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Joseph Zolper, Army veteran and Manager of Outreach & Networking at the Road Home Program at Rush University Medical Center, joins Ashton on Veteran Cancer Talk to discuss veterans’ mental health, toxic exposure awareness, and why support matters even more when veterans and families are navigating serious medical issues like cancer.

Joseph shares his Afghanistan deployment experience, the reality of mental health symptoms surfacing after service, and why many veterans put their health last during the transition to civilian life. He also explains how the Road Home Program provides no-cost mental health care for veterans, service members, and families—plus accelerated treatment options and virtual care in many states—while emphasizing that caregivers and spouses deserve support too.

Get care (self-referral): https://roadhomeprogram.org/ → Get Care
More from Veteran Cancer Network: https://veterancancernetwork.org/

Guest Bio: Joseph Zolper is a leader, veteran, and advocate dedicated to serving the military community. A former U.S. Army Infantry Officer (Captain), he deployed to Afghanistan under Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and earned the Bronze Star, two Army Commendation Medals, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. After service, he built one of Amazon’s largest Military Employee Resource Groups and now helps veterans and families access life-changing care through the Road Home Program.

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Learn more at www.veterancancernetwork.org

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In this episode of Veteran Cancer Talk, host Ashton speaks with Gary Schell, a U.S. Marine Corps infantry veteran and testicular cancer survivor, about his journey from military service to cancer diagnosis—and life after treatment.

Gary shares his experiences serving with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, including deployments to the Pacific and the Middle East, and discusses potential toxic exposures during military service that may impact long-term health. He opens up about noticing early warning signs during the COVID era, receiving a testicular cancer diagnosis, and undergoing aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy and a tandem stem cell transplant.

The conversation also explores the importance of early cancer detection for veterans, navigating the medical system, seeking second opinions, and addressing mental health challenges during and after cancer treatment. Gary explains how survivorship reshaped his purpose and led him to found the Home of Record Project, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans secure stable housing and rebuild their lives.

This episode is essential listening for veterans, caregivers, and advocates focused on cancer awareness, toxic exposure, mental health, and veteran support.

Topics covered include:

• Testicular cancer in veterans
• Military toxic exposure and long-term health risks
• Cancer treatment and stem cell transplants
• Mental health and survivorship
• Veteran advocacy and nonprofit leadership
• Life after cancer and ongoing surveillance

Learn more about the Home of Record Project:
https://homeofrecordproject.org/

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Veteran Cancer Network is building the resource we wish we had. Connecting veterans and caregivers navigating cancer.
Learn more at www.veterancancernetwork.org

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Charise Isis, founder and director of The Grace Project, joins Veteran Cancer Talk to share how photography has become a powerful tool for healing, visibility, and empowerment for breast cancer survivors — including veterans.

Through visual storytelling, The Grace Project is putting real faces to breast cancer and changing the way survivorship is seen, felt, and understood. The project has photographed more than 1,200 survivors, creating space for individuals to reclaim their identity, dignity, and sense of self after diagnosis.

In this conversation, Charise discusses how The Grace Project began, why humanizing breast cancer matters, and how photography can help survivors feel seen, heard, and valued. She also shares insights on early detection, the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare, and the emotional and mental health side of survivorship.

Topics include:
• The origins and growth of The Grace Project
• Using photography to humanize breast cancer
• Breast cancer in young women
• Early detection and why it matters
• Self-advocacy within the healthcare system
• The healing power of community and peer support
• Men and breast cancer awareness
• Creating a veterans-focused chapter within The Grace Project
• Exhibitions and public storytelling that honor survivor stories

This episode explores the human side of cancer beyond statistics — the fear, resilience, strength, and hope that exist alongside diagnosis and treatment. It also highlights why connection, compassion, and early detection are critical to improving outcomes for both veterans and civilians.

Whether you are a survivor, caregiver, veteran, healthcare professional, or someone who loves a person impacted by cancer, this conversation offers insight, encouragement, and a reminder that you are not alone.

Guest: Charise Isis
Founder / Director / Photographer – The Grace Project (Grace Goddess Inc.)

Website: www.the-grace-project.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/graceproject

Instagram: @800goddesses

Support the show

Veteran Cancer Network is building the resource we wish we had. Connecting veterans and caregivers navigating cancer.
Learn more at www.veterancancernetwork.org