457. Veterans Day Special: Clay Novak on 25 Years of Army Service, Blue-Collar Roots & Rebellis

“You can’t be afraid to jump.” — Clay Novak

"Let’s get left of the boom. We should be doing the same thing for veteran suicide."

This Veterans Day, join Reena Friedman Watts and her dad, Wayne, as they sit down with Lt. Col. Clay Novak (Ret.), combat veteran, author of the new book Rebellis, and co-host of The Elsa Kurt Show. Clay shares his hard-earned lessons on leadership, resilience, fatherhood, and life after combat — and weighs in on today’s politics and world events.

Elsa Kurt, known as The Blonde Kamala, a political commentator, co-host of the podcast, and married to a police officer and veteran. Together, they bring candid, no-holds-barred insights on freedom, service, and navigating the modern world.

Clay shares his journey from military life to becoming a podcaster and author, revealing the lessons learned along the way.

He discusses the challenges and camaraderie of military service, the stark contrasts between his experiences and those of veterans from previous generations, and how these insights inform his writing and advocacy work today.

With humor and sincerity, Clay opens up about the realities of combat, the importance of community for veterans, and the critical issue of suicide prevention within the veteran population. He emphasizes the need for belonging and the role that camaraderie plays in helping veterans cope with life after service.

As they explore Clay's creative endeavors, including his writing process and the inspiration behind his characters, Reena and Wayne engage in a heartfelt conversation that highlights the importance of mentorship, resilience, and the power of storytelling. This episode is not only a testament to the sacrifices made by those in uniform but also a celebration of the legacy they leave behind.

Keywords
Veterans, Military Service, Podcasting, Author, Suicide Prevention, Fatherhood, Politics, Community, Resilience, Storytelling, Creative Writing, Camaraderie, Life Lessons, Personal Growth, Legacy, Advocacy

(00:00) Reena friedman watts brings you the better call dream daddy show
(02:13) I co host the podcast with Elsa Kurt, and it's politics of the day
(07:14) You grew up in the suburbs in a blue collar family
(10:39) How do you think your time in the service differed from Vietnam
(16:57) Talk to me about friendly fire during the Vietnam War
(18:51) Getting wounded in Afghanistan was incredibly difficult and probably tragic
(24:42) It's 22 veterans a day, on average commit suicide
(29:04) Talk a little bit about how you have gotten creative since leaving the military
(34:41) Keep Moving, Keep Shooting is Terry Davis, that's the main character
(37:10) I'm curious about the artwork and the thought behind the cover design
(40:01) Would you compare publishing your book to jumping out of a plane
(44:43) Clay Novak: Please get my books into libraries. Please do. I think that's benefits everybody
(48:05) 22 veterans commit suicide every year, according to Better Call Daddy
(53:42) The point is, is that he wants to talk about politics. And writing about it and predicting

Connect with Clay Novak
Clay Novak's Website

Connect with Reena Friedman Watts
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