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Ed Latimore is a former professional heavyweight boxer, a competitive chess player, sobriety advocate, physics graduate, U.S. Army National Guard veteran, and a bestselling author of Not Caring What Other People Think Is a Superpower and Sober Letters to My Drunken Self. He grew up in Pittsburgh's housing projects and fought poverty, addiction, and trauma with the discipline of boxing and the clarity of stoic philosophy. His newest book, Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business: Boxing and the Art of Life, was released last year.  Ed joined host Robert Glazer on The Elevate Podcast to discuss his boxing career, lessons learned from a life of fighting, and why you shouldn't care what people think. Thank you to the sponsors of The Elevate Podcast Shopify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠masterclass.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Framer: ⁠⁠⁠framer.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠ Northwest Registered Agent: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠northwestregisteredagent.com/elevatefree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Homeserve: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠homeserve.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indeed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis Timmons shares with host Andrew Stotz how a decade of frustration running his physical therapy practice turned into joy once he discovered Deming's philosophy and embraced systems thinking. Through PDSA cycles, clearer processes, and genuine team involvement, he transformed Fitness Matters from chaotic growth to a scalable organization getting stellar outcomes. His story shows how small businesses can create stability, joy in work, and remarkable results by improving the system rather than pushing harder.   TRANSCRIPT   0:00:02.1 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as we continue our journey into the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Today I'm here with featured guest Travis Timmons. Travis, are you ready to tell us about your Deming journey?   0:00:19.7 Travis Timmons: Hey Andrew, thanks for having me. And yeah, very excited to share our journey and how impactful it's been on both our company, but also me personally and my family. So, super excited to kind of share where we started before Deming and where we're at today. So I'll just dive right in if that sounds like a good...   0:00:39.9 Andrew Stotz: Yeah. And I think just for the audience here, I'll just mention that Travis is physical therapist, founder and president of Fitness Matters in Columbus, Ohio, going on his 27th year of business. And you know, you and I have had some discussions. You've had a lot of great things that you've written and we've gone through and I think it's really an exciting story, particularly for a small mid sized business owner who's just frustrated as hell that things aren't going the way that they want. And I think your frustration a long time ago was a driving force. So I'm excited for you to share your story. So yeah, take it away.   0:01:22.6 Travis Timmons: Yeah, very excited. Yeah, 2000 is when we started, January 2000. So coming up on 27 years, as you mentioned, do physical therapy and wellness. And the first 10 years I was in business, pretty good at being a physical therapist. Started my own business and had no idea how to run a business. I knew a lot about physical therapy, but just kind of shooting from the hip in regard to business. Spent about a decade struggling, frustrated. We were growing, but growing slowly, growing chaotically. No process, it was just a, it was a heavy burden, to be honest with you. We were growing, but it was kind of Herculean effort on my part.   0:02:10.1 Andrew Stotz: I'm just curious how you were feeling at that time. Like there's gotta be a better way or this is the way business is and I just gotta muscle through this or how were you feeling at the time?   0:02:21.0 Travis Timmons: I was feeling frustrated and isolated. Didn't quite know where to turn. Yeah, I guess that's how, and just a burden. Didn't want to let the team down, I did not want the business to fail. I knew we had something different to offer. Just really had no idea how to scale that in a professional way. And along the journey was very fortunate to have a client who had a very successful business, took me under his wing. Ray Crook is his name. Started mentoring me and as luck would have it, he was familiar with Dr. Deming and a very long story short, after several meetings with him over time, some mentoring, I'd read the book along the way, the E-Myth Revisited and had some learnings from that book that really jumped out at me and came to the conclusion, both with reading that book and some feedback from Ray of basically, hey, it's time to grow up and turn this into a real business. If you're going to do this, let's do it right. And at that, around that time he introduced me to Kelly Allen with the Deming Institute. And you know, so we were 10 years into some chaos, had really no process, just would try stuff, see if it stuck or didn't.   0:03:43.5 Travis Timmons: If that didn't work, didn't really have any way to measure if stuff was working well. So really just a lot of chaos. And became introduced to Deming through Kelly Allen about 10 to 11 years into our journey and man, was that a breath of fresh air in terms of like having a direction to go in. After a few meetings with Kelly, him getting a better understanding of what was important to me, I think him just really understanding that I was serious about wanting to turn our organization into a large, professionally run and well run organization that would have a positive impact on people's lives, both team members and clients. I think he kind of, I think that we were so bad off he took pity on me to begin with, just to be honest with you, and he was like, man, this guy needs a lot of help. He could do some good in the world with what the services they have to offer. But if he doesn't figure out how to run a business professionally, they're never going to scale.   0:04:44.0 Andrew Stotz: And it's interesting that you reached out. I mean, there's a lot of people that are stuck in that situation and they really don't, either they don't reach out or they're afraid to reach out or you know, maybe they think there's no solution or nobody's going to help me. And you know, certainly when you're small, you also don't have huge budgets to hire people to come in and fix your business. You know, I'm just curious, like what drove you to even reach out?   0:05:09.8 Travis Timmons: I think I was fortunate enough to, A, have the mentor with Ray. And then secondly, have always been a believer in you got to check your ego at the door and know that you don't know everything. I think I've seen Business owners that are afraid to admit they don't know everything and so they keep things insulated and that just doesn't get you anywhere.   0:05:35.7 Andrew Stotz: Yeah.   0:05:36.3 Travis Timmons: So I just was fortunate kind of how I was raised as arrogance isn't a good thing, so check your ego at the door and learn from, learn from people smarter than you. And so I kind of took that fully at heart and like, all right, I have no idea how to run a business. I need to learn how to do that from really smart people. Read a lot of business books over the years, but the Deming philosophy, when I was introduced to that at the two and a half day seminar, went to that. I got to the Deming two and a half day in, I think that was 2013. So I was 13 years into the entire journey by the time I had met with Kelly, done some learning. And then at a time where the Deming two and a half day was offered in Ohio to where I could get to it, to your point earlier, budget plays into things for small businesses. So I was able to drive to that one and that two and a half day seminar just opened my eyes up to things that I knew in my heart but had no idea how to make that happen.   0:06:46.2 Travis Timmons: And what I mean by that, Andrew, is one of the key things I took away from that first two and a half day is Deming's belief that roughly 96% of issues within an organization are not people issues, but they're process and system issues. And that aligned with my worldview of if you hire good people, which we did, they show up every day wanting to do a good job as long as they have a good system and process to work within something that's professionally put together. So that was takeaway number one that really resonated with me. And the person responsible for said system is me. There's no passing the buck as the owner. And that resonated with me. It's a big responsibility to own a business in terms of the people and clients you're responsible for. And there's no passing the buck. You're responsible for the system at the end of the day.   0:07:42.3 Andrew Stotz: Yeah. I remember when I was 24 attending Deming seminar, when I was working for Pepsi, and it was a little bit different situation than yours. I could see, though, the same thing resonated with me. I could see that people were hemmed in by the system. And even though many people in the factory had really good intentions and they wanted to do a better job, they literally couldn't because they didn't have the tools or the budget or the this or the that. And a lot of times it's easy for senior management, particularly in a big company, to say figure it out, your job is to figure it out. But that only goes so far and there's eventually a point of exasperation for people working in a company that, like, I just, there's a limit here and I'm not going to kill myself trying to do something that I can't change. And so it just, I was coming from a very different perspective as an employee in a huge company versus you at a perspective of, this is my company, I set the rules.   0:08:46.5 Travis Timmons: Yeah, can do whatever we want. And you mentioned something there. It reminds me of a quote from that first two and a half day, and it still sticks with me a decade and a half later. Almost a lot of businesses complain about the term. We have a lot of dead wood in terms of employees. And the quote, I remember Kelly sharing this, it's like, well, did you hire dead wood? Because if you did, that's on you. Or did you hire live wood and kill it and that's on you from your standpoint of, from a system. And I'm like, man, 100% true. And I hired, I had good people on our team, but we didn't have good processes to keep from killing that live wood I would say. So, yeah. And to your point on budget, yeah, I had and still do have quite a bit different budget than Pepsi. Right. So one of the other things that jumped out at me early on that made Deming very approachable and something I could engage with very easily as a small business owner was the concept of PDSAs, the Plan-Do-Study-Act.   0:09:58.5 Travis Timmons: That was a game changer for us because I was like, all right, I don't have to hire a big business consultant. We don't have to hire or pay for a bunch of software. There's very simple things we can do via the Plan, Do Study Act PDSA method that we can create systems or improve upon systems and those little experimental ways and not have to bet the farm. You know, you see a lot of businesses that try to go through these huge transformative activities, bring in a new software to fix all their problems. Things that are very expensive with no real way of understanding what their aim is, what their theory is, or even if it'll work. So, yeah, your comment on budget there, I think, is what makes Deming so approachable for any size organization, but the budget's really not a limit from the PDSA standpoint. So those were some of my key takeaways very early on on my first two and a half day Deming, it was an eye opener and just really resonated with how, how I saw the world in terms of from a human level. Just had zero idea as a physical therapist with no business training on how to implement and run a professional organization.   0:11:13.8 Travis Timmons: So as things evolved, kind of went from the kind of the term chaos to process. So after that two and a half day, I went back to our team, which was small at the time. I think we had, we were a very small company at the time. I think we had 10 employees, nine or 10 team members at the time and just presented to them like, hey, this is going to be how we run our organization. There's this thing I heard about this guy called Dr. Deming. Some of it's going to seem a little odd, but this is how we're going to do things. And just started out early on, like just with PDSA, educated them on what that meant and we're all going to work on things together. So immediately it started enforcing a culture of improvement and collaboration and voice. Rather than Travis just coming up with random ideas, we worked on them together, made the system visible and then put some experiments in place. I talked to them about operational definition. That was a new term to me and gave them some examples. We wanted every client to have a good visit with us.   0:12:29.2 Travis Timmons: What in the heck does a good visit mean? Right. We didn't have an operational definition of that, so we created an operational definition of this is a good visit at Fitness Matters. So those were some fun things early on.   0:12:42.3 Andrew Stotz: I'm curious. There's two things, the first one is for someone that really doesn't know anything about PDSA, the Plan, Do, Study, Act process or cycle. Could you give an example either of one that you did early on or one that you think is the best illustration of the application of PDSA so people can understand what you're saying, because I know it's a big part of what one of the, let's say, tools that you've used in your process.   0:13:10.1 Travis Timmons: Yeah, one of the early on ones we did that was fun to do with the team because it changed our pricing model for our private pay team. Quick example, like we do personal training and Pilates muscle activation technique. Traditionally in that world, people buy those visits one at a time or you'll buy a package of 10 or 20 at a time at a discounted rate, volume, volume pricing, right. So we had that, we had 10 pack and 20 pack of personal training. We had a 10 pack and 20 pack of Pilates, same for muscle activation technique. And we had clients that would do sometimes all three of those services, but for them to be able to optimize their discount, they had to buy a 20 pack of Pilates, a 20 pack of personal training, and then the same with muscle activation technique. So after learning some things with Dr. Deming at the two and a half day that Kelly presented at, it's like we got to be easier to do business with. Be easy to do business with and how can we do that? So our PDSA was how can we change our pricing model on the private pay services to be easier to do business with and optimize how clients can move in our system freely.   0:14:25.9 Travis Timmons: So part of the concept of PDSA is you trial it, you put your whole theory together of what you think will be true. How are you going to study it? How long are you going to try it? So we had four clients that we knew well, that we told them, we're trying this new pricing model. Would you be willing to experiment on this with us? So we didn't roll it out company wide. We just tried it with a small segment, and we called it Fitness Matters Dollars and the do the Fitness Matters Dollars package. Then the client could use that discounted bundle of money for any of our services. So the discount applied to any of the services they did rather than having to buy a bunch of different packages. So the beauty of it is you can try it small. Had we gotten it wrong, we could have thrown it out and only five clients would have experienced the error. And they knew they were part of an experiment and they were happy to help us improve. It was a big win. That was 12 years ago. That's still how we do our pricing today.   0:15:29.1 Travis Timmons: It makes it very easy for clients to optimize their health within our system and not have to spend a bunch of money with us and have a lot of monetary resistance moving about our system. So that's one example that comes to mind.   0:15:41.4 Andrew Stotz: That's a good one. And I think if you think about, let's say an accountant may say, well, but wait a minute, the cost of three different services is different and that's the idea of how do we simplify this for the client, and that's interesting. Now, did you write it down, did you go to a Whiteboard. How did you actually go through that process?   0:16:02.9 Travis Timmons: Oh, that's 13 years ago. You're testing my...   0:16:06.5 Andrew Stotz: Oh, well, you can think about a current one, too.   0:16:09.6 Travis Timmons: 12 years ago. Yeah. When we're doing a current one, we'll get together as a team. Like, we're having our annual team off-site the end of January. And we'll come up, we try to come away with three, maybe four PDSAs as a team, and we'll write it up on the whiteboard. What's the problem we're trying to solve? Another key quote I've learned from Kelly Allen over the years is "the problem named, is the problem solved." So we want to make sure we're naming the right problem first. What really is the problem? So we talk about that through our entire company so that I'm getting feedback from all pieces of the system and then we'll map it out. Sometimes we'll do fishbone charts to look where in the process are we trying to do an experiment? And then there's the PDSA kind of chart that we'll use for bigger ones so we can study it. What's our aim? What's our theory? What do we think is going to happen with this experiment? How long are we going to study it, and what's our expected outcome? So part of the PDSA magic, as you know, is what are you trying to accomplish by what method, in what time frame, and what do you think is going to happen so you can go back and test your theory after you've studied it? So, yeah, sometimes we, if it's something bigger system-wide, we put it down on paper. We have a PDF that's fillable for each new PDSA.   0:17:35.5 Andrew Stotz: And for some people listening, they may think, well, I mean, isn't that what business does? I mean like owner comes up with an idea and says, yeah, I think we could try this and see what happens. Right. And ultimately everybody's kind of poking in the dark in business. We're not given a manual nobody really knows what we're doing. What's the difference between the way that you are poking in the dark, trying to hey, let's try this, let's try that compared to the PDSA.   0:18:08.5 Travis Timmons: I don't think I learned that till my second Deming two and a half day. So the second time I went, I took some senior team members with me so we could get more eyes around what in the world is this Deming person, who is Dr. Deming? What's this System of Profound Knowledge? To answer your question, I think the realization I had that I didn't have before, kind of going down the Deming journey is I didn't view our business as an entire system. I lacked that awareness of system view versus pieces and parts view. Pre-Deming, there's a problem over here and you go chase that fire and then another problem pop up over here, and to your point like there's lots of books out there on how to solve problems or you know, you hear like there's books out there on ownership thinking. And you know, it's like, well, do you have a culture and a system and by what method do you give people the ability to have that ownership thinking? Yeah, I think that's was the big aha of looking at the entire system. Whereas previously I was looking at it in silos and only trying to solve problems when a fire arose rather than system operationally efficient, trying to get efficient and optimizing the entire system. So that was probably one of the big aha's for me. Didn't happen day one. But as I got to understand Deming more, the system view of how it all has to be working together for optimization just changes your lens totally.   0:19:51.5 Andrew Stotz: So you've talked about PDSA, you've talked about operational definitions, you've talked about systems thinking, three core principles. One last thing on PDSA is like, I wonder what percent of the total value of doing PDSA comes from doing PDSA. In other words, the actual part of forcing yourself to get people in a room to discuss what's the problem, the Fishbone diagram, think about what's our aim, what's our theory, what's our hypothesis? Let's write that down. How are we going to study that? How we know if our hypothesis was true and you know, that type of thing. And sometimes I, after listening to you, I was thinking it, I suspect that a large amount of the final benefit you get from a PDSA is really front end loaded in all the work that you do to set it up.   0:20:48.3 Travis Timmons: Yeah, yeah. Going back to your comment earlier Andrew, on when you were at Pepsi, if I heard you correctly, you didn't really have the ability to share voice or to have an impact on the system. I think you're spot on, the PDSA itself, a couple things, number one as a small business owner, you got to check your ego at the door. Your team sees stuff happening that you don't have visibility on and they're probably going to have better ideas on how to fix it than you might if you're removed from it a step or two. And then the culture of like, oh, Travis is going to listen to my ideas. I find value in that. And then when we implement a change, like nobody likes change. Right? But when you've worked on it collectively as a team and you're ready to move forward with it, that's a game changer. You're not pushing a string at that point. Everybody's leaning in because they understand they're part of the solution and you're allowing that. Where a lot of businesses are top down, command and control, that doesn't usually work very well. So yeah, I think you're spot on, Andrew.   0:22:02.5 Travis Timmons: I think that so much happens with the PDSA process from a culture and team involvement. And if you don't have that, you're going to have a hard time retaining team members, in my opinion.   0:22:16.9 Andrew Stotz: So you look like a pretty relaxed guy compared to probably what you were like many years ago when this all was going on. Maybe take us through. Okay, so you're implementing these things and what's happening, what changes are happening, what transformation is going on with you and with your organization?   0:22:36.9 Travis Timmons: Yeah, so it's a multi-year process that we went through. Still a lot of work, you know, it's not like, hey, this just solves every problem. It just changes all the lenses you look through and you have a by what method path. Here's how we are going to think about our business. So that got rid of a lot of confusion for me. I knew how we were going to go from this size business to my, we had a BHAG, Big Hairy Audacious Goal from Good to Great. We wanted to have four facilities. At the time I went through Deming, we had one. We wanted to have four facilities or more to see if we could replicate our high level of care, team member engagement, all those things. So we were working, I was working just as many hours then. It just was not frustrating, it was exciting. It was a lot of collaboration that was energizing and everything as we scaled got easier. I was not going to be able to scale our business with what I was doing because had I scaled it, the headaches would have just been out of control. The loss of revenue, like there would have just been so much inefficiency on our organization.   0:24:00.4 Travis Timmons: So I would say for that next from 2013 through 2018, we got really locked in. So we spent about, I was a little conservative at the time. I was also in Army National Guard, so had a trip across the pond and just wasn't quite at a point where I could financially roll the dice and start multiplying locations and stuff like that. But around 2018, 2019, we got to the point where the team knew Deming well. I felt like we put a lot of systems, processes in place that were replicatable and I'm like, all right, here comes a real big PDSA. We're going to go get another clinic, we're going to go do another location, and we're going to test it. So that was a big PDSA. A lot of the ones we had done up to that were small. At some point you got to go a little bigger. And we were very confident in our model. So we acquired a practice in our town and like, hey, 80% of what they do is what we do, 20% is not Deming and service lines and stuff like that. So our theory, our PDSA, was can we acquire and put Fitness Matters, culture and process in place and grow?   0:25:26.3 Travis Timmons: And we did. We were very successful with that. I had team member retention with that. You know, a lot of times when you buy out another business kind of, people head for the doors, including the owner. That owner is still working with us six years later, then we started growing. It's like, all right, here we go. We can do another one. We can do another one. Put leadership in place at each location that understand Deming. We have our processes written down. We have operational definitions written down. People know what PDSA is. If they're new to our team, it takes them about six months to figure out what all these acronyms mean. So now we're going quicker since, you know, since in the last four years, as an example, we've tripled our physical therapy volume and doubled our private pay wellness volume. And in the service line, that's fairly fast growth. Probably not fast in the IT world, but in the service line growth in a very competitive market with how physical therapy and referrals work. There aren't many private practices left out there because it's so competitive where we're thriving.   0:26:41.4 Andrew Stotz: It seems like a hard business. It seems like a hard business to scale because there's this personal aspect, there's this interaction. You know, think about the exact opposite. I don't know, let's say Instagram or whatever. There's zero personal interaction. It can scale to billions. What are the constraints to growth that you feel in your business.   0:27:03.3 Travis Timmons: So constraints are reimbursement from health insurance, referrals from physicians, because health care is consolidating. So a health care system buys up smaller organizations, physicians, and then they have physical therapy within those systems and then they're highly encouraged to refer their physical therapy in-house. So that's a big challenge for us. So we don't, we're not owned by physicians. So we have to, we have to be the best at what we do for physicians and clients to want to choose us. So one of the things Dr. Deming really big on at quality, right. You have to continually have a system that has improving quality as you grow. And the way we grow is we have our outcomes. So how well a patient does at the end of a plan of care is roughly 35% higher than national average. We're 35% above the competition because of our processes, our system, our clients, how we look at integrating our clients from the first visit, the first phone call, follow-on visits, the entire, again, thinking back to that system conversation. And I think a lot of businesses, if they haven't been exposed to Deming, they miss that very critical piece of, if your sales isn't aligned with your implementation, isn't aligned with your billing process, anywhere along that service line, going through that fishbone, if it's all not good, like we could give excellent physical therapy care, but if we have a horrible billing system, we lose clients, end of story. If we have a horrible process of answering the phone to schedule evaluations, we're out of business.   0:29:00.0 Travis Timmons: Could have the best physical therapists in the world. So, yeah, that's what it's allowed us to do from a scaling and fun standpoint. And kind of now almost 27 years in we're at a point where, one of the litmus tests I had, like, if we do this well, if we really are all-in on Deming and it's system process definitions and we have it mapped out, this should run without Travis. And I see a lot of business owners are the choke point. Like they want to be the problem solver for everything. Everything has to flow through them, slow stuff down. You're not getting all of the information from your team that could solve problems so much quicker. So one of my litmus tests early on was like, if this really works well, the business should run without me present certainly for weeks and weeks at a time. And we're there. So that's why I look Relaxed now. I didn't look this relaxed a decade ago. So, it's fun, it's fun.   0:30:11.5 Andrew Stotz: I was looking for my Out of the Crisis book, but I went online and I wanted to highlight two of the 14 points because it's something that you mentioned about improving your process and all of that. And the first one is the first point and you know, it's the first point for a reason. And number one is "create constancy of purpose towards improvement of product and service with the aim to become competitive and stay in business and provide jobs." And number five is "improve constantly and forever, the system of production and service to improve quality and productivity and thus constantly decrease costs." So how do you embody that in your business, this, because when I first read the "constancy of purpose," I originally thought it meant pick your direction and stay constant with that. But then I started to realize, no, no, it's about how are we improving our product and service.   0:31:18.9 Travis Timmons: Yeah. So if you're not evolving with, technology is everywhere. Right. So if you're not paying attention to that within how it impacts your business and constantly trying to optimize how technology interfaces with your business, you're in trouble. So, like, we're right now getting ready to, I'd say once a year we do something fairly large within technology. Next year we're going to probably be changing our documentation software because there's a newer one out there that instead of having four different softwares we have to interface with, there'll be one. So that cuts down on rework, that cuts down on learning time for a new team member. There's less resistance for clients to understand how scheduling and billing work. So I don't know if I'm answering your question, Andrew, but I think from a standpoint of, I think it was Jack Welch I heard say years ago in an interview, "there's two ways a business is going. You're either growing or you're dying." And that resonated with me, there's no sitting still because if you do, you're going to get run over. So that's always looking through, can we make it easier to schedule?   0:32:40.0 Travis Timmons: Like right now we don't offer online scheduling for physical therapy. We will in 2026. And if we don't figure that out, it could be a reason that we would eventually go out of business. So I just looked through that mindset. There's always somebody coming after you.   0:32:58.7 Andrew Stotz: Yeah, yeah, that's...   0:33:00.3 Travis Timmons: Complacency doesn't work.   0:33:01.3 Andrew Stotz: I like to think about when I was young and I took a break and I stood still. I was standing on the flat ground, no problem. But now with my 87 year old mother, if she goes one day, two days, three days without movement, she's going backwards and it's harder to catch back up. And I start to realize she's operating on a plane that has been slanted against her. And eventually the slant will win against all of us. But in the world of business if you think, well it's not about growing or dying, well, there's someone out there trying to take your business by providing a better product or service. And that's just the reality that actually is invigorating to know that, and as Dr. Deming said to have a great competitor is such a valuable thing. If you're just poking around and you're doing okay in market you're probably not going to improve as much. So that the focus on improvement is something that I just find really fascinating. There's another question that I have which is these days, way I look at like the job of leadership is that it's like imagine a very strong magnet ahead of you and you're constantly pulled to that magnet.   0:34:37.7 Andrew Stotz: That magnet is the average, the consensus what everybody's doing. And you can't help but feel that force. And if you don't realize that you're being affected by that force, you're just being pulled into it. And what I mean by that is if you say, well, what if we tried something different, a different way of doing something and then you go to customers, no, sorry, your competitor does this. If you don't do that, I'm not going to give you the business. And so you're naturally drawn towards the center or towards consensus, but what you're doing is trying to pull your business and yourself and your thinking and your team away from that and saying there's a different way. And how hard is that?   0:35:24.4 Travis Timmons: It's hard. You have to have a different lens. Comment earlier, the problem named is the problem solved. One of the things, I love that analogy. I've never heard it described that way. In physical therapy it's very common for a physical therapist to have two or three patients scheduled at the same time because the problem that was named by most organizations is poor arrival rate. And if you have holes in your schedule you're not getting paid. So they look at that as a revenue loss. So to answer your question, that's where our industry is. Like you got a double, triple book or you're going to have lower revenue. Well, what that does is it increases, in my opinion, increases the likelihood that people are not going to come because they're going to have a bad experience, they're going to have poor outcomes. Physicians are going to stop referring because their patients aren't getting better. So problem named is the problem solved? And we pulled, I like that magnet. I'm going to use that one. But pulled away and said, no, if we provide one on one care at a very high level and the entire system works well for the patient, they're going to show up, they're going to continue to show up.   0:36:49.0 Travis Timmons: They're going to be happy to pay for the service we're offering because it's going to be exceptional. And because they show up, they're going to get better. And because they get better, they're going to go tell their doctor and then more doctors are going to refer to us. And that's thinking much differently. So that gets to the problem name, problem solved. Or using your magnet example, we are like, physicians come and talk to us all the time. They're like, are you really only seeing the patients one-on-one? Are you really doing that? Because nobody else says they can do that. It's like, yes, we are. That's exactly how we're doing it. And that's why you're here talking to us right now. Because it's so much different. You can't, there's some things that are just immeasurable. Like Dr. Deming talks about that quite a bit. We don't have to market, we don't spend... I shouldn't say, we don't have to market. We don't spend nearly the amount of money on marketing that our competitors do because we have physicians saying, hey, what's different over there? That's invisible. Right? That's invisible.   0:37:56.9 Andrew Stotz: And they weren't saying that in the beginning, but over the time they got that...   0:38:01.4 Travis Timmons: Yeah, yeah. It's a process, but you know, like the flywheel. We use that flywheel example. And now it's like, we're having a hard time hiring enough team members to keep up with the growth. One of the other thing's, "joy in work." Dr. Deming talks about joy in work a lot. And that's to your question earlier about continual improvement and jobs. So we exist, there's a lot of burnout in healthcare. You can't hardly open a business article.   0:38:37.7 Andrew Stotz: Seems paradoxical.   0:38:40.4 Travis Timmons: But it's because two and three patients at a time burdened with administrative stuff. So we also exist because, man, it's so fun when you have a team member join you from one of those other organizations and we've had eight new team members we've hired since July. And I have what I call a fresh eyes lunch with them a month in. And every one of them has said, my spouse can't believe how much happier and more enjoyable I am to be around. If that doesn't motivate you to want to continue to grow, I don't know what does. So that's the joy in work piece that Dr. Deming talked about a lot.   0:39:24.6 Andrew Stotz: And let's now talk about one other thing, which is I was just talking, I gave a speech last night in Bangkok to some business owners and then we had a dinner out and I was explaining to them that like, there's a disease that's come from America, not from Wuhan, China, in this case. It's come America, it's spread all across Thailand. And you really have to be careful with this disease. It's a deadly disease. And I said, and particularly Thailand, where there's harmony. People enjoy working together. They want a fun environment, they want to make friends at work. It's a little, it's very different from a US work environment where it's like, go there, deliver, go home, separate lives. That's not the way Thai people see work. And the disease is, the disease of individual KPIs and saying everybody, by optimizing each individual, we are optimizing the whole. And I'm trying to get them to realize like, there's another way. And I'm curious I'm sure if you're getting people from the bigger institutions and stuff, they're being KPI'd to death. And how do you, how do you manage the idea that I don't want to optimize the individual, I want to optimize the whole system, but yet I also want employees to know they gotta do a good job. So how do you manage that?   0:41:03.2 Travis Timmons: It's hard when somebody comes, because you're right, there's a lot of PTSD. I've got an example from today. So we turned on, within our system, there's a net promoter score that can be sent out to patients automatically after their first couple visits with us. And we turn it off and on from time to time just to get the voice of the customer, right. I think Dr. Deming talks about the voice of the customer and who all. So it's like, hey, we haven't done that in a while. We're going to turn it back on. And there were several therapists that were like, wait a minute, you're scoring me? And then if I get a low score, I'm in trouble. So we have to spend a lot of time educating the team on some of that old head trash. It's like, no, this is to study the system and where we can improve either improving our operational definition, whatever it is, give the team member tools on how to handle a difficult client. But to your point, you have, people's brains are so wired in the way you just described. So part of it is we, we let them know up front, like, here's why we don't have employee of the month at Fitness Matters.   0:42:15.4 Travis Timmons: Here's why we don't have the parking lot for employee of the month at Fitness. Like, all of those rewards, how all of the negative unintended consequences that can go along with that. Like even giving an individual an award in a group setting. Like, we had a team who's one of my clinic directors, the business she came from before, they had like a WWE, like the heavyweight wrestling, big champion belt. They had one of those. And each week somebody would give the belt to whoever they thought was the best employee that week. And she didn't get it for like two months in a row. And she was crushed. She's like, people don't like me. So it's fun to talk about the negative unintended consequences of the individual reward, the individual competitions. We could talk for an hour about motivating via monetary motivation. That's probably a whole nother podcast. But to answer your question, we have to make it very known why we don't do those things. Because as much as people hate some of that stuff, they also expect it. Yeah, why don't, why don't we have employee of the month? You mean I'm not going to get in trouble if I get a low net promoter score from one patient?   0:43:34.3 Travis Timmons: It's like, no, we know we hire good people. We know you do your best job every day. They could be upset because their billing didn't go correctly. So we just need to know. So I don't know if that answers your question, but it's a big thing because you do have to still track KPIs or you're out of business. Like, you do have to know what's going on within your system to measure it. It's just that concept of we all are responsible for the output of the system and the system has to produce exceptional results.   0:44:06.7 Andrew Stotz: Yeah, yeah.   0:44:07.9 Travis Timmons: And we have to have a weight by what method. We have to have a system to create whether you're doing plumbing, electrical work. Like if you're going to scale a business, you have to have a repeatable product that can scale.   0:44:23.2 Andrew Stotz: Yeah. And one of the answers to that too is if you believe 94% of the problems come from the system, then even when an employee is identified as having a bad net promoter score, then the question is, does the 94% apply in that situation? Well, generally yes. And so let's dig in. I have some people that ask me like my, one of the guys last night at this event works for a bank and they have put KPIs into everything. And he was saying, I just can't escape. But another guy was like, well, I have my own business and I can do what I want. I've implemented KPIs, but what should I do? I said the first step in disentangling yourself from this individual KPI situation is just to disconnect compensation to the KPI. So just right there, there's still incentive for the employee to do something bad for the organization to do their best. But when you remove that compensation aspect, you've really taken away a huge part of the incentive. So even if you have to keep KPIs, take away the tie to compensation and then they say, well, that's the whole reason why we're supposed to do it is have the tie to compensation.   0:45:44.5 Andrew Stotz: And I said, yes, it's a little bit of a circular references cannot be resolved.   0:45:49.7 Travis Timmons: Right. Yeah. And I think we even give examples to the team as much as we can around why we don't do those type of things. Here's what would happen. And most people have worked in organizations when you point it out to them. So again, Dr. Deming talks about making the system visible. Point it out to them. If I bonused you like you see this, this used to be a thing at car dealerships. When you're buying a car, hey, you're going to get a call to rate your experience with me. If you don't give me a 10, it's going to impact my pay. And you're like, what? So we talk about that like hey, the net promoter score. If we did the same thing here and bonused you on every 10, then you're going to be bothering your patients to fill that survey out. Or if you're afraid they're going to give you low score, you're not going to, you're going to encourage them not to do it. And then me as the owner, I'm not going to hear about system breakdowns. So to answer your, I think it's an important thing that a lot of businesses like number one, don't tie compensation to your KPIs.   0:46:58.3 Travis Timmons: Like just, it's an output of the system and then explaining it to them and giving examples over time because their brains even though they hated it, like we don't do performance reviews, annual performance review. And people hate them. And I still get asked like hey, when are you doing my annual performance review? It's like do you want to do one? Well no.   0:47:21.2 Andrew Stotz: Yeah. We dropped performance appraisals in 2016 in my coffee business here in Thailand and we never looked back. We didn't come up with any particular stunning replacement. We just knew it was bad and we were willing to just walk away from what was bad. I want to wrap up and just get into the... What are the, let's talk about kind of extrinsic versus intrinsic. There's some external factors that we can say this Deming implementation provided these benefits to our company and then there's this internal or intrinsic benefits that you're getting. Maybe you can go through some of those benefits of where you're at now, what you're able to do now and we'll close it on that note of kind of what's the hope for somebody that's stuck in the situation. They're the entrepreneurial seizure, they're the technician, they're great at physical therapy, they start their physical therapy business and they're just scaling chaos basically. Tell us about, give us hope.   0:48:37.8 Travis Timmons: Yeah, no, happy to, the reason I have had the opportunity to speak in a lot of different settings about Dr. Deming and the reason I do it is because it's brought so much joy to me personally and to a ever growing team. It's having a positive impact on lives and the more I can do that, that gets to the intrinsic motivation. So the joy in work, there's a lot of bad organizations out there that just suck the life out of people. So that's my intrinsic motivation at this stage of the game of if Fitness Matters is bigger, so more jobs, there's more people having a positive experience in life and our outcomes being 35% higher, our community is getting healthier. So that's the intrinsic motivation at this stage. It's fun. I know again, we're not perfect. So continuous improvement to our conversation earlier. But the intrinsic motivation is the busier Fitness Matters gets, the busier Fitness Matters gets because of high outcomes and it's positive experience for more people in life. Extrinsically, I guess that gets to community outcomes. So that's intrinsic and extrinsic. You know, extrinsically, if you get this figured out, it's very easy to scale a business.   0:50:06.0 Andrew Stotz: And tell us about your scale, where are you at or where are your averages versus national averages? You know, what have you accomplished that's driving that external factors, let's call it.   0:50:19.4 Travis Timmons: Yeah. So a couple things. One, externally, a practice like ours nationally on average is growing at 9% to 10%. We're currently clipping along at 25% to 30%. So you know, that flywheel effect and chaos is no longer there. So we have process, so it's easier to scale. The other extrinsic piece is because of our outcomes and continuing scale, we're able to negotiate better rates with our insurance companies to reinforce our strong desire to keep one-on-one care model. So Deming talks about who all is part of your system. So insurance companies are part of our system and we don't have a lot of control over them. But because our data is so powerful externally, we have been able to negotiate higher rates than most of our competitors because our data speaks for itself.   0:51:23.2 Andrew Stotz: Faster growth, the ability to negotiate better terms because you're delivering better product and service generally means higher profit margins.   0:51:34.2 Travis Timmons: Yes.   0:51:34.6 Andrew Stotz: Fast growth with higher profit margins generally means you're generating more cash and you're no longer in cash crisis all the time and you have resources to decide, okay, now we want to expand or we want to invest or whatever.   0:51:50.9 Travis Timmons: Right.   0:51:51.4 Andrew Stotz: Is that...   0:51:51.9 Travis Timmons: Yeah, the cash crunch was real those first 10 years. So yeah, to your point, when you get to the other side of that and process is a big part of that so you're having a whole counting process, but yeah, you get to that size. But yeah, the intrinsic piece, one of the reasons I talk about Deming as much as I can. I've got two sons that are in college. My hope is there's more companies in the world today than there were 10 years ago that know about Deming, because that means there's a higher likelihood that my boys will work at a Deming company. And just seeing what a lot of companies do to people, we as owners have a big responsibility, I feel, we have a big responsibility to have a positive impact on our employees. And you're, as an owner, are responsible for that, in my opinion. And if you get it right, man, is it fun to look in the mirror or sit down with a team member or their spouse and be proud of, be proud of what you built. That's at the end of the day, the intrinsic motivation.   0:52:57.9 Travis Timmons: If you can be proud of what your product is and proud of the impact you're having on your team to where you're not sucking the life out of them, but actually intrinsically motivating them. There's not much else you can accomplish in business that was worth more than that, in my opinion.   0:53:18.5 Andrew Stotz: Yeah, wonderful. That's a great way to end it. What's the likelihood that our children are going to be working in a Deming company? Well, that's the whole reason why we are here talking about it. So, Travis, I want to say on behalf of everyone at the Deming Institute, I want to thank you for this discussion and of course, for listeners out there and viewers, remember to go to deming.org to continue your journey. This is your host, Andrew Stotz. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Deming, and I believe it's probably one of Travis's too people are entitled to joy in work.   0:53:56.0 Travis Timmons: Love it. Love it. Thank you, Andrew.   0:53:58.0 Andrew Stotz: Yep.

On this episode of The ToosDay Crue, we welcome US Army National Guard Veteran Kevin Odom—a seasoned behavioral health clinician, leader, and person in long-term recovery—whose life and career sit at the intersection of service, healing, and purpose. Kevin honorably served as a mechanic in the Army National Guard before dedicating their post-military life to behavioral healthcare. Drawing from lived experience in recovery, Kevin now works on an inpatient unit at Novant Health, providing clinical assessments, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and patient advocacy. Their work also includes trauma-informed care for vulnerable populations, including screening undocumented patients for trafficking risks and connecting them with life-saving resources. Beyond direct care, Kevin is a respected leader in the field—overseeing SAMHSA-funded initiatives, guiding major EMR transitions, supervising counselors, and mentoring future clinicians through national fellowship programs. This conversation dives into recovery, ethical leadership, mental health in the veteran community, and what sustainable healing really looks like. This episode covers: • Recovery-informed leadership • Trauma-informed and ethical care • Veterans and behavioral health • Building sustainable clinical programs • Service beyond the uniform Check him out here: https://www.tiktok.com/@onemomentpodcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/mhsua https://www.facebook.com/keod3025/ https://www.facebook.com/OneMomentPodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/onemomentpodcast/  

Welcome to Hot Topics! Join us in this powerful episode as we sit down with Cole Grace, a dedicated advocate and expert on mental health issues within the military. Together, we dive deep into the often-overlooked topic of Combat-Related PTSD. Cole shares his personal experiences, insights, and the challenges faced by service members dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).We explore:What PTSD is: A mental health condition that can occur after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events.Common causes: From military combat to natural disasters and assaults, discover the various triggers.Symptoms: Learn about the signs, including re-experiencing trauma, avoidance, negative changes in mood, and increased arousal.Treatment options: Gain insight into effective therapies, medications, and support systems available for those affected.Cole also shares his own journey:His challenging childhood and how it influenced his perception of trauma, emphasizing the importance of normalizing conversations around mental health.Experiences in the Army National Guard, including combat roles and the emotional repression that followed.Struggles with health issues and addiction after returning from Iraq, leading to a transformative path through rehab.Insights from his book, "Internal > External: Calming the Chaos Within," which offers practical ways to manage mental health and improve quality of life.His belief in focusing on internal factors like integrity, joy, and mindset to influence external success, highlighting the necessity of addressing internal struggles for overall well-being.Whether you're a veteran, a loved one, or just someone interested in understanding this critical issue, this episode promises to enlighten and inspire. Tune in for an engaging conversation that sheds light on the realities of Combat-Related PTSD and the path to healing.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/vfl4u52_TqQOriginal date of episode: September 12, 2025Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hot-topics--5600971/support.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Brigadier General (Ret.) Michael Fleming, a distinguished military leader and veteran advocate, as we explore his journey from the battlefield to influential roles in business and education. In this episode, Cam and Otis delve into General Fleming's extensive experience in leadership, his dedication to veteran advocacy, and his efforts to bridge the gap between military and civilian sectors."Leadership is about service," General Fleming shares, reflecting on his career spanning over 30 years in the military and his subsequent roles in community relations and veteran support. From founding the Jacksonville Military Veterans Coalition to his work with the Cohen Veterans Network, General Fleming offers invaluable insights into creating opportunities for veterans and addressing critical issues like veteran suicide.Whether you're a military professional transitioning to civilian life, a business leader seeking to understand veteran perspectives, or someone passionate about community service, this episode provides a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.More About General Fleming:Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Michael “Mike” Fleming is a respected Northeast Florida military and veteran leader with senior experience across the military, business, and higher education sectors. He currently serves as Senior Manager, Community Relations for Cohen Veterans Network. Previously, he held leadership roles with the Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, Jacksonville University, and Deutsche Bank, where he was a Managing Director and Site Lead in Jacksonville.A career military officer with more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard, he retired as a Brigadier General. He holds degrees from Jacksonville State University, the University of North Florida, and the U.S. Naval War College, and completed fellowships at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the U.S. Congress.Gen. Fleming is the founder and chair of multiple veteran-focused coalitions, including the Jacksonville Military Veterans Coalition, and chairs The Fire Watch, a regional initiative to prevent veteran suicide. His honors include the Legion of Merit, the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, and numerous military and civilian leadership awards.#10xyourteam #VeteranLeadership #ServantLeadership #MilitaryToCivilian #VeteranAdvocacy #LeadershipWithPurpose #MissionDriven #CommunityLeadership #VeteranSupport #PurposeDrivenLeadership #ImpactThroughServiceChapter Times and Titles:Introduction to General Mike Fleming [00:00 - 10:00]Overview of General Fleming's career and achievementsTransition from military to civilian leadership rolesFounding the Jacksonville Military Veterans CoalitionLeadership Lessons from the Military [10:01 - 20:00]Key leadership principles from military serviceThe importance of adaptability and resilienceInsights from international competitions and fellowshipsVeteran Advocacy and Community Relations [20:01 - 30:00]General Fleming's role in the Cohen Veterans NetworkInitiatives to support veteran employment and mental healthThe impact of public/private partnershipsBridging Military and Civilian Worlds [30:01 - 40:00]Challenges and opportunities in veteran transitionsBuilding relationships with government and business leadersStrategies for effective community engagementCreating Opportunities for Veterans [40:01 - 50:00]Success stories from the Jacksonville Military Veterans CoalitionAddressing veteran suicide through The Fire Watch initiativeFinal thoughts on leadership and serviceClosing Remarks and Resources [50:01 - End]How to connect with General Fleming and his initiativesEncouragement for listeners to get involved in veteran supportFinal reflections on leade

#fyp #fyppage #podcast #podcasting #audio #journalism #media #holidays #holidayseason #Christmas #BoxingDay #UK #US #military #Army #Hanukkah #Kwanzaa #deployment #MiddleEast #Ireland #Australia #football #baseball"Ray County Voices" host Shawn Roney talks with Army National Guard soldier and Excelsior Springs coach Cale Lyons. Topics include the experience of being deployed during the holiday season, and baseball and football. Recorded Dec. 19, 2025, in Richmond, Mo.Notes:Miranda Jamison's story on Lyons' military service was published Dec. 26 in the print edition of the Richmond News and its sister newspaper, The Excelsior Springs Standard. To read it, visit https://www.richmond-dailynews.com/news/local-service-member-shares-impact-holiday-deployment or https://www.excelsiorspringsstandard.com/news/local-service-member-shares-impact-holiday-deployment (subscription required for both websites).Clarification: Pitch clocks have been in use since 2011 in NCAA baseball. The NAIA began using pitch clocks during the 2020s. Shawn might have learned about 20 and out becoming commonplace in the U.S. military while considering joining the Coast Guard Reserve, rather than the story written about the Coast Guard's recruiting efforts. Credits:Host: Shawn RoneyProducers: Sharon Donat, Miranda Jamison, Shawn RoneyEditing: Shawn RoneyMusic director: Shawn RoneyMusic: "Auld Lang Syne," "Picardy," "Greensleeves"; all traditional; all arranged by Shawn Roney, performed by Sacred & Secular (solo incarnation); used by permission

A lot of vets say music is the only thing that still makes sense, and for Tony Kessel, that idea runs deep. He built a 366-song playlist of his life, wrote the story tied to each track, and found himself looking at a full account of growing up in a foster home, serving in the Army National Guard, and working through suicidal thoughts. With more than two decades in uniform, he talks about being raised by a Vietnam veteran NCO, commissioning as an officer, and learning to lead while valuing the experience that NCOs bring. Music runs through all of it, from Garth Brooks and old country to heavy metal and the tracks that shaped the post-9/11 years. Our conversation covers how music served as both a coping tool and a warning sign, why non-combat deployments can still weigh on you, and how suicide intervention training pushed him to speak openly about his lowest points. We get into the shock of coming home from Kuwait or Afghanistan almost overnight, the support he has offered other vets, and why simply sitting with someone who is struggling matters. Tony also shares how he is using his home studio and writing to reach people who think they are carrying their pain alone. Timestamps 00:06:30 Tony's wide musical background and how different genres shaped his life. 00:09:45 The late-night drive after drill that sparked the 366 song playlist. 00:18:30 Using music to cope, the risks of relying on it to numb pain, and the moment he knew he had to face things directly. 00:26:30 Suicide intervention training, opening up about suicide attempts, and why sharing his story matters. 00:31:30 Returning home too fast after deployment and how that sudden shift affects veterans. Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://dualistmedia.com Follow Tony Kessel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dualistmedia Follow Tony Kessel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dualistmedia Follow Tony Kessel on Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/dualistmedia Transcript View the transcript for this episode.

Matt Smith grew up on Long Island and joined Army ROTC at the University of Delaware in 1989. Four years later, he was commissioned as an officer. Smith was working in the private sector and serving in the Army National Guard when the 9/11 terrorist attacks were perpetrated by Al Qaeda in 2001. Over the next two decades, Smith would be leading soldiers into combat during the invasion of Iraq and on two deployments in Afghanistan.In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Smith takes us through the rapid invasion in Iraq and how he first learned about improvised explosive devices. He also tells us about a bizarre and fascinating mission he and his men undertook in western Iraq.Six years later, Smith served as a battalion commander in Afghanistan and saw the most intense combat of his career. He explains how the mission they trained for suddenly changed when they arrived, how he adjusted to the enemy strategically, and how he kept morale up despite deaths and serious injuries.Finally, Smith tells us about the work he is doing now to prepare other veterans for a successful business career after they leave the military.

Mike Durant is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 and Master Black Hawk pilot with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers). Inspired by his father, a First Sergeant in the Army National Guard, and a family friend's helicopter flight, Durant enlisted in 1979. After studying Spanish at the Defense Language Institute and serving as a voice intercept operator in Panama, he graduated from flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama, becoming a Warrant Officer in 1983. He flew over 150 medical evacuation missions in South Korea with the 377th Medical Evacuation Company and later served as an instructor pilot with the 101st Aviation Battalion. Joining the elite 160th SOAR in 1988, Durant flew in Operations Prime Chance, Just Cause, Desert Storm, and Restore Hope. During the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu (Operation Gothic Serpent), his MH-60 Black Hawk was shot down, leaving him severely injured and held captive by Somali militia for 11 days. Despite doctors' doubts, he recovered, ran the 1995 Marine Corps Marathon, and returned to duty, retiring in 2001. Mike's awards include: Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (second award), Bronze Star w/ Valor device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/ Valor device (third award), Army Commendation Medal (fourth award), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Arrowhead Device (second award), Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ Bronze Service Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award), United Nations Medal, United Nations Medal-Operations in Somalia, Kuwait Liberation Medal-Government of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Liberation Medal-Government of Kuwait, Master Aviator Badge, and Air Assault Badge. In 2008, Durant founded Pinnacle Solutions in Huntsville, Alabama, a defense contracting firm specializing in military training simulators and veteran employment. He co-authored In the Company of Heroes, focusing on survival and leadership. He also led veterans' efforts for George W. Bush's 2004 and John McCain's 2008 presidential campaigns. He ran in the 2022 Republican primary for Alabama U.S. Senate. Married to Lisa, raising a blended family with six children, Durant enjoys mountain climbing, skiing, hockey, watersports, and running. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Receive 30% off your first subscription order. Go to https://armra.com/SRS or enter SRS to get 30% off your first subscription order. Right now, you can try Aura free for 14 days when you visit http://aura.com/SRS Our listeners get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/SRS. Head to http://DRINKAG1.com/SRS you'll get the welcome kit, a Morning Person hat, a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2, and a AG1 Flavor Sampler for free. Mike Durant Links: LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-durant-14a0157 Book - https://a.co/d/9OB6ujI SOWF - https://specialops.org/sowf-home-mobile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for December 3rd Publish Date:  December 3rd Commercial: From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Wednesday, December 3rd and Happy Birthday to Andy Williams I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Four Cobb schools earn STEAM/STEM certifications Meet Michael McNeely, Mableton’s newest councilman Gas prices dip following Thanksgiving, predicted to stay down through holidays All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  BREAK: INGLES 3 STORY 1: Four Cobb schools earn STEAM/STEM certifications Cobb Schools are buzzing with opportunities for students to dive into STEM and STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. And now, four more schools have joined the ranks of those earning certifications in these fields. South Cobb Early Learning Center and Ford Elementary snagged STEAM certifications, while Betty Gray Middle and Walton High earned STEM honors. “It’s been a joyful, messy journey,” said Marilyn Thomas, director of South Cobb Early Learning Center. “Our kids, teachers, and families all came together—building, experimenting, creating art. It’s hands-on learning at its best.” With over 50 certified schools, Cobb’s commitment to innovation is clear. Just ask the students at Tritt Elementary, who recently celebrated Girl-Powered Robotics Day. STORY 2: Meet Michael McNeely, Mableton’s newest councilman Michael McNeely, newly elected to Mableton’s City Council, is all about service—clear, honest, and hands-on. “I’d rather over-communicate than leave people guessing,” he says. McNeely, who moved to Mableton in 2019, has a long history of giving back. From his days as an Eagle Scout to serving in the Army National Guard and working in public safety for over two decades, he’s built a life around helping others. “It’s in my blood,” he says. Now, as District 2’s councilman, he’s focused on smart redevelopment, public safety, and creating spaces that bring the community together. Think parks, sidewalks, and maybe even a new community center. “We’ve got work to do,” McNeely says, “but Mableton’s got the people and the heart to make it happen.” STORY 3: Gas prices dip following Thanksgiving, predicted to stay down through holidays  Georgia drivers are catching a break at the pump—finally. After the Thanksgiving travel rush, gas prices have dipped, with the state average sitting at $2.82 per gallon as of Monday, according to AAA. That’s about $42 to fill up a 15-gallon tank. Prices are 5 cents lower than last week but still 2 cents higher than last month. And if you’re in Cobb County? You’re paying a bit more—$2.89 per gallon. The priciest spots? Savannah ($2.88), Atlanta ($2.86), and Macon ($2.85). Meanwhile, Dalton drivers are smiling at $2.68. Nationally, gas has dropped to $3, the lowest since May 2021, thanks to low crude oil prices and sluggish demand. AAA predicts prices could stay low through the holidays. For EV drivers, no changes—public charging still averages 38 cents per kilowatt hour. Want to save? AAA suggests fuel rewards programs, paying cash (some stations charge more for credit), and driving smarter. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.  We’ll be right back. Break: INGLES 3 STORY 4: Cobb fraternal organization recognized as best in Georgia The Omicron Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, better known as the Cobb County Alphas, just snagged a huge honor—Alumni Chapter of the Year—at the Alpha Georgia District Association Convention in Augusta. Why? Their leadership, community impact, and dedication to the fraternity’s mission stood out among 25 chapters across Georgia. “This award is a testament to the passion and hard work of every member,” said Chapter President Harold G. Dickerson. One standout initiative? The Youth to Men mentoring program, where 70 Cobb high schoolers meet bi-monthly to learn life skills and give back to the community. “We’re shaping greatness,” said Steven Boyd, Callis Foundation Chair. For more, visit CobbAlphas.org. STORY 5: AirTag leads police to Chick-fil-A theft suspect  Richard George Cintron, 47, of Dallas, is facing charges after allegedly swiping three Rubbermaid utility trash carts and an Apple AirTag—worth $1,545 total—from the Chick-fil-A on Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw. According to police, Cintron was caught on surveillance cameras, along with his personal vehicles, during the thefts on Sept. 14 and 28. The AirTag? It led officers straight to his home, where Paulding County deputies found the stolen items near his truck. Cintron was arrested Nov. 19 and charged with theft by taking over $1,500. He spent less than 12 hours in jail, released on Nov. 20 after posting a $5,000 bond. Break: STORY 6: Strand Theatre's Andy Gaines wins Governor’s Award    Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp announced Monday that Andy Gaines, executive director of the Strand Theatre, is one of this year’s recipients of the Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities. The awards, presented with Georgia Council for the Arts and Georgia Humanities, honor 10 individuals or organizations making a real difference in Georgia’s cultural landscape. “Georgia’s arts and entertainment scene has fueled our economy for decades,” Kemp said. “These honorees have left a lasting mark on their communities and our state.” Under Gaines’ leadership, the Strand generated $5.4 million in economic impact last year, supported 80+ jobs, and contributed $230,000 in government revenue. Recipients will receive a handmade mahogany sculpture by Fairburn artist Etienné Jackson. STORY 7: Mount Paran Christian School collects over 10,000 diapers for Bartow Family Resources  Mount Paran Christian School’s high school BETA Club and National Honor Society recently rallied their community for a cause that hits close to home—helping local parents in need. Through their annual Fall Diaper Drive, students encouraged families to donate diapers and wipes for Bartow Family Resources, a nonprofit in Cartersville that supports parents and babies. Flyers went up, announcements were made, and the response? Incredible. Over 10,640 diapers and 1,180 wipes poured in, stacking up at the school’s doors. Student NHS officers counted, sorted, and loaded the donations, ready for Bartow Family Resources to distribute essentials like diapers, formula, and clothing to families who need them most. We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: INGLES 3 Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Muslim Warfare -this segment is about the how the deaths of the 2 Army National Guard service members could be the event to either stop 3rd World immigrants from coming to America or the start of the next war or conflict pushed by Democrat extremists.#American_Prophecy

How to Make Bold Decisions and Avoid Burnout — Leadership Lessons from Apollo EmekaIn this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge talks with Apollo Emeka, Founder of Apollo Strategy Group Inc. and former Green Beret, Army National Guard veteran, and FBI intelligence analyst. Drawing from a remarkable journey through elite military service, entrepreneurship, and personal reinvention, Apollo shares a decision-making framework designed for high-impact leadership without burnout. If you're looking to lead boldly, energize your team, and create certainty in uncertain times, this conversation is packed with practical insights.A Proven Framework for Bold, Sustainable LeadershipApollo Emeka's leadership journey began with unconventional roots—from academic struggles to elite military roles and eventually founding Apollo Strategy Group Inc. His story reveals that background is less important than your ability to make bold decisions and learn from every experience. Apollo's three-part decision-making framework—Decide with Heart, Determine Requirements with Your Head, and Bet on Game Changers—helps leaders avoid mediocrity by aligning vision with action.Instead of waiting for perfect conditions, Apollo advocates for creating certainty through decisive leadership. He challenges listeners to ditch the “feasibility trap,” clarify what it really takes to succeed, and focus on high-leverage actions that move the needle. He also shares how movement, play, and rest prevent burnout—reminding leaders that passion and well-being are essential for long-term performance.Whether you're leading a team, scaling a business, or navigating big decisions, Apollo's methods are designed to energize, simplify, and sustain. His approach helps high performers achieve more by focusing on what matters and building cultures of boldness and clarity.About Apollo EmekaApollo Emeka is a former Green Beret, FBI intelligence analyst, and founder of Apollo Strategy Group Inc. He now helps leaders and teams make bold, high-impact decisions through strategic frameworks, coaching, and immersive workshops. Apollo's mission is to equip people to lead with clarity, courage, and balance.About Apollo Strategy Group Inc.Apollo Strategy Group Inc. provides leadership consulting, decision-making intensives, and executive coaching for high performers and organizations. Their modular programs and custom engagements are designed to help clients accelerate results, foster aligned teams, and prevent burnout through smarter, bolder decision-making.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeApollo Strategy Group WebsiteApollo Emeka LinkedIn ProfileKey Episode HighlightsApollo's journey from struggling student to elite military leader and founderThe 3-step framework for bold, aligned decision-makingHow to create certainty in uncertain environmentsStrategies to prevent burnout and lead with energyBuilding cultures that encourage risk-taking and bold thinkingConclusionApollo Emeka's leadership insights serve as a masterclass in clarity, courage, and sustainability. By deciding with heart, planning with your head, and focusing on game-changing actions, leaders can drive greater results without sacrificing themselves in the process. If you're looking to level up your leadership, this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur delivers a practical, inspiring roadmap.

I sit down with Scott Gosselin in this final episode of our series highlighting some of PFCU's veterans. He served in the Army National Guard and shares about his experience and how much his time in the military impacted him. 

How do you transform a good company into a great one? We talk to Chris Hallberg, the Business Sergeant, who blends military discipline with modern strategy. As an Army National Guard veteran, serial entrepreneur, and scaling coach, Chris shares his no-nonsense approach to rapid growth. Listen in to learn the critical need for an Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), how to get the "right people in the right seats," the mindset shift required for leadership, and how he utilizes AI tools.  Episode Resources: The Business Sergeant GoExpand   About Our Guest Chris Hallberg, known as the Business Sergeant, is a top-ranked leadership expert, military veteran, and serial entrepreneur who transforms good companies into great ones fast. Ranked #9 on Inc. Magazine's list of Top 50 Leadership & Management Experts, Chris blends battlefield-tested discipline with business strategy to help leaders scale with confidence. He has coached over 100 organizations to achieve breakthrough results, from billion-dollar contractors to national franchises, and is the co-creator of an AI-driven EOS platform guiding teams to 30%+ profitability. With his no-nonsense style, Chris simplifies complex challenges, strengthens culture, and empowers leaders to win. About Our Sponsors Navy Federal Credit Union   Navy Federal Credit Union offers exclusive benefits to all of their members. All Veterans, Active Duty and their families can become members. Have you been saving up for the season of cheer and joy that is just around the corner? With Navy Federal Credit Union's cashRewards and cashRewards Plus cards, you could earn a $250 cash bonus when you spend $2,500 in the first 90 days. Offer ends 1/1/26. You could earn up to 2% unlimited cash back with the cashRewards and cashRewards Plus cards. With Navy Federal, members have access to financial advice and money management and 24/7 access to award-winning service. Whether you're a Veteran of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force or Coast Guard, you and your family can become members. Join now at Navy Federal Credit Union. At Navy Federal, our members are the mission.      Join the conversation on Facebook! Check out Veteran on the Move on Facebook to connect with our guests and other listeners. A place where you can network with other like-minded veterans who are transitioning to entrepreneurship and get updates on people, programs and resources to help you in YOUR transition to entrepreneurship.   Want to be our next guest? Send us an email at interview@veteranonthemove.com.  Did you love this episode? Leave us a 5-star rating and review!  Download Joe Crane's Top 7 Paths to Freedom or get it on your mobile device. Text VETERAN to 38470. Veteran On the Move podcast has published 500 episodes. Our listeners have the opportunity to hear in-depth interviews conducted by host Joe Crane. The podcast features people, programs, and resources to assist veterans in their transition to entrepreneurship.  As a result, Veteran On the Move has over 7,000,000 verified downloads through Stitcher Radio, SoundCloud, iTunes and RSS Feed Syndication making it one of the most popular Military Entrepreneur Shows on the Internet Today.

George Brauchler is the 23rd district attorney and features an accomplished career as a prosecutor in pursuit of justice. However, his road to success began in the Army National Guard and his service to our country is vitally important to him. He joins Dan on Veterans Day to share his stories from his Army days and why our American experiment was so dependent upon our military success.

On this #veteransday I'd like to introduce you to military veteran Dewayne! We talk about Dwayne's incredible military journey, serving in both the Marine Corps and Army National Guard, and how Verizon helped relieve his medical debt. We discuss his experiences as a tank crewman, the physical challenges of military service, and his upcoming Bears game experience Forgiveco

This week, we sit down with Sara Seck , Army National Guard veteran and project management professional, to talk about how she turned hands-on experience into a thriving civilian career improving telehealth services at the VA.Sara's story is proof that you don't need a four-year degree to build credibility and climb in project management. With experience, grit, and her PMP certification, she moved from managing individual projects to leading project managers and driving large-scale improvements in healthcare delivery.In this episode, we cover:How Sara discovered project management while serving in the GuardWhat inspired her to pursue the PMP certification and how it opened new doorsHow she transitioned from project manager to managing other PMsThe skills veterans already have that make them natural project leadersCommon misconceptions about civilian project management careersSara's advice for veterans six months out from separationWhether you're still serving or already navigating civilian life, Sara's journey will show you what's possible when you leverage your experience and validate it with certification.Connect with Sara: Sara Seck, PMP | LinkedInStart your PMP journey: www.vets2pm.com/training

Darius Holland won a Super Bowl championship playing for the Green Bay Packers during his 10-year NFL career. Afterward, he found his calling as a chaplain in the Army National Guard and as a pastor of 20 years. He currently specializes in religious practices and coaching that bridges cultural gaps and fosters spiritual readiness, especially within the military community. A member of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation's Design Advisory Council, Holland is the special guest in this episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou. He talks about his NFL career, service as a chaplain, moral injury, and how he helps veterans and servicemembers heal. This is the fifth episode in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance.

Send us a textWhat if the greatest obstacle in your leadership journey isn't the market, your team, or your circumstances—but the enemy within?In this powerful episode of the Starter Girlz Podcast, host Jennifer Loehding sits down with Darin Newbold, former COO, Army National Guard captain, and certified Enneagram & Purpose Factor coach, to unpack the turning point that changed everything: the moment he realized the real roadblock to growth was himself.Darin shares the shift that helped him recognize his own patterns, step into deeper self-awareness, and develop the tools he now uses to help others discover purpose, regulate emotions, and lead with clarity. From confronting imposter syndrome to transforming internal pressure into purpose, this conversation will inspire you to look inward and lead differently.What You'll Learn in This Episode:✅ How to recognize and overcome self-sabotage as a leader✅ The moment Darin realized the real enemy was in the mirror✅ The Bold GPS Framework for aligning identity and direction✅ Why self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership✅ How the Enneagram can reveal blind spots and emotional triggers✅ Tools for managing emotional activation and reframing internal pressure✅ Daily mindfulness practices to build courage, clarity, and emotional stability✅ What it really means to redefine success and build a lasting legacyWhether you're a CEO, entrepreneur, coach, or team leader, this conversation will help you lead yourself first so you can lead others with authenticity and impact. If you've ever struggled with inner resistance, uncertainty, or the pressure to perform, this episode will give you frameworks, language, and tools to grow from the inside out.Connect with Darin Newbold:

In this Season 4 finale, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jessie Morlan returns with a unique perspective—as both host and student. After completing the eight-week 420A Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC) alongside newly appointed Warrant Officers from across all Army components, CW4 Morlan captures a moment of transformation within Warrant Officer Professional Military Education (PME).This episode introduces the WOBC Project, a two-phase effort to document and reflect on the experiences of current WO1s—the very generation of Warrant Officers who will be most impacted by PME modernization. You'll hear directly from students in the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve as they share candid insights from their early PME journey.

Alysha Evelyn Chandra, a career prosecutor and Army National Guard officer, has launched her campaign for Clark County prosecutor. She highlights her experience with tough cases, support for victims, and commitment to accountability, transparency, and rehabilitation. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/alysha-evelyn-chandra-launches-campaign-for-clark-county-prosecutor/ #ClarkCounty #Politics #Elections #AlyshaChandra #Prosecutor #PublicSafety #VictimsRights #JusticeSystem #LawEnforcement #Accountability

In this episode, we'll talk about how Citi is showering us with transfer bonuses, then we'll talk about the incredible uses for Japan Airlines miles. Now that Capital One is making transfers available to Japan Airlines (in addition to Bilt, which has already been offering this), it's worth talking about what you can do with those miles!Giant Mailbag(01:42) - "I'm a YUGE fan of ya'll. I'm an Army National Guard member that puts in just enough active duty time to get Servicemembers Civil Relief Act benefits (waived annual fees). So I have so many luxury cards I get FAR more value from the cards than I do from my Guard paycheck.Ya'll have been a key factor in deciding to stay in the National Guard, so 'Thank You For Your Service'."100K Vacay Challenge Update(04:06) - By the time this airs, Greg will be heading to his destination for his Benchmark Trip. As a reminder, he's setting the bar for the rest of the challengers with a trip showcasing how far 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points can go. (Once he's back, Tim, Nick, and Stephen will attempt to match or outdo his trip with alternate transferable points currencies.) Read more about that here!Card News(09:34) - Spirit Travel More credit card holders now get 2 free checked bags (Read more about this update here)(11:11) - Amex will exclude gift cards from Hilton credits starting in 2026(12:28) - Southwest debit card (Read more about the Southwest debit card here)Read the View from the Wing article here.Awards, Points, and More(14:42) - Air France / KLM Promo: Earn 10,000 bonus Flying Blue miles when flying from the US to any destination served by Air France or KLM.(18:16) - Avianca LifeMiles Award Sale(20:19) - Transfer bonuses(24:50) - Rove Miles transfer bonus (Use our referral link here.)(27:25) - Capital One added transfer partners and also has some transfer bonusesMain Event: Sweet-spot awards courtesy of Japan Airlines(30:18) - How to get JAL milesLearn more about the Best Uses of Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles here(32:01) - The Bad News(33:05) - Japan Airlines Mileage Bank 36-month hard expiration policy(34:30) - Family restrictions on award redemption(35:58) - Carrier-imposed surcharges(36:19) - JAL Mileage Bank awards can not be changed (but they can be cancelled for a reasonable fee)(36:56) - Best uses of Japan Airlines Mileage Bank(42:54) - Japan Airlines partner awardsQuestion of the Week(1:10:20) - Buying points isn't usually a good value unless you have a specific redemption in mind, but what about Atmos for 1.66 cents per point? (Especially with Rove miles?)Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

Podcast: PrOTect It All (LS 26 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: Bridging Military and Civilian Cybersecurity: Leadership, Skills, and Lifelong Learning with Christopher RossPub date: 2025-09-15Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationIn this episode, host Aaron Crow sits down with cybersecurity leader and National Guard threat hunt team lead Christopher Ross, diving into the real-world experiences that shape careers in the intersecting worlds of IT and OT security. Chris shares his 18-year journey from joining the military with a passion for computers to leading critical infrastructure cybersecurity efforts - both in uniform and in the private sector. Together, Aaron and Chris break down myths about gatekeeping, discuss the unique challenges of military versus civilian roles, and highlight lessons learned along the way. From imposter syndrome to servant leadership, the conversation unpacks how effective communication, continuous training, and the willingness to learn from failure fuel professional growth. Chris also reflects on how military training instills risk mitigation and teamwork, and how those skills can translate - and sometimes clash - with civilian cybersecurity cultures. They talk certifications, hands-on learning, the importance of meaningful tabletop exercises, and the evolving landscape as AI powers both attackers and defenders. Whether you're a veteran, a fresh analyst, or just passionate about cybersecurity, this honest and energetic exchange will leave you motivated to keep learning, keep growing, and keep protecting it all. So grab your energy drink and tune in for a conversation that proves everyone in cyber, no matter their path, has wisdom worth sharing.   Key Moments:  05:30 Military Adventures Surpass Civilian Opportunities 07:28 Military vs. Civilian Leadership Dynamics 10:42 Clarifying Civilian vs Military Missions 12:22 Leadership: Addressing Miscommunication & Misalignment 15:45 Toxic Leadership and Military Transition 20:01 Reliance on Tools vs. Core Skills 22:29 "Forgotten Skills Fade Over Time" 25:13 Boosting Confidence in New Roles 29:42 Interactive Training and Environmental Protection 32:37 Purple Teaming Strategy Insights 36:15 Persistence in Skill Development 39:04 Soft Skills Matter for Career Growth 42:44 "Technical & Business Acumen Fusion" 44:41 Military: Career Value and Benefits 48:09 "Cyber Education for K-12" Resources Mentioned :  https://www.ransomware.live/ comprehensive resource that tracks and monitors ransomware groups and their activities. https://ransomwhe.re/ tracks ransomware payments by collecting and analyzing cryptocurrency addresses associated with ransomware attacks.  https://www.ransom-db.com/ real-time ransomware tracking platform that collects, indexes, and centralizes information on ransomware groups and their victims.  About the Guest :  Christopher Ross is a veteran and cybersecurity leader with over 15 years of experience in Security Operations, Incident Response, and threat hunting across defense and fintech. A Chief Warrant Officer in the Army National Guard's Cyber Brigade, he has led blue and purple team operations, translating military discipline and teamwork into enterprise cyber defense strategies.   In his civilian career, Christopher has built and led SOC teams, integrated MSSPs, and driven automation to strengthen detection and response capabilities at organizations including MACOM, CFGI, Draper, and Abiomed. He holds a Master of Science in Information Security Engineering from the SANS Technology Institute and more than a dozen GIAC certifications. An Order of Thor recipient from the Military Cyber Professional Association.    Christopher is passionate about developing playbooks, advancing training pipelines, and mentoring the next generation of defenders. Sharing lessons from his veteran-to-cyber journey, practical insights on certification paths and ROI, and real-world stories from blue-team operations and purple-team collaboration.   Visit  https://public.milcyber.org/ The Military Cyber Professionals Association is the only U.S. military professional association with cyber at its core. It connects, supports, and elevates those who serve in or support the military cyber domain, while investing in future generations through education and mentorship. Connect Christopher : https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopheraross-ma/   Connect With Aaron Crow: Website: www.corvosec.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronccrow   Learn more about PrOTect IT All: Email: info@protectitall.co  Website: https://protectitall.co/  X: https://twitter.com/protectitall  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrOTectITAll  FaceBook:  https://facebook.com/protectitallpodcast    To be a guest or suggest a guest/episode, please email us at info@protectitall.co   Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple   - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/protect-it-all/id1727211124 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Vvi0euj3rE8xObK0yvYi4The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Aaron Crow, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.

Are you thinking about your United States Army Reserve or Army National Guard retirement? If so, this Soldier for Life Podcast episode is one you don't want to miss! Join host Maria Bentinck, the Director of Army Retirement Services, as she chats with LTC Stephanie Hill, the Branch Chief of the Army Reserve Retirement Services Office, and MAJ Amanda Waller, the Section Chief of Army National Guard Retirement Services, about everything you need to know for your non-regular, or reserve, Army retirement.

Kevin Key is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who served with the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment before going through special forces selection and assessment (SFAS) and becoming a Special Forces Officer (18A) with 7th Special Forces Group. He started his military career in the Army National Guard while attending college under the simultaneous membership program (SMP). He served at Special Operations Command - South (SOCSOUTH) and has commanded a unit within the 82nd Airborne Division.  At one point in this episode, Kevin recounts Operation Willing Spirit (Colombia version is Operation Jacque) — the effort to locate and verify hostages taken after a 2003 FARC plane was shotdown in Colombia, and how U.S. and Colombian forces used covert tactics (including a fake humanitarian operation) to free captives years later. The episode also traces Key's path post‑military shift into real estate, restaurant/event property ownership (Cosmic Tiki), cattle ranching and writing about carnivore nutrition in his book. __________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #mentors4mil  #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil  Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

Episode 276: In this interview episode, Nik speaks with Army aviator Vinh Do about his path from military flying to pursuing a civilian aviation career. Vinh shares how he used his GI Bill, earned a fully funded ATP-CTP scholarship, and built flight hours while serving on active duty and in the Army National Guard. He also talks about moving to Alaska, how he found flying jobs by showing up in person, and what it's like to fly in one of the most challenging and rewarding places in the U.S. Vinh's story is a practical example of how hard work, networking, and persistence can open doors in aviation—no matter where you start. What You'll Learn: How Vinh transitioned from Army aviation to civilian flight training How Vinh earned an ATP-CTP scholarship from RTAG Why in-person networking is essential—especially in Alaska's tight-knit aviation community How to stay motivated during slow hiring cycles Why “casting a wide net” and taking chances pays off in this industry CONNECT WITH US Are you ready to take your preparation to the next level? Don't wait until it's too late. Use the promo code “R4P2025” and save 10% on all our services. Check us out at www.spitfireelite.com! If you want to recommend someone to guest on the show, email Nik at podcast@spitfireelite.com, and if you need a professional pilot resume, go to www.spitfireelite.com/podcast/ for FREE templates! SPONSOR Are you a pilot just coming out of the military and looking for the perfect second home for your family? Look no further! Reach out to Marty and his team by visiting www.tridenthomeloans.com to get the best VA loans available anywhere in the US. Be ready for takeoff anytime with 3D-stretch, stain-repellent, and wrinkle-free aviation uniforms by Flight Uniforms. Just go to www.flightuniform.com and type the code SPITFIREPOD20 to get a special 20% discount on your first order. #Aviation #AviationCareers #aviationcrew #AviationJobs #AviationLeadership #AviationEducation #AviationOpportunities #AviationPodcast #AirlinePilot #AirlineJobs #AirlineInterviewPrep #flying #flyingtips #PilotDevelopment #PilotFinance #pilotcareer #pilottips #pilotcareertips #PilotExperience #pilotcaptain #PilotTraining #PilotSuccess #pilotpodcast #PilotPreparation #Pilotrecruitment #flightschool #aviationschool #pilotcareer #pilotlife #pilot

From Military Service to Real Estate Mogul: Wendell Butler's Winning Strategies!

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Chris Hallberg, entrepreneur, business coach, and former military and police leader, known for creating the Business Sergeant Leadership Philosophy. Chris brings decades of experience transforming teams, sharpening execution, and implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to help companies achieve breakthrough performance.From his formative years in the Army National Guard and law enforcement to his career as a sought-after business coach, Chris shares powerful insights into leadership, accountability, and the non-negotiables that separate thriving organizations from stagnant ones. He discusses why the best companies are unafraid to make tough personnel decisions, the importance of “re-enlisting” your team every 90 days, and how to kill problems decisively rather than admiring them in endless meetings.Listeners will hear candid stories from Chris' journey, his philosophy on curating the right people in the right seats, and practical lessons from his book The Business Sergeant's Field Manual: Military-Grade Business Execution Without the Yelling and Push-Ups. If you're a leader looking to build elite teams, create accountability without politics, and drive results with clarity, this conversation is packed with strategies to elevate your leadership game.TakeawaysMilitary and police leadership taught Chris the value of learning from both the best and worst leaders—and applying those lessons to business.Elite teams are built by curating the right people, not trying to “fix” the wrong ones.Commitment is key: employees should symbolically “re-enlist” every 90 days to stay aligned with company goals.Healthy conflict is essential; if team members can't speak the truth, accountability and results will collapse.Hiring should focus on slow-to-hire, quick-to-fire practices, supported by assessments that ensure cultural and role fit.Chris' “three winners, three losers” framework highlights how keeping the wrong people hurts individuals, teams, and future opportunities.Middle managers (sergeants) are critical bridges between leadership and frontline teams; they must be empowered to hire and fire.Moving goalposts erode accountability—leaders must set clear deal breakers and stick to them.Compensation should reflect high expectations: hire in the 75th percentile, expect 90th percentile performance.Always be recruiting—maintain a pipeline of talent by networking, even with competitors' top performers.New hires provide fresh perspectives; leaders should actively solicit feedback in their first weeks.Chapters00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome01:15 Lessons from Military & Police Leadership03:00 Commitment and Sacrifice in Team Building05:15 Applying Military Principles to Business Growth07:25 The 90-Day Re-Enlistment Concept09:30 Accountability and Volunteer Mindsets13:55 Curating the Right People vs. Fixing the Wrong Ones18:05 Decisiveness and Killing Problems Quickly21:20 The Fire Triangle and Root-Cause Problem Solving23:30 Healthy Conflict, Commitment, and Accountability28:20 Hiring Practices: Slow to Hire, Quick to Fire30:35 The Three Winners and Three Losers Framework35:15 Empowering Middle Managers (Sergeants)38:40 Lessons from The Business Sergeant's Field Manual42:00 Getting to the Next Level with the Right Team44:15 Favorite Books and Closing Reflections46:00 Outro & Key TakeawaysChris Hallberg's Social Media Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hallberg-01516315/https://www.facebook.com/chrishallberg09/Resources and Links:https://www.hireclout.comhttps://www.podcast.hireclout.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hirefasthireright

Karolina Stancik was a military intelligence soldier in the Army National Guard. She was coerced into taking the Covid-19 vaccine bio-weapon as part of the military's illegal vaccination mandate. She went from running half marathons once to twice a week, to having strokes, a heart attack and many other health complications. She won her case against the Department of Defense. This is her story of fighting and never giving in, forgiving and leading by example. This young lady is a warrior. #BardsFM #WarriorHeart #Overcomer  Bards Nation Health Store: https://www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> https://thefoundersbible.com/#ordernow Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMF Solutions to keep your home safe: https://www.emfsol.com/?aff=bards Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS: Click here Natural Skin Products by No Knot Today: Click here Product Store, Ambitious Faith: Click here DONATE: Click here Mailing Address: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

Command Sgt. Maj. Robert W. Van Pelt, USA, Ret., served in the United States Army from 1969 to 2011.Throughout his 42 years of service, he served in numerous assignments in the Army National Guard, Regular Army and Army Reserve.Command Sgt. Maj. Van Pelt began his Army career as a draftee in March 1969 where he served as a Fixed Station Automatic Digital Network Technical Controller assigned to the First Signal Brigade in Phu Lam, Republic of Vietnam.Following Vietnam, he was assigned to the United States Army Strategic Communications Command at Camp Darby, Coltano, Italy.Command Sgt. Maj. Van Pelt then left active duty and joined the New York Army National Guard where he served with the 187th Signal Group.Later in his career, job opportunities took him to Tennessee where he continued his Army career serving as the communications chief for Company A, 3/109 Armor, with the Tennessee Army National Guard.While living in Tennessee, he was given the opportunity to serve as a construction chief with the 416th Facility Engineers, Fort Campbell Survey Team, U. S. Army Reserve.Returning to his home state, Command Sgt. Maj. Van Pelt rejoined the New York Army National Guard.While serving with the New York Guard, Command Sgt. Maj. Van Pelt rose through the ranks to sergeant major in March 1987 where he served as the operations sergeant major for the 187th Signal Brigade.Command Sgt. Maj. Van Pelt is a 1991 graduate from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 37.Appointed to command sergeant major in October 1991, he served as the command sergeant major for the 242nd Signal Battalion, 1-101st Cavalry, 187th Signal Brigade, 53rd Troop Command, and managed the Empire State Military Academy Signal School in Farmingdale, Long Island.Throughout all these assignments, Command Sgt. Maj. Van Pelt's leadership and duty performance resulted in his selection as the division command sergeant major for the historic 42nd Infantry (Rainbow) Division in 1998.Command Sgt. Maj. Van Pelt's Army career culminated in June 2001 with his appointment as the command sergeant major for the New York National Guard, a position he held until his retirement in June 2011.

The governor said the facility would house minimal to low-risk detainees for between five and fifty days until they are able to see a judge. In two other immigration-related announcements also made Tuesday, state officials said that approximately 20 Army National Guard soldiers will provide support for Nebraska-based ICE enforcement, and that the State is empowering Nebraska State Patrol troopers to arrest people suspected of immigration violations.

This week on Your Best Day Yet, host Caleb Kolb sits down with veteran law enforcement officer, military serviceman, and private investigator Brian Weismantle. From enlisting in the Army National Guard at 17, to serving over 30 years in the Air Force Reserve, to investigating more than 1,000 homicide and death cases with the Pittsburgh Police, Brian's career is defined by service, resilience, and integrity. Now stepping into a new season of leadership, he shares lessons learned on the front lines and the values that guide him today.Get More Information on Brian: https://www.brian4sheriff.com/Get AMP'd with us: https://centerforvictory.kartra.com/page/9Gn85

Our guest today is Phyllis Elmore, a remarkable woman whose story is as unforgettable as the quilts that helped shape her life.Phyllis is the author of Quilt of Souls, a powerful and deeply personal memoir that has touched readers across the country. Born in the Detroit and raised by her grandmother Lula in rural Alabama, Phyllis found herself immersed in a world of deep wisdom, quiet strength, and generational resilience. It was there, surrounded by women who stitched their pain, perseverance, and history into quilts, that Phyllis discovered healing—and the true meaning of family.In 1973, Phyllis joined the United States Air Force and was one of the first female Aircraft Pneudraulic Specialist for the B-52 Bomber. After leaving the Air Force she attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology.  In 2001, she joined the Army National Guard as an active-duty guard member. It's also noteworthy to mention that Phyllis was one of only a handful of women in the military who served in three major military conflicts including the Vietnam Era where she served a temporary duty assignment to Vietnam before the 1975 fall of Saigon.  She was also deployed to Saudi Arabia as a member of Operation Desert Storm, and in December 2003 as a member of the Army National Guard where she was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.In her civilian career she worked as a counselor for incarcerated youth and for women who were victims of domestic violence. She also spent ten years as a Substance Abuse Counseling Supervisor. In her remarkable book Quilt of Souls, Phyllis shares stories that were nearly lost stories of the Black women who raised children not theirs, who held families together through hardship, and who passed down their heritage through hands that stitched, cooked, comforted, and carried so much.Her writing is rich, lyrical, and full of love—an act of remembrance and a celebration of the strength it takes to keep going, and to keep telling the truth.(3:11) Phyllis recounts being uprooted from Detroit at age four and sent to rural Alabama to live with her grandmother, Lula. She describes the powerful emotional refuge of Lula's quilts—especially one that made her feel truly safe for the first time.(8:03) We get to know Grandmother Lula, an indomitable force who stitched not only quilts but entire communities together. Lula lived to be 105 years old and was threading a needle at 100.(15:55) Phyllis reflects on her return to Detroit as a teen, where she was labeled “incorrigible”—and how those experiences shaped her decision to join the U.S. Air Force.(23:57) After her military service, Phyllis worked as a counselor for incarcerated youth and women facing domestic abuse. Hear how she channeled her life experiences into serving others.(27:30) What inspired Quilt of Souls? Phyllis shares the moment she realized that the stories she carried could—and should—be written down.(30:39) She recalls a particularly poignant story unearthed during her research—one that stuck with her and shaped the book's message.(34:27) Meet Miss Jubilee and hear about the extraordinary quilts and lives Phyllis encountered while researching her memoir.(40:43) Discover the Quilt of Souls Preservation Project and get a preview of Phyllis' upcoming Quilt of Souls Gathering in June 2026.(46:15) Phyllis reveals what she hopes readers take away from Quilt of Souls—and why she believes it's never too late to “right” your story.(51:00) What didn't we ask that she wishes we had? Phyllis gives us a thoughtful answer.(52:10) Want to connect with Phyllis? Visit www.thequiltofsouls.com or email her at thequiltofsouls@yahoo.com. Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today's and all of our Guests.

Send us a textLaci Silgjord spoke with Liz Collin on her podcast about the peculiar series of events from her time serving the Cloquet police department and the Army National Guard—to now facing 20 years in prison.Donate to Alpha News - https://alphanews.revv.co/donate-todayAlpha News Links - https://linktr.ee/AlphaNewsLiz Collin Reports - https://alphanews.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader My Guest: Ed Latimore is a professional heavyweight boxer, best-selling author, and veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard. He earned a degree in Physics from Duquesne University. Ed has gained recognition for overcoming personal struggles with addiction and poverty. We recorded this at our 2025 Learning Leader Growth Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. He's the author of Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business.  Notes: Key Learnings The Heaviest Weight at the Gym is the Front Door – Starting is often the hardest part. "Zero to one is the hardest part" in any endeavor. Once you begin, momentum builds, but that first step requires the most effort. How You Feel is Irrelevant – "How you feel about doing something is irrelevant. If it is vital to your success, you've gotta bump to the wall a bunch of times." Discipline isn't about motivation—it's about doing what's necessary regardless of feelings. Sobriety: The Hardest Fight – 13+ years sober, describing it as "the hardest fight I've ever had." The turning point came during basic training when he built an identity completely free of alcohol for the first time in his adult life. From Being Liked to Being Respected – "When people like you, they want to party with you... When people respect you, you start getting invited back to family events." Shifted focus from seeking approval through partying to earning respect through character. The Baby Shower Revelation – Breakthrough moment when friends showed up with gifts for his unborn child, "all because he is my human." Realized people genuinely cared about him, which became the foundation for believing he mattered. Taking Ownership vs. Playing Victim – "A judge and a jury do not care about my terrible upbringing if I commit a crime." Despite growing up next to a crack house with family addiction issues, I chose accountability over excuses. Net Positive Impact Philosophy – Goal with raising children: "Make sure they are a net positive, they make things better. At the very least, let's make sure they don't mess anything up." Everyone has an impact on the world for better or worse. Practice Until You Can't Forget – Boxing taught the overlearning principle: going beyond basic competency to automatic response. "We practice until we can't forget... Either you get it or you'll make a mistake, and you probably won't make the mistake more than twice." Tolerance for Boredom Builds Excellence – "If you can be bored, you can go really far because a lot of it is just repetition of really basic things." Elite performers master fundamentals through unglamorous repetition. Body Language Shapes Internal State – "You smile, you feel happy... puff up your chest and the testosterone flows." Physical presentation affects how you feel internally and influences others around you. Fear vs. Responsibility Evolution – Early motivation came from fear of embarrassment; current motivation comes from a sense of responsibility to others. Shift from avoiding personal failure to ensuring others are taken care of. Redefining "At Your Best" – Past definition: having enough money, time, and no worries. Current definition: "Everyone in the house is taken care of." Evolution from internal satisfaction to external impact. Strategic Hardship Introduction – For teaching children without trauma: "Introduce hardships strategically and with awareness." Like weight training—incremental challenges build strength; too much too soon causes injury. Useful Quotes: "How you feel about doing something is irrelevant. If it is vital to your success, you've gotta bump to the wall a bunch of times." "The heaviest weight at the gym is the front door." "When people like you, they want to party with you... When people respect you, you start getting invited back to family events." "You have an impact on the world, for better or worse, that makes a huge difference in allowing a person to not destroy themselves." "We practice until we can't forget." "If you can be bored, you can go really far." "I've had my ego dragged through the mud a lot." "What do you want your obituary to say? I didn't just dabble." "When you're completely selfless, then you're fearless. It's the 'what's gonna happen to me' that creates the fear." "Everyone's always either walking in love or fear." "I hope my kid remembers that I was a present happy dude." Life Lessons: Discipline Over Mood – Make decisions based on necessity, not feelings. Success comes from identifying what must be done and executing consistently. Identity Building Without Vices – Spend time in environments completely free from your struggles to build new neural pathways and self-concept. Overlearning for Mastery – Practice skills beyond basic competency until they become automatic responses under pressure. Authentic Accountability – Find mentors who "live what they're yelling at you about." Real influence comes from demonstrated behavior, not just words. Incremental Challenge Builds Resilience – Introduce difficulties gradually to build strength rather than overwhelming with too much too soon. Present Moment Parenting – Model calm behavior during stressful situations because children mirror your emotional energy. External Focus Creates Fulfillment – Shift from personal satisfaction to ensuring others are taken care of for a deeper sense of purpose. Childhood Dreams Reveal True Interests – "What did you want to do when you were 10-12?" Often reveals authentic passions before social conditioning. Breaking Generational Cycles – Consciously choose different patterns than your upbringing to create better outcomes for the next generation. Humility Through Struggle – Getting "ego dragged through the mud" builds character and perspective that success alone cannot provide. Luck Recognition Builds Gratitude – "The only difference between you and me is that I was lucky." Understanding the role of circumstances builds empathy.   Apply to be part of my next Learning Leader Circle.

This was the best way to close out this season! In this episode we would like to introduce Kapi'olani CC graduate, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Ken Takemura, recruiter for the Hawai'i Army National Guard. His journey may not fall under the "typical" pathway but it is more common than you think. As one of three with a single mom, he had to figure out how to make it work with the resources provided. He made some huge sacrifices at a young age that includes working full-time, fulling his duties with the Hawai'i Army National Guard, and taking courses at Kapi'olani CC that helped create the best version of himself. He adds how "everyone has their own clock" and how learning is a lifelong process no matter where you go. Please enjoy our season closer and share widely!  

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-eighth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by COL Ricky Taylor, the Commander of Ops Group (COG) and CSM Bill Gallant, the Command Sergeant Major of Ops Group (CSMOG). Today's guest is the Commander of 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, COL Eric Soults.   The 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, is the premier infantry formation of the Iowa Army National Guard, headquartered in Boone, Iowa. As part of the storied “Red Bull” Division, the brigade carries forward a legacy of combat excellence dating back to North Africa and Italy in World War II and extensive deployments in the Global War on Terror. The division's official motto, “Attack, Attack, Attack,” captures the offensive spirit ingrained in its culture. The brigade's Hollywood call-sign is “Ryder.”   This episode dives deep into the realities of modern warfare from the perspective of the Army National Guard, drawing on the experience of a recent JRTC rotation and upcoming deployment to the CENTCOM AOR. Topics include joint interoperability with international partners such as Kosovo and Jordan, the complexity of managing a brigade built from 19 states, and the use of tools like the “Ryder Way” to enforce standards and discipline. The conversation emphasizes the need to establish early relationships with partner forces, ruthlessly enforce battle rhythm and reporting discipline, and adapt to rapidly changing mission sets across operational phases from training to mobilization.   Other key points include the challenges of sustainment and the innovative use of a sustainment common operating picture or “SUSCOP” to enable proactive logistics. The brigade's leadership emphasizes empowering NCOs, enforcing standards across dispersed units, and maximizing limited training time by focusing on the fundamentals—especially at the squad and platoon level. The episode concludes with insights on the importance of effective commander-to-commander and staff dialogue, clear expectations, and synchronization of drill periods, all critical to preparing an Army National Guard brigade for LSCO and deployment abroad.   Part of S02 “If I Would Have Only Known” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we'd like to thank our guests for participating. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

During their Army careers, Captain Kim Liszka and Captain Dakota Olson-Harris experienced both the highs and lows of service. But it was their relationships with fellow female Soldiers that provided some of their greatest memories and inspired them to create Dog Tag Diaries, a podcast series that provides a forum for females serving to share their stories and advice for the next generation. Captain Kim after serving in the Army as a combat medic, combat nurse, flight nurse instructor and top athlete. Captain Dakota currently serves in the National Guard and is a counselor in her civilian life. Host LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith sits down with Captains Kim and Dakota to discuss their Army stories, how the podcast has helped out other female servicemembers (as well as themselves) and to discuss the finer cuisine of...bugs. Guests:  CPT Kimberly Liszka, U.S. Army Veteran, and CPT Dakota Olson-Harris, U.S. Army National Guard, Co-Hosts, Dog Tag Diaries Podcast  Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA's Army Matters podcast! AUSA's Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern. You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.  Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA's educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at podcast@ausa.org. Disclaimer: AUSA's Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

Life with A Thousand Paper Cuts – What PTSD Feels Like with Cole GraceJune was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) awareness month. And yes, even though it is now July, I am airing this interview with Cole Grace, who shares his story about what it feels like to have PTSD, and to recover and experience calm despite having a life going through chaos. Bio:Cole Grace had a difficult early childhood. His parents divorced when he was four years old. And although he was never physically or sexually abused, and never lost anyone tragically, he didn't think he had childhood trauma. Cole joined the Army National Guard and went to Iraq as a combat engineer responsible for IED route clearance and convoy security in 2005. He was attached to multiple units and low ranking because he got in trouble for smoking weed. So he got the worst of the worst jobs. Through this, Cole repressed his emotions in the moment, but later realized he had trauma from his childhood and his combat experience. Cole went back to school and ended up getting a high paying job for the government in 2012. He thought that meant that he was healed from the stomach episodes he suffered from while in Iraq, some of which led him to go to the emergency room after returning to the United States in 2006. When he worked for the government in 2012, it was in the midst of the opioid crisis. So that meant when he went to the hospital, many times they wouldn't give him pain medicine anymore. So he self medicated and eventually became addicted to opiates in 2015. Cole went to rehab in 2017 and learned about childhood trauma, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and started reading self-help books and books about trauma. He started trying different healing modalities and eventually putting together the outline for the book Internal to External - Calming the Chaos Within. “Your external world can change in an instant, but you can't take away the internal things.”Timestamps 7:30 Cole tells his story10:00 The Army / Combat Experience14:00 Radiation Exposure in Iraq16:20 “I just checked off this whole checklist and I still don't feel good.”19:10 “Unlearn your Pain and Depression” book by Howard Schubiner at https://unlearnyourpain.com/unlearn-your-pain-book/21:47 “The Body Keeps the Score” and “7 Habits for Highly Successful People” and other self-help books helped him connect to the subconscious 23:30 What Cole does to monitor his subconscious mind1. Awareness and Acceptance of Unhelpful Beliefs2. Reframing these beliefs into truthful / helpful ones3. Embracing more positivity4. Breathwork, affirmations and gratitude practices, personal mission statement27:00 Tracy says to focus on what's both truthful and helpful when reframing beliefs and doing affirmationsCole agrees…and adds, “What you say has to have the possibility of being truthful”28:33 Tracy's way of approaching Trauma with clients, and the benefits of addressing trauma that can benefit you in the long run29:36 Why should we even address trauma, anyway?31:32: “Between the stimulus and the response is a choice”Cole tells how he's done the work, and yet still has some challenges, he deals with them“Heal Your Body” book by Louise Hay https://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Body-Louise-Hay/dp/9394613846In his life, Cole had to push through a lot of fear, justifications, and excuses to publish this book. But he did it. He believes that the book is inspiring and that it gives practical ways and “tactics” to improve your quality of life without the expectation of perfection.“I do not have it all figured out, and I don't pretend to. So I believe that makes me more relatable than some other people that write on the subject of mental health and PTSD.” 39:40 Cole's Book...

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The summer of 2025 has been a time of chaos. A time of confusion. And a time of distress for many Americans. But for independent Americans it's been a little bit different. In between all of the moments of turmoil have been glimmers of hope, a chance at a better future. And that better future is being driven by independents. From Jim Walden's upstart mayoral campaign in New York City to the Badlands of South Dakota and Brian Bengs' renegade Senate run, to last episode's guest from the great state of Idaho, Todd Achilles — there's been a lot coming from independents to get excited about.  And now there's more! Independent Navy vet Dan Osborn (@OsbornForSenate) is back in the fight. And this time, he's running against Nebraska's other MAGA Republican Senator billionaire: Pete Ricketts. It's the ultimate David vs Goliath showdown. And this time, Dan's got some experience, a network, name recognition and is hitting the ground running. Dan served in the Navy and later joined the Army National Guard. He's a steamfitter, industrial mechanic, and a badass labor union leader. He led a successful strike at Kellogg's Omaha plant in 2021. And ran for Senate in 2024–narrowly losing to incumbent Deb Fischer. But at the same time, Dan laid down the foundation for this run while inspiring a new generation of independent leaders across the country. His race was a direct challenge to the party system and it showed everyone a new way to run—and offered a new vision for what a political race can look like. If you've listened to the show for a while now, you'll know Dan and what he's meant to the movement. If you're new here, get ready to get fired up. In the immortal words of Vin Diesel, “We live for this….” Stuff.  And there's more as your host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) rips into Ukraine, Waltz, SignalGate, Hegseth and all of the latest national security news that you need to stay on top of. And a megadose of inspiration with a quick hit on Youman Wilder—a New York City little league coach that stood up to ICE and has inspired millions. Because Independent Americans is built on the Righteous Media 5 Is: independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact. And this episode has it in spades. Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. It's the truth beyond the headlines–and light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It's built for the 49% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent and we're proud to stand with you.  -Learn more about Dan Osborn and his race on his campaign website.  -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -WATCH video of Paul and Dan's conversation. -NEW! Watch the video version of the entire podcast here. -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The summer of 2025 has been a time of chaos. A time of confusion. And a time of distress for many Americans. But for independent Americans it's been a little bit different. In between all of the moments of turmoil have been glimmers of hope, a chance at a better future. And that better future is being driven by independents. From Jim Walden's upstart mayoral campaign in New York City to the Badlands of South Dakota and Brian Bengs' renegade Senate run, to last episode's guest from the great state of Idaho, Todd Achilles — there's been a lot coming from independents to get excited about.  And now there's more! Independent Navy vet Dan Osborn (@OsbornForSenate) is back in the fight. And this time, he's running against Nebraska's other MAGA Republican Senator billionaire: Pete Ricketts. It's the ultimate David vs Goliath showdown. And this time, Dan's got some experience, a network, name recognition and is hitting the ground running. Dan served in the Navy and later joined the Army National Guard. He's a steamfitter, industrial mechanic, and a badass labor union leader. He led a successful strike at Kellogg's Omaha plant in 2021. And ran for Senate in 2024–narrowly losing to incumbent Deb Fischer. But at the same time, Dan laid down the foundation for this run while inspiring a new generation of independent leaders across the country. His race was a direct challenge to the party system and it showed everyone a new way to run—and offered a new vision for what a political race can look like. If you've listened to the show for a while now, you'll know Dan and what he's meant to the movement. If you're new here, get ready to get fired up. In the immortal words of Vin Diesel, “We live for this….” Stuff.  And there's more as your host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) rips into Ukraine, Waltz, SignalGate, Hegseth and all of the latest national security news that you need to stay on top of. And a megadose of inspiration with a quick hit on Youman Wilder—a New York City little league coach that stood up to ICE and has inspired millions. Because Independent Americans is built on the Righteous Media 5 Is: independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact. And this episode has it in spades. Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. It's the truth beyond the headlines–and light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It's built for the 49% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent and we're proud to stand with you.  -Learn more about Dan Osborn and his race on his campaign website.  -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -WATCH video of Paul and Dan's conversation. -NEW! Watch the video version of the entire podcast here. -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a special Independence Day episode of the COHORT W Podcast. I'm your host, CW4 Jessie Morlan, and today, we celebrate the 4th of July with a message of pride, patriotism, and purpose from one of our most respected senior leaders in the Warrant Officer Cohort.Joining us is CW5 Brian Searcy, the 8th Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Army National Guard, who brings decades of service and insight shaped by a career spanning intelligence, readiness, and leadership at the highest levels. From his beginnings as a cannon crewmember in the Utah Army National Guard to becoming the senior warrant officer advisor to the Director of the Army National Guard, CW5 Searcy has embodied the strength and resilience of the Citizen-Soldier.In this Independence Day episode, CW5 Searcy reflects on what it means to serve in the world's most capable land force, how the Army National Guard supports our communities and our nation, and the enduring values that unite us on this day of celebration. His words serve as a reminder of the role that each Warrant Officer plays in preserving liberty and leading through service.Whether you're in uniform, a proud veteran, or someone who supports those who serve—this message is for you. Happy Independence Day from the entire COHORT W team.

Shawn Ballinger (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-ballinger-cfp%C2%AE-30834513/) is the Founder of Columbus Street Financial Planning, an Ohio-based, fee-only RIA overseeing $100 M in assets. After two decades advising high-net-worth families, Shawn launched his own firm in 2019 to prove that comprehensive wealth management shouldn't cost 1 % of a client's portfolio.A U.S. Army National Guard veteran and past President of the FPA of Central Ohio, Shawn now serves 75+ households on a complexity-based flat fee—delivering full-spectrum planning without the sticker shock.In this episode, Chris and Shawn discuss:Scaling from zero clients to $100 M AUM in five years on a flat-fee modelPricing tiers by complexity—and knowing when to raise feesOrganic growth through COIs, Kiwanis service, and community outreachWhy 50 % of great advising is client educationWhen a solo advisor should hire an intern, paraplanner, or full-time staffConnect with Shawn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-ballinger-cfp%C2%AE-30834513/Website: https://columbusstreetfin.com/Email: shawn@columbusstreetfin.comMaximize your marketing, close more clients, and amplify your AUM by following us on:Instagram: https://instagram.com/ultrahighnetworthclientsTikTok: https://tiktok.com/ultrahighnetworthclientsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uhnwcFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/UHNWCPodcastTwitter: https://twitter.com/uhnwcpodcastiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ultra-high-net-worth-clients-with-chris-brodhead/id1569041400Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Guqegm2CVqkcEfMSLPEDrWebsite: https://uhnwc.comWork with us: https://famousfounder.com/faDISCLAIMER: This content is provided by Chris Brodhead for general information purposes only. It is not an offer to buy or sell any securities or investments. Investing involves risk of loss. Discuss all decisions with a qualified advisor, considering your goals, needs, and risk tolerance.

Greg Smith spent 35 years in the Army National Guard. But he's never witnessed the military used the way it's being deployed in Los Angeles in response to protests opposing the Trump administration's immigration raids. On this week's More To The Story, Smith discusses how the military appears increasingly tasked with enforcing a political agenda rather than defending the Constitution.Producer: Josh Sanburn, with help from Artis Curiskis | Editor: Kara McGuirk-Allison | Theme music: Fernando Arruda and Jim Briggs | Digital producer: Nikki Frick | Interim executive producers: Brett Myers and Taki Telonidis | Executive editor: James West | Host: Al Letson Donate today at Revealnews.org/more Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at Revealnews.org/weekly Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky Listen: Trump's Mass Deportations Are Decades in the Making (More To The Story)Listen: Immigrants on the Line (Reveal)Read: The “Twisted” History of Trump's Legal Theory for Using Troops Against Protesters (Mother Jones)Read: Confessions of a Weekend Warrior: Thirty-Five Years in the National Guard (Greg Smith)Note: If you buy a book using our Bookshop link, a small share of the proceeds supports our journalism. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Send us a textEric Crafton is a decorated army national guard member, committed law enforcement officer with a Masters of Administrative Science – Law Enforcement Administration, and mental health advocate who values dedication, service, and excellence. With a combined 24 years of exemplary public service and mental health advocacy, Eric is proud to lead the New Jersey Veteran Support Alliance.Serving in the Army National Guard added a new layer of urgency to Eric's mission to serve his community and advocate for mental health services. As a decorated soldier and Certified Crisis Interventionist, Eric recognizes the struggle of active military re-entering civilian life. He has spent the past decade creating a network of physicians and mental health professionals to assist veterans and their families with the VA claims process. In 2024, Eric officially launched the New Jersey Veteran Support Alliance.Find Eric Crafton and Veteran Services Alliancehttps://njvsa.org/Find The Suffering PodcastThe Suffering Podcast InstagramKevin Donaldson InstagramTom Flynn InstagramApple PodcastSpotifyYouTubeThe Suffering Podcast FamilySherri AllsupKetaReviveToyota of HackensackSupport the showThe Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram TikTok YouTube

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:    First, President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that the U.S. and Iran are close to reaching a new nuclear deal, saying that the mullahs have “sort of” agreed to terms, after White House officials presented Tehran with a new proposal on Sunday. But Iran is denying the reports of a new proposal, and say there are still large gaps to bridge in the talks. Later in the show—President Trump said Thursday that Gaza should be turned into a U.S. administered “freedom zone,” as ceasefire talks in Qatar stall, and Israel expands operations in the battered enclave. Plus, we'll look at reports that the Iranian regime is aggressively expanding their foreign assassination and kidnapping operations, leveraging criminal gangs to carry out their dirty work. In our 'Back of the Brief—Authorities disrupt an alleged plot to carry out an ISIS-inspired terror attack on a military facility near Detroit by a former member of Michigan's Army National Guard. We'll have the details. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.   YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold DeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text PDB to 64000. Message and data rates apply TriTails Premium Beef: Visit https://TryBeef.com/PDB for 2 free Flat Iron steaks with your first box over $250 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Garrison Brown04.10.1998 - 03.04.2023On March 4th, beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend Robert Garrison Brown joined his ancestors in the halls of Valhalla. Born to Janelle and Kody Brown, 6th child of a big, unconventional family.Preceded in death by Sheryl Lee Brown, William Winn Brown, and Curtis Taylor Brown. He is survived by his large, adoring family and his three cats Catthew, Patches, and Ms. Buttons.We remember him as the coolest dude who lived with a zeal for life, led through his curiosity. He was a world traveler, going to multiple countries and continents. He was a jack of all trades and a master in comedy. He enjoyed being an amateur craftsman and a adventurous photographer. His night sky photography evoked deep emotion. He was a Staff Sergeant in the Army National Guard and a proud CAV Scout. He was in school to become a Nurse because he cared about people.Robert Garrison knew the best thing to say to make everyone laugh, especially in awkward situations. He made friends everywhere he went and his death leaves all who knew him in immense pain.Robert Garrison's death is a reminder to tell those you love how you feel and take care of each other. Where do we turn when we miss him? "To the stars, Bowen, to the stars."If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & CrisisLifeline or chat at 988lifeline.org