Adapt and Overcome Podcast

What happens when an infantry officer leaves the Marine Corps and finds himself helping build advanced satellite systems? In this episode, Tommy Hardaway sits down with Marine veteran Lee Meeks to discuss his unexpected journey from the least technical military specialty to the world of aerospace and technology. Lee shares how veterans bring much more to the workforce than technical skills alone....

What happens when a Marine Corps officer, an ER nurse, and a creative artist all come together in one person? In this episode, Tommy Hardaway sits down with Nicole Stubbs to explore her remarkable journey of service, resilience, and reinvention. Nicole shares how growing up in a military family led her into the Marine Corps, how a medical separation changed the direction of her life, and how she f...

Marine veteran Bo Khamphanthong joins Tommy Hardaway to share how he transformed his military experience into a new mission of helping veterans and active-duty service members prepare for life after the military. In this conversation, Bo discusses financial planning, VA disability claims, retirement options, and the importance of building a successful transition plan. After serving in the Marine C...

What happens when a Marine veteran walks away from a successful sales career and starts over in an industry he knows nothing about? In this episode, Thomas Shirley shares how burnout led him to make a major career change and how the mindset he developed in the Marine Corps helped him succeed in the world of technology. Thomas discusses his journey from AT&T sales into payment technology, where...

What happens when a man spends 44 years serving as a Marine, reaches the role of 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, and then steps into civilian life at age 66? In this episode, retired General Robert Neller shares the reality of transition, purpose, leadership, and life after service. General Neller opens up about the challenges of leaving behind a structured military life and reinventing himse...

What happens when someone starts learning Marine values seven years before ever putting on the uniform? In this episode, Marine veteran Matt Milburn shares how his journey began in high school Marine Corps JROTC and how those early lessons shaped a 21-year Marine Corps career and his transition into the defense technology industry. Matt discusses his current work supporting U.S. Army and Marine pr...

What happens when a military aviator serves across nearly every branch of the U.S. military and then reinvents himself as a physician and healthcare entrepreneur? In this episode, Tommy Hardaway sits down with Dr. Charles Sasser to discuss his remarkable journey from the Marine Corps to medicine, and how he is reshaping healthcare through a patient-first practice model. Dr. Sasser shares how his e...

What happens when a Marine Corps veteran earns a philosophy degree and discovers there aren’t many job openings for philosophers? In this episode, Clinton Avery shares how he transformed uncertainty into opportunity and built a career in software engineering through persistence, learning, and small daily improvements. This conversation is a powerful reminder that career paths are rarely straight l...

What happens when a Marine veteran returns from multiple combat deployments carrying invisible wounds—and later becomes the person helping others heal? In this episode of Adapt and Overcome, Tommy Hardaway sits down with Marine veteran, therapist, researcher, and counselor Matt Rensi to discuss his journey from serving three combat tours in the Middle East to rebuilding his life after PTSD, depres...

What does it take to go from immigrating from Venezuela with very little, serving in the Marine Corps, and helping build software that supports billions of users worldwide? In this episode, Jose Villalta shares his journey of resilience, service, and growth. Jose Villalta is a software engineer with Amazon Web Services (AWS), working with Elastic Container Services (ECS), helping support cloud inf...

What happens when someone spends 17 years in prison and chooses to rebuild instead of give up? In this powerful episode, Tommy Hardaway sits down with George Nolan to discuss his journey from Marine veteran, addiction, incarceration, and repeated prison sentences to becoming the Director of Marketing for New Freedom, the largest reentry facility in the United States. George shares how a defining m...

What happens when a 20-year military career comes to an end and the uniform comes off? In this episode of Adapt and Overcome Podcast, Tommy Hardaway sits down with Army veteran Jon Milner to talk about life after service, transitioning into the civilian world, and continuing to serve with purpose. Jon shares how his military background shaped his leadership style, mindset, and approach to overcomi...

What does it take to go from Marine Corps avionics technician to helping lead the future of electric aviation? In this episode, Tommy Hardaway sits down with David Stepanek, Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer at Bristow Group, to discuss leadership, resilience, aerospace innovation, and adapting through every stage of life and business. David shares how joining the Marine Co...

What does it look like to reinvent yourself at 67 years old? In this episode of the Adapt and Overcome Podcast, Tommy Hardaway sits down with retired Navy Captain Peter Lawless to talk about perseverance, leadership, military service, financial discipline, and why he’s heading to law school later in life. Peter shares his incredible journey from growing up in a household with 11 brothers and siste...

What happens when a life-threatening pregnancy experience becomes the catalyst for a life mission? In this powerful episode, Dr. Danielle Plummer shares her journey from military spouse to Doctor of Pharmacy—and how nine months on IVs during multiple pregnancies led her to help other women facing similar challenges. Dr. Plummer opens up about her struggles with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe and...

What happens when a Marine officer responsible for 150 lives transitions into civilian life—and suddenly has to figure out how to lead himself? In this episode, Tommy sits down with Bert Bender, a cybersecurity and data privacy attorney, to unpack his journey from the Marine Corps to the legal world. Bert shares how his military leadership experience shaped his professional mindset, but also revea...

What happens when you haven’t touched math in over a decade… and then decide to pursue engineering anyway? In this episode, Cameron “Cam” Colucci shares how he went from zero recent academic experience to earning a math minor and physics degree—proving that discipline, patience, and humility can take you further than natural talent. Cam is a mechanical engineer at Clarity Design Incorporated, a fu...

In this episode, Ben takes us through a truly unique path—one that blends military leadership, financial strategy, and real-world resilience. From being selected as the first Marine placed inside a hedge fund to commanding in combat, his story is packed with lessons on adaptability and forward-thinking. Ben breaks down how his military background shaped his ability to analyze information, forecast...

In this episode of the Adapt and Overcome Podcast, Tommy Hardaway sits down with Andrew McCulloch, a Marine Corps veteran turned COO of a large orthopedic practice in New York. Andrew shares his journey from military service to banking, and ultimately into healthcare leadership—where he helped grow his brother’s practice from just 12 employees to over 100. Andrew explains how principles learned in...

What would you do if you relocated your entire family for a job… only to be fired three months later? In this episode, Marcelo Medrano shares how that exact moment became the turning point that led him into entrepreneurship—and ultimately building a fast-growing painting company in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Marcelo, a Marine Corps veteran, opens up about his journey from 13 years of service to w...

What does it take to go from being the first in your family to graduate high school to pursuing a doctorate—after a full career in the Marine Corps? In this episode, Tarek Aissaoui shares his journey of service, leadership, and purpose, and why “clocking out” isn’t always easy for those wired to serve. Tarek Aissaoui is a retired Marine, high school principal, and entrepreneur who has dedicated hi...

What happens when a Marine steps into the corporate world? Chad King shares his journey from military life to leading a successful software company—and how direct communication became his unexpected superpower. In this episode, Tommy Hardaway sits down with Chad King, a former Marine turned business leader and co-founder of Ayoka Systems. Chad opens up about his transition out of the Marine Corps,...

Stephen Pullum, an Air Force veteran with over 40 years in cybersecurity and technology, breaks down the real story behind AI, long before it became mainstream. From early mainframe systems to modern AI governance, he shares insights that only someone who’s been there from the beginning can offer. Stephen also explains how his company, Africurity AI, helps veterans transition into civilian careers...

What happens when a Marine, raised in a family rooted in service, builds a business centered on caring for others? In this episode, Boyd Lowry shares how his life of service shaped his mission to care for seniors and support caregivers in one of the most demanding industries. Boyd Lowry has spent over 14 years in the home care industry, helping seniors age comfortably in their homes. With a backgr...

What happens when a Marine with an anthropology degree ends up leading engineering at a major tequila plant? In this episode, Matthew Savage shares his unconventional path, powerful leadership lessons, and how military experience can create massive success in the civilian world. Matthew Savage joins Tommy Hardaway to talk about his journey from the Marine Corps infantry to working in engineering a...