Some callings start with a moment you can’t ignore. For Brandon Wilson, that moment came after the death of his childhood friend, whose helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. Raised in Brevard, North Carolina, in a family rooted in faith, hard work, and generations of military service, Brandon left a life as a professional hunting guide and walked into a Marine Corps recruiting office ready to serve. What followed was 12 years in the infantry, deployments to Iraq and Ukraine, and a deeper understanding of sacrifice, brotherhood, and what it means to keep showing up for the people beside you. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Brandon Wilson, Marine Corps veteran, Chief Operating Officer of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, and longtime veteran advocate, for a conversation about service, transition, mentorship, and faith. Brandon reflects on growing up in rural North Carolina, joining the Marine Corps after his childhood friend’s death, finding his footing after leaving the infantry, and the chance encounter with General Carl Mundy that became one of the most meaningful mentorships of his life. He also shares how his work as a veteran service officer grew into systems-level advocacy,…

In this new episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Saliva welcomes Marine Corps veteran Ryan Pavel to the show. Listen in as Pavel shares his journey from an apathetic high schooler to a dedicated serviceman and advocate for veterans. Pavel discusses the importance of understanding different perspectives, the value of thinking critically about one’s service and identity, and the work he does with the Warrior-Scholar Project, a national nonprofit that prepares enlisted service members for higher education.