In this dual-guest episode, we explore the anatomy of entrepreneurship through two lenses—academic expertise and lived experience. Our first guest, Blake Schwank, embodies the resilience and grit it takes to launch a business during uncertain times. After losing his job in the fallout of the dot-com bubble, Blake leaned on his military background and passion for service to build Colorado Computer Support, a nationally recognized IT firm supporting healthcare and defense sectors. He shares the hardships of transitioning out of uniform, the loneliness of starting a business, and the mindset shifts that make all the difference. Joining him is Dr. Larry Plummer, Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at UCCS, whose research and teaching focus on the entrepreneurial mindset, strategy, and the socioeconomic dynamics of business creation. With clarity and precision, Dr. Plummer outlines what entrepreneurship really means—beyond the buzzwords. He helps us reframe it as a discipline, not just a dream, offering insights on risk, motivation, and what separates a great idea from a viable venture. Together, Blake and Larry bridge theory and practice, showing that entrepreneurship isn’t reserved for the fearless or the lucky—it’s a path shaped by reflection and perseverance. Whether you're a veteran contemplating your next chapter, a young professional toying with a business idea, or simply someone craving autonomy and impact, this episode is your invitation to start building. You're not alone.

Ray Linbaugh is one of the few survivors of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines of the U.S. Vietnam War. They were called The Walking Dead—not from Hollywood, but from the hardened jungles of Vietnam, where the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines earned one of the highest casualty rates of any unit in U.S. military history. In this powerful episode, we sit down with a veteran of this fabled battalion to explore what it truly means to walk through fire and come out the other side. It’s a conversation about grit, sacrifice, and survival—one that echoes far beyond the battlefield. Through the lens of lived experience, we unpack how these Marines carried the weight of their legacy, how war shaped their minds, and how they continue to serve in silence today. Perspective is earned in the trenches of life—and this story is no exception.

Retired Colonel, Bob McLauhglin is the Executive Director of the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, as well as the former Chief of Staff of US forces Afghanistan and Fort Carson Garrison Commander. In this discussion we explore the mindset of the “Soldier for Life” not as a slogan, but as a philosophy. Service doesn’t retire. It transforms. And those who continue to give, whether through mentoring, volunteering, or simply showing up for someone in need, often find that in healing others, they begin to heal themselves. After 28 years in the U.S. Army—serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and across the globe—Bob could have stepped back. Instead, he stepped forward, founding and leading Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, a national model for veteran reintegration and community healing.

Hollywood Film Producer Tyler Kindred leads the Light Shop LA, a production studio that crafts commercials for brands across the globe and music videos for major record labels and stars like Beyonce. Tyler recently released Abbey Gate, a short film born from the harrowing real-life escape of his wife during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Dr. Eric Abbott is an Air Force Veteran and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. He is currently working as a board-certified family medicine physician with Optum Medical. Mental health is a common subject these days, but a less common topic of discussion are the detrimental effects that not taking care of your mental health can have on your overall well-being. We are all busy, we are all stressed out, and things don’t seem to be getting easier. So, let’s learn about how we can lower our stress levels while maintaining our busy schedule and, understand the dangers if we don’t.

Dr. Tom Francis is a seasoned psychologist, educator, and executive coach whose career bridges the academic, corporate, and creative worlds. Holding a Psy.D. in Organizational Leadership and an M.A. in Psychology from the University of the Rockies, he has spent over a decade teaching undergraduate and graduate psychology courses at institutions such as Pikes Peak Community College and CSU-Pueblo. Known for his engaging, inclusive teaching style and consistently high student evaluations, Dr. Francis brings humor, empathy, and intellectual depth to subjects ranging from Abnormal Psychology to Leadership Ethics. Outside the classroom, Dr. Francis is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and a longtime facilitator for the Center for Creative Leadership, where he has guided hundreds of senior leaders through transformative coaching engagements.

Sam Westfall is an Army Veteran and passionate bow hunter. After being medically retired from the military following a debilitating injury as a tank mechanic, Sam struggled to find his place. It wasn’t until a friend put a bow in his hand for the first time that Sam started to feel the vivaciousness of life again. Sam tells us about one of his bear hunts, as well as why he made the morally driven decision to switch from rifle to bow hunting.

Retired Colonel, Bob McLauhglin is the Executive Director of the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, as well as the former Chief of Staff of US forces Afghanistan and Fort Carson Garrison Commander. In this episode, we’re discussing Leadership. Whether you are a parent, member of an organization, or an individual trying to achieve your goals, being an effective leader plays a critical role in the success of each one of these situations.

Nicole Weis is a licensed professional counselor and licensed addiction counselor. She manages the Milestones mental health clinic, a resource center located within the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Nicole is also the founder of the Greater Resilience Toolkit, or GRIT program, an online course that she describes as basic first aid for social support.

Kirsten Belaire is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor. Her role is the Director of Behavioral Health at Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center where she provides therapy to Active Duty, Guard, Reserves, Veterans, and their families. In this episode we talk about how to navigate difficult relationships with those we love. Issues like differing personalities, needs, and expectations, along with the need for constant communication and compromise can complicate relationships.

Equine therapy, also known as equine-assisted therapy, utilizes the unique relationship between humans and horses to promote healing and self-discovery. It encompasses various activities with horses, such as grooming, feeding, and riding, all while under the guidance of a mental health or physical therapy professional. The goal is to leverage the horse's natural qualities and behavior to help individuals develop emotional regulation, confidence, and social skills. In this episode Alexander Varn, a troop psychologist with the German Armed Forces, dives deep into the science, biology, and theories as to why this breakthrough healing modality is so effective, while also sharing inspirational stories of real-life case studies along the way. Types of equine therapy mentioned in the episode: 1) Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: Focuses on mental health issues, with individuals working with a licensed therapist and a horse specialist. 2) Hippotherapy: Utilizes the horse's movement to improve physical, occupational, and speech therapy goals. 3) Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL): Helps individuals develop life skills through interactions with horses.   Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:23 Meet Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Varn 7:39 The Origins of Equine Therapy 25:37 The Science and Biology, Theory 1 39:54 Horse Live in the Present, Humans Do Not 41:58 Overcoming Obstacles, Theory 2 1:04:18 Horses Are Naturally Calm. Theory 3 1:14:50 Healing for Couples 1:17:08 A Success Story 1:24:23 The Future of Equine Therapy 1:36:32 An Autism Case Study 1:44:51 First Experience with a Horse 1:53:17 Words of Encouragement   Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/g_ylJ5iTsn0   Resources: https://www.veteranscenter.org/ https://remountfoundation.org/   You’re not alone.   #MilitaryCommunity #VeteranSupport #PatriotTalk #VeteranMentalHealth #LifeAfterService #MilitaryTransition #ptsd #ptsdawareness #VetLife #USArmy #USMC #USNavy #USAF #CoastGuard #MilitaryLife #Veterans #MilitaryPodcast #VetTalk #VeteranVoices #HonoringHeroes #PodcastLife #VeteranStories #RealTalk #MilitaryMinds #vetpodcast #podcast #motivation #supportourtroops

Scott Wilson is a pastor of 32 years, a successful businessman and entrepreneur, and a father of four. In this intimate discussion, we talk through the importance of fostering a community and loving one another while working through dilemmas that may come up along the way. How can I love others when I don’t even love myself? Where do I vent my emotions when it seems like everyone else is dumping theirs onto me? How do I know God is real? These answers, as well as an abundance of wisdom, ahead in the episode.

Jonny is the Executive Director of Wild Warrior Adventure, a non-profit organization dedicated to healing our nation’s warriors through fly fishing. After partaking in some of the most violent 15 months ever documented during the war on terror in Afghanistan, Jonny struggled to stay grounded while transitioning back into civilian life. ”The Valley of Death”, formally known as the Korangal Valley, is located in Dara-I-Pech District of Kunar Province, eastern Afghanistan. Jonny Benton, a former Army Airborne Infantryman, shares his intimate story with this valley and paints a picture of how this place earned its nickname.

Dr. Eric Abbott, a board-certified family medicine physician, earned his medical degree from the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and undergraduate degree from Colorado College. Dr. Abbott is also a United States Air Force veteran, having served 25 years. As a former flight commander, he has extensive leadership experience. Dr. Mike Hjelkrem, board-certified gastroenterologist and internal medicine physician, is a Retired Colonel from the US Army. He served for 21 years and accumulated a multitude of military accolades.

Kirsten Belaire is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor. Her role is the Director of Behavioral Health at Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center where she provides therapy to Active Duty, Guard, Reserves, Veterans, and their families. In this episode, we try to answer the question ”how do we understand PTSD?” It starts with understanding your emotions.

Have you ever had a moment in life when you had nothing else to lose and just said ”what the heck, let’s do it?” This is the motto of Retired Lieutenant Colonel Joseph “M9” Markusfeld is a now a commercial pilot and former Special Operations Aircraft Commander. A US Air Force Academy Graduate Class of 1998, M9 was assigned to as a KC-135RT pilot at McConnell Air Force Base Kansas where he quickly qualified as a Special Operations Air Refueling Pilot and became one of the first aircrew deployed in response to 9/11. He would fly combat missions in the opening night of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and later as a Special Operations Aircraft Commander in the opening night of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. In 2007, during deployment he partnered with the Iraqi Air Force at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Iraq to stand-up the first ever Pilot Training Squadron in a combat zone. Following his return he was selected to stand-up Air Education Training Command’s Special Missions/Irregular Warfare Branch as the first Chief of Special Missions/Irregular Warfare Standardization and Evaluation. He would spend the next five years deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and Ukraine embedding with our coalition partners to develop and sustain their nascent Air Forces.

Dave Profit is the Founder of mission of American Heroes In Action, a therapeutic adventures program that provides outdoor experiences to American heroes including combat wounded veterans, injured firefighters and injured members of law enforcement. Dave was inspired to create this organization after observing soldiers mailing home their Purple Heart medals while he was working in Iraq. Today, American Heroes In Action has enabled 431 participants across 125 adventures to experience the healing power of nature.

Billy Jack Barrett and his wife Anne Barrett helped found the non-profit The Remount Foundation an equine therapy program that helps veterans struggling with PTSD. Billy Jack Barrett, a legend in the equine industry, and former Manager for 35 years at the USAF Academy Stables. Anne Barrett is a World Champion Dressage Rider, trainer and educator who attended and ran Meredith Manor International Equestrian Center.

Keith Hairston, a Navy Veteran, talks about his struggles with addiction, recovery, and resiliency. From the Beirut bombing of 1983, to the death of his own daughter, Keith walks us through how he overcame situations that most could not even fathom.

Adam Armstrong, a Veterans Service Officer with the Department of Veterans Affairs, talks about overcoming addiction, his faith and finding community.