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Published May 19, 2026 · 1:25:53
Guest: Eric Hommel
In this episode of Helping The Brave Podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Eric Hommel for a direct and thought-provoking conversation about military service, Afghanistan, leadership, and the long-term impact war has on veterans.
Eric shares his unusual path through the military, from enlisted Navy submariner to Navy reservist to commissioned Air Force officer. He talks about the systems he saw from the inside, the politics of military careers, his experience commanding in Afghanistan, and why mission clarity matters more than most people realize.
This episode also explores what happens when leaders focus more on careers than mission, why veterans often come home still trying to understand what their service meant, and how confusion, broken systems, and lack of accountability can deepen the struggle long after deployment ends.
*Contact Ed Parcaut:** - 🌍 Website: [edparcaut.com](http://edparcaut.com) - 📱 Twitter: [@edparcaut](https://twitter.com)
For more resources and support, visit HelpingTheBrave.com. #HelpingTheBrave #EdParcaut #EricHommel #VeteranTransition #AfghanistanWar #PTSDAndVeterans #MilitaryLeadership #VeteranHealing #TheLosingGame #LifeAfterService #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranSupport #WarAndLeadership #VeteransHelpingVeterans #MissionMatters
September 22, 2026 · 36:28
Guest: Ken Mellott
In this episode of Helping The Brave Podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Ken Mellott for a powerful conversation about Air Force service, survival, PTSD, identity, and rebuilding life after a near-fatal aircraft accident. Ken shares how his father's Air Force service inspired him from a young age, why he attended the Air Force Academy, and how his career took him through pilot training, Beale Air F
September 8, 2026 · 46:47
Guest: Jonathan Knaul
In this episode of Helping The Brave Podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Jonathan Knaul for a thoughtful conversation about military service, operational stress, combat deployments, test piloting, and the hidden weight of caring for loved ones. Jonathan shares how he joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1986, first serving in the Navy after Top Gun inspired him to pursue aviation. After four years,
September 1, 2026 · 32:05
Guest: Jared Maxwell
In this episode of Helping The Brave Podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Jared Maxwell for a raw conversation about Army service, combat deployments, PTSD, law enforcement, and writing as a way to process the aftermath of war. Jared shares why he joined the Army after 9/11, how he became an Airborne infantryman, and what it was like deploying with the 82nd Airborne to Iraq in the early days of the
