Vets First Podcast

Season 3 Episode 8: Understanding diabetes and vision loss: A walkthrough with Dr. Randy Kardon

In this episode Dr. Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea interview returning guest Dr. Randy Kardon. Dr. Kardon is a neuro ophthalmologist at the Iowa City VA Healthcare System an

Season 3 Episode 1: Introduction to season 3

We are finally back! It has been almost 2 years since we last published a season. A lot has changed over that time. Dr. Sowers started a faculty position at the Universit

Season 2 Bonus Episode – First-hand experience in the trenches of Covid-19: Dr. Alejandro Pezzulo

In this episode of the Vets First Podcast, Levi and Brandon interview Dr. Alejandro Pezzulo, a pulmonologist, and Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at the Universi

Season 2 Episode 8 – Exploring treatment of PTSD, headache, and depression through brain stimulation: Wave Neuro and TMS

In this episode, podcast hosts Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea dive into Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a treatment for depression, PTSD, and headache, with expert

Season 2 Episode 7 – Perseverance through care and routine: Dr. Carolyn Turvey and Dr. Anne Sadler discuss research on depression and suicide risk with our Veterans

In the beginning of episode seven, Levi and Brandon speak with Dr. Carolyn Turvey to discuss her studies on functional impairment and depression in Veterans. Dr. Turvey g

Season 2 Episode 4 – Two candid discussions about drug use disorders: Trever Siver and Henry Uken

In this first part of the episode, podcast hosts, Levi and Brandon, interview army Veteran, Trever Siver. Trever candidly discusses trauma, mental health, and substance u

Season 2 Episode 1 – Kicking off Season 2 of the Vets First Podcast

In the first episode of the second season, podcast hosts, Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea overview the guests and topics featured in the seasons and offer some of their retro

Season 2 Episode 2 – Not broken, just doing things differently: Director of Disability in Education for the Student Veterans of America, Dan Standage

In the opening of season two interviews of Vets First Podcast, Levi and Brandon welcome Marine Veteran, Dan Standage. In this podcast, listeners will hear from the Arizon

Season 2 Episode 9 – Supporting our active-duty military, Veterans, and first responders: Jim Ravella and the Gary Sinise Foundation

In this episode, hosts Levi and Brandon welcome Jim Ravella, Vice President of Programs at the Gary Sinise Foundation. They discuss the mission, programs and initiatives

Season 2 Episode 6 – The ongoing battle: Josh Marino and Rob Otto share about PTSD, depression, and suicide

In episode six, Levi and Brandon interview Army Veteran, Josh Marino to discuss the traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and internal injuries sustained during his service. Lis

Season 2 Episode 5 – Learning about drug use disorders from origin to treatment: Dr. Anthony Miller and Dr. John Wemmie

In the first half of episode five, Levi and Brandon interview Dr. Anthony Miller.  The episode focuses on opiate use disorder. Levi, Brandon, and Dr. Miller discuss the r

Season 2 Episode 3 – Aiding vision-impaired Veterans through experience: Iowa City VA VIST Coordinator Keith Queen

            In this episode Levi and Brandon interview Keith Queen, Visual Impairments coordinator at the Iowa City VA. Listeners will hear how Keith navigated his life w

Season one in the books!

In this short wrap up episode, Levi and Brandon look back on the season and discuss what surprised them about starting a podcast, some of the difficulties experienced as

A leader in kidney disease and transplant: Dr. Christie Thomas.

Dr. Christie Thomas, a nephrologist at the University of Iowa and the Iowa City VA Healthcare System, joins us on this episode to discuss his favorite organ, the kidney,

Extraordinary circumstances: Son donates kidney to father and Jack Jones receives the first Hepatitis C positive kidney

In this episode we first hear from Vince and David, a father and son pair,  two days before their kidney transplant surgery. David is donating his kidney to his father Vi

When our blood filtration system goes bad: two Veteran viewpoints on kidney disease

The kidneys are organs in the body that filter the blood, removing wastes and extra water are essential for life.  They also maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, a

Out of the dark and into the light: Life after successful treatment of post-traumatic headache

In this episode, we hear from an anonymous Veteran about her struggle with light sensitivity and headache after a traumatic brain injury during Operation Enduring Freedom

An introduction to the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss and an interview with its director Dr. Randy Kardon

As one of the three pillars of the VA, research plays a critical role in the treatment of Veterans. This episode starts with a description of research at the VA. Levi and

A life turned upside down: One Veteran’s story of life after traumatic brain injury.

This is part one of a two-part series on traumatic brain injury-induced headache (this episode and episode 4). Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a disruption in the normal

An introduction to the Vets First Podcast

In this episode you are introduced to the hosts of the Vets First Podcast, Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea. They discuss the origins of the podcast and their goals surroundin