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

This one's exactly what it sounds like: no guest, no script, and no apologies. TMFK and Stinky Whizzleteets dive into a rambling, brutally honest conversation that covers EMDR therapy, Subaru stereotypes, Key West drag shows, and the mental noise veterans carry. It's half vent session, half dark comedy—just two dudes trying to make sense of life, trauma, and questionable Florida decisions.

• Support the Podcast on GoFundMe

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

• Email Us: info@aloneandunafraid.org

  Polestar Coffee

• Cadence Wealth Partners – Nick O’Kelly

  Superbox

  Rocket Money

Thad and Tyler riff on the broken military award system, the Air Force’s questionable Silver Star decisions, and the bizarre realities of deployments, drone shootdowns, and government cover-ups. Expect blunt truths, hilarious side tangents, and a raw dive into what service really means. Also, JFK, Space Force uniforms, and a healthy dose of conspiracy talk.

Resources & Links:

🎧 Alone and Unafraid Podcast: Available wherever you listen to podcasts

F-15 Silver star Story

Tanker DFC story

SFC Alwyn Cashe MoH

Website: https://aloneandunafraid.org

Cadence Wealth Partners - Nick O’Kelly

Polestar CoffeeDr. Feelgood Book⁠⁠

Space Force Uniforms

“You get a Silver Star for a hung missile? Meanwhile, dudes were pulling bodies out of burning Bradleys.”

“Just because you put on the uniform doesn’t mean you’re a hero.”

“Space Force had one shot to not be nerds—and they blew it.”

“I’d rather get punched in the face daily than grow up with TikTok.

Host Info:

🎙️ Thad & Tyler – Two vet bros bringing unfiltered commentary, war stories, and philosophical rants about life during and after military service. Raw, honest, and unapologetically real.

In this episode, we welcome back Adam Magers, author of Odysseus and the Oar, for a deeper dive into the intersection of psychology, politics, and personal growth. Adam explores how the current political climate is affecting group cohesion, especially in therapy settings, and how social media and constant news cycles shape our perceptions. He discusses the importance of focusing inwardly to foster better personal and societal relationships, while touching on the challenges of political polarization and the psychological defense mechanisms at play.

Resources & Links:

• Adam Magers' book Odysseus and the Oar - Dead Reckoning Collective

• Episode 22 featuring Adam: Link to Episode

• Explore The Battle Within Program

Sponsors:

Cadence Wealth PartnersPolestar Coffee Company | Veteran-owned Specialty Coffee Roaster

Guest Info:

Adam Magers is a licensed therapist with expertise in group therapy and psychological resilience, particularly in veterans and first responders. He is also the author of Odysseus and the Oar and has a strong background in international relations and political science.

Standout Quotes:

• "The most important thing in group therapy is not just the therapist’s relationship with the client, but the cohesion within the group itself."

• "Politics has become more about defeating the opposition than finding common ground, and that’s dangerous for the future of our democracy."

• "If we focus inwardly and take care of the small things – ourselves, our families, our neighbors – we can begin to make a big difference."

• "The internet and social media have given everyone a platform to share their views, but it's not always a healthy dialogue."

Call-to-Action:

If you're interested in learning more about the psychology behind political discussions and how to better manage the impact of current events, make sure to subscribe to the podcast, share it with friends, and follow us on social media. Don’t forget to check out Adam’s book Odysseus and the Oar and his insights on navigating life’s challenges.

Can psychedelics rewire the brain and heal trauma in just hours? In this episode, we explore Ibogaine and DMT, two powerful psychedelics transforming veteran mental health. Jeremy Tomlin, a Marine Corps veteran, shares his journey from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan to finding healing through alternative therapies. He opens up about the emotional toll of war, his struggles after the war, and how psychedelic-assisted therapy helping him reclaim his life.

Links:

The Mission Within – A Future Free From Veteran Suicide

PROCESS & TREATMENT – The Mission Within

Home | VETS

Cateran Yomp 2025 | AFF

Our sponsors:

Pole Star Coffee

Cadence Wealth Partners-Nick O'Kelly

Standout Quotes:

"Afghanistan’s withdrawal shattered me. Everything we fought for vanished overnight."
"Psychedelics didn’t just help, they changed everything."
"For the first time in years, I felt like myself again."

If this episode resonated, share it. Veterans and first responders, check the resources above.

Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.Listen to Alone and Unafraid anywhere you get podcasts.

Fighter pilot Kegan Gill’s story is one of survival against all odds. He holds the record for the fastest survived ejection in naval aviation history—a catastrophic event that should have ended his life. Instead, it set him on a journey through recovery, PTSD, and a battle with the medical system that almost destroyed him. From ejecting at nearly the speed of sound to navigating the failures of conventional treatment for traumatic brain injury, Kegan’s experience is a testament to resilience, unconventional healing, and the truth about PTSD.

Resources & Links:

Kegan Gill's

Phoenix Revival: The Aftermath of Naval Aviation's Fastest Survived Ejection

Instagram

LinkedIn

Dr. Mark Gordon’s work on TBI & PTSD:

Congress demands answers on 'Operator Syndrome' among elite troopsDocumentary on TBI and alternative treatmentsQuiet Explosions: Healing the Brain (download tubi to watch-free)

Our Sponsors

Finance for Vets

Polestar coffee

Guest Info:

Kegan Gill is a former U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot who survived the fastest ejection in naval aviation history. After a brutal recovery, he fought through misdiagnosed PTSD, pharmaceutical dependency, and the failures of conventional medicine to reclaim his life. Today, he is an advocate for better brain injury treatment and holistic healing approaches.

Standout Quotes:

-"PTSD isn’t just a mental health issue. It’s a symptom of a dysfunctional brain.

-"The Navy put me back in a jet, but the real battle came afterward."

- "The VA system isn’t broken—it’s working exactly as designed. And that’s the problem."

- "If I had gotten real TBI treatment early, I’d still be flying today."

If you got something out of this episode, share it with a veteran, pilot, or anyone who needs to hear it. And if you want to support the show, check out our website: **(https://aloneandunafraid.org)