The Common Veterans

The Common Veterans is a podcast created by Veterans, for Veterans, exploring topics that matter most to the Veteran community. From personal stories and shared experiences to deep dives into ethical, moral, and societal issues, each episode brings an authentic voice to conversations that resonate. Whether it's navigating post-military life, discussing mental health, or exploring subjects like ethics, morality, and religion, The Common Veterans is a place for open dialogue and community. Join us!

The Common Veterans is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 56 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts The Common Veterans, a business show with 56 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #14

  Season 4: Episode 14: Hobbies for Healing

  Sep 30, 20261h 34mS4

  What happens when the uniform comes off and the structure disappears? In Episode 14 of the Common Veterans Podcast , Kenny, Jeff, Casey, and Fred sit down for “Hobbies for Healing” —a conversation about what Veterans do with their time, why hobbies matter, and how something that starts as “just for fun” can become structure, purpose, connection, and a new challenge. The guys talk mountain biking, motorcycles, scuba diving, martial arts, camping, baseball, 3D printing, knife making, gaming, and plenty of completely unplanned rabbit holes. But underneath the laughs is a bigger question: what fills the space when military life is gone? The military gives you somewhere to be, something to accomplish, and people beside you. Civilian life doesn't automatically replace any of that. The crew discusses how hobbies can provide routine, personal goals, solitude when you need it, camaraderie when you don't, and something worth getting out of the house for. Kenny also gets personal about his transition home. For a period after returning, his routine consisted largely of working out every morning and drinking every night. He wasn't prepared to simply return to the person he'd been before military service. Eventually, martial arts became one of the things that gave him discipline and structure again. The conversation also turns to the other side of hobbies: obsession, neglecting responsibilities, spending money you don't have, or turning an activity into your entire identity. The takeaway isn't that everyone needs the same hobby. It's to find something that works for you. Try something new. Borrow the gear before spending a fortune. Find the balance between being around people and having time alone. Sometimes you're just looking for something to do. Sometimes you find something worth showing up for. This is Common Veterans. Sponsored by The Bancroft Companies, Winter Oak Studios, and Mission: Communicate.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #12

  Season 4: Episode 12: Strong Enough is Different Now

  Aug 18, 20262h 15mS4

  Season 4, Episode 12 – Strong Enough Is Different Now For a lot of Veterans, physical fitness used to come with a schedule, a formation, a PT test, and somebody making sure you showed up. You didn't have to decide whether you felt motivated that morning. You had a place to be, a standard to meet, and a group of people going through it right alongside you. Then you leave the military, and all of that changes. In this episode of the Common Veterans Podcast , the crew sits down for a conversation about fitness without formation and what being "strong enough" actually means after military service. They start by looking back at how physical fitness worked across the different branches. Army PT wasn't necessarily Navy PT, and Air Force standards came with their own rules, expectations, and frustrations. The guys compare fitness tests, running, push-ups, sit-ups, weight standards, body composition, unit expectations, and some of the strange situations created when military standards didn't always line up with what someone would normally consider physically fit. Of course, there's also the part everyone remembers: formation runs, organized PT, carrying ridiculous amounts of weight, and doing things at 20 or 25 years old that sounded perfectly reasonable at the time. A few decades later, they don't always sound quite as reasonable. That's where the conversation turns from military fitness to Veteran fitness . What happens when your mind still remembers exactly what you used to be capable of, but your knees, back, shoulders, and everything else have started filing formal complaints? The guys talk openly about getting older, old injuries, changing abilities, and learning that staying physically active doesn't mean you have to keep chasing the person you were during active duty. Maybe you can't run like you used to. Maybe running becomes biking. Maybe carrying a heavy pack through the mountains becomes walking a few miles around town. Maybe the amount of weight on the bar isn't nearly as important as maintaining mobility, independence, and enough strength to continue doing the things you enjoy. That isn't quitting. It's adjusting the standard. And maybe that's something Veterans don't always give themselves permission to do. The crew also gets into one of the biggest things that disappears when you leave the military: accountability . Military PT might have been miserable. You might have hated another five-mile formation run. You might have complained about it the entire time. But you weren't doing it alone. Your people were there. Someone noticed when you didn't show up. Someone pushed you when you slowed down. Someone was probably complaining right beside you. Whether you realized it at the time or not, fitness was tied to camaraderie and community. Once you're out, maintaining that same accountability becomes a personal responsibility—and that can be harder than any PT test. That's why finding a group, a workout partner, a Veteran organization, or simply a few people who expect you to show up can make such a difference. It isn't necessarily about recreating military PT. It's about rebuilding some of the community that made showing up easier in the first place. Ultimately, this episode isn't about how much you can bench, how fast you can run two miles, or whether you could still pass the PT test from twenty years ago. It's about being as healthy as you can with the body you have today. Strong enough at 25 and strong enough at 45, 55, 65, or beyond aren't necessarily the same thing. And maybe they shouldn't be. Grab a drink, settle in, and join the Common Veterans crew for a conversation about military PT, getting older, staying active, accountability, camaraderie, and learning that sometimes being strong means knowing when the standard needs to change. Slainte.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #11

  Season 4: Episode 11 Borrowed Confidence

  Aug 3, 20262h 6mS4

  Sometimes, another person sees your potential long before you can see it yourself. In Season 4, Episode 11 of the Common Veterans Podcast , the crew discusses mentorship, leadership, confidence and the people who help shape us throughout military service and civilian life. What begins as borrowed confidence can eventually become something real. A mentor challenges you, pushes you beyond your comfort zone and gives you enough belief to take the next step. Through experience, competence, failure and persistence, that temporary confidence eventually becomes your own. But not everyone worth learning from deserves to be placed on a pedestal. The Common Veterans examine the difference between admiration and hero worship, why every mentor remains human and how to recognize warning signs of unhealthy leadership. Those warning signs can include arrogance, manipulation, micromanagement, taking credit while shifting blame and refusing to accept responsibility. In this episode, the Common Veterans discuss: How military sponsors and supervisors can become mentors Learning from both exceptional and terrible leaders Why competence builds lasting confidence Testing advice instead of following it blindly Knowing when a mentor has become harmful Learning from victories as well as failures Training your replacement and paying knowledge forward Becoming the mentor someone else needs Good mentors do not create followers who remain dependent on them. They develop people who can eventually stand on their own, lead others, and continue the mission. Invest in relationships that build character. Continue learning. Continue leading. Common Veterans: Real Veterans. Real Conversations. This episode contains adult language, military humor, and mature conversation.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #10

  Season 4: Episode 10: Tactical Networking

  Jul 20, 20262 hourS4

  Networking is a mission, not a mystery. For many Veterans, the word “networking” can feel artificial, transactional, or uncomfortable. In this episode of The Common Veterans , Kenny and Jeff welcome retired Army Veteran Brian Beal for a conversation about replacing empty networking with genuine relationship building. Brian served for 22 years in the Army, working in field artillery, human resources, resiliency training, and career counseling. Through his military service and continued work with Veteran organizations, he learned that strong connections are rarely built through business cards, social media requests, or carefully rehearsed sales pitches. They are built through curiosity, consistency, service, integrity, and the willingness to listen. In This Episode The difference between networking and making a real connection Why Veterans may struggle to communicate in civilian professional environments Using reconnaissance to prepare for events, meetings, and opportunities Building rapport by asking sincere questions and actively listening Managing social anxiety by planning ahead and bringing a trusted battle buddy The importance of mentors, self-awareness, and learning from mistakes Why face-to-face conversations still matter in a technology-driven world Following up naturally without sounding forced or transactional Keeping promises and protecting the reputation attached to your name The conversation also explores the role of VFWs, American Legions, stand downs, community events, and Veteran organizations in creating places where Veterans can reconnect with people who share a common core of experience. The lesson is simple: do not enter every room asking what someone can do for you. Prepare for the mission, show genuine interest, find common ground, keep your word, and look for opportunities to help another person. A contact may open a door. Trust, integrity, and follow-through are what keep it open. Guest: Brian Beal This episode is supported by the Bancroft Companies and Winter Oak Studios . The Common Veterans — where Veterans find common ground through uncommon conversations.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #9

  Episode 9: The Silent Ranks

  Jun 29, 20262h 24mS4

  When the Calls Stop Coming Military service creates bonds unlike any other. We train together, deploy together, struggle together, and celebrate together. There is always someone nearby who understands without needing an explanation. Then transition happens. Careers begin. Families grow. Life moves in different directions. Before long, some of the people we once talked to every day slowly disappear. In this episode of Common Veterans , the hosts explore The Silent Ranks —the Veterans who quietly fade into the background after leaving the military. They are the friends who stop answering texts, decline invitations, isolate themselves, or simply become harder and harder to reach. Sometimes it's intentional. Sometimes it's life. Sometimes it's something much deeper. Recognizing the Silent Ranks This conversation isn't about diagnosing mental health conditions or forcing people into conversations they aren't ready to have. Instead, it focuses on recognizing warning signs, understanding the difference between giving someone space and forgetting about them, and learning how to continue reaching out without creating additional pressure. Not every unanswered text message is a cry for help, but neither should silence always be ignored. Veterans often process life's challenges differently, and many choose isolation long before asking for help. The hosts discuss how awareness, patience, and consistency can often be more valuable than having the perfect words. Reaching Out Without Pushing The discussion centers around a simple truth: friendship doesn't require immediate responses. A text message. A phone call. An invitation to grab lunch. A reminder that someone is being thought about. These small acts of consistency communicate something powerful— you haven't been forgotten. Sometimes there won't be a response, and that's okay. Continuing to check in from time to time without guilt, pressure, or expectations demonstrates the same commitment and dedication that defined military service. Looking after one another doesn't stop when the uniform comes off. The Strength of Shared Experience Drawing from their own military experiences, the hosts reflect on the unique bond shared between Veterans. While careers, families, and life circumstances change, the common experiences of service remain. Those experiences create a foundation that allows Veterans to encourage one another in ways that are often difficult to explain to anyone who hasn't lived it. The mission after military service may look different, but the responsibility to care for one another never truly ends. Sometimes simply showing up—or reminding someone you're still there—is enough to make a difference. In This Episode Why some Veterans disappear after transition Recognizing signs of isolation The difference between giving space and giving up How to reach out without forcing a conversation The importance of gentle, consistent encouragement The lifelong bond created through military service Why shared experiences continue to unite Veterans long after service ends A Challenge for Every Listener If someone came to mind while listening to this episode, don't ignore it. Send the text. Make the phone call. Leave the voicemail. Invite them to coffee. Even if there isn't an immediate response, your effort lets them know they are remembered. We never truly know what someone is carrying. Sometimes the smallest act of connection is exactly what another Veteran needs to remember they are not carrying it alone. We Are The Common Veterans.

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Common Veterans. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.