Get Your Weekly Digest

Receive the best podcast summaries and insights delivered to your inbox every week.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

Revisionist History

From Medal of Honor: Showing Up On Veterans Day

Published November 11, 2025
View Show Notes

About This Episode

Host J.R. Martinez reflects on Veterans Day, encouraging listeners to move beyond a simple "thank you" by having real conversations with veterans and allowing them to share as much or as little as they wish. He recounts his own journey from enlisting after 9/11, surviving a devastating combat injury, and losing his identities as both soldier and young man, to rediscovering purpose through serving fellow patients, vulnerability, and storytelling. Martinez connects these experiences to the themes of the Medal of Honor podcast, emphasizing the power of simply showing up, the humanity behind acts of heroism, and the importance of veterans telling their stories in their own way.

Topics Covered

Military veterans Veterans mental health Trauma Resilience Identity Personal Development Personal narrative Storytelling Relationships War and empire

Disclaimer: We provide independent summaries of podcasts and are not affiliated with or endorsed in any way by any podcast or creator. All podcast names and content are the property of their respective owners. The views and opinions expressed within the podcasts belong solely to the original hosts and guests and do not reflect the views or positions of Summapod.

Quick Takeaways

  • Martinez urges people on Veterans Day not only to thank veterans for their service but to ask about their experiences and let them decide how much to share.
  • He describes surviving a roadside bomb in Iraq, being trapped in a burning Humvee, and using breath and thought to stay conscious and hopeful until rescuers arrived.
  • Losing both his military role and his sense of self after his injury, Martinez rebuilt his identity by focusing on the present and rediscovering service through visiting other wounded patients.
  • He emphasizes that asking for help and allowing others to show up is as important for veterans as the support civilians try to offer.
  • From Medal of Honor stories, Martinez concludes that heroism often comes from ordinary people who simply show up and figure things out when the moment demands it, not from superheroes.
  • His Dancing with the Stars experience became a platform to honor the broader veteran community and tell stories of service and sacrifice to a national audience.
  • Martinez argues that veterans fought not only for others' rights but also for their own right to live, heal, and pursue meaningful lives after service.
  • He remains deeply proud of his decision to join the military and credits it with teaching him service, teamwork, and leadership that he now channels into hosting the podcast.

Podcast Notes

Veterans Day context and purpose of the episode

Reflecting on Veterans Day and military service

Veterans Day as a moment of reflection on sacrifice[1:26]
• Martinez says Veterans Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by men and women who have served and protected the country across generations.
Introduction of host and previous Medal of Honor stories[1:39]
• Martinez introduces himself by name: "I'm J.R. Martinez."
• He recalls that in the last season of Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage he told heroic stories of some of the bravest veterans to ever wear the uniform.
• Examples include Sal Giunta, who ran through a hail of bullets to save his best friend from capture.
• He also mentions Carl Sitter, a wounded Marine captain who refused evacuation until the job was done.
Ordinary people thrust into extraordinary situations[2:00]
• Martinez emphasizes that these were ordinary men placed in impossible situations who not only met the challenge but pushed through it.
• He notes that listeners to the show already understand the value of that kind of courage.
Encouragement to engage with veterans personally[2:21]
• Martinez insists that everyone who has ever put on the uniform has a story.
• He encourages listeners to talk to the veterans in their lives and not just thank them for their service but also ask them about it.
• He argues that it should not end with a simple "thank you" because that leaves the story untold.

Conversation setup with producer and Veterans Day question

Introducing producer and setting the tone

Sitting down with producer Ryan in New York City[3:13]
• Martinez states that for this episode he sat down with his producer, identified as Ryan Swakert, to talk about what is owed to veterans and what to expect in the upcoming season.
• Ryan expresses happiness to be with Martinez at Pushkin Industries in New York City and comments on the cool weather.
• Martinez shares a small anecdote about walking in New York, saying "bless you" to a woman who sneezed and getting no response, which he frames as a humorous example of New York.

How civilians feel about asking veterans about their service

Civilian hesitation to broach difficult topics[4:01]
• Ryan notes that as a civilian with veterans in his life, he sometimes hesitates to ask about their service because he worries about bringing up bad experiences.
• He asks Martinez what he would say to civilians who feel that way.
Let veterans dictate what they share[4:20]
• Martinez advises: "Let them tell you. Let them dictate."
• He says you can immediately sense if someone wants to talk and, if so, how much they want to share.
Misplaced fear of offending versus discomfort with rejection[5:12]
• Martinez questions why people underestimate veterans' ability to set boundaries about talking.
• He suggests that many people say they do not want to infringe or pry, but underneath they may actually fear being told "it's none of your business" and how that rejection would make them feel.
• He frames this as more about the civilian's discomfort than the veteran's capacity to say no.

Learning from children's directness

Children's blunt questions about his injuries[4:43]
• Martinez describes attending events where kids, who have no filter, bluntly ask him, "What happened to your face?"
• He calls kids "brutal" but also finds their directness inspiring.
Retaining a bit of the inner child as adults[5:09]
• Martinez argues adults should retain some of that inner child because children are curious and fearless.
• He encourages people to "just ask the question" and "shoot from the hip" instead of overthinking.

Moving beyond "thank you for your service"

Limitations of a quick thank-you exchange[5:22]
• Martinez notes the common pattern on Veterans Day: people say "thank you for your service," the veteran says "thank you," and then they part ways.
• He acknowledges that allowing someone to feel appreciated is important but points out you walk away not truly knowing what you thanked them for.
• He adds that the veteran also walks away not really knowing you.
Starting conversations with veterans[5:57]
• Martinez suggests following "thank you for your service" with simple questions like "What did you do in the military?" or "Where did you serve?"
• He frames it as just starting a conversation with veterans in your life.
Do not pre-decide on behalf of veterans[5:57]
• He urges civilians not to make the decision for the veteran about whether they want to talk.
• Instead, let the individual signal if they are ready to talk or not.

J.R. Martinez's military journey and combat injury

Demonstrating how to respect a veteran's boundaries

Producer asks for Martinez's story; Martinez playfully refuses[6:16]
• Ryan asks Martinez, since it's Veterans Day, to tell the story of when he became a veteran.
• Martinez jokingly responds "Absolutely not" to illustrate how a veteran might decline to share.
• Ryan accepts the refusal and says he understands, modeling respect for boundaries, and Martinez notes "That's the way to do it."

Enlisting after 9/11 and motivations for service

Experiencing 9/11 as a high school senior[6:44]
• Martinez recounts that he was a senior in high school when 9/11 occurred.
• He remembers feeling confused and afraid, but also deeply patriotic, wondering "What can I do?"
Why the military appealed to him[7:00]
• He saw the military as an opportunity to serve, gain discipline, travel, and get money for college.
• He describes it as a "one-stop shop" that met multiple needs.
Deployment to Iraq as an infantryman[7:14]
• Martinez joined the Army as an infantryman.
• Six months after enlisting, he found himself in combat in Iraq.
Initially feeling insignificant in his unit[7:36]
• At first he felt he did not play a role and was not helpful to anyone because he did not yet know much.
• He says it took a leader giving a briefing to change that perception.

Leadership message that every role matters

Briefing on importance of service and each person[7:40]
• In the briefing, the leader talked about the importance of service and of every single person in accomplishing the mission.
• Martinez recalls listening to the speech and realizing, "I do play a role. I do matter. I am part of this team."
• He notes he had been in-country for only about three and a half weeks when this shift in understanding occurred.

The roadside bomb and being trapped in a burning Humvee

IED strike in Karbala on April 5, 2003[8:02]
• On April 5, 2003, while driving a Humvee through Karbala, the front left tire hit a roadside bomb.
• Three other soldiers in the vehicle were thrown out by the blast, but Martinez was trapped inside.
• Within seconds the Humvee was engulfed in flames.
Physical injuries and primary threat to survival[8:26]
• Martinez suffered third-degree burns.
• The most life-threatening issue was inhalation damage from breathing smoke from the fire.
• He also had broken ribs, making it difficult to breathe.
Five minutes trapped and fighting to stay conscious[8:20]
• Martinez was trapped inside the burning vehicle for about five minutes, during which he drifted in and out of consciousness.
• He describes his attempts to yell for help as strained and broken due to his injuries, imitating the sound of his voice at the time.
• He recalls moments when his body felt heavy, his eyes wanted to close, and he felt on the verge of giving in.
• With his eyes closed, he vividly remembers feeling his breath and noticing his thoughts.
• He consciously told himself not to keep his eyes closed because that would mean giving up and that someone was going to pull him out.
• He would force his eyes open and continue to scream for help.

Life lessons from the burning Humvee experience

Using breath and thought in overwhelming situations[9:36]
• Martinez says most people will likely never be physically trapped in a burning vehicle, but life pressures can make us feel as if we are in a burning situation.
• He explains that when things feel overwhelming or out of control, he now likes to close his eyes, connect with his breath, and connect with his thoughts.
Trusting others to show up and ask for help[10:04]
• Ryan adds that asking for help and trusting people will show up is part of the lesson.
• Martinez says he had to trust during those five minutes that someone would come, holding what he calls a false sense of hope that someone would pull him out, and they did.
• He describes being pulled from the Humvee, beginning the medevac process, being placed in a medically induced coma, transported to San Antonio, Texas, and waking three weeks later to a new reality.

Recovery, loss of identity, and rediscovering service

Confronting medical news and loss of military identity

First questions after waking and medical discharge[11:04]
• After coming out of the coma, Martinez says his first questions, like many service members, were when he could leave and when he could return to his unit to finish his tour.
• He describes being told he would not be allowed to stay in the Army and would be medically discharged as the first "bombshell."
• This was difficult because he had grown to love the military, the uniform, and the concept of service, and had begun building an identity around them.
Seeing his injuries and losing a second identity[11:10]
• Within about a week and a half of waking, he saw his face and body for the first time and grasped the severity of his injuries.
• He says that roughly two weeks after coming out of the coma, he had lost both of his identities and did not know who he was.
• During this period he felt he was just going through the motions and focused on surviving each day.
Shifting focus from long-term to day-by-day[11:48]
• Martinez explains he had to release the pressure of planning the long-term future and instead focus on the immediate present-the now, the today.

Visiting another patient and rediscovering purpose

Reluctance to visit a fellow patient[11:56]
• Six months later, he was asked to visit another patient who was navigating similar injuries and circumstances to what he had faced.
• Initially he resisted, saying as a 20-year-old, he did not know what he could say or offer.
• A nurse named Ms. Walker, whom he describes as having a mother-son dynamic with him, firmly encouraged him to go, and he reluctantly agreed.
Realizing the power of just showing up[12:44]
• Martinez explains his first mistake was assuming he had nothing to offer.
• When he entered the patient's room, he found the man in a bad place emotionally.
• He discovered that all he really needed to do was show up and be present.
• After a 45-minute conversation, the patient's attitude and the vibe in the room had completely changed, and the patient welcomed him to come back.
• Martinez began visiting patients every day, which helped restore part of his sense of identity.
Reclaiming the ability to serve in a new way[13:02]
• Through these visits, he realized he could serve again, in a different way and capacity than before, but still serve.
• He says this experience gave him back the ability to serve as a core component of his identity.

Vulnerability and allowing others to show up

Learning to be vulnerable and lowering his shield[13:09]
• Martinez states he learned that he needed to be vulnerable.
• By choosing vulnerability, he found incredible people he now calls family and formed deeper connections than he would have if he had kept a shield up.
Letting others know when you need them[13:40]
• He stresses that many people are equipped to show up for you, but they need to know that you need them.
• He highlights the importance for veterans to signal when they need support instead of isolating.

Message to veterans and civilians: isolation versus showing up

A Veterans Day message for both civilians and veterans

Balancing appreciation with engagement[13:46]
• Ryan says Martinez's comments sound like a Veterans Day message, and Martinez agrees.
• Martinez notes he is addressing both civilians and veterans: civilians about reaching out and veterans about accepting support.

Challenges of isolation for veterans

Feeling isolated in both small towns and big cities[14:08]
• Martinez says that whether you live in a town of 500 people or a borough of New York City with millions, it can be hard and easy to feel isolated.
Short-term comfort versus long-term growth[14:14]
• He acknowledges that in the short term it may feel better to isolate yourself.
• But in the long term, to become who you are destined to be, you have to keep showing up.

Continuing military lessons in civilian life

Showing up as a lasting military lesson[14:54]
• Martinez says the military taught service members to keep showing up, and that does not disappear once they leave the service.
Serving others as a path to self-discovery[14:40]
• He encourages veterans to show up for others, arguing that through serving others, you discover more about yourself.
• He says this was true in his own life, as he learned much about himself by showing up for other patients and people.

Lessons from Medal of Honor stories about heroism and showing up

How "showing up" underpins acts of heroism

Heroes got into position by showing up first[14:54]
• Ryan notes that many Medal of Honor recipients did amazing things, but they were in those positions because they showed up.
• He prompts Martinez to talk about that theme.
Ordinary training levels and extraordinary responses[15:22]
• Martinez says working on Season 2 and listening to Season 1 reminded him of the importance of simply showing up and being there without having all the answers.
• He points out that many individuals in Season 2 did not have extensive training or specialized combat schooling.
• He notes that he himself did not have such extensive training either, which echoes a common theme.
Figuring it out in the moment[16:28]
• Despite limited training, when the moment demanded someone to step up, these individuals simply showed up and figured things out.
• They navigated chaotic situations and accomplished remarkable feats, often surprising even themselves.
• Martinez suggests this is why many Medal of Honor recipients question why they deserve such recognition and believe anyone else would have done the same.

Inspiration listeners can take from Medal of Honor stories

Real stories that can feel fictional[16:14]
• He says that if there is one takeaway from the podcast, it is to be inspired by these stories which may feel fictional because of how incredible they are.
• He notes that it can be hard to believe these events truly happened.
Not superheroes, but humans with training and opportunity[16:26]
• Ryan observes that these acts are not just standalone heroics but the confluence of training, ability, and the right moment.
• He prompts reflection on what each person would have done if faced with a machine gunner or similar threat.
• Martinez acknowledges that people tend to think of Medal of Honor recipients as superheroes, but emphasizes they are human beings.
• He insists that "we all have this" capacity within us.
Keeping legacies alive and awakening inner heroism[19:03]
• Martinez says he loves being part of the team that keeps these legacies alive.
• He hopes listeners realize they too can be like figures such as Carl Sitter or Jefferson DeBlanc and others featured in the first two seasons.
• He frames the stories as reminders for humans and Americans to keep showing up, even when they feel like running away.
• He suggests that showing up might allow someone to discover the "true hero" within that is waiting for the right moment.

Dancing with the Stars as a platform for veteran storytelling

Joining and winning Dancing with the Stars

Ryan discovers Martinez was on the show and won[19:20]
• Ryan says he recently learned Martinez was on Dancing with the Stars and that he won the competition.
• Martinez jokes that sometimes he forgets he was on the show.
The show emphasizing his veteran identity[19:20]
• Martinez explains that on Dancing with the Stars his status was presented as "veteran first."
• He says the show promoted it as having a veteran on.

Using entertainment to humanize veterans

Showing personality and normalcy despite scars[19:36]
• Martinez says he went on the show to show the world he had a personality and that he could dance.
• He portrays himself as a character who is silly, goofy, clowning, laughing, and a "goofball."
• He remarks that some people might initially be scared by his scars, but seeing him be playful and joyful challenged those perceptions.
Rumba to Tim McGraw's "If You're Reading This"[20:14]
• He recalls that in week three he performed a rumba to Tim McGraw's song "If You're Reading This."
• Ryan expresses surprise that he did a rumba to a Tim McGraw song.
• Martinez explains that the song's lyrics tell the story of a service member writing a letter to his wife to be read if he dies while in the military.

Emotional impact of telling a collective story

Deciding to tell an important story through dance[20:40]
• Martinez remembers sitting in rehearsal with his partner Karina Smirnoff and recognizing that this was an important story to tell.
Pre-dance video package about his recovery[20:41]
• Before the dance, the show aired a video package about his recovery.
• He says the producers had interviewed people behind his back and assembled the package without his knowledge.
• He calls it the worst thing to do to someone about to dance in front of millions, because he had to watch it right before performing.
Dancing while overwhelmed with emotion[20:29]
• As he watched the package and awaited the cue to dance, he already had tears in his eyes.
• He says that by the time the 90-second routine began, he was emotional, and during roughly the last 45 seconds he was crying.
• He emphasizes that his emotion was not only about his own story but about representing many men and women who had served.
Audience reaction and feedback[21:32]
• He recalls that everyone in the Dancing with the Stars ballroom stood up at the end of the performance.
• The feedback they received centered on people thanking them for telling that story.

Storytelling as central to the veteran experience

Parallels between Dancing with the Stars and the Medal of Honor podcast

Continuing to tell veterans' stories in audio form[22:04]
• Ryan connects the Dancing with the Stars performance to what Martinez is doing on the podcast: being in conversation with veterans and telling their stories.
• Martinez agrees that storytelling is a major theme for veterans.

Why more veterans sharing their stories matters

Encouraging veterans to speak as they are comfortable[22:21]
• Martinez says we need more veterans willing to share and talk, to the extent they feel comfortable.
Connecting civilians and veterans through understanding[22:01]
• He argues it is important for people to learn who veterans are, both to create connection and to deepen understanding of their experiences.

Veterans' rights to healing and a full life

Remembering that veterans also fought for themselves[22:48]
• Martinez notes that in the military they often say they fought for others' freedom and rights, but some lose sight of that when they come home and struggle.
• He reminds veterans that they also fought for their own right to live, heal, and go through their process to reach a good outcome.
• He insists, "You deserve to live. You deserve to heal. You deserve to go through your process... You fought for yourself too."

Impact of his story on veterans and civilians

Giving hope to struggling veterans and families[23:11]
• Martinez says he tells his story hoping a veteran or a loved one listening might think that what they are struggling with is okay but that they should reach out.
Encouraging compassion from civilians[23:22]
• He hopes his story encourages civilian listeners to have more compassion and not to view veterans as trained robots.
• He stresses that veterans are human beings with lives, emotions, feelings, desires, aspirations, and complications like everyone else.

Twenty years as a veteran and what the military gave him

From soldier identity to veteran identity

Losing and rebuilding identity after injury[23:52]
• Ryan notes that Martinez initially struggled to understand his role in the Army until leadership helped him, then injury forced a new identity as a veteran.
• He asks what Martinez has learned in the 20 years of being a veteran.

Pride and gratitude for having served

Proud of the decision to join[24:15]
• Martinez says he is proud of his initial decision to join the military, even though he did not fully understand the fraternity he was entering.
How the military helped him discover himself[24:29]
• He is grateful because the military gave him a chance to discover himself.
• He describes it as a space and platform to identify and access the greatness that lay within him.
Lessons of service, teamwork, and leadership[24:46]
• Martinez says the military helped him find the concept of service.
• It taught him the importance of teamwork, how to show up, how to be a leader, and how to get people to buy in.
No regrets and a "Forrest Gump"-like journey[25:10]
• He says he has no regrets about his service.
• He finds it hard to encapsulate his life over the past two decades and compares himself somewhat to Forrest Gump, trying many different things.
• He notes he had never hosted a podcast like this before and now finds himself doing it.

Feeling part of a team again through the podcast

Podcast work echoing the military sense of team[25:34]
• Martinez says working with an "incredible team" to tell these stories makes him feel as if he is back in the military.
• He emphasizes feeling like he is part of a team again.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season of Medal of Honor

Anticipation for Season 3 stories

Respect for the research and production process[25:48]
• When asked what he is looking forward to in the upcoming season, Martinez praises the research the team does and his role as the final piece who helps tell the stories.
Eagerness to be inspired by human capability[26:19]
• He says he is excited to learn and be inspired by the new stories.
• He expects the stories will be incredibly motivating and inspiring and will remind listeners what humans are capable of doing.

Closing remarks and expression of appreciation

Host-producer appreciation

Mutual thanks between Ryan and Martinez[27:57]
• Ryan thanks Martinez for the conversation, and Martinez responds that it was a pleasure and thanks him in return, addressing him as "brother."

Credits and production acknowledgments

Production team recognition[27:53]
• The episode credits name Ryan Schweikert as producer, Lydia Jean Cott as editor, and Jake Gorski for sound design and additional music.
• Constanza Gallardo is credited as executive producer and Eric Phillips as composer of original music.
• Martinez signs off by identifying himself again as the host, J.R. Martinez.

Lessons Learned

Actionable insights and wisdom you can apply to your business, career, and personal life.

1

Do not decide for others whether they are ready to talk about difficult experiences; instead, invite the conversation respectfully and let them set the boundaries.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Whose story in your life have you been avoiding asking about because you assumed they wouldn't want to talk?
  • • How might you rephrase your next sensitive question so that it clearly leaves the other person free to say as much or as little as they want?
  • • What is one conversation this week where you can practice inviting openness without pressuring the other person to share?
2

When life feels overwhelming, intentionally slowing down to notice your breath and your thoughts can keep you from mentally "shutting down" and help you endure the moment.

Reflection Questions:

  • • In what recurring situations do you feel like everything is "on fire" and out of control?
  • • How could a simple 60-second pause to close your eyes, feel your breath, and observe your thoughts change the way you handle your next stressful event?
  • • What cue can you use to remind yourself to pause and breathe the next time you feel yourself spiraling?
3

Showing up for others, even when you feel unqualified or unsure of what to say, can be profoundly valuable and can also restore your own sense of purpose.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where in your life are you holding back from helping because you think you have nothing useful to offer?
  • • How might simply being present-with no advice or solutions-make a difference for someone you know is struggling right now?
  • • What is one concrete opportunity in the next few days where you can "just show up" for someone, even if you feel awkward or inadequate?
4

Your identity can change after major loss or transition, but the core values you discovered in one chapter-like service, teamwork, and perseverance-can be carried forward into new roles.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Which parts of your past roles or careers do you most miss, and what underlying values did they express?
  • • How could you intentionally express those same values in the work and relationships you have today?
  • • What small step could you take this month to reconnect a cherished value from your past with your current circumstances?
5

Veterans-and by extension anyone who has sacrificed for others-deserve to claim their own right to heal, live fully, and seek support, not just to serve others indefinitely.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where are you quick to acknowledge others' right to rest and heal but reluctant to grant that same right to yourself?
  • • How might your life look different if you treated your own recovery and well-being as something you have truly earned?
  • • What is one specific way you can advocate for your own healing needs this week, just as you would encourage a friend to do for themselves?

Episode Summary - Notes by Quinn

From Medal of Honor: Showing Up On Veterans Day
0:00 0:00