Sometimes, a job interview feels less like a formality and more like a calling. That’s how it felt when I sat down (virtually) with the team from Project Recover—an organization that blends science, history, and heart in pursuit of something deeply human: bringing our missing service members home.

I first discovered their work in 2021, during an episode of Expedition Unknown—Season 9, Episode 2. We were just emerging from the depths of the pandemic, and like so many others, I was reevaluating my life, my values, and my career. I remember sitting there, watching this small team of explorers, researchers, and veterans dedicate themselves to the impossible: recovering the past to bring peace to the present.

Something clicked. I realized that what moved me most wasn’t just the mission—it was the storytelling. The way they honored every piece of history, every family waiting for news, every soul lost but not forgotten. That moment sparked a shift in me. I began to see my own work—marketing, communications, and engagement—through a new lens. One rooted in purpose. In legacy. In service.

Though I wasn’t selected for the role, I have no regrets. I would have carried a quiet sorrow if I’d let fear or self-doubt stop me from reaching out. Instead, I took the leap. I applied for a dream job with an organization I deeply admire, and in doing so, I honored my own values and voice.

Sometimes the mission finds you—and even if the path doesn’t unfold the way you’d hoped, the journey still matters. I’m grateful for the chance to connect with Project Recover and to share in their incredible mission, even briefly. I hope that someday I’ll have the opportunity to volunteer or support their work in another way. Because when a calling stirs something in your soul, it’s always worth answering.

A second Project Recover mission will be featured on Expedition Unknown airing July 30th (more info here). Stay tuned!

If this story inspired you, I encourage you to support Project Recover—whether through a donation, volunteering your skills, or joining their ambassador community. Every gift of time or resource brings us closer to bringing MIAs home.