Urban Valor: the podcast

The war didn’t end overseas. It followed them home.Justin Governale joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 17, driven by the aftermath of 9/11 and a chaotic upbringing in Laredo, Texas. What he found wasn’t just military structure—it was trauma, hazing, chaos, and survival. This raw episode pulls no punches as Justin exposes what it was like to deploy to Iraq in 2005 and 2007 with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines—one of the units hardest hit in Fallujah, losing 33 men.From becoming a Scout Sniper, surviving an IED, and earning a Purple Heart, to battling the mental scars that followed, Justin shares the brutal honesty most veterans never say out loud.In this episode or Urban Valor, you’ll hear:- How childhood trauma primed him for chaos- The insanity of Marine boot camp under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”- Why pretending to be gay was a strategy to escape service- The twisted coping mechanisms Marines used post-combat- How war turned a battalion into walking time bombs- His journey through combat, loss, and eventually—comedyIf you want real Marine stories, raw Iraq War truths, or insight into the long-term cost of combat—you found it.🔥 This isn’t the Hollywood version of war. It’s the truth.🔔 Subscribe for more unfiltered veteran stories.📩 Know a veteran with a story? Reach out via our website.👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation.🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Meet Justin Governale01:10 – Growing Up in Laredo: Chaos, Violence & Zero Structure04:40 – Getting Caught Stealing & a Police Escort to School06:25 – Losing His Best Friend in a Tragic Accident08:00 – Post-9/11 Enlistment: “I Needed Purpose”10:30 – Why He Chose the Marines Over SF13:15 – Boot Camp Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”17:00 – Pranked by Drill Instructors + Hazing Culture20:00 – First Deployment to Iraq in 200522:45 – Joining a Unit Still Shattered by 33 Killed in Fallujah26:30 – How Trauma Became Normal: Gallows Humor & Chaos29:15 – Pranks, Fights, and Mental Breakdowns in the Barracks32:10 – Becoming a Scout Sniper35:00 – 2007 Deployment as Sniper: Missions & Trauma38:30 – Surviving an IED Attack + Earning the Purple Heart42:00 – Coping with Loss, Rage, and Survivor’s Guilt45:45 – Coming Home and the Emotional Fallout49:00 – The Truth About How Units Carry Trauma52:30 – Transitioning to Civilian Life & Performing Standup56:00 – How Comedy Helped Him Process Pain1:02:00 – Advice to Struggling Veterans1:06:00 – Behind the Scenes: Going Viral on Instagram1:10:00 – Raising His Son After Trauma1:14:00 – Redeployment1:41:46 – On Stage, Healing, and Perspective1:43:24 – Final Sign-Off: “Simplify. Me Too, Man.”#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

Marine Seth Allen never saw it coming. Straight out of boot camp, he was dropped into 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines — a unit already under investigation for violence, drugs, and misconduct. What was supposed to be a proud chapter of service quickly spiraled into chaos.In this interview with Urban Valor, Seth pulls back the curtain on the gritty reality of life in the Marine Corps. From near-death firefights in Iraq to the dysfunction and violence he experienced even among his fellow Marines, this isn't the polished, glorified version of military service.⚠️ This is the story the recruiters never tell you.Seth shares how his troubled youth led him to the military, the brutal boot camp experiences that shaped him, and the terrifying realization that his unit was broken before he ever arrived. From intense combat stories to internal fights and the emotional weight of surviving while others didn't — this is a brutally honest testimony of what some Marines face behind closed doors.This is a story worth hearing. If you want the truth about what it’s like to serve in a unit where violence, drugs, and loss were the norm... click play now.👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation.🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

Meet Billey Dooley — Army veteran, former foster kid, survivor of toxic leadership, fire missions labeled “danger close,” and a system that failed those who needed it most.In this episode of Urban Valor, Billey opens up about nearly being killed by incoming fire, surviving chaos both at war and at home, and the pain of losing a soldier to suicide just hours after a life-altering conversation. From a chaotic childhood in Riverside to jumping out of planes and calling fire missions in Afghanistan, Billey’s story is as gritty as it gets.But this episode isn’t about just survival. It’s about truth. Leadership. And the weight we carry when we make it out, but others don’t.We get into:- A near-death moment during a morning run.- His experience with abusive training environments.- Fire missions that almost killed friendly forces.- How leadership missteps led to a tragic suicide.And what he believes MUST change in military culture.👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation.🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

His friend took his spot. The convoy was hit. Only one came home.In this Urban Valor episode, Marine Veteran Travis Pinn shares a devastating Iraq War story that changed his life forever. As an 0311 Infantry Rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Travis endured some of the war’s most brutal moments—multiple IED attacks, deadly ambushes, and the psychological trauma that followed him home.But the moment that haunts him most? The day a fellow Marine took his place in a convoy... and didn’t make it back.From surviving deadly routes in Iraq to battling PTSD and rebuilding after the war, Travis lays bare the truth of what it means to carry survivor’s guilt and live with invisible wounds.This episode is more than just a war story—it’s an honest look at what thousands of veterans face once the shooting stops.👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation.🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.#military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

He quit during Hell Week. Most don’t come back. Jovon Quarles did — and became a Navy SEAL Honor Graduate.Born into chaos in Washington D.C., Jovon grew up with a mom addicted to crack, no father, and violence all around. He became a dad before he graduated high school. Then he joined the Navy — not because he wanted to, but because he had no choice.He found the SEAL Teams by accident. But what followed wasn’t luck — it was pain, failure, and redemption.In this Urban Valor interview, Jovon walks us through:- Quitting his first Hell Week and what it did to his soul- Fighting to go back and earn the Trident- The mindset it takes to finish BUD/S- Real SEAL Team deployments in combat zones- Why he says pain is the path- And how he turned his lowest moment into a missionThis isn’t just a Navy SEAL story. This is what it looks like to lose everything… and choose to fight anyway. If you’re struggling, stuck, or feel like it’s too late — this one’s for you.👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation.🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well!✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.Video chapters: 00:00 – Hell Week: the rumor and initiation  01:14 – Jovon Quarles: early life & family background  02:45 – Growing up in DC → move to North Carolina  08:40 – Adolescence, school & teenage fatherhood  10:59 – Football ambition & first drive to join the Navy  13:26 – Family doubts, recruiter pitch, decision to enlist  18:47 – Navy Boot Camp: first impressions  20:36 – Meeting recruits from across the country  30:12 – Qualification test: swim, run, push‑ups — getting in  31:52 – Start of BUD/S: physical & mental grind begins  36:14 – The challenge of Hell Week prep & pressure intensifies  38:28 – Drown‑proofing: confronting fear underwater  40:19 – Mental toughness talk: “pain is the path” mindset  48:58 – Hell Week begins: day one with boats, cold water & chaos  53:36 – Quitting and ringing the bell — admitting defeat  56:52 – Decision to return — commitment to finish what he started  58:14 – Leadership role in second attempt at BUD/S  1:05:09 – Hospitalization & physical collapse — risk of quitting again  1:08:04 – Recovery, walk‑week and finishing BUD/S  1:10:10 – Graduation: Honor Graduate speech & recognition  1:12:13 – Moving onto SQT: real SEAL training begins  1:13:25 – Personal loss: grandmother passes — resolve tested  1:18:25 – Making history: first Black SEAL to graduate BUD/S & SQT as Honor Man  1:19:59 – First SEAL assignment: submarine‑based SEAL delivery team  1:20:22 – Deployments: Special missions & combat in Iraq  1:31:39 – Transition to instructor & recruiting duty — giving back  1:33:26 – Life after SEALs: depression, recovery & new path  1:39:27 – Why Not Me?: book vision & final message  #military #warstories #urbanvalor #navyseal  #warstories