VET S.O.S. Presents Operation Startup

In this powerful episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight, host Maurice Murphy sits down with U.S. Army combat veteran Philip T. Ayles, founder of Ayles Solutions LLC. From a rocky post-military transition to creating a mission-driven consulting company in Jacksonville, FL, Philip shares how emotional intelligence, veteran advocacy, and holistic coaching became his compass for i...

Todd Bigney, retired Air Force veteran and franchise coach with The Entrepreneur Source, joins us on the Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight to share his veteran entrepreneur journey. From floundering in the civilian workforce to discovering his purpose in coaching, Todd’s story is one of resilience, clarity, and service. He opens up about his early transition struggles, how assessments revealed his...

Child care shouldn’t be the reason a veteran can’t work, attend therapy, or go back to school. Yet for many, that’s the reality. In this Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight episode, Kayla Corbitt , founder of Operation Child Care Project, talks with host Shawn Welsh about the invisible crisis of veteran child care access . From her own journey as a military spouse to launching a nonprofit that serves f...

Shannon Huffman Polson—one of the first female Apache pilots and founder of The GRIT Institute—joins the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight to share her powerful story of transition, authorship, and purpose-driven leadership. In this episode, we discuss: Shannon’s military transition and reinvention How her writing evolved into a thriving business The GRIT Institute’s origin and holistic...

Jeremy Walker, retired Army SFC and founder of Helmets to Boots, joins the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight to discuss his journey from military intelligence to veteran advocacy. After a challenging transition, Jeremy launched a three-tiered platform that now supports veteran-owned businesses, educates corporations on military culture, and empowers families with vital resources. Jeremy sh...

On this episode of VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight , retired naval officer Maurice Murphy shares his inspiring transition story—from 24 years in the Navy to founding a successful real estate career and investment company in Northeast Florida. Maurice discusses the emotional ups and downs of leaving service, his decision to skip the GS route, and how entrepreneurship gave him freedom,...

Justin Henderson, Marine Corps veteran and founder of Veteran Hiring Solutions (VHS), joins the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight to discuss how VHS is changing the game in recruitment. By integrating video-based job descriptions, VHS brings authenticity, leadership, and emotional connection into the hiring process—empowering veterans to visualize their future roles and employers to unders...

Cole Samaroo, Marine Corps veteran and founder of Senior Tech Connect, joins the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight to share his powerful journey from military service to tech-based community impact. What started as a tribute to his late grandfather has become a nationwide movement empowering seniors through digital literacy, cybersecurity training, and AI-enabled support. Tune in to hear:...

Join VET S.O.S. as we spotlight Ryan Crittenden , Army Veteran and Certified Strengths Coach, who is transforming how leaders grow through authenticity and strengths-based coaching. Ryan discusses: His military transition and journey into entrepreneurship Building XL Coaching & Development Certifications in CliftonStrengths, Working Genius, and the John Maxwell Team The highs and lows of veter...

In this episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight , we sit down with Dr. Anthony Randall , founder and president of Vanguard XXI and a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel with decades of leadership experience. Dr. Randall opens up about his personal journey into veteran entrepreneurship —starting with a paper route in Denver and culminating in launching a thriving coaching and leadershi...

🐾 Lazy Dog Training That Works! Meet Brittney Howard , an Air Force veteran and the force behind Dawg Boss , where she teaches dog owners how to train their pups without making it a full-time job . On this episode of VET S.O.S. – Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight , Brittney shares how she turned her passion for dogs into a thriving business, the surprising truth about separation anxiety , and why...

🎙️ Jewelry with a Mission: Wendy Hively on Empowering Military Families & Entrepreneurship In this episode of VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight , we sit down with Wendy Hively , a veteran Navy spouse, career scientist, and founder of CharlieMadison Originals . More than just a jewelry brand, CharlieMadison Originals is dedicated to fostering military community connections and giving...

🎙️ From Army Sergeant Major to Entrepreneurial Mentor – Veteran Business Success Don’t drown in the sea of transition—grab the VET S.O.S. lifeline! In this episode, we welcome Reginald "Reggie" Thompson , Director of the Georgia Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) and a retired Sergeant Major with 32 years of active duty service. Reggie shares his military-to-business journey , highlighting F...

From Marine to Mission: Matt Darrah’s Fight for Foster Kids When Matt Darrah transitioned from the Marine Corps to civilian life, he never expected to find his next mission in foster care advocacy . But after fostering children himself, he saw firsthand how many kids enter the system with nothing. That realization led him to create Panhandle Orphan Care Network (POCN) —a nonprofit serving 26 Texas...

🚀 From Air Force K9 Handler to Entrepreneurial Success! In this episode of VET S.O.S. , we welcome Michael Parks , a veteran entrepreneur and the Owner & CEO of Daystar Photography LLC . Michael’s journey is one of transformation—from serving as an Air Force K9 handler and Air Marshal to becoming a leading professional photographer, videographer, and drone expert , working with top organizati...

In this episode of the Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight , we welcome Adam Gaskill , founder of Innovate for Humanity and The Nonprofit Creators . Adam is a visionary leader, expert in contribution marketing, and a master in nonprofit development. With a passion for helping veterans and a proven track record of launching over 80 nonprofits , Adam shares his journey, insights, and strategies for makin...

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Elder , a U.S. Air Force veteran, expert networker, and the founder & president of Clear Path Wealth Strategies . With over two decades of experience in financial services and professional networking, Mark is passionate about helping veterans and professionals transition successfully into the business world. 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ Mark’s...

Join us as we welcome Sam Westfall —Army veteran, serial entrepreneur , and competitive archer —to discuss his journey from military service to building multiple businesses. Sam shares how archery became a powerful tool for therapy, empowerment, and connection , particularly within the military and veteran communities. 🏹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ How Sam overcame military transition s...

In this episode of VET S.O.S. , we welcome Brunella Costagliola , a bestselling ghostwriter, award-winning author, journalist, and translator with over a decade of experience in publishing. She is the founder of The Military Editor Agency , a boutique agency that helps veterans, military spouses, and service members navigate the publishing world and share their powerful stories. Brunella opens up...

Welcome to VET S.O.S., where we shine a spotlight on veteran entrepreneurs making a difference. In this gripping episode, we’re joined by the extraordinary Bryan Stern, Chairman and Founder of Grey Bull Rescue, a decorated U.S. Army and Navy combat veteran, 9/11 first responder, and Purple Heart recipient. Bryan's story is nothing short of incredible. As a former intelligence officer with deca...

Welcome back to the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight! In this powerful episode, we’re honored to feature Jeremiah Hardy, a seasoned leadership coach, resilience advocate, veteran supporter, and founder of Victory Leadership Coaching. With 18 years of leadership experience, Jeremiah has dedicated his post-military career to empowering leaders to thrive through empathy, effective communicat...

Welcome back to the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight! In this episode, we're honored to sit down with Paula Sanchez, CEO and founder of Sankirtz Marketing & Consulting Services. Paula is a proud veteran of the Air Force and Army National Guard, holding a master's degree in nursing informatics. Her company is an independent health IT consulting agency that specializes in interoperabili...

Welcome back to the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight—the lifeline for transitioning service members and veteran entrepreneurs! In this powerful episode, host Shawn Welsh sits down with Daniel O'Dell, a disabled Army veteran, motivational speaker, social media influencer, and the founder of MotiveFate, LLC. Daniel’s story is one of resilience, determination, and purpose. Born into poverty...

In Stories of Service, Theresa Carpenter—a dedicated Navy Commander with 28 years of service—shines a light on the lives of ordinary people making extraordinary impacts in their communities. As a seasoned leader, storyteller, and public relations professional, Theresa uses her platform to explore diverse narratives of courage, resilience, and service. Each episode takes listeners on a journey thro...

In this compelling episode of the VET S.O.S. Entrepreneurial Spotlight, Shawn Welsh welcomes David Daly, a Marine Corps veteran and trailblazer in the drone industry. David shares his remarkable story of transitioning from military service to entrepreneurship, illustrating the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. David reflects on his four tours in Iraq and his struggle to adju...