TalkingWithHeroes

What TalkingWithHeroes does

TalkingWithHeroes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media organization founded in December 2005 by Bob Calvert in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The organization operates a WordPress-based video hosting and storytelling platform at talkingwithheroes.com where active-duty service members, veterans, first responders, and military families can register, submit, and consume interviews, podcasts, and talk-show content focused on PTSD, TBI, suicide prevention, and military community support. Between 2006 and 2011, founder Bob Calvert completed five trips to Iraq and three to Afghanistan, embedding with U.S. military units to produce over 500 videos and thousands of hours of raw documentary footage that form the organization's core content library.

The organization monetizes through donations and corporate sponsorships displayed on the website (Shop America, N8 Essentials, Semper Fi Design, Sea of Green Seeds), supplemented by a sub-brand e-commerce marketplace called Shop America for American-made and veteran-owned products. Sister operations include ThankYouforYourService.us, a co-founded 501(c)(3) being relaunched with expanded suicide-prevention features and a support-organization registry. Distribution is multi-channel across four segmented YouTube channels (Fire, Police, Veterans, Military, each ~24K subscribers), Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and the WordPress site, though the Facebook page has been suspended since April 2024.

The organization operates with 1-10 employees and a small Board of Directors composed primarily of combat veterans. As of 2024, founder Bob Calvert is managing stage 4 cancer and Long Haul Covid while planning a leadership transition to a new Veteran-led team. No revenue figures, donor counts, or financial disclosures are available in the source data.

Name

TalkingWithHeroes

Legal name

Talking With Heroes

Website

https://talkingwithheroes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TalkingWithHeroes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media platform founded in 2005 that publishes video interviews, podcasts, and stories by and about military service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. It operates a donation and sponsorship-funded WordPress-based video site based in Colorado Springs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran and Military Community Media

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Support Communities (BPAMABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Social Audio & Live Community Platforms (BPAMABAH)

Keywords

• Veteran video platform
• Military storytelling community
• First responder media
• Suicide prevention content
• Nonprofit media network

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations to support content production costs, outreach efforts, and creating new opportunities for veterans to share their journeys. Fundraising is essential to the organization's continued operation.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support the platform including Shop America (veteran-owned shopping site), N8 Essentials, Semper Fi Design, and Sea of Green Seeds. Sponsors are displayed on the website footer.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TalkingWithHeroes operates a nonprofit National Media Network that provides a video hosting and sharing platform where active-duty service members, veterans, first responders, and their families submit, view, and share interviews, podcasts, and talk show content centered on military service, PTSD, TBI, and suicide prevention. The platform aggregates user-contributed stories and distributes them through a WordPress-based website and associated YouTube channels, supported by sister initiatives including Shop America (veteran-focused e-commerce) and ThankYouforYourService.us (501 C3 nonprofit).

Product overview

Talking With Heroes operates as a National Media Network featuring a video hosting and sharing platform at talkingwithheroes.com. The core product is the video platform where users can upload, view, and share content about military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their families. The platform includes a subsidiary e-commerce brand called Shop America for American-made products and fundraising. A sister 501 C3 non-profit organization, ThankYouforYourService.us, extends the mission with additional veteran support services including suicide prevention organization listings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shop America: E-commerce store founded by Bob Calvert with Talking With Heroes to provide opportunities for people from all walks of life, especially supporting American-made products and veteran businesses.

Products and services

• Talking With Heroes Video Platform A free, donation-supported video hosting and sharing platform where active-duty service members, veterans, first responders, and their families register to upload and consume interviews, podcasts, and talk show content focused on military service, PTSD, TBI, and suicide prevention. Users submit content via the website and consume it on the WordPress site and associated YouTube channels.
• Shop America An e-commerce shopping and fundraising site co-founded by Bob Calvert alongside Talking With Heroes, focused on American-made products and veteran-owned businesses. Serves both as a marketplace for veteran and American-made goods and as a fundraising channel supporting Talking With Heroes.
• ThankYouforYourService 501 C3 Non-Profit Sister 501 C3 nonprofit organization supporting Talking With Heroes, with an expanded mission including suicide prevention organization listings, veteran support services, and community surveys. Being relaunched with new leadership and features to allow support organizations to register and expand reach.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• America's Warrior PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Jim Lorraine, President and CEO of America's Warrior Partnership (Air Force veteran with 22 years service), appeared in multiple TalkingWithHeroes videos. America's Warrior Partnership's 2018 Symposium was covered on the platform. The partnership focuses on veteran suicide prevention and connecting veterans with support resources through initiatives like Operation Deep Dive research initiative with University of Alabama.
• ThankYouforyourservice.uscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister 501 C3 nonprofit organization co-founded by Bob Calvert. Expanding mission to include suicide prevention organizations. Being relaunched with new leadership and expanded features to register support organizations and expand reach. Hosts important surveys for veteran community.
• Shop AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerE-commerce shopping and fundraising site co-founded by Bob Calvert. Founded to provide opportunity for American-made products and veteran-owned businesses. Displayed as sponsor on TalkingWithHeroes website. Shop America US videos filmed to support veteran businesses.
• Project SanctuaryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeteran support organization featured in multiple videos. Annual GALA events covered on platform. Focus on helping military families with therapeutic retreats and support services.
• USAAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMilitary-focused financial services company mentioned in 2018 Meet and Greet plans. Representatives from USAA (including Ret. COL John DiPiero) have appeared in videos discussing military advocacy and financial support resources.
• N8 EssentialsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeteran-focused CBD product company. Featured in Semper Fi Productions playlist. Sponsors the platform with logo placement on website. Products marketed to veterans for wellness support.
• Lightning GraphicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeteran-owned promotional products company in Columbus, GA founded by RET. Army SFC William Wischnewsky. Bill has been helping with TalkingWithHeroes since 2005 and assists with ShopAmerica.us launch. Provides filming and photography services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): National nonprofit advocacy and support organization for post-9/11 veterans focused on policy, community, and member services. Comparable in mission alignment around OIF/OEF veteran voices and mental health, but operates at significantly larger scale.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Large veteran-support foundation providing entertainment, education, and family programs for wounded heroes, first responders, and their families. Overlaps with TalkingWithHeroes' first-responder and military-family focus at substantially larger scale.
• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led nonprofit using disaster response and community service to help veterans transition and find purpose. Comparable in veteran-led identity and community engagement, though focused on disaster response rather than media/storytelling.
• Wounded Warrior Project: One of the largest U.S. veteran-service nonprofits, providing physical/mental health programs, career support, and long-term advocacy. Far broader scope and budget than TalkingWithHeroes, but overlaps on veteran storytelling, PTSD/TBI support, and family caregiver services.
• The Mission Continues: Veteran-focused nonprofit that empowers post-9/11 veterans through community service and leadership programs. Overlaps with TalkingWithHeroes' mission of veteran empowerment and storytelling, though primarily service-oriented rather than media-driven.
• Semper Fi Fund: Nonprofit providing immediate financial support and program assistance to wounded, critically ill, and injured post-9/11 service members and their families. Comparable veteran support mission, particularly for combat-injured Marines and families — adjacent to TalkingWithHeroes' audience.

Direct peers

• TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors): Nonprofit providing bereavement support to military families, especially Gold Star families — directly overlapping with one of TalkingWithHeroes' explicit community segments. Comparable storytelling, peer-support, and community connection model.
• Project Sanctuary: Veteran-support nonprofit offering therapeutic retreats and family programs for military families. Listed as a TalkingWithHeroes partner; shares focus on PTSD, family reintegration, and community-driven veteran support.
• America's Warrior Partnership: A 501(c)(3) veteran-service nonprofit operating community-based programs and research initiatives (e.g., Operation Deep Dive) on suicide prevention and veteran support. Direct strategic partner to TalkingWithHeroes and serves the same military/veteran community through storytelling, advocacy, and resource connection.

Emerging players

• Student Veterans of America: Coalition of student-veteran organizations on college campuses supporting veterans' transition to education. Overlaps with TalkingWithHeroes' veteran-reintegration storytelling and community-building purpose, but with a narrower student-focused mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/talkwithheroes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/bobcalvert
• Facebookfacebook.com/talkingwithheroes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/talkingwithheroes.com-talk-show

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TalkingWithHeroes