The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices

Mission

The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records.

New episodes Daily - Monday thru Friday

Live recordings on Sundays & Thursdays @ 7 PM Central Time

(Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn)

About the Project

The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is an independent oral-history initiative dedicated to preserving first-person accounts of U.S. military service, leadership, and veteran life. Through long-form conversations, the project captures unfiltered testimony from service members and veterans across ranks, roles, and generations.

Unlike traditional history podcasts that interpret past events, this project creates primary historical sources by recording lived experience in real time — before memory fades and before stories are lost. With more than 580 recorded episodes, the collection represents one of the most extensive independently produced oral-history archives focused on modern American military and veteran culture.

Episodes are publicly available and preserved to ensure long-term access by families, researchers, educators, and historians. All recordings from The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, including FireSide Chats, Veteran Stories, and Jarhead Jabber, are being archived with the Marine Corps History Division, ensuring permanent historical preservation.

This work serves not only as a record of individual service, but as documentation of evolving leadership philosophy, unit culture, transition experiences, and the broader social impact of military service in the 21st century. The project exists to ensure these voices are not summarized, edited out, or forgotten — but preserved as they were lived and spoken.

Nonprofit Status

The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

This designation confirms that the project operates exclusively for educational and historical preservation purposes. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law, and all funding directly supports the recording, production, and long-term archiving of veteran oral histories.

Becoming a nonprofit strengthens the project’s sustainability, transparency, and ability to preserve veteran stories at scale.

Two Segments. One Mission.🔥 Segment One: FireSide Chat

The FireSide Chat is a relaxed, conversation-style segment focused on current veteran topics and community impact. These episodes often explore:

• Issues affecting veterans today
• Leadership, resilience, and mindset
• Life after military service
• The importance of community and accountability

A key component of the FireSide Chat is highlighting veteran-owned businesses and organizations. This segment provides exposure to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and initiatives making a difference within the veteran community and beyond.

🎖 Segment Two: Veteran Stories

Veteran Stories is a one-on-one interview format dedicated entirely to the individual. These episodes walk through the veteran’s life journey, including:

• Background and upbringing
• Decision to serve
• Military experiences and defining moments
• Challenges faced during and after service
• Lessons learned and advice for others

Each story is unique, personal, and preserved in the veteran’s own words.

The goal is simple: capture the story before it’s lost.

Mission

What We Do

• Record long-form oral history interviews with veterans
• Publish consistently to ensure continuity and reach
• Archive interviews for long-term historical access
• Preserve stories for families, researchers, educators, and future generations

Operational Discipline

• 5 episodes per week, year-round
• 3 Veteran Oral History Interviews
• 2 FireSide Chats (historical context & veteran engagement)

• 580+ episodes recorded to date
• 260 episodes produced annually

Annual Impact

• 156 veteran oral histories preserved each year
• Primary-source historical records created
• Formal archival preservation efforts

Financial Stewardship

Annual operating budget: $75,000

Cost per preserved veteran story: ~$480
Cost per episode overall: ~$288

Donor Impact

$500 preserves one veteran’s story
$1,500 preserves three veteran stories
$6,000 preserves one month of oral histories
$25,000 preserves 50+ veteran stories

Mission

New episodes Daily - Monday thru Friday

Live recordings on Sundays & Thursdays @ 7 PM Central Time

(Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn)

About the Project

Nonprofit Status

The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Becoming a nonprofit strengthens the project’s sustainability, transparency, and ability to preserve veteran stories at scale.

Two Segments. One Mission.🔥 Segment One: FireSide Chat

The FireSide Chat is a relaxed, conversation-style segment focused on current veteran topics and community impact. These episodes often explore:

• Issues affecting veterans today
• Leadership, resilience, and mindset
• Life after military service
• The importance of community and accountability

🎖 Segment Two: Veteran Stories

Veteran Stories is a one-on-one interview format dedicated entirely to the individual. These episodes walk through the veteran’s life journey, including:

• Background and upbringing
• Decision to serve
• Military experiences and defining moments
• Challenges faced during and after service
• Lessons learned and advice for others

Each story is unique, personal, and preserved in the veteran’s own words.

The goal is simple: capture the story before it’s lost.

Mission

What We Do

Operational Discipline

• 5 episodes per week, year-round
• 3 Veteran Oral History Interviews
• 2 FireSide Chats (historical context & veteran engagement)

• 580+ episodes recorded to date
• 260 episodes produced annually

Annual Impact

• 156 veteran oral histories preserved each year
• Primary-source historical records created
• Formal archival preservation efforts

Financial Stewardship

Annual operating budget: $75,000

Cost per preserved veteran story: ~$480
Cost per episode overall: ~$288

Donor Impact

$500 preserves one veteran’s story
$1,500 preserves three veteran stories
$6,000 preserves one month of oral histories
$25,000 preserves 50+ veteran stories

Listen on:

Episodes

2 hr 4 min

YOUR STORY WILL LIVE ON FOR GENERATIONS TO COME!!!

AJ Has been working with Marine Corps History Division to get all the veteran stories archived in Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. The Marine Corps History Division keeps records, photos, videos etc. on behalf of the Marine Corps. This means that when you record your story on this podcast, AJ will ensure that it is sent to Marine Corps History Division where your individual story of service and sacrifice will become a part of Marine Corps History.

Don't worry, If you are in a different branch of service AJ will be forwarding your story along to them as well.

AJ hopes this inspires more podcasters to work with historical organizations like the Marine Corps History Division to document and preserve our stories for generations to come. You are now a part of history and when family, generations from now, want to hear about your service they can contact Marine Corps History Division to get a copy of your individual story and hear from you personally about your military service.

EVERY VETERAN DESERVES THEIR STORY TO BE TOLD, RECORDED, AND ARCHIVED.

Don't miss the opportunity to get your individual story recorded and archived at one of the greatest historical organizations, The Marine Corps History Division.

SCHEDULE YOUR RECORDING!!!

https://calendly.com/thelostartwithandrewcox/the-lost-art-with-andrew-cox-podcast-recording

About Andrew Cox

Andrew Cox is a retired United States Marine, musician, and leadership communicator whose career bridges elite military service and civilian impact.

Andrew’s foundation began in music. Raised playing drums in church and school, his talent earned him a scholarship to Oklahoma State University. While studying music, he recognized that his path was not traditional education—but performance, leadership, and service.

That realization led Andrew to audition for the Marine Music Program, where he was selected as a drummer and began a global career performing at the highest levels of diplomacy, ceremony, and military tradition. Over nearly three decades, he served as both a musician and Drum Major, leading Marine bands across the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. His performances included ceremonies for U.S. presidents, members of Congress, heads of state, ambassadors, and senior military leaders worldwide.

Andrew’s service extended far beyond the stage. During a deployment to Iraq, his band was reassigned as a heavy weapons security platoon responsible for protecting the commanding general—demonstrating adaptability under pressure and mission-first leadership. Later, he stepped away from music entirely to serve as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Water Survival Training. In this role, Andrew was formally recognized for exceptional leadership and for saving a recruit’s life during a medical emergency.

Returning to music leadership, Andrew served as Drum Major with multiple Marine Division Bands, leading performances at historic and symbolic locations, including Belleau Wood, and ceremonial events in London for international leaders and Queen Elizabeth II. He concluded his Marine Corps career as the Senior Enlisted Leader at the School of Music, mentoring and developing future leaders for both the Marine Corps and U.S. Navy.

Today, Andrew applies the lessons of military leadership—discipline, teamwork, accountability, and resilience—to civilian life. He is the creator and host of a veteran-focused podcast dedicated to preserving service stories and leadership lessons, the author of The Lost Art of Fishing Stories, and an advocate for bridging the gap between military experience and civilian understanding.

Above all, Andrew believes leadership is not about rank or title—it is about service, responsibility, and leaving people better than you found them. He lives this mission alongside his wife, Karleen, and their two daughters, Madison and Tayla.

VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS / NON-PROFITS THAT HELPS YOU THE VETERAN


Organization	Website	Description
AHERO USA	aherousa.org	Healing via outdoor activities
Warriors Heart	warriorsheart.com	PTSD & addiction treatment with equine therapy
Wings of Valor Lodge	wingsofvalorlodge.org	Free pheasant hunts for disabled vets
Wings of Freedom	wingsoffreedomhunt.org	Free pheasant hunts for veterans & first responders
Freedom Hunters	freedomhunters.org	Outdoor adventures for veterans & families
Invisible Wounds Project – Hunt 4 Healing	iwproject.org/hunt4healing	Fundraising bird hunt for veterans/family mental health
The Legacy Hero Hunt	thelegacyherohunt.org	Paid hunt days with camaraderie for veterans
Warriors Never Give Up	warriorsnevergiveup.org	Faith-based outdoor adventures for healing veterans
American Corporate Partners (ACP)	acp-usa.org	Mentorship for veterans/spouses
Hire Heroes USA	hireheroesusa.org	Free job search assistance
Farmer Veteran Coalition	farmvetco.org	Agriculture careers support & grants
Heroic Hearts Project	heroicheartsproject.org	Psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD
K9s for Warriors	k9sforwarriors.org	Service dogs for veterans with PTSD/TBI
Boot Campaign	bootcampaign.org	Wellness programs & support for veterans
The Mission Continues	missioncontinues.org	Veteran civic service projects
Swords to Plowshares	swordstoplowshares.org	Support for homeless veterans in SF Bay Area
Brothers In Arms Foundation	brothersinarmsfoundation.org	Support for wounded veterans in Florida

FOR DEPARTING ACTIVE DUTY

DO FIRST

https://www.acp-usa.org/mentoring-program/veteran-application

https://www.linkedin.com/military

DO SECOND

Sign up for any or all of the following:

Veterati - MENTORS, INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS, & CAREER CONNECTIONS

You can never have too many mentors. Even if you sign up for ACP, still sign up and search for

people in the line of work you’d like to get into, set up informational interviews, or even find

connections for work. Less stressful than reaching out to people on LinkedIn since Veterati

uses an open scheduling tool; veterans, military spouses, and even some civilians whom

support the veteran community waiting to speak to you about your questions.

https://www.veterati.com/

Act Now Education - FREE EDUCATION & CERTS

Provides guidance and tools in areas such as career planning, business development, job

opportunities, certifications, and apprenticeship. Orientations every Saturday at 1300 EST.

https://actnoweducation.org/

Onward2Opportunity (O2O) - FREE EDUCATION & CERTS

With a singular focus on advancing the post-service lives of military veterans and their families,

this program, via Syracuse University and JP Morgan Chase, offers free career training,

entrepreneurship resources, and community support services.

https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/learning-pathways/

Hiring our Heroes - FREE EDUCATION/CERTS, FELLOWSHIP/SKILLBRIDGE, & CAREER

CONNECTORS

HoH provides access to multiple opportunities for transitioning service members, veterans, and

milspouses. Veterans and Milspouses can gain access to paid fellowship opportunities, which

functions like Skillbridge with different requirements.

https://www.hiringourheroes.org/

https://www.hiringourheroes.org/career-services/cc-general-intake/

(Career Connector for hot jobs with partnered companies)

https://www.hiringourheroes.org/career-services/fellowships/

(Skillbridge/Fellowship Opportunities)

FourBlock - CAREER READINESS

12 week curriculum in partnership with Columbia University to support you in developing your

professional skills and building meaningful relationships with the right people who can open

pathways to the best career options for you. Partnered with top companies like PwC, Deloitte,

Verizon, USAA, Wells Fargo, and many more. While no paid fellowships are available, 84% of

cohort members successfully secure an internship or full-time position at the company or

industry of their choice and remain there for more than a year, with an average starting base

salary of $100,272 [based on FA21, SP22, SU22 follow-up data].

https://fourblock.org/

50Strong - EMPLOYER NETWORKING

Provides virtual networking events directly with recruiters from top-rated, military-friendly

employers specifically looking to hire military veterans and spouses. Unlike most virtual

employer events, these are on-camera events where you have the opportunity to directly speak

with, and connect with, recruiters to identify potential opportunities and fit.

https://www.50-strong.us/

Salesforce Trailhead Military - FREE SALESFORCE CERTS & CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Trailhead Military is a self-paced training program that focuses on credentials and certifications

for critical Salesforce roles like admin or developer. This program is available to all active duty

personnel, reserve, guard, veterans, and military spouses. Through this online community, we

connect members to free training, classes, and career opportunities within the Salesforce

ecosystem.

https://veterans.my.site.com/s/

HireHeroes USA - MULTIPLE SERVICES

HHUSA provides a platform with access to resume writing assistance, mock interviews, career

coaching, mentoring, a job board with vetted listings, and more.

https://www.hireheroesusa.org/

Vets2Industry - NETWORKING AND RESOURCES

Free resource library for active, guard, reserve, veteran, military-spouse, dependent children,

Blue-Star & Gold-Star Families, and caregivers. Monthly networking event to connect directly

with other veterans and military families, as well as recruiters from military-friendly employers

https://vets2industry.org/

Candorful - FREE INTERVIEW PREP

Candorful provides 3 free mock interviews with real people to help you get actual interview

practice. You can complete more than 3 interviews, they just kindly ask for a donation if you

value their services.

https://candorful.org/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Hilton Honors Military Program - FREE HOTEL FOR INTERVIEWS

Partnered with the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, and available in 31

states, Hilton offers 100,000 hotel points to transitioning service members, veterans, and other

eligible personnel to attend job interviews, job training, or pre-employment testing.

https://www.naswa.org/partnerships/hilton-honors

Recruit Military - RECRUITING COMPANY

Military-to-civilian recruiting company that connects military veterans, transitioning military

service members, and their spouses with employment opportunities.

https://recruitmilitary.com/

Corporate Gray - CAREER CONNECTOR

Their Military-to-Civilian Transition Guide leads transitioning service member through each step

of the military-to-civilian career transition process, from self-assessment to resume writing to

networking to salary negotiation.

https://www.corporategray.com/welcome

Coalition to Salute Americas Heroes - EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID AND EMPLOYMENT

Nonprofit dedicated to providing aid and assistance to wounded veterans and families of

Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.

https://saluteheroes.org/

Skillsyncer - RESUME EDITING TOOL

Grades your resume against a job description to help improve your ATS matching

https://skillsyncer.com

PLEASE REFER TO THE

FOLLOWING LINK FOR NEARLY 500 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING

VETERAN RESOURCES:

https://vets2industry.org/resource-library/