Toad in a Glass Jar: Stan Lake on the Full Spectrum of the Warfighter's Experience

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:

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• 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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#nvsbw #nvsbw25 #vetbiz | National Veteran Small Business Coalition - NVSBC - LinkedIn

... VetBiz owners, and hear from Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer. Register here: bit.ly/46gejrd National Veteran Small Business Coalition - NVSBC.
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Narrative History: Jake Tapper on Making Non-Fiction Thrilling, Entertaining, and Accessible

In episode 164, I sat down with Jake Tapper, acclaimed journalist, author, and host of The Lead with Jake Tapper and State of the Union on CNN, to dive deep into his forthcoming book “Race Against Terror.” Our conversation covered why history, especially the stories of terrorism and the global war on terror, must be told through the human perspective.

Jake talked about how he blends journalistic accuracy with the compelling narrative techniques of fiction to keep difficult subjects accessible and — yes — entertaining. It’s not enough to list facts or relay tragedies; the only way to reach people is to show why these stories matter on a personal level, connecting readers to the real emotions and experiences of those swept up in events that shape our world.

Storytelling about terrorism and history isn’t just about recounting the headlines. It’s about making sure the stories don’t lose their humanity or get buried by controversy. Jake and I agreed that the reason podcasts and books about true crime resonate is because they deliver messy realities with genuine empathy and a structure that draws people in. If we treat terrorism, ideology, or even trauma as disconnected cases or dry bullet points, we lose the chance to learn, empathize, and possibly prevent the next tragedy. Entertaining, accessible storytelling brings people together at the deepest level. It demands answers and spurs personal reflection while empowering us to see the past not just as a series of political moves but as an ongoing human drama full of heartbreak, forgiveness, and difficult choices.

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/

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#networking #vetbiz #legal #smallbiz #federalcontracting #advocacy #huntsville | Janelle Askew

... vetbiz #legal #smallbiz #federalcontracting #advocacy #huntsville National Veteran Small Business Coalition - NVSBC.
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Ep. 254: How a Former Marine and Monk Wants You to Think about Money

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Finance expert Doug Lynam offers a groundbreaking exploration of our complex relationship with money, budgeting, and finances through the transformative lens of the Enneagram. Confront financial fears, engage with money habits and behaviors, and develop a personal understanding of how the mind and personality affect money decisions. With compassion, wisdom, and humor, Lynam will guide readers on a journey to financial health and personal growth.

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Michelle Gardner-Ince, Colonel USAF, Retired's Post - LinkedIn

... YourNextMission #VetBiz #GovCon #vetbizlady #HealthcareInnovation #SmallBusiness #EHRM #CommandYourNextMission #VeteranHealthcare.
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Ep. 253: What Does a Clinical Psychiatrist Have to Say About Psychedelics for Veterans?

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Will Van Derveer, MD is a leader in the adoption of integrative psychiatry practices globally. After discovering that his conventional psychiatric training was inadequate to answer many of the challenges facing his patients, Dr. Van Derveer began to learn how to resolve the root causes of common psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

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Cry Havoc: Jack Carr on World Building and the Ever Expanding Terminal List Universe

In episode 163, I sit down with Jack Carr — veteran, bestselling author, and screenwriter — to talk about Cry Havoc, his latest addition to The Terminal List series of novels and the evolving journey from page to screen.

Our conversation dives into how Jack’s relentless world building isn’t just about crafting thrillers; it’s about intentionally seeding story elements that let him explore multiple generations and secret corners of the narratives he creates as both a novelist and as a showrunner. If you’re driven to tell stories at the highest levels, every decision is an opportunity to lay groundwork for future storytelling, and no detail is too small if it sets the stage for new layers of exploration.

Jack and I talk about the differences between writing for the screen and for the page and discuss how living as both a screenwriter and an author challenges and grows his craft. Collaborating with a creative team to build a TV series from a book is a radically different experience than solo writing, but mastering one makes him sharper and more flexible in the other, ultimately enriching character development, authenticity, and the stories themselves.

We talk about the accountability that comes with a passionate fanbase, the reward of honoring veterans by getting the details right, and how creating in both worlds — the page and the screen — lets us explore the deepest truths in the universe we build.

In this episode:

• How filming took Jack from South Africa to Europe to Morocco, forging a tight-knit production family.
• Jack breaks down the challenges of adapting novels to TV, starting from built universes versus executive briefs.
• Jack reveals why he plants seeds for characters early on to explore deeper history in future stories.
• Jack dives into writing Cry Havoc with authentic era perspectives, not just modern hindsight.
• Jack dissects how writing novels aloe and producing TV with a team sharpens his storytelling.
• Jack credits the writers’ room for helping him deepen characters and expand future novels.

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/jackcarrusa/

READ MORE 👁️ https://bit.ly/4nX8hTP

Cry Havoc: Jack Carr on World Building and the Ever-Expanding Terminal List Universe

In episode 163, I sit down with Jack Carr — veteran, bestselling author, and screenwriter — to talk about Cry Havoc, his latest addition to The Terminal List series of novels and the evolving journey from page to screen.

Our conversation dives into how Jack’s relentless world building isn’t just about crafting thrillers; it’s about intentionally seeding story elements that let him explore multiple generations and secret corners of the narratives he creates as both a novelist and as a showrunner. If you’re driven to tell stories at the highest levels, every decision is an opportunity to lay groundwork for future storytelling, and no detail is too small if it sets the stage for new layers of exploration.

Jack and I talk about the differences between writing for the screen and for the page and discuss how living as both a screenwriter and an author challenges and grows his craft. Collaborating with a creative team to build a TV series from a book is a radically different experience than solo writing, but mastering one makes him sharper and more flexible in the other, ultimately enriching character development, authenticity, and the stories themselves.

We talk about the accountability that comes with a passionate fanbase, the reward of honoring veterans by getting the details right, and how creating in both worlds — the page and the screen — lets us explore the deepest truths in the universe we build.

In this episode:

• How filming took Jack from South Africa to Europe to Morocco, forging a tight-knit production family.
• Jack breaks down the challenges of adapting novels to TV, starting from built universes versus executive briefs.
• Jack reveals why he plants seeds for characters early on to explore deeper history in future stories.
• Jack dives into writing Cry Havoc with authentic era perspectives, not just modern hindsight.
• Jack dissects how writing novels aloe and producing TV with a team sharpens his storytelling.
• Jack credits the writers’ room for helping him deepen characters and expand future novels.

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/jackcarrusa/

READ MORE 👁️ https://bit.ly/4nX8hTP

Ep. 252: Working at Big Tech and Find Ways to Help Veterans with Dan Goldenberg

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Ep. 250: Law School and Ignoring the Noise to Do What Makes you Happy with Sharif Gray

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Sharif is a good friend and I've enjoyed watching his career. He had a job at a prestigious law firm and was there 3 months before he looked around and realized that was not where he wanted to be.  

So he quit and does his own legal work, taking on big corporations. And he loves it. 

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