Donna explores how Cyclone Bagels is redefining support for formerly homeless veterans by providing more than just housing; they are fostering empowerment through culinary employment, community connection, and a sense of belonging.

Key Topics Discussed

• The Mission of Concern Housing: Jim Mutton, Associate Executive Director, explains how Concern Housing has expanded over 53 years to serve approximately 1,800 individuals, focusing on supportive housing for formerly homeless veterans.
• Housing as Healthcare: The importance of providing stable, supportive housing—subsidized so veterans pay only 30% of their income—as the critical first step in a journey toward health and wellness.
• The Cyclone Bagels Model: Joaselyn Cruz, who transitioned from a high-stakes career at a two-time James Beard award-winning bakery to Cyclone Bagels, details how the shop is tailored to meet veterans "where they are".
• Veteran-Centric Operations: Shifts are intentionally kept short (four hours) to accommodate varying levels of mental and physical stamina.
• Therapeutic Environment: Beyond making delicious sourdough bagels, the shop serves as a venue for treating moral injury, fostering camaraderie, and creating a safe, inclusive community space.
• Ripple Effects: The impact extends to the neighborhood, where veterans act as mentors to local youth, creating surrogate family bonds and inspiring educational pursuits.

Guests

• Joaselyn Cruz: Director of Operations, Cyclone Bagels.
• Jim Mutton: Associate Executive Director, Concern Housing.
• Michelle Marcisak : Marketing, Concern Housing/Cyclone Bagels.

Support the Mission

If you are inspired by the work happening in Coney Island, you can support them in the following ways:

• Visit: Stop by Cyclone Bagels in Coney Island for a coffee and a bagel.
• Donate: Contributions can be made directly via cyclonebagels.com or concernedhousing.org.
• Follow: Stay updated on social media at @concernedhousing and @cyclonebagels on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this episode, host Donna Hoffmeyer explores the intersection of technology, legacy, and human connection with guest Miles Spencer, CEO and co-founder of Reflekta.ai. Miles, an entrepreneur and storyteller, shares how his "soul tech" company allows users to create fully interactive, digital legacies that enable spontaneous, dynamic conversation between family members across generations.

Donna and Miles discuss the emotional weight of legacy, the importance of storytelling for veterans and first responders, and how this technology serves as a modern evolution of the "last letter" transforming static memories into an accessible, living dialogue that can be shared with loved ones for decades to come.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us spread these vital resources further into the community. Until all are home and all are well!

Transitioning out of military or first responder life is rarely a straight path. The weight of cumulative trauma and PTSD can leave individuals feeling isolated, stressed, and disconnected from the communities they fought to protect.

In this episode, host Donna Hoffmeyer sits down with Laura Lindsey, Development Director of Heroes on the Water, to explore a unique, powerful avenue for healing: kayak fishing. Laura shares how getting out on the water provides veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with a calm environment to decompress, lower their stress levels, and safely reconnect with a community that understands their experiences. From the role of family in long-term recovery to the life-changing impact of alternative wellness, this conversation sheds light on what it truly takes to heal after the uniform.

Connect & Learn More

• Website: Heroes on the Water
• Take Action: Visit their website to find a local chapter, sign up to volunteer, or donate to support their mission.
• Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode of Beyond the Frontline, please leave us a review and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!

What happens when a Special Forces commando survives six years of combat, but realizes the hardest battle is learning how to rest?

In this episode, host Donna Hoffmeyer sits down with Tim Thomas—retired Australian Special Forces commando, mental health advocate, and founder of the Breathworks in Bed app. Tim opens up about his unconventional path into elite military selection at age 30, the invisible toll of undiagnosed PTSD, and the breakthrough in a psychologist's office that sparked a global mission to help others heal.

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• The Civilian to Commando Path: Entering Special Forces selection at 30 and facing the gut-wrenching choice to miss his child's birth to keep his spot.
• The Identity Paradox: Why suppressing individual identity—the military's greatest tactical strength—becomes a veteran's heaviest burden during transition.
• The Pyramid of Performance: Why high-achievers constantly ignore the true foundation of success: rest, recovery, and deep healing.
• Breathwork in the Dirt: How Tim discovered nervous system regulation while deployed in Afghanistan by focusing on his left thumb.
• Pulling "Stress Weeds": Understanding why your disempowered self actively resists positive change, and how the Breathworks in Bed app helps you win the first five minutes of your day.

🔥 Key Takeaway:

"You might not think you're special, but I bet you've been through some shit—and our job is not to stay in the shit, it's to turn it into fertilizer." — Tim Thomas

Get the App: Breathworks in Bed

If this conversation resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review, subscribe, and share this episode with a veteran, first responder, or family member who needs to hear it today.

Host Donna sits down with Michael Dermer, founder of The Lonely Entrepreneur and IncentOne, to explore the powerful, surprising overlap between the entrepreneurial journey and the lives of the veterans and first responders.

Michael shares his raw path from corporate M&A lawyer to pioneering the health rewards industry, surviving the devastating 2008 financial crisis, and ultimately building a movement to ensure no entrepreneur has to struggle in isolation.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• The Lonely Entrepreneur Platform: Visit the Website to explore over 2,500 on-demand learning modules, tools, templates, and community support.
• The Veterans Initiative: Claim your free access license or learn how to support the mission at TLEfoundation.org/VEI.
• Weekly Open Coaching: Join the free weekly CEO Call for open mentorship and group coaching.
• Connect with Michael Dermer: Follow Michael's insights and journey on LinkedIn.
• Featured Book: The Lonely Entrepreneur by Michael Dermer (Be sure to check out the Applebee's story!)
• Upcoming Release: Keep an eye out for The Entrepreneur's Survival Guide—a tactical blueprint on how to adapt and thrive in a world driven by AI.

What happens when the damage to your brain isn't visible on a standard MRI, but it’s destroying your life?

If you like this episode, leave us a review.

On this episode of Beyond the Frontline, Donna talks with Will Person, a former 9-year Team USA bobsled athlete turned advocate. Will’s story is a wake-up call for anyone in the high-impact world—from elite athletes to military veterans and domestic violence survivors.

Inside the Episode:

• The "Sled Head" Reality: Will discusses the extreme G-forces (up to 84.5 Gs!) and the crashes that led to a wave of suicides, strokes, and Parkinson’s among his teammates.
• The Invisible Injury: Why symptoms of CTE and TBI often don't surface until a decade after the trauma, and why talk therapy isn't enough when the brain is physically damaged.
• The Military Parallel: The striking similarities between bobsledders and artillery units—soldiers who may never see a "combat zone" but return with severe TBI symptoms from repeated blast exposure.
• A Path to Healing: How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and advanced imaging changed Will’s life, and his mission to make this treatment 100% free for those who need it most.

Resources & Support:

🔗 Learn More: TreatNow.org – Advocacy for veteran access to HBOT. 🔗 Follow Will: TikTok @OneManWithTheChamber for CTE and treatment insights. 🔗 Donate: Support the mission to provide free HBOT at Will’s GoFundMe .

In this episode, host Donna sits down with Ben Higginbotham, a Marine Corps veteran and Director of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) Military Veterans Program. Ben shares his journey from the infantry to leading a nationwide initiative that connects transitioning service members with high-paying careers in the trades.

Episode Highlights:

• The Power of the Union: Breaking down what the UBC actually is and the benefits—including full medical, pensions, and no-cost training.
• The UBC MVP Program: A deep dive into the 8-week, fully paid SkillBridge program for Carpenters, Millwrights, and Pile Drivers.
• Transition Realities: Why starting at the bottom is often the fastest path to the top and how financial stability directly impacts veteran mental health.
• Soft Skills vs. Passion: Why your military discipline is your greatest asset, even if you’re starting a completely new craft.

Connect with Ben & UBC MVP:

• Website: ubcmvp.org
• LinkedIn: Ben Higginbotham

In the conclusion of this powerful two-part series, Donna continues her conversation with Marine Corps veteran and tech executive Tony Crescenzo. After discussing the discovery of neuro-acoustic technology in Part 1, Tony dives deeper into the mechanics of healing the "invisible wounds" of service.

This episode explores the intersection of AI, neuroscience, and human performance, moving beyond traditional talk therapy to examine how regulating brainwave oscillations can provide a path home for veterans and first responders living in a state of constant hypervigilance.

Resources Mentioned

• Peak Neuro LLC – Visit Website
• Intelligent Waves LLC
• Semper Fi & America’s Fund
• The Ross Institute (Dr. Colin Ross)
• Beyond the Frontline Archive: * Psychedelic Medicine with Charlie Powell
• Epigenetics with Bonnie Goff