Patriotism in America is not a monolith — it’s a battleground of identity, sacrifice, and service — and this episode of Veteran Made rips off the veneer of easy answers.

Host Carey Kight and guest Jordan Buck, a former Army Cav Scout, refuse to let listeners coast on tired clichés. They confront the reality that waving a flag or wearing a uniform is not the sum total of service. For Buck, who never deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, the military was transformative, making him a better man. Yet, he’s blunt: not every veteran’s journey is the same, and not every act of service is recognized or understood. This episode demands that you stop measuring patriotism by a single yardstick. Service is not about the loudest display, but the quiet, relentless drive to give back in your own way, whether that’s running an ultramarathon relay across the country or supporting your community at home.

Listeners are challenged to interrogate their own assumptions about what it means to serve and what it means to be patriotic. Team RWB’s Old Glory Ultra Relay, where Buck and his team will run the American flag from coast-to-coast, isn’t just a spectacle; it’s a living, grueling testament to American service. The episode lays bare the divisions and judgments that simmer beneath the surface — who “counts” as a real veteran, whose sacrifice is “enough” — and then torches them. If you think patriotism is simple, this episode will force you to reckon with its complexity. It’s a call to action: understand that service is different for everyone, and true patriotism means honoring every path, every sacrifice, and every story, not just the ones that fit neatly into your idea of what America should be.

Episode Sponsors:

• VM Merch
• Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order.
• True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

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