The Ready Room

In this episode, “Chunks” is back in The Ready Room, and we get back to our roots in aviation. We talk about how we became interested in flying, and reminisce about the different paths we took to earning our “Wings of Gold” and becoming Marine Corps pilots. We talk about the different aircraft we've flown, and some favorite historical aircraft that inspired our early love of aviation. We swap flying stories, recounting some of our most memorable experiences as aviators. Chunks recounts his incredible tale of staring down a terrorist during a combat sortie. We both share a profound sense of awe and gratitude at being able to count ourselves among the few who have shared in the legacy of combat aviation. And we both agree that you cannot underestimate the combat effectiveness gained by cold air blowing up your flight suit.

In this episode I'm speaking with Professor Noah Crome. A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach, whose incredible journey from a debilitating back injury that left him barely able to stand, to improbably, becoming a black belt training under the tutelage of UFC and Pride veteran, Ricardo Almeida, is nothing short of inspirational. Noah's story is a decades long journey of trials and broken dreams, that ultimately lead to his becoming an elite practitioner and coach, in one of the toughest jiu jitsu schools in the world. Noah is one of those people whose kind and gentle exterior masks an intensity fueled by an inner desire to be a protector of those who can't protect themselves. His motto “Strength and Kindness” is a constant theme that resonates in everything he does. Although I've known him for several years now, we never talked much beyond the halls of Ricardo Almeida's school. So, listening to his story blew me away! The improbable path that lead him to where he is now, and the hardships that life threw his way, would have caused other men to call it in. Instead, he reinvented himself and prevailed. This was one of the best conversations I've had in The Ready Room. Noah is a truly an honest and genuine individual, and I love the way he looks at life.

In this episode Chunks (Keith Phillip) and I discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and its possible implications for a post-pandemic world. In addition to being a Marine Corps Officer, Chunks is also a Lieutenant in a large metro-area fire department. Which puts him squarely on the front lines in this crisis. Not surprising to me, since Chunks is the kind of person who has always sought to put himself on the front lines of crisis. Whether it's the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, or running into a burning building, and now out there serving the public during a global pandemic. While most of us have been stuck at home, Chunks' schedule has changed very little, in fact he's gotten busier. We talk about the psyche required to go out every day and be in close contact with the public, knowing that the risk of exposure is so much higher. He is very candid about what he's seeing and how that compares to the characterizations depicted in legacy media outlets. We discuss the response to the pandemic and what it means for us as a society. Finally, we discuss some of the future possibilities for a post-pandemic world, and we agree that this event will have major implications for humanity going forward.

In this episode I'm speaking with Lisa Anderson. Lisa is the director of the United Nations Commercial Air Travel Safety Unit, which falls under the UN department of safety and security. Essentially Lisa and her team evaluate commercial air operators throughout the world and determine their suitability to safely and reliably transport UN personnel. It's important to note that when Lisa was hired to take the position, the CATSU didn't exist. She was given guidance on what the UN wanted to implement, but she built the program from the ground up! Pretty impressive. Lisa's story is a fascinating one. From her childhood in rural Kentucky, where expectations were set to a low-bar. To her travelling the world, as a private corporate pilot. Lisa took advantage of the opportunities presented to her and worked hard to forge a successful career that seemed unlikely to her as a child. We talked a lot about her past, and how her career path led her to where she is now. Given the fact that she worked for the TSA as that organization was still taking shape, we touched on travel security in general and what we're willing to accept in terms of security measures, and how those differ throughout the world. Lisa was a military spouse as well, and she really opened up about that experience and the challenges that military couples face in maintaining relationships in the face of so much flux, uncertainty and emotional burden.

In this episode I'm speaking with Leo Bottary, an accomplished author, keynote speaker, adjunct professor, and fellow podcaster. Leo is a thought leader on the topic of “peer advantage”; The idea of engaging peers in a way that's selective, strategic and structured. His latest book is called “What anyone can do: How surrounding yourself with the right people will drive change, opportunity and personal growth”. Leo makes the case for harnessing the power of relationships in order to maximize our own potential accomplishments, and that these relationships are a two-way street. The title “What anyone can do” is based on his belief that success and happiness do not depend on superhuman effort, but rather, come to those who possess the discipline to do the little everyday things of which we're all capable, but that most of us won't do. We talk about education, and the disconnect between how humans learn and how we evaluate learning. Leo makes the case that, the old trope that we should ‘never discuss religion or politics' is actually hurting our ability to understand important issues. We talk about the declining trust in government, media and corporations, and what that means for how we connect with each other. We advocate for asking more questions and making less statements. And finally, Leo makes a profoundly important observation for why younger generations are never as bad as the older generation makes them out to be.

In this episode, I'm speaking with Greg and Tony from the YouTube channel “Little Wars TV”. The channel is dedicated to the hobby of historical miniature wargaming. The guys tell the story of their club, from its humble beginnings almost two decades ago with two guys in the back room of a comic book store, to a well-organized club of over 30 members, with a privately-owned, purpose-built, loft-style, downtown clubhouse decorated with military memorabilia, photos and antiques, and replete with a well-stocked wet bar and a basement recording studio! We talk about just what the hobby is, and perhaps as important, what it isn't. Greg and Tony chronicle the original idea for the YouTube channel, and how the guys went about presenting not only the hobby, but also the personalities behind the games. They talk candidly about how surprising the success of the channel has been to them, and how the club dynamic has been tested because of it. In a surprising turn, a significant portion of our conversation shifted to societal issues dealing with the decline of civil discourse online and the politicization of almost everything. Which it turns out includes the YouTube comment section of a channel devoted to playing games with toy soldiers. In the end however, we bring the conversation back around to the success of “Little Wars TV” and the resiliency of the club and its members in forming and maintaining a group based on camaraderie and a shared love of the hobby. That and a fair amount of scotch.

In this episode “Chunks” (LtCol Keith Phillip) and I are back in studio for the first time since our inaugural episode. Chunks gives his thoughts on the show so far and what he thinks of my early efforts. We talk at length about where we think The Ready Room is headed and how that matches our earliest ideas for the show. We discuss society's rapid shift toward a new normal, and talk openly about what that means from our own perspective. Both of us ponder whether it's possible to have a show that tries to remain apolitical, while also remaining personally genuine. Our introspection leads us to a re-affirmation of our Mission Statement. I drink a 16-year-old single malt at 1100 in the morning, and Chunks' daughter calls him “Emo”.

In this episode I'm honored to be speaking with Private First Class Kenneth W. Pasch Sr. Born Dec 4, 1924, Ken grew up in LaSalle, NY during the depression and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1944. He was assigned as a gunner aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hancock and served in the Pacific campaign, where he was involved in several large battles and countless smaller engagements. He served aboard the Hancock until V-J Day. After Japan's surrender, he was briefly assigned as part of the US-led occupation force in mainland Japan. He and his shipmates then sailed back to the States where he was discharged from service and went back home to New York. Thereafter he met his wife and raised a wonderful family. We talked about his childhood, and what it was like growing up around LaSalle in the depression years. Ken relates a few stories that sharply illustrate the work ethic and mindset of younger kids in that time. He really paints a Norman Rockwell image of yesteryear. Of course, we talk at length about his time leading up to and during the war. His position as a gunner manning a 20mm on one of the port-side gun mounts, was uniquely perilous. The position was exposed, and a gunner's job was to bring down enemy aircraft before they could reach the ship and drop their bombs or torpedoes, or in the case of Kamikaze pilots, crash their plane into the ship. One of the stories that Ken tells is just incredible, and it seems almost providential that he's still with us. Ken's voice seems to speak to us from the pages of black and white images in history books, and to put a first-account human perspective on events that often feel abstract when looking back.

In this episode I'm talking with Ken Pasch. Ken is an author, an entrepreneur and a retired Air Force Colonel. He is the founder and President of KiVisions Inc., a leadership development company whose mission is to make good people great leaders. We talk about groups versus individuals as it relates to building a successful organization. We laud the unsung benefits of devil's advocates. We discuss the difference between “good” and “effective” leaders and determine that one's moral compass isn't always related to their success as a leader. We lament the unfortunate propensity for people to conflate charisma with leadership. We talk at length about the ways in which inspired leadership can lead us toward an ever-greater global prosperity. And we theorize that, along with integrity, knowledge, enthusiasm and energy, a true leader absolutely must have one other trait in order to be be great…compassion!

In this episode I talk with Frank Diana. Frank is a recognized futurist, thought leader, and advisor in the context of business, societal and economic evolution. With over 30 years of business leadership in various executive roles, Frank scans the human horizon for emerging trends and technology, and leverages storytelling and pragmatic solutions to provide clients with a clearer path to success in a rapidly changing world. Frank and I discuss just how fast the world is changing, and the need to remain resilient as the pace of change increases. We talk about human turning points throughout history, and just how our current point in time compares. We touch on how different the world will look in only 20 or 30 years from now, and how hard that is for us to grasp. We ponder the ethical dilemmas of adopting new technologies, and how to ensure we're thinking about their possible uses from all angles. We also briefly touch on just how much we've changed already, as we've struggled to make sense of our increasingly connected, 21st century world, against the backdrop of a 20th century paradigm.

In this episode, I sit down with Eddie Kostakis. Eddie is the co-founder of both Xizmo Media, and Aerospect, two of the most successful aerial drone companies in New York City. We talk about how the drone industry has evolved, and where it's headed. We discuss the concerns that much of the general public has with the increasing ubiquity of these devices; privacy, security, and safety. Eddie talks about how he and his business partner went from working out of his father's basement, to running two successful firms on the cutting edge of technology. We talk about just how many industries are using drones in ways that would never have seemed probable even a decade ago, and how these devices are permanently changing the way we think about doing business. We ponder the future of the industry, and contemplate just how long we'll have to wait until we can order pizza via autonomous delivery, or even hail an air-taxi.

In this episode of The Ready Room I speak with Dr. Matthew Johnson. Matt is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, and an expert on the behavioral and psychological effects of psychoactive drugs in humans. Matt talks about how one finds his way into making a (legal and respectable) living on magic mushrooms. We shine a light on the little-known connection between LSD and “I Dream of Jeannie”. We discuss whether Charles Dickens' transformative tale of redemption can be replicated in reality. We talk about the positive benefits of psilocybin for those suffering from addiction, depression, and anxiety, and what science has been able to tell us about how our brains are wired and possibly re-wired.

In this episode I sit down with Brett Bullock and Ryan Cole; lifelong friends, and co-founders of "Screamin' Hill Brewery". The guys look back on how they turned their passion for home-brewing into a successful business, We contemplate the modern rise of craft beer brewing, and how to remain genuine to your vision. We talk about the terroir of great beer, the beauty of really old lumber, and the desire for "local" in a global world. We note how great beer enjoyed in a sublime setting seems to bring out the best in people, and postulate that, in a politically polarized world, beer may be as centrist as it gets.

In this episode of The Ready Room, I sit down with Joe Battista. Joe is a coach, mentor, motivational speaker, and author of "The Power of Pragmatic Passion: 7 Common Sense Principles for Achieving Personal & Professional Success” We discuss what it means to follow your heart, and whether it's possible to do so without severing all ties, and leaving yourself and family in financial straits. We ask the question: What truly defines happiness? We talk about why it is that two-thirds of American workers feel disengaged at their job. We discuss why civil discourse is so hard to find nowadays, and what we can do as individuals to improve that. We talk golf, old friends, new beginnings, and how you can follow your heart's desire with the right plan, the right people, and a healthy dose of pragmatism.

In our inaugural episode, I sit down with the other half of the Ready Room Podcast team, LtCol Keith Phillip to talk about 40 oz. bottles of malt liquor as a competitive testing strategy, what it means to have a combat mentality, the philosophy of tactical thinking, our vision for where we hope to take the show, and why friendship and communication is of vital importance in civil discourse.

Prior to our first episode, I sit down with Ming Chen of A Shared Universe podcast studio to talk about podcasting, creating content, hidden speakeasys, smoked cocktails, and the excitement of the future of the Ready Room podcast.