Semper Try

Episode 26 Part 1 of the Semper Try Podcast is unlike anything we’ve done before. At 7:00 AM on Saturday morning, May 16th, I caught up with Army veteran Ray Reynoso in North Prairie, Minnesota, where he had spent the night tenting behind a church along the Mississippi River Trail Road. Ray is currently attempting to walk the entire Mississippi River Trail from source to sea — over 2,400 miles — l...

What started as a podcast interview turned into one of those conversations veterans know well — the kind where one story triggers another, then another, and suddenly you’re talking about fighter jets, aircraft carriers, PTSD, teamwork, terrible military flights, stolen couches in squadron spaces, and the moments that stick with you 20 years later. Marine Corps aviation maintainer Bill sits down wi...

In this episode of the Semper Try Podcast, Bill sits down with his new friend Steve, host of Even Though I Walk , for a powerful conversation about service, faith, trauma, healing, and the stories veterans carry home. Steve shares his journey from joining the Air Force at 17, serving as a firefighter, being called into ministry, and later spending 22 years as a Navy chaplain serving alongside sail...

Episode 26 Part 1 of the Semper Try Podcast is unlike anything we’ve done before. At 7:00 AM on Saturday morning, May 16th, I caught up with Army veteran Ray Reynoso in North Prairie, Minnesota, where he had spent the night tenting behind a church along the Mississippi River Trail Road. Ray is currently attempting to walk the entire Mississippi River Trail from source to sea — over 2,400 miles — l...

What started as a podcast interview turned into one of those conversations veterans know well — the kind where one story triggers another, then another, and suddenly you’re talking about fighter jets, aircraft carriers, PTSD, teamwork, terrible military flights, stolen couches in squadron spaces, and the moments that stick with you 20 years later. Marine Corps aviation maintainer Bill sits down wi...

Bill sits down with his cousin David Albert, a retired U.S. Navy submariner with 20 years of service beneath the surface. What started as a quick escape from a small town turned into a career inside one of the most demanding environments in the military. From freezing nights arriving at boot camp in Chicago… to surviving “sweat parties”… to learning how to make oxygen underwater… this episode pull...

In this episode of the Semper Try Podcast, Bill sits down with his new friend Steve, host of Even Though I Walk, for a powerful conversation about service, faith, trauma, healing, and the stories veterans carry home. Steve shares his journey from joining the Air Force at 17, serving as a firefighter, being called into ministry, and later spending 22 years as a Navy chaplain serving alongside sailo...

Part 2 of Episode 24 of the Semper Try Podcast is here. In this episode, I sit back down with Navy submariner David as we go deeper into what life is really like beneath the surface. From serving on the USS Ohio and USS West Virginia to spending over a decade at sea, this conversation pulls back the curtain on a world most people will never experience. We talk about long patrols lasting 80 to 100+...

Part 2 of Episode 24 of the Semper Try Podcast is here. In this episode, I sit back down with Navy submariner David as we go deeper into what life is really like beneath the surface. From serving on the USS Ohio and USS West Virginia to spending over a decade at sea, this conversation pulls back the curtain on a world most people will never experience. We talk about long patrols lasting 80 to 100+...

Bill sits down with his cousin David Albert, a retired U.S. Navy submariner with 20 years of service beneath the surface. What started as a quick escape from a small town turned into a career inside one of the most demanding environments in the military. From freezing nights arriving at boot camp in Chicago… to surviving “sweat parties”… to learning how to make oxygen underwater… this episode pull...

On this episode of the Semper Try Podcast , I sit down with my uncle, Robert “Bob” Lowe, for a conversation that spans generations of military service and the stories that come with it. We start with my grandfather—a World War II Navy sailor who served on LSTs in the European Theater… and survived two ships being sunk . No spotlight. No recognition. Just came home and went back to farming in Minne...

On this episode of the Semper Try Podcast, I sit down with my uncle, Robert “Bob” Lowe, for a conversation that spans generations of military service and the stories that come with it. We start with my grandfather—a World War II Navy sailor who served on LSTs in the European Theater… and survived two ships being sunk. No spotlight. No recognition. Just came home and went back to farming in Minneso...

A conversation with Marine veteran Troy Hradsky, who served from 1986 to 1990. From small-town Brainerd to boot camp in San Diego, Troy shares what it was really like becoming a Marine in the 1980s — when drill instructors were still hands-on and the transformation was as mental as it was physical. We dive into: The mindset shift that boot camp creates Leadership lessons forged under pressure The...

A conversation with Marine veteran Troy Hradsky, who served from 1986 to 1990. From small-town Brainerd to boot camp in San Diego, Troy shares what it was really like becoming a Marine in the 1980s — when drill instructors were still hands-on and the transformation was as mental as it was physical. We dive into: The mindset shift that boot camp creates Leadership lessons forged under pressure The...

In Episode 21 of the Semper Try Podcast, Bill sits down with Major Janelle Johnson of the Minnesota National Guard. With nearly 28 years of service, Major Johnson shares her journey from a 17-year-old recruit growing up near Camp Ripley to becoming a senior leader serving overseas in Norway through the State Partnership Program. This episode dives into: Joining the Guard before 9/11 and how everyt...

In Episode 21 of the Semper Try Podcast, Bill sits down with Major Janelle Johnson of the Minnesota National Guard. With nearly 28 years of service, Major Johnson shares her journey from a 17-year-old recruit growing up near Camp Ripley to becoming a senior leader serving overseas in Norway through the State Partnership Program. This episode dives into: Joining the Guard before 9/11 and how everyt...

Jake Thesing shares his journey from joining the National Guard in high school to deploying to Iraq from 2005–2007. From training as a 19K tanker on M1 Abrams tanks to running convoy security missions in Iraq, Jake talks about the reality of deployment—IEDs, long nights, and the mental side of coming home. This is a raw, honest conversation about service, perspective, and brotherhood. Because Tryi...

In Episode 20 of the Semper Try Podcast, Bill sits down with Minnesota National Guard veteran Jake Thesing to talk about his journey from joining the Guard in high school to deploying to Iraq from 2005 to 2007. Jake shares what it was like training as a 19K M1 Abrams tanker, working with tank units out of Wadena and Sauk Centre, and eventually serving on convoy escort missions in Iraq. He talks ab...

Wayne Harting returns to talk Legion membership, honor guard service, and the upcoming Benghazi Memorial event in Little Falls. A meaningful conversation about service, sacrifice, and keeping veterans’ stories alive.

In Episode 19 of the Semper Try Podcast, Wayne Harting returns to talk about what’s happening at the Brainerd American Legion, why membership matters, and how local posts can continue making a real difference for veterans and their families. Bill and Wayne talk about new events, live music, fish fries, growing membership, and the importance of keeping organizations like the Legion strong. They als...

This week on the Semper Try Podcast , Bill runs a solo episode after completing his 15th Polar Plunge for the Minnesota Special Olympics with the Brainerd American Legion and CTC team, raising over $5,000 for an incredible cause . Bill then dives into military history surrounding March 9th , including Operation Meetinghouse , the devastating B-29 firebombing of Tokyo in 1945 , one of the deadliest...

This week on the Semper Try Podcast, Bill runs a solo episode after completing his 15th Polar Plunge for the Minnesota Special Olympics with the Brainerd American Legion and CTC team, raising over $5,000 for an incredible cause. Bill then dives into military history surrounding March 9th, including Operation Meetinghouse, the devastating B-29 firebombing of Tokyo in 1945, one of the deadliest air...

On this episode of Semper Try, I’m joined by Tom Getty — Air Force veteran and longtime Minnesota National Guard soldier who’s also serving with me on the Brainerd American Legion board. We recorded this one on a windy “no snow” vacation, but the stories are worth it. Tom comes from a strong military family (WWII Navy, Vietnam-era Air Force, sons and grandsons serving today), and he takes us insid...

On this episode of Semper Try , I’m joined by Tom Getty — Air Force veteran and longtime Minnesota National Guard soldier who’s also serving with me on the Brainerd American Legion board. We recorded this one on a windy “no snow” vacation, but the stories are worth it. Tom comes from a strong military family (WWII Navy, Vietnam-era Air Force, sons and grandsons serving today), and he takes us insi...

In Episode 16 of Semper Try (Because Trying Beats Quitting) , Bill sits down in an undisclosed, snow-free location with Canadian veteran Jeff McCrae . Jeff’s story is one you don’t hear every day. He served across Canada’s integrated military system , working with the Army, Navy, and Air Force —including time supporting NORAD in Colorado Springs before commissioning as a military air traffic contr...