{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"It's All About Choices","description":"Rob and Brittany welcome VFW National Legislative Service Director Kristina Keenan, Deputy Director of Grassroots Advocacy Gabby Kubinyi, and National Veterans Service Deputy Director Chris Macinkowicz for a wide-ranging discussion on veterans\u2019 benefits, advocacy, and the choices lawmakers make that affect those who served. The team provides an update on the Take Care of America\u2019s Veterans Act and the VFW\u2019s continued opposition to its proposed funding mechanism. With more than 80,000 grassroots messages sent to Congress, they explain why lawmakers have other options for advancing important veterans legislation without reducing future disability benefits. The conversation also challenges misconceptions surrounding VA disability compensation, fraud, tinnitus and sleep apnea, while emphasizing that earned benefits are part of the commitment made to those who serve. The discussion turns to today\u2019s service members and the realities of prolonged deployments, particularly for sailors spending months aboard ships away from their families. Chris also recaps the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs conference and how the VFW is finding new ways to reach veterans through remote claims assistance, Combat Tested Gaming and community connections. Gabby highlights opportunities available through the VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship, while Kristina previews the Fall Legislative Conference and the organization\u2019s push to finish the congressional session strong. The group also underscores the importance of informed, nonpartisan civic engagement and holding elected officials accountable on veterans\u2019 issues. In the Still Serving Spotlight, Rob and Brittany welcome some of the team behind the upcoming feature film CIVILIAN: writer and director John J. Budion, producer Marissa Vitale, and Air Force Special Warfare veteran Anthony Budion. Inspired in part by Anthony\u2019s experiences, the film follows a veteran struggling to adapt to civilian life and explores PTSD, alcohol use, loss of purpose, moral injury, family reintegration and the difficulty of leaving behind the structure and identity of military service. Anthony shares the story of his own transition from the Air Force to the NYPD and FDNY and eventually into life outside a uniform, while John discusses drawing from his brother\u2019s experiences to create an authentic veteran character rather than relying on familiar Hollywood stereotypes. Featured Guests: Kristina Keenan \u2013 Director, VFW National Legislative Service Gabby Kubinyi \u2013 Deputy Director, Grassroots Advocacy, VFW National Legislative Service Chris Macinkowicz \u2013 Deputy Director, VFW National Veterans Service Still Serving Spotlight: CIVILIAN John J. Budion \u2013 Writer and Director, CIVILIAN Marissa Vitale \u2013 Producer, CIVILIAN Anthony Budion \u2013 U.S. Air Force Special Warfare Veteran and CIVILIAN Adviser Episode Highlights: 0:00 Intro and Roll Call 3:48 Take Care of America\u2019s Veterans Act update 7:03 Grassroots advocacy and more than 80,000 messages to Congress 9:52 The cost of veterans legislation and alternative paths forward 13:02 Congressional choices and the TAP Promotion Act 17:02 Protecting veterans\u2019 benefits and challenging disability misconceptions 18:53 Sleep apnea, VA disability compensation and fraud 23:39 The lasting effects of repeated military deployments 25:37 Supporting today\u2019s deployed sailors 32:41 Showing appreciation for service members and welcoming them home 35:22 National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs conference 36:30 Reaching veterans through remote claims assistance and Combat Tested Gaming 43:03 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship applications 48:16 VFW Fall Legislative Conference preview 52:22 Veterans, elections and nonpartisan civic engagement 1:02:16 Still Serving Spotlight \u2013 CIVILIAN 1:04:04 Meet the team behind CIVILIAN 1:06:03 The story behind CIVILIAN and the veteran transition experience 1:08:23 Building an authentic veteran story and cast 1:11:13 Why the film follows an Army officer 1:13:09 Moral injury and the invisible scars of service 1:14:44 Anthony Budion\u2019s transition from Air Force Special Warfare to civilian life 1:19:50 PTSD, alcohol, purpose and the struggle to \u201cturn it off\u201d 1:22:41 Military service and family reintegration 1:24:21 Portraying the military spouse experience 1:29:42 The CIVILIAN Veteran Impact Initiative 1:30:36 Creating opportunities for veterans in the film industry 1:32:34 Bringing CIVILIAN to military installations 1:35:14 Using authentic storytelling to bridge the military-civilian divide 1:37:34 Getting veterans\u2019 stamp of approval on the story 1:40:07 How veterans can get involved with CIVILIAN 1:41:50 Brazilian jiu-jitsu, camaraderie and Anthony\u2019s post-service experience 1:43:04 Target release timeline for CIVILIAN 1:45:05 Good of the Order \u2013 Food Edition ","author_name":"#StillServing: The VFW Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/thevfwpodcast.libsyn.com\/website","html":"