On this episode of the podcast, Tim K. sits down in Owasso, Oklahoma with former Marine Corps Dog Handler, Anthony Marquez. Anthony served with 1st Battalion 5th Marines and deployed with his IED (Improvised Explosive Device) sniffing Labrador retriever, Allie, to Helmand Province (Afghanistan) in 2011. The two formed a powerful connection through their time in one of the most volatile spots on the planet… only to go their separate ways after the deployment. But, that’s not the end of the story…
On the podcast, Tim and Anthony also discuss how they met, when Marquez was delivering his fourth custom battlefield cross to the Farias Family (Gold Star) after their son was killed in Afghanistan. Anthony has now delivered battlefield crosses to families of the fallen across the entire nation, finding a renewed sense of purpose in his time post-Marine Corps.
Host Tim K. sits down in Lexington, South Carolina with Bert Sorin, the Co-Owner and President of Sorinex. Sorinex is considered the gold standard strength brand for professional teams, colleges, high schools and some of our most elite military units. On the podcast Bert discusses the company’s mantra “Be Legendary,” his path to being a highly successful athlete, and wearing the mantle of being the industry leader in strength innovation. Although Sorin never served in the military, his equipment is changing the game to provide preparedness and rebuilding to veterans prior to, during and after their deployments to remote, hostile lands. Bert also speaks on mindset and the relationship between reintegrating veterans and retiring athletes.
This is part one of a two part series. Host Tim K. sits down in Jacksonville, NC with the legendary Major James Capers Jr. a veteran of Vietnam and nominee for the Congressional Medal of Honor. On the podcast, Major Capers discusses growing up as the son of sharecroppers, his path to the Marine Corps, his time in Vietnam, and persevering against all odds. Capers was the first black Marine Recon officer in our nation's history and is known by many as the father of Marine Corps Special Operations. He was inducted into the Commando Hall of Honor at MacDill AFB in 2012, and is hailed as one of the primary ambassadors of the United States Marine Corps.
A combined five tours and 20 years of combat unit experience between the two of them, Vinse Edwards and Will Struckman truly lived the dream of the Army combat infantryman. Our host Tim K., sat down with them in Fayetteville, North Carolina for the podcast where they discussed the volatility of being on the frontlines in some of the harshest parts of Iraq. The three also speak on the value of finding humor in even the darkest of situations in combat. Vinse and Will also talked about their new path as they founded a tech startup after leaving the Army. They’ve committed themselves to creating swim safe, hearing protection in the form of wind resistant earbuds. Although it’s a strenuous undertaking, they’re fully committed to creating the world’s most reliable communications systems.
Host Tim K. sits down in Colorado Springs, Colorado with Tu Lam who enjoyed a 23 year career in the Army, with 18 of those years in a Special Operations capacity. He went on to start an extremely successful tactical company known as “Ronin Tactics.” On the podcast Tu discusses his journey to positive mental health after decades of serving in some of the hottest spots in the world. Lam also speaks about the mastery of Bushido and his journey to live up to that distinct code.
To learn more about Tu Lam, read his legacy project, follow him on Instagram: @ronintactics and check out www.ronintactics.com. Also, check him out on Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare as the first ever character to be modeled directly after a veteran of the Global War On Terror.
In this episode of the podcast, host Tim K. sits down in Parker County, Texas with one of the co-founders of Bison Union, Buster Frierson. Buster is a cowboy who competes in ranch rodeos frequently each year all over the country. He's been to the WRCA (Working Ranch Cowboys Association) World Finals eight times where he’s been awarded Top Hand, Top Horse, and his team was named Reserve World Champions in 2009. Buster was one of the original master-minds behind Bison Union (formerly Peacemaker Trading) and has been an integral part of the company since its genesis. On the podcast Frierson discusses cowboy culture, the advent of Bison Union, and the ties that bind both the military and agricultural farm business so closely. Buster also speaks about the value of overcoming adversity through camaraderie, and the story of a life-changing hunt across the Arizona mesas.
In this episode, host Tim K. sits down in Southern California with Trinidad Garcia, the founder of Trinidad 3 Jeans. Marine, Devil Dog, the first to fight, hard charging, dragon slaying, elite killer to…. Fashion designer? It may not be the typical transition for a veteran but then again there is absolutely nothing typical about the veteran community. The beauty of the individual American serviceman’s (or woman) diverse backgrounds is something we’ve spoken of quite often on this podcast and in the projects.
Trinidad Garcia’s path from a successful career in the Marine Corps to a connoisseur of all things denim was anything but conventional but that’s probably part of the allure of his brand. Non-conventional, extreme attention down to every single stitch, and sourced as truly All-American denim. Tim and Trinidad speak on Garcia's initial foray into fashion and the struggles experienced in starting a business. They also discuss the success he's now found, and how he's giving back to the community that's given him a new lease on life.
Tim K. sits down with Retired Command Sergeant Major Donald McAlister in Western Massachusetts, while on set of an upcoming psychological thriller called The Curse of Sinchanee. Don first served in the invasion of Iraq in 2003, already a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, then subsequently thereafter deployed to Afghanistan three times. He served in the Army for 24 years, and his most difficult deployment was his second to last to the hellish landscape of the Arghandab River Valley. That particular area was an integral portion of Taliban-held territory, surrounding the regionally holy city of Kandahar. The lessons learned in that valley would be ones that have followed him even to the present day. Tim and Don discuss spending decades in the Army, how to balance family life, and what it’s like to reintegrate back into society after dedicating your life to the military.
This podcast is sponsored by Team House Studios. They are a company committed to empowering military veterans both in front and behind the camera. Co-founded by Filmmaker Steven Grayhm and Former NFL player and Green Beret Veteran Nate Boyer. Through real hands on training, Team House aims to create an equal opportunity environment for all genders, races and backgrounds.
On this episode of the podcast, Tim K. sits down in the Texas Hill Country with Johnny Hubbs who served in the United States Army’s famed 229th AHB (Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Air CAV) in a position he couldn’t have even imagined for himself, as an OJT (On the Job Training) Door Gunner on a Huey Gunship. Some, including Johnny, will tell you that the lifespan of a Door Gunner in Vietnam was approximately six seconds. On top of not receiving the allotted, technical flight training pre-deployment, the dangers that Johnny faced from the air varied anywhere from technical malfunctions to pilot error to enemy artillery and small arms fire. Couple that with the fact that Johnny’s missions fluctuated from mop-up duty to mail carrier for the front line troops to carrying the precious cargo of America’s infantry on night and day missions and you have an almost certain recipe for terror.
The environmental and logistical elements were constantly changing while the enemy maintained a ferocious approach. But, Hubbs’ dedication to his duty and fierce focus from the air served him well, and he completed his time in Vietnam… only to come home to a country that was torn from within. The mere presence of Johnny and his compatriots served as a reminder of a tumultuous time Americans wanted to leave in the past, and they would make him feel this the instant he returned to U.S. soil. Although Hubbs did spend some time talking about combat, most of this podcast remains true to the core mission and the discussion of reintegration; something that challenged Johnny mightily for decades after the war.
Our host, Tim K. sits down at the Black Rifle Coffee Company HQ with Logan Stark. Logan was an elite member of our United States Marine Corps Scout Snipers, a group known for its scathing psychological impact on the battlefield. To don the hogs tooth is to gain a singular status as a member of the cream of the crop, the dealers of death from a distance. Although his time of close calls in Afghanistan’s hellish landscape of Helmand Province certainly made a profound impact upon his life, ultimately the follow-up chapters were to be some of the more defining moments that have led him to a position as the digital content producer of the fastest-rising coffee brand in the nation. Throughout our podcast with Logan you will gain the humble insight of a truly exceptional artist, an eagle-eyed warrior who honed his craft on the battlefield then through that same unsurpassed attention to detail and a project that would forever change his life, found a new path to possibly one of the most coveted positions in content creation. Logan discusses everything from his time in Sangin, to his growth as a creative, to how he employs various creative ideologies when it comes to managing social media for Black Rifle Coffee.
Host, Tim K., sits down in Starkville, Mississippi to speak with one of his closest friends and fellow artists, Marine Veteran Jesse Phillips. Tim and Jesse met at Sundance Film Festival in 2016, both there as representatives of their veteran-related art projects. The two bonded over a shared sense of humor, their similar backgrounds, love of the greatest generation, affinity for art, and their faith. This podcast serves as a conversational piece on the subjects of ethical values, social media in our culture, how to be a great storyteller, and the veteran community. Jesse also shares on the matters of overcoming the pain of losing his father, his thoughts on leadership, and his personal ideals on being a husband and father. Phillips' work as a storyteller has spanned every medium from film work to photography to the world of podcasting. The two also share their thoughts on one of their greatest days as artists, spent with a legend of WWII. Rest In Peace, Mark Gordon "Doc" Hazard.
Check out his website jesserphillips.com, his Instagram: @thejesserphillips, and Facebook: Jesse Phillips.
Join us as our host Tim K. (Founder of The Veterans Project and The Caregiver Project) sits down in Austin with Green Beret, Tim Kennedy. Kennedy's resumè includes multiple combat deployments, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, his time in the octagon as one of the best MMA fighters in the world, host of multiple prime time TV shows, and ownership of numerous, successful business ventures. Tim and Tim discuss Kennedy's path into Special Operations, his successes and failures as a soldier, reintegration into polite society, conservation through hunting, and our current culture.
Our host and founder, Tim K., sits down with President and CEO of the GWOTMF (Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation), Michael Rodriguez, to talk about a lifetime of service. "Rod" spent 21 years in service to the nation, with most of it being in a Special Operations capacity. After finally being forced out due to his physical wounds, Rodriguez started a new path as the leader of one of our greatest historical initiatives to date. The Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation "...leads the efforts to build the National GWOT Memorial in our nation’s capital to commemorate and honor the members of the Armed Forces who served in support of our nation’s longest war, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Consistent with its mission, the Foundation will recognize and salute the service and sacrifices of all who served in defense of the nation in this conflict, as well as their families and friends." Tim and Michael talk about service in time of war, making it through one of the toughest courses in military history (18 Delta), and the journey to discovering a new identity post-service.
This podcast is sponsored by D-Dey Response Group, a tactical medicine company devoted to ensuring their clients receive the best possible training in preparation for the most strenuous real-world scenarios. Courses include marine medicine, tactical medicine, and elite weapons training. Check them out at d-dey.com.
Please be sure to check out the GWOTMF as well, at gwotmemorialfoundation.org, to find out what Michael and the team are up to in ensuring our GWOT legacies are never forgotten.
Our founder and host, Tim K., sat down with Rudy Reyes in Newport Beach, California to speak about his life lately. Rudy grew up in a merciless sequence of loveless behavior, one in which he found himself as a youth defending his brothers on the streets while being shuttled from one relative's home to another. Growing up in a rough neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri with few ways to break the cycle, Rudy turned to the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor as a beacon of hope layered in a structure of transformation. His path to becoming the warrior started as a youth, but the Marines would teach him how to harness his energy and shape him into the most efficient version of the Devil Dog, ready to take on the enemy at every turn. Like many veterans, Rudy's transition out of the Marine Corps wasn't seamless, but he found his identity again through a transcendent path into the world of the arts. He's an actor (HBO's Generation Kill, Apocalypse Man, Ultimate Survival Alaska), philanthropist, fitness expert and world renowned martial artist. Check out Rudy's philanthropic efforts with Force Blue Team, to learn more about how you can help former Special Operations warriors save the coral reefs.
This episode is sponsored by Mayday Hemp Company, a veteran (Marine Force Recon) owned CBD company devoted to bringing the purest form of CBD products to market.
Don Graves is a Marine Corps Veteran who fought in WWII and served in one of our bloodiest Pacific campaign battles, Iwo Jima. He was a member of the 5th Marine Division when he hit those black sand beaches at 19 years old, as a flamethrower. The education he was about to receive was one of a baptism into the inferno of combat, in a place where almost 7,000 Marines were killed and 20,000 wounded in six weeks of hellish battle. 335 men in Don's outfit hit the beach that day and only 18 made it out alive. Corporal Graves survived the battle but his greatest saving grace came after the war, with a statement of faith that changed his life forever. He's a nationally renowned speaker, minister, a singer/entertainer, and the last remaining of those 335 Marines in his outfit.
Check out oscarmike.org/pages/foundation to learn more about Oscar Mike Foundation and what they're doing for wounded and disabled veterans across the country.
