place during Patriot All America at the WigWam in Arizona, an annual tradition held at the end of December that honors fallen service members through the game of golf while bringing together Gold Star families, veterans, and supporters from across the country.Uli opens up about life before the military and the circumstances that pushed him toward enlistment. For him, it felt like the only path forward — either choose service or continue down a road that would likely end in jail. He talks honestly about that crossroads, the discipline he found in uniform, and the moments in combat that led to earning two Purple Hearts.The conversation also centers on what came after. Through the AYA Mission, Uli now works to support veterans and first responders as they navigate the transition out of service and rebuild with purpose. The organization focuses on restoring identity, strengthening community, and creating opportunities for those who have carried the weight of service. What began as his own journey toward stability has grown into a mission built around service beyond the uniform. Follow Ulises Lopez and @theayamission on Instagram! Learn more about their work at theayamission.org! Follow Us @jmachpodcast on Instagram! Share the Episode & Subscribe on YouTube! Remember: your mental health matters, you're not alone.

A Legacy of Excellence - A Conversation With Poppa Snoop!

In this episode, Josh sits down with Poppa Snoop, an Army veteran who was drafted into the Vietnam War and went on to earn three Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in combat. He reflects on life before the draft, what it was like being sent to war at a young age, and how those experiences changed him in ways that never fully faded. Poppa Snoop speaks candidly about his time in the Army and the lasting impact of combat trauma. He also opens up about living with PTSD, what coping has looked like over the years, and the personal work it’s taken to keep moving forward. The conversation also touches briefly on family — including his relationship with his son, Snoop Dogg — and how fatherhood, resilience, and perspective have evolved across generations. It’s an honest, reflective episode centered on survival, legacy, and the long road of healing after war. Follow Poppa Snoop on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/popsnoop/] Follow Us on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/jmachpodcast/] Share the Episode & Subscribe on Youtube! [https://www.youtube.com/@jmachpodcast] Remember: your mental health matters, you're not alone.

When the Guy Who Asks ‘How Are You Really?’ Finally Answers It: My Depression, Marriage & Ayahuasca Breakthrough | Ep 56 with guest host Brandon "BRamz" Ramsey

What happens when the host becomes the guest? In Episode 56, the mic gets turned around. Brandon “BRamz” Ramsey of RamZ Consulting takes over and interviews Joshua “JMach” Mach—the Marine Veteran behind the JMach Podcast & Sandbox—about the story he’s been avoiding telling in full. In this episode, JMach opens up about: * Life after the Marine Corps and feeling like he “failed” because he never saw combat * How anger, alcohol, and self-isolation nearly destroyed his marriage and family * Snapping at his kids and the shame that followed * Living in a constant cycle of “healing” without ever feeling truly free * Suicidal thoughts he refused to name but couldn’t outrun He also shares in detail how an Ayahuasca ceremony with The AYA Mission helped him: * Purge years of depression and emotional weight * See his childhood and marriage through a new lens * Reconnect with his wife and daughters in a healthier, more present way * Shift from “I’m broken” to “I’m living again” This is a raw, unfiltered mental health conversation about Veteran life, marriage, parenting, trauma, psychedelics, and what it actually looks like to fight the war after the uniform comes off. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “When do I finally get to feel happy?”—this episode is for you. 🎧 If this episode resonates: * Tap Follow on the JMach Podcast * Rate the show 5 stars so more Veterans & first responders can find it * Share this episode with someone who needs to know they’re not alone The JMach Podcast exists to combat Veteran & first responder suicide—one story, one conversation at a time. Episode sponsor & partners mentioned: * TRC – Total Roofing & Construction – Treating Veterans & first responders like family and standing behind every roof. * Glow Frame Initiative – Creating real creative-industry career pathways for Veterans. * Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) – Powering the Sandbox and elevating Veteran voices. * The AYA Mission – Veteran-owned nonprofit guiding psychedelic-assisted healing for Veterans. Organizations who shared their mission at the end of this episode: * Canvas of Courage / Phoenix Center for the Arts * Home of Record Project * Home Base * Foundation Fortified * Remedical * First Page * AI Joe * Veterans Medical Leadership Council (VMLC) * Veteran Village / The Patriot All-America / West Valley Mavericks * Jeff Reynolds Productions / Reynolds Ranch * CertaPro Painters of Phoenix * Glow Frame Initiative You’re not alone. Press play, take a breath, and keep going. 💚 Remember: your mental health matters, you're not alone.

From Rough Roads to Raising Events: Dave Waltzer’s Journey

In this episode, Josh sits down with Dave Waltzer, an entrepreneur whose childhood challenges drove him to seek purpose—first through military service, and now through building community and celebration. Dave opens up about his rough upbringing, how that background shaped his determination, and what ultimately led him to join the military.After service, Dave channeled that perseverance into founding Wicked Awesome Events and Wicked Awesome Happy Hour, ventures designed to bring people together, create memorable experiences, and foster connection. They discuss the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, the motivation behind his work, and how building “wicked awesome” events isn’t just business — it’s a mission to spread positivity and connection.Check out Wicked Awesome Events:Instagram: @wickedawesomeeventsWebsite: https://wickedawesomeconnections.com/ — find upcoming events, community gatherings, and ways to get involved.Follow Dave Waltzer:Instagram: @davewaltzer Don't forget to show JMach Instagram some love! Instagram: @jmachpodcast & @jmachsandboxRemember: your mental health matters, you're not alone.