PitBull214 Podcast | Veteran Stories & Support
Welcome to the PitBull214 Podcast, hosted by Rick Perales. Air Force veteran, commander, public servant, and advocate for the veteran community.
This is the audio version of the original PitBull214 Podcast, designed for those moments when you're on the move. Whether you're driving, cutting the grass, working in the garage, exercising, or simply going about your day, you can stay connected to the conversations that matter most to veterans and their families.
This podcast is dedicated to veterans, military families, and the people who support them. Through honest conversations, real-life experiences, and practical resources, each episode explores the challenges and victories that come after service.
Topics include veteran transition, mental health, leadership, PTSD, military family life, career development, VA benefits, recovery, and the organizations making a real difference in the veteran community.
PitBull214 is more than a podcast. It's a mission to inform, connect, and support veterans while honoring the stories that deserve to be heard.
Real Stories.
Real Support.
For the Veteran Community.
Episodes
15 episodes
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 14, Chris Cravens, From the Battlefield to Better Leadership
What happens when the battlefield teaches you that leadership is about far more than giving orders?In this episode of Pitbull 214, host Rick "Pitbull" Perales sits down with Marine veteran and leadership speaker Chris Cravens to talk ab...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 13, Rafi Rodriguez, From Air Force Colonel to a New Mission
What happens when a 26-year military career comes to an end, but the mission doesn't?In this episode of Pitbull 214, host Rick "Pitbull" Perales sits down with retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Rafi Rodriguez to talk about his remarkable m...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 12, Part 2, Ed Mechenbier, Life on a $5 Bet: The Story of a Vietnam POW
What happens after surviving nearly six years as a prisoner of war?In Part 2 of this episode of Pitbull 214, host Rick "Pitbull" Perales continues his conversation with retired U.S. Air Force Major General Ed Mechenbier, as he shares th...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 12, Part 1, Ed Mechenbier, Life on a $5 Bet: The Story of a Vietnam POW
What does it take to survive six years as a prisoner of war—and come home with your faith, purpose, and sense of humor intact?In this episode of Pitbull 214, host Rick "Pitbull" Perales sits down with retired U.S. Air Force Major Genera...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 11, Valerie Mulikin, Operation Veteran & Caregiver Support
Some of the most important people serving our veteran community never wore the uniform themselves.They stand beside those who did.My conversation with Valerie Mulikin is a reminder that behind every veteran is often a family, a ca...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 10, Darrel Whitcomb, A Raven's Story: Combat, Brotherhood, and Survival
I've always believed one of the most important things we can do is preserve the stories of veterans while we still have the chance to hear them firsthand.Some of those stories made the history books.Some didn't.My conversat...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 9, Brian Yolitz, How Veterans Can Find Their Next Mission
One thing I've seen happen to a lot of veterans is this:They spend years serving something bigger than themselves.Then one day the military chapter ends, and they're left trying to figure out what the next mission looks like.<...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 8, Elizabeth Harding, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp For Veterans
Over the years, I've met a lot of veterans who have talked about starting a business.Most of them don't lack motivation.What they're missing is a roadmap.They have the work ethic. They have the leadership experience. They k...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 7, Cassie Barlow, Vets Moving Forward
One thing I've noticed after talking to veterans for years...Most aren't asking for special treatment.They're just trying to figure out what's available to them.The frustrating part is that there are a lot of good programs,...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 6, Larry Draughn, Warrior Resilience
Over the years, I've met a lot of veterans who have been through things most people can't even imagine.What always amazes me isn't what happened to them.It's what they did afterward.In this episode, I sat down with Marine v...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 5, Col (ret) Herman Cole, Vietnam Experience
One of the things I enjoy most about this podcast is getting the chance to sit down with veterans who helped shape the people around them.Colonel Herman Cole is one of those people for me.In this episode, we talked about his journ...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 2, Cassie Barlow, Transition to Civilian Life
One thing I've learned from talking to veterans over the years:Getting out of the military is rarely the hard part.Figuring out what comes next is.That's why I wanted to sit down with Dr. Cassie Barlow. She's a retired Air ...
Pitbull 214 Podcast | Ep. 1, Joe Kennedy, Importance and Safeguarding of DD214
Most veterans know what a DD-214 is.What many don't realize is how much of a headache it can become if you can't find it when you need it.I've talked to veterans and families over the years who suddenly needed a DD-214 for benefit...