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This week, I sit down with Ted Blickwedel, a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, combat veteran, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who risked everything to expose critical issues within the Veterans Affairs (VA) system.

Ted’s journey began at the VA VET Center in Warwick, RI, where he provided mental health care to fellow veterans from 2009 to 2018.

In 2017, he witnessed how harmful clinical productivity policies were jeopardizing the well-being of counselors and the quality of care for veterans. When his concerns were repeatedly dismissed by supervisors, Ted decided to speak out, initiating a whistleblowing campaign that came at a tremendous personal cost.

His efforts led to a federal investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which substantiated his claims and ultimately sparked legislative reforms signed into law.

In this episode, we dive deep into:
• Why Ted chose to expose these issues despite the risks.
• The legal, financial, and health challenges he faced as a whistleblower.
• The impact of his advocacy on veterans, counselors, and VA leadership nationwide.
• His book, Broken Promises, which chronicles the injustices and retaliation he endured while fighting for change.

Ted’s story, featured on NBC, NPR, and the Military Times, is a powerful testament to courage, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

Tune in to hear how one man’s unwavering commitment to veterans reshaped a broken system.

http://www.vabreakingpromises.com/

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Can U.S. military members truly exercise their First Amendment rights? What are the limits on free speech within the armed forces, and why do these boundaries exist? While everyone agrees on the importance of protecting operational security, how do we also encourage innovation and support those willing to step forward with bold ideas to solve complex challenges?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Chase Spears, a former U.S. Army public affairs officer who recently completed his Ph.D. dissertation on the diminishing First Amendment protections for service members. We explore how this erosion came to be, the impact on military culture, and what Dr. Spears envisions as possible steps to strengthen both free speech and the effectiveness of our armed forces.

Dr. Chase Spears retired in 2023 as a Major (Promotable) after a distinguished 20-year career in the U.S. Army, where he served in various critical roles, including Brigade Communication Director, Company Commander, and Public Affairs Training Advisor. His passion for civil-military relations and communication ethics has led to widespread publication in respected outlets such as The American Mind, Real Clear Defense, The Washington Post, and The Baltimore Sun. His insights also appear in academic book chapters for Army University Press and Routledge.

Dr. Spears holds a Ph.D. in leadership communication from Kansas State University, where he focused his research on military norms, culture, and political influences. In 2024, he founded a coaching practice dedicated to helping leaders cultivate courage and lead with conviction.

Find Dr. Spears on X, LinkedIn, Substack, and YouTube at @drchasespears.

Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
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“You take every job assuming it’s a good one. Yet, at any point, your intuition might signal that something has changed—whether it’s the organization, or you. Either way, only you can take charge of fixing your work and your life.” - Kate Goggin

In this episode, we sit down with Kate Goggin, author of 10 Little Rules When Good Jobs Go Bad. Through her experiences, Kate has distilled powerful insights for anyone who feels stuck, frustrated, or unfulfilled in their career. This isn’t your typical career advice; it’s an honest, deep dive into how to recognize when a job has stopped working for you—and, more importantly, what to do about it.

Kate’s book resonates with those who have found themselves in challenging roles, helping them to understand what they truly want from work and life. Join us as we unpack her ten transformative rules, each shaped by hard-won lessons that will empower you to regain control of your career and make meaningful changes.

Kathleen (Kate) Goggin is a former federal spokesperson and certified technical writer with extensive experience consulting for clients in both private and public sectors. She has advised federal agencies including the U.S. State Department, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

A member of the Center for Plain Language and the Society for Technical Communication, Kate holds a degree in Communications Consulting from George Mason University. Her book, 10 Little Rules When Good Jobs Go Bad: Learn, Grow, and Reclaim Your Power at Work and in Life, is a guide for anyone ready to find fulfillment and balance in their professional life.

Whether you’re questioning your career path or just feeling unmotivated, this episode offers practical advice on recognizing and overcoming those challenges. Kate’s insights will help you identify when it’s time to make a change—and how to do it thoughtfully. Tune in to discover how to reclaim your power at work and, ultimately, build a career that aligns with your life goals.

Find Kate’s book -

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In this episode, we’ll sit down with Julie Vida, a distinguished technology and business executive with a career that spans military service, high-impact roles in the public sector, and leadership in the tech industry. Currently, Julie leads the growth team for the Defense sector at ManTech, focusing on innovative solutions to secure the Department of Defense’s future. With past roles like Group Vice President & Chief Strategy Advisor for the Public Sector at Splunk and Executive Partner at Gartner, Julie brings deep insight into the intersection of data, analytics, and government operations.

Julie shares her journey from her 24-year service in the U.S. Navy, where she served as both a Surface Warfare Officer and Naval Aviator, earning high honors like the Navy Air Medal for bravery in armed conflict during Operation Enduring Freedom. Transitioning from the military to the tech industry, she leveraged her expertise as the Navy’s Deputy Chief Information Officer, overseeing technology policy, investments, and cybersecurity.

A passionate advocate for veterans and women in tech, Julie discusses her work mentoring transitioning military personnel and encouraging women and girls to pursue STEM careers. Tune in to hear her insights on leadership, resilience, and creating meaningful impact in both the public and private sectors experience.

Find Julie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianavida?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

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My next guest runs a property that helps our veterans in many ways and was recently granted new land to continue their mission.

Yeck is a former United States Marine, Special Intelligence Communications (MOS 2651—Company L, Marine Support Battalion, NSGA, Guantanamo Bay, and 1st Radio Battalion, Kaneohe, Marine Corpe Air Station), and Information Management Officer (IMO) with the U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service, Diplomatic Corps. Among his postings, he served three tours at the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, during its 18-year civil war, the American Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during Operation Desert Shield / Storm, “the original” Gulf War, and the American Consulate in Bogota, Columbia, during the FARC rebel conflict.

Alan’s 23-year career in higher education includes senior roles as associate dean, director, and executive dean at two-year and four-year institutions in the U.S. and internationally. Alan is the author of several theatrical plays, including “2266,” about the abandonment of American POW/MIAs during the Vietnam War. General William C. Westmoreland attended the New York opening as the guest of honor. Other works include "A Line in The Sand," about the chemical contamination of thousands of U.S. troops in Desert Storm, and “The Killing of American Higher Education,” about the corrupt student loan industry and its dirty connection to even dirtier politics.

In 2021, he published “C is for Corruption: An ABC Book About American Politics” and “Where the Weasels Sing,” a nonpartisan look at our elected officials (#theyallsuck). He is also the executive director of Veterans Healing Farm. The group provides space for veterans' healing and camaraderie through beekeeping, organic farming, herb therapy, workshops, and more programs. The father of six adult children and Baba to a boatload more, he enjoys all things outdoors: hiking, hunting, fishing, lousy golf, live music, local artisans, foodie, and the ever-vibrant micro-brewery scene in Western North Carolina.

Veterans Healing Farm -

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On April 6, 2018, Sgt. Ryan Carter went to Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, for what is considered a routine back surgery for chronic neck pain. He left the hospital paralyzed, never to walk again.

He and his wife believe he is the victim of military malpractice, but is currently unable to litigate his case and receive due process all because he served in the military.

However, at the time of his surgery, he was not on active duty, which should have qualified him to file a claim against the government under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Yet months after this devastating procedure, the military backdated his orders, making him ineligible to file.

This is the story of his fight to receive compensation for this life-altering injury, which has profoundly impacted him and his family. He now can only use his left arm, paralyzed from the chest down. Due to this surgery, he was forced to relocate from his home in Maryland to be closed to family and near a veterans hospital in Flordia that specializes in spinal cord injuries.

His story is not an anomaly. There are hundreds of cases of what many say are botched surgeries and gross negligence by doctors who are not held accountable within military hospitals for mistakes and violations of the standards of care. However, due to a 1950 Supreme Court ruling known as the Feres Doctrine, which lumps injuries and even sexual assaults on active duty as “incident to service,” victims never receive their day in court.

Join us as I talk to Ryan, his wife Kathleen, and his lawyer, Chris Casciano, about how this happened to him and the story behind a cause much more significant than his case alone.

This case is about how one ruling 74 years ago has now been grossly exaggerated and broadly applied in ways that advocates say were never intended.

More on his case and implications of Feres -https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2024-06-23/military-lawsuit-supreme-court-feres-doctrine-14273529.html

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What can be do to stop the spread of divisiveness? How can we understand one another and seek to empathize with people who don’t look like us, act like us, or even think like us?

I believe this understanding is vital. One amazing veteran has founded an organization that’s on the front lines of healing our fractured communities through coffee, conversation and advocacy.

Join us on the S.O.S. podcast as we kick off season 3 with what this show has always represented - our service to others by talking about our most pressing issues!

Jake Harriman graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy and served seven and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Platoon Commander in both the Infantry and Force Recon.

During his military service, Jake led four operational deployments, including two combat tours in Iraq. Following his service, Jake enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business to gain the business acumen he would need to follow this new direction. While at Stanford, Jake founded Nuru International to eradicate extreme poverty in the world’s most unstable, vulnerable regions to help end violent extremism.

Due to the desperate condition of the U.S. political system, Jake has now turned his attention to helping protect the American Democratic experiment, which he fears is on the brink of failure—a failure that would have terrible global consequences. Jake is the Founder of More Perfect Union, a veteran-led movement to heal the divide in the nation by creating meaningful connections through civics, service, and leadership.

Jake has received several honors including the Unsung Hero of Compassion presented by The Dalai Lama (2014), White House Champion of Change (2014), Presidential Leadership Scholar (2015), and 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs presented by Goldman Sachs (2015). He is also a Council Member of NationSwell (2016), an Unusual VC Academy Partner (2018), and a Truman National Security Fellow (2018). Jake has been interviewed on ABC, BBC World Service, CNN, Fox Business and MSNBC’s Morning Joe and received coverage in the Christian Science Monitor, Devex, Forbes, Huffington Post, The New York Times, Stanford Magazine, Fox News, and others.

More Perfect Union - https://www.mpu.us/

Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
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There is nobody better out there who has the fortitude to push through change like Chris McGhee, Esq., LL.M.

His own experiences as an aircraft maintainer seeing an acute mental health crisis has pushed the United States Department of Defense to study suicide rates by job code, to which they did a “nice try” with an overdue study which contained partial information, but where clearly much more work must be done.

Tomorrow evening, Chris and I will chat live about where this important work stands and what needs to be done next.

Chris McGhee is an Air Force veteran, founder of Falcon Forward Law Group, and host of the "20 Years Done" podcast, where he raises awareness of organizational and cultural issues in the military.

Chris played a pivotal role in crafting legislation mandating military suicide data after repeated FOIA denials by the DoD.

He also led a Department of the Air Force working group tasked with developing a post-vention model to identify organizational factors influencing suicidality.

His advocacy recently led to Senator Angus King pressing the Secretary of Defense for accountability.

Falcon Forward Law Group - https://www.fafo-law.com/

More on Chris's fight - https://www.pressherald.com/2024/09/15/a-maine-man-helped-get-the-defense-department-to-release-detailed-suicide-data-hes-not-satisfied/

Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
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