The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices

#751 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew & Special Guest David Brent Eaton | Faith, Music & Creativity

Description:
Join AJ Cox and the crew for a conversation with special guest David Brent Eaton, a Marine Corps veteran, musician, and podcaster. David shares stories from his service, his work creating faith based music with AI, and his efforts to livestream and grow his podcast, Spiritual Words of Life. The episode also features a live music performance and a conversation about using technology to bring people together.

On the show:

Join Historical Archivist Dee Galvin for a conversation with Marine veteran Don Johnston. Don shares how a family legacy of military service influenced his decision to become a Marine and takes us through his path as an officer—from his training and early interest in aviation to serving as a Data Systems Officer at Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow.

Don also talks about remaining in the Reserve after leaving active duty, receiving a recall notice during Desert Storm, and transitioning to civilian work in healthcare technology. Along the way, he reflects on military service, family, and the ch...

#15 Jarhead Jabber — October 2026

Episode #15 of Jarhead Jabber, the Official Marine Corps League Podcast, features conversation about the Marine Corps League, the Military Order of the Devil Dogs, and resources for veterans. Carlos Garcia was away for this episode.

Meet this episode’s cast:

AJ Cox — Host, bringing the conversation together and keeping the focus on Marines, veterans, and the League.

Mike — Shares information about the Military Order of the Devil Dogs and its Woof-O-Gram publication.

Erica — Shares her work with the National Newsletter Committee and offers guidance for Marine Corps Leag...

Are veteran organizations ready to connect with and serve the next generation? In this FireSide Chat, AJ Cox and the crew talk about why younger veterans may not feel drawn to traditional organizations—and what those groups can do to change that.

The conversation looks at how organizations such as the VFW, Elks, and Eagles once brought people together and served their communities. The crew discusses adapting to generational changes, working across organizations, embracing new technology, and giving younger people meaningful ways to contribute and lead. The challenge is to invite the next generation in and listen to...

🎙️ EPISODE #748 — FireSide Chat w/ Jeff Newton & the Crew | 15 October 2026

🇺🇸 VA HOME LOANS: UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS YOU'VE EARNED! 🏡

Did you know that VA home loan benefits may offer veterans more opportunities than simply purchasing an existing home? What about building a new house, purchasing land, renovating a property, or refinancing your current mortgage?

In this episode of The Lost Art Project, host Andrew "AJ" Cox and the Crew welcome Jeff Newton, founder of National VA Loans, for an informative, entertaining, and eye-opening conversation about VA home loan benefits and the opportunities many veterans may not realize are...

🔥 #747 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Leadership: Military Lessons That Still Work Today
Recorded October 11, 2026

The uniform comes off, but the leadership lessons—and the friendships—stay with us.

Join Andrew “AJ” Cox, Vick Ney, and Jess Kindelspire for an honest, often hilarious conversation about carrying military experience into civilian life. From workplace disagreements to accepting uncomfortable feedback, the Crew explores what happens when direct military communication meets a world with different expectations.

Vick shares a real challenge from his work as a music educator, opening a discussion about boundaries, tone, and the difference be...

🔥 #746 FireSide Chat w/ Douglas Kaluhiokalani & The Crew

8 October 2026 | The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices

How safe are you in today's digital world? And how much information about you is already available to someone who wants to use it against you?

In this episode of FireSide Chat, host Andrew “AJ” Cox and the crew welcome Douglas Kaluhiokalani, a United States Air Force veteran and cybersecurity professional with approximately 17 years of experience, for an eye-opening conversation about cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital warfare, online scams, and the threats hiding in everyday technology.

Douglas shares his journey from bein...

🎙️ #745 James Walsh — Air Force Veteran

In this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, host Andrew “AJ” Cox sits down with James Walsh, a United States Air Force veteran whose lifetime of service, education, and leadership took him from the enlisted ranks to the officer corps and ultimately to decades of continued service supporting Airmen and their families.

James entered the Air Force in 1966 at just 19 years old, choosing to enlist while facing the possibility of being drafted. His journey would take him far from his home in Hartford, Connecticut, beginning with an assignment to Taiwan and continuin...

🔥 #744 FireSide Chat w/ Barry Morris of Mission Roll Call & the Crew

In this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, host Andrew “AJ” Cox and the FireSide Chat crew welcome Barry Morris, Marine Corps veteran and Communications Director for Mission Roll Call, for a conversation about something that should matter to every veteran: making sure our voices are actually heard.

Barry begins by sharing his own journey—from growing up in a military family and enlisting in the Marine Corps, to becoming a Staff Sergeant, earning a commission through MECEP, serving as a Public Affairs Officer, and deployi...

🎙️ Episode #743 — FireSide Chat w/ the Crew | Saddleback Leather Raffle Drawing

This episode of FireSide Chat w/ the Crew brought plenty of laughs, current events, veteran conversation, and one moment everyone had been waiting for — the LIVE drawing for our Saddleback Leather Co. Flight Bag raffle!

The crew covered a wide range of topics, from unusual stories making headlines and military news to COVID, flu shots, movies, history, and the kind of good-natured back-and-forth that has become a regular part of the FireSide Chat. The conversation even wandered into George Washington, the Sons of the American Revolutio...

Veteran Story | Keith Wiesman — United States Marine Corps Veteran

In this Veteran Story, The Lost Art Project Historical Archivist Christopher Campbell sits down with fellow Marine and Marine Corps League member Keith Wiesman to preserve the story of his service in the United States Marine Corps.

A Tulsa, Oklahoma native and 1975 graduate of Nathan Hale High School, Keith recalls how a summer job at a local foundry—and a buddy unexpectedly announcing that he had joined the Marine Corps—helped set him on a completely different path.

Keith entered the Marine Corps in 1975 and trained at Mar...

#741 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Why Veteran Stories Matter

September 27, 2026 | Live from the Oklahoma-Arkansas State Fair in Fort Smith, Arkansas

AJ joins the crew from The Lost Art Project’s booth at the fair for a conversation about why veteran stories matter—even the experiences veterans may think are too ordinary to tell.

The crew talks about the voices missing from military history, how oral histories preserve details that letters and official records leave out, and what families can learn when a veteran shares their experiences in their own words. They also reflect on how memori...

FireSide Chat with the Crew | Episode #740

Sometimes the best FireSide Chats are the ones where there is no agenda and no telling where the conversation is going to go.

In this episode of The Lost Art Project FireSide Chat, AJ Cox is joined by fellow Marine veteran Mike McNany for an open conversation about veterans, the growth of The Lost Art Project, old Marine Corps memories, family, getting older, podcasting, and plenty of humor along the way.

Later in the show, Nelson Zapata, a Marine musician veteran who served alongside Mike in the Marine Corps...

Episode 739 — A Commandant’s Reflection: TJ Morgan Looks Back on His Term

Guest: TJ Morgan — 66th National Commandant, Marine Corps League
Host: Andrew “AJ” Cox — Founder / Executive Director / Host, The Lost Art Project

After two years serving as the 66th National Commandant of the Marine Corps League, TJ Morgan joins AJ for a special look back at the journey—the good, the difficult, the memorable, and the people who made it worthwhile.

TJ traces his path through national leadership, from Assistant National Vice Commandant and Northwest Division National Vice Commandant through National Judge Advocate, Junior Vice, S...

#14 – Jarhead Jabber: A Conversation with VA Acting Under Secretary for Benefits Margarita Devlin

21 September 2026

Episode 14 of Jarhead Jabber — The Official Podcast of the Marine Corps League brought veterans directly into the conversation with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

AJ Cox and co-host Carlos were joined by Philip Du, National Director of Veteran Service for the Marine Corps League, and special guest Margarita Devlin, Acting Under Secretary for Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, for an extended discussion about VA benefits, claims, appeals, examinations, technology, and the challenges veterans encounter while navi...

#738 – FireSide Chat w/ the Crew: Things the Military Made You Weird About for Life

20 September 2026

What happens when you spend years—or decades—in the military and then try to convince everyone else that you're completely normal?

In this episode of The Lost Art Project FireSide Chat, AJ is joined by the crew along with Ira and Chaz from Bravo Mission Radio for a conversation about the habits, humor, traditions, and behaviors military service leaves with you long after the uniform comes off.

The conversation starts with the things veterans do that c...

FireSide Chat with the Crew — Raffles, Football, Military Memories & Whatever Comes Up

Sometimes the best conversations are the ones without a script.

In Episode #737, AJ Cox sits down with Mike McNany and Jess Kindelspire for another FireSide Chat with the Crew. What starts as a simple check-in quickly turns into the kind of conversation you’d expect when a few veterans get together — plenty of laughs, stories, opinions, rabbit holes, and good-natured trash talking.

The crew talks football, fantasy sports and prop bets, fall weather and the pumpkin-spice takeover, TV shows, technology, and some o...

#736 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Military Families Serve Too
13 September 2026

Host: AJ Cox
Crew: Aaron Davis, Mike McNany & Jess

Tonight’s FireSide Chat takes on a part of military service that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves — the families who serve alongside us.

AJ and the Crew have a candid, funny, and at times serious conversation about marriage, spouses, relationships, deployments, leadership, financial pressures, raising families while serving, and what happens when the uniform finally comes off.

The discussion starts with an old military saying: “If the military w...

🔥 #735 FireSide Chat w/ Dr. Adena Shaviva Blickstein of Family Mastery Academy & the Crew | 15 Sep 2026 🔥

What happens when we stop asking, “What’s wrong with you?” and start looking at what may be putting a person or family out of balance?

On this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, AJ is joined by Dr. Adena Shaviva Blickstein of Family Mastery Academy, along with crew members Jess Kindelspire and Mike McNany, for a powerful conversation about mental health, parenting, veterans, family relationships, and the difference between nurturing and coddling.

Dr. Adena shares her approach to he...

#734 Veteran Story — Robert J. Saunders | U.S. Navy Veteran | 9 Sep 2026

On this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, Historical Archivist Dee Galvin sits down with U.S. Navy Veteran Robert “Rob” J. Saunders to preserve the story of his military service and the life he built after leaving the Navy.

Growing up in Ohio, Rob lived an active childhood and became heavily involved in Scouting, earning the rank of Eagle Scout at just 15 years old. After deciding college wasn't the right path for him at the time, he chose military service as an opportunity to gain tra...

#733 Christopher Campbell — Marine Veteran

In this Veteran Story, Andrew “AJ” Cox sits down with Christopher Campbell, a Marine veteran, Oklahoma native, physical therapist, Marine Corps League member, and the first Historical Archivist for The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices.

Christopher grew up in Durant, Oklahoma, and initially had his sights set on college rather than military service. But after watching several friends choose the Marine Corps—and after college life began taking him in a different direction—he found himself back in a Marine recruiter’s office. What followed became a defining part of his life.

...

#732 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Brotherhood & Sisterhood After the Uniform | 6 Sep 2026

What happens to the brotherhood and sisterhood of military service when the uniform comes off?

In this episode of FireSide Chat w/ the Crew, AJ and the crew have a candid conversation about one of the most difficult—and deeply personal—parts of leaving military service: finding connection, identity, friendship, and purpose on the other side.

The crew shares very different experiences with transition. They discuss staying connected to former units and military communities, deliberately creating some separation after retirement, finding new purpose through work a...

#731 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — 3 Sep 2026

Sometimes the best conversations are the ones that don’t go according to plan.

Tonight’s FireSide Chat was originally scheduled to feature Trunnis Goggins of the 4Ps Podcast, but a delayed flight kept Trunnis from joining us. We heard from him during the show, and we’ll be getting him rescheduled for a future FireSide Chat.

Instead, AJ Cox, Mike McNany, and Mark O’Loughlin did what the FireSide Chat crew does best—sat down, talked, laughed, and let the conversation go wherever it needed to go.

...

🎙️ EPISODE #730 — KAREN OAKES | U.S. MARINE CORPS VETERAN

In this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, host Andrew “AJ” Cox sits down with Marine Corps Veteran Karen Oakes for a candid story about service, perseverance, difficult chapters after the uniform, and the lasting impact of becoming a Marine.

Karen was born in San Diego and later grew up in the small community of Anacortes, Washington. With a father who had served as a Marine, she ultimately chose the Marine Corps herself and enlisted in 1986. Six months after first approaching her recruiter—after recovering from ankle surg...

FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Episode 729

What Does Service Look Like After the Uniform?

Tonight’s FireSide Chat w/ the Crew tackled a question that hits home for a lot of Veterans: Does your service really end when the uniform comes off?

Joining the discussion were Andrew “AJ” Cox, Chris Campbell, Jess Kindelspire, and Vick Ney.

The Crew talked about how military service becomes part of who we are and how that desire to serve often follows us long after active duty. Service after the military can look completely different—it may mean mentoring...

🎙️ EPISODE #728 — FIRESIDE CHAT W/ THE CREW & SPECIAL GUEST DR. CHARLES RUSSO

What happens when technology makes information easier to access—but people stop doing the hard work of thinking for themselves?

Dr. Charles M. Russo, retired U.S. Navy Intelligence Specialist, former federal intelligence analyst, educator, author, and speaker, returned to the FireSide Chat for a wide-ranging conversation with host Andrew “AJ” Cox and Crew member Mark O’Loughlin.

The discussion quickly moved beyond Charles’ military and intelligence background and into something affecting nearly every part of society: critical thinking.

Charles discusses his phi...

🇺🇸 VETERAN STORY — TED SOSNICKI | U.S. NAVY VETERAN 🇺🇸

Some Veteran stories are about where someone served. Others show just how far a lifetime of service can take one person.

In this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, Historical Archivist Dee Galvin sits down with U.S. Navy Veteran Ted Sosnicki for Part One of an incredible story spanning two decades of Naval service, extensive technical training, deployments around the world, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and friendships that lasted long after the uniform came off.

For Dee, this interview is also deeply personal...

🎙️ Veteran Story: Michael “Mikey” Brehm — U.S. Navy Veteran

What begins as a conversation between two military musicians who have not seen one another in nearly a decade becomes an honest, funny, and deeply personal look at service, family, ambition, burnout, and knowing when life is calling you in a new direction.

Texas native Michael Brehm grew up playing sports and music before discovering jazz trumpet and earning a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Texas State University. After performing aboard cruise ships, meeting his wife, Jamie, and temporarily settling in Canada, Michael began searching for...

Episode #725 — Kasey Slaton | U.S. Air Force Veteran

For more than 21 years, Kasey Slaton called the United States Air Force home. What began as a 19-year-old becoming the first person in her immediate family to join the military grew into a career that took her around the world, built lifelong friendships, and ultimately shaped the woman, wife, mother, and veteran she is today.

Kasey's journey even began with an unexpected twist—arriving at basic training a day late and finding herself assigned to a band flight, despite never having played an instrument! Handed a pair of c...

🔥 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Episode #724

What happens when you put a group of Veterans together, give them an open microphone, and let the conversation go wherever it needs to go? You get a FireSide Chat.

Episode #724 of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices brought the crew back together for an evening filled with humor, military memories, leadership lessons, changing warfare, AI, drones, and a serious discussion about whether joining the military is still a good decision for today's young men and women.

The night began on a personal note as the crew celebrated Jess Kindels...

🔥 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Supporting Today’s Service Members

The FireSide Chat crew is back together for another unscripted evening filled with military camaraderie, serious conversation, personal updates, history, sports, and the kind of humor that only veterans can truly appreciate.

AJ welcomes Jim Russell back following their first opportunity to meet in person at the Marine Corps League National Convention. Jim—the crew’s ALS warrior—demonstrates his new communication device and reminds everyone that an ALS diagnosis does not erase a person’s voice, humor, determination, or ability to make a difference. The crew also di...

James Pennington | U.S. Army Veteran

What begins as the story of a young man from rural northwest Alabama becomes an incredible journey of service, medicine, faith, leadership, and caring for America’s warriors in some of their most difficult moments.

In this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, AJ sits down with Army veteran James Pennington to preserve a military story spanning decades.

James grew up with military service already woven into his family. His grandfather served during World War II in the Pacific, and his father served during Vietnam. In 1984, James foll...

🇺🇸 EPISODE #721 — GARY CORBETT | U.S. MARINE CORPS VETERAN

“If you're enjoying it, do it. Don't think about the numbers. They're just numbers.”

On this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, AJ Cox sits down with 92-year-old Marine Veteran Gary Corbett—and what follows is nearly a century of stories packed into one unforgettable conversation.

Born in Detroit in 1934, Gary survived being struck by a car at four years old, suffering two broken legs and reportedly being told he might never walk again.

That little boy went on to do a whole lot more...

🇺🇸 EPISODE #720 — JOHN UNVACCINATED | U.S. AIR FORCE VETERAN

This is a Veteran Story unlike any we’ve shared before.

On this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, AJ Cox sits down with U.S. Air Force Veteran John Unvaccinated to preserve a story of military service, caring for America’s fallen, personal conviction, and a decision that put his military career on the line.

Growing up in Flint, Michigan, John eventually found his way to military service. He initially joined the Navy with hopes of pursuing the SEAL pipeline, but after an injury chan...

🎙️ JARHEAD JABBER #12.5 — THE OFFICIAL PODCAST OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

Fresh off the Marine Corps League National Convention in Indianapolis, the Jarhead Jabber crew is back—and this episode brings together some major voices from across the League to talk about leadership, service, the Military Order of the Devil Dogs, veteran advocacy, and where the organization goes from here.

Joining AJ Cox, Carlos Garcia, and Ericka Hedlin is newly elected Marine Corps League National Commandant Russ Miller, who lays out his vision for putting the “service” back into Veteran Service Organization. Russ discusses reaching Marines transitioning...

🔥 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Episode #719

Fresh off the Marine Corps League National Convention in Indianapolis, the crew is back around the virtual fire for another night of stories, laughs, veteran camaraderie, and a look at where The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is headed next.

AJ and Jess recap the convention and the journey home, including Jess’s back-road adventure through the Midwest. Vick talks about getting back into the school year, his work in music education, and—of course—brings another cigar to the conversation for a full review.

A major part of this...

🔥 FIRESIDE CHAT W/ THE CREW — THE LOST ART PROJECT: VETERANS’ VOICES

Pull up a chair—the crew is back!

Tonight on FireSide Chat w/ the Crew, we get together for another unscripted conversation where you never really know where things are going to go—and that's exactly the point.

FireSide Chat isn't a formal interview. It's veterans and friends sitting down together, talking about military service, life after the uniform, current events in the veteran community, old stories, lessons learned, and whatever else happens to come up.

There will be opinions.

Ther...

🇺🇸 EPISODE #717 — DONNA CHAMBERS | U.S. AIR FORCE VETERAN

“It didn’t happen to me. It happened for me.”

On this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, Historical Archivist Dee Galvin sits down with United States Air Force Veteran Donna Chambers for a story about determination, leadership, breaking barriers, and refusing to allow someone else to decide what you are capable of accomplishing.

Donna grew up on a small dairy farm in rural Pennsylvania, where hard work wasn't something you talked about—it was simply part of life.

Her grandfather gave her a lesson...

⚓ Veteran Story — Tony D’Agostino | United States Navy Veteran

Sometimes joining the military gives you a job.

Sometimes it gives you an entirely different life.

On this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, AJ Cox sits down with United States Navy Veteran Tony D’Agostino for a remarkable journey that begins with a young man looking for a way out and develops into a career of aviation, anti-submarine warfare, leadership, education, and service aboard some of the Navy’s most recognizable platforms.

Growing up around Camden, New Jersey, Tony admits that...

⚓ Veteran Story — Dr. Trunnis Goggins II | United States Navy Veteran

What happens when military service doesn't just change what you do—but completely changes the direction of your life?

On this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, AJ Cox sits down with Navy veteran Dr. Trunnis Goggins II for a conversation about service, education, transition, purpose, and what it means to take the lessons learned in uniform and continue putting them to work long after leaving the military.

Growing up in Buffalo, New York, Trunnis didn't follow the traditional path of graduati...