DogTags to Ownership

Send us Fan Mail Summary: Hard Truth Rods, Navy Service, and Building Purpose Through Fishing Glenn Cook, founder of Hard Truth Rods, shares how a Navy career, a health scare, and a chance connection through a custom fishing rod led him into handmade rod building. Julie Austin and Matt Cain talk with Glenn about military life, small batch craftsmanship, and how fishing became both a creative outle...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: This episode recaps the month of September and features a series of insightful interviews with military veterans and entrepreneurs, sharing their journeys, challenges, and successes in business and mental health advocacy. Discover practical lessons on resilience, entrepreneurship, and community impact. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest overview 03:04 R...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: Justin and Misty Williams share their journey from military service to founding Bombshell Suds, a handcrafted soap business. They discuss their transition from military to civilian life, building a brand rooted in authenticity, and future growth plans. Key Topics: Military transition and entrepreneurship Building an authentic brand Product development and expansion Grassr...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Dr. Arielle Jordan shares her inspiring journey from military service to mental health advocate and entrepreneur. She discusses her work with veterans, trauma therapy, and founding The Jordyn Effect nonprofit, offering valuable insights into mental wellness and healing. Key Topics: Military transition and mental health challenges Trauma therapy and EMDR t...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: Aaron King discusses turning a pickle hobby into Barracks Brine Pickle Company Air Force Veteran Aaron King shares how a boredom-fueled kitchen experiment, and a strong support network led him to launch Barracks Brine. This episode is about betting on yourself, building a consumer packaged goods brand from scratch, and turning unusual flavor ideas into a real business. We...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Jeff 'Bones' Bonner shares his journey from combat fighter pilot to performance strategist, introducing his daily debrief model for continuous improvement applicable across personal and professional life.  Julie also sits down with the event coordinators and Cory Brown of the Eat Your Feelings Show to discuss VetFest happening this weekend Satur...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Mike Starr shares his inspiring journey from military service to successful entrepreneur in the food industry, highlighting the importance of passion, resilience, and storytelling in building a brand. Key Topics: Mike's military background and travels influencing his cooking style The evolution from hobbyist to business owner during COVID Using socia...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: August on DogTags to Ownership centered on a bigger idea: the mission keeps going after service, and ownership can take many forms. Julie  and Matt  recap three very different conversations, share what they have been building behind the scenes, and announce a new partnership with Owners in Honor that brings the show’s mission full circle. Key topics: In this episode, Juli...

Send us Fan Mail   Summary: In this episode, Jerry "JDog" and Tracy "Mrs. JDog" Flanagan share their inspiring journey from military service to successful veteran franchise owners. They discuss the creation of the JDog brand, its impact on the veteran community, and insights into entrepreneurship, franchising, and branding strategies. Key  Topics: The origin of the J Dog brand...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Tom Schwab shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship, highlighting the power of podcast interview marketing for building trust and growing a brand. Discover how his insights can help military veterans and entrepreneurs leverage conversations for meaningful business success. Key Topics: Tom Schwab's military background and transitio...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Malyri Ryan shares her inspiring journey from Marine veteran to successful social media influencer and entrepreneur. She discusses the importance of authenticity, balancing family and passion, and how her platform has impacted lives. Key Topics: Military transition and entrepreneurship Building an authentic social media brand Balancing family life with on...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Julie and Matt explore inspiring stories of military veterans turned entrepreneurs, highlighting their journeys of resilience, innovation, and purpose. We recap our month of July guests Tony Medrano, Travis Partington, and Lee Stuckey who all shared lessons on leadership, overcoming adversity, and building impactful businesses. We also discuss what we hav...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: This episode hits hard. Lee Stuckey’s story isn’t just about military service—it’s about resilience, overcoming darkness, and transforming pain into purpose that saves lives. Get ready for raw honesty, powerful leadership lessons, and a call to ignite your own legacy. In this episode: Lee shares his harrowing journey from near-suicide to founding AHERO, impacting over 13,...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, we chat with Travis Partington, founder of Oscar Mike Radio, about his journey of over nine years of podcasting, amplifying veteran voices, and building community. We also highlight Michael Starr, an Air Force veteran and owner of Blazing Star Barbecue, showcasing how veterans continue to serve through entrepreneurship. Key Topics: Travis Partington'...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Tony Medrano shares his remarkable journey from Navy veteran to successful entrepreneur in AI and healthcare. Discover how military leadership, problem-solving, and resilience can translate into civilian success and innovation. Matt and Julie also announce this weeks Forces Brands USA Business of the Week - Exray.  DogTags to Ownership is also a proud mem...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: This episode recaps June's key themes of healing, building, and scaling through inspiring stories of veterans and entrepreneurs. We highlight lessons from guests like Keith Cole, Javier Guitron, Scott Lackey, and Jamie J, emphasizing resilience, intentional transition, and system building. We also deep dive into C.R.A.F.T. first frontline tasting and how they are hel...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this inspiring interview, Jaime and Sara share their remarkable journey from military service and homelessness to building a successful business focused on delegation and virtual assistance. Discover their insights on category design, leveraging AI, and creating a life of purpose and impact. Key Topics: Jaime and Sara's journey from military to entrepreneurship Th...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: Join us as Scott Lackey shares his remarkable journey from military service to entrepreneurship, including the lessons learned from failed inventions, the power of stewardship, and the importance of resilience. Discover how his experiences shaped his new book 'Wake Up to Die Again' and gain insights into turning setbacks into comebacks. Key Topics: Military serv...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Javier Guitron shares his unique journey from military service to successful real estate investing and risk management. He discusses the importance of strategic planning, continuous learning, and leveraging relationships to achieve financial independence and personal growth. Key Topics: Military transition and career planning Real estate investing and pro...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this inspiring interview, Vietnam Marine Corps Veteran Keith Cole shares his journey from military service and trauma to healing through faith and self-discovery. Discover how Keith's story offers hope and practical steps for overcoming burnout and PTSD. Key Topics: Keith Cole's military service and trauma The impact of PTSD and burnout Faith-based recovery a...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: The MAY Recap episode explores the journeys of veterans transitioning into entrepreneurship, highlighting resources, success stories, and the ongoing mission to serve beyond military service. With insights from veteran entrepreneurs and program leaders, it emphasizes the importance of community, support, and strategic planning in turning dog tags into ownership. Key Topic...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Army veterans and West Point graduates Daniel Gade and Terry Hill share their inspiring journeys from military service to entrepreneurship. They discuss resources like IVMF and JP Morgan's CEO Circle, the process of buying a business through acquisition, and the importance of community and mentorship for veteran business owners. Key  Topics: Veteran...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: Join us as we explore the inspiring journey of Nic and Erin Vandre, military veteran and spouse turned entrepreneurs, who founded Bravory BakeHouse. Discover their insights on purpose-driven business, overcoming challenges, and supporting the military community. Key Topics: Military entrepreneurship journey Purpose-driven business and community impact Scaling and pivoting...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, US Army retired Rosella and 1SG Kenitra Scott share their journey from military service to founding Legacy Vanguard Scott Group. They discuss transitioning out of the military, building a business, leadership development, and the importance of strategic hiring and organizational culture. Key Topics: Military transition and retirement planning Starting and...

Send us Fan Mail  Summary: This episode highlights the power of momentum in veteran entrepreneurship. Matt and Julie recap the month of April and highlighting three incredible guest with inspiring stories from veterans like Mike Gnoffo , Lee Ettinger, and Scott Kelly . Discover how they turned setbacks into success, leveraged their platforms for impact, and continue to build community and opportun...