Urban Valor: the podcast
Welcome to Urban Valor, where we hear the stories of our veteran heroes in their own words. Within these vet interviews, you'll hear everything from combat stories, life stories pre/post military, military transition, and everything in between. Our interviews aren't just war stories or combat veteran interviews, but interviews from any military veteran willing to share. Our mission is to educate the masses with what military veterans go through while serving their country and how life has been since their military transition back to civilian life. Join our cause, online community, and show your support for Urban Valor at https://urbanvalor.com
Episodes
215 episodes
33 Marines Killed in Fallujah - The Scout Sniper Who Survived the Aftermath
The war didn’t end overseas. It followed them home.Justin Governale joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 17, driven by the aftermath of 9/11 and a chaotic upbringing in Laredo, Texas. What he found wasn’t just military structure—it was traum...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 214
•
1:43:31
Marine Assigned to a Unit Plagued by Death, Drugs & Misconduct
Marine Seth Allen never saw it coming. Straight out of boot camp, he was dropped into 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines — a unit already under investigation for violence, drugs, and misconduct. What was supposed to be a proud chapter of service quickl...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 213
•
1:49:06
Army Veteran Says One Call Nearly Killed His Entire Team
Meet Billey Dooley — Army veteran, former foster kid, survivor of toxic leadership, fire missions labeled “danger close,” and a system that failed those who needed it most.In this episode of Urban Valor, Billey opens up about nearly bei...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 212
•
1:26:05
Marine Haunted by the Moment His Teammate Took His Place and Died
His friend took his spot. The convoy was hit. Only one came home.In this Urban Valor episode, Marine Veteran Travis Pinn shares a devastating Iraq War story that changed his life forever. As an 0311 Infantry Rifleman with the 1st Battal...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 211
•
1:36:13
He Quit in Hell Week Then Fought Like Hell to Become a Navy SEAL
He quit during Hell Week. Most don’t come back. Jovon Quarles did — and became a Navy SEAL Honor Graduate.Born into chaos in Washington D.C., Jovon grew up with a mom addicted to crack, no father, and violence all around. He became a da...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 210
•
1:41:29
Marine Blackmailed by Superior and Forced Out By The System
This episode took the air out of the room.Jessica sits down with Urban Valor and walks us through the life most people never see behind the uniform. From a childhood surrounded by chaos and addiction… to stepping into a Marine Corps env...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 210
•
1:30:04
Army Rangers Dig Up Buried Soldiers After Rescuing POW Jessica Lynch
This is the stuff they don’t put in documentaries.Seth Ryan’s first combat mission as an Army Ranger wasn’t just historic — it was horrifying. We’re talking chemical suits, pitch-black raids, gunships in the sky, and digging up decompos...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 209
•
2:16:38
Marine’s Negligent Trigger Pull Took His Best Friend Right in Front of Him
They said he’d fail. His best friend was shot and killed. Now he’s a White House officer.Lieutenant Commander Alvaro Ramos didn’t take the easy path. He grew up with a tin roof over his head, sleeping on floors in Guam. He joined the Na...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 208
•
1:03:00
Escaping Mexican Mafia Hit List to Fighting Taliban in Afghanistan
Decorated Army officer turned warrior‑advocate Rudy De La Rosa opens up like never before: marked for death by the Mexican Mafia as a teenager, pulled into gang violence, homeless, and staring down his own destruction—before trading bullets for...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 207
•
1:44:55
The Funniest and Most F*cked Up Stories From Retired Marine First Sergeant
This might be one of the wildest Marine Corps stories we’ve ever had on the show. Retired Marine First Sergeant Randall Parkes sat down with Urban Valor to share some of the funniest, most unbelievable, and downright fcked up* moments from his ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 206
•
1:17:49
Army Special Ops Pilot Disarms Himself to Stay Alive in Combat
What drives a decorated Special Operations pilot to unload his weapon - not in fear of the enemy, but of himself?In this Urban Valor Podcast interview, Army veteran and Night Stalker pilot Nick O’Kelly reveals the mental battle he faced...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 205
•
1:59:18
He Survived a Meth Overdose and Became a Special Forces Soldier
This is one of the wildest military redemption stories I’ve ever heard.Shawn Vance was a former college athlete who spiraled hard—stealing for the thrill, smoking weed daily, and eventually overdosing on meth he found while picking up t...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 204
•
1:13:40
Marine Sent to Help Afghan Kids Caught in Devastating Blast
She came to America at five. She became a Marine. What happened next will stay with you.This week on Urban Valor, we dive into the story of Gunnery Sergeant Kimmy Lamano, a Filipino-American immigrant who rose through the ranks of the U...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 202
•
1:06:44
Marine Commander Blown Up, Ambushed, & Hunted by Enemy Sniper
Blown up by a 25lb IED. Hunted by a sniper. Lost six Marines in one of the deadliest provinces in Afghanistan.This is Marine Lt. Col. Mike Manocchio’s story — and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever heard, and it's right here on today's Ur...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 201
•
1:34:33
US Soldiers Survive Korean DMZ Shootout & Fatal Insider Attack in Kuwait
In 2003, just days before the U.S. invaded Iraq, a US Army base in Kuwait—Camp Pennsylvania - was hit with a deadly insider attack. In this weeks Urban Valor episode, Army Sergeant Major Bart Womack recounts the terrifying night a fellow soldie...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 203
•
1:36:09
Marine TOW Gunner Survives Iraq But Can’t Escape Scars of War
Marine Corps boot camp, combat in Haditha, Iraq, and the chaos, comedy, and cost of it all.Austin Hancock’s story is wild, hilarious, and at times heavy — this episode dives into all of it.We start today's episode of Urban Valor...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 200
•
58:54
New Infantry Soldier Thrown Straight into the Kill Zone
Army Infantryman Will Jones didn’t get a slow start to his military career.He got thrown into the fire—checking into his first unit mid-deployment… in Baghdad.No stateside prep. No easing in.Just boots on ground, rifle in hand, ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 199
•
1:24:58
After Sending 300 Fallen Soldiers Home - This Airman Finally Broke
Air Force veteran Travis MossBarger was tasked with something most of us can’t even imagine — sending over 300 fallen soldiers home. In this Urban Valor episode, Travis opens up for the first time about the silent, invisible duty that hau...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 198
•
1:04:14
Navy Corpsman Survives IED Blast Then Runs Towards Suspected Bomber
What do you do when your Humvee gets rocked by an IED blast… and a suspicious car creeps toward you through the dust? Most people freeze. Navy Corpsman Noi Dumpit didn't. He confronted the driver — thinking it could be his last moment — and som...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 197
•
1:27:14
Marine Survives Suicide Bomber That Killed 13 at Abbey Gate
On August 26, 2021, during the chaotic evacuation of Afghanistan, Marine veteran Christian Sanchez stood at Abbey Gate when a suicide bomber detonated his device—killing 13 U.S. service members and hundreds of Afghan civilians.Thrown to...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 196
•
1:42:59
“Pinned Down in the Kill Zone” - Iraq Vet Survives Endless Ambushes
Marine veteran Ralph Sarabia takes you inside the chaos of Iraq...convoys hit by IEDs, RPGs ripping overhead, close-quarters ambushes, and the split-second choices that decide who makes it home. In todays Urban Valor Podcast episod...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 195
•
1:58:19
Marine Tells INSANE Stories about Life on a Navy Ship
Marine Corps Veteran Roger Michael Hall pulls no punches in this episode of Urban Valor. From 2017–2022, Roger served as an infantry mortarman (0341) — but this isn’t the recruiting poster version of the Corps. This is the truth about months li...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 194
•
1:24:58
U.S. Airman’s World Changed Forever After One Call
From a young immigrant kid running barefoot in Mexico to serving as a U.S. Air Force veteran in Iraq — this is the incredible untold story of Hector Cabrera.In this Urban Valor episode, Hector opens up about growing up with a single mot...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 193
•
1:43:52
Army Chaplain EXPOSES The Hidden Trauma Soldiers Carry
Army Chaplain Nimrod Alcala opens up about the hidden war that no one talks about—what it’s like carrying the emotional trauma of soldiers... until it breaks you.In this Urban Valor episode, Nimrod reveals the unbearable emotional toll ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 192
•
1:14:17
Navy Veteran/U.S. Marshal Risks Everything Exposing Federal Corruption
PTSD. Whistleblowing. Betrayal by your own agency.Robert Ledogar lived it.A 32-year career — Navy vet turned U.S. Marshal — shattered when he chose integrity over silence. From chasing fugitives in New York to working the El Cha...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 191
•
2:00:09