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July 8th, 2026

Veteran Dental Care Is Broken—Here’s How They’re Fixing It | Nick Cannon

  1. Veteran Dental Care Is Broken—Here’s How They’re Fixing It | Nick Cannon Shawn Welsh, Keith Cassant, Eric Brew, Mark Elder; Hira Paulin; Kingsley Scott 34:30

Most veterans don’t hit crisis all at once. Problems stack up until purpose disappears.

What happens when a veteran loses purpose after service—and what does it take to find it again?

Nick Cannon shares a brutally honest look at his own transition from Air Force veteran to unemployed civilian struggling with identity, purpose, and direction. He also explains how Wounded Veteran Relief Fund is stepping in to solve the challenges that often push veterans toward crisis before it’s too late.

In this episode, you’ll discover

• Understand why loss of purpose can become one of the most dangerous parts of military transition

• Learn how Nick became one of the first Airmen approved for the DoD SkillBridge Program

• Hear the moment his daughter’s upcoming birth forced him to completely change his life

• Discover how WVRF’s dental program has grown from helping 17 veterans to hundreds annually

• Understand why dental care may be one of the most overlooked veteran wellness issues in America

About Nick Cannon

Nick Cannon is a U.S. Air Force veteran and former F-22 Raptor Crew Chief who later served in both the Florida House of Representatives and the U.S. Congress.

Today he serves as Director of Operations for the Wounded Veteran Relief Fund, overseeing programs that provide emergency financial assistance, dental care, and support services for veterans throughout Florida.

🎙️ If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than a minute and helps another veteran discover resources that could change their life.

⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction

01:22 – Nick’s Military Journey

04:04 – Discovering SkillBridge

08:40 – Losing Purpose After Transition

11:25 – Joining Wounded Veteran Relief Fund

22:03 – Emergency Financial Assistance for Veterans

23:35 – The Veteran Dental Crisis

27:07 – Expanding Beyond Florida

30:25 – The Story of Richard Rossi

32:35 – Closing Thoughts

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#VETSOS #VeteranTransition #MilitaryMentalHealth #Veterans #MilitaryLife #GrabTheLifeline #HeroesMediaGRP

Shawn Welsh Founder, VET S.O.S. Podcast

Shawn Welsh is the Founder and Co-Host of the VET S.O.S. Podcast. The show features information and resources about veteran support organizations and key personnel in the veteran support community. With a passion for helping others, he started VET S.O.S. to provide a lifeline to veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses.

Shawn is a retired U.S. Army veteran with over twenty years of experience as an intelligence professional. As a senior noncommissioned officer, he was dedicated to taking care of his Soldiers and continues that mission today with VET S.O.S. Shawn holds several advanced degrees including a Master’s Degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma. A member of the Maxwell Leadership Team, Shawn is also a certified resiliency trainer who lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife and their two children.