What happens when a 15-year Army Veteran trades artillery for Atlas stones, 900-pound deadlifts, and the pursuit of becoming a professional strongman?

In Episode 9 of NO NEUTRAL – Veterans in Motion, host Taylor sits down with OVN Ambassador Athlete Zach Bennett, an Army Veteran, Iraq War Veteran, and United States Strongman National Champion.

Zach's journey into strength sports wasn't planned. After leaving military service, he stepped away from physical training and found himself struggling with the loss of routine, motivation, and the connections that had been part of his life for 15 years.

What started with a makeshift gym in the woods eventually led to his first strongman competition, a national championship, and an opportunity to compete for his professional status.

But this conversation goes well beyond lifting heavy weights.

Zach shares how strength training helped him rebuild purpose and improve his mental wellness, the importance of faith and family in his life, and how fellow Veterans and organizations stepped forward to support his journey.

From the battlefield to the competition floor, Zach's story demonstrates that strength isn't measured only by what you can lift. It's also about finding your next challenge, building connections, and being there for others.

NO NEUTRAL is a podcast series by Operation Vet NOW (OVN), featuring Veteran athletes who use competitive sports to build connection, purpose, and community while advancing the mission of Veteran mental health and suicide prevention.

Be There for Our Veterans.

Learn more: www.OperationVetNOW.com

We would love to hear from you.

Support the show

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Operation Vet NOW or its partners.

This podcast is for informational and storytelling purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, mental health, or professional advice.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a qualified professional or contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

What happens when the mission changes, but the drive to keep pushing never goes away?

Air Force Veteran and OVN Ambassador Athlete Don spent part of his military career as a flight engineer aboard special operations aircraft, including combat missions in the MH-53 Pave Low. Today, that same drive has taken him into a very different arena—Ironman triathlons.

In this episode of No Neutral, Don talks about his military career, discovering endurance sports later in life, and why completing an Ironman is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.

After being sidelined for more than a year, Don is now working his way back—rebuilding strength, returning to training, and chasing his next finish line.

It’s a conversation about service, discipline, setbacks, family, and continuing to find something worth pushing toward.

No Neutral — Where Competition Creates Connection.

We would love to hear from you.

Support the show

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Operation Vet NOW or its partners.

This podcast is for informational and storytelling purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, mental health, or professional advice.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a qualified professional or contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Army Veteran Crystal knows that some of life's greatest challenges are overcome not by standing still—but by moving forward.

From competitive shooting and desert racing to motocross, Crystal shares how demanding sports became more than competition. They became a way to quiet the noise, rebuild purpose, and reconnect with the same sense of community she found during military service.

In this episode, Crystal discusses the transition from military life, the mental focus required to compete, why training often matters more than trophies, and how organizations like OVN help Veterans stay connected long after they leave the uniform.

Whether she's navigating a racecourse, a shooting stage, or life after service, Crystal reminds us that healing often begins by finding something that demands our full attention—and a community that never lets us stand alone.

We would love to hear from you.

Support the show

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Operation Vet NOW or its partners.

This podcast is for informational and storytelling purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, mental health, or professional advice.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a qualified professional or contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

After 20 years in the United States Coast Guard, Josh "Obie" Trice continues to live a life centered on service, connection, and purpose.

In this episode of No Neutral, Obie shares stories from his Coast Guard career, including search and rescue missions in Alaska, life aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinac, and the challenges of serving through the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discusses how motocross, adventure riding, music, and community involvement have helped him maintain balance and stay connected after military service.

Now an OVN Ambassador Athlete, Obie talks about the importance of meeting Veterans where they are, building connection through shared interests, and using sports and hobbies as a gateway to long-term wellness and support.

From helicopters and icebreakers to dirt bikes and guitars, this conversation highlights what it means to keep moving forward and never stay neutral

We would love to hear from you.

Support the show

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Operation Vet NOW or its partners.

This podcast is for informational and storytelling purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, mental health, or professional advice.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a qualified professional or contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Army Veteran, firefighter, skateboarder, motocross racer, and more — Collin Sullivan lives life in motion.

In Episode 5 of No Neutral: Veterans in Motion, Collin shares how skateboarding and motocross became more than hobbies after military service — they became outlets for connection, focus, purpose, and mental resilience.

From growing up skating in Tennessee to rediscovering motocross after the Army, Collin opens up about transition, depression, anxiety, and the importance of finding healthy outlets that keep Veterans moving forward.

This episode dives into:

• How skateboarding helped shape his identity and direction early in life
• “Throttle therapy” and the mental reset found on a dirt bike
• Transitioning from the military into the fire service
• Why action sports create connection and community for Veterans
• Ultra-marathon training, jiu-jitsu, and pushing mental limits
• Mentoring youth and creating spaces for the next generation to belong

Collin also discusses his vision for growing skateboarding within OVN and using sports to connect Veterans who may otherwise struggle in silence.

This is a conversation about movement, identity, community, and finding purpose after service — one sport at a time.

Because staying in motion can change — and even save — lives.

We would love to hear from you.

Support the show

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Operation Vet NOW or its partners.

This podcast is for informational and storytelling purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, mental health, or professional advice.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a qualified professional or contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Episode 4 of No Neutral: Veterans in Motion brings a unique perspective — two leaders at different stages of service, connected through competition, purpose, and community.

Rachel, currently serving in the Army while attending medical school, and Jose, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, share their journeys from military service into the fast-growing world of pickleball. From elite performance and high-pressure careers to finding balance through sport, both embody what it means to stay in motion after — and during — service.

This episode dives into:

• Transitioning identity from military to personal mission
• The role of sport in mental health and stress management
• How competition builds connection across generations
• Why pickleball is becoming one of the most accessible “front door” environments for veterans

From medical school and active duty to coaching, recovery, and high-level competition — this conversation shows how purpose doesn’t end with service. It evolves.

Because at OVN — there is No Neutral.

We would love to hear from you.

Support the show

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Operation Vet NOW or its partners.

This podcast is for informational and storytelling purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, mental health, or professional advice.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a qualified professional or contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

After 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, Jason Childers stepped out of uniform — and into a new mission.

In this episode of No Neutral — Therapy on the Mat, Jason shares how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became more than just a sport. It became a tool for mental reset, connection, and purpose after service.

From leading as a First Sergeant to navigating the transition out of the military, this conversation dives into:

• The reality of leadership and taking care of people
• The gap between military culture and mental health support
• Why transition can feel like losing part of your identity
• How jiu-jitsu provides structure, accountability, and therapy
• The importance of finding your next mission before crisis

Jiu-jitsu isn’t just training — it’s presence, pressure, and purpose.
And for many veterans, it’s exactly what’s needed.

This is what No Neutral is all about.

🎧 Watch / Listen now.

We would love to hear from you.

Support the show

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Operation Vet NOW or its partners.

This podcast is for informational and storytelling purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, mental health, or professional advice.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a qualified professional or contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Pro Snocross Racer, OVN Ambassador & Army Reservist
Still serving — with a mission that’s bigger than himself.

Devin Denman is balancing military service and professional racing — but what drives him goes deeper.

Through snocross, he’s found purpose, connection, and a way to honor his fellow fallen soldiers — carrying their names and stories with him every time he lines up at the gate.

This isn’t just competition.
This is continuation of service.

This is No Neutral.
Where there’s no standing still — only forward.

🎧 Watch / Listen now.

#NoNeutral #VeteransInMotion #Snocross #ArmyReserve #HonorTheFallen

We would love to hear from you.

Support the show

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Operation Vet NOW or its partners.

This podcast is for informational and storytelling purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, mental health, or professional advice.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a qualified professional or contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.