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
183 episodes
Iraqi Kid Leads Marines to Buried American Soldiers
Former U.S. Marine Michael Delery joins us on Urban Valor to share a powerful and haunting story from his time in Iraq. During the 2003 invasion, Mike’s unit was approached by a young Iraqi boy who led them to a shallow grave—revealing the rema...
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Season 1
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Episode 183
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1:55:19
Army Combat Cameraman Captures the Horrors of War (Still Haunts Him)
This week on Urban Valor, we hear the extraordinary story of Army Staff Sergeant Robert Ham—a combat videographer whose job was to document war through the lens. Serving from 2007 to 2017, Robert captured footage most Americans will never see—g...
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Season 1
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Episode 182
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1:11:28
Purple Heart Marine Survives Car Bomb But Battles PTSD
Michael Allison is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who survived a devastating VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) attack in Iraq—but his toughest battles came after the war. In this episode of Urban Valor, Michael opens up about the t...
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Season 1
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Episode 181
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1:32:35
Marine Veteran Survives Fighting the Enemy Up Close in Fallujah
Marine veteran George Kite shares his account of close combat in Fallujah, the brutal realities of war, and the lifelong impact of PTSD in this week’s Urban Valor episode. From growing up poor in South Carolina—sometimes homeless—to enlisting o...
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Season 1
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Episode 180
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2:43:41
Navy Vet Survives Near-Death Knife Attack - "He stabbed me in the back and cut my spinal cord"
Navy Veteran Jesse Swalley shares his story of survival after a brutal knife attack left him paralyzed. Raised in the San Fernando Valley, Jesse enlisted in the U.S. Navy seeking a better life and served as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate from 198...
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Season 1
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Episode 179
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1:20:00
Marine’s In-Depth Account of the Bloodiest Battle of Iraq War
Marine veteran Sam Williams reveals the brutal reality of close-quarters combat during the Iraq War, including the infamous Second Battle of Fallujah. In this Urban Valor episode, Sam shares his experiences from the frontlines of Iraq, where he...
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Season 1
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Episode 178
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2:37:14
Soldier Tasked with Pulling Mangled Bodies Out of Truck in Afghanistan
In this week’s episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with U.S. Army veteran Denny Giamazzo, who was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Denny faced unspeakable abuse—abandoned by his drug-addicted mother, burned with cigarettes, and left alone fo...
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Season 1
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Episode 177
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1:06:42
Army Officer Survives Afghanistan But Fights New War at Home
Army veteran George Hayworth faced war in Afghanistan—but his toughest battle came after returning home. In this week’s episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with George, a former U.S. Army Artillery Officer, who opens up about his life before, d...
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Season 1
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Episode 176
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1:38:18
Marine’s Dreams Crushed After Passing Sniper & MARSOC Tests
This week on Urban Valor, we sit down with U.S. Marine Rob Martinez, whose unbelievable story of perseverance through Scout Sniper and MARSOC selection is inspiring and heartbreaking. Raised in Kissimmee, Florida, Rob enlisted in the Marine Cor...
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Season 1
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Episode 175
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1:51:43
Royal Marine Ambushed, Blown Up, & Nearly Kidnapped By Al Qaeda
Retired Royal Marine Commando Lee West joins us on Urban Valor to recount the moments when he was nearly kidnapped by Al Qaeda at a checkpoint in Baghdad. Lee served from 2003 to 2020, rising to the rank of Color Sergeant, and brings a firsthan...
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Season 1
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Episode 174
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2:26:23
Marines Face Brutal Combat in Iraq's Bloodiest Warzones
In this gripping episode of Urban Valor, we feature Marine Captain Jason Angell, who shares his firsthand experiences from the Iraq War, including brutal combat in Ramadi and Hit. From relentless firefights to life-or-death situations, Jason ta...
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Season 1
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Episode 173
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2:19:22
Hardcore South-Central LA Gangster Rises to Retired Navy Master Chief
From the violent streets of South Central LA to the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy...this is the incredible true story of Raul Ramos. Drawn into gang life at just 11 years old, Raul had gang tattoos on his face by 13 and was living in o...
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Season 1
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Episode 172
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59:43
Army Paratroopers Viciously Fight Taliban Trying to Overrun Their Position
This week on Urban Valor, we sit down with Army Veteran Danny Szczakowski, a former Airborne Infantry paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. From enduring a challenging childhood in Hereford, Texas, to facing intense combat in Afghanistan...
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Season 1
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Episode 171
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2:31:03
Marine Combat Vet Exposes the Military’s Biggest Betrayal!
This week on Urban Valor, we sit down with Marine veteran Andrew Higgins, who shares the brutal reality of military transition. After enlisting as an 0311 Rifleman, Andrew deployed to Afghanistan, where he faced life-threatening situations and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 170
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45:51
Marines Recover Fallen Comrade Dragged and Hung in Town Square
Marine veteran Chris Mansfield shares his story of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, where he and his unit were tasked with a harrowing mission: recovering Sgt. Fernando Padilla-Ramirez, a fallen Marine who was captured, dragged through the streets, a...
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Season 1
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Episode 169
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58:52
Special Ops Medic Rescues Mom and Child Crushed by 110-ft Tree
This week’s Urban Valor episode features Rory Farrell, a retired Navy Special Operations Corpsman (2004-2024), who shares his journey through the military and beyond. Growing up in Colchester, CT, Rory was deeply impacted by 9/11, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 168
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1:24:04
Marine Survives Bloody Fallujah Mile and Ramadi’s Deadliest Streets
Marine Veteran Brian Mendez takes us inside the brutal battles of Fallujah and Ramadi, sharing his experiences fighting through the Fallujah Mile, one of the deadliest combat zones of the Iraq War. In this episode of Urban Valor, B...
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Season 1
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Episode 167
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59:13
Marine's Life-Altering Betrayal by His Recruiter
In this week’s Urban Valor episode, we feature Marine veteran Michael D’Angelo, a Las Vegas native who overcame a turbulent upbringing marked by homelessness and family struggles. Michael shares his journey from running the streets...
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Season 1
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Episode 166
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1:41:56
Marine Prevents Tragedy by Disarming Fellow Comrade in Crisis
In this powerful Urban Valor episode, Marine veteran Chris Skinner shares his gripping story of courage and quick thinking that prevented a potential tragedy. Serving in the U.S. Marines as a Combat Logistics Specialist from 2016 to 2022, Chris...
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Season 1
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Episode 165
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59:41
Army Special Forces Green Beret Medic Endures Multiple Brushes with Death
In this gripping episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with U.S. Army Green Beret and Special Forces Medic, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jacek “Jack” Waliszewski. A political refugee from Poland, Jack’s life was shaped by his father’s role in co-found...
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Season 1
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Episode 164
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2:41:21
Marine Veteran Reveals the Silent Deadly Battle Within Service
In this Urban Valor episode, we sit down with Kristine Phanthavilay, a former U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant (E6) and Motor Transport Mechanic (2006-2010). Born and raised in San Diego, CA, Kristine joined the Marine Corps after struggling in colle...
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Season 1
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Episode 163
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39:08
What It Really Takes to Survive Navy SEAL Hell Week (And Why Most Fail)
This episode of Urban Valor highlights the incredible life of U.S. Navy SEAL veteran Johnny Collins. Growing up in Sykesville, Maryland, Johnny overcame personal challenges, including his parents' divorce, to pursue his dream of becoming a SEAL...
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Season 1
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Episode 162
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2:30:36
Army Units Collide in Blue-on-Blue Firefight & MRAP Crash in Iraq
This week on Urban Valor, we sit down with Army Veteran Daniel Perez. Born in Riverside, CA, Daniel grew up in a challenging childhood marked by his parents' separation and lack of supervision. His early years were consumed by fighting, drug us...
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Season 1
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Episode 161
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2:03:53
First Sergeant Reveals Brutal Truth Behind Training Marine Recruits
In this week’s Urban Valor episode, retired Marine First Sergeant Mark Wheatley shares gripping stories from his 24 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps (1975–1999). Born at Kirtland Air Force Base, Mark grew up in a military family but br...
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Season 1
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Episode 160
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1:12:03
Army Combat Medic & Purple Heart Recipient Enlists in Marine Corps
This week on the Urban Valor Podcast, we meet Cory Carranza, a Purple Heart recipient and Army and Marine Corps veteran. Cory’s story begins in Banning, CA, where he endured heartbreaking childhood trauma. After witnessing a horrific event as a...
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Season 1
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Episode 159
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2:04:58