Vetted Conversations
Vetted Conversations is a podcast created by We the Veterans & Military Families to help Americans - especially the veteran community - better understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens and how they can get involved to reinforce our constitutional republic and representative democracy. We are focused on bringing Americans together to help create a more perfect union. This podcast was formerly titled Vet our Democracy and was rebranded with the launch of Season 2 to reflect our expanded goals.
Episodes
26 episodes
SEASON 3 EPISODE 6 | Daryl Johnston from Fox Sports UFL
In this episode of Vetted Conversations, we talk with Daryl Johnston, Executive VP of Football Operations for the UFL. He shares how spring football is growing and opening doors for athletes to return to the NFL. We also discuss his personal ti...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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10:55
SEASON 3 EPISODE 5 | Gold Star Mother Chastity Boutte
In this episode of Vetted Conversations, we speak with Gold Star mother Chastity about her daughter’s service in the Air Force and the tragic accident that took her life. Chastity shares how the support of TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for S...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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6:54
SEASON 3 EPISODE 4 | Nate Boyer from Merging Vets & Players (MVP)
In this episode, former Green Beret and NFL player Nate Boyer shares his remarkable journey from military service to the football field, and how both paths ultimately led him to co-found Merging Vets & Players (MVP)—a nonprofit that fosters...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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11:17
SEASON 3 EPISODE 3 | BJ Ganem from Sierra Delta
In this episode, Founder Ben Keiser sits down with Marine veteran BJ Ganem, founder of Sierra Delta, to explore how a bond with a dog helped BJ heal after injury and loss—and sparked his mission to provide every veteran with access to canine co...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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18:08
SEASON 3 EPISODE 2 | NASCAR Driver Ross Chastain for Trackhouse Racing
In this episode, Founder Ben Keiser speaks with NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain to discuss racing, farming, and family legacy. Chastain shares insights on the competitive NASCAR points system, reflects on growing up as a watermelon farme...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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9:22
SEASON 3 EPISODE 1 | Dave Woodruff from the Bob Woodruff Foundation
In this episode, Founders Ellen Gustafson and Ben Keiser speak with Dave Woodruff from the Bob Woodruff Foundation to discuss the foundation’s mission and its partnership with the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative, including its presence at th...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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16:09
Ep. 20: How Arizona and Nevada are preparing for 2024 elections
Bonus episode! With Election Day fast approaching, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of the We the Veterans & Military Families, Ben Keiser, speaks with Arizona Secretaries of State Adrian Fontes and Francisco V. Aguilar to discuss the syst...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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34:33
Ep. 19: Who are the people running American elections?
With the 2024 elections fast approaching, were focusing this episode on the people who are working hard to make sure America continues to have the safest, most secure, and most accurate elections on the planet. To begin,
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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58:02
Ep. 18: Who is trying to interfere with our elections and how you can stop them
We're sure it comes as no surprise that this world is filled with people who want to manipulate you - to shape your thoughts and feelings so they can influence your behaviors. This episode is all about how humans construct our realities with ou...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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1:38:15
Ep. 17: Womens' contributions to our national defense
This episode is all about the many contributions women have made to our national defense and how the military services are changing to better leverage the full talents of the American people. Leading off today's conversation, Joe speaks with U....
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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58:55
Ep. 16: Our American libraries and how they support our system of self governance
America's founders knew that if our experiment in democracy was to survive, and people were to effectively govern themselves, the citizenry needed access to good information. While freedom of the press was enshrined in the First Amendment to th...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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1:14:31
Ep. 15: Trusting the Vote - how technology can help increase faith in election outcomes
In this episode, Ellen and Joe speak with Dr. Shawn Healy (01:57) of iCivics about what the Electoral College is, why the Founders created it, and why it's so dang confusing to many Americans. Next, we have a very interesting conversation with ...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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1:09:36
Ep. 14: The importance of civilian control of the military & our Selective Service
What would happen if you didn't register for the Selective Service, aka "the draft?" In this episode, Dr. Mike O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution joins Ellen and Joe for a quick civics lesson on why it's important to have civilian control of...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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59:21
Ep. 13: How American citizens can fix Congress
In this episode, Dr. Shawn Healy of iCivics joins Ellen and Joe for a conversation about what the Founders intent was with Congress and why they designed the legislative process to be deliberately slow. Next, long-time Capitol Hill staffer Mike...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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52:52
Ep. 12: How immigrants contribute to our national security
Episode 12 asks the question: how do immigrants contribute to our national security. America is a country of immigrants, and this episode explores how the best teams are built from people with different backgrounds, skill sets, and cultures.&nb...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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1:17:52
Ep. 11: How veterans can get involved in local government
Episode 11 explores how veterans can get involved in local government. Local government decisions often have a more direct impact on daily life than those at the state or federal level. We begin (1:24) with Dr. Shawn Healy, Senior Director of P...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:02:33
Ep. 10: The role of our military in our democracy
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Shawn Healey, PhD of iCivics (1:07) on why it's important to have civilian control of the military. And Kori Schake, the Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American En...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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1:00:36
Ep. 9: Election reform: systemic changes to improve how we choose our leaders with Todd Connor and Eric Bronner
Joining us are two guests - Navy veterans Todd Connor and Eric Bronner. Todd is the founder of the veteran business incubator Bunker Labs, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a Presidential Leadership Scho...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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48:33
Ep. 8: Administering free and fair elections, a conversation with Secretaries of State Jocelyn Benson (MI) and David Scanlan (NH)
Joining us today are The Honorable Jocelyn Benson from the Great State of Michigan, and The Honorable David Scanlan from the Great State of New Hampshire.
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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58:25
Ep. 7: Challenges facing the 2024 elections, a conversation with Jennifer Morrell and Tina Barton
In today’s episode, we’re diving into a vital discussion with three experts on the frontlines of safeguarding our elections: Jennifer Morrell, U.S. Air Force veteran and CEO of The Elections Group. Jennifer is a nationally recogniz...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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52:42
Ep. 6: Vet The Vote: How veterans teamed up with the NFL to tackle America's Election Poll Worker Crisis + Special interview with former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Gen. George Casey, USA (ret.)
In 2022, America faced a significant challenge: we didn’t have enough election poll workers. Each election, around 1.2 million volunteers are needed to set up polling places, verify IDs, issue ballots, tally votes, and report the results.
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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59:35
Ep. 5: Why democracy needs a free press with Thom Shanker and Kelly S. Kennedy
In this episode, Ellen and Joe chat with long-time NY Times Pentagon reporter Thom Shanker and Army veteran, author, and investigative journalist Kelly S. Kennedy about the role of a free and vigorous press in our democracy.
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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48:37
Ep. 4: Myth Busting: Understanding the Department of Homeland Security with Admiral Steve Abbot and Col. Dave Lapan
In this episode we hear from retired Navy Admiral Steve Abbot who served as the deputy homeland security advisor to the President of the United States. You'll also hear from retired Marine Corps Colonel David Lapan who served as the press secre...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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44:47
Ep. 3: Vital to Our National Security: Understanding Civics with former Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera and Secretary of the Navy Sean O'Keefe
In this episode, former Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Louis Caldera and former Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Sean O'Keefe join Joe Plenzler (USMC), Ellen Gustafson, and Jeremy Butler (USN) for a discussion on how increasing public...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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48:22
Ep. 2: The Citizen-Soldier: What are veterans roles in a democracy?
In this episode, veterans Scott Cooper (U.S. Marine Corps) and Dan Vallone (U.S. Army) join Ellen, Jeremy, and Joe for a robust discussion on what our responsibilities are as veterans and how we can best continue to serve America and stre...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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45:16