LW14: Ben Kesling

In this enlightening episode, we are joined by Ben Kesling, a journalist and author who focuses on military and veterans issues. He was a longtime Wall Street Journal reporter and covered the Pentagon, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and was a combat correspondent. He also covered campaigns, Congress and riots. Ben shares his profound experiences as a journalist providing listeners with an insider's perspective on the challenges facing our veterans today.

Beyond his reporting, Ben has devoted significant effort to supporting veterans as they navigate life after service. In this episode, he discusses the importance of addressing mental health issues, the impact of his work on his own perspective, and the initiatives he has been involved in to provide veterans with the resources and support they need.

Ben Kesling is a graduate of Wabash College, Ben also has a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University. He attended Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and the Middlebury Language School for Arabic. He is also a two-day Jeopardy! champion.

Ben has won journalism awards from the New York Press Club and the Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the author of the book “Bravo Company,” about an Army company's harrowing deployment to Afghanistan and the soldiers’ decade of reckoning after. Before becoming a journalist, he was a United States Marine Corps infantry officer who deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He lives in Chicago.

Join us as Ben Kesling opens up about the transformative experiences that shaped his career, the critical issues facing veterans today, and the inspiring stories that fuel his commitment to making a difference. This episode is a tribute to the resilience of our servicemen and women and a testament to the enduring power of their stories.