Return to Base | A VeteranLife Podcast

Welcome back to another episode of Return to Base! Today’s special guest is Josh Duntz, a former Navy EOD tech and current Sales Manager at Shift.org. If you don’t know, Shift.org is a company that helps veterans get introduced to the tech world and the opportunities within. Tech companies need veterans as much as they need engineers, they just don’t know it yet. Shift.org helps companies understand the value that vets bring to work everyday and helps vets tell their story in a way that the private sector understands. Josh and I talk about his career in the Navy and what led him to transition after 10 years. We also dive into how a pandemic can really put the breaks on a newly transitioned veteran’s career goals.If you would like to connect with Josh, his LinkedIn is https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaduntz/ . You can also find out more about Shift by visiting http://shift.org .Enjoy the Podcast.This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

After a short break, we’re back with another episode of Return to Base! This time, we’re talking to former Army Cav Officer and novelist Brett Allen.After graduating college and being commissioned through ROTC, Brett went on to serve in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. Luckily, having grown up in Michigan he was used to the ridiculously cold winters and snow. Then the army saw fit to send him to another ridiculously cold location half-way around the world - the mountains of Southern Afghanistan.There’s something about the military; soldiers are plucked from their lives and inserted into a delegation of characters from every corner of the country and world. What better to do than take note and turn them into characters in your satirical novel? That’s exactly what Brett did in his novel Kilroy Was Here, a semi-autobiographical take on his time in Afghanistan.We talk about how 9/11 played a part in his decision to serve, how being plucked from the Army’s best job, Platoon Leader, is like being “sodomized,” and how if you shove 20-something peeps into your mouth you will be laughed at, and may me yelled at.You can pick up a copy of Kilroy Was Here at Amazon and wherever you buy your books.This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

On this installment of Return to Base, I welcome Dave Duffy. Dave is a retired Special Forces officer who now, in addition to doing business development in the defense contractor industry, is the proud owner/operator of two Tropical Smoothie franchises in Columbia, SC. Dave and I dig into his service, to include his time at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he played football before moving onto rugby. We discuss how his career in Special Forces helped him build a network that continues to do right by him even 14 years after leaving the service. It really is “who you know;” his network and experience helped him land several jobs contracting for the U.S. Military. Eventually, Dave and his wife found an investment opportunity with a business they frequently patronized - the Tropical Smoothie. Dave walks us through what being a franchise owner is like, the day to day, the annoying, and the rewards. As a fellow veteran, I’ve received way too many calls asking me if I was interested in becoming a franchise owner. Why? Well, as it turns out, veterans are great business owners and franchise partners. Franchises understand that and see veteran ownership as a risk mitigation strategy.So sit back. Relax. Blend some fruit. And welcome Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Dave Duffy.If you are interested in connecting with Dave to ask him about defense contracting or franchise ownership, his LinkedIn is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-duffy/This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

On this episode of Return to Base, we talk to the CEO of the Purpose Built Families Foundation, Seth Eisenberg. Seth and company have been offering reparative services through the Operation Sacred Trust (OST) Supportive Services for Veteran Families program serving homeless and low-income Veterans in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills (PAIRS) classes offered nationwide under the "PAIRS Essentials" and "Warrior to Soul Mate" brands helping couples overcome marital instability. Purpose Built Families Foundation is a nationally accredited nonprofit that evolved from PAIRS Foundation, tackling underlying causes of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, addiction and suicide.  We talk about three relationship skills veterans can use to heal and grow; plus we talk about how Will Smith's reaction to Chris Rock's jokes was an example of "leakage"You can find out more at https://www.purposebuiltfamilies.com/ and https://www.411veterans.com/.On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ThePAIRSFoundation and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/pairsusa.

On this episode of Return to Base, we meet up with Cliff Walker, a Veteran of the United States Navy and Air Force and a retired firefighter. Cliff is also the founder and CEO of the USS Battle Series, which is a functional fitness competition that brings a new level of awareness in terms of health, fitness, and mental wellbeing for our United States Armed Forces, First Responders, and those in our local communities who support our brave men and women. The cool twist? They do these events on the decks of some of our nation’s most iconic navy warships! How awesome is that?Be sure to keep up with USS Battle Series on their socials on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

On this episode of Return to Base, we welcome Ricky and Leo of Task Force Hydro 1, a 501C3 non-profit organization focused on veterans and first responders. TF Hydro 1’s mission is to come together as a community of waterman for Active Duty Military, Veteran and 1st Responders to actively help them cope with PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety and suicide by creating meaningful connections and sharing the healing powers of the ocean, rivers and lakes via outdoor physical and recreational activities.Here’s the elephant in the room, Ricky is not only a Special Forces veteran, he’s also my big brother! He and the co-founder of TF Hydro 1 are doing great things on the northern coast of Florida, and as they like to say, are “bringing the stoke”.You can find out more about TF Hydro 1 events at their webpage https://www.taskforcehydro1.org/ and can even make a tax-deductible donation at https://www.taskforcehydro1.org/make-a-donationFind them on Facebook, or Meta if you’re a weirdo at https://www.facebook.com/tfhydro1On Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/tfhydro1/And on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/tfhydro1/This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

On this episode of Return to Base, we talk to Dean Wegner, the founder and CEO of Authentically American, a Veteran owned, American made, premium apparel brand. Dean graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point where he played hockey before going on to fly helicopters. During his service, Dean did what very few aviation officers get to do, attend and pass the grueling U.S. Army Ranger School, where he learned first hand that he preferred a life in the sky over an existence in the dirt.Upon transitioning from the army, Dean did what many junior grade officers do, he enlisted the help of a JMO headhunter and went to work for a top tier consulting firm. He soon realized that consulting meant seeing his family even less than he had become accustomed to. He needed to make a change and soon realized that entrepreneurship had always been something he desired.In 2017 Dean created Authentically American with a vision to build an iconic American brand that is truly American made. So far he’s weathered getting out of the starting blocks, and a global pandemic; but, Dean and his team continue to work hard to create amazing American made products.You can shop for Authentically American products at https://www.authenticallyamericanbrand.us/discount/FOUNDER. Be sure to use the coupon code FOUNDER to collect a 25% discount off of your total purchase.You can also reach Dean at his LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-wegner-9874065/And be sure to follow Authentically American at the links below.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authentically_american/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthenticallyAmericanCo/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Auth_AmericanThis episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

On this episode of Return to Base we talk to former Army Ranger Alex Brammer.Alex served as an infantryman in the illustrious 75th Ranger Regiment before transitioning to “the dark side.” that is going to West Point and being commissioned as an officer. Alex and I go into great depth about his service in the Rangers and what led him to leave the military.While transitioning, Alex’s girlfriend saw him struggling with what his next career move would be. Then, she said: “why don’t you work in BITCOIN?” Being obsessed with bitcoin, it seemed so obvious, but also so unattainable. What the hell does it mean to “work in bitcoin?” Alex tells us how he sorted that out - on this episode of RETURN to BASE.If you’d like to connect with Alex, he can be found on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-brammer/To find out more about bitcoin, Alex recommends the following:The Bitcoin White Paper, https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdfThe Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking, available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1119473861/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_V1Z1D57K740DEMT16JHVThe Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World, available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002XVDFOW/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MV48JP94W4RRF7NVBZ6XThis episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

On this episode of Return to Base we are pleased to present former U.S. Navy SEAL Commander and the co-host of the Men Talking Mindfulness Podcast, Job Macaskill.Jon served for 26 years in the Navy, mostly in the SEALs, before transitioning in 2020 and embarking on his civilian journey. Along the way, Jon’s journey was altered by a global pandemic and coming to the realization he was working in the wrong industry. YET, Jon followed some sage advice and got a lot of help along the way before realizing that what he was MEANT to do was something he ENJOYED doing. The rest, as they say, is history.While transitioning, Jon was introduced to meditation by a therapist. Skeptical as he was, he gave it a shot and stuck with it. This practice opened his eyes to the concept of mindfulness and the benefits of living in the present. Before long, he partnered with a New York hippie to found the Men Talking Mindfulness Podcast which he airs LIVE on LinkedIn, and in the future, YouTube. Talk about a bold move.To learn more about Jon and the MtM podcast visit https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/Check them out on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/mentalkingmindfulness/Connect with Jon on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmacaskill/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/men-talking-mindfulness-podcast/Finally, to check out the work Jon is doing with Dr. Theresa Larson and the Mindfulness and Movement Experience, visit www.movement-rx.com/mtm This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

On this episode of Return to Base, we get N.A.K.E.D. with former Navy SEAL and the founder of NAKED Warrior Recovery, William Branum.William served 26 years in the United States Navy, where he deployed 10 times as a SEAL. Like many Veterans, when William retired, his years of service caught up to him both physically and mentally. Again, like many Veterans, William self-medicated to turn off the pain and voices. Once he realized it was taking several glasses of vodka a night to fall asleep, he knew there had to be a different way. After trying a bottle of CBD oil, he noticed an improvement in his general well being. This started a journey which led him to starting his own CBD company and getting into the N.A.K.E.D. mindset.N - Never QuitA - Accept FailureK - Kill MediocrityE - Expose FearsD - Do the WorkYou can find NAKED Warrior products online at https://nw-recovery.com/ and learn more about how living NAKED can help you unlock your potential at http://www.5sealsecrets.com/ William Branum and NAKED Warrior Recovery can be found at the socials below.William’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/william.branum.712NAKED’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nakedwarriorrecoveryCBDNAKED’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nakedwarriorrecovery/NAKED’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/RecoveryNakedNAKED’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfSUXxPWP2-jumVKzQhgNA/featuredNAKED’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nakedwarriorrecoveryWilliam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-branum/This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

On this episode of Return to Base we are pleased to present Alex Bertelli, the CEO, founder, and inventor of HavenLock.Before kicking down doors, literally, on Shark Tank, Alex was flying the world’s most advanced helicopters as a member of the fabled 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment -- The Night Stalkers. It was there that he first ideated what would become the HavenLock. Alex noted bad guys overseas were fortifying compounds by welding steel bars at the bottom, middle, and top of their doors. What a novel concept.Back home in Tennessee, Alex’s neighborhood saw a rash of burglaries where the criminals literally kicked in the door rendering the dead-bolt basically useless. An average sized man can kick a door open in just 4-5 kicks. Alex recalled his experience overseas and HavenLock was born. Havenlock is a home security device that installs at the base of the door and prevents intruders from accessing your home by kicking in the front door. The idea is simple, create an actuating wedge that drives the force of an unwanted entry into the ground. After years of development, the world was introduced to this innovative product when Alex literally did a flying kick through a door on national television. Though they didn’t secure a deal, HavenLock gained national notoriety.To learn more about HavenLock you can visit their website: https://havenlock.com/For information about the HavenLockdown version designed for schools, places of worship, or other public places visit: https://havenlockdown.com/Check them out on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/haven_lock/Connect with Alex on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexbertelli/This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

On this episode of Return to Base, we teamed up with Eric Horton and Michele Olive.Eric Horton retired from the U.S. Army after 26 years as a logistician. As he was experiencing his transition into the civilian world he was forced to take stock of what really mattered to him. It took pulling over on the side of the interstate and making the decision to leave a toxic job to lead him to where he is today, the Executive Director of Veteran Service for the State of Tennessee. Along the way, Eric networked, discovered the power of LinkedIn, and has helped thousands of veterans through his transition hacks. He’s a great friend and an invaluable asset to veterans all over the world.Michele “One L” Olive is the Sr. Director of Alumni Engagement at the Commit Foundation. Through the Commit Foundation, Michele has encouraged hundreds of veterans to discover WHO they think they are as they navigate through the world of military transition. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker she worked at a military base in Virginia where she discovered a passion for helping servicemembers. You can connect with the Commit Foundation at https://www.commitfoundation.org/,Connect with Eric Horton at:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericchorton/Connect with Michele at:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-b-olive/This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

CONTENT WARNING On this episode of Return to Base, we welcome Army Veteran Scott DeLuzio. Scott is the host of the DriveOn Podcast and the author of the book Surviving Sonwhich is available wherever you prefer to purchase books.  In Surviving Son he speaks about his service as a National Guard infantryman, and about losing his younger brother just miles away while they were both deployed to Afghanistan. Let this be a warning - some audience members may find this conversation troubling. As the host of the DriveOn Podcast, Scott is committed to connecting with current and prior service members and civilians to discuss and share personal triumphs, life experiences and emotional hardships to give hope and strength to the Military community.  Scott DeLuzio and DriveOn can be found on the socials listed below.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/driveonpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/driveonpodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/driveonpodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkO9JA_H1z2A8zbvadyhglQ If you are having a difficult time as a result of your service - remember, there is always someone to talk to. You can check out the blog I wrote about recognizing the symptoms of PTSD, or listen to our podcast with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. Also, the VA Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 ext 1. This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

On this episode of Return to Base, we welcome Natalie Oliverio. Natalie is a veteran of the United States Navy and the founder of Military Talent Partners, a company that cultivates military talent through mentorship and career discovery. After working as a corporate recruiter for over a decade, Natalie recognized that a gap existed between what the military was able to prepare service-members for, and what they needed in order to be successful post-military. Natalie made it her mission to build and nurture mentorships while sourcing great opportunities for veterans and their spouses. Natalie welcomes you to follow Military Talent Partners on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at the links below and her personal LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieoliverio/.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Military-Talent-Partners-145763452962363/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MilTalentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/military.talent.partners/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/military-talent-partners/This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

Some men see world events and say “someone should do something about that”; other men, men like Nate Boyer say “I should do something about that.”On episode 3 of Return to Base, we welcome former Green Beret, Nate Boyer.Nate is what some would call a renaissance man. Moved by a Time Magazine article, Nate bought a one-way ticket into the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur. Once there, he was put to work wherever they needed a set of hands and a compassionate human. His travel to the Darfur is but a sampling of his extraordinary journey which would see him earn the Green Beret, have a go at the NFL, and sample the bright lights of Hollywood.Nate co-founded Merging Vets and Players in 2015 to address the challenges that combat veterans and former professional athletes face in transition once the uniform comes off.Nate’s Instagram.This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

In this episode of Return to Base, we welcome Alden Mills. Alden graduated from the United States Naval Academy and went on to serve as a Navy SEAL before leaving the military, inventing The Perfect Pushup, and authoring the bestselling books Be Unstoppable and Unstoppable Teams.It was no accident that Alden learned the secrets to being unstoppable. From being the kid with two left feet, scoring goals on his own team in every ball sport imaginable, to rowing crew at the Naval Academy, Alden learned to achieve despite great adversity. Lucky enough to receive a billet into BUDs training out of college, Alden suffered through self-doubt, persistent cadre, and uniforms that literally ripped his skin from his thighs to become a Navy SEAL. Upon leaving the service, Alden attended business school and became a successful entrepreneur and CEO of Perfect Fitness, the 2009 Inc. 500 fastest-growing consumer-product company. Alden founded BeUnstoppable.com in 2021 to help people master the code to succeed at anything, and is a sought after keynote speaker.This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

In this, the inaugural episode of Return to Base podcast, we welcome Dr. Bessel van der Kolk M.D.. Van der Kolk is a psychiatrist that has been conducting research in the field of Traumatic Stress Studies for decades. He’s also the best selling author of The Body Keeps the Score.In Return to Bases’ first ever podcast with Bessel van der Kolk, we discuss the nature of trauma, how trauma rewires the brain as a defense mechanism, and touch on various treatment options. We also discuss the recent collapse of the 20 year mission in Afghanistan.Van der Kolk got his start treating veterans while working at the Boston VA Hospital where he observed extremely troubled veterans of the Vietnam War. Having not found any academic literature to prepare one for treating these veterans, van der Kolk began proposing studies that would examine traumatic memories and PTSD. After being rejected by the Veterans Administration, who stated ““It has never been shown that PTSD is relevant to the mission of the Veterans Administration,” van der Kolk left the VA and went to work at Harvard’s Massachusetts Mental Health Center. There he encountered trauma of a different source; namely, child abuse and family violence. It was then he realized that trauma is trauma, regardless of the method of acquirement. Since then van der Kolk has researched and advocated for alternative forms of treatment that help those suffering from PTSD. Treatments like yoga, or mindfulness, and neuro-feedback. Sign up for Dr. van der Kolk's 4-week seminar HERE. Don't forget to use coupon code VETLIFECOMMUNITY to save $150 on registration.This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.