Home Base Nation

Today’s episode features a conversation with co-directors of the film Music Vets, Jon Kaufman and El Sawyer who discuss their new documentary that shows us how trauma and challenges brought out by war are healed with music. Music Vets highlights the experience of three US Veterans as they process emotions, build coping skills and resilience while combating common and debilitating invisible wounds - posttraumatic stress and traumati...

We knew it was a matter of time before Pickleball would come for a visit... and stay at Home Base. Mission Pickleball tells the story of the first pickleball tournament and fundraiser for Home Base on March 31st, 2023, partnering with our friends at the Naples Pickleball Center, in Naples, Florida. It is fitting that 3 WWII veterans created this infectious sport on a summer day in 1965. Word has it that they were trying to help a b...

Laura Harward, MSW, LICSW has been the director of the Intensive Clinical Program (ICP) - Home Base's signature program for the past 4 years. In 2015 while working in research at Mass General Hospital, she saw the need for veteran and military family care, and so Home Base was lucky to bring her on board. Laura always has a pulse on the Home Base program, and she shares where it has been, where it is now, and where it is going. Tha...

Today on Home Base Nation, we'll first hear from Dr. Rachel Millstein who works at Home Base and the Benson-Henry Institute (BHI) for Mind Body Medicine at MGH on what meditation is, why we do it, and how people can elicit the "Relaxation Response." Resilient Warrior was adapted from the great work at the BHI and is now delivered to not only veterans but military families and kids nationwide. Following this, please enjoy our past e...

Our Home Base Staff Pick this week is "The Service of Sesame Street – Featuring Rocio Galarza." You’ll first hear from Home Base's Family Outreach Coordinator, military spouse and military daughter Betsy Hart. Betsy was in this original episode in April 2021, and talked about the time when her kids were really little, how Sesame Workshop for Military Families was a saving grace for them and for the whole family during all their dep...

For our 1st Home Base Staff Pick, Our very own Team Leader of Veteran Outreach Marine Veteran Ryan Casavant gives some love to fellow Marine Veteran and … Dancehall and Reggae artist Orville Burrell, AKA Shaggy. Ryan talks about his road to the Marines, his deployment experience, and what he does at Home Base to support his peers and families. And as we look at those making history, this month in Black History Month, you cannot fin...

In our last episode of Season 5, Dr. Ron Hirschberg talks with Survivor's Season 43 Winner Mike "Gabler" Gabler, the first winner to give their entire $1 Million to a deserving cause close to our hearts at Home Base. As a heart valve specialist from a military family, Gabler talks about the inspiration of service he’s had from his dad and friends in the military, and an unforgettable veteran named Lester who lived well into his 90s...

In this episode, Navy Veteran Montel Williams sits with Dr. Ron Hirschberg to discuss his three 17-year long careers, the first of which as Navy Intelligence Officer, followed by his prolific and award-winning talk show, which led to work and support in veteran trauma, a multiple sclerosis foundation, and bringing service and giving to military families together with Lifetime's Military Makeover. Among other decorated honors, Mr. W...

WWII Marine Veteran and Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald reflects on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service, and at the same time points out that Dr. King would not simply want a day of service, but a way of service. As one of the only three living Code Talkers of more than 400 from WWII, Mr. MacDonald embodies grace and gratitude, and teaches us that although these codes may have been used as weapons, war is never the goal. Hi...

Today on the show, host Dr. Ron Hirschberg chats with friend and colleague Dr. Eddie Phillips, Whole Health Medical Director at the Boston VA, and Associate Professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, about asking not what's the matter with you - but what matters to you, about Eddie's "Bike Desk" that keeps him moving while working, moderate and vigorous intensity exercise, and learning while laughi...

On our last episode of 2022, Dr. Ron Hirschberg talks with Journalist Sarah Sicard about growing up in a military family, and growing an interest in shining light on the 1% military community through stories on culture, humor, history and all things entertainment in the military and veteran space. Sarah writes for Military Times and you'll find her work in Task and Purpose, National Defense News, and stay tuned of course for her up...

Army Veterans Caleb Green, Christal Rheams, Ron Henry, and Jason Hanna join host Dr. Ron Hirschberg for a conversation about the love of music, singing and one another as brothers and sisters that runs as deep as their harmonies, backstage at the Home Base Veterans Day Dinner on November 12th 2022. Their mission to help others heal those invisible wounds through song and bringing people together in both the military and civilian co...

In this episode, host Dr. Ron Hirschberg sits on the bank of the Charles River in Cambridge, MA with Navy Veteran and Rowing Coach Patrick Johnson, at the famous Head of The Charles Regatta. Coach Johnson is National Director at Athletes Without Limits (AWL), and DC Strokes integrated rowing program, a USRowing Freedom Rows designated adaptive program for the Armed Forces. Ron and Patrick talk about his joining the Navy as a musici...

Home Base Nation Thanksgiving Message from host Ron Hirschberg 

11-23-22

“Thank you sir, for your service.” I said this to a Marine Veteran in the hospital the other day who was admitted with a bad pneumonia, and he was getting back on his feet to get home hopefully for Thanksgiving. He said Thank YOU doc for yours. I nodded and lifted my brow, knowing that like every other day I would still take the train home to my suburban neighbo...

In this Season 5 opener, come back to Fenway Park on July 30th, 2022 for the 13th Annual Run to Home Base. This is our first RTHB at the Park since Covid, and this year Home Base and The Red Sox Foundation honors and celebrates Black Veterans and Families of all eras. From the first base line and Sam Adams Deck, Dr. Ron Hirschberg interviews WWII Tuskegee Airman Enoch "Woody" Woodson II, WWII Army Veteran Marvin Gilmore, Brigadier ...

Today's episode is another installment of Home Base Nation: Veteran Stories with Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Monica "Mo" Southall. Mo participated in Home Base's Intensive Care Program (ICP) in January 2022. Mo is an athlete and adaptive sports athlete, having competed multiple times in the Invictus Games, and competed and coached in the Department of Defense Warrior Games. Mo was gravely injured in 2009 while on deployment, and speaks ...

Home Base is all about helping veterans and military families thrive. Mental health and addressing the invisible wounds are part of the equation – And Inspire Up with help from AFFN is such a good example of that needed collaboration to make that thriving a reality.

Thanks to our guests – John Broda and Scott Duszynski, of Armed Forces Financial Network, and Jessica Manfre of Inspire Up for your service and for all you do for milita...

If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.

Sign up to join us in person or virtually for the 13th Annual Run to Home Base  at runtohomebase.org.

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Eric Goralnick, MD, MS is focused on improving patient care in two main areas: ensuring access to healthcare for our most vulnerable patients and supporting ...

Today we have the honor of sharing two U.S. veteran stories, both out gay military service members who were in basic training together fifteen years ago and have not seen each other since. Army Veterans Cliff Brown, who is a project manager at Home Base, and Jade Griffiths, who works today as a 911 dispatcher, talk to us and each other about how life was for them as LGBTQ-identifying soldiers during Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and after i...