Podcasts about Naval academy

Send a textIn this installment of 50 Years of Excellence in Women's Athletics at the Naval Academy, we bring you Mary Brigden from the Class of 1981. Mary was an accomplished sailor by the time she was in high school, winning several junior national championships while growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When she got to Annapolis, where Mary traded in her X-Scow for a 420 and rebuilt her game under coaches who sharpen her skills to get her ready for collegiate racing. She makes strategic choices to collect coed regatta starts, chases All‑American points, and engages is a daily strength training program that sharpens her edge. The result is a skipper ready for a defining test.The ICSA Championships in Charleston, SC deliver that test. With whitecaps and wind in the high gears, rivals expect Navy to fade. Instead, Mary and crew Karen Mulvaney stack top‑three finishes, conserve energy where it matters, and attack when it counts. The final race is a clinic in control: hiking through gusts, holding shape, and driving clean while the fleet eases to survive. The payoff is a big time trifecta—the Madeleine Cup for winning the Women's A‑division, the Gerald C. Miller trophy, given to the best women's team, and the Leonard M. Fowle Trophy, crowning Navy as the 1981 national champions. Finally, there was Mary's history making achievement of being named the first woman All American in any sport at the Naval Academy, the culmination of a long held dream. If you like these kinds of stories, check out the episode. Follow the show, share it with a friend who loves college sailing or Navy sports, and leave a review to tell us your favorite moment from Mary's rise.Support the showIf you like what you hear, support the Mids and the show at the same time! Navy Sports Central is a proud affiliate partner of Fanatics.com, the Ultimate Fan Gear Store! Click on the link to start shopping now!

Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman join our podcast to discuss how psychedelic policy is actually moving in Washington, DC. Lavasani leads Psychedelic Medicine Coalition, a DC-based advocacy organization focused on educating federal officials and advancing legislation around psychedelic medicine. Kopelman is CEO of Mission Within Foundation, which provides scholarships for veterans and first responders seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy retreats, often outside the United States. The conversation centers on veterans, the VA, and why that system may be the first realistic federal pathway for psychedelic care. Early Themes Lavasani describes PMC's work on Capitol Hill, including hosting events that bring lawmakers, staffers, and advocates into the same room. Her focus is steady engagement. In DC, progress often happens through repeated conversations, not headlines. Kopelman shares his background as a Marine and how his own psychedelic-assisted therapy experience led him to Mission Within. The foundation has funded more than 250 scholarships for veterans and first responders seeking treatment for PTSD, mild traumatic brain injury, depression, and addiction. They connect this work to pending veteran-focused legislation and explain why the VA matters. As a closed health system, the VA can pilot programs, gather data, and refine protocols without the pressures of private healthcare markets. Core Insights A recent Capitol Hill gathering, For Veteran Society, brought together members of Congress and leaders from the psychedelic caucus. Lavasani describes candid feedback from lawmakers. The message was clear: coordinate messaging, avoid fragmentation, and move while bipartisan interest remains. Veteran healthcare is not framed as the final goal. It is a starting point. If psychedelic therapies can demonstrate safety and effectiveness within the VA, broader adoption becomes more plausible. Kopelman raises operational realities that must be addressed: Standardized safety protocols across providers Integration support, not medication alone Clear training pathways for clinicians Real-world data beyond tightly screened clinical trials They also address recent negative headlines involving ibogaine treatment abroad. Kopelman emphasizes the need for shared learning across providers, especially when adverse events occur. Lavasani argues that inconsistency within the ecosystem can slow federal confidence. Later Discussion and Takeaways The discussion widens to federal momentum around addiction and mental health. Lavasani notes that new funding initiatives signal growing openness to innovative treatment models, even if psychedelics are not named explicitly in every announcement. Both guests stress that policy moves slowly by design. Meetings, follow-ups, and relationship building often matter more than public statements. For clinicians, researchers, operators, and advocates, the takeaways are direct: Veterans are likely the first federal pathway Public education remains essential Safety standards must be shared and transparent Integration and workforce development need attention now If psychedelic medicine enters federal systems, infrastructure will determine success. Frequently Asked Questions What do Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman say about VA psychedelic policy? They argue that veteran-focused legislation offers a realistic first federal pathway for psychedelic-assisted care. Is ibogaine currently available through the VA? No. They discuss ibogaine in the context of private retreats and future possibilities, not an existing VA program. Why do Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman emphasize coordination? Lawmakers respond more positively when advocates present aligned messaging and clear priorities. What safety issues are discussed by Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman? They highlight the need for standardized screening, monitoring, integration support, and transparent review of adverse events. Closing Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman provide a grounded look at how psychedelic policy develops inside federal systems. Their message is practical: veterans may be the first lane, but long-term success depends on coordination, safety standards, and sustained engagement. Closing This episode captures a real-time view of how federal policy could shape the next phase of the psychedelic resurgence, especially through veteran-facing legislation and VA infrastructure. Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman argue that coordination, public education, and shared safety standards will shape whether access expands with credibility and care. Transcript Joe Moore: [00:00:00] Hello everybody. Welcome back to Psychedelics Today. Today we have two guests, um, got Melissa Sani from Psychedelic Medicine Coalition. We got Jake Pelman from Mission Within Foundation. We're gonna talk about I bga I became policy on a recent, uh, set of meetings in Washington, DC and, uh, all sorts of other things I'm sure. Joe Moore: But thank you both for joining me. Melissa Lavasani: Thanks for having us. Jay Kopelman: Yeah, it's a pleasure. Thanks. Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, Melissa, I wanna have you, uh, jump in. First. Can you tell us a little bit about, uh, your work and what you do at PMC? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, so Psychedelic Medicine Coalition is, um, the only DC based Washington DC based advocacy organization dedicated to the advancing the issue of psychedelics, um, and making sure the federal government has the education they need, um, and understands the issue inside out so that they can generate good policy around, around psychedelic medicines. Melissa Lavasani: [00:01:00] Uh, we. Host Hill events. We host other convenings. Our big event every year is the Federal Summit on psychedelic medicine. Um, that's going to be May 14th this year. Um, where we talk about kinda the pressing issues that need to be talked about, uh, with government officials in the room, um, so that we can incrementally move this forward. Melissa Lavasani: Um, our presence here in Washington DC is, is really critical for this issue's success because, um, when we're talking about psychedelic medicines, um, from the federal government pers perspective, you know, they are, they are the ones that are going to initiate the policies that create a healthcare system that can properly facilitate these medicines and make sure, um, patient safety is a priority. Melissa Lavasani: And there's guardrails on this. And, um, you know, there, it's, it's really important that we have. A home base for this issue in Washington DC just [00:02:00] because, uh, this is very complicated as a lot of your viewers probably understand, and, you know, this can get lost in the mix of all the other issues that, um, lawmakers in DC are focused on right now. Melissa Lavasani: And we need to keep that consistent presence here so that this continues to be a priority for members of Congress. Joe Moore: Mm. I love this. And Jay, can you tell us a bit about yourself and mission within Foundation? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, sure. Joe, thanks. Uh, I, I am the CEO of Mission within Foundation. Prior to this, most of my adult life was spent in the military as a Marine. Jay Kopelman: And I came to this. Role after having, uh, a psychedelic assisted therapy experience myself at the mission within down in Mexico, which is where pretty much we all go. Um, we are here to help [00:03:00] provide, uh, access for veterans and first responders to be able to attend psychedelic assisted therapy retreats to treat issues like mild TBI, post-traumatic stress disorder, uh, depression, sometimes addiction at, at a very low level. Jay Kopelman: Um, and, and so we've, we've been doing this for a little more than a year now and have provided 250 plus scholarships to veterans and first responders to be able to access. These retreats and these, these lifesaving medicines. Um, we're also partnered, uh, you may or may not know with Melissa at Psychedelic Medicine Coalition to help advance education and policy, specifically the innovative, uh, therapy Centers of Excellence Act [00:04:00] that Melissa has worked for a number of years on now to bring to both Houses of Congress. Joe Moore: Thank you for that. Um, so let's chat a little bit about what this event was that just, uh, went down, uh, what, what was it two weeks ago at this point? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Yeah. It's called For Veteran Society and it's all, um, there's a lot of dialogue on Capitol Hill about veterans healthcare and psychedelics, but where I've been frustrated is that, you know, it was just a lot of. Melissa Lavasani: Talk about what the problems are and not a lot of talk about like how we actually propel things forward. Um, so it, at that event, I thought it was really important and we had three members of Congress there, um, Morgan Latrell, who has been a champion from day one and his time in Congress, um, having gone through the experience himself, um, [00:05:00] at Mission within, um, and then the two chairs of the psychedelic caucus, uh, Lou Correa and Jack Bergman. Melissa Lavasani: And we really got down to the nitty gritty of like w like why this has taken so long and you know, what is actually happening right now? What are the possibilities and what the roadblocks are. And it was, I thought it was a great conversation. Um, we had an interesting kind of dynamic with Latres is like a very passionate about this issue in particular. Melissa Lavasani: Um, I think it was, I think it was really. A great event. And, you know, two days later, Jack Bergman introduced his new bill for the va. Um, so it was kind of like the precursor to that bill getting introduced. And we're just excited for more and more conversations about how the government can gently guide this issue to success. Joe Moore: Hmm. Yeah. [00:06:00] That's fantastic. Um, yeah, I was a little bummed I couldn't make it, but next time, I hope. But I've heard a lot of good things and, um, it's, it sounded like there was some really important messages in, in terms of like feedback from legislators. Yeah. Yeah. Could you speak to that? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, I mean, I think when, uh, representative Latrell was speaking, he really impressed on us a couple things. Melissa Lavasani: Um, first is that, you know, they really kind of need the advocates to. Coordinate, collaborate and come up with like a, a strategic plan, you know, without public education. Um, talking to members of Congress about this issue is, is really difficult. You know, like PMC is just one organization. We're very little mission within, very little, um, you know, we're all like, kind of new in navigating, um, this not so new issue, but new to Washington DC [00:07:00] issue. Melissa Lavasani: Um, without that public education as a baseline, uh, it's, it's, you have to spend a lot of time educating members of Congress. You know, that's like one of our things is, you know, we have to, we don't wanna tell Congress what direction to go to. We wanna provide them the information so they understand it very intimately and know how to navigate through things. Melissa Lavasani: Um, and secondly. Um, he got pretty frank with us and said, you know, we've got one cha one chance at this issue. And it's like, that's, that's kind of been like my talking point since I started. PMC is like, you have a very limited window, um, when these kind of issues pop up and they're new and they're fresh and you have a lot of the veteran community coming out and talking about it. Melissa Lavasani: And there's a lot of energy there. But now is the time to really move forward, um, with some real legislation that can be impactful. Um, but, you know, we've gotta [00:08:00] be careful. We, we forget, I think sometimes those of us who are in the ecosystem forget that our level of knowledge about these medicines and a lot of us have firsthand experience, um, with these drugs and, and our own healing journeys is, um, we forget that there is a public out there that doesn't have the level of knowledge that we all have. Melissa Lavasani: And, um. We gotta make sure that we're sticking to the right elements of, of, of what needs to happen. We need to be sure that our talking points are on track and we're not getting sideways about anything and going down roads that we don't need to talk about. It's why, um, you know, PMC is very focused on, um, moving forward veteran legislation right now. Melissa Lavasani: Not because we're a veteran organization, but because we're, we see this long-term policy track here. Um, we know where we want to get [00:09:00] to, um. Um, and watching other healthcare issues kind of come up and then go through the VA healthcare system, I think it's a really unique opportunity, um, to utilize the VA as this closed system, the biggest healthcare system in the country to evaluate, uh, how psychedelics operate within systems like that. Melissa Lavasani: And, you know, before they get into, um, other healthcare systems. What do we need to fix? What do we need to pay attention to? What's something that we're paying too much attention to that doesn't necessarily need that much attention? So it's, um, it's a real opportunity to look at psychedelic medicines within a healthcare system and obviously continue to gather the data. Melissa Lavasani: Um, Bergman's Bill emerging, uh, expanding veteran access to emerging treatments. Um, not only mandates the research, it gives the VA authority for this, uh, for running trials and, and creating programs around psychedelic medicines. But also, [00:10:00] one of the great things about it, I think, is it provides an on-ramp for veterans that don't necessarily qualify for clinical trials. Melissa Lavasani: You know, I think that's one of the biggest criticisms of clinical trials is like you're cre you're creating a vacuum for people and people don't live in a vacuum. So we don't necessarily know what psychedelics are gonna look like in real life. Um, but with this expanding veteran access bill that Bergman introduced, it provides the VA an opportunity to provide this access under. Melissa Lavasani: Um, in a, in a safe container with medical supervision while collecting data, um, while ensuring that the veteran that is going through this process has the support systems that it needs. So, um, you know, I think that there's a really unique opportunity here, and like Latrell said, like, we've got one shot at this. Melissa Lavasani: We have people's attention in Congress. Um, now's the time to start acting, and let's be really considerate and thoughtful about what we're doing with it. Joe Moore: Thanks for that, Melissa and Jay, how, [00:11:00] anything to add there on kind of your takeaways from the this, uh, last visit in dc? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, I, I think that Melissa highlighted it really well and there, there were a couple other things that I, I think, you know, you could kind of tie it all together with some other issues that we face in this country, uh, and that. Jay Kopelman: Uh, representative Correa brought up as well, but one of the things I wanted to go back and say is that veterans have kind of led this movement already, right? So, so it's a, it's a good jumping off point, right? That it's something people from both sides of the aisle, from any community in America can get behind. Jay Kopelman: You know, if you think about it, uh, in World War ii, you know, we had a million people serving our population was like, not even 200 million, but now [00:12:00] we have a population of 330 million, and at any given time there might be a million people in uniform, including the Reserve and the National Guard. So it's, it, it's an easy thing to get behind this small part of the population that is willing to sign that contract. Jay Kopelman: Where you are saying, yeah, I'm going to defend my country, possibly at the risk of my l my own life. So that's the first thing. The other thing is that the VA being a closed health system, and they don't have shareholders to answer to, they can take some risks, they can be innovative and be forward thinking in the ways that some other healthcare systems can't. Jay Kopelman: And so they have a perfect opportunity to show that they truly care for their veterans, which don't, I'm not saying they don't, but this would be an [00:13:00] opportunity to show that carrot at a whole different level. Uh, it would allow them to innovate and be a leader in something as, uh, as our friend Jim Hancock will say, you know. Jay Kopelman: When he went to the Naval Academy, they had the world's best shipbuilding program. Why doesn't the VA have the world's best care program for things like TBI and PTSD, which affects, you know, 40 something percent of all veterans, right? So, so there's, there's an opportunity here for the VA to lead from the front. Jay Kopelman: Um, the, these medicines provide, you know, reasonably lasting care where it's kind of a one and done. Whereas with the current systems, the, you know, and, and [00:14:00] again, not to denigrate the VA in any way, they're doing the best job they can with the tools in their toolbox, right? But maybe it's time for a trip to Home Depot. Jay Kopelman: Let's get some new tools. And have some new ways of fixing what's broken, which is really the way of doing things. It's not, veterans aren't broken, we are who we are. Um, but it's a, it's a way to fix what isn't working. So I, I think that, you know, given there's tremendous veteran homelessness still, you know, addiction issues, all these things that do translate to the population at large are things that can be worked on in this one system, the va that can then be shown to have efficacy, have good data, have [00:15:00] good outcomes, and, and take it to the population at large. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Brilliant. Thanks for that. And so there was another thing I wanted to pivot to, which is some of the recent press. So we've, um, seen a little bit of press around some, um, in one instance, some bad behavior in Mexico that a FI put out Americans thrive again, put out. And then another case there was a, a recent fatality. Joe Moore: And I think, um, both are tragic. Like we shouldn't be having to deal with this at this point. Um, but there's a lot of things that got us here. Um, it's not necessarily the operator's fault entirely, um, or even at all, honestly, like some medical interventions just carry a lot of risk. Like think, think about like, uh, how risky bypass surgery was in the nineties, right? Joe Moore: Like people were dying a lot from medical interventions and um, you know, this is a major intervention, uh, ibogaine [00:16:00] and also a lot of promise. To help people quite a bit. Um, but as of right now, there's, there's risk. And part of that risk, in my opinion, comes from the inability of organizations to necessarily collaborate. Joe Moore: Like there's no kind of convening body, sitting in the middle, allowing, um, for, and facilitating really good data sharing and learnings. Um, and I don't, I don't necessarily see an organization stepping up and being the, um, the convener for that kind of work. I've heard rumors that something's gonna happen there, and I'm, I'm hopeful I'll always wanna share my opinion on that. Joe Moore: But yeah. I don't know. Jay, from your perspective, is there anything you want to kind of speak to about, uh, these two recent incidents that Americans for Iboga kind of publicized recently? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, so I, I'll echo your sentiment, of course, that these are tragic incidents. Um, and I, [00:17:00] I think that at least in the case of the death at Ambio, AMBIO has done a very good job of talking about it, right? Jay Kopelman: They've been very honest with the information that they have. And like you said, there are risks inherent to these medicines, and it's like anything else in medicine, there are going to be risks. You know, when I went through, uh, when I, when I went through chemo, you know, there were, there are risks. You know, you don't feel well, you get sick. Jay Kopelman: Um, and, and it. There are processes in place to counter that when it happens. And there are processes and, and procedures and safety protocols in place when caring for somebody going through an ibogaine [00:18:00] journey. Uh, when I did it, we had EKG echocardiogram. You're on a heart monitor the entire time they push magnesium via iv. Jay Kopelman: You have to provide a urinalysis sample to make sure that there is nothing in your system that is going to potentially harm you. During the ibogaine, they have, uh, a cardiologist who is monitoring the heart monitors throughout the ibogaine experience. So the, the safety protocols are there. I think it's, I think it's just a matter of. Jay Kopelman: Standardizing them across all, all providers, right? Like, that would be a good thing if people would talk to one another. Um, as, as in any system, right? You've gotta have [00:19:00] some collaboration. You've gotta have standardization, you know, so, you know, they're not called standard operating procedures for nothing. Jay Kopelman: That means that in a, you know, in a given environment, everybody does things the same way. It's true in Navy and Marine Corps, air Force, army Aviation, they have standard operating procedures for every single aircraft. So if you fly, let's say the F 35 now, right? Because it's flown by the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force. Jay Kopelman: The, the emergency procedures in that airplane are standardized across all three services, so you should have the same, or, you know, with within a couple of different words, the same procedures and processes [00:20:00] across all the providers, right? Like maybe in one document you're gonna change, happy to glad and small dog to puppy, but it's still pretty much the, the same thing. Jay Kopelman: And as a service that provides scholarships to people to go access these medicines and go to these retreats, you know, my criteria is that the, this provider has to be safe. Number one, safety's paramount. It's always gotta be very safe. It should, it has to be effective. And you know, once you have those two things in place, then I have a comfort level saying, okay, yeah, we'll work with this provider. Jay Kopelman: But until those standardized processes are in place, you'll probably see these one-off things. I mean, some providers have been doing this longer than others and have [00:21:00] really figured out, you know, they've, they've cracked the code and, you know, sharing that across the spectrum would be good. Um, but just when these things happen, having a clearing house, right, where everybody can come together and talk about it, you know, like once the facts are known because. Jay Kopelman: To my knowledge, we still don't know all the facts. Like as, you know, as horrible as this is, you still have to talk about like an, has an autopsy been performed? What was found in the patient's system? You know, there, there are things there that we don't know. So we need to, we need to know that before we can start saying, okay, well this is how we can fix that, because we just don't know. Jay Kopelman: And, you know, to their credit, you know, Amio has always been safe to, to the, to the best of my knowledge. You know, I, [00:22:00] I haven't been to Ambio myself, but people that I have worked with have been there. They have observed, they have seen the process. They believe it's safe, and I trust their opinion because they've seen it elsewhere as well. Jay Kopelman: So yeah, having, having that one place where we can all come together when this happens, it, it's almost like it should be mandatory. In the military when there's a training accident, we, you know, we would have to have what's called a safety standout. And you don't do that again for a little while until you figure out, okay, how are we going to mitigate that happening again? Jay Kopelman: Believe me, you can go overboard and we don't want to do that. Like, we don't wanna just stop all care, but maybe stop detox for a week and then come back to it. [00:23:00] Joe Moore: Yeah. A dream would be, let's get like the, I don't know, 10, 20 most popular, uh, or well-known operators together somewhere and just do like a three day debrief. Joe Moore: Hey, everybody, like, here's what we see. Let's work on this together. You know how normal medicine works. And this is, it's hard because this is not necessarily, um, something people feel safe about in America talking about 'cause it's illicit here. Um, I don't understand necessarily how the operations, uh, relate to each other in Mexico, but I think that's something to like the public should dig into. Joe Moore: Like, what, what is this? And I, I'll start digging into that. Um, I, I asked a question recently of somebody like, is there some sort of like back channel signal everybody's using and there's no clear Yes. You know? Um, I think it would be good. That's just a [00:24:00] start, you know, that's like, okay, we can actually kind of say hi and watch out for this to each other. Jay Kopelman: It's not like we don't all know one another, right? Joe Moore: Yes. Jay Kopelman: Like at least three operators we're represented. At the Aspen Ibogaine meeting. So like that could be, and I think there was a panel kind of loosely related to this during Aspen Ibogaine meeting, but Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: It, you know, have a breakout where the operators can go sit down and kind of compare notes. Joe Moore: Right. Yeah. Melissa, do you have any, uh, comments on this thread here? And I, I put you on mute if you didn't see that. Um, Melissa Lavasani: all right, I'm off mute. Um, yeah, I think that Jay's hits the nail on the head with the collaboration thing. Um, I think that it's just a [00:25:00] problem across the entire ecosystem, and I think that's just a product of us being relatively new and upcoming field. Melissa Lavasani: Um, uh, it's a product of, you know. Our fundraising community is really small, so organizations feel like they are competing for the same dollars, even though their, their goals are all the same, they have different functions. Um, I think with time, I mean, let's be honest, like if we don't start collaborating and, and the federal government's moving forward, the federal government's gonna coordinate for us. Melissa Lavasani: And not, that might not necessarily be a bad thing, but, you know, we understand this issue to a whole other level that the federal government doesn't, and they're not required to understand it deeply. They just need to know how to really move forward with it the proper way. Um, but I think that it. It's really essential [00:26:00] that we all have this come together moment here so we can avoid things. Melissa Lavasani: Uh, I mean, no one's gonna die from bad advocacy. So like I've, I have a bit of an easier job. Um, but it can a, a absolutely stall efforts, um, to move things forward in Washington DC when, um, one group is saying one thing, another group is saying another thing, like, we're not quite at a point yet where we can have multiple lines of conversation and multiple things moving forward. Melissa Lavasani: Um, you know, for PMC, it's like, just let's get the first thing across the finish line. And we think that is, um, veteran healthcare. And, um, I know there's plenty of other groups out there that, that want the same thing. So, you know, I always, the reason why I put on the Federal Summit last year was I kind of hit my breaking point with a lack of collaboration and I wanted to just bring everyone in the same room and say like, all right, here are the things that we need to talk about. Melissa Lavasani: And I think the goal for this year is, um. To bring people in the same room and say, we talked about [00:27:00] we scratched the surface last year and this is where we need to really put our efforts into. And this is where the opportunities are. Um, I think that is going to, that's going to show the federal government if we can organize ourselves, that they need to take this issue really seriously. Melissa Lavasani: Um, I don't think we've done a great job at that thus far, but I think there's still plenty of time for us to get it together. Um, and I'm hoping with these two, uh, VA bills that are in the house right now and Senate is, is putting together their version of these two bills, um, so that they can move in tandem with each other. Melissa Lavasani: I think that, you know, there's an opportunity here for. Us to show the federal government as an ecosystem, Hey, we, we are so much further ahead and you know, this is what we've organized and here's how we can help you, um, that would make them buy into this issue a bit more and potentially move things forward faster. Melissa Lavasani: Uh, at this point in time, it's, I think that, [00:28:00] you know, psychedelics aren't necessarily the taboo thing that they, they used to be, but there's certainly places that need attention. Um, there's certainly conversations that need to be had, and like I said, like PMC is just one organization that can do this. Um, we can certainly organize and drive forward collaboration, but I, like we alone, cannot cover all this ground and we need the subject matter experts to collaborate with us so we can, you know, once we get in the door, we wanna bring the experts in to talk to these officials about it. Melissa Lavasani: So I. I, I really want listeners to really think about us as a convener of sorts when it comes to federal policy. Um, and you know, I think when, like for example, in the early eighties, a lot of people have made comparisons to the issue of psychedelics to the issue of AIDS research and how you have in a subject matter that's like extremely taboo and a patient population that the government [00:29:00] quite honestly didn't really care about in the early eighties. Melissa Lavasani: But what they did as an ecosystem is really organized themselves, get very clear on what they wanted the federal government to do. And within a matter of a couple years, uh, AIDS research funding was a thing that was happening. And what that, what that did was that ripple effect turned that into basically finding new therapies for something that we thought was a death, death sentence before. Melissa Lavasani: So I think. We just need to look at things in the past that have been really successful, um, and, and try to take the lessons from all of these issues and, and move forward with psychedelics. Joe Moore: Love that. And yes, we always need to be figuring out efficient approaches and where it has been successful in the past is often, um, an opportunity to mimic and, and potentially improve on that. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Jay Kopelman: One, one thing I think it's important to add to this part of the conversation is that, [00:30:00] you know, Melissa pointed out there are a number of organizations that are essentially doing the same thing. Jay Kopelman: Um, you know, I like to think we do things a little bit differently at Mission within Foundation in that we don't target any one specific type of service member. We, we work with all veterans. We work with first responders, but. What that leads to is that there are, as far as I've seen, nothing but good intentioned people in this space. Jay Kopelman: You know, people who really care about their patient population, they care about healing, they are trying to do a good job, and more importantly, they're trying to do good. Right? It, it, I think they all see the benefit down the road that this has, [00:31:00] pardon me, not just for veterans, but for society as a whole. Jay Kopelman: And, and ultimately that's where I would like to see this go. You know, I, I would love to see the VA take this. Take up this mantle and, and run with it and provide great data, great outcomes. You know, we are doing some data collection ourselves at Mission within foundation, albeit anecdotal based on surveys given before and after retreats. Jay Kopelman: But we're also working with, uh, Greg Fonzo down at UT Austin on a brain study he's doing that will have 40 patients in it when it's all said and done. And I think we have two more guys to put through that. Uh, and then we'll hit the 40. So there, there's a lot of good here that's being done by some really, really good people who've been doing this for a long time [00:32:00] and want to want nothing more than to, to see this. Jay Kopelman: Come to, come full circle so that we can take care of many, many, many people. Um, you know, like I say, I, I wanna work myself out of a job here. I, I just, I would love to see this happen and then I, you know, I don't have to send guys to Mexico to do this. They can go to their local VA and get the care that they need. Jay Kopelman: Um, but one thing that I don't think we've touched on yet, or regarding that is that the VA isn't designed for that. So it's gonna be a pretty big lift to get the right types of providers into the va with the knowledge, right, with the institutional knowledge of how this should be done, what is safe, what is effective, um, and then it, it's not just providing these medicines to [00:33:00] people and sending them home. Jay Kopelman: You don't just do that, you've gotta have the right therapists on the backend who can provide the integration coaching to the folks who are receiving these medicines. And I'm not just talking, I bga, even with MDMA and psilocybin, you should have a proper period of integration. It helps you to understand how this is going to affect you, what it, what the experience really meant, you know, because it's very difficult sometimes to just interpret it on your own. Jay Kopelman: And so what the experience was and what it meant to you. And, and so it will take some time to spin all that up. But once it's, once it's in place, you know, the sky's the limit. I think. Joe Moore: Kinda curious Jay, about what's, what's going on with Ibogaine at the federal level. Is there anything at VA right now? [00:34:00] Jay Kopelman: At the va? No, not with ibogaine. And, you know, uh, we, we send people specifically for IBOGAINE and five MEO, right? And, and so that, that doesn't preclude my interest in seeing this legislation passed, right? Jay Kopelman: Because it, it will start with something like MDMA or psilocybin, but ultimately it could grow to iboga, right? It the think about the cost savings at, at the va, even with psilocybin, right? Where you could potentially treat somebody with a very inexpensive dose of psilocybin or, or iboga one time, and then you, you don't have to treat them again. Jay Kopelman: Now, if I were, uh, you know, a VA therapist who's not trained in psychedelic trauma therapy. I might be worried [00:35:00] about job security, but it's like with anything, right? Like ultimately it will open pathways for new people to get that training or the existing people to get that training and, and stay on and do that work. Jay Kopelman: Um, which only adds another arrow to their quiver as far as I'm concerned, because this is coming and we're gonna need the people. It's just like ai, right? Like ai, yeah. Some people are gonna lose some jobs initially, and that's unfortunate. But productivity ultimately across all industries will increase and new jobs will be created as a result of that. Jay Kopelman: I mean, I was watching Squawk Box one morning. They were talking about the AI revolution and how there's gonna be a need for 500,000 electricians to. Build these systems that are going to work with the AI [00:36:00] supercomputers and, and so, Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: Where, where an opportunity may be lost. I think several more can be gained going forward. Melissa Lavasani: And just to add on what Jay just said there, there's nothing specific going on with Ibogaine at, at the va, but I think this administration is, is taking a real look at addiction in particular. Uh, they just launched, uh, a new initiative, uh, that's really centered on addiction treatments called the Great American Recovery. Melissa Lavasani: And, um, they're dedicating a hundred million dollars towards treating addiction as like a chronic treatable disease and not necessarily a law enforcement issue. So, um, in that initiative there will be federal grant programs for prevention and treatment and recovery. And, um, while this isn't just for psychedelic medicines, uh, I think it's a really great opportunity for the discussion of psychedelics to get elevated to the White House. Melissa Lavasani: Um, [00:37:00] there's also, previous to this announcement last week from the White House, there's been a hundred million dollars that was dedicated at, um, at ARPA h, which is. The advanced research projects, uh, agency for healthcare, um, and that is kind of an agency that's really focused on forward looking, um, treatments and technologies, uh, for, um, a, a whole slew of. Melissa Lavasani: Of issues, but this a hundred million dollars is dedicated to mental health and addiction. So there's a lot of opportunity there as well. So we, while I think, you know, some people are talking about, oh, we need a executive order on Iboga, it's like, well, you know, the, the president is thinking, um, about, you know, what issues can land with his, uh, voting block. Melissa Lavasani: And I think it's, I don't think we necessarily need a specific executive order on Iboga to call this a success. It's like, let's look at what, [00:38:00] um, what's just been announced from the White House. They're, they're all in on. Thinking creatively and finding, uh, new solutions for this. And this is kind of, this aligns with, um, HHS secretaries, uh, Robert F. Melissa Lavasani: Kennedy Junior's goals when he took on this, this role of Health Secretary. Um, addiction has been a discussion that, you know, he has personal, um, a personal tie to from his own experience. And, um, I think when this administration started, there was so much like fervor around the, the dialogue of like, everyone's talking about psychedelics. Melissa Lavasani: It was Secretary Kennedy, it was, uh, secretary Collins at the va. It was FDA Commissioner Marty Macari. And I think that there's like a lot of undue frustration within folks 'cause um, you don't necessarily snap your fingers and change happens in Washington dc This is not the city for that. And it's intentionally designed to move slow so that we can avoid really big mistakes. Melissa Lavasani: Um. [00:39:00] I think we're a year into this administration and these two announcements are, are pretty huge considering, um, you know, the, we, there are known people within domestic policy council that don't, aren't necessarily supportive of psychedelic medicine. So there's a really amazing progress here, and frustrating as it might be to, um, just be waiting for this administration to make some major move. Melissa Lavasani: I think they are making major moves like for Washington, DC These, these are major moves and we just gotta figure out how we can, um, take these initiatives and apply them to the issue of psychedelic medicines. Joe Moore: Thanks, Melissa. Um, yeah, it is, it is interesting like the amount of fervor there was at the beginning. You know, we had, uh. Kind of one of my old lawyers, Matt Zorn, jumped in with the administration. Right. And, um, you know, it was, uh, really cool to [00:40:00] see and hopeful how much energy was going on. It's been a little quiet, kind of feels like a black box a little bit, but I, you know, there was, Melissa Lavasani: that's on me. Melissa Lavasani: Maybe I, we need to be more out in public about like, what's actually happening, because I feel like, like day in and day out, it's just been, you gotta just mm-hmm. Like have that constant beat with the government. Mm-hmm. And, um, it's, it's, it's not the photo ops on the hill, it's the conversations that you have. Melissa Lavasani: It's the dinner parties you go to, it's the fundraisers you attend, you know? Mm-hmm. That's why I, I kind of have to like toot my own horn with PCs. Like, we need to be present here at, at not only on the Hill, not only at the White House, but kind of in the ecosystem of Washington DC itself. There's, it's, there are like power players here. Melissa Lavasani: There are people that are connected that can get things done, like. I mean, the other last week we had a big snow storm. I walked over to my friend's house, um, to have like a little fire sesh with them and our kids, and his next door neighbor came over. He was a member of Congress. I talked about the VA bills, like [00:41:00] we're reaching out to his office now, um, to get them, um, up to speed and hopefully get their co-sponsorship for, uh, the two VA bills. Melissa Lavasani: So, I mean, it, the little conversations you have here are just as important as the big ones with the photo ops. So, um, it, it's, it's really like, you know, building up that momentum and, and finding that time where you can really strike and make something happen. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Jay, anything to add there? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, I was just gonna say that, you know, I, I, I think the fervor is still there, right? Jay Kopelman: But real life happens. Melissa Lavasani: Yes, Jay Kopelman: yes. And gets in the way, right? So, Melissa Lavasani: yeah, Jay Kopelman: I, I can't imagine how many issues. Secretary Kennedy has every day much less the president. Like there's so many things that they are dealing with on a daily basis, right? It, we, we just have to work to be the squeaky wheel in, in the right way, right. Jay Kopelman: [00:42:00] With the, with the right information at the right time. Like just inundating one of these organizations with noise, it's then it be with Informa, it just becomes noise, right? It it, it doesn't help. So when we have things to say that are meaningful and impactful, we do, and Melissa does an amazing job of that. Jay Kopelman: But, you know, it, it takes time. You know, it's, you know, we're not, this is, this is like turning an aircraft carrier, not a ski boat. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. Um, and. It's, it's understandably frustrating, I think for the public and the psychedelic public in particular because we see all this hope, you know, we continue to get frustrated at politics. It's nothing new, right? Um, and we, we wanna see more people get well immediately. [00:43:00] And I, I kind of, Jay from the veteran perspective, I do love the kind of loud voices like, you're making me go to Mexico for this. Joe Moore: I did that and you're making me leave the country for the thing that's gonna fix me. Like, no way. And barely a recognition that this is a valid treatment. You know, like, you know, that is complicated given how medicine is structured here domestically. But it's also, let's face the facts, like the drug war kind of prevented us from being able to do this research in the first place. Joe Moore: You know? Thanks Nixon. And like, how do we actually kind of correct course and say like, we need to spend appropriately on science here so we can heal our own people, including veterans and everybody really. It's a, it's a dire situation out there. Jay Kopelman: Yeah. It, it really is. Um, you know, we were talking briefly about addicts, right? Jay Kopelman: And you know, it's not sexy. People think of addicts as people who are weak-minded, [00:44:00] right? They don't have any self-control. Um, but, but look at, look at the opioid crisis, right? That Brian Hubbard was fighting against in Kentucky for all those years. That that was something that was given to the patient by a doctor that they then became dependent on, and a lot of people died from that. Jay Kopelman: And, and so you, you know, it's, I I don't think it's fair to just put all addicts in a box. Just like it's not fair to put all veterans in a box. Just like it's not fair for doctors, put all their patients in a box. We're individuals. We, we have individual needs. Our, our health is very individual. Like, I, I don't think I should be put in the same box as every other 66-year-old that my doctor sees. Jay Kopelman: It's not fair. [00:45:00] You know, if you, if you took my high school classmates and put us all in a photo, we're all gonna have different needs, right? Like, some look like they're 76, not 66. Some look like they're 56. Not like they're, we, we do things differently. We live our lives differently. And the same is true of addicts. Jay Kopelman: They come to addiction from different places. Not everybody decides they want to just try heroin at a party, and all of a sudden they're addicted. It happens in, in different ways, you know, and the whole fentanyl thing has been so daggum nefarious, right? You know, pushing fentanyl into marijuana. Jay Kopelman: Somebody's smoking a joint and all of a sudden they're addicted to fentanyl or they die. Melissa Lavasani: I think we're having a, Jay Kopelman: it's, it's just not fair to, to say everybody in this pot is the same, or everybody in this one is the same. We have [00:46:00] to look at it differently. Joe Moore: Yeah. I like to zoom one level out and kind of talk about, um, just how hurt we are as a country, as a world really, but as a country specifically, and how many people are out of work for so many. Joe Moore: Difficult reasons and away from their families for so many kind of tragic reasons. And if we can get people back to their families and back to work, a lot of these things start to self-correct, but we have to like have those interventions where we can heal folks and, and get them back. Um, yeah. And you know, everything from trauma, uh, in childhood, you know, adulthood, combat, whatever it is. Joe Moore: Like these things can put people on the sidelines. And Jay, to your point, like you get knee surgery and all of a sudden you're, you know, two years later you're on the hunt for Fentanyl daily. You know, that's tough. It's really tough. Carl Hart does a good job talking about this kind of addiction pipeline and [00:47:00] a few others do as well. Joe Moore: But it's just, you know, kind of putting it in a moral failure bucket. It's not great. I was chatting with somebody about, um, veterans, it's like you come back and you're like, what's gonna make me feel okay right now? And it's not always alcohol. Um, like this is the first thing that made me feel okay, because there's not great treatments and there's, there's a lot of improvements in this kind of like bringing people back from the field that needs to happen. Joe Moore: In my opinion. I, it seems to be shared by a lot of people, but yeah, there's, it's, it's, IGA is gonna be great. It's gonna be really important. I really can't wait for it to be at scale appropriately, but there's a lot of other things we need to fix too, um, so that we can just, you know, not have so many people we need to, you know, spend so much money healing. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: Yeah. You ahead with that. We don't need the president to sign an executive order to automatically legalize Ibogaine. Right. But it would be nice if he would reschedule it so that [00:48:00] then then researchers could do this research on a larger scale. You know, we could, we could now get some real data that would show the efficacy. Jay Kopelman: And it could be done in a safe environment, you know? And, and so that would be, do Joe Moore: you have any kind of figures, like, like, I've been talking about this for a while, Jay. Like, does it drop the cost a lot of doing research when we deschedule things? Jay Kopelman: I, I would imagine so, because it'll drop the cost of accessing the medicines that are being researched. Jay Kopelman: Right? You, you would have buy-in from more organizations. You know, you might even have a pharma company that comes into this, you know, look at j and j with the ketamine, right? They have, they have a nasal spray version of ketamine that's doing very well. I mean, it's probably their, their biggest revenue [00:49:00] provider for them right now. Jay Kopelman: And, and so. You know, you, it would certainly help and I think, I think it would lower costs of research to have something rescheduled rather than being schedule one. You know it, people are afraid to take chances when you're talking about Schedule one Melissa Lavasani: labs or they just don't have the money to research things that are on Schedule one. Melissa Lavasani: 'cause there's so much in an incredible amount of red tape that you have to go through and, and your facility has to be a certain way and how you contain those, uh, medicines. Oh, researching has to be in a specific container and it's just very cumbersome to research schedule one drugs. So absolutely the cost would go down. Melissa Lavasani: Um, but Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. Less safes. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Joe Moore: Yes. Less uh, Melissa Lavasani: right. Joe Moore: Locked. Yeah. Um, it'll be really interesting when that happens. I'm gonna hold out faith. That we can see some [00:50:00] movement here. Um, because yeah, like why make healing more expensive than it needs to be? I think like that's potentially a protectionist move. Joe Moore: Like, I'm not, I'm not here yet, but, um, look at AbbVie's, uh, acquisition of the Gilgamesh ip. Mm-hmm. Like that's a really interesting move. I think it was $1.2 billion. Mm-hmm. So they're gonna wanna protect that investment. Um, and it's likely going to be an approved medication. Like, I don't, I don't see a world in which it's not an approved medication. Joe Moore: Um, you know, I don't know a timeline, I would say Jay Kopelman: yeah. Joe Moore: Less than six years, just given how much cash they've got. But who knows, like, I haven't followed it too closely. So, and that's an I bga derivative to be clear, everybody, um mm-hmm. If you're not, um, in, in the loop on that, which is hopeful, you know? Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. But I don't know what the efficacy is gonna be with that compared to Ibogaine and then we have to talk about the kind of proprietary molecule stuff. Um, there's like a whole bunch of things that are gonna go on here, and this is one of the reasons why I'm excited about. Federal involvement [00:51:00] because we might actually be able to have some sort of centralized manufacturer, um, or at least the VA could license three or four generic manufacturers per for instance, and that way prices aren't gonna be, you know, eight grand a dose or whatever. Joe Moore: You know, it's, Jay Kopelman: well, I think it's a very exciting time in the space. You know, I, I think that there's the opportunity for innovation. There is the opportunity for collaboration. There's the opportunity for, you know, long-term healing at a very low cost. You know, that we, we have the highest healthcare cost per capita in the world right here in the us. Jay Kopelman: And, and yet we are not the number one health system in the world. So to me, that doesn't add up. So we need to figure out a way to start. Bringing costs down for a lot of people and [00:52:00] at the same time increasing, increasing outcomes. Joe Moore: Absolutely. Yeah. There's a lot of possible outcome improvements here and, and you know, everything from relapse rates, like we hear often about people leaving a clinic and they go and overdose when they get home. Tragically, too common. I think there's everything from, you know, I'm Jay, I'm involved in an organization called the Psychedelics and Pain Association. Joe Moore: We look at chronic pain very seriously, and IGA is something we are really interested in. And if. We could have better, you know, research, there better outcome measures there. Um, you know, perhaps we can have less people on opioids to begin with from chronic pain conditions. Um, Jay Kopelman: yeah, I, I might be due for another Ibogaine journey then, because I deal with chronic pain from Jiujitsu, but, Joe Moore: oh gosh, let's Jay Kopelman: talk Joe Moore: later. Jay Kopelman: That's self inflicted. Some people would say take a month off, but Melissa Lavasani: yeah, Jay Kopelman: I'm [00:53:00] not, I'm not that smart. Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, but you know, this, uh, yeah, this whole thing is gonna be really interesting to see how it plays out. I'm endlessly hopeful pull because I'm still here. Right. I, I've been at this for almost 10 years now, very publicly, and I think we are seeing a lot of movement. Joe Moore: It's not always what we actually wanna see, but it is movement nonetheless. You know, how many people are writing on this now than there were before? Right. You know, we, we have people in New York Times writing somewhat regularly about psychedelics and. Even international media is covering it. What do we have legalization in Australia somewhat recently for psilocybin and MDMA, Czech Republic. Joe Moore: I think Germany made some moves recently. Mm-hmm. Um, really interesting to see how this is gonna just keep shifting. Um Jay Kopelman: mm-hmm. Joe Moore: And I think there's no way that we're not gonna have prescription psychedelics in three years in the United States. It pro probably more like a [00:54:00] year and a half. I don't know. Do you, are you all taking odds? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. I mean, I think Jay Kopelman: I, I gotta check Cal sheet, see what they're saying. Melissa Lavasani: I think it's safe to say, I mean, this could even come potentially the end of this year, I think, but definitely by the end of 2027, there's gonna be at least one psychedelic that's FDA approved. Joe Moore: Yeah. Yeah. Melissa Lavasani: If you're not counting Ketamine. Joe Moore: Right. Jay Kopelman: I, I mean, I mean it mm-hmm. It, it doesn't make sense that it. Shouldn't be or wouldn't be. Right. The, we've seen the benefits. Mm-hmm. We know what they are. It's at a very low cost, but you have to keep in mind that these things, they need to be done with the right set setting and container. Right. And, and gotta be able to provide that environment. Jay Kopelman: So, but I would, I would love, like I said, I'd love to work myself out of a job here and see this happen, not just for our veterans, [00:55:00] but for everybody. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, so Melissa, is there a way people can get involved or follow PMC or how can they support your work at PMC? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, I mean, follow us in social media. Melissa Lavasani: Um, our two biggest platforms are LinkedIn and Instagram. Um, I'm bringing my newsletter back because I'm realizing, um, you know, there is a big gap in, in kind of like the knowledge of Washington DC just in general. What's happening here, and I think, you know, part of PC's value is that we're, we are plugged into conversations that are being had, um, here in the city. Melissa Lavasani: And, you know, we do get a little insight. Um, and I think that that would really quiet a lot of, you know, the, a lot of noise that, um, exists in the, our ecosystem. If, if people just had some clarity on like, what's actually happening or happening here and what are the opportunities and, [00:56:00] um, where do we need more reinforcement? Melissa Lavasani: Um, and, and also, you know, as we're putting together public education campaign, you know. My, like, if I could get everything I wanted like that, that campaign would be this like multi-stakeholder collaborative effort, right? Where we're covering all the ground that we need to cover. We're talking to the patient groups, we're talking to traditional mental health organizations, we're talking to the medical community, we're talking to the general population. Melissa Lavasani: I think that's like another area that we, we just seem to be, um, lacking some effort in. And, you know, ultimately the veteran story's always super compelling. It pulls on your heartstrings. These are our heroes, um, of our country. Like that, that is, that is meaningful. But a lot of the veteran population is small and we need the, like a, the just.[00:57:00] Melissa Lavasani: Basic American living in middle America, um, understanding what psychedelics are so that in, in, in presenting to them the stories that they can relate to, um, because that's how you activate the public and you activate the public and you get them to see what's happening in these clinical trials, what the data's been saying, what the opportunities are with psychedelics, and then they start calling their members of Congress and saying, Hey, there is this. Melissa Lavasani: Bill sitting in Congress and why haven't you signed onto it? And that political pressure, uh, when used the right way can be really powerful. So, um, I think, you know, now we're at this really amazing moment where we have a good amount of congressional offices that are familiar enough with psychedelics that they're willing to move on it. Melissa Lavasani: Um, there's another larger group, uh, that is familiar with psychedelics and will assist and co-sponsor legislation, but there's still so many offices that we haven't been able to get to just 'cause like we don't have all the time in the world and all the manpower in the world to [00:58:00] do it. But, you know, that is one avenue is like the advocates can speak to the, the lawmakers, the experts speak to the lawmakers, and we not, we want the public engaged in this, you know, ultimately, like that's. Melissa Lavasani: Like the best form of harm reduction is having an informed public. So we are not, they're not seeing these media headlines of like, oh, this miracle cure that, um, saved my family. It's like, yes, that can happen psychedelics. I mean, person speaking personally, psychedelics did save my family. But what you miss out of that story is the incredible amount of work I put into myself and put into my mental health to this day to maintain, um, like myself, my, my own agency and like be the parent that I wanna be and be the spouse that I wanna be. Melissa Lavasani: So, um, we, we need to continue to share these stories and we need to continue to collaborate to get this message out because we're all, we're all in the same boat right now. We all want the same things. We want patients to have safe and [00:59:00] affordable access to psychedelic assisted care. Um, and, uh. We're just in the beginning here, so, um, sign up for our newsletter and we can sign up on our website and then follow us on social media. Melissa Lavasani: And, um, I anticipate more and more events, um, happening with PMC and hopefully we can scale up some of these events to be much more public facing, um, as this issue grows. So, um, I'm really excited about the future and I'm, I've been enjoying this partnership with Mission Within. Jay is such a professional and, and it really shows up when he needs to show up and, um, I look forward to more of that in the future. Joe Moore: Fantastic. And Jay, how can people follow along and support mission within Foundation? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, again, social media is gonna be a good way to do that. So we, we are also pretty heavily engaged on LinkedIn and on Instagram. Um, I do [01:00:00] share, uh, a bit of my own stuff as well. On social media. So we have social media pages for Mission within Foundation, and we have a LinkedIn page for mission within foundation. Jay Kopelman: I have my own profiles on both of those as well where people can follow along. Um, one of the other things you know that would probably help get more attention for this is if the general public was more aware of the numbers of professional athletes who are also now pursuing. I began specifically to help treat their traumatic brain injuries and the chronic traumatic encephalopathy that they've, uh, suffered as a result of their time in professional sports or even college sports. Jay Kopelman: And, you know. I people worship these athletes, and I [01:01:00] think that if more of them, like Robert Gall, were more outspoken about these treatments and the healing properties that they've provided them, that it would get even more attention. Um, I think though what Melissa said, you know, I don't wanna parrot anything she just said because she said it perfectly Right. Jay Kopelman: And I'd just be speaking to hear myself talk. Um, but being collaborative the way that we are with PMC and with Melissa is I think, the way to move the needle on this overall. And like she said, if she could get more groups involved in, in these discussions, it would, it would do wonders for us. Joe Moore: Well, thank you both so much for your hard work out there. I always appreciate it when people are showing up and doing this important, [01:02:00] sometimes boring and tedious, but nevertheless sometimes, sometimes exciting work. And um, so yeah, just thank you both and thank you both for showing up here to psychedelics today to join us and I hope we can continue to support you all in the future. Jay Kopelman: Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. It's a pleasure being with you today and with Melissa, of course, always Melissa Lavasani: appreciate the time and space. Joe Moore: Thanks.  

Frank Weisser is a two-time Blue Angels Pilot who was deployed in combat three separate times, including to Afghanistan and Iraq. He has accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours and nearly 500 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include multiple Meritorious Service Medals, Strike Flight Air Medals and various personal and unit awards. Because of his experience flying at extreme low altitudes and inverted, he was the pilot for the most complex and memorable air combat scenes in Top Gun: Maverick. His book is titled Lead Solo: Learning Life's Vectors from an F/A-18 Blue Angel Aviator.  Summary Frank Weisser's career sits at a rare intersection: Navy fighter pilot, two-time Blue Angels pilot, combat deployments, and the low-altitude stunt flying that helped make Top Gun: Maverick feel real. Early in the conversation, Frank reframes what looks like "crazy risk" from the outside into a disciplined craft: aviation is inherently dangerous, but the real skill is identifying known risks and systematically mitigating them through the right people, the right preparation, and the right standards.   The episode then rewinds to a formative disappointment: Frank entered the Naval Academy intent on becoming a SEAL, didn't get selected, and had to confront a painful identity-level failure. What changed his trajectory wasn't a new goal, but a reframing of motivation from "how I serve" to "that I serve," even if the role wasn't what he originally wanted. That lesson becomes a through-line for everything that follows: mission first, ego second, and meaning found in the sacrifice itself.   From there, Frank breaks down what makes the Blue Angels such a high-functioning team. "Glad to be here" isn't a slogan; it's a culture-building mechanism rooted in gratitude, humility, and the idea that the work is bigger than the individual. The team reinforces that culture through small, repeatable behaviors and through the "great equalizer" effect of an environment that demands confidence without cockiness.   Finally, the conversation translates elite aviation into practical leadership. Frank shares specific approaches to focus (compartmentalizing distractions), decision-making under pressure (the discipline to "underreact in the extreme"), trust-building (earned trust through vulnerability and consistency), and learning velocity (a debrief culture that prioritizes what went wrong so tomorrow gets better). Woven through it all is his definition of excellence: pushing past comfort, taking measured risks, being willing to fail, and then rebuilding smarter.   Takeaways ·        Risk isn't eliminated in high-stakes work; it's acknowledged upfront and managed through preparation, expertise, and process. ·        "Mission first" is a practical operating system, not a motivational poster. It keeps ego from quietly taking over. ·        Gratitude can be engineered into culture through small rituals, and those rituals compound into trust and performance. ·        Confidence is required, but cockiness is actively corrected by a team that refuses to let anyone go rogue. ·        Compartmentalization is a skill: name the distraction, surface it with the team when needed, then "do not disturb" your mind for the task. ·        When you're solo, focus comes back to priorities: stop saying "I didn't have time" and tell the truth about what wasn't a priority. ·        Fear shrinks when you're properly prepared: know the systems, memorize the critical failures, rehearse in simulation, then execute. ·        The best operators train themselves to underreact. Even one second of composure can be the difference between solving the right problem and making it worse. ·        Trust is built fastest through earned vulnerability and consistency, not "blind trust." ·        Excellence, in Frank's words, is helping yourself and others attempt what feels out of reach, being willing to fail, and restarting with better intelligence.   Notes: Book: Lead Solo: Learning Life's Vectors from an F/A-18 Blue Angel Aviator Frank Weisser leadership consulting: https://frankweisser.net/  

What does it really take to lead through constant disruption? Jim Stallings, Founder and CEO of PS27 Ventures, shares lessons from a career spanning the U.S. Marine Corps, senior leadership roles at IBM, and now early-stage investing. Jim breaks down how IBM turned Linux from free software into a multibillion-dollar business, why internal resistance is often the biggest blocker to innovation, and how leaders can use customers to force change. He also explains what he looks for in founders, why leadership matters more than a perfect plan, and how AI is collapsing product cycles from years to months.Topics & Timestamps

Brynn Tannehill is a Naval Academy graduate, former naval aviator, author, and senior defense analyst. She currently lives in Northern Virginia with her wife and three children.Writing pseudonymously for Byline Times, in November 2024 she predicted the astonishingly rapid militarisation of the homeland that Donald Trump would pursue; and in February 2025 she accurately forecast some of the most shocking turns of the Trump administration – including how serious it is about annexing places like Venezuela and Greenland.Now she casts her eye on what pivotal presidential elections will hold in 2028 – and warns that Democrats are dangerously unprepared for what's coming.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Admiral Rickover — America's most famous, perhaps most influential admiral of the second half of the 20th century. To discuss his unbelievable life story, dramatic impact on the Cold War, and implications for the future of what the U.S. government should do when it tries to build hard things, we have two guests — Charles Yang, founder of the Center for Industrial Strategy, who also does AI science work at Renaissance Philanthropy, and Emmett Penney of FAI. We discuss: Rickover's immigrant origin story from Polish village to almost being deported at Ellis Island and his improbable path into the Naval Academy. Drive, discipline, expertise, and how Rickover bent Washington to his will. Rickover as tyrant, teacher, technocrat — what his contradictions reveal about leadership, power, and effectiveness. Why Rickover matters now — nuclear revival, defense procurement reform, engineers vs. lawyers, and a major archival digitization effort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY In this deeply personal episode, Gary shares the full story behind one of the most common questions he receives: Why would a nuclear submarine commander on track for admiral leave it all to sell life insurance? The answer isn't about career change — it's about calling. Gary walks through pivotal life moments: growing up broke, attending the Naval Academy, commanding a submarine, losing half his wealth in the Great Recession, and realizing he had outsourced responsibility for his financial future. That wake-up call forced him to rethink everything — not just investing, but fatherhood, leadership, and legacy. He explains how shifting from market speculation to real estate ownership and liquidity-based financial strategies changed his trajectory. He also shares how mentorship at Paradigm Life introduced him to the power of safe, liquid capital as a foundation for business growth. Ultimately, this episode is about agency — taking control of your household first, then helping others scale their gifts through business ownership, liquidity, and intentional wealth-building. This is not just a career story. It's a mission story.   Links and Resources from this Episode Connect with Gary Pinkerton https://www.paradigmlife.net/  gpinkerton@paradigmlife.net https://garypinkerton.com/  https://clientportal.paradigmlife.net/WealthView360   KEYWORDS Agency Financial independence Liquidity Infinite banking Hierarchy of wealth Real estate investing Business ownership Exit planning Financial responsibility Leadership transition Wealth control Family legacy Liquidity strategy Personal finance awakening Economic resilience EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 00:00–01:05 - Why Gary left a fast-track Navy career on the path to Admiral 01:05–02:12 - The tension between career prestige and personal calling 02:12–03:22 - Early life struggles and the Naval Academy opportunity 03:22–05:00 - His mother's life insurance payout and financial turning point 05:00–06:29 - The realization: outsourcing your finances is a mistake 06:29–07:45 - Losing half his wealth during the Great Recession 07:45–09:07 - Why market losses matter most when timing collides with life decisions 09:07–10:38 - The danger of blind trust in financial "professionals" 10:38–12:13 - Real estate as control vs. market speculation 12:13–13:45 - Liquidity as staying power during crisis 13:45–15:27 - Infinite Banking and building a tier-one foundation 15:27–17:43 - Why government contracting didn't align with his mission 17:43–19:32 - The turning point conversation with Patrick Donahoe 19:32–21:05 - Helping business owners scale their agency 21:05–23:12 - Wealth as fuel for impact — not status 23:12–End - Business ownership as a megaphone for your God-given talents  

Admiral Rickover — America's most famous, perhaps most influential admiral of the second half of the 20th century. To discuss his unbelievable life story, dramatic impact on the Cold War, and implications for the future of what the U.S. government should do when it tries to build hard things, we have two guests — Charles Yang, founder of the Center for Industrial Strategy, who also does AI science work at Renaissance Philanthropy, and Emmett Penney of FAI. We discuss: Rickover's immigrant origin story from Polish village to almost being deported at Ellis Island and his improbable path into the Naval Academy. Drive, discipline, expertise, and how Rickover bent Washington to his will. Rickover as tyrant, teacher, technocrat — what his contradictions reveal about leadership, power, and effectiveness. Why Rickover matters now — nuclear revival, defense procurement reform, engineers vs. lawyers, and a major archival digitization effort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back this week on Chasin' Birdies with a guest who knows a thing or two about perseverance and adversity. Mitch Harris joins us to catch up on life and tell his story. The former Navy Lieutenant was the first to be drafted in the MLB since 1921. The story of how they handled this is an interesting one.We open up and talk about the significant value taking preworkout has on your GI system. After this light talk, we turn the tables to getting into Mitch's story. He attended the Naval Academy and wasn't necessarily recruited to play baseball. After landing on the team, his future was about to unfold.We get into the ins and outs of attending the Naval Academy and what life was like. The episode turns into his story of being drafted and eventually landing on the mound as a relief pitcher. Along the way, Mitch realizes that success doesn't have to just be a ‘me' thing. With this philosophy in tow, he's become a sought after speaker and wrote a book called My Private War - Relentlessly Chasing a Dream. After his career wrapped up, he has used his experiences to help people gain perspective on situations.We turn the episode over to some golf talk and finish with our standard Tap-In segment. Tune in to this warm hearted episode and hear from a person many look up to.Key Links:Visit redvanly.com for great golf apparel now repped by Chasin' Birdies.Stay tuned for more info on winning custom headcovers from WinstonCollection.comOur Tap-in segment is sponsored by Bettinardi GolfPartners with Nemacolin Resort.-----Follow Chasin' Birdies on Instagram @chasin_birdies.Chasin' Birdies is hosted by Ryan Bashour and Jonathan Pepe. Produced by Simpler Media.

Give us about fifteen minutes daily, and we will give you all the local news, sports, weather, and events you can handle.   SPONSORS: Many thanks to our sponsors… Annapolis Subaru, the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, Covington Alsina, MacMedics, and  Hospice of the Chesapeake.  Today... Buddhist monks will walk through Annapolis Thursday morning on the final leg of a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace, Gov. Wes Moore delivered a State of the State shaped by budget worries and redistricting politics, a new exhibit at the Museum of Historic Annapolis marks 50 years of women at the Naval Academy, and SOUPer Bowl organizers are chasing a matching gift that could put them over the top—so there's plenty to catch up on in this morning's DNB! Link to daily news recap newsletter: https://forms.aweber.com/form/87/493412887.htm Trevor from  Annapolis Makerspace is here with your Maker Minutes! DAILY NEWSLETTER LINK: https://forms.aweber.com/form/87/493412887.htm The Eye On Annapolis Daily News Brief is produced every Monday through Friday at 6:00 am and available wherever you get your podcasts and also on our social media platforms--All Annapolis and Eye On Annapolis (FB) and @eyeonannapolis (X) NOTE: For hearing-impaired subscribers, a full transcript is available on Eye On Annapolis.

How Jason Mazzoni Used the PMP to Translate His Military ExperienceWhen Jason Mazzoni left the Navy in 2016, he wasn't sure how his experience translated to the civilian world. A Naval Academy graduate with a naval architecture degree, he assumed his options were limited to shipyards until a job fair pushed him to interview outside that lane.That decision changed everything.In this episode, Jason Mazzoni shares how earning his PMP helped him translate military leadership into language civilian employers understood. The certification helped him communicate his unique value add to those he worked with and for.Jason walks through breaking into tech, developing as a project manager and eventually launching his own technology firm. Today, he intentionally hires veterans as project managers, knowing the value they bring when their experience is properly translated.This conversation is for veterans who feel boxed in by their background and want to understand how the PMP can help open doors without starting over.Connect with Jason: linkedin.com/in/jasonmazzoniEarn your PMP: www.vets2pm.com/training

How did a Naval Academy graduate move from submarines and corporate leadership to protecting the ocean and helping change conservation laws? Tune in for James D. Paulk, Jr, as he shares stories from the Naval Academy and beyond!Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate!  https://www.kmet1490am.comBorn and raised in the small town of Brunswick, Georgia, James D. Paulk, Jr., graduated from Glynn Academy, attended the military school, North Georgia College, located in the mountains of Dahlonega, Georgia, and graduated in the Class of 1957 at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He served five years on active duty and five years in the Reserve force as a Naval submarine officer. During a business career of twenty-six years with Procter and Gamble, he worked in manufacturing management before starting a business consulting company with other retirees. When he was asked to take on marine conservation projects, his life changed in a new direction. For nine years, he successfully led efforts to eliminate destructive gillnets from California, build artificial reefs, raise white seabass for release into the ocean, and wrote legislation beneficial to recreational anglers. After retiring for a second time, he began writing articles for fishing magazines and newspapers.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565536059908 For more show information visit: https://www.mariannepestana.com/

As advisors race to deliver “personalized” portfolios at scale, a hard reality is setting in: most personalization is still just a model tweak with a nicer label. Meanwhile, clients want more hands-on service, more transparency and more customization, while firms are trying to grow without hiring an army of operations and investment staff. The result is a widening gap between what clients expect and what legacy portfolio tools can realistically deliver. The firms that win won't be the ones stacking more complexity. They'll be the ones using automation to deliver truly bespoke outcomes, with clearer decisioning, tighter risk controls and better records behind every trade. In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic sits down with Wes Caywood, head of distribution at Pave Finance, to unpack what “real personalization” actually means in 2026, why portfolio complexity rarely translates into client-perceived value and how automation can make portfolio management more defensible, not less.  Key takeaways: How to modernize portfolio management with “blowing up” your existing workflows Where AI actually fits in portfolio management Where the personalization gap shows up most clearly (and why it becomes an ops and time problem fast) What automation should capture for compliance, auditability, and transparency  The biggest mistake firms make when evaluating portfolio tech Resources: Listen to WealthStack on Wealth Management Subscribe and listen to WealthStack on Apple Podcasts Subscribe and listen to WealthStack on Spotify Connect with Shannon Rosic: Shannon Rosic WealthStack website Wealth Management Connect with Wes Caywood: LinkedIn: Wes Caywood LinkedIn: Pave Finance Website: Pave Finance About Our Guest: Wes Caywood is the Head of Distribution at Pave Finance, where he works closely with advisors and firms to modernize portfolio management through thoughtful use of technology and automation. With more than 20 years in financial services, Wes brings deep experience working with sophisticated clients, family offices, and advisory teams. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Navy officer, he is driven by a service-oriented mindset and a focus on helping advisors deliver personalized, well-prepared client experiences at scale.

Michael T. Lester, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Marine Corps combat pilot who served in Asia and the Middle East, initially believed deeply in American ideals. Over time, he experienced growing disillusionment as U.S. actions abroad often contradicted official narratives and failed to align with stated goals of promoting democracy and freedom. His book provides a non-partisan analysis, arguing that repeated harmful outcomes across administrations are systemic features driven by incentives, not mere mistakes. It outlines an imperial playbook involving regime change, sanctions, proxy wars, and economic control, while linking foreign policy to domestic narrative management that manufactures consent. Lester applies this framework to current events like Ukraine, Gaza, and Venezuela, noting increasing global skepticism toward U.S. explanations. The provocative title refers to outcomes; from a global viewpoint, the U.S. often appears as the antagonist, emphasizing that denial hinders self-correction. Motivated by the view that silence enables complicity, Lester wrote this book to encourage honest reckoning in a multipolar world. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Try Rho Nutrition today and experience the difference of Liposomal Technology. Use code SRS for 20% OFF everything at https://www.rhonutrition.com/discount/SRS Sign up at https://BetterHelp.com/srs to get 10% off. #ad Our listeners get the Harry's Plus Trial Set for only $10 at https://www.Harrys.com/SRS #Harryspod Go to https://DRINKAG1.com/SRS for a free AG1 Flavor Sampler, AGZ Sampler, free Vitamin D3+K2, and AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order, plus a 90-day money-back guarantee (limited time, while supplies last). Michael Lester Links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtlester Books - https://michaeltlester.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we're talking to Mike Bobinski, executive vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics at Purdue University.  Mike has been at Purdue for the last 10 years and has worked in college athletics for more than 40 years, with previous stops at Georgia Tech, Xavier University, the University of Akron and the U.S. Naval Academy. So it's no surprise that during his tenure, he's seen massive changes within the NCAA. He also has extensive knowledge of how Purdue is adapting in this modern era of name, image and likeness — or NIL — and licensing. And he dives into all things Purdue Athletics, including recent wins, future growth, innovation and so much more!  In this episode, you will:   Learn more about Purdue's journey with NIL, the House v. NCAA settlement from 2025, and what development programs and recruitment strategies the athletics department is utilizing to recruit and cultivate well-rounded student-athletes and become nationally competitive   Discover more about Purdue's Student-Athlete Development program and how it's setting up Boilermakers to navigate the branding and financial considerations of NIL and grow personally and professionally  Hear about Purdue's recent sports successes, including men's basketball, men's and women's golf, softball, volleyball, and diving, as well as how various coaches' leadership styles exemplify the university's ethos   Gain knowledge about how Purdue uses cutting-edge health and wellness technology and AI to help its student-athletes perform more efficiently   Learn why passionate Boilermaker fans inspire and motivate Mike in his role every day  Boilermaker fans — this episode is for you! Get a special sneak peek into all the exciting things going on with Purdue Athletics from the foremost leader and expert.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in as the PU Crew reports live from Radio Row in San Francisco to kick off Super Bowl LX week! We recap the chaos of Opening Night as the players and coaches interacted with the media, fans, and took center stage as the AFC's Super Bowl team. Plus, special guests Scott Zolak from 98.5 The Sports Hub and Clint Bruce from the Naval Academy join the show to talk the Patriots, leadership and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clint Bruce, former Navy SEAL and Naval Academy football alum, explains why the Army Navy game stands alone in sports. From brotherhood and sacrifice to discipline and tradition, Bruce shares deeply personal insight into what makes this rivalry unlike any other and why it will always matter more than rankings, playoffs, or television windows. #america #military #navyseals #navy #nfl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Geoff Ball, U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer, staff director for the Naval Academy's Leadership Education and Development Division and Executive Editor of The Connecting File, joins the show to discuss the radical changes and surprising continuities in how America's grunts will fight. ▪️ Times 02:25 The Connecting File 06:22 How is the infantry doing? 14:10 Companies of the future 23:22 Information and trust  29:57 Innovative spirit 33:30 Light Armored Recon  39:05 Drone battalions 42:24 Learning the right lessons from Ukraine Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

Send us a textYouth sports were meant to build character, confidence, and connection—so why do so many families now feel pressure, burnout, and rising tension in the stands? In this powerful conversation, Joey Pinz sits down with longtime coach, Naval Academy graduate, sales leader, and author Darren Ault to explore what's gone wrong… and what we can still save.Drawing from 33 years of coaching boys and girls across multiple levels, Darren shares candid stories about the 1% of parents who disrupt the experience, the rise of entitlement in youth athletics, and how external pressures—from training culture to NIL money—have shifted motivations. Yet he also highlights the joy, growth, and lifelong relationships that make coaching worth it.From leadership lessons forged in the Navy to modern challenges on and off the court, this episode delivers heartfelt insight, humor, and hope for anyone who has ever been part of a team—player, parent, or coach.⭐ Top 3 Highlights

Dr. David Ruth is a retired Navy captain, former Naval Academy professor, and now Dean of STEM at the University of Austin, where he is helping build a university from scratch with a radical goal zero tuition forever. In this episode, David explains why UATX rejected tenure, how its constitutional structure is meant to protect truth over ideology, and what military life taught him about reality, responsibility, and leadership. We talk about meaninglessness as a defining crisis for young people, why phones are quietly hollowing out education, and what separates builders from spectators. It is a conversation about truth, faith, risk, and what it means to form people, not just award credentials. SPONSORS: ElevenLabs: Thanks to ElevenLabs (⁠https://elevenlabs.io⁠) for supporting this episode and powering Tim's voice. SOCIAL: Website: ⁠https://nlupod.com/⁠ X: ⁠https://x.com/nlutimgreen⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/NLUpod⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nlupod⁠ PERSONAL: Tackle ALS: ⁠https://www.tackleals.com⁠ Tim Green Books: ⁠https://authortimgreen.com⁠ Tim's New Book - ROCKET ARM: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062796895/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Schell and Jahn Tihansky sit down in Annapolis to discuss Jahn's long and exciting sailing career. He's been racing and beating some of the biggest names in the sport, built successful sailmaking and sailing businesses, and served as head sailing coach at the U.S. Naval Academy for many years. -- Support the podcast & become a member of The Quarterdeck, where Andy, August & Mia dive deep on the art of seam'nship. Nerd out with us on our members-only forum and talk boats, gear, safety-at-sea, meet like-minded sailors, find crew, and more. Check it out on quarterdeck.59-north.com. See you there! -- This season of ON THE WIND is supported by our friends at Offshore Passage Opportunities and Rutgerson Marin. Support the show by supporting our sponsors!

Summary  In this episode of Gary's Gulch, dive into a heartfelt journey of personal growth, agency, and financial independence. Host Gary reflects on his childhood challenges, military career, and the lessons he's learned about true wealth and legacy. Highlighting Aaron Chapman's "Redneck Economics," Gary urges listeners to find their unique genius and use it to build a better future. Explore the power of entrepreneurship, parenting, and the pursuit of self-reliance in today's world. A must-listen for those seeking inspiration to take control of their financial destiny and personal growth..   Episode Highlights 00:00:13 - Launch of "Redneck Economics" 00:01:08 - Power of unconventional language 00:02:35 - Real estate vs. stock investing 00:03:15 - Agency and control over future 00:03:52 - Influence of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" 00:06:06 - Economic challenges in the 1980s 00:07:00 - Personal financial journey 00:11:05 - The choice for Naval Academy 00:15:00 - Impact of the Great Recession 00:16:25 - Realization on financial independence 00:18:21 - Importance of legacy and time 00:20:47 - Shift from materialism to family 00:22:02 - Significance of choosing time with family 00:23:05 - Personal story about father's impact 00:25:38 - Investing in self and God 00:26:48 - Final thoughts on agency and impact   Links and Resources from this Episode Connect with Gary Pinkerton https://www.paradigmlife.net/  gpinkerton@paradigmlife.net https://garypinkerton.com/  https://clientportal.paradigmlife.net/WealthView360     Keywords Gary's Gulch   Redneck Economics   Aaron Chapman   Passive Investing   Financial Freedom   Rental Real Estate   Cash Flow   Control Over Future   Atlas Shrugged   Ayn Rand   Self-Reliance   Agency   Entrepreneurship   Financial Journey   Family Legacy   Importance of Time   Business Owners   Philanthropy   Inflation   Interest Rates   Paul Volcker   2008 Recession   Dot Com Crash   Stock Market   Wealth Management   Human Agency   Charlie Kirk   Freedom Preservation  

Welcome into the annual Glenn Clark Radio College Lacrosse Preview Show! So that means our good friend Patrick Stevens from the Washington Post and USA Lacrosse Magazine (and elsewhere) will be hanging out with us in studio all morning as well. You know the drill by now but just ahead of the college lacrosse season, we travel around the state and check in with all the local men's lacrosse programs and preview the season with each team's respective coach. So we're getting started early and batting leadoff, at 9:30am, will be Towson Head Coach Shawn Nadelen as the Tigers pursue another CAA title. He'll be followed by Johns Hopkins Head Coach Peter Milliman at 10am in our first visit to the Big Ten of the day. At 10:20am, we'll head down I-95 and catch up with John Tillman, the Maryland Terrapins Head Coach and see how the Terps are doing before opening weekend. At 10:40am, we'll return to Baltimore to catch up with Loyola Greyhounds Head Coach Charles Toomey as they prepare for a bounce back campaign in the Patriot League. At 11:10am, we'll head to western Maryland and see how the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers are doing under third-year Head Coach Chris Ryan. Then finally at 11:20am, we'll head out to the Maryland state capital and see how the Naval Academy is doing with Joe Amplo in Annapolis as the Mids get set to start their 2026 season!

In this episode, hosts Jenna Ermold and Carin Lefkowitz welcome Adrienne Griffen, an "accidental advocate" and Executive Director of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA). A Naval Academy graduate and former intelligence officer, Adrienne shares her powerful personal journey of navigating postpartum depression while holding high-level security clearances – and why it took six months to finally get the help she needed.The conversation dives deep into the unique "triple threat" of stigma facing military women: the pressure of the warrior ethos, the upheaval of the military lifestyle, and the vulnerabilities of the perinatal period. Adrienne adds to our collection of EBP “sins” and provides practical actionable intel and valuable resources. Whether you are a civilian or military provider, this episode offers a roadmap for moving beyond "baby blues" to provide comprehensive, life-saving support for military-connected families. Adrienne Griffen, MPP, is an advocate and nationally-recognized expert in the field of maternal mental health. She is a sought-after speaker and educator, using her lived experience to engage audiences on issues surrounding the mental health and wellbeing of our nation's mothers.Adrienne is the Executive Director of Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (mmhla.org), a nonprofit organization leading efforts to improve maternal mental health in the United States. She graduated from the United States Naval Academy and has a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Resources mentioned in this episode: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (24/7 voice and text support in English and Spanish).Postpartum Support International (PSI): postpartum.net – Includes specialized support groups for military families.Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA): mmhla.org – Advocacy and policy for maternal mental health.Calls-to-action: Review the information provided on mmhla.org especially the MOMs Act Subscribe to the Practical for Your Practice PodcastSubmit your comments or questions on our social media pages or via SpeakpipeSubscribe to The Center for Deployment Psychology Monthly Email

Send us a textIn our second of installment marking 50 years of excellence in women's athletics at the Naval Academy, Alexandria Vallancy joins us to continue her story. She shares her journey as she prepares for the U23 World Rowing Championships and what it took to cross the finish line first to become a world champion in her sport.  Alexandria also talks about the challenges  that come with balancing her professional life as a naval officer with her athletic goals and what it takes to stay competitive while in the national team pipeline. The discipline that requires while maintaining a high level of performance as a division officer is certainly unique. Finally, Alexandria gives her perspective on the legacy of Navy women's athletics—50 years strong and how her experience put her in the position she is in today. If this conversation struck a chord with you, follow the show, share it with a Navy sports fan, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories.Support the showIf you like what you hear, support the Mids and the show at the same time! Navy Sports Central is a proud affiliate partner of Fanatics.com, the Ultimate Fan Gear Store! Click on the link to start shopping now!

Naval Academy athletic director Michael Kelly joins the podcast to discuss President Donald Trump's announcement about the Army-Navy Game, possible College Football Playoff expansion and numerous other topics during this in-depth conversation that included Mike James, publisher of The Mid Report and color commentator for the Navy Football Radio Network. We also introduce our new Navy Women's Basketball Insider, Becky Vautier.

In this episode of The Nonprofit Exchange, I had the pleasure of speaking with Stephen Mays, a leadership strategist, speaker, and author, about his innovative framework known as the Power of Three. Stephen's journey into leadership began at the Naval Academy, where he learned the importance of clarity and effective leadership through his experiences in military and civilian roles. We discussed the common misconception that leadership is solely about personality and style, highlighting that true leadership is about influencing others to achieve more collectively than they could individually. Stephen emphasized the critical foundation of leadership, which consists of honesty, courage, and talent. He explained that catastrophic leadership failures often stem from a lack of these foundational elements rather than a deficiency in talent. Stephen also addressed the challenges leaders face, particularly in the nonprofit sector, where unmet expectations can lead to significant issues. He stressed the importance of clear communication and providing the necessary resources for team members to succeed. As we wrapped up our conversation, Stephen shared insights on the achievement level of leadership, which involves assisting, inspiring, and depending on others. He underscored that effective leadership is about making others successful and recognizing that credit and blame are part of the leader's responsibility. For those interested in exploring Stephen's Power of Three Leadership Framework further, I encourage you to visit his website at powerof3leadership.com. This episode is a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and make a meaningful impact in their organizations. Thank you for joining us on The Nonprofit Exchange Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The teenagers who made up the US Naval Academy class of 1940 arrived in Annapolis as boys on the eve of Hitler's aggression and graduated as Europe collapsed, only to find themselves thrust into every major front of World War II, from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay and Normandy. Renowned military historian Craig Symonds joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss the young men's sacrifice, loss, and extraordinary coming-of-age in history's deadliest conflict.Recorded on November 24, 2025

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a Naval Academy graduate, retired Navy pilot, and lifelong entrepreneur who quietly built real estate wealth while serving 20 years in the military. Stu Grazier's journey started long before real estate podcasts were mainstream. From flipping raw land and house hacking in San Diego before the term even existed, to private lending during deployments, he shares how he built wealth by taking action, learning through failure, and staying disciplined while others partied away their paychecks. This episode is packed with real-world perspective and hard-won wisdom. Listen and enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing Stu Grazier and his background [03:05] How a 14-month deployment to Iraq sparked Stu's deep dive into real estate investing [06:42] How living below his means during deployments accelerated his investing journey [07:54] Managing a full-time job and real estate at the same time [09:05] Strategies, tactics, and niches in real estate that don't require a lot of time and effort [10:34] How his financial goals evolved from "making money" to time freedom and family presence [13:02] The personal motivation behind building passive income as a present father [14:14] Why Stu stayed in the military and how to know when it's time to leave [18:47] The failure that led to launching a turnkey business [21:44] What a turnkey investment is supposed to look like [25:40] The hidden stress and risks of scaling a real estate business too fast [29:41] Growing through referral word-of-mouth marketing [30:31] Why COVID forced a hard pivot away from flipping [33:03] Evaluating deals today: relationships come before numbers [35:48] Why values alignment matters more than contracts [38:48] Why the Military Investor Network was built around trust and relationships [40:20] Creating community by connecting high-integrity people [43:59] Time-blocking, routines, and rebuilding daily structure post-military [47:50] Why focused, shorter workdays often produce better results [48:54] Outro   Guest Links: Website: https://www.militaryinvestornetwork.com/  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stuartgrazier  Join Stu's monthly Free Community Call: https://www.militaryinvestornetwork.com/contact-us/   Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals   

On this episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series! Today, we're thrilled to introduce our remarkable guest, Jamed D. Paulk —a 92-year-old author, lifelong storyteller, and passionate angler whose military service and tireless conservation work illustrate perseverance and personal growth on a path full of growth and opportunity.We dive into Jim's adventures: from his time at the Naval Academy, which became the foundation for his acclaimed book, “Shaking up the World: Stories of the Naval Academy Class of 1957,” to his influential role in California's environmental legislation and his unwavering love for fishing.Join us as Jim recounts the resilience and ingenuity behind his classmate stories (including moon landings and close calls on the sea), the thrill of organizing statewide conservation campaigns, and his transition to outdoor writing.DISCUSSIONIntroduction to Jim PaulkJim's Longevity and Active LifestyleThe Places Jim Has LivedEarly Career and Naval Academy JourneyWriting “Shaking up the World: Stories of the Naval Academy Class of 1957”Highlights and Notable Stories from the BookTransition to the Outdoor and Angling WorldOrganizing and Leading Conservation InitiativesWriting for Fishing Magazines and Evolving as a WriterReflections on Writing, Community, and LegacyUpcoming Projects and Looking AheadLEARN MORETo learn more about Jim and his work, visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/James-D-Paulk-Jr-Author-61565536059908/NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes. KEYWORDSJames D. Paulk, Author, Ocean Conservation, Naval Academy, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview, PodMatch#JamesDPaulk #Author #OceanConservation #NavalAcademy #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview #PodMatchMy Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by Descript Hosting Buzzsprout Show Notes by Castmagic Website powered by Podpage Be a Podcast Guest by PodMatch

Send us a textIn today's special edition of Navy Sports Central, we kick off a series honoring 50 years of women at the Naval Academy. And we begin with the story of Alexandria Vallancey, a Corvallis High basketball star who arrived at Annapolis intent on Division I hoops and left as a force in Navy Women's Rowing. What began as a walk-on curiosity at Hubbard Hall became a new identity, built on brutal practices, clean catches, and the unglamorous grind of the erg.We'll trace Alexandria's rapid rise from novice to the first varsity eight, the victories in the Cooper Sprints, dual wins over East Coast powers, and a string of Patriot League Championships that stretched Navy's dominance. Then the stakes climb: an invitation to the Henley Royal Regatta's historic King's Cup, a mixed military crew that included two women, and a nation's colors on the line. Feel the rhythm of head-to-head racing as Canada and France fall, and experience the drama in the final as a decisive move lifts the American boat Overlord past Germany while cheers of  “USA” help push the boat down the course. The win marks a powerful return to the international stage for Navy rowing—and it's a milestone in the larger story of women's athletics at Annapolis.We also look ahead: the pandemic's interruption, a return to form with another league title, and the next horizon—qualifying for the U23 U.S. National Team and competing at the World Rowing Championships. If you care about Navy sports, women's sports history, rowing strategy, or the mindset it takes to reinvent yourself, you don't want to miss this story. Be sure to follow the show, share it with a Navy fan, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Then tell us: what bold pivot are you ready to make?Support the showIf you like what you hear, support the Mids and the show at the same time! Navy Sports Central is a proud affiliate partner of Fanatics.com, the Ultimate Fan Gear Store! Click on the link to start shopping now!

There are few in US Soccer circles that have the experience, the pedigree, and most importantly, the respect from peers as John Hackworth. With a literal lifetime in the game, his path from WF asst., to the USMNT ranks, MLS benches, and now on his way to The Naval Academy for a new challenge, "Hack" talks about what took him down that path, what stood out, and what's to come. Few finer in the game... Enjoy! Thx to Droz for the connect and co-host! #usmnt #mls #navy #family #johnhackworth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly four decades after the Colonial Parkway murders first shocked Virginia, new DNA links have expanded the known scope of the case while raising questions about investigative accountability. In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by Bill Thomas, whose sister Cathy Thomas was one of the original victims, and Kristin Dilley, his long-time investigative partner and co-host of the podcast Mind Over Murder. They walk through the latest DNA identifications tied to Allen Wade Wilmer Sr., the procedural barriers that keep his profile out of CODIS, and the growing divide between state-level momentum and federal inaction. Their discussion centers on what happens when evidence advances while communication and action stall. Highlights: • (0:00) Sheryl McCollum opens Zone 7by addressing stalled accountability in long- running cold cases • (0:45) Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley return to Zone 7 and reflect on their investigative partnership • (2:00) Bill remembers his sister Cathy Thomas, her Naval Academy legacy, her character, and her friend Rebecca Ann Dowski • (5:15) How advocacy and podcasting have helped families move forward on the Colonial Parkway murders • (9:15) The January 2024 public announcement linking Allen Wade Wilmer Sr. to multiple victims • (10:15) The confirmed DNA connection to Laurie Ann Powell • (13:15) Why Wilmer’s DNA is not in CODIS despite evidence of sexual assault • (17:00) Federal communication failures and the limits of victim services updates • (19:15) The contrast between FBI silence and Virginia State Police persistence • (22:45) Whether Cathy Thomas’s case is closer to resolution and what emerging patterns suggest • (25:15) Evidence handling failures and the long-term consequences for families • (33:15) Closing reflections on persistence, accountability, and the cost of waiting decades for answers Guest Bios: Bill Thomas is a victim advocate and the brother of Cathy Thomas, one of the original victims of the Colonial Parkway murders. For nearly four decades, he has worked with law enforcement, forensic experts, and journalists to seek answers in his sister’s case and accountability for all affected families. Bill is co-host of the podcast Mind Over Murder, where he focuses on cold cases, investigative transparency, and the systemic challenges families face in long-term homicide investigations. Kristin Dilley is a true crime podcaster, researcher, writer, and teacher based in Williamsburg, Virginia. Kristin has worked alongside Bill Thomas for more than seven years and is the co-host of Mind Over Murder, where she examines cold cases with an emphasis on evidence, patterns, and victim-centered accountability. Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire. Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than 4 decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing. Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023. Social Links: • Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com • Twitter: @ColdCaseTips • Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum • Instagram: @officialzone7podcast Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist, releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this candid and powerful conversation, Michael Grandjean joins Dwayne Kerrigan to share the real story behind his rise, collapse, and rebuilding as an entrepreneur who led with heart—and paid a steep price for it.From early service as a volunteer firefighter and Navy corpsman to building a $25M remediation company, Michael reflects on the leadership blind spots that quietly dismantled his business: avoiding confrontation, ignoring early warning signs, and letting emotion override structure and accountability.He opens up about losing everything, the humility required to face hard truths, and the moment that changed his trajectory—the realization that even at checkmate, the king still has one more move. This episode is a raw masterclass in leadership self-awareness, responsibility, and what it truly takes to rebuild when everything falls apart.Episode Highlights:01:15 — Dwayne introduces Michael and some of his background03:00 — Framing the conversation: collapse, comeback, and leadership through adversity05:00 — Early life experiences that shaped Michael's instinct to serve and protect others08:00 — How learning-by-doing in the military built confidence, skill, and leadership12:00 — The missed Naval Academy opportunity and how a single point changed his life path16:00 — Discovering the root of his need to “fix everything” through early childhood memory20:00 — How that identity became both a leadership strength and a business liability24:00 — From couch-surfing to starting his first company with borrowed money28:00 — Explosive growth: scaling from zero to $25M and building teams that drove success35:00 — Hiring high-accountability leaders and why standards matter more than likability42:00 — The beginning of complacency and losing focus after reaching the “top”48:00 — Major projects fail, millions lost, and the cost of avoiding confrontation55:00 — Hard truths: personal blind spots, delayed decisions, and leadership responsibility01:05:00 — The emotional bottom, rebuilding identity, and the realization that “the king still has one more move”01:20:00 — Final reflections on honesty, courage, accountability, and choosing to move forwardKey Takeaways:Leading with heart is powerful, but without boundaries it becomes expensive.Relationships, not brands, carry small and mid-sized businesses.SOPs, structure, and accountability protect leaders from their blind spots.Complacency quietly erodes even successful companies.Leaders must be honest with themselves before they can fix anything else.Even at your lowest point, you still have one more move.Resources Mentioned:Checkmate: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1365025640684229 Tony Robbins – Date With DestinyAwaken the Giant Within (Tony Robbins)MastermindNotable Quotes:“The king still has one more move” - Michael Grandjean

A Charleston native, Dr. Brown is proud to bring his medical expertise home to the community where he grew up and currently resides. He graduated from the Naval Academy with a BS in General Engineering before embarking on six years of service as a Surface Warfare Officer. Driven by a passion for medicine, he then attended the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). After initial training in pediatrics, Dr. Brown transitioned to Emergency Medicine, serving with the Navy in various capacities, including deployments 

What happens when success no longer feels fulfilling?In this powerful episode of Everything Is Personal, Len May sits down with Susanna Rose Stokes, founder of Metamorphosis, to explore why so many high achievers feel numb, disconnected, and isolated—despite outward success. Susanna shares her deeply personal journey from growing up on a farm in Georgia to the Naval Academy, the Marine Corps, and ultimately into healing work rooted in community, embodiment, and spiritual integration. This conversation dives into trauma stored in the body, the loss of ritual and connection in modern society, and why people are seeking plant medicine—not for escape, but for meaning and belonging.  EndoDNA: Where Genetic Science Meets Actionable Patient CareEndoDNA bridges the gap between complex genomics and patient wellness. Our patented DNA analysis platforms and AI technology provide genetic insights that support and enhance your clinical expertise.Click here to check out to take control over your Personal Health & Wellness Connect with EndoDNA on SOCIAL: IG | X | YOUTUBE | FBConnect with host, Len May, on IG Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This Best of 2025 episode brings together the most listened-to and most shared conversations from Beyond Coaching this year.Each segment tackles a reality coaches deal with every day: how to build culture when not everyone plays, how to develop leaders through failure, and how to handle stress without trying to eliminate it.You'll hear from Brent Hobson, Jim McNeal, and Mitch Hull—three coaches and leaders working in very different environments, but wrestling with the same leadership challenges.Different settings. Same issues. Leadership, pressure, failure, and building programs that last.Episode HighlightsBrent Hobson – Value Beyond Playing TimeNot everyone plays—but everyone still shapes the culture. Brent Hobson, longtime head coach of Friends University Women's Soccer, explains how he intentionally builds value for athletes who may never see the field, including why the only award in his office has nothing to do with wins or goals. This is what team-first culture looks like in practice.Topics include:Building value beyond the lineupThe Garland Award and why it mattersCoaching honesty without lowering standardsWhat's actually changed—and hasn't—with today's athletesJim McNeal – Failure as a Leadership ToolJim McNeal, retired Navy Reserve Rear Admiral and leadership mentor at the U.S. Naval Academy, explains why the Academy is intentionally designed to make high achievers fail—and why that matters.Failure isn't accidental. It's part of the training.Topics include:The Naval Academy as a leadership laboratoryWhy leaders are judged on how they lead people, not just resultsHelping high achievers learn to fail safelyShifting from external success to internal standardsMitch Hull – Stress, Pressure, and the ProcessWe spend a lot of time trying to remove stress from sport. Research suggests that approach often backfires.Mitch Hull explains why stress itself isn't the problem, why perception matters more than pressure, and how coaches reduce stress by focusing on habits, preparation, and daily execution—not the scoreboard.Topics include:Why “stress is bad” is the wrong messageReframing pressure as preparationProcess-over-outcome coachingHelping athletes perform when it matters mostBeyond Coaching is produced by the Impactful Coaching Project, an initiative focused on helping coaches lead the whole person—not just the performer.The Impactful Coaching Project exists to support coaches at every level as they navigate leadership, culture, pressure, and the realities of coaching today's athletes. Through podcasts, writing, research, and coach education, ICP emphasizes practical leadership, honest conversations, and systems of care that help teams perform and people grow.Learn more at impactfulcoachingproject.com

This week historians John McManus and Waitman Beorn drop in to talk about the history behind Hamburger Hill, arguably the greatest war film we ever forgot.About our guests:John C. McManus is Curators' Distinguished Professor of U.S. military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). This professorship is bestowed by the University of Missouri Board of Curators on the most outstanding scholars in the University of Missouri system. McManus is the first ever Missouri S&T faculty member in the humanities to be named Curators' Distinguished Professor. As one of the nation's leading military historians, and the author of fifteen well received books on the topic, he is in frequent demand as a speaker and expert commentator. In addition to dozens of local and national radio programs, he has appeared on Cnn.com, Fox News, C-Span, the Military Channel, the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel, Netflix, the Smithsonian Network, the History Channel and PBS, among others. He also served as historical advisor for the bestselling book and documentary Salinger, the latter of which appeared nationwide in theaters and on PBS's American Masters Series. During the 2018-2019 academic year, he was in residence at the U.S. Naval Academy as the Leo A. Shifrin Chair of Naval and Military History, a distinguished visiting professorship. His current project is a major three volume history of the U.S. Army in the Pacific/Asia theater during World War II. He is the host of two podcasts, Someone Talked! in tandem with the National D-Day Memorial, and We Have Ways of Making You Talk in the USA alongside Al Murray and James Holland. Dr. Waitman Wade Beorn is an associate professor in History at Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.  Dr. Beorn was previously the Director of the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, VA and the inaugural Blumkin Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.  His first book, Marching Into Darkness: The Wehrmacht and the Holocaust in Belarus (Harvard University Press) Dr. Beorn is also the author of The Holocaust in Eastern Europe: At the Epicenter of the Final Solution (Bloomsbury Press, 2018) and has recently finished a book on the Janowska concentration camp outside of Lviv, Ukraine. That book Between the Wires: The Janowska Camp and the Holocaust in Lviv was released in August 2024 from Nebraska University Press.  Between the Wires was recognised as a Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award in the United States.He is currently on research leave thanks to an AHRC Research, Development, and Engagement Fellowship.  This fellowship supports his work on a project entitled Visualizing Janowska: Creating a Digital Architectural Model of a Nazi Concentration Camp.  This interdisciplinary project will build a digital reconstruction of the Janowska concentration camp based on historical sources as most of the site is gone today.  Dr. Beorn is managing a team of architects and digital modellers to accomplish this and is partnered with the Holocaust Education Trust, the Wiener Holocaust Library, the Lviv Center for Urban History, the Duke Digital Art History and Visual Culture Lab, and the Holocaust Center North. Dr. Beorn has published work in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Central European History, German Studie

Send us a textIn this episode of Consequence of Habit, JT sits down with Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, and boxing champion Mike Steadman for a wide‑ranging conversation about discipline, identity, and intentional habits. Michael's journey spans the Naval Academy, Marine Corps infantry deployments, founding a free boxing gym for youth in Newark, and ultimately stepping fully into entrepreneurship.Together, they explore what happens when structure disappears after the military, and how habits, accountability, and human performance become the foundation for resilience. Mike shares lessons from quitting alcohol for health, running the NYC Marathon, designing his life around deep work and fitness, and helping veterans and founders build sustainable businesses through category design. This episode is about agency: taking ownership of your time, your attention, and the habits that shape who you become.Learn more about Mike's work here at ironmikesteadman.com and ironboundboxing.org.

President Trump attended the historic 126th Army-Navy game over the weekend. As Commander-in-Chief, President Trump joined thousands of Cadets, Midshipmen, and other Patriotic fans to celebrate the unparalleled dedication, discipline, and valor of the United States Military Academy and Naval Academy teams. The Navy did beat the Army 17 to 16 in a very close game. They will receive the Commander In Chief trophy in the new year for their accomplishment. A Jewish community in Australia was attacked by a gunman as they gathered to celebrate Hanukkah at Bondi Beach. The attack took 15 lives as the community was gathered to share "joy and light." Alan Dershowitz joins me to discuss the rise of anti-semitism around the world and how calls to "globalize the intifada" is giving extremists a license to kill Jewish people. Anti-semitic speech is poisoning factions within both parties with the likes of Zohran Mamdani and Bernie Sanders, and right-wing extremism from characters like Nick Fuentes. House Democrats are still trying to drum up Epstein noise. Democrats released a photo of President Trump with Hawaiian Tropic models with their faces covered and tried to pin it to the Epstein case. Dershowitz states plainly Democrats are selectively releasing photos to create a false narrative. Alan unpacks the cartel boats strikes in the Caribbean and their legal authority as military targets. Plus, could President Trump actually serve a third term? Featuring: Alan Dershowitz U.S. Constitution & Criminal Attorney Host | The Dershow https://substack.com/@dersh Get your copy of The Preventative State here: https://a.co/d/99gpnCR Pre-order Alan's latest book Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term? https://a.co/d/02pwtTF Today's show is sponsored by: Concerned Women For America Concerned Women For America focuses on seven core issues: family, sanctity of life, religious liberty, parental choice in education, fighting sexual exploitation, national sovereignty, and support for Israel. CWA knows what a woman is. CWA trains women to become grassroots leaders, speak into the culture, pray, testify, and lobby. If you donate $20 you will get CEO & President Penny Nance's new book  A Woman's Guide, Seven Rules for Success in Business and Life. Head to ⁠https://concernedwomen.org/spicer/⁠to donate today! Masa Chips You're probably watching the Sean Spicer Show right now and thinking “hmm, I wish I had something healthy and satisfying to snack on…” Well Masa Chips are exactly what you are looking for. Big corporations use cheap nasty seed oils that can cause inflammation and health issues. Masa cut out all the bad stuff and created a tortilla chip with just 3 ingredients: organic nixtamalized corn, sea salt, and 100 percent grass-fed beef tallow. Snacking on MASA chips feels different—you feel satisfied, light, and energetic, with no crash, bloat, or sluggishness. So head to https://MASAChips.com/SEAN to get  25% off your first order. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1️⃣ Subscribe and ring the bell for new videos: https://youtube.com/seanmspicer?sub_confirmation=1 2️⃣ Become a part of The Sean Spicer Show community: https://www.seanspicer.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the military justice system gets it wrong?In this powerful episode of Jean Valentino's Grassroots TruthCast, we sit down with Commander Jarvis Owens, a 1995 U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former U.S. Navy Commander, who shares his 12-year fight for justice after being wrongfully convicted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).Commander Owens details:How military court-martial procedures differ from civilian courtsWhy due process protections can fail service membersThe political pressures surrounding military prosecutionsThe long-term consequences of wrongful convictionsHis mission to seek exoneration and advocate for others facing the same injusticeThis is not an attack on real victims of sexual assault. This conversation is about due process, fairness, and accountability in a system that affects every man and woman who serves our country.⚖️ Justice should not depend on politics.

Brad Snyder: Navy EOD Warrior to Paralympic Champion | The MisFitNation Show In this powerful episode, Host Rich LaMonica welcomes US Navy Veteran, Paralympic Gold Medalist, and Ethical Leadership Scholar Brad Snyder. From surviving a life-changing IED blast to becoming one of the world's most decorated Paralympic athletes, Brad's story is a masterclass in resilience, virtue, and purpose-driven leadership. Brad served as a Naval Academy graduate, Navy EOD Officer, and combat veteran in Iraq and Afghanistan before an explosion caused him to lose his sight. Exactly one year later, he won Paralympic gold. Today, he is a world-record holder, triathlon champion, leadership instructor, Ph.D. candidate, and advocate for empowering future generations. In this episode, Brad shares: His journey from combat to the Paralympic podium How purpose and virtue drive his leadership philosophy What resilience truly means when facing life-altering adversity His mission to inspire future warriors and leaders through education Lessons from navigating elite athletics, military service, and personal growth Subscribe and stay connected to more powerful veteran stories of grit, resilience, and transformation. Learn more about Brad: bradsnyder.usFollow The MisFitNation everywhere you listen and watch!  

From Naval Academy to Acting Secretary: Colleague Thomas Modly discusses his memoir Vectors, detailing his journey from the Naval Academy class of 1983 to becoming an aviator and Pentagon official, reflecting on his family's immigrant history, working under Donald Rumsfeld on defense reform, and accepting the role of Under Secretary of the Navy. 1888

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is a Navy veteran and mom of three who went from a high-pressure military career to building a real estate business that allowed her family to take back their time. Karin Ventresca is a Naval Academy graduate, former nuclear engineer, HR professional, and now a full-time real estate investor and short-term rental operator. After years of long commutes, daycare drop-offs, and COVID-era burnout, she and her husband built a short-term rental portfolio that gave them the freedom to reshape how they spend their days. Listen as she shares how they made the shift from demanding military roles and corporate careers to creating a business that supports the life they want to live. She also opens up about the mindset shifts, goal-setting, and action steps that ultimately allowed her to quit her HR job and be fully present with her kids, without sacrificing financial stability. Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing Karin Ventresca and her background [03:21] Growing up in Alaska and why she chose the Naval Academy [05:25] Becoming a nuclear engineer and the unconventional path to HR [09:28] Another twist in career progression: From HR to real estate investing [09:50] COVID, burnout, and the moment she and Andrew realized they needed a way out [14:02] Their first big move: building a family cabin in West Virginia and turning it into an STR [19:01] How they furnished an entire STR with creativity, thrifting, and smart systems [22:10] The power of deadlines in STR setup and how it saved them thousands [26:28] 2025 goal: reclaiming their family's time [30:02] The mindset behind intentional living and goal setting [34:26] Their newest move: a house hack with 7 acres, a furnished ADU, and a vision for a guest-friendly garden [39:49] Goals must be written [40:31] How a strong network reduces fear [44:04] Connect with Karin Ventresca [44:55] Outro Guest Links: Website: https://riversidehavenwv.com/  Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals   

The Supreme Court is set to weigh in on some crucial issues that will affect the course of President Trump's presidency. The Supreme Court sided with President Trump today over the firing of Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter. The precedent was set in my case Spicer V Biden in which the court decided Biden had the authority to fire me from the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Naval Academy. Therefore President Trump has the same authority to make such decisions on Democratic appointees. The Supreme Court will also weigh in on the Voting Rights Act, if Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is struck down, Republicans have the potential to pick up 12 seats in Southern districts. Democrats have long used the Voting Rights Act to rig elections in their favor based on race representation over meritocracy. Should Children that are born in the United States by parents that are illegal immigrants have birthright citizenship? This crucial question will also be answered by the Supreme Court in the near future. President Trump is set to give our farmers $12 billion from tariff revenue but will the Supreme Court deem tariffs as legal? Will Chamberlain is here to unpack all these issues and more on today's show! Featuring: Will Chamberlain Senior Council | Article III Project https://www.article3project.org/ Today's show is sponsored by: Masa Chips You're probably watching the Sean Spicer Show right now and thinking “hmm, I wish I had something healthy and satisfying to snack on…” Well Masa Chips are exactly what you are looking for. Big corporations use cheap nasty seed oils that can cause inflammation and health issues. Masa cut out all the bad stuff and created a tortilla chip with just 3 ingredients: organic nixtamalized corn, sea salt, and 100 percent grass-fed beef tallow. Snacking on MASA chips feels different—you feel satisfied, light, and energetic, with no crash, bloat, or sluggishness. So head to https://MASAChips.com/SEAN to get  25% off your first order. Delta Rescue Delta Rescue is one the largest no-kill animal sanctuaries. Leo Grillo is on a mission to help all abandoned, malnourished, hurt or suffering animals. He relies solely on contributions from people like you and me. If you want to help Leo to continue his mission of running one of the best care-for-life animal sanctuaries in the country please visit Delta Rescue at: https://deltarescue.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------- 1️⃣ Subscribe and ring the bell for new videos: https://youtube.com/seanmspicer?sub_confirmation=1 2️⃣ Become a part of The Sean Spicer Show community: https://www.seanspicer.com/ 3️⃣ Listen to the full audio show on all platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sean-spicer-show/id1701280578 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/32od2cKHBAjhMBd9XntcUd iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-sean-spicer-show-120471641/ 4️⃣ Stay in touch with Sean on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanmspicer Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicer Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanmspicer/ 5️⃣ Follow The Sean Spicer Show on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanspicershow Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicershow Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanspicershow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode of the LiberatED Podcast, Kerry McDonald interviews Ali Ghaffari, founder of Divine Mercy Academy, a K–8 classical Catholic school in Pasadena, Maryland, and now Executive Director of the St. John Henry Newman Institute, an organization dedicated to accelerating the renewal of Catholic education worldwide. Ali's path to school founding is anything but ordinary. After graduating from Colby College, he spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy as an F/A-18 fighter pilot before teaching leadership and ethics at the U.S. Naval Academy. Raised without religious belief, Ali experienced a dramatic conversion sparked by reading the Great Books—an encounter that convinced him of the importance of deep intellectual and moral formation. When he couldn't find a classical Catholic school nearby for his children, he joined with other families to start one. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org. Kerry's latest book, Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling, is available now wherever books are sold!

00:00-01:06 Intro 01:07-18:06 The Last 72 18:07-23:22 Captain Clark Fired 23:23-30:08 Defy Unlawful Orders Videos 30:09-35:17 Joint Base Andrews Revamping Golf Courses 35:18-42:14 Gravestone Recipes 42:15-50:45 Turkey Talk-Line 50:46-57:10 Thanksgiving Plates & Traditions 57:11-1:00:41 Thanksgiving Movies 1:00:42- 1:05:13 Post-ShowYou can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/ZeroBlog30

In this powerful Thanksgiving episode, host Justin Siems sits down with A320 Captain Jake Tishman to discuss one of the most inspiring aviation journeys you'll hear. Jake shares his decade-long battle with an autoimmune disease that threatened to derail his dream of becoming an airline pilot at every turn—from getting medically disqualified from the Naval Academy to facing multiple surgeries and hospital stays while trying to complete his flight training.Despite the setbacks, Jake persevered through:Multiple hospitalizations during college and flight trainingCompleting all his ratings from instrument through CFI/CFII in just 5.5 monthsTaking medical leave from his first airline jobNavigating the corporate aviation world when airlines rejected his applicationsFinally landing at his current carrier after nearly giving upThis episode goes beyond the typical aviation career story to explore resilience, gratitude, and finding perspective through adversity. Jake's candid discussion about learning to appreciate the smallest victories—even just having the energy to get out of the car—offers valuable lessons for anyone facing challenges in their career or life.Whether you're a student pilot facing obstacles, an instructor dealing with setbacks, or an airline pilot who rushed through training, Jake's story reminds us all to appreciate where we are and recognize that our unique paths shape who we become.Plus, there's plenty of good-natured ribbing about Ohio State vs. Florida State football, corporate aviation perks, and the reality of chasing airline seniority numbers.

A Note from James:Wisdom Takes Work is Ryan Holiday's fourth book exploring the Stoic virtues, and this time he's taking on the big one — wisdom. His earlier books on courage, temperance, and justice were all great conversations, but this one hit me personally. I've often thought I had wisdom, only to realize later that I didn't — or at least not as much as I thought.Ryan's writing blends ancient Stoic philosophy with modern life in a way that feels both practical and timeless. We talked about how wisdom isn't something you possess; it's something you practice. It's not about having all the answers — it's about asking better questions, learning through experience, and staying humble enough to admit what you don't know. Ryan's back on the show — probably more than any other guest — and each time, I walk away seeing the world differently.Episode Description:James sits down with bestselling author and Stoic philosopher Ryan Holiday to discuss Wisdom Takes Work, the newest addition to his series on the cardinal virtues. Together they unpack what “wisdom” really means — not as a static trait, but as an ongoing practice of curiosity, humility, and doing hard things.The conversation ranges from the limits of AI (“great at knowledge, terrible at wisdom”) to the importance of reading history, counting names on a plaque instead of trusting bad data, and learning by doing. Ryan also shares new insights from his upcoming biography of Admiral James Stockdale, and how the act of challenging himself as a writer mirrors the Stoic pursuit of wisdom itself.What You'll Learn:Why wisdom isn't about knowing — it's about learning, questioning, and doing.How AI amplifies knowledge but can't replace human judgment or discernment.Why experience, pain, and humility are necessary ingredients for growth.How Ryan's research on Admiral Stockdale is changing his approach to writing and life.Practical ways to cultivate wisdom — from reading and travel to mentoring and open-mindedness.Timestamped Chapters:[00:00] Introduction: The difference between knowledge and wisdom [02:54] A Note from James — Why wisdom is the hardest virtue [05:37] AI's limits and the danger of overconfidence [08:57] “Wisdom takes work”: Stoic principles in action [11:35] The verbs of virtue — acting with courage, justice, and discipline [13:12] Ryan's AI experiment and the Naval Academy plaque [16:10] Knowing what you don't know — humility as wisdom [18:30] Parenting, ego, and learning to argue less [22:00] Why age doesn't guarantee wisdom [25:10] The trap of resisting change and staying “the smartest person in the room” [27:00] Adapting to new generations and ideas [31:00] Is wisdom a talent or a learned skill? [34:00] How books and mentors shape a wise mind [37:00] Raising curious kids in the age of MrBeast and AI [40:20] Teaching curiosity and lifelong learning [42:25] Practicing wisdom: reading, travel, and mentorship [47:00] Learning by doing — the pain and reward of hard work [50:20] Writing, research, and the lesson of David McCullough [53:07] Why Ryan's next book is his hardest yet — Admiral Stockdale's story [55:50] Finding new mentors and growing past your comfort zone [57:14] Living the Stoic life — success, service, and perspectiveAdditional Resources:Ryan Holiday – Wisdom Takes WorkRyan Holiday's other Stoic virtue books: Courage Is Calling Discipline Is Destiny Right Thing, Right NowAdmiral James Stockdale – U.S. Naval Academy BiographyRobert Caro – Working: Researching, Interviewing, WritingDavid McCullough – Truman and John AdamsRyan Holiday's The Daily Stoic Podcast – SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brandon Tseng is the President and Cofounder of Shield AI, a defense technology company he established in 2015 with his brother Ryan Tseng, specializing in AI-powered autonomous systems for military applications, including the V-BAT drone deployed in operations like those in Ukraine. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and Harvard Business School with an MBA, Tseng served seven years in the U.S. Navy as a SEAL and Surface Warfare Officer, with deployments including Afghanistan in 2015, where he witnessed the need for AI in warfare. Under his leadership, Shield AI has raised over $1 billion, achieved a multi-billion-dollar valuation, expanded globally, and focused on ethical AI for national security. Named to TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI for 2025, Tseng has testified before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on technology innovation and serves on the Board of Directors for the C4 Foundation, supporting Navy SEAL families. He advocates for public-private partnerships in defense, advancing AI to protect warfighters, and securing U.S. leadership in autonomous systems amid global competition. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Join the Waitlist - https://theglacierapp.com/waitlist ⁠https://americanfinancing.net/srs⁠ NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-781-8900, for details about credit costs and terms. ⁠https://betterhelp.com/srs⁠ This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. ⁠https://calderalab.com/srs⁠ Use code SRS for 20% off your first order. ⁠https://shawnlikesgold.com⁠ ⁠https://helixsleep.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://ketone.com/srs⁠ Visit https://ketone.com/srs for 30% OFF your subscription order. ⁠https://patriotmobile.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://ROKA.com⁠ – USE CODE SRS ⁠https://simplisafe.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://tractorsupply.com/hometownheroes⁠ ⁠https://ziprecruiter.com/srs Brandon Tseng Links: X - https://x.com/brandontseng2 X - https://x.com/shieldaitech Shield AI - https://shield.ai TIME 100 AI Profile - https://time.com/collections/time100-ai-2025/7305863/brandon-tseng Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices