Nov 20, 2025
Since September, the “Waking Up with The VFW’s Combat Tested Gaming” podcast has served as the mouthpiece for a growing Discord community bringing together VFW and Auxiliary members from all across the country.
Launched on Sept. 29 to coincide with VFW’s 126th Birthday, the podcast features insightful conversations with veterans who have a passion for gaming, as well as guests and representatives from some of the country’s biggest gaming brands.
But it also serves as more than that.
“This is an attempt to spread the word that this VFW programs exist,” said VFW National Programs Director Lynn Rolf, a founding member and guest speaker on the podcast. “The episodes focus on mental health, partnerships, Auxiliary involvement, VFW legislative priorities, and life in general.”
The idea for the podcast came from VFW members and current podcast hosts Rob Caudill and Tim Stoker, who Rolf said pitched it as a way to mirror what VFW currently does daily in its “Coffee & Afternoon Nap” Discord chat room.
“It’s important to note that games do not have to be a video game that consists of your traditional controller, console, and television, but board and card games are just as important,” said Caudill, a member of VFW Post 9134 in Rockwell, North Carolina. “The majority of the patrons use it for a connection platform to meet and socialize with other veterans. It’s a perfect hub for meeting people with like-minded lifestyles. We have veterans who range in age from 21 to 79.”
The “Waking Up with The VFW’s Combat Tested Gaming” podcast airs weekly, with episodes streaming across all major platforms.