Welcome to The McKinney Podcast, where we celebrate the people and happenings that make our city "Unique By Nature." Our guest for this episode is Ramil Paredes. The MCKPOD is presented by RiskWell and FredShots Photography and recorded at the RiskWell studio in McKinney. Your hosts are James Jenkins and Fred Mahusay. Key Topics: Growing up in a political family in the Philippines and immigrating to Los Angeles Experiencing culture shock and adjusting to life in an American middle school Joining the Marine Corps after high school and serving in Okinawa and 29 Palms Becoming a Catholic lay minister while active duty and leading field services Launching the Hat Show podcast and building a loyal audience across platforms Promoting responsible gambling and data-driven discipline at the casino Using winnings to travel, give back, and support community causes Leading the Collin County Marine Corps League and expanding Toys for Tots Providing direct support to Marines in crisis and building local partnerships Advocating for veterans while growing networks across civic and business life Resources Mentioned: https://www.legacypreparatory.com  Visit https://www.mckinneypodcast.com to subscribe to the email list and never miss an episode. Join the #MCKPOD community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast and engage with your neighbors and fellow fans of the show. Check out the #MCKPOD YouTube Channel to watch the video versions of our episode and see lots of additional content: https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast James and Fred would love to hear from you with any comments, questions, or ideas! Email the show at mail@mckinneypodcast.com and you may be featured on a future mailbag segment.