Veterans & PTSD: Jesse Gould & Matt Cahill

After being deployed as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan three times, he founded the Heroic Hearts Project in 2017 to spearhead the acceptance and use of ayahuasca therapy as a means of addressing the current mental health crisis among veterans.

Jesse Gould is Founder and President of the Heroic Hearts Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pioneering psychedelic therapies for military veterans. After being deployed as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan three times, he founded the Heroic Hearts Project in 2017 to spearhead the acceptance and use of psychedelic-assisted therapy as a means of addressing the mental health crisis among veterans. What began as a focus on ayahuasca has since expanded into a broader mission encompassing psilocybin and ketamine therapies, reflecting the organization’s evolution into a leading force in veteran mental health innovation.

To date, the Heroic Hearts Project has helped over 1,500 veterans and their spouses access life-changing psychedelic treatment programs, raised over $20 million, and built partnerships with the world’s leading treatment centers. The organization has also sponsored and supported clinical research with institutions including the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Georgia, helping to advance the scientific legitimacy of psychedelic medicine and push for wider clinical acceptance and policy reform.

Considered one of the most influential people in psychedelics for mental health, Jesse has testified before U.S. lawmakers on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for veterans and has spoken at major global conferences including Breaking Convention and the San Francisco Psychedelic Liberty Summit. He has shaped treatment protocols, built international partnerships, and helped move psychedelic therapy from the fringes to mainstream medical and policy conversations.Jesse is also a contributing author of The Veteran’s Field Manual for Psychedelics: Healing PTSD and Trauma Through Psychedelic and MDMA Therapy and The Veteran’s Guide to Psychedelics: A Preparation and Integration Workbook — two essential resources equipping veterans with the knowledge and tools to navigate psychedelic healing. Driven by a mission to help military veterans struggling with mental trauma, Jesse is best known for his own inspiring battle with PTSD and his recovery through ayahuasca therapy. His work has been featured in the NY Times, The Economist, Men’s Health, and on 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper, as well as on the Psychedelics Today Podcast, the Kyle Kingsbury Podcast, and numerous other global platforms.

Sergeant First Class (Retired), U.S. Army Medic | Master of Social Work (MSW) | PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning

Matt Cahill is a 26-year Army and Pennsylvania National Guard veteran who served as a combat medic, including deployment to Iraq. Like many veterans, his service did not end when he came home. He has lived with the lasting effects of war, including PTSD and traumatic brain injury, experiences that deeply shaped both his perspective and his purpose.

After losing close friends and witnessing the devastating impact veteran suicide leaves on families, Matt recognized a reality that had long gone unaddressed: families of veterans lost to suicide have no national recognition, no defined place, and are too often left invisible.

He founded Green Star Families of America to change that.

What began as a deeply personal mission has become a growing national movement to establish the Green Star Service Banner as an official symbol recognizing families of veterans and service members lost to suicide.

Through advocacy, legislative initiatives, and public awareness efforts, Matt is working to ensure these families are seen, acknowledged, and no longer overlooked.

His work is grounded in lived experience and driven by a simple belief: recognition matters.

After Jim Fausone served his country, he went to law school on the G.I. Bill. He married his college sweetheart, Carol Ann, who was a lieutenant in the USAF and stationed at Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington. She continued in the service for 34 years and rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

Jim is admitted before the U.S Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, United States Supreme Court, Michigan Supreme Court, as well as various Federal District Courts. He is a member of the National Organization for Veteran Advocates (NOVA). A former service member, he is a graduate of the University of Michigan College of Engineering and an honors graduate of the Gonzaga University School of Law.

Jim Fausone is the lead on Veterans Radio podcasts.  He is a veterans disability lawyer and served in the late 1970s. He has been on air with Veterans Radio since 2014 and a supporter for over a decade. He has built Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC into one of the premier veteran disability firms in the country. He is an Accredited Attorney by the VA. He has worked closely with veteran service organizations and veteran-centric organizations. Jim is a frequent writer, blogger, and lecturer on veteran topics. He organizes the largest Veterans Benefits Summit in Michigan each fall with hundreds of veterans in attendance.