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Blue Skies and Battle Scars Podcast

Real conversations with combat-injured warriors, Fallen Hero families, and the people who stand beside them. Stories of service, resilience, healing, and hope.

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Premiere Episode

Episode 1: John Hart

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Blue Skies and Battle Scars

The mission of “Blue Skies and Battle Scars” is to share the voices of combat‑wounded veterans, fallen hero families, caregivers, and the community that stands beside them. Each episode captures stories of service, sacrifice, healing, and hope while strengthening connection and honoring legacy. The podcast also highlights the sponsors, partners, and mission‑driven individuals who contribute to the success of Blue Skies for the Good Guys and Gals, recognizing their role in lifting our warriors and Fallen Hero families.

Recent Episodes

Tonight on Blue Skies and Battle Scars, we sit down with Sergeant First Class Bailey, a combat-tested Cavalry Scout whose military career has spanned leadership roles from the battlefield to some of the Army’s most elite training environments. A graduate of Batavia High School in Ohio, SFC Bailey began his Army journey at Fort Knox and has since served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Southern Guardian, partnering with U.S. Customs and Border Protection on an 11-month joint mission. His career has taken him around the world and across a wide range of assignments, including Recruiter, Sniper Section Leader, Senior Scout, Senior Military Mountaineering Instructor in Alaska, Platoon Sergeant, and S3 NCOIC. Join us as we discuss combat deployments, the challenges of leadership, life in the Cavalry, training Soldiers for extreme conditions, and the lessons learned from a career dedicated to service. This is a conversation about resilience, professionalism, sacrifice, and what it truly means to lead from the front. Tune in tonight as we hear the story behind the uniform and the experiences that shaped one remarkable Army leader. Tonight's episode is in honor of Fallen Hero Sergeant Phillip A Bocks, USMC. 28, of Troy, Mich.; assigned to Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif.; died Nov. 9 while conducting combat operations in Aranus, Afghanistan. May our Fallen Heroes NEVER be FORGOTTEN!
Episode 6 with SFC Brian Bailey
Blue Skies and Battle Scars welcomes two incredible Army veterans, SGT Angie Hughes Davis and SPC Maegan Gray Burtwell. Angie served from 1999-2014, and Maegan served from 2001-2004. Both are combat-wounded veterans who know firsthand the sacrifices of military service and the challenges that follow. Today, both call Oklahoma home, but their connection runs much deeper than geography. Though not related by blood, these two warriors have forged a bond stronger than most family ties. Through combat, recovery, life after service, and unwavering support for one another, they have become sisters in every way that matters. Join us for a raw and honest conversation about military service, resilience, healing, friendship, and the unbreakable bonds forged through shared sacrifice.
Episode 5 with Angie Hughes Davis and Maegan Gray Bertwell
Stephen Valyou: From 9/11 to EOD, Surviving the Unthinkable, and Choosing to Live In Episode 4 of Blue Skies and Battle Scars, we sit down with Army Veteran Stephen Valyou, whose journey from a small town in upstate New York to the front lines of Afghanistan and Iraq is a powerful story of service, sacrifice, brotherhood, and resilience. Stephen’s path to military service began on the morning of September 11, 2001. While working in construction and highway maintenance for the New York State Department of Transportation, he heard the news of the attacks on the World Trade Center. As his region began assisting with debris removal at Ground Zero, the events of that day and the weeks that followed fueled a decision that would change the course of his life forever. At 24 years old, Stephen walked into a recruiter’s office and answered the call to serve. After completing his military training, Stephen deployed to Afghanistan, where his experience working alongside Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians sparked a passion for a new mission. He pursued the opportunity to become an EOD technician, eventually joining the 725th Ordnance Company and deploying to Iraq in December 2006. On March 29, 2007, while clearing an improvised explosive device (IED), Stephen was shot by a sniper. The injuries he sustained changed his life forever, but they did not take away his determination to keep living it. Stephen opens up about his recovery, the challenges of living with paralysis, and the decision he made to refuse to let his circumstances define him. With a young son waiting for him at home, he found a reason to keep moving forward—even when the road was difficult and the internal battles became loud. Today, Stephen continues to challenge himself through skydiving, scuba diving, skiing, and cycling. His story is a reminder that resilience isn't about having all the answers or never struggling. It's about choosing to get back up, finding new ways to live, and refusing to surrender the life you still have.
Episode 4 w/ Stephen Valyou
Stephen Valyou: From 9/11 to EOD, Surviving the Unthinkable, and Choosing to Live In Episode 4 of Blue Skies and Battle Scars, we sit down with Army Veteran Stephen Valyou, whose journey from a small town in upstate New York to the front lines of Afghanistan and Iraq is a powerful story of service, sacrifice, brotherhood, and resilience. Stephen’s path to military service began on the morning of September 11, 2001. While working in construction and highway maintenance for the New York State Department of Transportation, he heard the news of the attacks on the World Trade Center. As his region began assisting with debris removal at Ground Zero, the events of that day and the weeks that followed fueled a decision that would change the course of his life forever. At 24 years old, Stephen walked into a recruiter’s office and answered the call to serve. After completing his military training, Stephen deployed to Afghanistan, where his experience working alongside Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians sparked a passion for a new mission. He pursued the opportunity to become an EOD technician, eventually joining the 725th Ordnance Company and deploying to Iraq in December 2006. On March 29, 2007, while clearing an improvised explosive device (IED), Stephen was shot by a sniper. The injuries he sustained changed his life forever, but they did not take away his determination to keep living it. Stephen opens up about his recovery, the challenges of living with paralysis, and the decision he made to refuse to let his circumstances define him. With a young son waiting for him at home, he found a reason to keep moving forward—even when the road was difficult and the internal battles became loud. Today, Stephen continues to challenge himself through skydiving, scuba diving, skiing, and cycling. His story is a reminder that resilience isn't about having all the answers or never struggling. It's about choosing to get back up, finding new ways to live, and refusing to surrender the life you still have.
Episode 4 w Stephen Valyou
In this powerful first episode, host Matthew Miller sits down with John Hart, a Special Forces veteran, skydiver, entrepreneur and community leader whose mission is to honor America’s heroes through service, adventure, and connection. Together, they discuss the origins of Blue Skies for the Good Guys and Gals Warrior Foundation, the healing power of shared experiences, and how two brother's vision turned into a movement supporting Combat Wounded and Fallen Hero Families. “Every jump, every story, every scar reminds us why we serve — and why we never forget.” Tune in for real conversations about resilience, leadership, and the bonds that build stronger tomorrow.
Episode 1 with John Hart
In this episode, Kevin and Donna share their stories of military service, their dedication to one another, and the mission that continues to drive them forward. From combat to community, from healing to honoring, their journey reflects the strength, resilience, and unity that define America’s warrior families. Join us as we dive into their experiences, their bond, and their commitment to Team Fastrax and the veteran community. Ask
Episode 2 with Kevin and Donna Engel
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