November 11, 2025 • 32 mins
Happy Veterans Day and welcome to a free-spirited, open-minded conversation between three friends. Jacob (a veteran), Ashley (a gold-star granddaughter and spouse of a veteran), and Nick (a civilian) do what they do best: connect about things big, small, funny, infuriating, difficult and beautiful. Tune in for the real talk about issues facing veterans and stay around for the healthy dose of good vibes.
For more information please visit One Tribe Foundation’s website.
Contact The Good Stuff Podcast TheGoodStuffPodcast22@gmail.com
Follow The Good Stuff Podcast on IG, X and Facebook.
Follow One Tribe Foundation on IG, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
Connect with The Good Stuff hosts Jacob, Ashley and Nick.
The Good Stuff is Executive Produced by Jacob Schick, Ashley Schick and Lea Pictures.
Produced, Edited and Engineered by Nick Casalini.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Happy Veterans Day, and welcome to Season two of The
Good Stuff. I'm Ashley Shick, and I'm joined by my
husband and co host, Jacob Schick, a third generation combat
marine and CEO of One Tribe Foundation.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Ashley also comes from a family rich in military history,
and we've dedicated our lives to One Tribes, mission serving veterans,
first responders, and their families. We're coming to you from Dallas,
so welcome to Texas.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
And joining us all season long. From Los Angeles, California
is our West Coast long haired friend and producer of
the Good Stuff, Nick Cassolini.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
As this episode is coming out on Veterans Day, we
just wanted to present you with a free spirited conversation
between the three of us, three good friends, a veteran,
a spouse of a veteran, and me a civilian.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
So a very happy Veterans Day to all of you
veterans out there, and we're glad you're joining us.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
As always, just a quick heads up, this show does
explore some heavy subject matter, including talks of suicide, so
listener discretion is advised.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Happy Veterans Day to all my brothers and sisters out there,
and again Welcome to the good stuff, Jake.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
For people that aren't familiar with you and your story,
would you describe the injuries you sustained while you were
in Iraq?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, I got blown up on a react mission. Our
hum V got hit and blew me out of the
hum V. I ended up having amputation below the knee
of my right leg, multiple compound fractures, and my left
left leg compound fractures, and my left arm lost five
(01:39):
inches of my ulna bone and my left arm part
of my left hand essentially my fourth and fifth digit metacarpals,
my fifth digit completely meaning Pinky broke my ribs, a
shrapnel throughout my body and my neck, chin and face,
(02:00):
some burns, and the traumatic brain injury because I landed
on my head.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
And how long were you in the hospital?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
For eighteen months, I had over fifty operations and had
twenty three blood transfusions.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
And how long ago was your last sort of life
saving surgery in the scope of those.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Well, I mean it's been twenty twenty plus years. If
it's in a sense of life saving, it's been twenty
plus years.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
So the other day we were at a party and
you showed up wearing a shirt that says everything hurts?
Does everything hurt? Still?
Speaker 2 (02:39):
It's a that's a great gift from my father in law,
So shout out to Papa forgetting me that, who's retired
lieutenant colonel from the army. Yeah, it's just a it's
funny because you look at my body if I'm in
shorts and T shirt and you see the shirt and
it's funny. It's I you know, I wear it because
it's humorous, and which is why my father in law
(03:01):
has gotten me.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
I think one in every color a sweatshirt incl sweatshirts now.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
And it was a hit at the party. They liked it.
Yeah everyone.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah. For me, it's like it it shortens the conversation
because it's like you don't have to ask. The shirt
says it. You don't even have to ask. Yeah, I
mean I wake up in pain. I go to bed
and pain. It's a part of my daily life. And
it's Uh. Do I think every ounce of it is
connected to being severely wounded in service to the nation. No,
(03:33):
I'm sure there's other things, like you know, I played football,
played rugby, I was an athlete. But the large majority, yeah,
it is attributed because especially when you have an amputation,
and then you have one of your hands and arms
take significant amount of damage. You're having to do weight
bearing on various other parts of your body that really
(03:57):
make those parts break down a lot quicker over time
than they otherwise would. So it's a direct connection. And
so yeah, it's everything does hurt, It's true, and you
have to find the humor in it or I think
it'll literally kill you.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I would say for myself and just my own personal
heart and mind and experiences, I think I tapped in
I don't know, for as long as I can remember,
into a lot of the emotional and mental hardships that
you know, veterans face, specifically veterans and combat veterans specifically,
And I think on some level I sort of was like,
(04:37):
oh yeah, and then the physical stuff that's like horrible
and sad, and obviously there's like pain and suffering and
perseverance and survival in that, and like the scope, you know,
this entire scope of sort of humanity. I think on
some level I sort of intellectualized, but I don't think
(04:58):
until I got to know you, would visit you at home,
that I ever fully really truly internalized and understood just
how ongoing some of these horrific wounds can be, and
just how it's not like, oh I learned to walk again,
and now I can walk again. It's like it's this
ongoing thing. I can just for myself, I can expose
(05:21):
my own sort of ignorance if you will, or just
lack of sensitivity or whatever it may be.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I don't think it's a lack of sensitivity. I mean,
especially knowing you the way I know you now, like
you're caring, loving human being. But it's just it's pretty
simple for me. It's out of side out of mind, right,
Like if you're not it's not in front of your face,
especially in our society with the ever evolving information, you know,
the or the constant influx of information, ever evolving society,
(05:51):
I think it's out of side, out of mind. Like
if it's not in front of your face on a
daily for an extended amount of time, you're not going
to think about it it up close and personal because
of our relationship, especially you know, having to utilize things
that we weren't born with in order to live. Wheelchairs,
(06:13):
prosthetics and those are just the physical aspects. We're not
even talking about the mental and emotional aspects.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
It can definitely be a proximity thing.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, And I've been asked before several times, actually, you know, hey,
what happened to you? I you know, loosely explain and
then I get asked, you know, is the government taking
care of you? It's like what it? No? I mean, like,
what do you mean exactly? But and I don't want
to get into it too much, but it's like, no, no,
(06:44):
Like the government's not managing my marriage and raising my
children and you know, taking care of my professions. And
does that just mean a dollar amount or does that
mean because medically not really you know, as we well know,
the VA is not definitely I mean, hell, American healthcare
(07:06):
is not the pinnacle of great healthcare. And so people
need to understand that not only are you fighting for
your life like and like with Michael.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
But sorry Michael being Michael Carnell, a dear friend and
marine who passed from cancer associated with the burn pits
in Iraq.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
And several other people that we know, they get turned
down in the beginning, like the VA denies their claim
in the beginning, and it's so ridiculous because it's not
like these men and women are trying to game the system.
They're literally actively dying and fighting for their life. They're
not in Bora Bora drinking drinks with umbrellas in them
(07:47):
like living it up. That's the part for me that
gets inherently frustrating is because of the ignorance of our
government and the system in place that only attributes to
the suffering not only for the individual, but the entire family.
That's the part that really really really pisses me off,
because in the grand scheme of thing, if you look
(08:08):
at the total number of our population, we're talking about
like a fraction of a percentage that these people represent,
and we're thirty six plus trillion dollars in debt as
a nation. And I'm like, what the do you think
you think you're saving money? Why the delay, Why the
bull process. I'm pretty sure there's other places we could
(08:32):
save that money, or we could save money and make
sure that these men and women who are quite literally
fighting for their lives and suffering greatly in the process
with their families, don't need to go through some bull
arduous process to get what they were promised by their
country when they signed on the dotted line. That's the
(08:54):
part that is so fed up and needs to change.
I'm sick of it. I'm sick of the bulls, the
back and forth, you know, with our government, and it's
just it's so so disheartening to even listen to opposing
points of views, do an interview, because it's like, like,
(09:15):
what are you teaching our children?
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Like?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
You don't ever there's very few kids that you'll hear
kids I want to grow up. I be a teacher.
I want to be a baseball player. I want to
be a firefighter. I want to be a policeman. You
don't ever hear a kid go I want to be
a senator. That's that's sad. You don't ever hear a
kid say I want to go work in a hospital.
You don't hear that anymore. And it's because the healthcare
(09:38):
system is and the government back and forth and the
implementation of division by design, and anyone can argue it
all they want. I give no. I'm just speaking truth.
I think our founding fathers are probably rolling in their
graves going, you dumbes have it all wrong. You have
it all wrong for personal and political gain. That's why
(10:02):
you're doing it. That's not what we represent. That's not
what the United States of America represents. And that's the
shit that pisses me off. That's got to change, you know.
And I understand I've cussed and said some bad words,
and I don't give a if it hurts your feelings,
go find another podcast. There's literally millions like I just
(10:24):
I'm at a point where I'm like, I'm not gonna
pull punches about it anymore. I'm not gonna try and
sugarcoat it and dance around it and be politically correct
that because none of these that made it so hard
for these men and women to get what they rightfully
fought for and deserve. None of them are at their
bedsides while they're suffering to death. None of them are
(10:46):
helping plan a funeral. None of them are taking their
kids to school or to sports or extracurricular activities. No that,
so I don't. I'm done talking nice about it and
trying to go along to get along that you're either
part of the problem or part of the solution. So
I'll get on. So stay on the soapbox. I feel better.
(11:10):
Just in case anyone's curious, I feel better.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
We got to take a quick commercial break. We'll be
right back here we are, let's jump back into it.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
And I think what frustrates us the most because navigating
it is just it is extremely difficult to navigate the
VA system. It is extremely difficult to know that you
have one doctor order a scan and their first available
scan is six months from that date. I mean, that's ridiculous.
I think what frustrates us the most is thinking about
(11:48):
our veterans from World War II era, from Vietnam era
that don't have an advocate on the phone every day
all day calling for them, or from nine.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
To eleven or from nine to eleven, I just don't
have family, They've lost everybody.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
And they don't have the ability to micro manage their
own healthcare. But it's just it's so apparent that if
you don't advocate for your health, nobody else is going
to do a form And to have a process that
is so hard to navigate is just it's insane. And
I do feel like the shock on Americans' faces, you know,
(12:24):
especially civilians, ones that aren't in this military world, the
shock on their faces when they learn that how bad
it really is. I mean, because there have been articles
here and there. It's the same reaction as when people
find out when we travel, which Jake and I do
a lot. Getting him through TSA is like it'll take
an act of congrete. They treat him like the terrorists
(12:47):
they're supposedly hunting. And it happens every single time we fly,
and people are shocked to hear that. And I said, well,
you know, this is our reality, and it's not us
sitting here going on this rant and jing and you know,
down with this and down with that. It's just this
is our reality. And the more you know, the more
you know, the better educated decisions you can make. When
(13:07):
you do go to the voting polls.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I'll say I'll saching because I.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Fought for the right to right, But we're not doing
it for that. Like this is obviously the rant episode,
but it is one of those things where it's like,
these are things that need to be talked about. These
are things that need to be discussed. There is no
standard operating procedure when it comes to TSAY and you've
got a veteran that has an amputation, and yet every
(13:38):
single time we go through, I know it's going to
be a process because they're going to treat him like
a terrorist every single time. It's shocking.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Break it down a little bit. What does happen when
you go to the TSA and what what trips them up?
Speaker 2 (13:51):
So every time I go through CSA, because I have
an amputation and I have metal in my body holding
bones together, and I have to get the pat down,
I have to get the pad that they wipe on
your hands and your shoes and feet, you know, they
have to wipe it on my prosthetic. Like if I'm
wearing pants, which is rarety, I have to pull my
pant leg up so they can wipe the socket of
(14:13):
my prosthetic. Put the pad in the machine, and I
would say that two times out of ten the machine alarms.
So then they have to do the extended pat down,
you know, which is where as everyone knows who's had
the full on pat down. I mean there's not a
place on your body they don't touch. Then they have
to go through all of your luggage, and then once
(14:35):
that's clear, then.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
You get to go, unless you ping for something really
really really really bad.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Yeah, what's happened?
Speaker 1 (14:42):
One time he's been yelled at by TSA agents to
take his flip flop off of his prosthetic leg. He's
been he's had to take his prosthetic off hand it
back to them so they can run the prosthetic through
the machine. He's had to go into the back room
to at the float, even though he's like, hey, do
what you're gonna do, you know out here in the.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
And and well, sir, we need to do that. And
I'm like, no, let's let God and everybody see it, Like,
come on, we need to go back here, sir, Like
do you want to fly today? And I'm like, you know,
you're hiding behind a fake federal badge, like just be
you know, like it just pisses me off. Man.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
It's condescending and it's degrading, and it's.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
It's insult to injury, is what it is. It's insult
to injury.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
You know, as we're sitting here talking about some of
the challenges, there are blessings in there as well that
that will happen in the most unexpected places. Again, TSA,
I dread going through because I know that it's going
to get him fired up for good reason. And yet
we were in Washington.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
D C.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
A couple of years ago now actually for Carrie the
Load Memorial Day walk through Arlington Cemetery, which was just
a really impactful, powerful day. And we were with Buck
Kern from one Tribe, and we'd actually gotten to the
airport early that day knowing it was going to be
a DC experience and TSA was going to be tough.
And as we were walking up to the TSA line,
(16:11):
the security line, one of the TSA agents saw us
and pointed at us and motioned for us to go
to her, and which we did, and I was like,
oh gosh, what did we do here? We go we're
starting it early, and she walked us straight through, and
just there was actually a jerk standing in line that
(16:34):
started to get loud and complain because she was walking
us through. And she got up in his face and said,
this man served my country. I'm going to let him
walk right through. And it's actually a pretty amazing story,
but I was crying. That's how just shocked and touched
and amazed that I was that there was this woman
that utilized common sense too. And we weren't asking, we
(16:56):
didn't look for it, we weren't expecting to get walked
right through. But she she saw Jake, and she knew
immediately and she said you military, baby, and he said yes, ma'am,
and she said, come here. And I will never forget
Abony Washington, DC Airport because of her kindness that day
and the unexpected just gift that that was that you know,
(17:17):
we got to the other side and I was I
just said, can I hug you? And she kind of
looked at me like, oh, it was crazy, right, But
I mean there are and it's blessings.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
We need to edit out just use Ebony because I
don't even want to get in trouble like it.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
We were going to write a letter.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
We got through with that process and we're walking to
the gate, actually bucking myself and as was like, we
got to send a letter email to and I said,
you know what sucks baby, is that I totally do
want to do that, but I'm more concerned that she's
going to get reprimanded, which is it's like, that's the
type of the it's counterintuitive, and Ashley said it common sense.
(17:59):
That is something that packed it and waved bye bye
in our government a long time ago.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
And I think at the end of the day, the
lesson that we take from this is it starts with
the family unit. It starts under each of our own
individual roofs. It starts with how we're raising our children.
It goes into the neighborhood in the community.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
All right, let's pause real quick for our last commercial
break of the episode, and then we'll be right back.
So for our third and final act of this episode,
we're going to pick up in the middle of a
conversation that I was having with Jake and Ashley about
(18:44):
my Grandpa Ray, who served in World War Two but
never shared any of his experiences with me or hardly
any of our family at all. Yeah, I got second
hand through my father. I got a story that I
guess my Grandpa Ray told him. The only story he
(19:06):
ever told my dad was that him and like one
other American soldier were in charge of basically watching a
bunch of German prisoners, and my grandfather was just terrified
all night because he was like, these guys would could
take us out. There's like, why is it just us too?
(19:28):
And he got through the night, obviously, and I don't
know if anyone escaped or really how it played out,
but that was the one story that I got.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
What's crazy about that is that a lot of these
prisoners that they that they had to watch were probably
fifteen Yeah, right, a lot of them very young. What's
crazy is the fact that you know your grandfather and
whoever his counterpart was that night, had this fear of
(20:01):
the man they could overtake us because there's so many
of them, When the fear of those prisoners was equal,
if not greater, to your grandfathers and his comrade. Like,
that's what's crazy. Is ultimately, what it comes down to
when it comes to war and battle is the one
extremely fluid and common factor and emotion is fear for
(20:25):
both sides.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Do you remember the fear of combat?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yeah? How would you describe doubt if you could, I
would probably describe it as a significant struggle of acceptance
of whether you'll live or die. I think those that
do the best with the fear is those that have
made peace with the fact that they could be killed.
I think for me, that's what it comes down to,
(20:51):
is that you know, it comes from a it comes
from a place of selfishness, you know, because you want
to survive, you want to live. And so for me,
that's how I would describe the fear of war is
that essentially you're you're having to make peace with your
own mortality. I think that's the simplest way I can
(21:12):
put it for a broad audience to understand it is
that one minute you're here and in any given moment,
once you're in theater, that could change. You could be gone.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Do you consider what you did over their brave?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
You know? That's no, I don't. I think it's it
was a job, you know, I don't. I think brave
or bravery is when somebody is taking their kid to
school or going to work or whatever they're doing in
their daily process and they witness or come across a
(21:51):
horrific car wreck and there's no emergency personnel there, and
they actually stop and walk into it. This even not
being a medical professional, you know, not a nurse or
a doctor or what have you, to try and help
in some way, shape or form. That to me is bravery.
That to me is an individual that is extremely swan
(22:15):
diving completely outside of their comfort zone in order to
help somebody that they've never met and will probably receive
nothing from. That to me is bravery and courage. No preparation,
no training, is diving right into it. So it's hard
for me. I mean, do I think that they're brave
acts and courageous acts during a time of war and battle.
(22:36):
Absolutely without question, I don't think that. But I'll say
for myself, I don't think anything I did is indicative
of bravery.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Do you think some of the people that fought by
your side would call you brave?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
I don't know. I mean it'd be up that'd be
for those people.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Would you call them brave?
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Yeah? A lot of them? Yeah, I mean to me,
that's not I just don't think for any of us
that it mattered or matters. It's such a pointless point
because you're there and you're in it. You know, we
did it. You know, some bad things happened, some bad
things didn't. Then I think they would probably laugh at
(23:19):
you if you ask them that question.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
I kind of keep expecting one of these damn vets
to just like go crazy. I'd not go crazy in
a negative way, but just being like shut the fuck
up or something. It hasn't quite happened yet.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Yeah, people's if you keep it up, it will you
know that. Because the thing is is that one thing
that we always we get labeled to have is veterans
dark humor, where the general population just would be completely
out of their skin uncomfortable if they experienced a lot
(24:01):
of these back and forth that we have with each other,
Like they it's to us, it's just being normal, and
it's just us cutting up and around just to pass
the time and to relax and feel more comfortable. I mean,
And you've got to find humor in everything, man, you
have to. I think it's so important. Like music, I
(24:22):
think it speaks to the soul, and I think the humor,
I think laughter hill is healing for the soul. And
I think that's why most of us don't take ourselves
so seriously. Yeah, it's because it's like, why we just
did something that literally hundreds of thousands of men and
women before us have done and that millions will do
(24:45):
after us. It's just the job. I think a lot
of the guys that I served with, there's so many
of them that had such an impact on me when
a lot of it had nothing to do with war.
And so I feel so honor and privileged too, because
most of the Marines I sarched was saw so much
more than I did, and did so much more than
(25:05):
I did. That you know, I hold all of them
in such a high regard. I mean, I'm so honored
and proud to be a small part of what they did.
You know, in several circumstances, they were faced with insurmountable
odds and not only came out of it, but dominated
their way through it. You know, like most things in life,
(25:27):
tragedy brought us closer. And it sucks that it's got
to be that way, But there must be something through
the algorithm that God created that with tragedy, we you know,
either unite or you divide. It would just be like
me asking you, like, would you consider anything you've done
for people you care about brave?
Speaker 3 (25:46):
Yeah, it's funny because like I think the answer would
be no. And I also think that if you described
my brother doing that or someone else, I'd be like,
I see bravery in it. There's something that you meaning,
I guess you and me us, and I'm sure lots
and lots of people just either reject or because of
(26:10):
speaking of that, of God's algorithm, that's just not something
that we're not wired to recognize that because maybe if
we like identified it as brave then evolutionary, we'd all
go do stupid shit because we're quote unquote brave and
die and no one could have kids or something like.
I don't know why we want to reject this idea
of bravery, you know, you know, and then also you
(26:32):
look back on it and think like, oh, is that
just stupid?
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Like I think the two I think bravery and stupidity
are first kissing cousins there. You know, it's like the
whole saying old adage. You know, if you're going to
be dumb, you'd better be tough, you know.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
I think we see bravery in others and that's and
that's beautiful and maybe that's our jobs for me to
recognize the way in which you were brave in a
situation where you just wouldn't say you were, and maybe
that's maybe that's what community is.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Yeah, yeah, I looking out for one another.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
I think. And I think that it also goes along
with us having a higher expectation of ourselves. You know
that we write because what do we want to see
in everybody else or in the people that we love,
or especially in the in the younger people, like what
do we want them to what would we want them
to do in the high stress situation? Ultimately, for me,
(27:33):
when it comes down to is do the right thing?
Speaker 3 (27:37):
All right? Guys, Well, we actually didn't really talk about
Veterans Day during this episode, which I think is a
beautiful thing. I think I really enjoyed that conversation with
you guys. I'm really appreciative for it. But on that note,
is there any final way you would like to leave
this episode?
Speaker 1 (27:55):
I just I think one of the things, kind of
like Memorial Day, we feel like every day should be veteran.
We wouldn't have what we have if it weren't for
brave men and women who volunteered and or were told
to go and serve our country. And so the gratitude
that we feel for the men and women who've warned
the cloth of this nation is truly overwhelming, and we're
(28:16):
so grateful.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
No, look, I just want to say how much I
appreciate everyone that raised the right hand and don the
cloth of the nation and served this nation, and obviously
in particular the battle Ambassards. I love you guys. There's
a bunch of men that are far greater than I'll
ever be, and I'm honored to call myself a small
(28:39):
part of them. And we are free because of them,
because of all these men and women. That's just the facts.
So I hope they have an amazing Betters Day. Go
get your free buffet a Golden corral.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Maybe I want to include this, but I actually do
kind of want to asci something. So I've always felt
a little bit of a discomfort with the phrase thank
you for your service, and I'm not sure why. I
think maybe it feels obligatory or something, and therefore I've
just never really said it, Like I've never said it
(29:13):
to you, Jake, you know, thank you for your service.
I think if I had to be honest about what
I would say or should say, it would be something
along the lines of, like, I feel so much love
for you because of your service, Like I feel some
sort of sense of love more than like thank you.
I don't know why I'm saying that. I guess I'm
(29:34):
just curious to hear how you would react to those
words coming out of my mouth.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
I mean, I think it's beautiful. It's one of the
reasons that I love you. I mean, you know, I
don't need you to say it, because I know it already, right,
Like I know that there's a part of you that
respects that part of my life, and I know that.
I think love is a perfect word, man, I mean,
because it's uh, it's the same way I feel when
(30:02):
I meet a World War Two veteran, or a Vietnam veteran,
or a Korean veteran, it's like, man like, I just
want to hug him, and just like it Jackson's game.
Matter of fact, that tall older guy pulled me aside
and was like, hey, you're getting You're getting around real
(30:23):
well on that thing out my prosthetic legging. Yeah. I
was like, oh, yeah, you know, it's just a tool
to move. And he said you're in the service, Yes, sir,
you're rock And he said, uh, I was a marine
in Vietnam. When I said, well, simplified doll was my
brother super five your ahead, And it was like, you know,
(30:46):
it was just for me. It was just this like
moment of like, dang, dude, I'm so blessed to meet
the guy that carried the flag person. And I told
him the same thing I tell all of them. It's
like my only prayers that were making you proud. That's it, right,
I mean, because we only have so many decisions we
can make that outside of you know, the government runs
(31:07):
runs it and so the love is I think a
beautiful way to put it, bro because it's something that
I think spreads it that can be generational, you know,
and I think that that is the cure all for
all of the madness. It was the love and so
I feel it. Yeah, and I'm grateful for it.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
Well. I love you for your service. Happy Happy Veterans
Day to you. And that that tall gentleman from the
football game.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Yeah it's beautiful. Yeah, thank you brother, Thank you so
much for listening to the Good Stuff.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
If you appreciate this show, please subscribe, like, and review
The Good Stuff podcast, and connect with us on social media.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
We love hearing from you, so please reach out for
our website. Our links and contact information are in the
show notes of this episode, and.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
It would mean the world to us if you shared
this episode with the people in your life who might
also enjoy it. We'll be back next week, but in
the meantime, if you're looking for a companion piece to
this episode, please check out our episode with Al Lipphart
from season one.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Put on your bad ass capes and go be great
today and remember you can't do awesome things without awesome people.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Happy Veterans Day. Raw The Good Stuff is executive produced
by Ashley Shick, Jacob Shick and Leah Pictures, hosted by
Ashley Shick, Jacob Shick, and Nick Cassolini. Produced by Nick Cassolini, engineering,
editing and post production supervision by Nick Cassolini. Music by
(32:33):
Will Tending,
Happy Veterans Day, and welcome to Season two of The
Good Stuff. I'm Ashley Shick, and I'm joined by my
husband and co host, Jacob Schick, a third generation combat
marine and CEO of One Tribe Foundation.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Ashley also comes from a family rich in military history,
and we've dedicated our lives to One Tribes, mission serving veterans,
first responders, and their families. We're coming to you from Dallas,
so welcome to Texas.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
And joining us all season long. From Los Angeles, California
is our West Coast long haired friend and producer of
the Good Stuff, Nick Cassolini.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
As this episode is coming out on Veterans Day, we
just wanted to present you with a free spirited conversation
between the three of us, three good friends, a veteran,
a spouse of a veteran, and me a civilian.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
So a very happy Veterans Day to all of you
veterans out there, and we're glad you're joining us.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
As always, just a quick heads up, this show does
explore some heavy subject matter, including talks of suicide, so
listener discretion is advised.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Happy Veterans Day to all my brothers and sisters out there,
and again Welcome to the good stuff, Jake.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
For people that aren't familiar with you and your story,
would you describe the injuries you sustained while you were
in Iraq?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, I got blown up on a react mission. Our
hum V got hit and blew me out of the
hum V. I ended up having amputation below the knee
of my right leg, multiple compound fractures, and my left
left leg compound fractures, and my left arm lost five
(01:39):
inches of my ulna bone and my left arm part
of my left hand essentially my fourth and fifth digit metacarpals,
my fifth digit completely meaning Pinky broke my ribs, a
shrapnel throughout my body and my neck, chin and face,
(02:00):
some burns, and the traumatic brain injury because I landed
on my head.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
And how long were you in the hospital?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
For eighteen months, I had over fifty operations and had
twenty three blood transfusions.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
And how long ago was your last sort of life
saving surgery in the scope of those.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Well, I mean it's been twenty twenty plus years. If
it's in a sense of life saving, it's been twenty
plus years.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
So the other day we were at a party and
you showed up wearing a shirt that says everything hurts?
Does everything hurt? Still?
Speaker 2 (02:39):
It's a that's a great gift from my father in law,
So shout out to Papa forgetting me that, who's retired
lieutenant colonel from the army. Yeah, it's just a it's
funny because you look at my body if I'm in
shorts and T shirt and you see the shirt and
it's funny. It's I you know, I wear it because
it's humorous, and which is why my father in law
(03:01):
has gotten me.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
I think one in every color a sweatshirt incl sweatshirts now.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
And it was a hit at the party. They liked it.
Yeah everyone.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah. For me, it's like it it shortens the conversation
because it's like you don't have to ask. The shirt
says it. You don't even have to ask. Yeah, I
mean I wake up in pain. I go to bed
and pain. It's a part of my daily life. And
it's Uh. Do I think every ounce of it is
connected to being severely wounded in service to the nation. No,
(03:33):
I'm sure there's other things, like you know, I played football,
played rugby, I was an athlete. But the large majority, yeah,
it is attributed because especially when you have an amputation,
and then you have one of your hands and arms
take significant amount of damage. You're having to do weight
bearing on various other parts of your body that really
(03:57):
make those parts break down a lot quicker over time
than they otherwise would. So it's a direct connection. And
so yeah, it's everything does hurt, It's true, and you
have to find the humor in it or I think
it'll literally kill you.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I would say for myself and just my own personal
heart and mind and experiences, I think I tapped in
I don't know, for as long as I can remember,
into a lot of the emotional and mental hardships that
you know, veterans face, specifically veterans and combat veterans specifically,
And I think on some level I sort of was like,
(04:37):
oh yeah, and then the physical stuff that's like horrible
and sad, and obviously there's like pain and suffering and
perseverance and survival in that, and like the scope, you know,
this entire scope of sort of humanity. I think on
some level I sort of intellectualized, but I don't think
(04:58):
until I got to know you, would visit you at home,
that I ever fully really truly internalized and understood just
how ongoing some of these horrific wounds can be, and
just how it's not like, oh I learned to walk again,
and now I can walk again. It's like it's this
ongoing thing. I can just for myself, I can expose
(05:21):
my own sort of ignorance if you will, or just
lack of sensitivity or whatever it may be.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I don't think it's a lack of sensitivity. I mean,
especially knowing you the way I know you now, like
you're caring, loving human being. But it's just it's pretty
simple for me. It's out of side out of mind, right,
Like if you're not it's not in front of your face,
especially in our society with the ever evolving information, you know,
the or the constant influx of information, ever evolving society,
(05:51):
I think it's out of side, out of mind. Like
if it's not in front of your face on a
daily for an extended amount of time, you're not going
to think about it it up close and personal because
of our relationship, especially you know, having to utilize things
that we weren't born with in order to live. Wheelchairs,
(06:13):
prosthetics and those are just the physical aspects. We're not
even talking about the mental and emotional aspects.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
It can definitely be a proximity thing.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, And I've been asked before several times, actually, you know, hey,
what happened to you? I you know, loosely explain and
then I get asked, you know, is the government taking
care of you? It's like what it? No? I mean, like,
what do you mean exactly? But and I don't want
to get into it too much, but it's like, no, no,
(06:44):
Like the government's not managing my marriage and raising my
children and you know, taking care of my professions. And
does that just mean a dollar amount or does that
mean because medically not really you know, as we well know,
the VA is not definitely I mean, hell, American healthcare
(07:06):
is not the pinnacle of great healthcare. And so people
need to understand that not only are you fighting for
your life like and like with Michael.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
But sorry Michael being Michael Carnell, a dear friend and
marine who passed from cancer associated with the burn pits
in Iraq.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
And several other people that we know, they get turned
down in the beginning, like the VA denies their claim
in the beginning, and it's so ridiculous because it's not
like these men and women are trying to game the system.
They're literally actively dying and fighting for their life. They're
not in Bora Bora drinking drinks with umbrellas in them
(07:47):
like living it up. That's the part for me that
gets inherently frustrating is because of the ignorance of our
government and the system in place that only attributes to
the suffering not only for the individual, but the entire family.
That's the part that really really really pisses me off,
because in the grand scheme of thing, if you look
(08:08):
at the total number of our population, we're talking about
like a fraction of a percentage that these people represent,
and we're thirty six plus trillion dollars in debt as
a nation. And I'm like, what the do you think
you think you're saving money? Why the delay, Why the
bull process. I'm pretty sure there's other places we could
(08:32):
save that money, or we could save money and make
sure that these men and women who are quite literally
fighting for their lives and suffering greatly in the process
with their families, don't need to go through some bull
arduous process to get what they were promised by their
country when they signed on the dotted line. That's the
(08:54):
part that is so fed up and needs to change.
I'm sick of it. I'm sick of the bulls, the
back and forth, you know, with our government, and it's
just it's so so disheartening to even listen to opposing
points of views, do an interview, because it's like, like,
(09:15):
what are you teaching our children?
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Like?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
You don't ever there's very few kids that you'll hear
kids I want to grow up. I be a teacher.
I want to be a baseball player. I want to
be a firefighter. I want to be a policeman. You
don't ever hear a kid go I want to be
a senator. That's that's sad. You don't ever hear a
kid say I want to go work in a hospital.
You don't hear that anymore. And it's because the healthcare
(09:38):
system is and the government back and forth and the
implementation of division by design, and anyone can argue it
all they want. I give no. I'm just speaking truth.
I think our founding fathers are probably rolling in their
graves going, you dumbes have it all wrong. You have
it all wrong for personal and political gain. That's why
(10:02):
you're doing it. That's not what we represent. That's not
what the United States of America represents. And that's the
shit that pisses me off. That's got to change, you know.
And I understand I've cussed and said some bad words,
and I don't give a if it hurts your feelings,
go find another podcast. There's literally millions like I just
(10:24):
I'm at a point where I'm like, I'm not gonna
pull punches about it anymore. I'm not gonna try and
sugarcoat it and dance around it and be politically correct
that because none of these that made it so hard
for these men and women to get what they rightfully
fought for and deserve. None of them are at their
bedsides while they're suffering to death. None of them are
(10:46):
helping plan a funeral. None of them are taking their
kids to school or to sports or extracurricular activities. No that,
so I don't. I'm done talking nice about it and
trying to go along to get along that you're either
part of the problem or part of the solution. So
I'll get on. So stay on the soapbox. I feel better.
(11:10):
Just in case anyone's curious, I feel better.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
We got to take a quick commercial break. We'll be
right back here we are, let's jump back into it.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
And I think what frustrates us the most because navigating
it is just it is extremely difficult to navigate the
VA system. It is extremely difficult to know that you
have one doctor order a scan and their first available
scan is six months from that date. I mean, that's ridiculous.
I think what frustrates us the most is thinking about
(11:48):
our veterans from World War II era, from Vietnam era
that don't have an advocate on the phone every day
all day calling for them, or from nine.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
To eleven or from nine to eleven, I just don't
have family, They've lost everybody.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
And they don't have the ability to micro manage their
own healthcare. But it's just it's so apparent that if
you don't advocate for your health, nobody else is going
to do a form And to have a process that
is so hard to navigate is just it's insane. And
I do feel like the shock on Americans' faces, you know,
(12:24):
especially civilians, ones that aren't in this military world, the
shock on their faces when they learn that how bad
it really is. I mean, because there have been articles
here and there. It's the same reaction as when people
find out when we travel, which Jake and I do
a lot. Getting him through TSA is like it'll take
an act of congrete. They treat him like the terrorists
(12:47):
they're supposedly hunting. And it happens every single time we fly,
and people are shocked to hear that. And I said, well,
you know, this is our reality, and it's not us
sitting here going on this rant and jing and you know,
down with this and down with that. It's just this
is our reality. And the more you know, the more
you know, the better educated decisions you can make. When
(13:07):
you do go to the voting polls.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I'll say I'll saching because I.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Fought for the right to right, But we're not doing
it for that. Like this is obviously the rant episode,
but it is one of those things where it's like,
these are things that need to be talked about. These
are things that need to be discussed. There is no
standard operating procedure when it comes to TSAY and you've
got a veteran that has an amputation, and yet every
(13:38):
single time we go through, I know it's going to
be a process because they're going to treat him like
a terrorist every single time. It's shocking.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Break it down a little bit. What does happen when
you go to the TSA and what what trips them up?
Speaker 2 (13:51):
So every time I go through CSA, because I have
an amputation and I have metal in my body holding
bones together, and I have to get the pat down,
I have to get the pad that they wipe on
your hands and your shoes and feet, you know, they
have to wipe it on my prosthetic. Like if I'm
wearing pants, which is rarety, I have to pull my
pant leg up so they can wipe the socket of
(14:13):
my prosthetic. Put the pad in the machine, and I
would say that two times out of ten the machine alarms.
So then they have to do the extended pat down,
you know, which is where as everyone knows who's had
the full on pat down. I mean there's not a
place on your body they don't touch. Then they have
to go through all of your luggage, and then once
(14:35):
that's clear, then.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
You get to go, unless you ping for something really
really really really bad.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Yeah, what's happened?
Speaker 1 (14:42):
One time he's been yelled at by TSA agents to
take his flip flop off of his prosthetic leg. He's
been he's had to take his prosthetic off hand it
back to them so they can run the prosthetic through
the machine. He's had to go into the back room
to at the float, even though he's like, hey, do
what you're gonna do, you know out here in the.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
And and well, sir, we need to do that. And
I'm like, no, let's let God and everybody see it, Like,
come on, we need to go back here, sir, Like
do you want to fly today? And I'm like, you know,
you're hiding behind a fake federal badge, like just be
you know, like it just pisses me off. Man.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
It's condescending and it's degrading, and it's.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
It's insult to injury, is what it is. It's insult
to injury.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
You know, as we're sitting here talking about some of
the challenges, there are blessings in there as well that
that will happen in the most unexpected places. Again, TSA,
I dread going through because I know that it's going
to get him fired up for good reason. And yet
we were in Washington.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
D C.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
A couple of years ago now actually for Carrie the
Load Memorial Day walk through Arlington Cemetery, which was just
a really impactful, powerful day. And we were with Buck
Kern from one Tribe, and we'd actually gotten to the
airport early that day knowing it was going to be
a DC experience and TSA was going to be tough.
And as we were walking up to the TSA line,
(16:11):
the security line, one of the TSA agents saw us
and pointed at us and motioned for us to go
to her, and which we did, and I was like,
oh gosh, what did we do here? We go we're
starting it early, and she walked us straight through, and
just there was actually a jerk standing in line that
(16:34):
started to get loud and complain because she was walking
us through. And she got up in his face and said,
this man served my country. I'm going to let him
walk right through. And it's actually a pretty amazing story,
but I was crying. That's how just shocked and touched
and amazed that I was that there was this woman
that utilized common sense too. And we weren't asking, we
(16:56):
didn't look for it, we weren't expecting to get walked
right through. But she she saw Jake, and she knew
immediately and she said you military, baby, and he said yes, ma'am,
and she said, come here. And I will never forget
Abony Washington, DC Airport because of her kindness that day
and the unexpected just gift that that was that you know,
(17:17):
we got to the other side and I was I
just said, can I hug you? And she kind of
looked at me like, oh, it was crazy, right, But
I mean there are and it's blessings.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
We need to edit out just use Ebony because I
don't even want to get in trouble like it.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
We were going to write a letter.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
We got through with that process and we're walking to
the gate, actually bucking myself and as was like, we
got to send a letter email to and I said,
you know what sucks baby, is that I totally do
want to do that, but I'm more concerned that she's
going to get reprimanded, which is it's like, that's the
type of the it's counterintuitive, and Ashley said it common sense.
(17:59):
That is something that packed it and waved bye bye
in our government a long time ago.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
And I think at the end of the day, the
lesson that we take from this is it starts with
the family unit. It starts under each of our own
individual roofs. It starts with how we're raising our children.
It goes into the neighborhood in the community.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
All right, let's pause real quick for our last commercial
break of the episode, and then we'll be right back.
So for our third and final act of this episode,
we're going to pick up in the middle of a
conversation that I was having with Jake and Ashley about
(18:44):
my Grandpa Ray, who served in World War Two but
never shared any of his experiences with me or hardly
any of our family at all. Yeah, I got second
hand through my father. I got a story that I
guess my Grandpa Ray told him. The only story he
(19:06):
ever told my dad was that him and like one
other American soldier were in charge of basically watching a
bunch of German prisoners, and my grandfather was just terrified
all night because he was like, these guys would could
take us out. There's like, why is it just us too?
(19:28):
And he got through the night, obviously, and I don't
know if anyone escaped or really how it played out,
but that was the one story that I got.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
What's crazy about that is that a lot of these
prisoners that they that they had to watch were probably
fifteen Yeah, right, a lot of them very young. What's
crazy is the fact that you know your grandfather and
whoever his counterpart was that night, had this fear of
(20:01):
the man they could overtake us because there's so many
of them, When the fear of those prisoners was equal,
if not greater, to your grandfathers and his comrade. Like,
that's what's crazy. Is ultimately, what it comes down to
when it comes to war and battle is the one
extremely fluid and common factor and emotion is fear for
(20:25):
both sides.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Do you remember the fear of combat?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yeah? How would you describe doubt if you could, I
would probably describe it as a significant struggle of acceptance
of whether you'll live or die. I think those that
do the best with the fear is those that have
made peace with the fact that they could be killed.
I think for me, that's what it comes down to,
(20:51):
is that you know, it comes from a it comes
from a place of selfishness, you know, because you want
to survive, you want to live. And so for me,
that's how I would describe the fear of war is
that essentially you're you're having to make peace with your
own mortality. I think that's the simplest way I can
(21:12):
put it for a broad audience to understand it is
that one minute you're here and in any given moment,
once you're in theater, that could change. You could be gone.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Do you consider what you did over their brave?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
You know? That's no, I don't. I think it's it
was a job, you know, I don't. I think brave
or bravery is when somebody is taking their kid to
school or going to work or whatever they're doing in
their daily process and they witness or come across a
(21:51):
horrific car wreck and there's no emergency personnel there, and
they actually stop and walk into it. This even not
being a medical professional, you know, not a nurse or
a doctor or what have you, to try and help
in some way, shape or form. That to me is bravery.
That to me is an individual that is extremely swan
(22:15):
diving completely outside of their comfort zone in order to
help somebody that they've never met and will probably receive
nothing from. That to me is bravery and courage. No preparation,
no training, is diving right into it. So it's hard
for me. I mean, do I think that they're brave
acts and courageous acts during a time of war and battle.
(22:36):
Absolutely without question, I don't think that. But I'll say
for myself, I don't think anything I did is indicative
of bravery.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Do you think some of the people that fought by
your side would call you brave?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
I don't know. I mean it'd be up that'd be
for those people.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Would you call them brave?
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Yeah? A lot of them? Yeah, I mean to me,
that's not I just don't think for any of us
that it mattered or matters. It's such a pointless point
because you're there and you're in it. You know, we
did it. You know, some bad things happened, some bad
things didn't. Then I think they would probably laugh at
(23:19):
you if you ask them that question.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
I kind of keep expecting one of these damn vets
to just like go crazy. I'd not go crazy in
a negative way, but just being like shut the fuck
up or something. It hasn't quite happened yet.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Yeah, people's if you keep it up, it will you
know that. Because the thing is is that one thing
that we always we get labeled to have is veterans
dark humor, where the general population just would be completely
out of their skin uncomfortable if they experienced a lot
(24:01):
of these back and forth that we have with each other,
Like they it's to us, it's just being normal, and
it's just us cutting up and around just to pass
the time and to relax and feel more comfortable. I mean,
And you've got to find humor in everything, man, you
have to. I think it's so important. Like music, I
(24:22):
think it speaks to the soul, and I think the humor,
I think laughter hill is healing for the soul. And
I think that's why most of us don't take ourselves
so seriously. Yeah, it's because it's like, why we just
did something that literally hundreds of thousands of men and
women before us have done and that millions will do
(24:45):
after us. It's just the job. I think a lot
of the guys that I served with, there's so many
of them that had such an impact on me when
a lot of it had nothing to do with war.
And so I feel so honor and privileged too, because
most of the Marines I sarched was saw so much
more than I did, and did so much more than
(25:05):
I did. That you know, I hold all of them
in such a high regard. I mean, I'm so honored
and proud to be a small part of what they did.
You know, in several circumstances, they were faced with insurmountable
odds and not only came out of it, but dominated
their way through it. You know, like most things in life,
(25:27):
tragedy brought us closer. And it sucks that it's got
to be that way, But there must be something through
the algorithm that God created that with tragedy, we you know,
either unite or you divide. It would just be like
me asking you, like, would you consider anything you've done
for people you care about brave?
Speaker 3 (25:46):
Yeah, it's funny because like I think the answer would
be no. And I also think that if you described
my brother doing that or someone else, I'd be like,
I see bravery in it. There's something that you meaning,
I guess you and me us, and I'm sure lots
and lots of people just either reject or because of
(26:10):
speaking of that, of God's algorithm, that's just not something
that we're not wired to recognize that because maybe if
we like identified it as brave then evolutionary, we'd all
go do stupid shit because we're quote unquote brave and
die and no one could have kids or something like.
I don't know why we want to reject this idea
of bravery, you know, you know, and then also you
(26:32):
look back on it and think like, oh, is that
just stupid?
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Like I think the two I think bravery and stupidity
are first kissing cousins there. You know, it's like the
whole saying old adage. You know, if you're going to
be dumb, you'd better be tough, you know.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
I think we see bravery in others and that's and
that's beautiful and maybe that's our jobs for me to
recognize the way in which you were brave in a
situation where you just wouldn't say you were, and maybe
that's maybe that's what community is.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Yeah, yeah, I looking out for one another.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
I think. And I think that it also goes along
with us having a higher expectation of ourselves. You know
that we write because what do we want to see
in everybody else or in the people that we love,
or especially in the in the younger people, like what
do we want them to what would we want them
to do in the high stress situation? Ultimately, for me,
(27:33):
when it comes down to is do the right thing?
Speaker 3 (27:37):
All right? Guys, Well, we actually didn't really talk about
Veterans Day during this episode, which I think is a
beautiful thing. I think I really enjoyed that conversation with
you guys. I'm really appreciative for it. But on that note,
is there any final way you would like to leave
this episode?
Speaker 1 (27:55):
I just I think one of the things, kind of
like Memorial Day, we feel like every day should be veteran.
We wouldn't have what we have if it weren't for
brave men and women who volunteered and or were told
to go and serve our country. And so the gratitude
that we feel for the men and women who've warned
the cloth of this nation is truly overwhelming, and we're
(28:16):
so grateful.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
No, look, I just want to say how much I
appreciate everyone that raised the right hand and don the
cloth of the nation and served this nation, and obviously
in particular the battle Ambassards. I love you guys. There's
a bunch of men that are far greater than I'll
ever be, and I'm honored to call myself a small
(28:39):
part of them. And we are free because of them,
because of all these men and women. That's just the facts.
So I hope they have an amazing Betters Day. Go
get your free buffet a Golden corral.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Maybe I want to include this, but I actually do
kind of want to asci something. So I've always felt
a little bit of a discomfort with the phrase thank
you for your service, and I'm not sure why. I
think maybe it feels obligatory or something, and therefore I've
just never really said it, Like I've never said it
(29:13):
to you, Jake, you know, thank you for your service.
I think if I had to be honest about what
I would say or should say, it would be something
along the lines of, like, I feel so much love
for you because of your service, Like I feel some
sort of sense of love more than like thank you.
I don't know why I'm saying that. I guess I'm
(29:34):
just curious to hear how you would react to those
words coming out of my mouth.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
I mean, I think it's beautiful. It's one of the
reasons that I love you. I mean, you know, I
don't need you to say it, because I know it already, right,
Like I know that there's a part of you that
respects that part of my life, and I know that.
I think love is a perfect word, man, I mean,
because it's uh, it's the same way I feel when
(30:02):
I meet a World War Two veteran, or a Vietnam veteran,
or a Korean veteran, it's like, man like, I just
want to hug him, and just like it Jackson's game.
Matter of fact, that tall older guy pulled me aside
and was like, hey, you're getting You're getting around real
(30:23):
well on that thing out my prosthetic legging. Yeah. I
was like, oh, yeah, you know, it's just a tool
to move. And he said you're in the service, Yes, sir,
you're rock And he said, uh, I was a marine
in Vietnam. When I said, well, simplified doll was my
brother super five your ahead, And it was like, you know,
(30:46):
it was just for me. It was just this like
moment of like, dang, dude, I'm so blessed to meet
the guy that carried the flag person. And I told
him the same thing I tell all of them. It's
like my only prayers that were making you proud. That's it, right,
I mean, because we only have so many decisions we
can make that outside of you know, the government runs
(31:07):
runs it and so the love is I think a
beautiful way to put it, bro because it's something that
I think spreads it that can be generational, you know,
and I think that that is the cure all for
all of the madness. It was the love and so
I feel it. Yeah, and I'm grateful for it.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
Well. I love you for your service. Happy Happy Veterans
Day to you. And that that tall gentleman from the
football game.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Yeah it's beautiful. Yeah, thank you brother, Thank you so
much for listening to the Good Stuff.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
If you appreciate this show, please subscribe, like, and review
The Good Stuff podcast, and connect with us on social media.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
We love hearing from you, so please reach out for
our website. Our links and contact information are in the
show notes of this episode, and.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
It would mean the world to us if you shared
this episode with the people in your life who might
also enjoy it. We'll be back next week, but in
the meantime, if you're looking for a companion piece to
this episode, please check out our episode with Al Lipphart
from season one.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Put on your bad ass capes and go be great
today and remember you can't do awesome things without awesome people.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Happy Veterans Day. Raw The Good Stuff is executive produced
by Ashley Shick, Jacob Shick and Leah Pictures, hosted by
Ashley Shick, Jacob Shick, and Nick Cassolini. Produced by Nick Cassolini, engineering,
editing and post production supervision by Nick Cassolini. Music by
(32:33):
Will Tending,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.