Today’s episode features a conversation with co-directors of the film Music Vets, Jon Kaufman and El Sawyer who discuss their new documentary that shows us how trauma and challenges brought out by war are healed with music. Music Vets highlights the experience of three US Veterans as they process emotions, build coping skills and resilience while combating common and debilitating invisible wounds - posttraumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. It is also a story about transitions, and coming back to one's community, which is not a new concept to El and Jon who discuss their 2013 film, Pull Of Gravity, a documentary that follows the lives of three people in maximum security prison who transition home – One of those three being El himself. 

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Thank you Jon Kaufman and El Sawyer, our guests for your time and for doing your own part and service with creativity to honor veterans and healing through music, through your expertise of film. 

Music Vets was created by co-directors Jon Kaufman and El Sawyer, Producer Gabe Wiener, and Executive Producers Rodd Berro and Paula Katz. The filmmakers would like to sincerely thank the veterans and their families who shared their stories and lives with them in the film, with the goal of spreading this message of healing.

To get updates on screening and where you can find the film, you can go to musicvetsfilm.com, and check out MING media (Media In Neighborhood Group) for all projects and for more on thoughtful community-minded filmmaking. 

Thank you very much- Joy Allen, Brenda Ross, Julia Cuellar and colleagues at Berklee College of Music for developing the Institute of Music and Health series and for supporting our veterans and military families. 

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If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.

REMINDER... If you are a runner, walker, or want to sponsor either one, the 14th annual Run To Home Base is coming soon, of course back at Fenway Park with our great partners the Red Sox Foundation, on Saturday July 22nd 2023! Thank you for all your support of the mission to take care of all of our veterans their families. Hope to see you there and as always you can join, run and support anywhere virtually…At www.runtohomebase.org

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The Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Phebe Garver, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.

Producer and Host: Dr. Ron Hirschberg
Assistant Producer, Editor: Chuck Clough
Chairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter Smyth

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Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcast

The views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.