He survived over 40 concussions, failed Special Forces selection twice, and still made it into Delta Force. In this episode, SGM Taamir Ransome sits down with Robert Asencio to unpack what the military doesn’t prepare you for: the war that starts after the uniform comes off.

From growing up on the streets of Newark to leading operators in combat, Ransome breaks down moral injury, the stigma that keeps veterans and first responders silent, and why he believes veterans “aren’t broken — we’re changed.” This is a raw, unfiltered conversation about trust, trauma, and what real reintegration actually requires.

Ransome is the author of “Mind of a Soldier: 34 Laws for the War After the War,” written to help veterans, first responders, and the employers and families around them understand what reintegration really looks like. – https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Soldier-Laws-War-After/dp/B0GSRYS5B5

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Finding Purpose in Protecting Others

00:14 What Is Moral Injury? (Not What Clinicians Think)

01:45 Balancing the Scales: Mentoring the Next Generation

02:09 The Hero-or-Villain Myth: How America Misunderstands Veterans

04:34 Why Cops & Soldiers Hide Their Struggles

05:04 Peer Support vs. Traditional Therapy — Why Trust Matters

07:39 Officer vs. NCO: Who’s Really the Better Leader?

09:29 The “Ambush” Effect: Why Asking for Help Feels Like a Trap

11:09 From Newark Streets to the Military: His Origin Story

17:20 Hardwired for Success: How Structure Saved His Life

19:40 Failing Selection, Reclassifying, and Earning His Spot

22:03 An Intimate Relationship With Death

27:39 40+ Concussions: Living With the Physical Toll

29:58 Mindset, Resilience, and Finding Grace

32:01 Finding Humor in Combat

34:22 Inside “Mind of a Soldier”: Why He Wrote the Book

35:35 “We’re Not Broken, We’re Changed” — The Truth About Reintegration

37:50 Closing Thoughts

Vets and Badges Podcast is an initiative of HEALING – a non-profit created to support veterans, first responder and community stakeholders.

For more visit:

https://www.kbcf.org/programs/healing-corp/

Info@VetsAndBadges.com

VAB - 2026