Welcome to Urban Valor, where we hear the stories of our veteran heroes in their own words. Within these vet interviews, you'll hear everything from combat stor...
In this weekās Urban Valor episode, we feature Marine veteran Michael DāAngelo, a Las Vegas native who overcame a turbulent upbringing marked by homelessness and family struggles.Ā Michael shares his journey from running the streets to enlisting in the Marine Corps as a Machine Gunner. He opens up about how a recruiterās deception left him in the Reserves instead of active duty, leading to years of frustration and mental health challenges as he tried to transfer to active duty without support from his command.Ā This powerful story highlights resilience, perseverance, and the unseen struggles many veterans face during and after their service.š Like this video to support to show appreciation.š£ļø Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!ā SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.Video Chapters:Ā 01:12 - Childhood Challenges05:41 - Turning Point: Choosing the Marines11:04 - Recruiterās Deception16:28 - Struggles in the Reserves21:46 - Mental Health Impact29:27 - Finding Resilience and Moving Forward37:34 - Life After the Marines45:24 - Lessons LearnedĀ #military #urbanvalor #warstories #marines #warstories #veteranpodcast
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1:41:56
Marine Prevents Tragedy by Disarming Fellow Comrade in Crisis
In this powerful Urban Valor episode, Marine veteran Chris Skinner shares his gripping story of courage and quick thinking that prevented a potential tragedy. Serving in the U.S. Marines as a Combat Logistics Specialist from 2016 to 2022, Chris recalls his most pivotal momentādisarming a fellow Marine who was on the brink of taking his life. Through his heartfelt account, Chris discusses the pressures of military life, the bonds forged in service, and the importance of mental health awareness.Chris also reflects on his journey from boot camp to becoming a Marksmanship Instructor, offering insights into leadership, resilience, and the value of being there for others in their darkest moments.š¬ Whatās your biggest takeaway from Chris's story? Let us know in the comments!š Like this video to support to show appreciation.š£ļø Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!ā SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.Video Chapters:Ā 01:42 - Family Legacy of Service03:22 - Choosing the Marine Corps10:31 - Harsh Realities of Boot Camp13:12 - Rising Through the Ranks40:30 - Disarming a Comrade in Crisis52:53 - Transitioning to Civilian Life54:35 - Lessons in Resilience and Recovery57:34 - Reflections on Service and Brotherhood#military #urbanvalor #warstories #marines #warstories #veteranpodcast
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59:41
Army Special Forces Green Beret Medic Endures Multiple Brushes with Death
In this gripping episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with U.S. Army Green Beret and Special Forces Medic, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jacek āJackā Waliszewski. A political refugee from Poland, Jackās life was shaped by his fatherās role in co-founding the Solidarity Movement, one of the most successful anti-communist revolutions in history.Jack takes us deep into his world as a Green Beret, revealing the extreme trauma he faced in combat, the life-threatening situations he endured, and how these experiences impacted his mental health and family life. From war zones to near-death encounters, Jack opens up about the realities of serving in Special Forces and what it means to survive both on and off the battlefield.š¬ Whatās your biggest takeaway from Jackās story? Let us know in the comments!š Like this video to support to show appreciation for Jack and/or Urban Valor.š£ļø Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!ā SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.Video Chapters:Ā 04:27 - Family Legacy & Political Influence08:14 - Loss of Faith & Personal Struggles16:13 - Early Life, Adventures & Military Decision24:04 - Surviving Combat & Military Training Challenges40:11 - The Reality of Battlefield Medicine47:08 - Witnessing Death & Emotional Toll51:52 - Survivorās Guilt & Lessons from War55:45 - The Psychological Toll of Combat1:00:02 - Near-Death Experiences & Escaping Fate1:15:20 - Military Camaraderie & Brotherhood1:31:28 - Balancing Family & Military Life1:35:29 - Preparing for Another Mission1:39:28 - Integrating Into Special Forces Teams1:43:39 - Documenting War & The Retrograde Film1:51:14 - The Complexities of War & Diplomacy2:07:59 - PTSD & The Challenges of Coming Home2:12:05 - Hitting Rock Bottom & Seeking Help2:24:34 - The Healing Process & Moving Forward2:33:27 - Accountability & Personal Growth#military #urbanvalor #warstories #army #warstories #veteranpodcast
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2:41:21
Marine Veteran Reveals the Silent Deadly Battle Within Service
In this Urban Valor episode, we sit down with Kristine Phanthavilay, a former U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant (E6) and Motor Transport Mechanic (2006-2010). Born and raised in San Diego, CA, Kristine joined the Marine Corps after struggling in college, looking for something more. She shares what it was like growing up as a first-generation American from Laotian refugee parents, knowing little about the military until 9/11 changed everything.Kristine opens up about the mental and physical challenges of boot camp, the pressure of being a female Marine, and the difficult leadership she faced during her service. She also speaks candidly about the emotional toll of military life, including the loss of fellow service members and the struggles veterans face transitioning back to civilian life. After leaving active duty to raise her child, she realized how much she missed the Marines and returned to the Reserves, balancing military life with single motherhood.This conversation sheds light on the real mental health challenges that veterans face, the gaps in military support, and the resilience it takes to keep pushing forward. Kristineās story is one of strength, heartbreak, and finding purpose despite the struggles. If you or someone you know is dealing with mental health challenges, reach outāsupport is available.š Like this video to support to show appreciation for Kristine and/or Urban Valor.š£ļø Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!ā SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.Video Chapters:04:33 - Boot Camp Struggles & Proving Herself10:58 - Toxic Leadership & Mental Health Battles16:34 - Life After the Marines & Returning to the Reserves20:21 - Losing Friends to Self-Inflicted Wounds & Coping with Grief#military #urbanvalor #warstories #usarmy #usarmyveteran #warstories #veteranpodcast
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39:08
What It Really Takes to Survive Navy SEAL Hell Week (And Why Most Fail)
This episode of Urban Valor highlights the incredible life of U.S. Navy SEAL veteran Johnny Collins. Growing up in Sykesville, Maryland, Johnny overcame personal challenges, including his parents' divorce, to pursue his dream of becoming a SEAL.Ā Enduring six grueling BUD/S classes and three Hell Weeks, he demonstrated determination to earn the coveted SEAL Trident.Ā Johnny shares powerful stories of rigorous training, deployment experiences, and how he transitioned his tactical skills into civilian success.š Like this video to support to show appreciation for Johnny and/or Urban Valor.š£ļø Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!ā SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.Video Chapters:00:47 Impact of Parents' DivorceĀ 01:21 Becoming a Navy SEAL04:19 Pre-Navy Life07:53 First Phase of BUD/S: Physical and Mental Challenges12:25 Hell Week: The Ultimate Test of Endurance16:15 Tight Timelines and Training Routines in BUD/S20:33 Overcoming Setbacks and the Journey Through Medical Rolls24:15 Hell Week Revisited: Grit and Determination32:31 Pool Comp and Facing Personal Fears40:25 Transition to Second Phase and Underwater Training57:15 Returning to BUD/S After Medical Setbacks1:13:20 Earning the SEAL Trident and Graduation Day1:36:09 Deployment Experiences and Working with Service Dogs2:07:36 Transition to Civilian Life and Reflections on the Navy2:23:13 Current Role as Safety Director and Life Beyond Service#military #urbanvalor #warstories #usarmy #usarmyveteran #warstories #veteranpodcast
Welcome to Urban Valor, where we hear the stories of our veteran heroes in their own words. Within these vet interviews, you'll hear everything from combat stories, life stories pre/post military, military transition, and everything in between. Our interviews aren't just war stories or combat veteran interviews, but interviews from any military veteran willing to share. Our mission is to educate the masses with what military veterans go through while serving their country and how life has been since their military transition back to civilian life. Join our cause, online community, and show your support for Urban Valor at https://urbanvalor.comĀ
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