PitBull214 Podcast | Veteran Stories & Support

Episodet

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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 14, Chris Cravens, From the Battlefield to Better Leadership 14.09.2026 53min

  What happens when the battlefield teaches you that leadership is about far more than giving orders? In this episode of Pitbull 214, host Rick "Pitbull" Perales sits down with Marine veteran and leadership speaker Chris Cravens to talk about his military service, his experiences in combat, and the leadership lessons that continue to shape the way he serves others today. Chris shares how watching 9/11 as a teenager inspired him to serve in the Marine Corps, eventually leading him to combat de...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 13, Rafi Rodriguez, From Air Force Colonel to a New Mission 14.09.2026 36min

  What happens when a 26-year military career comes to an end, but the mission doesn't? In this episode of Pitbull 214, host Rick "Pitbull" Perales sits down with retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Rafi Rodriguez to talk about his remarkable military career, his transition to civilian life, and the purpose that continues to drive him today. Rafi shares how growing up in Puerto Rico and his fascination with the space program led him to the Air Force, where he became a missileer, worked on the Tita...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 12, Part 2, Ed Mechenbier, Life on a $5 Bet: The Story of a Vietnam POW 21.08.2026 51min

  What happens after surviving nearly six years as a prisoner of war? In Part 2 of this episode of Pitbull 214, host Rick "Pitbull" Perales continues his conversation with retired U.S. Air Force Major General Ed Mechenbier, as he shares the final chapters of his extraordinary journey, from enduring years of captivity in the Hanoi Hilton to the long-awaited moment he finally returned home. General Mechenbier reflects on the resilience, faith, and brotherhood that sustained American POWs throug...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 12, Part 1, Ed Mechenbier, Life on a $5 Bet: The Story of a Vietnam POW 21.08.2026 40min

  What does it take to survive six years as a prisoner of war—and come home with your faith, purpose, and sense of humor intact? In this episode of Pitbull 214, host Rick "Pitbull" Perales sits down with retired U.S. Air Force Major General Ed Mechenbier, whose extraordinary life story began with a simple $5 bet from his father that led him to the U.S. Air Force Academy, a career as a fighter pilot, and ultimately one of the most remarkable journeys of resilience in military history. General ...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 11, Valerie Mulikin, Operation Veteran & Caregiver Support 04.08.2026 47min

  Some of the most important people serving our veteran community never wore the uniform themselves. They stand beside those who did. My conversation with Valerie Mulikin is a reminder that behind every veteran is often a family, a caregiver, or an advocate fighting just as hard to navigate life after service. After years of helping her husband through serious medical challenges following his military career, Valerie chose not to let that experience end with her own family. Instead, she built O...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 10, Darrel Whitcomb, A Raven's Story: Combat, Brotherhood, and Survival 28.07.2026 44min

  I've always believed one of the most important things we can do is preserve the stories of veterans while we still have the chance to hear them firsthand. Some of those stories made the history books. Some didn't. My conversation with Colonel Darrell Whitcomb falls into that second category. Like many veterans I've met over the years, he served, did his job, and came home without asking for recognition. But the missions he flew and the experiences he shares offer a glimpse into a part of mili...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 9, Brian Yolitz, How Veterans Can Find Their Next Mission 21.07.2026 44min

  One thing I've seen happen to a lot of veterans is this: They spend years serving something bigger than themselves. Then one day the military chapter ends, and they're left trying to figure out what the next mission looks like. That's why I enjoyed this conversation with Colonel (Ret.) Brian Yolitz. We talked about life after service, the challenges that come with transition, and why purpose doesn't disappear when the uniform comes off. What I appreciated most is that Brian doesn't just talk ...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 8, Elizabeth Harding, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp For Veterans 14.07.2026 34min

  Over the years, I've met a lot of veterans who have talked about starting a business. Most of them don't lack motivation. What they're missing is a roadmap. They have the work ethic. They have the leadership experience. They know how to solve problems under pressure. What they don't always know is where to start. That's why I wanted to talk with Elizabeth Harding about the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans at Wright State University. What caught my attention about this program is that it...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 7, Cassie Barlow, Vets Moving Forward 01.07.2026 39min

  One thing I've noticed after talking to veterans for years... Most aren't asking for special treatment. They're just trying to figure out what's available to them. The frustrating part is that there are a lot of good programs, benefits, and organizations out there. The problem is many veterans never hear about them until someone points them in the right direction. That's why I wanted to have Dr. Cassie Barlow back on the podcast. We talked about some of the work being done to connect veterans...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 6, Larry Draughn, Warrior Resilience 25.06.2026 42min

  Over the years, I've met a lot of veterans who have been through things most people can't even imagine. What always amazes me isn't what happened to them. It's what they did afterward. In this episode, I sat down with Marine veteran Larry, who survived an IED blast in Afghanistan that changed his life forever. We talked about service, loss, recovery, and the long road that comes after a traumatic injury. What stuck with me was his mindset. Even after everything he went through, he found a way...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 5, Col (ret) Herman Cole, Vietnam Experience 23.06.2026 32min

  One of the things I enjoy most about this podcast is getting the chance to sit down with veterans who helped shape the people around them. Colonel Herman Cole is one of those people for me. In this episode, we talked about his journey from Tuskegee University to serving as a combat engineer during Vietnam, the leadership lessons he learned along the way, and the challenges he faced during a very different time in our military's history. What stood out to me wasn't just his military career. It...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 2, Cassie Barlow, Transition to Civilian Life 17.06.2026 28min

  One thing I've learned from talking to veterans over the years: Getting out of the military is rarely the hard part. Figuring out what comes next is. That's why I wanted to sit down with Dr. Cassie Barlow. She's a retired Air Force Colonel who has spent years helping service members navigate that transition. We talked about starting early, translating military experience into something employers understand, and why finding the right fit matters just as much as finding a job. A lot of veterans...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 1, Joe Kennedy, Importance and Safeguarding of DD214 06.06.2026 35min

  Most veterans know what a DD-214 is. What many don't realize is how much of a headache it can become if you can't find it when you need it. I've talked to veterans and families over the years who suddenly needed a DD-214 for benefits, burial honors, healthcare, or other services, only to discover they had no idea where it was. That's why I wanted to have Greene County Recorder Joe on the podcast. We talked about why protecting these documents matters, how the Recorder's Office helps preserve ...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 4, Gil Esparza, Warriors on Wheels 29.05.2026 32min

  In this episode of the Pitbull214 Podcast, host Rick “Pitbull” Perales sits down with veteran advocate Gil Esparza to discuss his lifelong commitment to serving fellow veterans both inside and outside the military. Gil shares his personal journey of service and how that experience led him to become deeply involved in supporting veterans who find themselves navigating challenges after leaving the uniform behind. The conversation explores his work with Veteran Treatment Court, a program designe...
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  Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 3, PAWS 4 Abilities 20.05.2026 27min

  In this episode of the Pitbull214 Podcast, host Rick “Pitbull” Perales records his first on-site episode from Four Paws for Ability, an organization dedicated to providing professionally trained service dogs to veterans and children with disabilities across the country. Rick sits down with Devin Brown to discuss how the program works, including the application process, fundraising efforts, volunteer opportunities, and the importance of recognizing both visible and invisible disabilities. Devi...