About Us
Hugh Borchers - Founder & Co-Host
Hugh joined the Navy Reserves in February 2008 as a Builder in the Seabees. He spent 15 years in Battalions and has deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Djibouti performing construction operations, quality-of-life upgrades, and Public Works duties. Hugh joined NSW in 2023 and provides construction, logistics, transportation, and administrative support to the community. As of January 2026, he has been in the Navy Reserves for 17 years and 11 months and has accumulated over 10 years of active-duty time.
As a civilian, Hugh held various construction jobs, specializing in concrete operations and rough framing before joining NAVSEA as a Temporary Services Electrician in January 2021. In February 2024 he moved to CNIC and is the lead Marine Machinery Mechanic for Port Operations at NSA Maine in Kittery, ME.
After one of his deployments, Hugh's friends and family began noticing changes he didn't see. Outbursts of anger and aggression, stress, and other symptoms began inhibiting his work and social life and changing his personality. The transition from Active back to Reserves was rushed and when he tried to get help, navigating the VA felt impossible and only made things worse. He received Guinness, his Service Dog, in 2014 and slowly started working on getting better. During his journey, Hugh gained firsthand insight into how difficult navigating the VA, healthcare, and treatment can be. With some gentle nudging from his friend Billy, they started Liberty Risk Podcast to help those looking for help. Treatment isn't always in a hospital. While medication and treatment helped Hugh, he understands that people hurt and heal differently. There are organizations that can help people who need non-standard treatment, and Liberty Risk Podcast wants to make sure they are available to everyone.