Shows
Echoes UnfilteredVet on the Mic: Why He Uses Humor to Help Veterans | S2 Ep. 16Season 2, Episode 16 of Echoes Unfiltered airs October 19.I sit down with Vet on the Mic to talk about depression, anxiety, PTSD, and how humor and connection can help veterans feel less alone. Laughter doesn’t erase what we’re carrying, but sometimes sharing a laugh with someone who understands can help us get through a hard day.Show Vet on the Mic some support: https://linktr.ee/VetOnTheMicIf you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255.Real Talk...
2026-10-1933 min
The High Performance JourneyThe High Performance Journey - EP7 - Sam Neo - Risk, Identity & Finding Your Next ChapterThe High Performance Journey with Sam Neo | Risk, Identity & Finding Your Next ChapterWhat happens when the life you've built no longer feels like the life you want?In this episode of The High Performance Journey, I sit down with Sam Neo to explore career change, identity, ambition and the challenges men face when they begin questioning what success really means.We talk about the pressure to provide, the responsibility of family, and why so many men stay in careers or situations that no longer fulfil them. When you have bills to pay...
2026-10-161h 07Echoes UnfilteredColonel Michael Hoxie: The Weight of Command in RamadiColonel Michael Hoxie commanded our task force during our deployment to Ramadi, Iraq. Nearly twenty years later, we sat down to talk about what that responsibility actually cost him.We discuss his first route-clearance patrol, the Anbar Awakening, the responsibility of leading roughly 750 soldiers, and the night Corporal Stephen Shannon was mortally wounded. Colonel Hoxie also opens up about the guilt and anger he carried home, believing he didn’t have the right to struggle because he wasn’t always on the front line.Eventually, he realized he was still carrying every mission, every casualty, and...
2026-10-1245 minEchoes UnfilteredRamadi Through a Child’s Eyes | Quteiba’s StorySeason 2, Episode 14When I served in Ramadi, Iraq, I saw the city through the windows of an armored vehicle. My guest, Quteiba, experienced that same war as a 14-year-old Iraqi civilian.Quteiba shares what it was like growing up between American forces and al-Qaeda, why frightened civilians were often unable to warn us about IEDs, and how fear controlled nearly every part of daily life. He also talks about meeting American soldiers and Marines, learning English from them, leaving Ramadi for safety, and watching tribal leaders finally stand against al-Qaeda.Today, Quteiba is...
2026-10-0531 minEchoes UnfilteredWHO ARE YOU WITHOUT THE UNIFORM? | Firefighter Tony YoccoMy guest for this episode is my friend Tony Yocco, a second-generation firefighter with 20 years of service to the City of Racine.Tony and I talk about firefighter life, traumatic calls, fatherhood, and how first responders handle the things most people never have to see. We also get into the difference between what you do and who you are.Tony shares how bodybuilding and maintaining a certain image began consuming his life, and how Jesus Christ gave him an identity built on something solid.Careers end. Titles disappear. Bodies change. If your identity...
2026-09-2836 minEchoes UnfilteredFive Minutes Before the Mission: Josh’s Story | Season 2, Episode 12Josh joins me to talk about two deployments to Iraq, convoy security, route clearance, and the moments that followed him home.Five minutes before one mission, Josh and another soldier switched places. That soldier, Casey, was killed. During his second deployment, Josh survived a powerful roadside bomb that tore the mine roller from his vehicle.We talk about those days, the guilt and anger Josh carried afterward, and why he believes veterans need to let people close to them know when they’re struggling.Echoes Unfiltered, Season 2, Episode 12.
2026-09-2145 minEchoes UnfilteredSeptember 11: The Price We’re Still Paying | S2E11Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, the echoes of that morning are still being felt.I remember waking to the news on my radio alarm clock, hearing about the second plane while driving to work, and telling my coworkers, “We need to pray for our country.”I was already serving in the Army Reserve. Soon, conversations about deployments began. Years later, I would find myself in Ramadi, Iraq.This episode remembers those murdered on September 11, the first responders who ran toward danger, the service members who answered the call, and every family still carrying the cost...
2026-09-1406 minEchoes UnfilteredYour Job Is Not Your Identity | A Labor Day MessageWe were taught to work hard, carry our weight, provide for our families, and finish the job. Those are good lessons. But somewhere along the way, many of us started believing our value came from what we could produce.What happens when the uniform comes off, the career ends, the body slows down, or people don’t depend on us like they once did?This Labor Day message is for the veterans, first responders, tradesmen, parents, caregivers, and hardworking people who’ve spent years carrying everyone else. Your work matters, but your job is not your...
2026-09-0810 min
WyoNation RoundupWyoNation Roundup Interview - Sam StrattonFormer Wyoming Cowboy Sam Stratton joins Chad on the WyoNation Roundup! Sam talks about his football journey to Wyoming, battling through injuries, his transition into coaching, and what makes the Wyoming fanbase so special. Plus, we get into his family connections to Colorado State — CSU?!?! 🤠Hear Sam’s stories from his time in Laramie, life after playing football, coaching, and much more in this WyoNation Roundup interview.As always, you can like and subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on our socials on X and Facebook, and hit the fol...
2026-08-311h 00Echoes UnfilteredHe Refused to Let a Child Die Alone | Chuck Lovelace | S2E9Chuck Lovelace and I served together in the Army Reserve before our careers took us in different directions.In this episode, Chuck talks about his deployment to Afghanistan, caring for injured children, honoring fallen soldiers, and the moment he stayed beside a dying boy because he refused to let him die alone.We also get into the difficult return home, PTSD, marriage, parenting, finding purpose after the military, and how several devastating losses led Chuck into suicide prevention and the creation of a voluntary firearm safe-storage program.This is an honest conversation about...
2026-08-3151 minEchoes UnfilteredHe Was Policing Drunk. Now He’s 50+ Years Sober.Tom Herbers entered law enforcement while hiding a serious drinking problem. As the pressures of the job increased, alcohol tightened its grip until suspensions, dangerous decisions, and fear became part of his everyday life.Tom shares the unfiltered truth about policing while intoxicated, finding help through a twelve-step program, battling depression after years of sobriety, and recognizing how God answered prayers he thought had gone unanswered.His last drink was April 14, 1972. More than 50 years later, Tom’s message remains simple: if you need help, keep looking until you find someone willing to listen. Your past ma...
2026-08-2438 minEchoes UnfilteredComing Home Was the Real War — Andy Sterling | Season 2, Episode 7In Season 2, Episode 7 of Echoes Unfiltered, veteran Andy Sterling joins me for a raw conversation about combat, PTSD, and what happens when the war follows you home.We discuss the warning signs that only make sense afterward, including a crooked telephone pole discovered while reviewing pictures after an IED attack. Andy shares his thoughts on the Afghanistan withdrawal, veterans being used as political pawns, and why returning to a selfish and disconnected world can become its own battle.We also talk about the protector instinct—the inability to ignore someone being mistreated after witnessing the tr...
2026-08-1735 minEchoes UnfilteredSteve Sentel: 19 in Iraq, Fallujah, and the Fight for FaithAt 19 years old, Steve Sentel deployed to Iraq and entered a world of dangerous convoy missions, firefights, destroyed vehicles, and decisions where survival was never guaranteed.Steve shares what happened during his first deployment, including the lead-up to Fallujah and an improvised escape through a city without communications or armor. He also speaks honestly about the battles that followed him home: hidden trauma, recovery, losing his belief, and reconsidering the role faith and a higher power can play when life is at its worst.This is more than a combat story. It’s an unfiltered co...
2026-08-101h 06Echoes UnfilteredThe Rest of the Storey: Vice, Corruption, PTSD, and Family In part two with Tony Storey.Tony shares stories from undercover vice and narcotics investigations, but the biggest fight came from inside his own department. After refusing to alter financial records connected to a corrupt sheriff, Tony was removed from his position and nearly lost his career. Years later, another agency used his PTSD diagnosis to question whether he could still carry a badge.We talk honestly about integrity, betrayal, the stigma surrounding PTSD, and why veterans and first responders sometimes stay silent instead of asking for help.Tony also opens up about what his wife and daughters sacrificed during his...
2026-08-0354 minEchoes UnfilteredHe Survived Mogadishu and Fallujah, But War Followed Him HomeMarine combat veteran and former Staff Sergeant Tony Storey takes us from Desert Storm and the first wave into Mogadishu to training Iraqi security forces during the 2007 Fallujah Awakening.Tony speaks honestly about combat, survivor’s guilt, PTSD, moral injury, faith, forgiveness, and what happens when the warrior you needed overseas follows you home. We also discuss why saying the names of those we lost keeps their memories alive.Tony returns next week for Part Two, where we’ll dig into his law enforcement career and nearly 23 years working vice investigations.Viewer discretion is a...
2026-07-271h 13Echoes UnfilteredA Promise Kept in Ramadi: Greg Janney’s Mission for a Gold Star FatherGreg Janney, professional photographer and author of The Magnificent Bastards in Ramadi and A Father’s Journey There, joins Echoes Unfiltered to tell the story of taking Gold Star dad John Wroblewski back to Ramadi, Iraq.John’s son, 2nd Lt. J.T. Wroblewski, was killed during the 2004 Battle of Ramadi while serving with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. Greg first tried to get John to the site in 2007, but the mission fell short. Fourteen months later, Greg kept his promise and helped bring John back to the place where his son fell.This conversation covers Rama...
2026-07-2057 min
Echoes UnfilteredThe War Ended, the Brotherhood Didn’tSeason 2 Episode 2 of Echoes Unfiltered takes us back to the cabin with Dille, Nguyen, and Riley for the kind of conversation that does not need a script.No big production. No fake drama. Just veterans sitting around, talking like brothers, laughing, remembering, and showing what real connection still looks like years after the uniform comes off.This episode is about brotherhood, old stories, hard-earned perspective, and the simple truth that sometimes healing looks like sitting around with the guys who were there.Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered.Like, comment, share...
2026-07-1345 min
Echoes UnfilteredFrom IEDs to Isolation: The Fight Veterans Don’t Talk AboutIn this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, I sit down with Andrew Ludwig and Eric Schmieder, two brothers in arms from Second Platoon who served in Ramadi, Iraq.We talk about route clearance, IEDs, Saddam’s Mosque, the Predator, Husky blasts, Route Michigan, the Anbar Awakening, and what it was like going outside the wire day after day.But this one is not just war stories.We also get into what happened after we came home: hypervigilance, drinking, isolation, dark humor, trying to adjust back to civilian life, and learning that asking for help is...
2026-07-0650 minEchoes Unfiltered250 Years Under God: What Freedom Still CostsThis Fourth of July, I wanted to take a few minutes to remember what freedom has cost.America has stood for 250 years through war, sacrifice, failure, faith, correction, and perseverance. This country is not perfect, but it is worth remembering, worth defending, worth praying over, and worth living in a way that honors those who gave everything.Freedom was paid for by real people. Soldiers. Families. Generations before us. Some came home. Some came home changed. Some never came home at all.So before the fireworks and noise, take a minute to remember...
2026-07-0404 min
Echoes UnfilteredChappy: Faith in the Middle of the ChaosEpisode 50 of Echoes Unfiltered features Chappy — Chaplain Robert Kinnune.This conversation is about faith, war, brotherhood, and what it means to carry peace into places built on chaos.Chappy was there with us in Ramadi, praying with the men, walking through the weight, and bringing a steady presence when everything around us was anything but steady.We talk about the role of a chaplain, the cost of war, the power of prayer, and why faith still matters when life gets heavy.Airs June 27th.Real Talk. Raw Faith. Stay Un...
2026-06-2751 minEchoes UnfilteredThe War Came Home With Us | David “DJ” Engel EP 49In Episode forty-nine of Echoes Unfiltered, airing June twentieth, Sam sits down with David “DJ” Engel, a fellow Ramadi veteran, to bring back one of the earlier conversations from the show.DJ served in Second Platoon while Sam was in First Platoon, and together they look back on Ramadi, Iraq, brotherhood, family, loss, healing, and the weight that comes home after war.This conversation is honest, raw, and exactly what Echoes Unfiltered was built for — veterans telling the truth, remembering the ones who were there, and continuing to move forward.Real Talk. Raw Faith...
2026-06-2050 minEchoes UnfilteredWhen God Interrupted the Plan | Matt Thornton EP. 48This early Echoes Unfiltered conversation with Matt Thornton is being brought back as part of the final stretch of Season One.Matt served in law enforcement with a Northern Illinois police department while I was working nearby in another Northern Illinois agency. In this conversation, he opens up about depression, faith, and the moment God stepped into one of the darkest points of his life.He also shares the heart behind My Father’s Business, a ministry reaching young people through basketball, food, and a message of hope.Through the month of June, I’...
2026-06-1346 minEchoes UnfilteredSSG Bell on Ramadi, Brotherhood, and the Weight We Carried Ep 47Today on Echoes Unfiltered, I’m bringing back a powerful conversation with SSG Bell.This was originally one of the early episodes of the show, but the conversation deserved a fresh release. Bell and I talk about Ramadi, healing, the echoes that still linger, and our brother CPL Stephen Shannon, who was serving under Bell’s leadership when he was taken from us.We remember the good times, we talk honestly about the hard ones, and we honor the men who didn’t make it home.That’s what Echoes Unfiltered is about: telling...
2026-06-0653 minEchoes UnfilteredNavy EOD, Ramadi, and the Cost of Coming Home | Sparky | Echoes Unfiltered Ep. 46In Episode 46 of Echoes Unfiltered, I sit down with Sparky, a Navy EOD veteran I served with in Ramadi.We talk about route clearance, IEDs, EOD calls, the Husky rescue, leadership under pressure, dark humor, and the things veterans carry long after the mission ends.This episode is more than war stories. It is about survival, brotherhood, memory, and why talking about it matters.For more about my story,You can order my book, now available on Amazon:Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. Stratton
2026-05-3053 minEchoes Unfiltered“My Life Paused for a Year After Iraq” EP45 | JoeJoe deployed to Ramadi, Iraq in 2007 as a young Marine and spent the next year living in survival mode during one of the most volatile periods of the war. In this episode, he talks about working alongside Iraqi locals during the Anbar Awakening, coming home after deployment, losing the military support system overnight, and trying to reconnect with life back home.The conversation also dives into childhood trauma, breaking destructive cycles, marriage, fatherhood, faith, emotional suppression, and what healing actually looks like years after war.This episode is not just about combat. It’s about wh...
2026-05-2356 minEchoes UnfilteredYou Come Home… But Part of You Stays There.” | Afghanistan Veteran Mike | EP44Mike joins Echoes Unfiltered for a raw conversation about Afghanistan, military life, brotherhood, dark humor, and the things veterans carry long after they come home.No scripts. No filters. Just real conversation about war, identity, memories, and life after service.Real talk, raw faith, stay unfiltered.
2026-05-1641 minEchoes UnfilteredFrom Dodgeville to Afghanistan | IED Hits, PTSD, and Coming Home | Ep. 43Josh Elarde deployed to Afghanistan with the Dodgeville unit as part of a route clearance team. He shares his experience with IED strikes, the constant threat of ambush, and how that mindset followed him home.We talk about PTSD, adjusting to life after deployment, and the challenge of leaving the military mindset behind when it comes to family and everyday life.You can order my book, now available on Amazon:Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. StrattonFollow the mission:YouTube – Echoes UnfilteredSpotify – Echoes UnfilteredFacebook – Echoes Unfilt...
2026-05-0925 minEchoes Unfiltered37 Years of War | From Desert Storm to Iraq & Afghanistan | Ep. 41Episode 41 drops with Roy Wylie — a veteran who served 37 years between the Army and Department of the Army civilian service.From Desert Storm to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Roy saw the evolution of war firsthand. Soft-skin convoys, IED threats, convoy security, and the shift from early war chaos to heavily armored operations.But the real story isn’t just the deployments.It’s what came after.Multiple marriages lost. Years of PTSD. 24 pills a day just to function. And eventually… walking away from it all to rebuild his life on the other si...
2026-05-0231 minEchoes UnfilteredMac Part 2 | Leadership, Family, and Walking Away at 20 | Echoes Unfiltered Ep. 41Mac is back for Part 2.We finish what got cut short during the tornado warning and go deeper into the realities behind the uniform. We talk about Billmeyer and the lasting impact of his injuries, the weight of leadership, and what it really looks like to take care of your people.We also get into something most don’t talk about enough. Knowing when it’s time to step away. Mac is retiring at 20, not because he has to, but because he refuses to miss raising his kids. That decision says more about a man than...
2026-04-2547 minEchoes UnfilteredGrenades, Route Clearance, and SEAL Team 10 | Travis “Mac” McCullough | Part 1 EP. 40In this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, Sam sits down with Travis “Mac” McCullough, a fellow soldier from the Dodgeville unit, to talk about his deployment to Afghanistan.Mac shares what it was like running route clearance missions, surviving a grenade attack, and working alongside SEAL Team 10. He also reflects on leadership, purpose, and moments where faith became real in the middle of combat.This is Part 1 of the conversation. Due to a tornado warning, the episode was cut short — Part 2 will continue right where this leaves off, including the full story of the day Bill got hi...
2026-04-1834 minEchoes UnfilteredFrom Marine to Army CSM | 30 Years of War, Leadership & Transition | Echoes Unfiltered ep 39Jerry Heim, the voice behind Blue Cord CSM and the BootsandChutesUnfiltered podcast, joins Echoes Unfiltered to share his 30-year journey through the Marine Corps and Army, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major.We talk about combat, leadership, the transition home, and the reality many veterans face when the mission ends but the fight doesn’t.This is a raw conversation about service, identity, and what it really takes to keep moving forward.You can order my book, now available on Amazon:Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. StrattonFollow th...
2026-04-111h 09Echoes UnfilteredFrom Ramadi to the Firehouse Ep.38 Lt. Kevin "FireDuck"I sit down with Kevin, also known as Lt. Fire Duck, who served in Ramadi during the same time period. We talk about his path into service, what he experienced overseas, and what life has looked like since coming home.This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about war, transition, and what it takes to keep moving forward.You can order my book, now available on Amazon:Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. StrattonFollow the mission:YouTube – Echoes UnfilteredSpotify – Echoes UnfilteredFacebook – Echoes UnfilteredTikTok – @echoes_unfilter...
2026-04-0439 minEchoes UnfilteredTrauma, Healing, and Speaking the Truth | Leo Beach Echoes Unfiltered Ep. 37In Episode 37 of Echoes Unfiltered, Leo Beach joins me for a powerful conversation about trauma, healing, and why men need to start talking about the things we usually keep buried.Leo shares personal experiences and the lessons he’s learned about facing pain instead of hiding from it. Conversations like this remind us that none of us are carrying these burdens alone.You can order my book, now available on Amazon:Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. StrattonFollow the mission:YouTube – Echoes UnfilteredSpotify – Echoes UnfilteredFacebook – Echoes U...
2026-03-2846 minEchoes UnfilteredWar, Loss, and Brotherhood | Afghanistan Veteran Joe Nichols Opens Up EP. 36In this episode I sit down with Army veteran Joe Nichols. Joe deployed to Afghanistan and opens up about something most men struggle to talk about. While he was deployed, his brother was killed in Afghanistan not far from where he was serving.We talk about loss, grief, brotherhood, and why keeping things bottled up doesn’t work. Joe shares his story honestly because he believes talking about it helps.These are the conversations a lot of veterans have behind closed doors. On this show, we bring them into the open.Real talk. Re...
2026-03-211h 02Echoes UnfilteredLife After Service & The Stories We Carry | John Levin | Echoes Unfiltered Ep. 35In this episode, I sit down with John Levin for an honest conversation about service, life experiences, and the stories that stay with us long after the uniform comes off.Echoes Unfiltered is about real conversations with veterans, first responders, and people who have lived through extraordinary experiences. No scripts. No filters. Just honest dialogue.You can order my book, now available on Amazon:Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. StrattonFollow the mission:YouTube – Echoes UnfilteredSpotify – Echoes UnfilteredFacebook – Echoes UnfilteredTikTok – @echoes_u...
2026-03-1436 minEchoes UnfilteredFrom Iraq to Afghanistan: Two Wars, One Brotherhood | Lt Alec Z. | Ep. 34In this episode, I’m joined by Army veteran and former platoon leader Lieutenant Alec Z. We served in different wars, but the brotherhood and the weight that follows are the same.We talk about route clearance in Afghanistan, leading soldiers in combat, coming home to a different kind of battle, and why the buddy checks don’t stop when the war ends.This is a real conversation about service, survival, and what healing can look like years later.If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.
2026-03-071h 04Echoes UnfilteredFrom War to Prison to Redemption | Seth Mahoney | Echoes Unfiltered Ep. 33In Episode 33 of Echoes Unfiltered, I sit down with Marine veteran Seth Mahoney.Seth opens up about his deployment to Iraq, the struggles that followed after coming home, and the road that led him through addiction and prison. But this isn’t just a story about falling — it’s a story about redemption.We talk about faith, consequences, brotherhood, and the reality that no one is beyond a second chance.If you’re in a dark place right now, this conversation is for you.Order my book on Amazon:Echoes from the...
2026-02-2844 minEchoes UnfilteredBonus Episode: Sam and Lynn | The Conversation We Never Thought We'd ShareThis is a different kind of episode.For the first time, Sam and his wife Lynn sit down together and talk openly about their marriage, the years of silence, the truth that finally came out, and what it took to rebuild something that almost fell apart.This isn’t an interview.It’s a real conversation between two people who chose honesty when it would’ve been easier to stay quiet.If you’ve ever wondered what healing actually looks like inside a marriage, this episode is for you.You can orde...
2026-02-2431 minEchoes UnfilteredFrom Iraq to the Streets | Marine Veteran Dustin Opens Up (Episode 32)In this episode, I sit down with Marine veteran Dustin. We talk about why he joined at 17, deploying to Iraq, and what life looked like after coming home. Like many of us, his path didn’t end with the military. It carried into law enforcement and the long road of figuring out life after war.We get into the stuff most people don’t talk about.The shift in identity.The loss of brotherhood.Why trust feels different when you come home.And what veterans really carry long after the uniform comes off.
2026-02-2145 minEchoes UnfilteredFrom Vietnam Gunships to the Police Department | The Story of CW4 Bill HatounianChief Warrant Officer Bill Hatounian flew UH-1 gunships in Vietnam with D Troop, 1/4 Cavalry — Darkhorse.We talk combat aviation, Hueys, life under fire, transitioning home, and continuing to serve through a career in law enforcement.Bill also shares about his writing and current work at mynoveltales.com.These are the stories that deserve to be heard. If you'd like to know more about my story, you can find my book Echoes from the Sandbox, now available on Amazon.These conversations preserve history while we still can.Real ta...
2026-02-1449 minEchoes UnfilteredAfghanistan Machine Gunner Opens Up for the First Time | Jay (USMC)Jay is a former U.S. Marine Corps infantry machine gunner who deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and later returned overseas as a contractor. In this conversation, he opens up about combat, ROE, ambushes, burn pits, health concerns, and the difficult transition back to civilian life.This is the kind of conversation many veterans never get to have out loud.Real talk, raw faith, stay unfiltered.You can find my book on Amazon:Follow the mission:YouTube – Echoes UnfilteredSpotify – Echoes UnfilteredFacebook – Echoes UnfilteredTikTok – @echoes_unfilter...
2026-02-0754 minEchoes UnfilteredAfghanistan Route Clearance with Alex Sonnenfelt | Survival Mode, Coming Home, and HealingIn this full-length episode, I sit down with Alex Sonnenfelt, a combat engineer and Husky driver who deployed to Afghanistan after our time together in Dodgeville.We talk about route clearance operations, GPR systems, working with coalition forces, and what it feels like to carry the responsibility of protecting your guys every single day.We also get real about coming home. The anger. The disconnect. The rewiring. And why veterans need to call each other instead of carrying it alone.If you are struggling, dial 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
2026-01-3137 minEchoes UnfilteredEp. 28 "Bill" Christensen – Surviving Ramadi, Healing After the BlastIn this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, I sit down with Bill Christensen, a fellow Ramadi veteran, to talk about combat, survival, and the long road to healing after being critically injured by an IED.Bill shares what it was like to wake up with no memory of the blast, how recovery unfolded physically and mentally, and the role faith, family, and brotherhood played in rebuilding life after war.This is an honest conversation about trauma, resilience, and why reaching out matters more than carrying it alone.If you want to learn more about...
2026-01-2441 minEchoes Unfiltered22 a Day Isn’t a Statistic“22 veterans a day” gets repeated so often it loses its weight.This episode puts the weight back where it belongs.On the people.On the silence.On the truth about what many veterans carry long after the uniform comes off.This is a conversation about isolation, brotherhood, and why staying connected matters more than having the right words.If this reaches you at the right time, you’re not alone.#EchoesUnfiltered
2026-01-2103 minEchoes UnfilteredEP. 28 Running the Buffalo Arm in Ramadi | Jay on Route Clearance, Trauma, and HealingIn this full episode of Echoes Unfiltered, Sam Stratton sits down with Jay Kroeplin, a Buffalo arm operator from Ramadi. Jay breaks down what it really meant to run the Buffalo, the level of trust inside a route clearance crew, and the mistakes that could get people hurt or killed.Jay also walks through the mission where Mitch, Ski, and Bill were hit, what he saw that day, and the moments that still stay with him. From combat to coming home, this conversation covers PTSD, survival, brotherhood, and the hard but necessary work of healing....
2026-01-1755 minEchoes UnfilteredEpisode 27 Jason Madaus – Service, Trauma, and Rebuilding Life After IraqIn Episode 27 of Echoes Unfiltered, I sit down with Army veteran Jason Madaus for an honest conversation about service, trauma, and rebuilding life after Iraq.Jason shares what it was like deploying early in the war, surviving a Christmas Day mortar attack, and living with lasting physical and mental injuries. We talk about the long road home, fitness as a coping tool, navigating the VA system, and what it really means to keep moving forward when life does not go as planned.This is not a highlight reel. It is a real conversation about responsibility...
2026-01-1439 minEchoes UnfilteredEpisode 26 | Choosing Honesty and Moving Forward (Part 2 with Richard)In Part Two of Sam’s conversation with Richard, the discussion moves from reflection into responsibility.This half focuses on faith, accountability, and what it looks like to move forward honestly when life does not offer clean answers or quick fixes. We talk about growth, integrity, and the long work of becoming who you are meant to be instead of staying stuck in who you have been.This is where the conversation gets practical. It is about choosing honesty over avoidance, presence over distraction, and faith over fear.If you have not listened to...
2026-01-1056 minEchoes UnfilteredNo One Is ComingAt some point, every grown man has to face this truth: no one is coming to save you. Not the perfect timing. Not the right feeling. Not someone else stepping in to fix it.That realization isn’t hopeless. It’s empowering.When you stop waiting for permission, motivation, or rescue, you start moving. You start owning your choices, your discipline, and your next step.This Echo Short is a reminder that faith isn’t passive. It requires movement, responsibility, and action even when it’s uncomfortable.This week, notice where you’re s...
2026-01-0702 minEchoes UnfilteredEpisode 25 | Carrying What We Don’t Talk About (Part 1 with Richard)In Part One of Episode 25, Sam sits down with Richard for an honest, unfiltered conversation about the things we carry but rarely talk about.This is not a polished story or a highlight reel. It’s a real discussion about life, responsibility, faith, and the quiet weight that builds when hard truths go unspoken. We talk about showing up as you are, the cost of avoidance, and why healing begins with honesty, not answers.This first half sets the foundation for the conversation. There is more to unpack, and Part Two continues next episode....
2026-01-0355 minEchoes UnfilteredWhy I’m Choosing Family TodayThis episode was recorded at the cabin with my family and it’s a reminder that being present is part of the mission.We talk about slowing down, resisting the constant grind, and choosing moments that actually last.This week’s challenge: do one thing fully present.No phone. No multitasking. Just be there.Echoes UnfilteredReal Talk, Raw Faith, Stay UnfilteredOrder my book on Amazon:Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. StrattonFollow the mission:YouTube – Echoes UnfilteredSpotify – Echoes Unfilter...
2025-12-3002 minEchoes UnfilteredEP: 24 From Rock Bottom to Recovery: A Conversation with Aunt MimiIn this episode, Sam sits down with his Aunt Mary for a powerful conversation about addiction, recovery, and the long road to rebuilding a life. Mary spent decades struggling with alcohol and drugs, and today she shares openly about the chaos, the consequences, and the moment she decided to change. She’s been clean and sober for five years, and her story is packed with honesty, pain, strength, and hope.If you or someone you love is fighting addiction, let this episode remind you that you’re not alone. Recovery is possible. Hope is real.You...
2025-12-2734 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short Stay Grounded Choose SteadinesswSometimes the hardest thing isn’t pushing forward.It’s holding steady.Staying anchored.Not giving up when the noise gets loud and the pressure hits.This Echo Short is about resilience, faith, and choosing to stand firm when quitting would be easier.Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered.Order my book on Amazon:Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. Strattonhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7J41G4FWatch & listen to Echoes Unfiltered:🎥 YouTube (full video episodes) – Echoes Unfiltered🎧 Spot...
2025-12-2403 minEchoes UnfilteredEP 23 – Conversations with David EngelToday’s episode is something special. I’m joined by my brother from Iraq, David "DJ" Engel from Second Platoon. We rolled the same roads in Ramadi, faced the same threats, and carried home different battles afterward. David opens up about joining the military, serving alongside his brother Mitch, what they went through overseas, and how life has been since coming home.This is the first episode of Echoes Unfiltered that includes full video, now available on YouTube.My book Echoes from the Sandbox is also available now on Amazon for anyone who wants the deep...
2025-12-2049 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: Letting Go of What Broke YouYou can forgive someone and still have no place for them in your life today. That isn’t bitterness. That’s healing. In this Echo Short, Sam talks about closing the door on abuse, choosing freedom, and walking forward without carrying the weight of someone else’s sin.Real talk, raw faith, stay unfiltered.Order my book on Amazon:Echoes from the Sandbox by Samuel R. Strattonhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7J41G4FFollow the mission:YouTube – Echoes UnfilteredSpotify – Echoes UnfilteredFacebook –...
2025-12-1707 minEchoes UnfilteredEP. 22 Echoes Unfiltered – Nick Polce InterviewToday I sit down with Nick Polce, a former U.S. Army Green Beret, for real talk about service, sacrifice, healing, and faith. No politics — just two men being honest about the things we’ve carried and the work it takes to walk in freedom.If you’re struggling, trying to make sense of your story, or just need to hear a raw and unfiltered conversation between brothers, this episode is for you.If you want to know more about my own journey, you can find my book Echoes from the Sandbox on Amazon.Real...
2025-12-1338 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: Healing Doesn’t Mean You Won’t HurtJust because someone sounds strong doesn’t mean they don’t struggle.Just because you’ve done the work doesn’t mean the work is done.In this Echo Short, Sam opens up about the truth most people never say out loud:healing isn’t a finish line — it’s a road.Some days you’re steady, some days you’re limping, and some days you’re crawling.But you’re still moving, and that matters.This message is for anyone who thinks they should be “over it” by now — veterans, first responders, people in...
2025-12-1004 minEchoes UnfilteredEP 21: From Badge to Bible – When God Says “Go” (with Bryce Boldus)He wore the badge for a police department in Wisconsin, serving with purpose and integrity — until God called him somewhere completely different.Bryce Boldus traded the uniform for a mission pack and stepped into the unknown, taking the Gospel to places like Zanzibar, Kenya, and soon the Congo.In this episode, we talk about obedience, identity, and what it really means to walk away from comfort to follow Christ. Bryce shares powerful stories from his seven mission trips — moments of spiritual warfare, miraculous encounters, and the kind of faith that moves when God says “Go.”If...
2025-12-0600 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: Different Uniforms, Same FightLast week we heard from 82nd Airborne veteran Dustin Chacon about his time in Ramadi in 2003.This week, we shift from the battlefield to the badge with Bryce Boldus — a former police officer whose story goes From Badge to Bible.Different wars.Different uniforms.Same fight.Because trauma wears a lot of faces — military, law enforcement, first responders, addiction, or just life itself.This episode is a reminder that no matter what battle you’ve fought, healing comes from the same place — grace, honesty, and faith.You are not who you...
2025-12-0305 minEchoes UnfilteredEP. 20 82nd Airborne in Ramadi, 2003 — with Firefighter Dustin ChaconIn this episode, Sam talks with Dustin Chacon — a veteran of Ramadi, Iraq in 2003 with the 82nd Airborne, and now a firefighter serving his community back home.Sam and Dustin met at a men’s breakfast, and only had a moment to realize they’d walked the same city in different years. Today, they sit down to talk about what Ramadi looked like in the early days — before the surge, before the walls, before the fight changed shape.They talk about:Rolling the streets in soft-skin HumveesHow the threat evolved in real...
2025-11-2952 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: You’re Allowed to ChangeThis Echo Short bridges our cabin conversations and this week’s upcoming episode with 82nd Airborne veteran Dustin Chacon, taking us back to Ramadi in 2003. We talk about how much changed in just a few short years — the city, the fight, the mission… and the men who lived it.And in the middle of all of that, here’s the reminder most of us were never told:You are allowed to change.You’re not frozen in who you used to be.You are a story still being written — a soul still being shaped.
2025-11-2604 minEchoes UnfilteredEP: 19 Cabin Conversations (Part 2) — Riley, Reinke & HamiltonIn this second half of our Cabin podcast, I sit down with Riley, Reinke, and Hamilton — three brothers who walked through Ramadi, life after deployment, and the battles that didn’t stop when we came home.No script.No filters.Just honest talk about brotherhood, identity, faith, family, and the work of healing that’s still happening.If you want to go deeper into my story — from Ramadi to redemption — you can find my book Echoes from the Sandbox on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, or Kindle.Your reviews help more than...
2025-11-2234 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: You’re Not Too LateThis Echo Short speaks into one of the biggest lies people believe when they’re hurting, struggling, or trying to heal:“It’s too late.”Too late to change.Too late to heal.Too late to rebuild.Too late to come back to God.Too late to face the past or fix what was broken.But that’s a lie.In this message, Sam reminds us that no matter where your trauma came from — the battlefield, the job, addiction, family wounds, or something you never asked for — you are not to...
2025-11-1904 minEchoes UnfilteredEP. 18 – Brothers at the Cabin (Part 1)This episode was recorded during our small reunion up at the cabin. It was the first time many of us had sat around the same table in years — sharing food, laughter, stories, and silence where it needed to be.In this first half, I sit down with Nguyen, Kopmeyer, and Aide. We talk Ramadi, Afghanistan, life after deployment, the things that have stayed with us, and the things we’re still learning to let go of.There’s a unique bond among the men you went to war with — you can go ten years without speaking...
2025-11-1536 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: We Keep Showing UpThis week’s Echo Short is about presence.About showing up even when you feel like you don’t have it all figured out.About brotherhood, connection, and the kind of healing that happens when we stop walking alone.I share a story from a chance encounter with a Vietnam veteran at a Culver’s off the highway — and how it reminded me that we’re part of something bigger than our own battles. We heal not just side-by-side in our own generation, but across generations of those who have carried the weight of war and life.
2025-11-1304 minEchoes UnfilteredEP. 17 – Carrying Peace into Chaos with Chaplain Robert Kinnune (Chappy)In this episode, I sit down with Chaplain Robert Kinnune — a man who carried calm into chaos and faith into the fire.Chappy served as an Army Chaplain during some of the toughest days of our deployment and now continues his calling as Lead Chaplain for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. His story is one of steady faith, quiet strength, and showing up when the world feels like it’s falling apart.We talk about what it means to serve, to lead, and to keep believing when life gets heavy. If you’d like t...
2025-11-0850 minEchoes UnfilteredThe Echo You FeedIn this episode, we dig into the echoes that shape our lives.The ones we feed. The ones we run from. The ones we let define us long after Christ has already forgiven us.Trauma can drive sin. Shame can keep us hiding. And being our own worst critic can keep us chained even after we’ve been set free.But healing comes when we confess, surrender, and learn to forgive — including ourselves.Be kind. Stand firm. Feed the truth, not the lie.If you want to go deeper into my stor...
2025-11-0504 minEchoes UnfilteredEp. 16 IED's and Healing with Rich BillmeyerIn this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, Sam sits down with his brother-in-arms, Billmeyer — a soldier who’s faced the blast, the aftermath, and the road back to strength. Together they talk about survival, purpose, and what it means to rebuild when life shatters.Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered.💥 Want to dig deeper into Sam’s story? Grab his book Echoes from the Sandbox on Amazon.
2025-11-0150 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: Obedience Over Outcome🎧 Echo Short | Obedience Over OutcomeSometimes faith isn’t about seeing results — it’s about trusting God when you don’t.In this short, Sam Stratton talks about learning to obey even when the outcome doesn’t make sense. Because real faith isn’t measured by what happens after you say yes — it’s measured by the courage it takes to say yes at all.📘 Dive deeper into Sam’s story in his book Echoes from the Sandbox — available now on Amazon.🎙️ Real Talk. Raw Faith. Stay Unfiltered.#EchoNationIf you'd like to see my Amazon Podcast Wishlist...
2025-10-2907 minEchoes UnfilteredEp. 15-Strength, Sweat & Self-Discipline: A Conversation with Sergeant Major TranbergFrom Ramadi to the weight room, Sergeant Major Tranberg has built a life defined by discipline, intensity, and heart. In this powerful conversation, we talk about his insane workouts during deployment, leadership under fire, and how that same drive carries into civilian life. Real stories, real grit, and a look at what it means to never settle.If you’re interested in my book Echoes from the Sandbox, you can find it here: https://a.co/d/4KeFYd3Real Talk. Raw Faith. Stay Unfiltered.
2025-10-2531 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: Sam's Radio Interview about his book and podcastSam Stratton joins Brian Marshall from Rock 108 in Iowa to talk about life before, during, and after Iraq — from joining the Army to walking the streets of Ramadi, and how faith turned the pain into purpose.They dive into what inspired Sam’s book Echoes from the Sandbox and how the Echoes Unfiltered podcast was born out of that same story of healing and freedom.If you want to dig deeper into my story, you can check out my book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fofRmGx🎧 Real Talk. Raw Faith. Stay Unfiltered.🙏 Thanks for...
2025-10-2207 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Nation GiveawayEcho Nation, this one’s for you.I’m giving away a signed Deluxe Color Edition hardcover of my book, Echoes from the Sandbox.To enter, just comment on this episode with #EchoNation and tell me your state or country.I’ll be giving shoutouts to different states and countries in upcoming episodes and announcing the winner soon.Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered. #EchoNation
2025-10-2101 minEchoes UnfilteredEp. 14 Echoes of Brotherhood with Jake HamiltonIn this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, I sit down with my brother in arms, Jake Hamilton. Together we revisit our time in Ramadi — the missions that pushed us to the edge, the bonds that carried us through, and the lessons that still echo nearly twenty years later.Jake shares memories from the battlefield, reflections on leadership and faith, and the raw truth of what it means to come home changed.Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered.📖 Grab my book Echoes from the Sandbox on Amazon to go even deeper into these stories.
2025-10-1844 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: Bridge Builders, When Pride Blocks HealingSometimes pride isn’t loud — it’s quiet. It hides behind pain, fear, and the walls we build to protect ourselves. In this episode, Sam shares a powerful reflection on how pride can keep us from healing, including a personal story about their foster daughter who struggled to let love in after deep wounds.This short encourages you to take one humble step this week — to rebuild what pride tore down, to reconnect, to worship freely, and to let God meet you right on the bridge.If this message spoke to you, don’t forget to subscri...
2025-10-1504 minEchoes UnfilteredEP. 13 – From Cop in Crisis to Cop in Christ with Matt ThorntonWelcome back to Echoes Unfiltered. Real talk. Raw faith. Stay unfiltered.In this episode, I sit down with Matt Thornton, who spent years serving as a police officer in Illinois before a simple encounter changed everything. That moment became a turning point, leading him to start My Father’s Business — a ministry reaching at-risk youth and changing lives every week.Matt shares his journey from the pressures of policing, to crisis, to Christ, and how obedience to Jesus can have a generational effect.📖 You can read more of Matt’s story in his book Cop...
2025-10-1145 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: Hope Beyond Suicide — Life Is Worth LivingSuicide is stealing too many lives — veterans, police officers, first responders, and everyday sons and daughters. The numbers are heavy, but the truth is stronger: hope is real, and your life is worth living.In this Echo Short, Sam speaks bluntly about Jesus, the lies of despair, and a simple 3–2–1 Hope Plan to encourage yourself and reach someone else before it’s too late.🔹 Straight talk on suicide and faith🔹 Encouragement for anyone fighting unseen battles🔹 A challenge to echo hope into someone’s darkness🔹 Special guest Thornton joins us this Saturday to continue this vital...
2025-10-0806 minEchoes UnfilteredEp. 12: Lessons in Leadership with ReinkeIn this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, Sam sits down with fellow veteran 1SG Reinke, who served in the same platoon during their deployment to Ramadi. Reinke shares reflections from his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the challenges of training Afghan troops and how those experiences shaped his view of leadership, brotherhood, and resilience.Together they explore the differences between the two wars, the importance of trust in combat, and what life has looked like after service. This candid conversation sheds light on the shared struggles and lessons carried home from deployment. “Follow Echoes Unfiltered fo...
2025-10-0454 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: Fresh Mercy, Bold Healing – October 1stIt’s October 1st—a new month, a new season, and a new reminder that God’s mercies are fresh every single morning. In this Echo Short, Sam Stratton challenges you to let go of old shame, embrace healing from trauma, and step boldly into who God has called you to be.You’re not the victim anymore. You’re the survivor. You’re the testimony.🔹 Please subscribe, like, and share this with someone who needs encouragement today.🔹 Want to dig deeper into Sam’s journey? Grab his book Echoes From the Sandbox, available now on Amazon.
2025-10-0106 minEchoes UnfilteredEp 11 Breaking the Silence: My story of abuse and freedomThis is the hardest and most important episode I’ve ever recorded. For over 40 years I carried the weight of childhood abuse in silence. It shaped me, distorted how I saw love, and left me living with shame. But today, I can finally say: I am free.In this raw, unedited conversation, I share my story — from an innocent childhood, through the confusion and pain of abuse, to the years of hiding, and finally to the freedom I’ve found in Jesus.If you’ve ever carried secrets like these, hear me clearly: you are not alon...
2025-09-2511 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short: You are not aloneBONUS Midweek encouragement to remind you that no matter what you’re carrying — fear, shame, regret, or silence — you are not alone.God sees you, He cares for you, and He never meant for you to carry the weight by yourself. Don’t let the enemy isolate you. Lean on Jesus, lean on the people He’s placed in your life, and hold on to hope.This Saturday, I’ll be releasing the hardest and most personal episode I’ve ever recorded: Breaking the Silence: My Story of Abuse and Freedom. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s f...
2025-09-2511 minEchoes UnfilteredEP 10. Echoes of Brotherhood with Justen RileyIn this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, Sam sits down with his brother from Ramadi, Justen Riley. Together they revisit the buildup to Iraq, life inside the squad, and the moments that shaped them both on and off the battlefield. Riley opens up about the day Corporal Shannon was killed while he was in the RG, sharing raw memories of loss, resilience, and the bond that never breaks.Real stories. Real healing. Real brotherhood.If you’d like to dig deeper into Iraq and hear more of these stories, check out Sam Stratton’s book Echoes from...
2025-09-2039 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short | The Mask We WearWe all wear masks — at work, at home, even with God. Masks of strength, of “I’m fine,” of silence. But the truth is, the mask won’t heal you. It just keeps you stuck in cycles of guilt and isolation.In this Echo Short, I share what it looked like in my own life when pornography and secrecy became that mask — and how dropping it brought freedom, healing, and connection.If you’ve been hiding behind your own mask, there’s hope. Freedom is possible. And it starts with honesty, prayer, and one safe step into the li...
2025-09-1710 minEchoes UnfilteredEP 9. Echoes of War, Part 2: Stories with Dille and BellIn this second half of our conversation with Geoff Dille and Brian Bell, we continue digging into the brotherhood, the battles, and the memories that shaped our time in Ramadi. From the chaos of deployment to the bond that carried us through, this episode captures the grit, the laughter, and the pain of life at war.If you’d like to dig deeper into Iraq and hear more of these stories, check out Sam Stratton’s book Echoes from the Sandbox — available now on Amazon: https://a.co/d/1wWlj4oReal Talk. Raw Faith. Stay U...
2025-09-1342 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short | Beyond Survival ModeWe’re taught that strength means putting on the armor and never letting anyone see us break. I lived that way in Iraq. I lived that way as a cop. But one case on the Child Abduction Response Team finally cracked through the surface — and showed me that what I thought was strength was really just survival mode.In this Echo Short, I share how that moment became a turning point, and why real strength doesn’t come from silence, but from honesty, faith, and letting others in.Don’t buy the lie that toughness means bu...
2025-09-1004 minEchoes UnfilteredEp.8 Echoes of War, Part 1: Iraq and BeyondIn this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, Sam Stratton sits down with fellow Ramadi veterans Bell and Dille. What started as one long conversation stretched nearly two hours, so this is Part 1.We dive into life in Iraq, the brotherhood, and the challenges that shaped us. Next week, you’ll hear the continuation of this call as the guys open up about Afghanistan and compare those experiences to Ramadi.If you’d like to dig deeper into my time in Iraq, check out my book Echoes from the Sandbox on Amazon. And if this episode connects with...
2025-09-061h 04Echoes UnfilteredEcho Short | The Lie Replay: “You Can’t Be Fixed”Have you ever felt like you can’t change — like you’re too broken, too far gone, or just stuck being who you are? That’s the lie replaying in so many of our lives: ‘You can’t be fixed. This is just you.’In this Echo Short, I break down my trauma loop — the act, the isolation, the guilt — and show how God’s truth cuts through it.You are not too broken. You are not beyond repair. God is close to the brokenhearted, and His grace is enough.📖 Want to go deeper? Grab my book Ec...
2025-09-0304 minEchoes UnfilteredEP 7. Roommates in Ramadi – A Conversation with Bell“Today was a heavy but powerful conversation with Bell. We talked about healing, about the echoes that still linger, and about our brother Shannon — who Bell was leading when he was taken from us. We remembered the good times, and we didn’t shy away from the bad. That’s what Echoes Unfiltered is about: telling it straight, honoring the fallen, and finding hope in the middle of it all.Thanks for listening and carrying these stories with us. I’m Sam, and this is Echoes Unfiltered.Real Talk. Raw Faith. Stay Unfiltered.”📖 Want to go deeper? G...
2025-08-3052 minEchoes UnfilteredEcho Short : Fireworks and IEDs“In this first Midweek Short Echo, I share the night fireworks went from celebration to combat flashbacks. What should’ve been a fun evening at Eagle Lake with my son turned into pounding heartbeats, hypervigilance, and a reminder that trauma doesn’t check the calendar.It’s raw, it’s short, and it’s real. Maybe your ‘fireworks’ aren’t fireworks at all — maybe it’s something else that takes you back. You’re not broken, and you’re not alone.”Real Talk. Raw Faith. Stay Unfiltered.📖 Want to go deeper? Grab my book Echoes from the Sandbox on...
2025-08-2806 minEchoes UnfilteredEP 6. Echoes of Healing with Geoff**“In this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, I sit down with my brother-in-arms, Geoff, to talk about what healing looks like after combat. He shares how even in Ramadi, where the weight was crushing, he couldn’t truly laugh — only fake it to get through. We talk about the trauma that followed us home, the impact it had on those around us, and the long road to healing.Geoff opens up about his journey with finding peace in the aftermath. If you’ve ever wondered what healing really looks like — raw, unfiltered, and still ongoing — this conversation will resonate. Re...
2025-08-2341 min
Echoes UnfilteredEp. 5 Echoes from Ramadi: A Conversation with SGT. Matt Aide📖 Episode DescriptionIn this raw and unfiltered episode of Echo’s Unfiltered, Sam reconnects with fellow soldier Matt Aide to revisit their time in Ramadi. From the adrenaline of deployment to the ridiculous squad traditions, Aide opens up about the scariest moments, the bonds that kept them steady, and how those experiences still shape his life today.Expect laughter, reflection, and honesty as the two brothers-in-arms talk about the highs, the lows, and everything in between. This isn’t a Hollywood script — it’s the real deal.📖 Want to go deeper? Grab my book Echoes fr...
2025-08-1620 minEchoes UnfilteredDon’t Let the Echoes Win – Solo Episode 4In this powerful solo episode, Sam Stratton speaks directly to veterans, service members, and anyone battling the unseen war at home. He shares a raw message about the reality of “22 a day” — reminding us those aren’t just numbers, but husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, and friends we’ve served beside.Sam lays out practical tactics for fighting back against the darkness, from calling a battle buddy to breaking destructive patterns, and he challenges friends and family to step up for the veterans in their lives. After delivering his prepared message, Sam speaks from the heart on the importance...
2025-08-1011 minEchoes UnfilteredCones, Chaos, and Brotherhood – Featuring KopmeyerIn this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, I sit down with my squadmate Kopmeyer to talk about Ramadi, brotherhood, and the chaos we lived through. From running over cones at the fuel depot to facing real danger on mission, we dig into what it meant to have each other’s backs—and how it still matters today.📖 Want to go deeper? Grab my book Echoes from the Sandbox on Amazon.✍️ Or, if you’d like a signed copy, Venmo me at @Sam-Stratton-8 and I’ll send one your way.🙏 Thanks for supporting the mission — it helps...
2025-08-0138 minEchoes UnfilteredEpisode 2 – The Real BeginningIn this episode of Echoes Unfiltered, Sam brings you boots-on-the-ground reality from Day One in Iraq.He walks us through the transition from cushy Kuwait — with its outdoor movie theater and Green Bean Coffee — to the unforgiving heat of Ramadi, where the gravity of war slammed into every sense.This is where the mission got real. The comfort faded, the fear crept in, and the true beginning of the deployment took shape.With reflection, honesty, and a prayer to close it out, this episode is the raw truth of arrival.📖 Want to go d...
2025-07-2006 minEchoes UnfilteredWhy I’m HereIn this first episode of Echoes Unfiltered, I introduce myself — Sam Stratton — and explain why this podcast exists.I served as a combat engineer in Iraq during the height of the war in Ramadi. I came home with more than just medals. I came home with echoes — trauma, silence, shame — and for years I didn’t talk about it.This podcast isn’t about politics. It’s about honesty. It’s about the things we carry and the things we can’t say. Whether you're a veteran, a spouse, a trauma survivor, or just someone who feels broken...
2025-07-1804 min
The Whitfield ReportTWR Monday | Steve Stratton Returns w/ Caribbean HarvestTWR Monday | Steve Stratton Returns w/ Caribbean Harvest
Friend of the podcast and bestselling thriller author Steve Stratton returns as the first guest of 2025! In this episode, Steve discusses his latest novel, Caribbean Harvest, the thrilling fourth installment in the Lance Bearwolf series. Drawing from his incredible experiences as both a Secret Service agent and Green Beret, Steve reveals how his background has shaped his gripping narratives.
Sam and Steve dive deep into the real-world inspiration behind Caribbean Harvest, including Steve’s firsthand perspective on America’s War on Drugs and his time on the fron...
2025-01-131h 15
The FasterFreedom Show: Change the Way You Think About Freedom"Just Don't Quit" w/ Stratton Brown | The FasterFreedom Show | EP. 197Sam and Lucas meet Stratton Brown. Stratton has created multiple businesses generating hundreds of thousands of dollars including a virtual wholesaling company. Stratton asks pro questions of Sam and Lucas so look out for those nuggets throughout the show. Tune in to this insightful episode of The FasterFreedom Show.
Website:
FasterFreedom.com/?utm_source=FFShow
Free Training:
FreeRentalWebinar.com/?utm_source=FFShow
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheFasterFreedomShow
2024-07-2748 minThe Whitfield ReportTWR Wednesday | Sam's 29th Birthday Extravaganza!Title: TWR Wednesday | Sam's 29th Birthday Extravaganza!
Description:
Join the celebration on this special episode of "TWR Wednesday" as Sam Whitfield, alongside co-hosts Max Sand and Mortheous, marks his 29th birthday in style. The episode kicks off with Sam sharing his personal journey—born prematurely and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy shortly after birth. Prepare for an intimate look into the challenges and triumphs that have shaped Sam's remarkable life.
The birthday bash doesn't stop there! The trio transitions into the big political news of the week, discussing Pr...
2024-01-184h 00The Whitfield ReportTWR Monday | Steve Stratton: From Special Forces to Self Published Thriller AuthorIn this riveting episode of "TWR Monday," host Sam Whitfield sits down with a remarkable guest, retired Green Beret and former Secret Service Agent turned political thriller author, Steve Stratton. Join them on a journey through Steve's incredible life, from joining the army straight out of high school to serving in the Secret Service during the presidencies of Ford to Bush Sr., and later as a Green Beret in the 90s.
Steve opens up about his transition from a life of service to civilianhood in the early 2000s, settling in Colorado where he embarked...
2024-01-161h 16
The Origin StoryThe Origin Story of Stratton Brown: A Tale of Determination, Perseverance, and SuccessImagine sitting down to listen to a podcast and being completely captivated by the guest's energy and story.
That's exactly what happened when the host interviewed Stratton Brown, also known as "Strat Daddy."
His journey is unique, having grown up in a small town, excelled in Division 1 football, and transitioned into the competitive world of real estate as a single dad.
What sets Stratton apart is his determination and refusal to let obstacles stand in the way of his success.
He went to coll...
2023-01-241h 15
The Whitfield ReportTWR Special | Remembering Leo StrattonLeo Stratton was an American Citizen Journalist/Videographer and a frequent guest on Sam's old podcast The Whitfield Analysis. Sam is joined by Dan Sandini who was Leo's best friend for this special edition podcast commemorating Leo's life and work.
LINKS:
https://www.gofundme.com/help-for-leo-strattons-family
http://www.victoriataft.com/police-investigate-antifa-involvement-in-death-of-portlands-leo-stratton-who-reported-on-terror-group/
SUPPORT THE SHOW:
2018-09-231h 23
The Whitfield Report | Audio PodcastTWR Special | Remembering Leo StrattonLeo Stratton was an American Citizen Journalist/Videographer and a frequent guest on Sam's old podcast The Whitfield Analysis. Sam is joined by Dan Sandini who was Leo's best friend for this special edition podcast commemorating Leo's life and work.
LINKS:
https://www.gofundme.com/help-for-leo-strattons-family
http://www.victoriataft.com/police-investigate-antifa-involvement-in-death-of-portlands-leo-stratton-who-reported-on-terror-group/
SUPPORT THE SHOW:
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2018-09-231h 24