CBD, Kratom, and the Opioid Crisis: A Veteran’s Perspective
The VinnyRoc Podcast
On this episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, Vincent Vargas sits down with John Ramsey, Senior R&D Manager at Diversified Botanics, to dive into a powerful conversation about natural medicine, CBD, kratom, and the dangers of 7-hydroxy mitragynine (7-OH). John, a veteran and former Army medic, shares his journey from the military to the hemp and CBD industry, explaining how natural remedies like CBD and kratom helped him avoid the destructive cycle of pharmaceutical painkillers. Together, Vince and John explore: The truth about CBD isolate and why it became a breakthrough in non-psychoactive...
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“Speaking Out on ICE Cost Me Everything” w/ Angel Cortez on Immigration, Gang life and Community
The VinnyRoc Podcast
In this episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, Angel Cortez shares his incredible life story—growing up in gang culture, surviving violence, serving as an Army Ranger in Iraq and Afghanistan, and transitioning into veteran advocacy and entrepreneurship. From getting stabbed on his fifteenth birthday to leading a Special Operations career, Angel opens up about resilience, purpose, and the parallels between gangs, the military, and community brotherhood. We also dive into his viral comments on ICE, the controversy that followed, and his perspective on immigration, law enforcement, and...
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"I Was Given 3 Months to Live..." Beating CANCER w/ Casey West
The VinnyRoc Podcast
In this deeply moving episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, Vincent "Rocco" Vargas sits down with Casey (@transmute_that_innergy), a Marine Corps veteran, former Mongols MC member, and glioblastoma survivor. Casey shares his raw and transformative journey from war zones and outlaw brotherhoods to holistic healing and inner peace. Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and given only 3 months to live, Casey defied all odds by rejecting conventional treatment and embracing alternative therapies including fasting, breathwork, plant medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and deep spiritual exploration. Now...
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“I Was Sitting in My Truck, Ready to END IT..." | How Making Knives Saved Me w/ Dustin Hill
The VinnyRoc Podcast
In this powerful episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, Vincent "Rocco" Vargas sits down with Dustin Burkett, a former law enforcement officer turned custom gun grip artist and founder of Burkett Customs. Dustin Hill opens up about his 20-year career in law enforcement, his battle with PTSD, and the life-changing impact of the Warrior PATHH program through Boulder Crest. He shares how forging unique custom grips from rare and meaningful materials—like wooly mammoth tooth, meteorite, and even samurai armor—became both his business and his therapy. From addiction and suicidal thoughts to finding...
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Escaping the Past: One Man’s Journey from Trauma to Transformation w/ Mikey Horbaczewski
The VinnyRoc Podcast
In this deeply moving episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, host Vincent Vargas sits down with Mikey Horbaczewski, a Marine Corps veteran, father, and podcast host of Life Unlocked with Mikey. Together, they explore Mikey's emotional and transformative journey from the streets of Chicago and a life immersed in gang culture, to surviving a traumatic deployment in Afghanistan, and ultimately finding healing, leadership, and purpose. Mikey Horbaczewski opens up about his military experience, the devastating loss of a mentor, battling a severe injury, and struggling with mental health and addiction...
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"She made choose DRUGS or HER" | A Journey to Healing & Family Restoration w/ Keane Raley
The VinnyRoc Podcast
In this powerful episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast, host Vincent Vargas sits down with Keane Raley, a husband, father, and member of the Light the Fuse brotherhood, to share his raw, inspiring journey of transformation. Raised in a small Colorado town, Keane opens up about his early struggles with substance abuse, financial hardships, and the challenges of stepping out of his grandfather’s shadow in the oil and gas industry. Keane speaks openly about losing everything, rebuilding his life, and finding purpose through fatherhood, marriage, and the Light the Fuse men’s wellness retreat. From...
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Living in a group home at the age of 5, MY story | w/ Jeremy Bracamontes
The VinnyRoc Podcast
In this powerful episode of The Vinny Roc Podcast, host Vincent Vargas sits down with Jeremy Bracamontes, a leader in business and personal development, to discuss the mindset, discipline, and perseverance required to achieve success. Jeremy shares his journey, from overcoming adversity to building a thriving career, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to elevate their life—whether in business, leadership, or personal growth. Throughout the episode, Vincent and Jeremy dive into what it takes to develop a winning mindset, push through challenges, and find purpose in both work and...
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The Truth About Addiction and Trauma with Therapist Kathy Kinghorn
The VinnyRoc Podcast
Welcome to the Vinny Roc Podcast, hosted by Vincent “Rocco” Vargas. In this episode, we dive into the world of mental health, addiction, trauma, and relationships with Kathy Kinghorn, a licensed therapist and founder of Therapy Utah. With nearly 20 years of experience, Kathy specializes in helping individuals navigate behavioral addiction, substance abuse, and trauma. In this powerful discussion, we explore: How to recognize addiction vs. obsession The role of childhood trauma in shaping addictive behaviors Why veterans and first responders often turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism How...
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Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming Abandonment and Embracing Fatherhood w/ Denny Giamazzo
The VinnyRoc Podcast
Welcome to another episode of the VinnyRoc Podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Denny Giamazzo, host of the Be The Standard Podcast, leadership coach, speaker, and former National Guard Infantryman. Denny’s story is one of resilience, growth, and overcoming adversity. Growing up in foster care after losing his mother to AIDS at the age of 10 and never knowing his father, Denny faced a tough road early in life. Despite his challenges, he served in the military, deployed to Afghanistan, and later built a successful career in the tech industry. Now, he is on a mission to inspire...
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From Operation Iraqi Freedom to Ultra Marathons: The Incredible Journey of Jason Wood
The VinnyRoc Podcast
Welcome to the VinnyRoc Podcast. In this powerful episode, host Vincent sits down with Jason Wood—a former U.S. Army officer, combat veteran, and endurance athlete—to share his extraordinary journey of transformation and healing. Jason served seven years on active duty, completing three combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After transitioning to civilian life in 2011, he faced personal struggles with PTSD, depression, and alcoholism before discovering the life-changing benefits of endurance sports. Drawing on his experiences, Jason explains how he turned to extreme physical...
info_outlineToday, we are honored to welcome Lou Valoze, the host of the new series Operation Undercover on Investigation Discovery, and Max to The VinnyRoc podcast. Lou is a former highly decorated federal agent who spent 26 years working undercover on some of the nation's most high-profile and dangerous cases. Throughout his storied career, Lou infiltrated home invasion crews, outlaw motorcycle gangs, organized crime families and even posed as a hitman in a murder-for-hire scheme. The intense psychological toll of living these dual lives took an immense mental burden on Lou. He will share with us today the coping strategies and wellness practices he relied upon to maintain his mental fortitude during those darkest undercover operations. Lou is uniquely qualified to discuss the intense psychological stress and trauma that can come with working in high-risk law enforcement roles. Despite the challenges, Lou persevered through mental grit and discipline to become one of history's most accomplished undercover operatives. He is the only agent ever to purchase over 1,000 crime guns during investigations aimed at taking guns off the street. His pioneering storefront operation tactics earned him numerous awards and created an innovative blueprint for combating illegal gun crime. Please join me in welcoming Lou Valoze, a true American hero, as we delve into the mindset, mental health strategies, and overall wellness required to survive while living undercover in the criminal underworld.