Air Force spouse, former special education teacher, and content creator Erin Muhlenbeck sat down with us at Flag Day to discuss what it really means to be part of the military family. From challenging the "dependa" stereotype to revealing the $1 billion in unpaid labor military spouses contribute annually to the Department of Defense, she breaks down the gap between perception and reality in the veteran and military community.

But the conversation goes deeper. Erin opens up about the online criticism she faces, particularly from fellow veterans and service members, and the real cost of sharing authentic (sometimes uncomfortable) truths about military life. She discusses building genuine community through intentional acts, navigating the pitfalls of being a military spouse influencer, and what it takes to show up with integrity in a space that's not always welcoming to women's voices. It's a raw, honest look at service, leadership, and why authenticity matters more than the narrative you think people want to hear.

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Recorded at the 2026 Flag Day Convening in Washington, D.C., this episode brings together three veteran and military-connected leaders working across different organizations to discuss how they're building bridges and fostering civic engagement in a polarized time. The conversation centers on what makes their organizations successful at transcending partisan divides and uniting Americans around shared values of service and country.

Brian Von Herbulis (The Brickyard) explains that intentional culture-setting is foundational—starting every program and individual relationship with a simple community agreement: be respectful, open-minded, and willing to listen. Heather Kelly (Travis Manion Foundation), a Gold Star Spouse, emphasizes that their work remains apolitical by keeping service and character at the center, grounding everything in the principle "if not me, then who?" and focusing on people-centered rather than politics-centered programming. Gabby Kubinyi (VFW), also a Gold Star spouse, highlights how membership organizations maintain independence by virtue of their collective structure, and shares concrete examples of how organizations can support surviving families through thoughtful acts like coordinated cemetery visits and personalized memorial remembrance.

The panel discusses the importance of stepping up to serve in whatever way makes sense for your life, whether that's picking up trash or leading a major initiative, and emphasizes that organizations don't need to take all the credit; promoting and amplifying good work in your community is equally valuable.

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What does it take for veterans and military families to keep serving after leaving the uniform? Guy Kiyokawa, VP at Leidos and former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Leo Marin, co-founder of Beneath the Service, join us to break down what corporate America, nonprofits, and government are actually doing—and what they're getting wrong—to unlock veteran talent and civic leadership.

Guy shares why purpose and belonging matter more than a paycheck, and Leo doesn't hold back on outdated hiring practices, rigid organizational structures, and the billion-dollar opportunity companies are sitting on. Together, they challenge the systems that hold veterans back and offer a direct call to action: change your structures or get left behind.

Whether you're a veteran looking to transition, a spouse navigating the civilian workforce, or a leader asking what real veteran engagement looks like—this is the conversation that cuts through the talk and gets to what actually works.

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#leidos
#leomarin
#beneaththeservice
#military
#veterans
#militaryspouses

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For more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations