Unarmored Talk

Send us Fan Mail From Marine officer to civilian—who are you beyond the rank? Retired Marine Chief Warrant Officer 3 Victor de la Flor, creator of The Green Logbook, joins Unarmored Talk to discuss trading military structure, responsibility, and identity for an uncertain civilian chapter. We explore redefining success beyond rank and salary, finding purpose, and building new routines after service...

Send us Fan Mail Who are you when the things you built your identity around are gone? In part one of “Pain, Opioids, and the Search for Another Way,” Mario P. Fields joins entrepreneur Steele C. Smith III for a conversation about illness, loss, faith, and identity. Steele shares his account of seeking relief through cannabis, facing incarceration, and learning to separate his worth from his posses...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever told yourself you’re too old to try something new? At 69, Doug Davidson stepped outside his comfort zone, attended a casting call surrounded by people decades younger, and was selected to model for Kenneth Barlis, whom you may recognize from Season 19 of Project Runway. Doug returns to Unarmored Talk with Mario P. Fields to discuss overcoming self-doubt, embracing wh...

Send us Fan Mail Are you prepared to hear “no”—or hear nothing at all—from civilian employers after years of successful military service? In this episode, I sit down with Tom Hoover, a soon-to-be retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant with 25 years of service, for an unarmored conversation about the realities of transitioning into the civilian workforce. Tom shares his firsthand experience...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your mind says, “keep going,” but your body says, “you’re done”? You can be disciplined, prepared, and relentless—and still hit a wall you can’t outwork. In this episode of Unarmored Talk , U.S. Army veteran Derik Robinson gets unarmored about resilience, identity, and the hidden cost of constantly pushing through. From a sink-or-swim upbringing to military leade...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the schoolyard bully grows up and enters the workforce? In this episode of Unarmored Talk , I sit down with Joseph Musse II , author of Bullies: They’re Not Just in Schoolyards Anymore , to explore how bullying follows us into adulthood—showing up in workplaces through intimidation, manipulation, humor, authority, and the pressure to constantly overdeliver. Josep...

Send us Fan Mail When was the last time you realized that you—not your team—were part of the leadership problem? That realization can be painful, but it can also begin your most important growth. In this episode, Dr. Lisa DeVore, United States Air Force veteran and author of Pawprints on Leadership , shares how she confronted a low-empathy leadership moment and chose to grow from it. We discuss ho...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the funniest military memories also carry the deepest meaning? I’m joined by my friend and fellow Marine, retired Master Gunnery Sergeant Adam Walker, to discuss his self-published book, Laughing and Crying as a U.S. Marine: Authentic Short Stories . Adam shares his five-year writing plan, why he chose self-publishing, and how he made military stories accessible...

Send us Fan Mail Have You Been So Busy Taking Care of Everyone Else That You Forgot About Yourself? In this episode, I am joined by Amber Houghton, a retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant and founder of Elite Performance Strategies. Together, we explore the leadership trap —the tendency to spend so much time caring for others that we lose sight of ourselves. Amber shares how military servic...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how one moment can change the rest of your life? A rollover crash on a dark Montana highway changed everything for Army veteran Darshan Shanti. The accident left him with a traumatic brain injury, severe injuries to his hand and arm, and a year-long recovery that forced one powerful question: What meaning do you attach to what happened? In this episode, Dars...

Send us Fan Mail What separates someone who has a leadership title from someone people genuinely want to follow? In this episode, I am joined by Mark J. O’Loughlin , a retired Marine Corps Sergeant Major whose 30-year career includes infantry leadership, drill instructor duty, deployments to Desert Storm and Iraq, and senior roles supporting wounded Marines. Mark shares lessons from his new book,...

Send us Fan Mail Who are you when the uniform comes off? In this episode of Unarmored Talk , I sit down with Angeletha Long , a U.S. Army veteran of 24 years and leadership strategist, to unpack one of the hardest questions veterans face after service: Who are you—really? We go beyond the surface of transition and get into the identity shift that happens when the structure, mission, and title you’...

Send us Fan Mail The hardest pushback often comes from the people closest to you—so what if that resistance is actually confirmation you’re on the right path? In this episode of Unarmored Talk , I sit down with Rachel Singletary—minister, facilitator, and leader—to talk about what obedience really looks like when your calling demands growth, discipline, and time. We get honest about the refining p...

Send us Fan Mail Cancer isn’t a solo fight—especially for veterans. But too many are still fighting it alone. In this episode, Marine Corps couples Joe and Jennifer Worthy, and Casey and Ashton Kroner, share the reality behind colon cancer, testicular cancer, remission, and the grind of chemo. This is the side of cancer you don’t see—shock, denial, constant appointments, and the strain of trying n...

Send us Fan Mail What if success isn’t the right career? In this Unarmored Talk podcast episode, I sit down with U.S. Army veteran Frank Van Buren, author of Life Lessons from the Cockpit, to explore his journey from flying night missions to Wall Street—and the realization that success alone doesn’t equal fulfillment. A chance conversation on a beach in Cyprus during the Beirut Air Bridge set ever...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever stopped to ask yourself—am I putting people first, or just chasing outcomes? For the first time, David Tellefsen removes the armor. In this episode, the 22-year Marine Corps veteran and Director of Veterans Services in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, shares what drives his passion for serving others—and why people must always come before profit. We discuss leadership,...

Send us Fan Mail Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse and trauma that some viewers may find difficult. Viewer discretion is advised. In this episode of Unarmored Talk , I speak with Emilio Roman , a Marine Corps veteran, minister, entrepreneur, and author who grew up in Camden, New Jersey, surrounded by instability and hardship. Despite those early challenges...

Send us Fan Mail A single choice can change a life — but so can the choices that follow. Beth Abbott returns to Unarmored Talk to share the truth behind a DUI that injured two teens, cost her a frocked promotion, and forced a painful reckoning with addiction, leadership, and identity. From volunteering to begin her jail sentence immediately, to finding purpose behind bars, to rebuilding through so...

Send us Fan Mail Do you notice significant changes in your mood, energy, or focus from fall to spring?  Every fall, I deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). When the days shorten and energy dips, I don’t ignore it — I prepare for it. In this episode of Unarmored Talk, I share three simple, repeatable habits that help me stay mentally steady from fall through winter and into spring: • Control...

Send us Fan Mail Who are you when the plan ends? Marine veteran William Philyaw IV shares his journey from overseas embassy security duty to navigating an unexpected injury that forced him to surrender a 20-year vision. Through faith, family, and intentional relationships, William rebuilt his identity and discovered a new mission serving veterans in Virginia. This episode explores transition, purp...

Send us Fan Mail Wondering What You’re Actually Worth at Work? In this Unarmored Talk Pro Tip episode , we break down how to determine your worth at work without ego or guesswork. This conversation focuses on clarity—using market-backed information to make confident decisions in reviews, negotiations, and career moves. We start by separating identity from market value. Your worth as a person isn’t...

Send us Fan Mail What Happens When You Reach the Top and Then Have to Start Over? In this Unarmored Talk Podcast episode, I sit down with retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Steve Maynor Jr., now a Communications Instructor at Davidson-Davie Community College, to talk about what really happens when the uniform comes off and the old playbook stops working. After 23+ years of service, Steve refle...

Send us Fan Mail What if the best way to start your week isn’t more motivation—but better regulation? Before the week pulls at your attention, this short conversation offers three simple ways to reduce stress and gain clarity: hydrate before screens, regulate your nervous system with intentional breathing, and choose one non-negotiable to guide your time. The goal isn’t a perfect week—it’s a calm...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt the weight of a career transition and wondered if you were falling behind? On this episode of the Unarmored Talk Podcast , I share a different perspective: when transition feels heavy, it’s not failure—it’s awareness. It’s your nervous system paying attention because the moment matters. I walk through three practical pro tips for navigating career change, job tr...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel the tension rise the moment your boss walks in? On this episode of Unarmored Talk , host Mario P. Fields, Sergeant Major (Retired) sits down with Army veteran, TEDx speaker, and leadership strategist Gregory Archbold to break down how to lead calmly and effectively when leadership above you falls short. With 33 years of experience—from enlisted medic to military police o...