VET S.O.S. Podcast

Most veterans don't fail after transition—they fail because they never made a plan.
EPISODE PREMISE
Most veterans leave the military focused on what they're escaping instead of what they're building. In this conversation, Navy veteran Mr. Whiskey explains why that mindset creates unnecessary struggle—and how intentional planning, self-awareness, and community can completely change the outcome.
From surviving childhood trauma and toxic leadership to building a global platform helping others recover from addiction, mental health challenges, and life after service, this episode is packed with practical wisdom that applies long after the uniform comes off.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Avoid the biggest transition mistake veterans make when they say, "I don't care what I do as long as it's not the military."
Understand why being "dry" and being truly "sober" are two completely different things—and why real recovery requires personal growth.
Learn how a 16-hour weekend commute unexpectedly launched Mr. Whiskey's podcast and eventually became a worldwide mission serving others.
Discover why recovery isn't one-size-fits-all and how listening to yourself can become the most powerful tool in overcoming addiction, trauma, and life's biggest challenges.
Hear the deeply personal story of overcoming years of abuse, rejection, and limiting beliefs to build a life centered on faith, purpose, and service.
About Mr. Whiskey
Mr. Whiskey is a U.S. Navy veteran and former nuclear operator who founded Couple of Nukes, a self-improvement platform dedicated to helping people navigate military transition, addiction recovery, suicide prevention, mental health, relationships, and faith. Today he serves as a podcast host, author, speaker, preacher, comedian, and entrepreneur whose mission is simple: Protect. Provide. Serve. His unique perspective comes from overcoming childhood trauma, serving in the Navy's nuclear community, and turning those experiences into resources that help others heal and rebuild.
🎙️ If this episode helped you, please follow VET S.O.S. and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Open Apple Podcasts, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap "Write a Review." It takes less than 30 seconds and helps another veteran discover the resources and hope they need.
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 – Why Most Veterans Struggle After Transition
01:07 – Meet Mr. Whiskey
02:37 – The Transition Mistake Too Many Veterans Make
06:37 – How Couple of Nukes Was Born
16:53 – Talking About Mental Health Without Losing Hope
20:16 – Recovery Isn't One-Size-Fits-All
26:05 – Finding Identity Beyond the Military
34:47 – Resources, Final Advice & Where to Connect
🎧 Explore the Full VET S.O.S. Network
▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Learning Lifeline
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: The Scoop
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony Strong
🔗 Connect with VET S.O.S.
Website: vetsospodcast.com
Twitter/X: @vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcast
YouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcast
Instagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcast
TikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast
#VETSOS #VeteranPodcast #GrabTheLifeline #HeroesMediaGRP #MilitaryTransition #MilitaryMentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #Veterans #MilitaryLife #Podcast

Trauma thrives in silence. Healing begins when you stop carrying it alone.
Anissa Hudak knows trauma from multiple sides: as the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, a military spouse, and a two-time sexual assault survivor. In this conversation, she explains why trauma recovery must involve the body and nervous system—not only the conscious mind—and why healing should never require someone to repeatedly relive the worst moment of their life.
What makes this episode different is Anissa’s direct challenge to the idea that talk therapy is always enough. She shares how yoga therapy, neurosomatic techniques, and long-term coaching can help women move trauma out of the body, retrain neurological patterns, and build a recovery path as individual as their experience.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
• Recognize how military transition affects spouses and families, including financial fear, loss of community, and unexpected isolation after retirement.
• Understand why Anissa believes trauma becomes embedded in the nervous system and cannot always be resolved through conscious conversation alone.
• Explore how yoga therapy and neurosomatic techniques can support healing without forcing survivors to describe or relive traumatic events.
• Build a personalized recovery path based on awareness, body-based healing, unconscious neurological work, and continued coaching support.
Connect with Anissa Hudak
Anissa Hudak is the Founder of the Phoenix Women Healing Institute. As a military spouse, daughter of a Vietnam veteran, and two-time sexual assault survivor, she brings lived experience to her work with women navigating PTSD, military sexual trauma, secondary PTSD, and other forms of trauma. Through online yoga therapy, one-on-one neurosomatic work, and extended coaching, she helps women move from survival mode toward lasting resolution.
Website: https://phoenixwomenhealing.com
🎙️ If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — open the app, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap “Write a Review.” It takes 30 seconds and puts this show in front of a veteran who needs it right now.
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 - Trauma Thrives in Silence
05:53 - The Military Spouse Transition Experience
12:34 - Losing Community After Military Retirement
16:13 - Why Anissa Created Phoenix Women Healing
21:46 - Healing Through Yoga Therapy
22:54 - Why Talk Therapy May Not Be Enough
25:56 - How the Online Healing Program Works
27:15 - Moving Trauma Out of the Body and Unconscious
31:32 - Who Anissa Helps
33:35 - Closing and Lifeline Message
🎧 Explore the Full VET S.O.S. Network
▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Learning Lifeline
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: The Scoop
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony Strong
🔗 Connect with VET S.O.S.
Website: https://vetsospodcast.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcast
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
Facebook: https://facebook.com/vetsospodcast
Instagram: https://instagram.com/vetsospodcast
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast
#VETSOS #VeteranPodcast #TraumaRecovery #MilitaryMentalHealth #MilitarySpouse #PTSDHealing #Veterans #HeroesMediaGRP #GrabTheLifeline

Trauma doesn't have to define your future. EMDR may help your brain heal in ways talk therapy can't.
EPISODE PREMISE
For decades, PTSD treatment has centered around talking through painful memories. But what if the brain heals trauma differently? In this episode, EMDR therapist and author Paul Schulte explains why Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is producing remarkable results with veterans, active-duty service members, refugees, and trauma survivors—and why several countries now recognize it as a first-line PTSD treatment.
Drawing from his own recovery journey, his work with military psychologists in Ukraine, and years helping people overcome trauma, Paul shares why healing often begins by addressing not only combat experiences but the wounds that came long before military service.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Understand how EMDR helps the brain reconnect fragmented traumatic memories without relying on years of traditional talk therapy.
Learn why unresolved childhood trauma often resurfaces after combat and how treating both experiences can dramatically change recovery.
Hear powerful stories from Paul's work with Ukrainian soldiers and military psychologists during an active war.
Discover why Paul believes EMDR could fundamentally change the future of PTSD treatment for veterans around the world.
About Paul Schulte
Paul Schulte is an EMDR therapist, author, former international banking executive, and university professor. More than 22 years sober, he now dedicates his work to helping veterans, refugees, abuse survivors, and others recover from PTSD, trauma, burnout, and addiction through EMDR therapy. His work has included supporting military psychologists and service members in Ukraine while advancing trauma recovery through research-backed treatment.
🎙️ If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Open the app, search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap "Write a Review." It takes less than 30 seconds and helps another veteran discover the resources they may need today.
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 – Why PTSD Recovery Doesn't Have to Take Years
00:15 – Meet Paul Schulte
03:12 – A Personal Mission to Help Veterans
05:26 – Understanding EMDR Therapy
11:06 – Why EMDR Challenges Traditional Talk Therapy
14:45 – Lessons From Ukraine's Front Lines
19:00 – What an EMDR Session Is Really Like
21:10 – Finding the Right Path to Healing
23:00 – Closing Thoughts & Resources
🎧 Explore the Full VET S.O.S. Network
▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Learning Lifeline
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: The Scoop
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony Strong
🔗 Connect with VET S.O.S.
Website: https://vetsospodcast.com
Twitter/X: @vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcast
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
Facebook: https://facebook.com/vetsospodcast
Instagram: https://instagram.com/vetsospodcast
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast
#VETSOS #VeteranPodcast #MilitaryMentalHealth #PTSDRecovery #EMDR #VeteranTransition #MentalHealthAwareness #Veterans #MilitaryLife #TraumaHealing #GrabTheLifeline #HeroesMediaGRP

Most veterans don't need another program—they need one honest conversation with someone who's been there.
EPISODE PREMISE
Retired Marine Master Sergeant John Smith thought he was praying about changing careers. Instead, he found a new mission: helping veterans tell their stories.
In this episode, John shares how intentional transition planning set him up for success, why storytelling can be therapeutic, and how his podcast, The Unsung Veteran, is preserving experiences that might otherwise be lost forever.
In this episode, you'll discover:
• Build a military transition plan years before separation instead of waiting until the last minute
• Recognize why veteran networking can be one of the most valuable tools during transition
• Understand how sharing personal experiences can create healing for both the speaker and the listener
• Learn why authentic conversations often uncover deeper truths than scripted interviews
About John Smith
John Smith is a retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant who served for 20 years as a Tactical Air Defense Controller, supporting both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Today he works in government contracting and hosts The Unsung Veteran, a platform dedicated to documenting veteran experiences and creating meaningful conversations that help service members navigate life after the military.
🎙️ If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than a minute and helps another veteran discover resources, stories, and support when they need it most.
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
02:02 - John's Military Transition Story
05:24 - Launching The Unsung Veteran
08:47 - Challenges of Starting a Veteran Podcast
15:10 - Why Authentic Conversations Matter
20:01 - The Therapeutic Power of Storytelling
25:25 - Capturing Veteran Experiences
29:23 - Closing & Resources
🎧 Explore the Full VET S.O.S. Network:
▶ VET S.O.S. — Flagship Show
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Learning Lifeline
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: The Scoop
▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony Strong
🔗 Connect with VET S.O.S.
Website: vetsospodcast.com
Twitter: @vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcast
YouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcast
Instagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcast
TikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast
#VETSOS #VeteranPodcast #MilitaryTransition #VeteranCommunity #MilitaryLife #GrabTheLifeline #HeroesMediaGRP

Most veterans don't fail transition because of ability—they fail because they never built a plan.
Many service members spend years preparing for military missions but only weeks preparing for civilian life. David Howe argues that's one of the biggest mistakes veterans can make.
After serving 30 years in the U.S. Army and building a successful civilian executive career, Dave learned that transition isn't just about finding a job—it's about creating a vision for the rest of your life. In this conversation, he shares why written life planning can dramatically improve transition outcomes and how the Comfort, Peace and Freedom Foundation is helping Gold Star families navigate life's most difficult moments.
In this episode, you'll discover:
• Create a written transition plan that goes beyond employment and income
• Avoid the "undue sense of urgency" that causes veterans to make poor transition decisions
• Understand the emotional impact of taking off the uniform for the final time
• Learn how strategic life planning helps Gold Star families find purpose and hope after loss
About David Howe:
David Howe served 30 years in the U.S. Army, including active duty with the 4th Infantry Division and 82nd Airborne Division before retiring from the Army Reserve. He built a successful civilian career in healthcare administration and consulting, holding senior leadership positions with major organizations including Deloitte Consulting. Today, he helps veterans and Gold Star families develop life plans through the Comfort, Peace and Freedom Foundation.
🎙️ If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than a minute and helps another veteran discover the resources they need for a successful transition.
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
01:20 - David Howe's Military and Civilian Journey
03:37 - Navigating Two Different Transitions
07:36 - Building a Written Life Plan
11:12 - Supporting Gold Star Families
18:22 - How the Foundation Works
25:19 - Making Life Planning Part of Military Separation
30:19 - Closing & Resources
🎧 Explore the Full VET S.O.S. Network:
▶ VET S.O.S. Podcast
▶ Operation Startup
▶ Learning Lifeline
▶ The Scoop
▶ Testimony Strong
🔗 Connect with VET S.O.S.
Website: vetsospodcast.com
X: @vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcast
YouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcast
Instagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcast
TikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast
#VETSOS #Veteran #VeteranTransition #MilitaryTransition #Veterans #MilitaryLife #HeroesMediaGRP #GrabTheLifeline