The Tactical Leader

AI Is Changing the Workforce. Are Veterans Ready to Take Advantage? In this ATLVets Speaker Series, AI strategist and veteran coach Steve Cadley explores how veterans can use artificial intelligence to strengthen their careers, grow businesses, and turn their military experience into a competitive advantage. Steve also introduces the concept of AI fluency, explaining why learning to use AI effecti...

What happens when years of military leadership and experience meet a completely different world? At Advancing The Line, Matt shares his journey from military service to his current role at Emory University, where he helps senior military leaders prepare for careers beyond the uniform. The conversation explores what makes a great leader, why humility matters, and how mentorship can shape someone's...

What happens when decades of military leadership come to an end, and a completely different chapter of life begins? From commanding thousands of soldiers to navigating everyday civilian life, the transition out of military service brings challenges that even the most experienced leaders are not always prepared for. In this episode Major General (Ret.) Matt Smith, a retired U.S. Army two star gener...

Your experience shaped you. Your next chapter requires you to understand how to use it. What happens when the structure, mission, and identity you relied on suddenly change? In this conversation, we go beyond emotional intelligence and explore emotional dexterity, the ability to better understand your emotions, recognize what drives them, and choose how you respond. The discussion also goes deeper...

What happens when the uniform comes off, but the skills, discipline, and drive to serve stay with you? At Advancing The Line, Elizabeth Stephens shares her journey from the U.S. Marine Corps to corporate leadership, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and international business. The conversation goes beyond career transition. Elizabeth talks about what it means to be a woman in the military, stepping...

What happens when the mission changes, but the mindset stays the same? For Elizabeth Stephens, the lessons that carried her through military aviation also followed her into Microsoft, cybersecurity, AI, entrepreneurship, and her next chapter of public service. In this conversation from Advancing The Line, Zachary Broughton sits down with Marine veteran Elizabeth Stephens to talk about what militar...

What does it take to build a business that is financially prepared for growth, opportunity, and eventually an exit? At the ATLVets Tampa Speaker Series, Ray Busler and Thomas Lind of CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) joined the conversation to break down the financial decisions business owners often overlook. From building strong accounting practices and choosing the right business structure to tax plannin...

In this episode, ATLVets welcomes Ed You, a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent with more than 20 years of experience in counterterrorism, biodefense, and emerging technologies. With a background in biochemistry, molecular biology, cancer research, and national security, Ed has advised the FBI, HHS, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the White House, and the U.S. delegation to t...

Guest: Kelly Bonn — Navy veteran, retained executive recruiter, executive coach Location: The Centre Club, Tampa Episode in a sentence From small boats in the Med to C-suite searches in boardrooms, Kelly unpacks modern hiring, executive presence, and why your LinkedIn should teach—not trumpet. What we cover Kelly’s Navy path (Italy, small boats unit, coxswain/engineer) and the through-line to recr...

Host: Zack Knight Guest: Gary King — Navy veteran, speaker/author, creator of the St. Pete HAPPINESS signs, subject of The Happiness Experiment film Episode vibe A candid, hopeful conversation about trauma, perspective, and building everyday interrupts that keep people here. Practical tools. No fluff. Timestamps 00:00 – 06:00 Cold open + Centre Club welcome, Monday-night football slander, Marine b...

Host: Zack Knight Guest: Lindsey Streeter, Military Affairs Executive, Bank of America; retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major; Owner, Savannah Hurricanes; Founder, Streeter Esports & Entertainment Recorded at: The Buckhead Club, Atlanta Episode Summary Lindsey Streeter unpacks the difference between veteran-friendly and veteran-ready, shares the “divine timing” behind his transition to Bank...

In this special ATLVets Speaker Series episode, retired Ranger Battalion NCO and Special Forces officer Chris Brewer shares his remarkable journey from the reactivation of the 1st Ranger Battalion in 1974 to a career in Special Forces, global security contracting, and authorship. Chris reflects on: Crossing the Line: Why he made the controversial move from the NCO corps to becoming an officer, and...

In this episode of the ATLVets Speaker Series, we sit down with Zack Miller , CEO of Patriot Growth Capital (PGC) , to explore the intersection of veteran empowerment, private equity, and long-term legacy. Zack shares his journey from the advertising and startup world to launching a private equity firm dedicated to supporting veterans and their families through entrepreneurship by acquisition . To...

Emilee Tucker: Beyond the Corporate Grind Emilee Tucker is more than her corporate credentials—she’s an advocate for authentic leadership who transitioned from an 18-year corporate career to become an executive coach. Driven by her curiosity and commitment to continuous improvement, Emilee pursued a master's in Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership, combining formal education with practical...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the ATLVets Tampa Speaker Series, host Zack Knight sits down with Kristen Rheinlander, Director of Partnerships at The Headstrong Project. Broadcasting from the Centre Club in Tampa, this live session captures a candid and compelling discussion around trauma-focused mental health care for veterans, the stigmas that prevent service members from seekin...

In the latest episode of The Tactical Leader Podcast , host Zack Knight sits down with Marine veteran, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur T. Shane Johnson to discuss his extraordinary journey from military service to business success. T. Shane's story is one of resilience, survival, and a relentless commitment to helping others, particularly in the veteran community. From surviving an MS-13 ga...

Episode Description: In this special episode of The Tactical Leader Podcast, recorded live at the ATLVets Tampa Speaker Series, host Zack Knight sits down with retired Command Sergeant Major Andy Wilson—former Delta Force operator and the powerhouse founder of Quiet Professionals. Andy shares his incredible journey from dropping out of high school in Maine, to climbing the ranks of the most elite...

Episode Overview In this episode of The Tactical Leader Podcast , Zack Knight sits down with Tommy Richardson , a Marine veteran and Navy SEAL , to dive into his incredible 26-year military career, his transition to civilian life, and how he’s now helping veterans find purpose and leadership beyond the uniform. From his journey through Marine Corps infantry to the elite Navy SEAL teams , to launch...

In this episode of The Tactical Leader podcast, host Zack Knight sits down with retired Green Beret, entrepreneur, and author Scott Mann for an impactful conversation about leadership, the challenges veterans face in transitioning to civilian life, and the transformative power of storytelling. Key Topics Covered: Scott’s Early Life and Military Aspirations: Scott talks about meeting a Green Beret...

Episode Recap: ATL Vets Atlanta Speaker Series Featuring Heather McCarty Key Points Heather McCarty , guest speaker from St. Louis, Missouri, is a veteran ally with a decade of experience in the veterans' space. McCarty previously worked at The Mission Continues, where she developed and oversaw programs, and taught at a military school in St. Louis. Her connection to the military comes from family...

Episode Summary: In this engaging episode of The Tactical Leader Podcast , host Zack Knight sits down with retired Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann, a former Green Beret turned entrepreneur, storyteller, and author of Nobody’s Coming to Save You . Scott shares his journey from a bullied small-town kid to a decorated Special Forces officer and, ultimately, a successful civilian leader. Together, Zack...

Key Discussion Points: Self-Marketing and Storytelling: Why it Matters: Self-marketing is crucial for career advancement and entrepreneurship, but many veterans struggle with it due to a focus on teamwork and humility during their service. Overcoming the Challenges: Public speaking and self-promotion can be learned and improved with practice. The Power of Storytelling: Effectively communicating yo...

In this episode of The Tactical Leader Podcast , host Zack Knight sits down with Garret Biss, a retired Marine Corps pilot, addiction recovery coach, and motivational speaker. Together, they delve into the challenges veterans face when transitioning from military to civilian life and the strategies to find joy, purpose, and fulfillment beyond the uniform. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Garret’s...

Guest: Tessa Arnold, Co-founder of Snapback Energy Episode Summary: In this episode of *The Tactical Leader Podcast*, host Zack Knight dives into an inspiring conversation with Tessa Arnold, the co-founder of Snapback Energy. Tessa shares the journey of creating Snapback Energy as a lasting legacy with her late husband, Army combat veteran Michael Arnold, and how they designed their company to pro...

In a compelling episode of The Tactical Leader Podcast, host Zack Knight sits down with Jeff Barnes, CEO of Angel Investors Network, to delve into the intricacies of leadership, entrepreneurship, and the ever-challenging world of raising capital. Both military veterans, Zack and Jeff weave personal stories of resilience and lessons learned through hardship into the broader themes of navigating lif...