Veteran Voices

In this inaugural episode of the Tango Tango podcast, proudly sponsored by Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton and Lloyd Knight kick off a new chapter in veteran storytelling by exploring the evolution from Veteran Voices to Tango Tango. The mission remains the same—amplifying veteran perspectives, experiences, and leadership—but the format and energy get a bold refresh. Lloyd shares his inspiring journ...

In this episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Soliva welcomes Maureen Woolshlager, an active military spouse, to the show. The conversation delves into Maureen's experiences navigating the challenges and rewards of being a military spouse, including frequent relocations, managing family life during deployments, and the impact on her career. Maureen shares her journey from being a new military...

In this episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Soliva sits down with Jim Hutchins, a Marine Corps veteran with over 30 years of service. They discuss Jim's lifelong passion for joining the Marine Corps, his diverse military roles, and his transition to civilian life. Jim offers valuable insights on the significance of service, the hurdles of transitioning, and the importance of mentorship. He a...

In this episode of Veteran Voices , host Mary Kate Soliva, interviews John Moses, who shares his journey from military service to civilian life. John reflects on the importance of trust in both the military and everyday life, emphasizing the phrase "trust is the coin of the realm." He talks about his upbringing in Lowell, Massachusetts, his family’s military background, and his own decision to enl...

Military skills such as strategic planning, leadership, discipline, and self-reliance are highly transferable to the business world. Veterans often excel in setting clear objectives, managing resources efficiently, and maintaining focus under pressure. Their experience in teamwork and mission-oriented thinking makes them adept at problem-solving and innovation. Additionally, the ability to adapt t...

In this episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Soliva welcomes Jeremy Stalnecker, a Marine Corps veteran and CEO of the Mighty Oaks Foundation, to the show. Listen in as Jeremy shares his journey from military service to working with the Mighty Oaks Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps veterans, active duty service members, and first responders deal with trauma. Stalnecker discusses...

In this new episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Saliva welcomes Marine Corps veteran Ryan Pavel to the show. Listen in as Pavel shares his journey from an apathetic high schooler to a dedicated serviceman and advocate for veterans. Pavel discusses the importance of understanding different perspectives, the value of thinking critically about one's service and identity, and the work he does wi...

In this episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Saliva welcomes Kurt Robinson, an Air Force veteran and long-time employee at Delta Air Lines, to the show. Listen in as Robinson shares his journey from the military to the corporate world, and his 30+ year career with Delta. Join us as Kurt shares the importance of having a plan and seeking help when transitioning from service, and his involvemen...

In this episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Soliva interviews Zach Knight, a former US Army officer and current entrepreneur. Knight shares his journey from serving in the police force to joining the military at 28, and his experiences in Afghanistan. He discusses the challenges he faced transitioning back to civilian life, including dealing with PTSD and the struggle to find a new purpose....

In this new episode of Veteran Voices, hosted by US Army veteran Mary Kate Soliva, Soliva welcomes Dr. Amy Stevens, a Navy veteran and founder of the Georgia Military Women. to the show. Stevens shares her journey from her early days in the Navy, where she was one of the first women to serve in co-ed classes, to her transition into civilian life. She discusses the challenges she faced, including s...

Welcome to Season 6 of Veteran Voices! In this new episode, host Mary Kate Saliva interviews Army veteran Laurie Pimentel-Johnson. Laurie shares her journey from joining the army, serving for 12 years, and transitioning back to civilian life. Listen in as Laurie discusses the challenges she faced during her transition, including finding employment and adjusting to a new lifestyle. Laurie emphasize...

In this episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Soliva welcomes Navy veteran and founder of Talents ASCEND, Robyn Grable, to the show. Their conversation covers Robyn's military journey, challenges faced by veterans transitioning to civilian life, and the importance of networking. Listen in as Robyn shares her inspiration behind Talents Ascend, a platform connecting veterans, military spouses, a...

In this episode of Veteran Voices, Navy veteran and pilot Gabe Soltero joins host Mary Kate Soliva and shares his journey from military service to civilian life. He discusses his upbringing, Navy experiences, and the challenges of transitioning, emphasizing the importance of family support, networking, and utilizing veteran service organizations during this transition. Now working at Home Depot, h...

In this new, candid episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Soliva welcomes listeners to a conversation brimming with personal narratives and invaluable insights. As the episode unfolds, guest Kevin Horgan, shares the rich tapestry of his life, unveiling the profound impact of his Marine Corps journey on his identity and subsequent civilian career. Through anecdotes and reflections, Kevin shares...

Every Veteran Voices episode delves into the inspiring stories of individuals who have served their country and are now making a difference beyond the uniform, but few stories are as powerful and uplifting as that of John Wayne Walding. John Wayne lost his leg to a sniper during battle in the mountains of Afghanistan, only to continue fighting, become the first amputee to become a Green Beret Snip...

Sometimes the transition from military service to civilian life happens gradually over time. In other cases, it happens in an instant. Neither path is necessarily easy, but maintaining a sense of purpose is key to successfully finding a new path in life. Alex Ortiz is a 1L law student at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Law, a 2022 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellow, and a 2022 SVA S...

Nothing demonstrates the importance of building a mission-driven cohesive team culture like spending time in the military. On a Naval ship, people from different ranks, different backgrounds, and even civilians all have to come together and learn to collaborate to achieve stated goals. They must all learn to adapt and overcome. Alicia Washkevich led logistics with the Expeditionary Action Group On...

There are some common traits shared by most people fighting anxiety and depression or struggling with thoughts of suicide. And while the awareness and understanding of mental health issues have both improved, many of the solutions that are in place today don’t make the required difference for people who need help right now. Matthew Brown earned his degree from the US Naval Academy in 2005. He went...

The difference between violence and competition is the willing participation – or not – of the people involved. When UFC fighters step into the ring, that is a competition. Everyone is a willing participant, which makes it a sport. Unfortunately, there will always be abusive people in the world who will take advantage of people who are not willing participants in the fight, and because of that we...

Successfully transitioning from the military to civilian life is a journey. It also takes a lot of conscious effort, hard conversations, and active opportunities to reconnect with the military community. Bruce Thompson is a Retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant who spent his 23 years of service working as a human resource manager, logistics manager, communication electronics technician, and in main...

In over 70 episodes, Veteran Voices has heard a lot of reasons for people joining the military or picking a particular branch of service. In this episode we hear a brand new one… advice from one’s future father-in-law. In Brian Russel’s case, it was a win-win (win). Brian recently retired after serving 27 years in the United States Marine Corps – an impressive feat to be sure. Brian is also an avi...

Navy Veteran David Trenholm inherited two things from his family that ultimately helped him succeed. One was a solid blue-collar work ethic and the other was a multi-generation tradition of service in the United States Navy. David served in the Navy for over 20 years, but his service did not end with that phase of his life. Today he is an Assistant Vice President at Bank of America and sits on the...

Growing up in a bilingual home comes with challenges as well as opportunities. For this episode’s guest, it helped ease the transition into another ‘language’ altogether, distinguishing what submarines, torpedoes, whales, dolphins, surface ships, and supply ships sound like underwater. Katherine Martinez is a U.S. Navy Veteran who spend her four years of active duty service as a Sonar Technician,...

The Veteran Voices podcast – now in its fourth season on Supply Chain Now – gives a voice to those that have served in the United States Armed Forces. Veterans and Veterans advocates sit down with Army Veteran and host Mary Kate Soliva to talk about the challenges associates with transitioning from active duty to the private sector as well as large scale issues impacting Veterans today. Just as im...

Students at the U.S. Naval Academy are required to select a sport. Many continue sports that they played in high school or while growing up. ‘Iron Mike’ Steadman selected boxing, something that would go beyond meeting a graduation requirement to become his greater mission. Iron Mike Steadman is a Marine Corps Veteran, a published author, three-time National Boxing Champion, a Naval Academy Graduat...