The Vantage Point

Ray Linbaugh is one of the few survivors of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines of the U.S. Vietnam War. They were called The Walking Dead—not from Hollywood, but from the hardened jungles of Vietnam, where the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines earned one of the highest casualty rates of any unit in U.S. military history. In this powerful episode, we sit down with a veteran of this fabled battalion to explore what it truly means to walk throug...

Retired Colonel, Bob McLaughlin is the Executive Director of the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, as well as the former Chief of Staff of US forces Afghanistan and Fort Carson Garrison Commander. In this discussion we explore the mindset of the “Soldier for Life” not as a slogan, but as a philosophy. Service doesn’t retire. It transforms. And those who continue to give, whether through mentoring, volunteering, or simply showing ...

Dr. Eric Abbott is an Air Force Veteran and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. He is currently working as a board-certified family medicine physician with Optum Medical. Mental health is a common subject these days, but a less common topic of discussion are the detrimental effects that not taking care of your mental health can have on your overall well-being. We are all busy, we are all stressed out, and things don’t seem to be gett...

Dr. Tom Francis is a seasoned psychologist, educator, and executive coach whose career bridges the academic, corporate, and creative worlds. Holding a Psy.D. in Organizational Leadership and an M.A. in Psychology from the University of the Rockies, he has spent over a decade teaching undergraduate and graduate psychology courses at institutions such as Pikes Peak Community College and CSU-Pueblo. Known for his engaging, inclusive t...

Sam Westfall is an Army Veteran and passionate bow hunter. After being medically retired from the military following a debilitating injury as a tank mechanic, Sam struggled to find his place. It wasn’t until a friend put a bow in his hand for the first time that Sam started to feel the vivaciousness of life again. Sam tells us about one of his bear hunts, as well as why he made the morally driven decision to switch from rifle to bo...

Retired Colonel, Bob McLaughlin is the Executive Director of the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, as well as the former Chief of Staff of US forces Afghanistan and Fort Carson Garrison Commander. In this episode, we’re discussing Leadership. Whether you are a parent, member of an organization, or an individual trying to achieve your goals, being an effective leader plays a critical role in the success of each one of these situat...

Kirsten Belaire is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor.  Her role is the Director of Behavioral Health at Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center where she provides therapy to Active Duty, Guard, Reserves, Veterans, and their families. In this episode we talk about how to navigate difficult relationships with those we love. Issues like differing personalities, needs, and expectations, along with the need f...

Equine therapy, also known as equine-assisted therapy, utilizes the unique relationship between humans and horses to promote healing and self-discovery. It encompasses various activities with horses, such as grooming, feeding, and riding, all while under the guidance of a mental health or physical therapy professional. The goal is to leverage the horse's natural qualities and behavior to help individuals develop emotional regulatio...

Scott Wilson is a pastor of 32 years, a successful businessman and entrepreneur, and a father of four. In this intimate discussion, we talk through the importance of fostering a community and loving one another while working through dilemmas that may come up along the way. How can I love others when I don’t even love myself? Where do I vent my emotions when it seems like everyone else is dumping theirs onto me? How do I know God is...

Jonny is the Executive Director of Wild Warrior Adventure, a non-profit organization dedicated to healing our nation's warriors through fly fishing. After partaking in some of the most violent 15 months ever documented during the war on terror in Afghanistan, Jonny struggled to stay grounded while transitioning back into civilian life. "The Valley of Death", formally known as the Korangal Valley, is located in Dara-I-Pech District ...

Dr. Eric Abbott, a board-certified family medicine physician, earned his medical degree from the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and undergraduate degree from Colorado College. Dr. Abbott is also a United States Air Force veteran, having served 25 years. As a former flight commander, he has extensive leadership experience. Dr. Mike Hjelkrem, board-certified gastroenterologist and internal medicine physician, is a Re...

Have you ever had a moment in life when you had nothing else to lose and just said "what the hell, let's do it?" This is the motto of Retired Lieutenant Colonel Joseph “M9” Markusfeld is a now a commercial pilot and former Special Operations Aircraft Commander. A US Air Force Academy Graduate Class of 1998, M9 was assigned to as a KC-135RT pilot at McConnell Air Force Base Kansas where he quickly qualified as a Special Operations A...

Dave Profit is the Founder of mission of American Heroes In Action, a therapeutic adventures program that provides outdoor experiences to American heroes including combat wounded veterans, injured firefighters and injured members of law enforcement. Dave was inspired to create this organization after observing soldiers mailing home their Purple Heart medals while he was working in Iraq. Today, American Heroes In Action has enabled ...