Podcast

Retired Navy Chief Josue A.K.A Rivera Class This week on the show, we sit down with retired United States Navy Chief Josue “Bull” Rivera, a sailor who dedicated 21 years of honorable service across 9 commands, 7 deployments, and 7 promotions. In this episode, we dive into the adversity he faced throughout his military career and the toll those experiences can take. Chief Rivera opens up about how his faith and his family became the anchor that pulled him through, helping him heal, stay grounded, and find purpose beyond the uniform. We’ll talk about how he’s doing now in his post-service life, the lessons he’s carried forward, and the strength it takes to keep choosing resilience every single day. #Veteranstories #Sunnysideoffreedom #Breakstigmas #Inspiration #Leadership #Service #Faith #Family #Support #resilence #Healing #AftertheMilitary #Storiesmatter #Neveralone #NavyChief

.Kara’s Story: Navy Veteran Kara joined the Navy in June 1989, with her first duty station in Norfolk, Virginia, on a submarine tender. After leaving active duty during the Clinton-era downsizing, she served about a year and a half in the reserves before the opportunity arose to return to active service. While waiting for orders in Great Lakes, she met her husband. They later served in Naples, Italy, and then San Diego. Her military journey came with challenges—her first deployment brought stress to her marriage, which was further strained after her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury that changed his personality. Around the same time, their son was diagnosed with brain tumors, a battle that deeply shaped their family’s path and resilience. Kara recalls the emotional weight of events like being diverted to Yemen after the USS Cole bombing, though she doesn’t believe she personally experienced combat-related PTSD. Instead, her struggles have been tied more to family hardships, caregiving, and navigating the ripple effects of trauma in loved ones. Through it all, Kara leans on faith and prayer, finding peace in simple outlets like music and puzzle games, which help her decompress. While she doesn’t have a wide circle of friends to confide in, her strength and perseverance have carried her through difficult times.

Cawfee Tawk with Sunny & Chief – Episode 42 In Episode 42, Sunny and Chief @420Chief dive into the power of friendship, community, and overcoming life’s challenges with support and purpose. They reflect on the importance of standing by one another through tough times and finding strength in connection. This episode also marks the exciting launch of Sunnyside Salve and Chief’s Calming Balm — natural products created to bring comfort, ease pain, and further their mission of giving back to their non profit, breaks stigmas. Special thanks go out to Slaphappy in Rosebud, Missouri, for their incredible partnership and support in bringing these products to life. Slaphappy is also celebrating the launch of Sheild Maiden and Pax Two Salves, both supporting the 1000 Ripples Mission — a movement dedicated to healing and empowering veterans. Together, they prove that collaboration, compassion, and community make us all stronger. We are better together.