Operation Healing Heroes: Recent Episodes
Jason Garstecki
In this episode of OHH – Feel the Heal, Jay Garstecki sits down with Jerry Shaffer, co-chairman and CEO of The Red Star Foundation. Jerry shares his journey from serving in the United States Marine Corps to leading a mission focused on supporting families of veterans and first responders lost to suicide. This powerful conversation sheds light on the impact of loss, the need for connection, and why no family should have to carry that burden alone.
Air Force and National Guard veteran David Vargas joins Jay for a conversation about service, transition, and the unseen battles many veterans face after the uniform comes off. David is President of Pinellas County Veterans Association.
In this episode of Feel The Heal, Jay sits down with Navy veteran and Gold Star father Larry Jackson. Larry shares his own military journey, then opens up about the life and service of his son, Ben — an Air Force airman stationed in Japan who tragically passed away in an accident.Larry reflects on Ben’s surprise visit home just weeks before his death, a moment that would later inspire the creation of the Ben Jackson Foundation. Born out of loss, the foundation now helps active-duty enlisted service members afford travel home to reconnect with family — something many can’t do simply because of cost.The conversation centers on service, sacrifice, grief, and purpose — and how Ben’s legacy lives on through a mission that has already helped hundreds of young service members return home for weddings, final goodbyes, reunions, and moments that matter most.It’s a powerful reminder that healing often begins with connection — and that even in tragedy, one life can continue to change countless others.
Keith and Javier are the production crew for Operation Healing Heroes TV show that airs on The Discovery Channel. Keith and Javier dive deep into the production process of a 30 minute TV show. They geek out talking gear and touch on the editing process.
Victoria Phillips served on Active Duty in the United States Army and began her healing journey in March 2022 after connecting with Operation Healing Heroes and Take A Vet Fishing. Through experiences like undergoing a stellate ganglion block, learning about the role of vitamins and supplements with her chiropractor, and taking small but meaningful steps forward, she continues to focus on growth and resilience. Her story is a reminder to never give up, even when progress comes one small step at a time.
Joey, a student at Moody Bible Institute and youth leader, opens up about his journey into ministry and his calling to serve children who have lost a parent in military or first responder service. Together, Jay and Joey talk about faith, trauma, and the difficult questions Gold Star kids often face — including why bad things happen to good people.Inspired by their experience filming an Operation Healing Heroes episode with a Gold Star family, Jay and Joey discuss their vision for Gold Star Youth Ministries, a new nonprofit focused on providing one-on-one support, group sessions, retreats, and faith-based resources for children and families navigating profound loss.This honest conversation explores healing through faith, meeting people where they are, and creating a safe space for young hearts struggling with grief, anger, and uncertainty. It’s a powerful reminder that healing looks different for everyone — and that hope can begin with simply being heard.
U.S. Army Special Operations Veteran and President of the non-profit organization The Sparta Project, serving combat veterans and first responders suffering from PTS. Although Josh no longer wears a uniform, his commitment to serving others has never changed.
Scott served in the Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, is a two-time Amazon bestselling author, a certified nutrition coach and physique athlete coach, is currently the Vice President of Compliance for Groome Industrial Services, the CEO of nValliant, the founder of About Face Fitness, and is honored to serve as the COO and board member for Project Healing Heroes.
A clinical psychologist who is both a combat veteran and a former first responder himself, Dr. David Tharp founded Project Healing Heroes in 2016 to facilitate resiliency and reintegration for other combat veterans, service members, first responders, and their family members as they serve our nation both at home and abroad. Through his own experiences and clinical work, he recognized that PTSD and suicide are two of the most challenging issues facing our veterans and first responders today.
Dan Jarvis is a U.S. Army combat Infantryman, former Deputy Sheriff, and founder of Healing the Hero, a nonprofit Christian ministry devoted to ending the cycle of trauma and suicide among active duty, veterans, first responders, Gold Star families and immediate family members.Born into a Navy family, Dan’s life of service started early and spanned two wars. He led combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Infantry Squad Leader, earning a Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. Between deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan he served as a U.S. Army Drill Sergeant, he shaped civilians into Soldiers. Yet Dan’s fiercest battle came after the uniform came off — confronting PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and depression that nearly claimed his life on March 2, 2013. Frustrated with conventional therapies that failed many warriors, Dan founded 22ZERO with his ex-wife Dr. Gwinnell Brant in April 2018, where he developed the Trauma Resiliency Protocol (TRP) and Emotions Management Process (EMP) — pioneering methods designed to neutralize trauma without reliving it. These breakthroughs have helped thousands reclaim their lives. These methods are now patent pending. Dan resigned from 22ZERO in 2023.In 2024, Dan launched Healing the Hero to continue this mission, combining peer-driven support with faith-integrated healing through his latest innovation — the Trauma Resiliency Protocol–Peer Rescue (TRP-PR) and the Jesus Protocol. These 9-line protocols diffuse trauma triggers and negative emotions in minutes and are now being scientifically validated through qEEG brain scans and heart rate variability research at Arizona State University with first responders, veterans and active-duty military.Through his leadership, Healing the Hero is shaping national initiatives, including an upcoming study on corrections officers at the Cook County Jail — the largest and one of the most challenging correctional facilities in America — aiming to reverse the devastating mental health crisis among law enforcement. San Diego State University will publish this study with an Institutional Review Board with Dr. Trejbalova as the primary investigator.
Join me as I talk to Travis Bennett, a United States Army National Guard veteran that served from 2013 - 2019. Travis shares his story of struggles with addiction, suicide attempts and RECOVERY!