Ep. 84 - A Navy Veteran Rebuilds After Military Sexual Trauma. Talking With Author and Survivor, Paula Kemp

Ep. 84 - A Navy Veteran Rebuilds After Military Sexual Trauma. Talking With Author and Survivor, Paula Kemp

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2301762/fan_mail/new] We talk with Navy veteran and combat photographer Paula Kemp about how a career she loved collided with military sexual trauma and how silence can shape everything that comes after. We also dig into what real healing looks like, from VA care and post traumatic growth to storytelling, claims support, and policy change through the Bears Act.  • joining the Navy Reserves as a mother of three and finding a path into combat photography  • what the camera changes about how you see risk, people, and memory  • the Fleet Week assault, the fear of reporting, and why many survivors stay quiet  • anger, nightmares, drinking, and the delayed surfacing of trauma after service  • early VA experiences, co-ed treatment pitfalls, and the need for trauma-informed care  • helping veterans navigate VA disability claims with an impactful personal statement  • building Unjustly Served and why telling the story can support healing  • the Bears Act concept for tracking harmful behavior across commands  Go read the book, visit the website, and reach out, please. Reach out. Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast

Ep. 83 - Fredy Mendez From Sunwave, A Marine Veteran Explains How Data Can Prevent Relapse

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2301762/fan_mail/new] We talk with Marine veteran Freddie Mendez about why veteran mental health care breaks down after treatment and how better behavioral health software can give clinicians time back to actually listen. We dig into outcomes data, privacy, and aftercare systems that spot relapse risk early without turning veterans into numbers.  • Freddie’s Marine background and what he learned overseas about culture and hard choices  • The “void” of transition and why adrenaline chasing can slide into addiction  • Why he walked away from pharma and toward behavioral health and addiction recovery work  • How Sunwave aims to cut clinician charting time and reduce burnout  • Outcomes measurement for PTSD, addiction, and depression using structured data points  • Alumni aftercare check-ins that trigger early outreach before relapse  • Data security concerns and avoiding third-party PHI leakage  • Partnering with nonprofits through conversations about pain points and workflows  • Why listening and cultural competence matter more than perfect scripts  My email is Freddie at sunwavehealth.com. Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast

Ep. 82 - How VA Accredited Lawyers Strengthen Disability Appeals. Talking With Logan West and Jamie Meadows-Valley From Berry Law

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2301762/fan_mail/new] We talk with two veteran professionals from Berry Law about what it takes to move a VA disability claim forward when denials, confusion, and misinformation stack up. We break down how VA accreditation, deadlines, evidence, and clear expectations can turn a frustrating process into an organized plan.  • why veterans are skeptical of law firms and how trust gets built  • what VA accreditation means and why it protects veterans  • how a case moves from intake to legal strategy to written appeals  • common VA appeals process pitfalls like missed deadlines and incomplete forms  • why PTSD claims often hinge on verifying a stressor  • how nexus letters buddy statements and record details strengthen service connection  • how increases work when symptoms get worse after a prior decision  • the difference between temporary 100% Permanent and Total and TDIU  • how spouses parents and kids can help start the process  Go hit up the website. If you're a new veteran, if you're new to the veteran world and you're trying to file your claim and you're getting frustrated, give it a shot. You know, talk to them. It can't hurt.  Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast

Ep. 81 - Musician And Air Force Veteran Delton Walker Talks About His Air Force Days Working On Fighter Jets. Being Young And Overseas, Facing Racism Back Home And How Music Was His Saving Grace

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2301762/fan_mail/new] We reconnect with my friend and fellow veteran Delton Walker and talk about the road from military life and hard memories to healing through connection, therapy, and music. He shares how a saxophone became his church, his career, and his way to give peace back to other veterans.  • meeting through the Herd Foundation Freedom Patch program and why it changes lives  • using humor to cover pain and calling out the “trauma Olympics” mindset  • life on the flightline, fighter jets, noise exposure, and what service feels like  • choosing the Air Force, going overseas, and growing up fast away from home  • dealing with racism on base and the long tail of hypervigilance  • culture shock returning stateside and why trust can disappear overnight  • the rough edges of transition out of the military and why support matters  • picking up sax later, practicing relentlessly, and finding a real voice  • getting endorsed, working with Walter Beasley, and hearing his music went to space  • playing at the VA hospital to give other veterans a break from the noise  If you like it, share it  Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast

Ep. 80 - Rick Sherak from ZEEN - The VA-Approved Mobility Device That Blends Walker And Wheelchair

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2301762/fan_mail/new] I talk with Rick Chirac from Exokinetics about ZEEN, a lift-assist mobility device that blends a walker and wheelchair to help people stand, move, and transfer with more safety. We connect the origin story to Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown, then get practical about fit, training, fall prevention, and how veterans can get ZEEN through the VA.  • Garrett Brown’s Steadicam history and how it inspires ZEEN  • What ZEEN is and who it helps: balance, strength, endurance issues  • How the gas-spring lift works and why the seat and strap improve safety  • Real-world use: ramps, turning radius, terrain, restaurants, storage  • Fitting and customization: spring levels, height setup, Zoom training  • Transfers and daily living tasks, including bathroom and bed height changes  • VA access: Federal Supply Schedule, physical therapy clinic workflow, medical necessity  • Why naming fear of falling matters and how pride can block care  • Warranty, repairs, and simple maintenance expectations  • Financial help for civilians through Project Elevate Mobility grants  Go to the website and check it out. Go to the VA when you see this product and you say, I want it, I need it. Talk to your physical therapist. “I have a fear of falling. I don’t want to fall. Put that in my medical record.”  Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast