Veteran Made with Carey Kight – Details, episodes & analysis

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:

• 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:

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

https://www.instagram.com/nickkoumalatsos/

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:

• 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:

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

https://www.instagram.com/the.ray.porter/

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:

• 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:

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

https://www.instagram.com/realbradthor/

https://www.instagram.com/wardlarsenbooks/

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.