Sam La Piana: Co-Founder of the Unbroken Veterans Podcast
Sam La Piana: Co-Founder of the Unbroken Veterans Podcast
Sam La Piana grew up in Kansas with a deep appreciation for the outdoors and a long-standing interest in military service. Like many, he spent years thanking veterans for their service — until one day he realized that gratitude alone didn’t feel like enough. Sam felt called to do more than offer words: “The best way to thank them was to join a branch of service.”
After graduating from college, Sam joined the U.S. Army as a combat engineer, specializing in route clearance and counter-IED operations. He served in an Army Reserve unit based out of Belton, Missouri, just outside Kansas City, and deployed to Afghanistan for 11 months in 2019.
Outside of uniform, Sam works in industrial equipment sales, balancing civilian life with continued service through the Reserve.
Finding Purpose Through Conversation
In 2020, Sam and his friend Nick began noticing a recurring issue within the veteran community: confusion around benefits, resources, and how to actually use what was available. What started as conversations between friends quickly evolved into an idea — one that would eventually become the Unbroken Veterans Podcast.
Their mission was simple but impactful: start the conversation, share information, and help veterans better understand the benefits they’ve earned.
Along the way, Sam and Nick began interviewing veterans from all walks of life, discovering not only practical guidance but also stories of resilience, transition, and growth.
Through these conversations, Sam found inspiration in the very community he hoped to support. The podcast became a space for educating and inspiring others who have served.
Lessons in Communication and Resilience
One of the most valuable lessons Sam has taken from the military is the importance of communication. He believes that being able to clearly articulate what you’re doing — or not doing — and why others should support it makes all the difference.
When communication is clear, progress follows. When it isn’t, opportunities can stall. This skill, Sam notes, isn’t just productive; it can also be protective.
Through both deployment and life stateside, Sam learned an important lesson about perspective. He noticed that when he fixated inward on frustration, discomfort, or what felt unfair, situations only became heavier.
Over time, he learned the value of gratitude and the discipline of looking for what was still good, even in difficult circumstances. That shift shaped how he approaches challenges both in and out of uniform.
Sam’s transition home from deployment in 2020 coincided with the early days of the COVID pandemic, making the experience both a blessing and a challenge.
“Everyone was scared of their own shadow when we got home,” he shared. While the world slowed down, Sam and his family were able to reunite quietly and quickly — something he recognizes many were not afforded during that time due to travel restrictions and delays.
When asked about resilience, Sam’s mindset is straightforward: failure isn’t an option. Short of death, he believes nothing truly stops us. Too often, we overthink ourselves into inaction, convincing ourselves we can’t move forward when the only thing that stops growth is giving up.
To Sam, there’s no such thing as failure, only redirection — and the choice to keep going.
To learn more about Sam and The Unbroken Veterans Podcast, use the links below:
