Urban Valor: the podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Navy Seal Veteran Zack Ferguson shares his story on this week's Urban Valor. From his upbringing in Orange County to his decision to enlist, Zack recounts his challenging journey through Navy Seal Training and Service. 

He discusses witnessing a teammate's death during training, losing friends when they took their own lives, and leaving his team to support his ill sister. 

After leaving the Navy, Zack explored psychedelic therapy, which helped him heal from trauma. He uses this experience to assist others, including his family, with their healing.

👍 Remember to LIKE this video if you found it informative, enjoyable, or just to show your support to Zach and/or us at Urban Valor.

🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!

✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who take the share and tell their story, AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!

Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

Video Chapters: 
07:18 Boot Camp
17:47 Hell Week
29:58 Earning the Trident 
36:50 Back to the Platoon
46:00 Sniper School
50:08 Family
1:14:18 The Future

#military #urbanvalor #warstories #usnavy  #armyveteran #usnavyseal

In this episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with retired Army Staff Sergeant Kyle Kelly, who has gone from a troubled childhood in Northeast Texas to the frontlines in Iraq.

Kyle shares his experiences as a Combat Engineer battling Al Qaeda in intense warfare. He remembers surviving a gunshot wound, barely escaping an RPG, and enduring a devastating blast that led to amputation. 

Kyle opens up about his struggles transitioning to civilian life, including time spent in jail for aggravated assault while still on active duty. Despite these challenges, Kyle found a new purpose in serving his fellow veterans.

Watch now to learn how Kyle turned his experiences into a force for good, founding the non-profit organization Open Water.

👍 Remember to LIKE this video if you found it informative, enjoyable, or just to show your support to Kyle and/or us at Urban Valor.

🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!

✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who take the share and tell their story, AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!

Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

Video Chapters: 
00:35 Early Life
11:23 Boot Camp 
15:03 Airborne School 
16:19 1st Cav
21:57 First Deployment 
34:57 Sadness & Anger
36:54 Back to the Field
43:12 Greater Loss
44:23 Bradly Gunner
49:17 Turn & Burn 
55:17 Counter Sniper
1:00:00 Invincible
1:15:00 Road to Recovery 
1:18:22 Scars
1:24:03 Red, White & Blue 
1:26:34 Crashing Down
 1:30:24 Open Waters 


#military #urbanvalor #warstories #usarmy #armyveteran

Mike Hanks and his sister Melissa grew up on a Michigan farm. Driven by patriotism, Mike enlisted in the United States Marines after high school. As Mike shipped off to serve, Melissa became his go to person, his trusted ear about things he needed to get off his chest – a terrorist attack in Kuwait, the invasion of Iraq, and impending battle that would ultimately claim his life in Fallujah on November 17, 2004.

In this Urban Valor episode, Gold Star sister Melissa honors her brother, Lance Corporal Michael W. Hanks. She shares his bravery that earned him the prestigious Silver Star medal:

Silver Star Citation: https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/204874

Through Melissa's words, we learn about Mike's strong courage as a Marine and the heavy cost he paid fighting for his country. His story reminds us of the debt we owe heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.

👍 Remember to LIKE this video if you found it informative, enjoyable, or just to show your support to Henry and/or us at Urban Valor.

🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!

✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who take the share and tell their story, AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!

Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

#military #marines #urbanvalor #warstories #veteran #usmc #unitedstatesmarinecorps #combatveterans

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Cassandra Fuentes. Cassandra is the widow of Marine combat veteran, Steven Osborne, who unfortunately took his life on March 10, 2022. Cassandra details what it was like living with a veteran who struggled with PTSD. She walks us through what transpired the day Steven took his life. Cassandra also shares fond memories of Steven and how he was a great father to their son. 

Her courage and strength during this discussion are incredible and we truly hope you'll show her love, support, and appreciation in the comments. Her willingness to tell her story will help others and potentially save lives- we're so thankful for the opportunity to talk with such a strong and incredible person. 

Please contact Josh at [email protected] if you need someone to talk to privately if you or a loved one suffers from PTSD. We're building a platform to help as many veterans as possible. 

Veterans taking their life due to PTSD, depression, and mental illness is a serious problem, and we need to spread awareness. Please, talk to someone. There's absolutely NO SHAME in getting help and support. Some of the toughest men and women we've interviewed were huge advocates of support and treatment for mental illness. If you'd like our help to get you the help you need, again, please just reach out to Josh at [email protected] for a private discussion, help, or just if you're looking for a friend. 

You're important and as Cassandra said, YOU MATTER!  You're a brother or sister to your military family, beyond being a son, daughter, wife, husband, brother, sister, father,  mother, please reach out 🙏

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army combat veteran, Humberto Navarez. Humberto spent 20 years in the Army as a Black Hawk Mechanic. He served 4 combat tours in Iraq and has witnessed multiple tragedies during his time in service from gunshot wound victims to unfortunate suicides while deployed overseas.

Navarez opens up during this interview and we're so thankful for his courage and willingness to share his incredible story! We're also appreciative, and think we can speak for the entire Urban Valor Nation when we say THANK YOU for your services across your 4 combat tours 🙏

Please "LIKE" this video to show support to Humberto! 

Please "COMMENT" to ask questions or show support! Our VETS appreciate and read them!

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If you don't subscribe you'll likely not know when we upload again!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine combat veteran, Jon Shower. Jon began his enlistment in a Marine Sniper platoon but voluntarily transferred to an infantry unit so he can deploy sooner. He served two combat tours in Iraq and was inside the first vehicle to ever get hit by a 57mm Chinese Rocket Propelled IED. Upon transitioning out of the Marine Corps, Jon slept in his car parked in front of LA Fitness for three days and eventually landed a job there.

To show love and support to Marine combat veteran, Jon Shower, please give this podcast a "LIKE"!!

If you want to cheer on or say thanks to Jon, just COMMENT below! We're sure he'll love reading your comments, and we'll answer asap as well!

And if you haven't yet, please SUBSCRIBE so you NEVER miss one of our weekly Urban Valor episodes!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Marine combat veteran, Ryan Paulk. Ryan felt obligated to serve after the 9/11 attack on America. He enlisted in the Marine Corps as an Infantry Assaultman. Ryan conducted multiple combat deployments and shared with us the time he and his unit were hunting down an enemy sniper in Fallujah as a kid who was shot in the head by the Iraqi sniper while he was running up to Ryan. He also talks us through recovering a Marine killed in action from a canal in Iraq. And that is just a couple of stories Ryan shared with us from his time in service. 

Please show Ryan your love and support in the comments as he takes a seat with Urban Valor and shares his INCREDIBLE story! We're so appreciative of his time and openness and would really appreciate our community showing their appreciation as well!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Aviation Mechanic Navy Veteran,  Cesar Gallegos.  Cesar grew up in a rough gang neighborhood in Pomona, CA. He’s a first-generation Mexican American and enlisted in the Navy to be able to provide for his family. He shares a story that impacted him on his first deployment about a pilot who saved his crew but was unable to save himself. Cesar had a successful transition out of the Navy landing a job with SpaceX and discusses the importance of being prepared to transition out of the military.

This veteran navy story from Josh Gutierrez is an amazing listen for any military supporter, veteran, active duty, or someone maybe inspiring to join the navy or military. 

If you enjoyed this episode of Urban Valor, do us a FAVOR and please like and subscribe so you never miss an episode!

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army combat veteran & retired Lieutenant Colonel, Joyce Griggs.  Joyce has seen it all in the intelligence community. She was among the first females to pass jump school and earn her airborne wings. Joyce also received a Bronze Star for the numerous lives she and her team saved during combat operations overseas. She had a secret clearance that authorized her to see some of what the president saw and has served beside some of America’s top executives. Joyce is a ball of fire and passionate about giving back to the community.

Please show love and support to Joyce Griggs by LIKING and COMMENTING on the video!

Please SUBSCRIBE if you haven't yet! so you NEVER miss an episode of Urban Valor- we publish new episodes every week. 

This week’s Urban Valor episode features Army Vietnam veteran, Travis Mayfield. Travis served in Vietnam from 1967-1968. He was sent to the field to disarm booby traps before an enemy combatant detonated one as he was attempting to disarm it. Travis struggled with military transition back to civilian life, and things got hard, but he kept fighting, and in time, pulled himself out of the hardship! He became an entrepreneur running a gym called Next Level Fitness & Wellness Center in Irvine, CA.

If you struggle with military transition, PTSD, and/or depression, use Travis as inspiration. No matter how hard things get, you're a warrior, and you CAN and WILL beat it. Please reach out if you'd like a friend and/or support at [email protected].

We're so glad to be capturing Vietnam stories from these incredible veterans, and will continue to bring more Vietnam interviews in the future here at Urban Valor. 

Thank you for your service Travis, we really appreciate you. 

To show your support to Travis Mayfield, please:

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