Former SEAL Shawn Ryan Trades Podcast Mic for a VA Hospital This Veterans Day

Former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor Shawn Ryan has spent years listening to veterans recount some of the darkest chapters of their lives. This Veterans Day, the host of the popular “Shawn Ryan Show” plans to step away from the microphone and spend time with fellow veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ryan, whose military and intelligence career included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, told Military.com in a Nov. 6 interview that he wants to make the holiday a little better for veterans receiving care.

“We’re going to the Nashville VA hospital, and we’re just gonna … shake hands, do a meet and greet, hang out with the veterans and try to make it a good Veterans Day for everybody,” Ryan said.

Asked what inspired the visit, Ryan offered a straightforward explanation.

“I just want to do something this year to give back,” he said.

For Ryan, Veterans Day carries complicated emotions. After years spent in combat zones and struggling with his own transition to civilian life, he understands the holiday can bring up difficult memories for those who served.

“It’s always been a really weird day for me,” Ryan said.

His planned hospital visit comes as the special operations veteran continues to use his platform to discuss the challenges military personnel face after leaving service, including addiction, mental health struggles and finding a new purpose.

From Navy SEAL to Addiction and Recovery

Ryan enlisted in the Navy at 18 and eventually served with SEAL Teams 2 and 8. After leaving the military, he worked as a CIA contractor, continuing a career spanning roughly 14 years in military and intelligence operations.

But leaving that world brought struggles that would take years to overcome.

During his conversation with Military.com, Ryan spoke candidly about his history with drugs and alcohol, his dependence on adrenaline and the damage his behavior caused to personal relationships.

He also discussed surviving a suicide attempt. (Veterans in crisis can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1, or by texting 838255.)

Ryan has described how difficult it was to adjust after years of operating in dangerous environments, where high-stakes missions and constant exposure to risk had become routine.

In a 2025 first-person account published by Business Insider, Ryan described abusing cocaine, prescription medications and alcohol after leaving military service. His substance use escalated while living in Colombia, where he repeatedly put himself in dangerous situations.

The former SEAL has also spoken publicly about undergoing psychedelic experiences that he credits with helping him confront his addiction.

Now, Ryan is approaching a significant milestone.

His recovery has become central to his conversations with other veterans. Ryan knows firsthand how quickly life can unravel after leaving a career that provided structure, identity and a sense of belonging.

The transition can also be especially difficult for veterans accustomed to the intensity of combat operations.

Ryan’s experiences have given him a personal connection to the struggles discussed by guests on his podcast, where conversations frequently explore substance abuse, trauma and the difficulties of returning home.

Finding Purpose After Military Service

Ryan launched the Shawn Ryan Show in 2019 and eventually built it into one of the country’s most recognizable long-form interview podcasts.

The program initially focused heavily on military veterans and former intelligence personnel sharing experiences that rarely received public attention. Its guest list has since expanded to include politicians, journalists and figures outside the military community.

Through Vigilance Elite, the company behind the podcast, Ryan uses his platform to promote veteran entrepreneurship and has crowdfunded more than $1 million to support veteran-owned businesses and transition initiatives.

His own experience leaving the special operations community has informed that work.

Many veterans struggle to find employment that recognizes their military training and responsibilities. Others struggle with losing the close relationships and sense of mission they developed during service.

For Ryan, helping veterans discover another purpose is an important part of supporting them after they leave the military.

He believes the qualities that make service members effective in uniform can also make them successful in civilian life, as long as someone gives them an opportunity.

He believes that determination often goes unrecognized by people who have never served.

Ryan’s efforts to give back have also extended beyond the veteran community.

After interviewing actress Jen Lilley about foster care and the challenges facing vulnerable children, Ryan contributed $30,000 to her Christmas Is Not Cancelled campaign. Ryan intended the donation to help provide bicycles and scooters to children through the initiative’s partnership with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

The contribution was part of a broader holiday effort to reach thousands of children and families. Ryan’s involvement followed his conversation with Lilley on his podcast, where she discussed her advocacy for children in foster care.

The donation also offers another example of how Ryan has used the audience he built after leaving military service to support charitable causes.

‘The Ability to Bounce Back Is Just Incredible’

After interviewing numerous veterans about combat experiences, personal losses and life after military service, Ryan said one characteristic continues to stand out: resilience.

“The resilience that veterans have is just something that I think very few civilians understand,” Ryan told Military.com. “The ability to bounce back is just incredible.”

His comments stem from years of conversations with people who have endured significant hardships, including those who struggled to rebuild their lives after military service.

Ryan’s own recovery has given him another perspective on that process.

He understands the challenges of returning to civilian life after years in dangerous environments. He also knows that recovery and rebuilding relationships can take considerable time.

As Veterans Day approaches, Ryan hopes Americans will recognize the contributions former service members can make long after their military careers end.

His message to those who might be hesitant to hire or work with veterans is simple.

“Just give them a chance,” Ryan said.

For the former SEAL, Veterans Day will mean spending time with people who understand those experiences without needing much explanation.

At the Nashville VA hospital, Ryan plans to shake hands, visit with patients and offer a little companionship during a holiday that can carry different meanings for each veteran.

After years of discussing military service, addiction and recovery with guests on his podcast, Ryan is looking forward to spending the day with fellow veterans in person. And for someone who has experienced the difficulties of returning home, that opportunity carries its own significance.