Do it right, or don’t do it at all.

In episode 179, Nick Koumalatsos returns to Veteran Made to talk about his work as a consulting producer on The Punisher: One Last Kill and his collaboration with Jon Bernthal to bring Frank Castle back to the screen with honesty, weight, and realism.

Nick shares how his own background as a Force Recon Marine and special operations veteran helped shape the character, from the tactical details to the deeper emotional truth of a man who has lost his identity, his purpose, and the people who mattered most to him. We talk about how Nick’s book, Excommunicated Warrior, influenced parts of Frank’s arc, why the story needed to show rock bottom instead of explain it, and what it means to portray veterans and special operations service members as human beings rather than untouchable icons.

We also get into the craft behind the film itself — working with Jon Bernthal and the stunt team to build realistic action sequences, refining weapons manipulation and close quarter combat, and understanding the difference between what is real in life and what reads as real on camera.

This is a conversation about transition, accountability, purpose, brotherhood, pain, and the responsibility of telling these stories the right way in the most grounded depiction of a modern veteran in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Episode Sponsors:

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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

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Discipline, humility, resilience, and what it means to serve the story first.

In episode 178, I sit down with acclaimed actor and audiobook narrator Ray Porter for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, performance, and how a workmanlike approach to the craft has shaped his career.

Ray discusses narrating Jack Carr’s The Fourth Option, the start of a new series and character outside the Terminal List universe, and what it’s like to bring Jack’s words to life after years of collaboration across fiction and nonfiction. He shares his unconventional approach to audiobook narration — reading cold, letting the text lead, and trying to disappear so the listener can connect directly with the story.

We also dig into the physical, mental, and creative demands of narration, the difference between acting on stage, screen, and behind the mic, and why audiobook work is far more difficult than many people assume. The conversation moves from craft to calling, touching on burnout, creative renewal, theater, imposter syndrome, and the importance of building a full life outside the work itself.

Ray also reflects on his role as Darkseid in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the long road from being cut out of the theatrical release to finally hearing audiences cheer when the #SnyderCut arrived.

Episode Sponsors:

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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

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What really makes great storytelling work in the modern thriller genre?

In episode 169, I sit down with two powerhouse thriller authors — Brad Thor and Ward Larsen in a conversation about COLD ZERO, their latest thriller.

Centered on shared experience, military service, discipline, and a relentless respect for the craft, our conversation explores why authenticity matters in thrillers and how deep genre knowledge — from tradecraft to aviation — creates books that feel cinematic without losing emotional weight.

What really stood out to me is how aggressively Brad and Ward lean into collaboration as a competitive advantage. These are two seasoned writers who didn’t just co-author a novel, they merged similar work ethics, complementary skills, and a shared belief that the best stories come from trust, humility, and putting in the work.

Episode Sponsors:

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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

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Carey spoke with Andrea Buccilla, a former golfer at Ole Miss, teacher turned operations director turned filmmaker, and now a director and executive producer at MALKA where she directed Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story presented by Puma and airing on Tubi.

Follow Andrea on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

• This episode is presented by our NEW! VM - Stacked Logo T-Shirts.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Sean Hurd, a former Army Ranger, Green Beret, and the Director of Growth for Shift Group, a sales staffing firm that helps elite athletes and military veterans transition successfully into tech sales.

Follow Sean on LinkedIn where you can also follow Carey. Shift Group is on Instagram, and so is Veteran Made. Follow for daily updates!

• This episode is presented by our NEW! VM - Stacked Logo T-Shirts.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with JR Butler, a former college hockey player, CRO, and the Founder & CEO of ShiftGroup, a sales staffing firm that helps elite athletes and military veterans transition successfully into tech sales.

Follow JR on LinkedIn where you can also follow Carey. Shift Group is on Instagram, and so is Veteran Made. Follow for daily updates!

• This episode is presented by our NEW! VM - Stacked Logo T-Shirts.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Drew Camp, a Georgia National Guardsman and the Founder and CEO of The Epic Dad Company, a supplement brand that helps fathers build discipline through fitness.

Follow TEDCO on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

• This episode is presented by our NEW! VM - Stacked Logo T-Shirts.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Joe McNamara, a Marine Corps veteran and Principal at The Iron Leader and Board Member at Operation: Patriot's FOB.

Follow Joe and The Iron Leader on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

• This episode is presented by our NEW! VM - Stacked Logo T-Shirts.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Michael G. Halterman, a Marine Corps veteran and the VP of Operations at The Honor Foundation.

Follow Halty and The Honor Foundation on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

• This episode is presented by our NEW! VM - Stacked Logo T-Shirts.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Christian Meyers, an Air Force veteran, the founder and CPO of Terra Arma, and the co-host of The Medevac Podcast.

Follow Terra Arma and Medevac on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

• This episode is presented by our NEW! VM - Stacked Logo T-Shirts.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Chris Ford, an Air Force veteran and non-profit leader.

He founded and served as the CEO for NAVSO before pivoting to become the CEO of Stop Soldier Suicide, an organization that is on track to reduce veteran suicide to national parity before 2030.

Chris and Carey worked together when Carey led the agency team that launched ROGER, the wellness sub-brand within SSS that directly serves our community on the mental health front.

Follow Stop Soldier Suicide on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

• This episode is presented by our NEW! VM - Stacked Logo T-Shirts.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Dave Coker, an Army veteran and the first ever employee of the Fisher House Foundation.

He is the President of the organization and has overseen the growth the network of Fisher Houses to almost one hundred.

Follow The Fisher House Foundation on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

• This episode is presented by our NEW! VM - Stacked Logo T-Shirts.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Jenna Carlton, a Navy veteran, The Millennial Veteran on Instagram, and the founder of The Millennial Veterans, a Facebook group for relatable veteran content for younger vets and transitioning service members trying to navigate life after service.

She's the author of The Veteran Workbook.

Follow Jenna on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

Collaborations:

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• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

In episode 168 of Veteran Made, I sit down with actor and indie film producer Matt Dallas to dig into what it really means to commit more than a decade of your life to one movie and one story.  We talk about how Sheepdog grew over a 10-year journey across the country, sitting with veterans, Gold Star families, and mental health professionals in living rooms, dive bars, and VA clinics .  Matt opens up about breaking out of typecasting, transforming himself physically and emotionally for the role of Daryl, and learning to trust his craft as an actor while juggling the chaos of being a hands-on filmmaker responsible for casting, background, and logistics.  If you care about movies, cinema, and honest performances that come from real human connection, this conversation shows what it looks like when an actor and producer refuses to phone it in and instead builds a character from years of direct engagement with the veteran community.

We also get unapologetic about why independent film — especially adult dramas like Sheepdog — has to exist in theaters and why audiences have to show up if they want better movies.  Matt and I talk about getting laughed out of rooms and the pressure to swap out the director or cast a bigger name just to unlock financing.  We break down how hard it is for a small, veteran-centered drama to secure a 500-screen theatrical run, why dumping these films straight to streaming buries them, and how voting with your ticket — by actually going to the theater — directly decides which stories actors, producers, and filmmakers get to tell next.

If you’re a veteran, a movie lover, or someone who believes cinema still matters, this episode is a call to action: fund indie films, buy tickets, bring your friends, and help keep real, grounded stories on the big screen where they belong.

Episode Sponsors:

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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

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Carey spoke with Nate Boyer, a Marine Corps veteran and one of the co-founders of Merging Vets & Players, a non-profit that helps both professional athletes and military veterans transition into the next phase of their life after taking off the uniform.

He also co-wrote, directed, and starred in MVP, a narrative feature film dramatizing the founding of the organization.

Follow Nate, MVP the organization, and MVP the movie on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

Collaborations:

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• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Brendan Rooney, a Marine Corps veteran and the Co-founder & CEO of The Podcast Company, a podcast platform which leads the cultural phenomenon of nostalgic and rewatchable content with a focus on vulnerability and accountability. 

Follow Brendan and PodCo on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

Collaborations:

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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Jaime Gallardo, a Marine Corps EOD tech.

He goes by The Financial Enabler on Instagram where he empowers service members and veterans to gain financial literacy and independence.

Follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

Collaborations:

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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Joey Brown, a former US Air Force weapons system officer and current North Carolina Air National Guard TACP officer.

He goes by Not Another Average Joe on Instagram and builds software solutions for digital entrepreneurs.

Follow Veteran Made for daily updates!

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Jordan Young, a Navy veteran and digital marketing entrepreneur.

He’s the co-founder & CEO of FILMPAC, a collection of premium stock footage and music for advertising agencies, production companies, and filmmakers.

You can follow Jordan and FILMPAC on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Erik Bartell, an Army veteran and serial entrepreneur. He’s the co-founder of Echelon, a clean energy drink found on military bases worldwide and available direct-to-consumer on Amazon.

You can follow Erik and Echelon on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Benjamin Fortier, a United States Marine and a writer, poet, lyricist, and the author of, Phantoms, published by Dead Reckoning Collective.

You can follow Ben on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with John Dailey, a United States Marine and a writer, a coach, and the author of the forthcoming book, Tough Rugged Bastards.

You can follow John on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Substack. You can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
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• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Scott Jansen and Jon Simons, two Army veterans and the co-founders of Warfighter Tobacco.

You can follow Scott, Jon, and Warfighter Tobacco on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Kurtis Summers, a former Marine Corps firefighter and one of Black Rifle Coffee’s first production assistants. He then moved on to work for VP Racing Fuels as a content creator and now he runs his own video production company, Redundant Media.

You can follow Kurt and Redundant on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

In episode 167, I sit down with actor, writer, director, and producer Steven Grayhm to dig into the 14-year journey behind his new movie Sheepdog and why truthful storytelling about veterans and combat trauma cannot afford to be filtered through a political lens. From his first encounter with a struggling tow truck driver in 2011 to years embedded with veterans, families, and VA clinicians, Steven shares how listening without prejudice became the foundation of this film and why he refused to “bend the knee” to Hollywood to get it made. Sheepdog is not another war movie or PTSD cliché but a deeply human story about post-traumatic growth, fragmented families, and the way ordinary people carry extraordinary burdens.

Throughout our conversation, we challenge the idea that stories about war, veterans, and mental health should serve any party, policy, or culture-war narrative, and argue aggressively that they must exist to serve the people who actually lived them — period.  We unpack how character, craft, and performance can honor veterans and Gold Star families without turning them into propaganda pieces or pity objects, and why audiences deserve movies and podcasts that tell the truth as we see it, even when that truth is messy, uncomfortable, or unflattering to anyone’s politics.  If you care about actors doing the work, about movies that respect the veteran community, and about storytelling that refuses to be weaponized, this episode will give you a clear, uncompromising case for art that chooses honesty over agenda every single time.

Episode Sponsors:

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• BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order.
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• Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

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Carey spoke with Dan Horgan, a former Air Force TACP and a self-taught social media marketer.

You can follow Dan on Instagram and LinkedIn where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
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• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Nic McKinley, a former Air Force Pararescueman, CIA operative, and a two-time tech entrepreneur. He is the founder of DeliverFund where he has pioneered scalable technical solutions aimed at protecting society from child predators.

Despite all of these accolades and accomplishments, Nic’s most important calling is that of a Christian, a husband to an extraordinary wife, and father to amazing children.

DOWNLOAD THE APP HERE

You can follow Nic and DeliverFund on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with brothers Connor and Dylan Curtis along with their business partner, RJ Casey. All three are principals of Brigands Co., an apparel company turned consulting firm which advises for tactics and safety on feature films and television series like Extraction and Jack Ryan. Their brand is rapidly expanding into direct support for the first responder community as well.

You can follow Brigands Co., Dylan, and RJ on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
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• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Christopher Paul Meyer, a US Army veteran, a writer, an actor, a comedian, and a non-profit founder and leader. He’s the founder of Vet Rep Theater and its cousin, Savage Wonder. He also hosts Profiles in Havok for The Havok Journal.

You can follow Vet Rep, Savage Wonder, and Profiles in Havok on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
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• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Haley Marie McClain Hill, a former Air Force maintenance officer turned NFL cheerleader turned entrepreneur. She’s the founder of Torch Warrior Wear, an apparel company that designs and produces bodysuits for woman service members.

You can follow Haley, Torch, and Seek & Set Free on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Tyler Merritt, a retired special operations aviator and the founder and CEO of Nine Line Apparel where he is doing business well and right, fighting modern day slavery through an ethical supply chain.

You can follow Nine Line Apparel on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Zach Bell, the world famous Veteran with a Sign. He's a husband, a father, a Marine, a writer, a content creator, and a strong advocate for our community being better together.

You can follow Veteran with a Sign on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Jared "Peaches" Pietras, an Air Force Combat Controller and one of the hosts of Ones Ready.

You can follow Peaches and Ones Ready on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Trent Seegmiller, an Air Force Reconnaissance Airman and one of the hosts of Ones Ready.

You can follow Trent and Ones Ready on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Steven Nisbet, a former Air Force Pararescueman, Tier One operator, and the founder of Shields & Stripes.

You can follow Shields & Stripes on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

In episode 166, I sit down with Matthew Modine who played Private Joker in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, for a direct and powerful conversation about the intersection of art, memoir, and the real experiences of Veterans. Our discussion went past surface nostalgia and straight into war, trauma, and the lifelong transition veterans face after leaving service. Matthew’s journey as both an actor and memoirist — through his Full Metal Jacket Diary — demonstrates the force of honest storytelling in giving veterans a space to process and share the truth. We focused on the way art and memoir can offer authenticity and connection, which is crucial for those looking to make sense of war’s realities and the transition home.

Storytelling matters to the veteran community because it allows us to recount sensitive subjects like war and combat trauma without agenda or politics. The real power comes from telling our stories exactly as we see and remember them, openly and honestly. In our discussion, Matthew and I made it clear that sharing these narratives is critical—not just for healing, but for ensuring veterans aren’t left isolated with their experiences. By holding up a mirror to our journey, rather than a mask, we help others understand the costs and complexities of service, validating the memoir, the film, and every veteran’s art as necessary acts of truth.

Episode Sponsors:

• VM Merch
• Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order.
• True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

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https://www.instagram.com/matthewmodine/

Carey spoke with Aaron Love, an Air Force Pararescueman and one of the hosts of Ones Ready.

You can follow Aaron and Ones Ready on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Collaborations:

• BUBS Naturals - 20% Off Discount Code: "veteranmade"
• Bravo Actual - 10% Discount Code: "Veteran Made"
• True Made Foods - 15% Off Discount Code: "VET"

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Kelsi Sheren, a Canadian Army veteran, the founder of Brass & Unity, and the author of the upcoming memoir, Brass & Unity: One Woman's Journey through the Hell of Afghanistan and Back.

PRE-ORDER the book at the link above!

You can follow Kelsi and Brass & Unity on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

Carey spoke with Eric Strand, director of The War Murals Project.

You can follow War Murals on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Carey spoke with Nick Orton, the pseudonym for the author and man behind the Instagram account, Tales from the Grid Square.

You can buy Nick's latest book on Amazon, and you can follow Tales from the Gridsquare on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Carey spoke with Michael Jerome Plunkett, a United States Marine and a writer, reader, author, the host of Literature of War presented by Lethal Minds Journal.

You can follow Plunkett as well as Lit of War, Lethal Minds Journal, and PB Abbate on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Carey spoke with Leo Jenkins, a former Army Ranger and writer, author, poet, filmmaker, and traveling human. His two latest books, On Assimilation and A Word Like God were both published by Dead Reckoning Collective.

You can follow Leo and DRC on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Carey spoke with Raymond Lott, Jr. -- The Marine Rapper -- who is attempting a Guinness World Record for the most number of songs recorded consecutively in a single year.

You can follow TMR on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Carey spoke with Jack Carr, the best-selling author of The Terminal List series of novels including his latest, ONLY THE DEAD. He is also the executive producer of the Amazon Prime series of the same name, its soon-to-be released prequel and sequel series, and the host of his own podcast, Danger Close, an IRONCLAD ORIGINAL.

You can follow Jack on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Carey spoke with Katheryn Basso, a former Marine operator and the founder of Kadri Clothing where she helps provide proper clothing and gear for women in tactical units. 

They talked about battling ignorance.

You can follow KADRI on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Carey spoke with Marty Skovlund, Jr., a former Army Ranger, a journalist, and filmmaker. He founded both Havok Journal and Coffee or Die Magazine, and he is now the Editor-in-Chief at Task & Purpose.

They talked about mastering the art of transition.

You can follow Marty and Task & Purpose on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

In episode 165, I sit down with my friend Stan Lake — author, poet, naturalist, filmmaker, and veteran — to dig into his new poetry collection, “Toad in a Glass Jar,” published by Dead Reckoning Collective. Stan and I have shared campfires, conversations about art, music, and nature, and countless stories about the weird, wild intersections of service and life after the military. His writing pulls from his deep love of nature and his lived experience as a veteran, exploring the messy integration and disintegration that comes with transition. Our discussion gets to the heart of why art and honest storytelling around combat trauma, war, and the veteran transition matter and not just for those who’ve served, but for anyone who cares about understanding real human experience in all its contradictions and complexity.

Storytelling is more than just catharsis; it’s survival. Veterans need to connect with each other and with broader audiences, to name, shape, and share their stories — including the hard and the sensitive stuff — because it’s how we combat isolation, build meaning, and lower the risk of mental health challenges that can haunt our community. As a veteran, author, and creative, I believe it’s absolutely necessary to claim the power in our own voices, whether through poetry, essays, music, or conversation. If this episode shows anything, it’s that writing and art aren’t luxuries but  essential tools for processing experience, finding connection, and supporting each other through the ongoing work of transition.

If you’ve got something to say, say it. If you need a community, build it. Your story matters. We need to hear it.

Episode Sponsors:

• VM Merch
• Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/

https://www.instagram.com/catchingcreation/

Carey spoke with Neville Johnson, a South African veteran of the British Army and an author and poet, whose first collection was published by Dead Reckoning Collective this spring. He’s also a high school leadership teacher in New Zealand.

They talked about stepping into the unknown.

You can follow Neville and DRC on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

https://deadreckoningco.com/collections/books/products/book-sangin-then-and-now

Carey spoke with Justin Roberts, a former Army National Guardsman and the media planning strategist at the Sazerac Company.

They talked about stacking your interests and experiences to build a career.

You can follow Justin on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

Carey spoke with Jerry Nieves, a Navy corpsman and the Co-Founder & Creative Principal of GoldenSnow Agency.

They talked about building meaningful relationships over time.

You can follow Jerry and GoldenSnow on Instagram where you can also follow Veteran Made for daily updates.

https://goldensnow.agency/