Army veteran, Deep sea diver, and physician assistant Dr. Travis Kaufman breaks down moral injury, veteran mental health, and the realities of military medicine and life after service. From dive school and deployments to the White House Medical Unit and Ukraine, Travis shares the weight medics carry, the impact of moral injury, and what transition really feels like.

Also in this episode: vasectomy stories, Air Force envy, and why every vet needs to “close their tabs” before it’s too late.

Resources & Links:

• Center for the Intrepid: https://www.bamc.health.mil/page.asp?id=502

• World Extreme Medicine: https://worldextrememedicine.com

• Pole Star Coffee: https://polestarcoffee.com

• Cadence Wealth Partners – Nick O’Kelly: https://www.cadencewealthpartners.com/nick-okelly

• Alone and Unafraid Podcast Website: https://aloneandunafraid.org

Guest Info:

Dr. Travis Kaufman is a retired Army diver and physician assistant with a doctorate in medical science. He’s served in Iraq, Ukraine, and at the White House Medical Unit. Travis now works in global health leadership and teaches emergency and disaster medicine.

🧠 “You guys are probably a little bit type A and you probably stay really busy. That's like a telltale sign of just staying, not really facing what demon or whatever might be kind of haunting you.”
💬 “Sometimes it's harder to face it and be like, okay, let me take a look at this and see how I can look at it.”
🎙️ “You can't hack your way through transition. You have to go through it to come out the other side.” — TMFK!

Danny Archer went from enlisted Ranger to Commissioned officer to Warrant Officer with service in the 160th SOAR. This episode dives into purpose after service, rebuilding identity, and how horses—yes, horses—helped him heal. A raw, funny, and powerful look at life beyond the uniform.Links

• Equine Valor Project

  Veteran Spouse Network

  MSG Joshua Wheeler

  Mortgage Information

  MeatPlow-STP

  
  

  Connect with Danny:

  LinkedIn

  Instagram

• Sponsor Links

  Cadence Wealth Partners-Nick O'Kelly⁠

  ⁠PoleStar Coffee⁠

  Support the Podcast on GoFundMeStandout Quotes

  “You’re either called to this life… or you don’t hear the song at all.”
  “That dip’s coming. You don’t have a choice. It’s how you handle it that matters.”
  “Horses don’t care about your rank. They care about your energy.”

  If you’re a veteran, active duty service member, first responder—or anyone really—check out more episodes of Alone and Unafraid. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts or visit aloneandunafraid.org.

  
  

What happens when the military ends—but life keeps getting harder?
Keith "Moonface" Roach, a former 160th SOAR crew chief, talks about his post-military transition—from elite aviation to working in Alabama’s prison system.

We get into the tough stuff: losing direction, drinking too much, divorce, and a system that rarely supports mental health after service. But Keith brings honesty, dark humor, and stories. If you want to know what it's like being a post war veteran, take a listen!

Links

Kajacki Wine Mixer

Alabama Dept of Corrections

Sponsor Links:

Cadence Wealth Partner-Nick O'Kelly

PoleStar Coffee