Veteran Led

What happens when Veterans return home changed by their service, but the people around them do not fully understand what changed? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry speaks with April Brown , Marine Corps Veteran, educator, and co-editor of Voices of America: Veterans and Military Families Tell Their Own Stories . April shares how conversations with student Veterans at Texas Christian Un...

What separates leaders who make things happen from those who wait for things to happen? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with SEAC Ramón “CZ” Colón-López, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), former Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Pararescueman, and author of Carnivore Leadership. After 33 years of military service, including Special Operati...

Can dark humor help Veterans process the experiences they carry home from war? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Thom Tran, Army Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, comedian, actor, writer, and founder of GIs of Comedy, to discuss how laughter can create connection, provide perspective, and help Veterans navigate life after combat. Thom shares his remarkable journey from gr...

What if the biggest obstacle keeping Veterans from new opportunities isn't a lack of resources, but not knowing where to find them? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Maj. Ryan Patrick Hunt, U.S. Army (Ret.), entrepreneur, author, and founder and CEO of Veteran Social, to discuss breaking down barriers and connecting Veterans with the people, programs, and opportunities t...

Character isn't built when things are easy. It's revealed when everything changes. After losing his leg above the knee in combat, Nick Lavery refused to let that injury define the limits of his service. Driven by purpose, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to his team, he set his sights on returning to Special Forces and combat operations, ultimately becoming the first above-the-knee amputee...

What happens to your physical readiness when the uniform comes off? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Maj. Joel Del Rosario, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.) , founder of Readi , to discuss tactical fitness, longevity, and why Veterans still have a responsibility to take care of the most important piece of equipment they own: their body. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Joe...

What if one of the biggest threats to military readiness is what our service members eat? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Robert Irvine , Royal Navy Veteran, chef, entrepreneur, television personality, and founder of the Robert Irvine Foundation , to discuss why he believes food is national security. Robert shares how his journey began when he joined the Royal Navy at...

What if the best part of the smoke pit was never really the cigar? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry and co-host Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent sit down with Joey Mac Dizon , Marine Corps Veteran and co-founder of The Mobile Cigar Lounge , to talk about turning military camaraderie into a business built around relationships, experiences, and community. Joey shares how memories of the sm...

What do you do when people decide you don't belong in the room before you've even had the chance to lead? In this episode of Veteran Led, Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent sits down with Roslyn Davis , Air Force Veteran and President and CEO of RoDa Business Solutions , to discuss resilience, leadership, entrepreneurship, and proving yourself through performance. After 24 years in the Air Force, Rosly...

What happens when the path from drugs and juvenile detention leads to military service, entrepreneurship, and a completely different future? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry and co-host Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent sit down with Andrew Vose , Army Veteran, entrepreneur, and real estate leader, to talk about the experiences that shaped his path and the lessons he carried into business...

How does someone go from homelessness, illiteracy, and juvenile detention to military service, entrepreneurship, authorship, and leadership coaching? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry speaks with Sensei Dave Armstrong , Air Force Veteran, author, martial artist, and leadership and resilience speaker, about accountability and the ability to rebuild your life. Dave shares how he entered...

What happens when headlines oversimplify legislation that could impact millions of Veterans, surviving spouses, and military families? In this episode of Veteran Led , John S. Berry speaks with Ashlynne Haycock-Lohmann , Director of Government and Legislative Affairs at TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) , about the realities behind Veteran advocacy on Capitol Hill and the legislation...

What if your biggest failures were actually preparing you for your greatest successes? In this episode of Veteran Led , John S. Berry sits down with Dr. Craig Coleman, retired Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, physician, engineer, entrepreneur, and CEO of Coleman Health Services . From enlisting as a Navy electrician to becoming a Surface Warfare Officer, aerospace engineer, physician, and healthca...

How do Veterans continue serving after taking off the uniform? In this episode of Veteran Led , Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent speaks with Chris Larkin , retired Air Force Veteran and CEO of LMR Technical Group , and Rudy Cazares , Marine Corps Veteran, founder of Cazar Logistics , and professional Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) Implementer. Chris shares how 28 years of military service—inc...

What if buying or selling a home came with the same level of trust, accountability, and mission focus found in the military? In this episode of Veteran Led , Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent sits down with Senior Chief Petty Officer Travis Winfield, U.S. Navy (Ret.) , founder and CEO of Military Operated Real Estate (MORE) . After serving 24 years in the Navy, Travis turned his passion for serving mi...

How do you transform a career in human resources into a platform for leadership, storytelling, and helping others grow? In this episode of Veteran Led, Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent sits down with Stephanie Glover , Air Force Veteran, HR executive, speaker, and author, to discuss leadership, career growth, and the power of sharing your story. Stephanie reflects on her journey from military service...

What happens when a Veteran sets out to solve a personal problem—and ends up building a company that Mercedes-Benz wants to buy? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry speaks with Joseph Kopser , U.S. Army Veteran, entrepreneur, author, and president of Grayline Group , about leadership, innovation, and the entrepreneurial journey that led to the successful acquisition of RideScout by Merce...

Why would a sheriff refuse to "win" cases? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry speaks with Sheriff Eric Kirsch , Marine Corps Veteran and Sheriff of Wabaunsee County, Kansas, about why the true objective of every investigation is not winning—it’s finding the truth. Eric shares an extraordinary career that spans Marine Corps counterintelligence, two deployments to Iraq, NCIS investigation...

What does it take to build a thriving business community while helping entrepreneurs grow faster and lead better? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry speaks with Waco Hoover , entrepreneur, community builder, and founder of IMPCT Group and MCON , about leadership, entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities for Veterans and business owners. Waco shares lessons from his entrepreneurial j...

What separates great leaders from average managers — and why do so many organizations struggle to build accountable teams? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry and co-host Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent sit down with Stephen Hartz , founder of H&H Leadership Solutions , to discuss leadership, accountability, and organizational growth. Stephen shares lessons from decades of leadership e...

What does it take to build a successful law firm while staying true to a mission of serving Veterans? In this special episode of Veteran Led, we’re reposting John S. Berry’s appearance on Treehouse Talks with host Eric Isham . John shares his journey from military school and ROTC to becoming an Army infantry officer, Airborne Ranger, attorney, entrepreneur, and CEO of Berry Law. The conversation e...

What happens when a Veteran gets told “no” by every bank — and decides to build a company that solves the problem instead? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry speaks with Rob Stewart , Air Force Veteran and founder of CR Equity AI , about entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership in rapidly changing industries. After struggling to secure financing for his own business ventures, Rob id...

What happens when a military spouse turns a personal challenge into a business that creates opportunities for others? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry speaks with Gabriela Bell , founder and CEO of Organized Q , educator at NYU’s Veterans Future Labs, and contributing author of Deserts to Mountaintops: Our Collective Journey to Reclaiming Our Voice . Gabriela shares her journey from m...

What separates strong organizations from struggling ones — and how do leaders build teams that actually perform? In this episode of Veteran Led, Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent sits down with Tad McIntosh to discuss leadership, hiring, and building strong teams. Tad shares insights from his work in human capital, talent development, and organizational leadership, explaining why hiring the right peop...

How do leaders successfully navigate transformation — both personally and professionally? In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry speaks with Lt. Col. Ben Morley, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) , executive coach and author of Caterpillar Soup at 30,000 Feet: The Leader’s Guide to Mastering Your Greatest Transformation . Drawing from his Air Force career and leadership experience, Ben shares lessons o...