On this episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, I sit down with actor, writer, and advocate Lisa Regina—founder of A Write To Heal and creator of the veteran-driven TV project Heroic Episodes (EP: Joe Mantegna). Lisa opens up about surviving domestic violence, healing through writing, and how working with veterans reshaped her mission to employ vets on set, mentor at-risk youth, and tell authentic stories about trauma, resilience, and community.

We get into:

• Lisa's assault in 2005 and the road back through therapy, faith, and the page
• How a blind Army captain and amputee crushed an acting workshop and sparked A Write To Heal
• Why Heroic Episodes will hire veterans, bring teens in as apprentices, and spotlight VFWs/Legions and veteran-owned brands
• Funding realities, distribution hurdles, and a simple ask: "five bucks" from the community to move the series forward
• Practical pathways for veterans: Part 107 drone training, set work, writing rooms, and authentic consulting

If you've lived through trauma, support veterans and first responders, or care about rebuilding community with real mentorship, this conversation is for you.

Support & Learn More
A Write To Heal (nonprofit): https://awritetoheal.com/
Heroic Episodes (series + donate): heroicepisodes.org/donate

About Lisa Regina

• NYU-trained actor/screenwriter; former faculty at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
• Founder of A Write to Heal (writing as a pathway to recovery)
• Creator of Heroic Episodes, an ensemble drama that employs veterans and mentors at-risk teens

About the Host
VinnyRoc Podcast—real conversations with veterans, creators, first responders, and leaders building things that matter.

Timestamps

00:00 — Opening: Lisa's story and speaking publicly about domestic violence
01:18 — How we likely first met (Range 15 era) and the Hollywood dominoes
04:59 — Lisa's path to film: NYU, coaching, and early breaks
07:02 — The veteran connection begins: Capt. Leslie Nicole Smith enters the class
09:50 — Set life with veterans: camaraderie, competence, and healing
12:31 — The assault: April 2, 2005—what happened and what followed
15:47 — Aftermath, shock, the stranger who stayed, and the long week missing
21:28 — PTSD common ground: civilian survivor meets combat vets
24:42 — A Write to Heal: why writing works when nothing else does
30:05 — "Heroic Episodes": premise, Joe Mantegna, and employing veterans
42:17 — The five-dollar campaign, VFWs/Legions, and sustaining the mission

In this episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, Vinny sits down with friend and author Zeke Stout to unpack a heavy week in America, the way media narratives get weaponized, and what it takes to keep your head and heart steady when the internet won't let you look away. Zeke also unveils his new fiction novel "Exit to Now", why he self-published, and how he used AI in the writing process.

They dig into:

• The aftermath and discourse around the Charlie Kirk assassination and why celebrating violence is a societal dead end
• How both political sides exploit social media, attention, and emotion—and what "psyops" looks like in civilian life
• Raising kids with room to choose their own beliefs, while modeling civil disagreement
• Simple ways to protect your mental health when the feed turns toxic
• The creative grind, self-publishing on Amazon, and making art under pressure
• MGS Trade School's distance-learning approach to gunsmithing and GI Bill support

If you value real talk over outrage and want practical ways to decompress, think clearly, and contribute better, this one's for you.

Guest: Zeke Stout — author of Exit to Now
Sponsor: MGS Trade School (MGS.edu) — distance gunsmithing education, GI Bill approved

Subscribe for more conversations on culture, mindset, resilience, faith, and free speech. Drop a comment with your takeaways or questions for a follow-up episode.

On this episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, Vincent Vargas sits down with John Ramsey, Senior R&D Manager at Diversified Botanics, to dive into a powerful conversation about natural medicine, CBD, kratom, and the dangers of 7-hydroxy mitragynine (7-OH).

John, a veteran and former Army medic, shares his journey from the military to the hemp and CBD industry, explaining how natural remedies like CBD and kratom helped him avoid the destructive cycle of pharmaceutical painkillers. Together, Vince and John explore:

• The truth about CBD isolate and why it became a breakthrough in non-psychoactive relief.
• How the endocannabinoid system works and why our bodies are designed to receive cannabinoids.
• What kratom really is, its traditional uses, and how it differs from synthetic and dangerous 7-hydroxy extracts.
• The opioid epidemic in the military and how kratom may help support recovery.
• Why Diversified Botanics is fighting to eliminate 7-OH and create safe, transparent, third-party tested products.

This episode is about cutting through the noise, misinformation, and stigma to give you a clearer picture of CBD, kratom, and the fight to keep natural remedies safe.

If you want to support the petition to regulate and restrict 7-hydroxy, check the link here: https://www.change.org/p/protect-our-heroes-stop-the-deception-destroying-lives

In this episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, Angel Cortez shares his incredible life story—growing up in gang culture, surviving violence, serving as an Army Ranger in Iraq and Afghanistan, and transitioning into veteran advocacy and entrepreneurship. From getting stabbed on his fifteenth birthday to leading a Special Operations career, Angel opens up about resilience, purpose, and the parallels between gangs, the military, and community brotherhood.

We also dive into his viral comments on ICE, the controversy that followed, and his perspective on immigration, law enforcement, and bridging communities. Angel's journey highlights the struggles of first-generation Americans, the challenges of growing up in low-income neighborhoods, and the transformation that comes with discipline, service, and finding true purpose.

If you want raw honesty about gangs, the military, veteran life, and community activism, this conversation is for you.

- Topics covered in this episode:

- Growing up in gang culture and surviving early violence

- Transitioning from gangs to the U.S. Army Ranger Regiment

- Combat experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan

- Building community through advocacy and entrepreneurship (OG Pumpkin)

- ICE raids, immigration policy, and the viral podcast clip controversy

- The importance of brotherhood, purpose, and finding a positive path

Follow Angel Cortes: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelgcortes175/

In this deeply moving episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, Vincent "Rocco" Vargas sits down with Casey (@transmute_that_innergy), a Marine Corps veteran, former Mongols MC member, and glioblastoma survivor. Casey shares his raw and transformative journey from war zones and outlaw brotherhoods to holistic healing and inner peace.

Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and given only 3 months to live, Casey defied all odds by rejecting conventional treatment and embracing alternative therapies including fasting, breathwork, plant medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and deep spiritual exploration. Now three years later, Casey is thriving—mentally, physically, and spiritually.

This episode explores the toll of war, childhood trauma, ego death through psychedelics, healing masculinity, and what it means to truly be at peace. If you're a veteran, first responder, or anyone walking through fire and looking for light, this is a must-listen.

🔗 Follow Casey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transmute_that_innergy

🌐 Learn more or apply for veteran treatment: https://www.beyondservice.us

In this powerful episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, Vincent "Rocco" Vargas sits down with Dustin Burkett, a former law enforcement officer turned custom gun grip artist and founder of Burkett Customs. Dustin Hill opens up about his 20-year career in law enforcement, his battle with PTSD, and the life-changing impact of the Warrior PATHH program through Boulder Crest.

He shares how forging unique custom grips from rare and meaningful materials—like wooly mammoth tooth, meteorite, and even samurai armor—became both his business and his therapy. From addiction and suicidal thoughts to finding peace and purpose in craftsmanship and fatherhood, Dustin's story is one of raw vulnerability, redemption, and resilience.

This is a must-watch conversation for first responders, veterans, and anyone navigating the mental health challenges of service and life after.

Guest:

Dustin Burkett

Website: https://www.burkettcustoms.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burkettcustoms/

Resources Mentioned:

https://bouldercrest.org/program/warrior-pathh/

In this deeply moving episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, host Vincent Vargas sits down with Mikey Horbaczewski, a Marine Corps veteran, father, and podcast host of Life Unlocked with Mikey. Together, they explore Mikey's emotional and transformative journey from the streets of Chicago and a life immersed in gang culture, to surviving a traumatic deployment in Afghanistan, and ultimately finding healing, leadership, and purpose.

Mikey Horbaczewski opens up about his military experience, the devastating loss of a mentor, battling a severe injury, and struggling with mental health and addiction after returning home. But through resilience, community, and guidance—including Light the Fuse retreats and mentorship—he's rewritten his story as a present father, devoted husband, and inspiring voice for fellow veterans and men seeking growth.

This episode is a powerful reminder that healing is possible and that leadership and love go hand in hand.

🎙 Mikey's Podcast: Life Unlocked with Mikey

Available on Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/life_unlocked_with_mikey/

In this powerful episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, host Vincent Vargas sits down with Keane Raley, a husband, father, and member of the Light the Fuse brotherhood, to share his raw, inspiring journey of transformation. Raised in a small Colorado town, Keane opens up about his early struggles with substance abuse, financial hardships, and the challenges of stepping out of his grandfather's shadow in the oil and gas industry.

Keane speaks openly about losing everything, rebuilding his life, and finding purpose through fatherhood, marriage, and the Light the Fuse men's wellness retreat. From getting married in an 800 sq ft home with just $25, to facing relapse and redemption, Keane's story is a true testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Now a stay-at-home father and part of an upcoming group book project, Keane discusses how mental health, community, and personal accountability changed his life. This episode is for anyone seeking hope, healing, and a reminder that transformation is possible at any point in your journey.

For more information about Light the Fuse: Visit: https://www.instagram.com/ltf.wellness/

Follow Vincent Vargas: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vincent.rocco.vargas/

Support Our Sponsors:

- Core Medical Group https://coremedicalgrp.com/

- MGS Trade School https://mgs.edu/

- GrimBlades (Premium Knives): https://www.grimblades.com