Veteran Resource Podcast

Brian Knowler has been a police officer for 17 years, working in Patrol, Community Response, Incident Command and Emergency Management, Media Relations, and Legal Services. In 2004 he was the first one on the scene of a fatal collision in which the driver who died was a close friend of Brian's. Brian buried the impact of that night until 2012, when he hit bottom physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually and was finally diagnosed with PTSD from this experience. He now speaks and writes extensively on topics around psychological health and trauma in the emergency response field, and has been consulted by media outlets across Canada. In March 2016, he published ‘On the Other Side of Broken – One Cop’s Battle With the Demons of PTSD.’ He is a member of the Police Advisory Group of Badge of Life Canada, an organization dedicated to furthering PTSD awareness and advocacy. Before pursuing policing as a career, Brian went to law school and trained as a lawyer, but never practiced. In 2010, Brian finally deci

Miles Migliara is a recent Communications graduate from Missouri Southern State University. The son of a retired U.S. Army soldier, Miles grew up on several military bases along the East coast and Midwest. During his medical evaluation for Marine Officer Candidate School, Miles discovered he was genetically induced as a Type 1 Diabetic, therefore ended his pursuit of military service. He is currently the Social Media Director and Head Editor at AMVETS (American Veterans), a leading veteran service organization with over 250,000 active members and numerous posts across the nation. Providing many services to veterans and advocating veteran-related legislation, AMVETS is headquartered in Lanham, MD. AMVETS, which is also known as American Veterans, is the largest and oldest veterans service organization that is open to and fights for all veterans and their families. AMVETS Mission Statement: To enhance and safeguard the entitlements for all American Veterans who have served honorably and to improve the quality o

On today's episode I talk about another podcast that you should check out called Cigars and Sea Stories.  I was asked by Mike to come on the show as a co-host for a series of episodes that will be all coming out in February.  The first in the series is already live so make sure you go and check it out. http://www.cigarsandseastories.com/category/podcast/

Charlotte DiBartolomeo is Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Red Kite Project. She earned a Master’s in Conflict Transformation with a specialty in Intercultural Service, Leadership & Management from the School for International Training Graduate Institute in Vermont. She has studied post war development in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and has served as an NGO delegate to the United Nations at the 2003 Economics Conference for Women. Charlotte has been a trainer and facilitator for twenty years working in corporate, government and academic sectors. She has done conflict coaching with managers, developed and instructs curricula for workforce development and transformational leadership, and facilitates dialogue processes within both the public and private sectors. Sam Stone is the Director of Red Kite Rising, the martial arts healing division dedicated to helping youth and adults resolve traumatic effects of PTSD and developmental trauma. He has written curriculum and instructs programs in the Philadelphia Scho

Josh Davidson is an Air Force Veteran who grew up in Tullahoma, TN. Josh currently runs his antique store, Exposed Treasures, and a photography studio, Josh Davidson Photography, on Kent Island on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Josh likes to use driftwood and old barnwood to make sculptures, artwork, furniture & more! Josh's passions, other than photography, also include acting and filmmaking. Opportunity is like signals coming into a satellite dish.  Most of the time you filter out most things that aren't important to you.  Once you know the direction that you want to go in, those filters are taken off and you will start to recognize new opportunities that are inline with your goals.  Be open to receiving these opportunities and you will be amazed by the "once in a lifetime opportunities" that you find on a regular basis.

Phil Randazzo is a second generation Sicilian who learned early on from his father that this country offers the greatest opportunities in the world. At a young age, he quickly learned the value of hard work. From busing tables at his father’s restaurants to working three summer jobs from age fifteen until graduating college, to starting his first company at age twenty-four, Phil has never shied away from hard work His time is currently being spent writing, consulting, and developing a National Entrepreneurship and Coaching program called American Dream U, held at military bases around the country. American Dream U is a nonprofit organization that assists the military transitioning into civilian life. The program, taught by some of the world’s best and most successful entrepreneurs, is designed to provide soldiers, airmen, sailors, marines, and coast guard personnel with the tools to obtain their dream jobs or start their own businesses.

A.C. Fuller is the author of THE ANONYMOUS SOURCE and the creator and host of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast, a weekly interview show featuring award-winning writers and publishing experts. He teaches English at Northwest Indian College near Seattle and has taught journalism at New York University. He has worked as a freelance reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal and New York Newsday. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College, where he received the John D. Lewis Prize for highest honors in political theory. Previously, he was a professional chef specializing in catering. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two children and is hard at work on the sequel to The Anonymous Source.

The Mission of Semper Fido's program is to unite wounded warriors suffering with PTSD with homeless, rescue shelter dogs, who are evaluated and deemed viable, to nurture a healing and rejuvenating bond between the two. The result is a positive, non judgmental, unconditional relationship desperately needed by both. Jeffrey’s passion for dog training developed throughout his career as a United States Marine. As he progressed, his appreciation for dogs and their capabilities grew. It was during his deployment to Iraq where he genuinely understood the unique bond that could be developed between a dog and its owner. This can best be described through an excerpt from a poem written by Beth Norman Harris titled ‘A Dog’s Prayer’…”Treat me kindly my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.”  Jeffrey is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) who specializes in treating trauma related disorders. Additionally, he is a combat veteran who has treated 

Lida Citroën is an international reputation management and branding specialist, often featured in MSNBC, Entrepreneur Magazine, Fortune Magazine, Forbes.com, Huffington Post, Harvard Business Review, Inc. Magazine, and CBS Moneywatch. As founder of LIDA360, Lida is passionate about helping our nation's veterans navigate the military-to-civilian career transition. She is a popular speaker at military installations and events on veteran hiring, sits on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Veteran Serving Organizations (NAVSO), volunteers with ESGR, and teaches in the TAP program at the US Air Force Academy, and leverages her 20 years in corporate branding to help employers recruit, on board and grow veteran employees. Lida's second book, "Your Next Mission: A personal branding guide for the military-to-civilian transition," is a powerful resource for transitioning military members. Lida is a regular contributor for Military.com and Entrepreneur.com on the topic of military transition, and is t

Joe Witte is the current Program Director for Bunker Labs PHL, an accelerator for veteran entrepreneurs. Joe is a former Captain in the US Army, Transportation Corps. He served for nine years as a reservist in logistics and completed a tour in Baghdad for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his outstanding service. He is also a volunteer for the Liberty USO serving on the Marketing and Communications committee. Joe is an Internet entrepreneur with a marketing and business development background in the digital and media industries. Joe is currently the VP of Global Business Development for ISEBOX, a cloud based communications content distribution platform. Joe is a proud husband and father of 5 kids. He graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Marketing. Bunker Labs was founded in 2014 by CEO Todd Connor, an Operation Iraqi Freedom Navy veteran and successful entrepreneur.  Bunker Labs PHL, a nonprofit 501c3 accelerator for veteran and military entrepreneu

Terrance Gant is a 12 year Marine Corps veteran. Deployed to Afghanistan twice and Iraq three times, then medically separated from the Marine Corps in 2010, Terrance says "That's when the wheels feel off". Extreme drinking because of loss of purpose and nightmares cost him his marriage, kids, and job. February 15,2015 Terrance even attempted suicide. After months and months of VA care, he started looking to Veteran Service organizations for help. Wounded Warrior project got him out of the house. Save A Warrior saved his soul. Team RWB filled the athletic gap in his life. The Mission Continues and Team Rubicon filled the service gap in his life.  Today Terrance is no longer just surviving in life but he's thriving and dedicated to empowering the lives of veterans and helping them take back their lives.

A chance viewing of a short news story prompted Peter A. Cline to create a life-changing charity for veterans injured on the battlefield. VETMotorsports, Inc., provides wounded veterans struggling to re-assimilate to the civilian world the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with professional motorcycle and auto racing teams. The charity has helped more than 130 veterans since 2012. “I saw an opportunity after watching a TV short on BBC America about how injured warfighters were using motorsports to recover from battlefield injuries,” Cline said. “I asked myself why someone was not providing a ‘hands-on’ opportunity for veterans. From that point on, it was a matter of doing research and having some discussions with sponsors and friends to work out the details.” Cline, a former professional motorcycle racer, spends time attending and facilitating race experiences all across the U.S. during the racing season, while focusing on fundraising and outreach to strategic partners during the off season. Cline volunt

Don Hutcheson is a lifelong entrepreneur, inventor, author and coach. He hosts the daily podcast: “Discover Your Talent—Do What You Love,” which he created to help you find your true talents and use them to build a career of success, satisfaction and freedom. He’s never had a “boss” and has created 6 innovative companies in advertising, publishing, coaching and career planning—and now on the Internet—over the last 35 years.

Dr. Bourke is the Executive Director of the NLP Research and Recognition Project, and Coordinator to the NLP Community. After the 9-11 attacks in 2001, Dr. Bourke designed and implemented a rehabilitation plan for 800 World Trade Center building survivors. He found that he was able to change the symptoms of PTS survivors he was treating with an NLP-derived protocol much quicker and more effectively than the 30 or so therapists he was working with. He founded the Not-For-Profit Corporation to advance the science of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and bring the research up to a scientific standard necessary for more widespread implementation. He brings with him more than 33 years of professional experience in Executive, Clinical and Research roles. The Research and Recognition Project (R&RP) conducts rigorous, controlled clinical studies to validate therapeutic techniques that support the widespread use of innovative and cost-effective clinical care for traumatic stress and a number of other psychiatric disor

Jean South is a Marine spouse, daughter of two Army veterans, and former FBI Special Agent. During her career she has had the honor of working alongside our nation’s warriors. As the President and CEO of Hire Served , Jean gives companies a competitive advantage to compete for veteran talent by helping bridge the culture gap between military candidates and company recruiters. She also provides career coaching to veterans, teaching them how to use LinkedIn to network more effectively as they transition into their next careers after the military. Jean serves as the Veteran Outreach Director for Bunker Labs Philadelphia connecting with veterans and Veteran Service Organizations in the Philadelphia metro region to provide entrepreneurship opportunities to veterans and their spouses.

Joanna is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. She served as a Field Radio Operator (0621) and as a Recruiter (8411). She served honorably from 1998-2007 (E-6 SSgt) and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 with 3D MAW, MWSS 373, MCAS Miramar. Having to overcome her own transition obstacles; Joanna made the commitment to help other Veteran s transition more successfully. She became a well-known veteran advocate in the AZ community with her previous work at ASU’s Pat Tillman Veterans Center (2012-2015) and her many involvements in the non-profit/volunteer space. She works tirelessly to help bridge the divide between transitioning veterans and the civilian community. She serves as a voluntary board member with ASU’s Veterans Chapter of the Alumni, S.E.E.4 Vets and the AZ Veterans Court Mentor Project. She volunteers to help raise funds for the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund—AZ campaign, teaches career transition curriculum for Fourblock.org, and is a member of the Jar Head Professionals

Wally Carmichael is a husband, father, retired Army Medic, Department of the Army Operations Specialist and Podcast Host of the Men of Abundance Podcast. He was born and raised in Phoenix Arizona and joined the Army at the age of 20 for the education benefits, opportunity to travel and to escape what was clearly a destructive lifestyle. It only took 24 years to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. And he was able to traveled to 23 countries on five continents. Wally has lived in Panama, Germany, Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, and currently lives on the beach in Hawaii. Wally first started in the job force in a slaughterhouse at the tender age of 16, no pun intended. He has also started and operated many business ventures from Real Estate, Sales and installation of satellite systems, residential cleaning and internet marketing. Next to family, his greatest passion is hosting his Men of Abundance Podcast, The Pay it Forward Community, where he has conversations with other Abundant leaders as

Joe Mornini has spent a lifetime going from adventure to adventure. He holds a master's degree in Environmental Education from Goddard College and has been involved in outdoor education for almost four decades. A Special Education Resource Teacher and counselor, Joe is the coordinator of a program for seriously emotionally disturbed adolescents at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, MD. For 30+ years, Joe’s stress-buster has been whitewater kayaking after school on the nearby Potomac River. Always the environmentalist and adventurer, Joe has motorcycled across the country three times, walked across Ireland, walked across the state of Maryland and paddled rivers around the country. In 2004, Joe and kayaking buddy, Mike McCormick, recruited friends and local paddling businesses to support their idea to teach whitewater kayaking to wounded soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They named the program Team River Runner (TRR) and the goal has been to provide

Michael J. Penney is the co-founder of Cigars and Sea Stories, a podcast devoted to sharing stories with veterans who are adding value to the world. He’s the creator of the “5 Paragraph Business Plan” an actionable approach to business. March of ‘16 he presented at TEDx Raleigh, “What’s Your IED: How to Add Value to During Life's Explosive Situations” - in an effort to bridge the life of veterans and civilians. Michael is a former Sergeant and Marine veteran. He served 8 years as an infantryman and weapons instructor. His service spans three combat tours and two wars - Ramadi iraq (05’/07’), Kajaki/ Sangin Afghanistan (2011). He served as a weapons instructor, having personally trained over 5000 Marines and sailors in rifle and pistol combat marksmanship, foreign weapons, small arms and precision weapons marksmanship and tactics. Having successfully navigated the transition from service member to veteran, Michael now supports fellow veterans seeking the entrepreneurial lifestyle. He currently works as pro

As the Program Manager for In Gear Career, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes, Amanda Patterson Crowe serves as an advisor to career-minded military spouses in networking chapters across the globe.  In Gear Career's 20+ chapters work to create connections in their local communities and serve as a jumping off point for military spouses moving to the area and looking for professional connections. As a U.S. Navy Veteran and now military spouse, Amanda also puts her own experience to work answering career questions in the new column "Dear Career", a collaboration between Military.com and Hiring Our Heroes. More of Amanda's writing on military spouse career issues can also be found monthly on NextGen Military Spouse.