DogTags to Ownership

Send us Fan Mail  Summary: Scott Kelly, a retired army officer and founder of GrayZone Advisory and Host of At the Water's Edge Podcast. He shares his journey from military service to geopolitics consulting and veteran advocacy. Discover insights on veteran transition, entrepreneurship, and the importance of supporting the veteran community.  Key Topics: Veteran transition challenges and advi...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Marine veteran and entrepreneur Lee Ettinger shares his journey from military service to founding Power Plus Pain Aid. Discover insights on veteran transition, entrepreneurship, product development, and overcoming challenges in the health and wellness industry. Key Topics: Veteran transition challenges Entrepreneurship and business growth Product developm...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode, Mike Gnoffo shares his journey from Marine veteran to entrepreneur, detailing the founding of Exray , a custom apparel company serving military and first responder communities. He discusses lessons learned, challenges of scaling, and the importance of community and service in building a successful business. Key  Topics: Mike Gnoffo's military backgro...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: A comprehensive recap of March's episodes on veteran entrepreneurship, featuring insights from guests overcoming adversity, transitioning from military to business, and upcoming events like Military CreatorCon and DAV Patriot Bootcamp. Bonus Content One: Anna Redmond shares her journey from founding Hippo Reads to leading BRAAV, a mission-driven company transforming...

Send us Fan Mail  Summary Jim Reading, a former Royal Marine and founder of Tier One Coaching, shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship. Discover how he developed a successful coaching business focused on physical and mental preparation for military recruits and veterans, leveraging social media, community building, and strategic growth. Key  Topics Military transition to entre...

Send us Fan Mail  Summary: In this Special Episode of Season 2, Episode 11, Julie sits down with members of the DAV Patriot Bootcamp Winter Cohort to explore the journeys of veteran entrepreneurs and military connect entrepreneurs at different stages of building their businesses.  From entrepreneurs with Brand-New ideas to Seasoned Founders continuing to sharpen their skills, this episode highligh...

Send us Fan Mail  Summary In this episode, U.S. Army veteran and security expert Nick Lawless shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings and military service to founding successful security companies. Discover insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the importance of resilience and networking. Chapters 00:00 From Humble Beginnings to Military Service 10:13 Transitioning from Militar...

Send us Fan Mail  Summary: Veteran Jason Ambrosino shares his inspiring journey from military service to successful entrepreneurship in the cannabis industry. Learn about his military transition, business strategies, resilience, and insights for veterans considering business ownership. Key Topics: Military transition and entrepreneurship Building a veteran-focused cannabis brand Business scaling a...

Send us Fan Mail  Summary This episode features inspiring stories from our three February guest who have turned their DogTags into Ownership. This recap episode focuses on momentum, resilience, and community support. Matt and Julie recap Episode 5 with Nicole founder and owner of Wreaths by Nicole P.,  Episode 6 with Kamar Perkins founder and owner of Protect Consulting Group, and Jeremy Stalnecke...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this conversation, Jeremy Stalnecker, a US Marine Corps veteran and co-founder of the Mighty Oaks Foundation, shares his journey from military service to helping veterans transition to civilian life. He discusses the challenges of identity and purpose after leaving the military, the catalysts that led him to find his calling, and the establishment of the Mighty Oaks Fou...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode, Kamar Perkins shares his journey from being a U.S. Army officer to becoming an entrepreneur and founder of ProTech Consulting Group. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, the importance of building a strong team, and his commitment to supporting veterans and youth in his community. Kamar emphasizes the significance of...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode, Nicole Zettlemoyer shares her inspiring journey from serving in the military to becoming a successful entrepreneur with her business, Wreaths by Nicole P. She discusses her military background, the challenges of transitioning to civilian life, and how she accidentally started her wreath-making business during the pandemic. Nicole highlights the importance...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: In this episode of Dog Tags to Ownership, hosts Julie Austin and Matt Cain discuss the journeys of veterans transitioning into entrepreneurship. They recap the first three episodes of Season Two, highlighting the stories of Rick Franco, Patrick Murphy, and Ash Stafford, who exemplify leadership, community building, and the importance of veteran voices in business. The con...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this conversation, Ash, a member of the British Armed Forces and founder of Forces Brand, discusses his journey from military service to entrepreneurship. He shares the inspiration behind Forces Brand, which aims to support veteran-owned businesses through a marketplace and community platform. The discussion covers the challenges of building the brand, the importance of...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode, Patrick Murphy, a veteran and former congressman, shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship and political leadership. He discusses the importance of veterans transitioning into civilian life, the need for financial literacy, and the role of veterans as civic assets. Murphy emphasizes the significance of networking, community building, an...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rick Franco shares his remarkable journey from military service to entrepreneurship, detailing the challenges and triumphs of transitioning into the bourbon industry with Four Branches Bourbon . He emphasizes the importance of community, resilience, and the mission behind the brand, which aims to honor veterans and promote a positive message around alcohol consump...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary In this episode, the Austin and Cain families celebrate the one-year anniversary of 'DogTags to Ownership.' They reflect on the journey of creating the podcast, the lessons learned from various guests, and the importance of building a supportive community for veterans transitioning into entrepreneurship.  The conversation highlights key themes such as per...

Send us Fan Mail In a world where the transition from military service to civilian life can be daunting, the stories of veteran entrepreneurs shine a light on resilience, innovation, and community. Recorded at the 2025 Army Navy Warrior Class Conference, this podcast episode showcases insightful conversations with veterans who have successfully navigated the journey from service to ownership. Join...

Send us Fan Mail In this engaging conversation, Carmen Fleischmann shares her journey from serving in the Florida National Guard to becoming a successful wedding planner. She discusses her military background, the challenges of transitioning to entrepreneurship, and the joy she finds in her work. Carmen emphasizes the importance of networking, managing client expectations, and balancing family lif...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of DogTags to Ownership , Julie and Matt sit down with Zachary and Jessica Cunningham —both active-duty Army officers and the powerhouse founders behind 5th Haven Cachaça , a new premium, organic Brazilian spirit making waves in the U.S. market. The Cunninghams share how sense of passion and purpose turned into a bold entrepreneurial mission: introducing Americans...

Send us Fan Mail In this engaging conversation, Miguel Echols, a US Marine Corps veteran, shares his journey from military service to becoming a leadership consultant and motivational speaker. He discusses his passion for leadership, the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, and his current operations in Thailand. Miguel emphasizes the importance of following one's passi...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode we sit down with Joe Yurick The Founder of This Sober Vet Podcast, a U.S. combat veteran and small business owner, to discuss his incredible journey from military service to sobriety. Joe shares his insights on normalizing sobriety within the veteran community, highlighting the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way. Main Content: 1. Joe’s...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 46 of DogTags to Ownership, Julie and Matt sit down for a rapid-fire recap of Episodes 43–45—three conversations packed with wisdom, grit, and real-world strategies for turning service into success. We revisit the game-changing insights from Waza Media, the powerful story behind the Trauma Brace App, and the practical lessons, tips, and entrepreneurial takeaways that ev...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, Julie and Matt sit down with Air Force navigator turned serial entrepreneur Vivek Shah — a powerhouse behind multiple successful ventures. From owning three Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids franchises to co-founding the Trauma Brace app, serving as a franchise advisor for Franzy, and launching Trajectory Holdings, Vivek’s entrepreneurial journey is...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Army veteran Chas Sampson, founder and CEO of Seven Principles , shares how his own experiences inspired him to create a company dedicated to helping veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned through service. In this engaging conversation, Chas Sampson, a US Army veteran and NFL agent, shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship. He discusses t...