Battle Ready (Audio)

Host Rickey Chavez sits down with James Rosone , Iraq War veteran, former military interrogator, and bestselling author, to discuss how military service and intelligence experience shaped his career as a writer. Their conversation explores military leadership, interrogation, research, modern warfare, AI and autonomous technologies, and the process of creating realistic military thrillers. James al...

In this inspiring episode of Battle Ready , host Rickey Chavez sits down with Mark Parrish , a U.S. Army combat veteran, McDonald's franchise owner, and leadership expert, to explore how military discipline, resilience, and personal growth can shape extraordinary business success. Mark shares his journey from serving in Iraq to leading 22 McDonald's restaurants with more than 1,200 employees, reve...

In this episode of Battle Ready , host Rickey Chavez sits down with Jason Volkert , Vice President of Insurance Sales at the Gibraltar Group and a U.S. Navy veteran, to discuss how military service shaped his approach to leadership, discipline, and business success. Jason shares his journey from joining the Navy after college to building a nearly 30-year career in the insurance industry. Together,...

On this episode of Battle Ready , host Rickey Chavez sits down with Kelly Coughlin , CEO of Everyday CPA, to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of business success: financial readiness. Together, they explore the critical difference between bookkeeping and financial clarity, why many entrepreneurs struggle with taxes and cash flow despite strong revenues, and how business owners can make b...

In this episode of Battle Ready, host J. Rickey Chavez welcomes Jasmine Davis, Founder and CEO of Pretty Talk LLC, for an engaging conversation about youth leadership, character development, and the power of communication. Jasmine shares how her experiences working in juvenile justice inspired her mission to help young people build confidence, accountability, emotional intelligence, and leadership...

In this episode of Battle Ready , host Rickey Chavez sits down with Vanessa Angulo , Senior Director of Field Talent Acquisition at Sysco, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and personal growth. Vanessa shares her remarkable journey from recruiter to executive leader, discussing the lessons she learned through professional challenges, family hardships, and life-changing ex...

On this episode of Battle Ready , Ricky Chavez sits down with Shore Danny, founder and CEO of Community Now, for a powerful conversation about resilience, trauma-informed leadership, mental wellness, and community healing. Shore shares her personal journey through adversity and explains how self-awareness, emotional support, and strong community systems help people move from survival mode into hea...

In this episode of Battle Ready , Ricky Chavez sits down with CPA and entrepreneur Keisha Rodino to break down the true meaning of financial leadership and discipline in business. This conversation goes beyond accounting—exploring how entrepreneurs can gain clarity, build systems, and make smarter decisions to grow and scale successfully. From tax strategies and cash flow management to the dangers...

In this powerful episode of Battle Ready (aired 04-23-26) , host Ruki Chavez sits down with Ryan Conn to break down the truth about leadership, discipline, and performing under pressure. From real-life SWAT experiences to high-level business leadership, this conversation reveals why training alone doesn’t prepare you for real-world challenges. Discover the difference between being trained and trul...

In this episode of Battle Ready , host Ricky Chavez sits down with presentation expert Jeff Brandeis to break down the secrets behind high-impact communication. Learn why most presentations fail within the first 7 minutes and how leaders can capture attention, build authority, and drive real results. Jeff shares his proven ENGAGE framework—designed to transform boring presentations into powerful,...

In this powerful episode of Battle Ready (aired 04-09-26), host Ricky Chavez sits down with retired Command Sergeant Major Alan Cheeseman to explore leadership under pressure, life after the military, and the journey of personal reinvention. From 25 years in the U.S. Army to becoming a science fiction author, Cheeseman shares how discipline, mindset, and resilience shape success beyond uniform. Di...

Discover how modern leaders can thrive in the age of AI in Battle Ready (aired 03-26-26). In this powerful episode, Cynthia Vasquez—AI leadership strategist and founder of Lead with Impact—shares how to move from fear and confusion to confident execution. Learn why emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, and human connection matter more than ever as AI reshapes industries. This conversation expl...

In this episode of Battle Ready (aired 03-19-26), host Ricky Chavez sits down with Dr. Michael Schwartz to break down the real causes of chronic fatigue, burnout, and low energy. Discover why pushing through exhaustion can damage your health and how stress, poor nutrition, and lifestyle habits impact your body’s performance. Learn practical strategies to improve energy, build resilience, and take...

In this episode of Battle Ready , aired 03-12-26 , host Ricky Chavez sits down with Aliyah Zada , founder of the UP and Adam Foundation , to talk about leadership burnout, PTSD recovery, trauma, resilience, and mental wellness . Aliyah shares how high performers and leaders can mistake constant pressure for strength, and why true resilience comes from honesty, regulation, recovery, and community s...

Is AI about to revolutionize wealth management? In this powerful episode of Battle Ready (Aired 02-19-26) , host Ricky Chave sits down with Rick Figueroa, CEO of Padron Partners, to discuss the future of finance, purpose-driven investing, and why money alone will never create fulfillment. Rick shares how AI is becoming the third major revolution in wealth management, why contentment creates financ...

On Now Media TV’s Battle Ready , host Ricky Chavez speaks with veteran advocate Mike Peacock about overcoming homelessness, PTSD, and military transition struggles. Learn how resilience, peer support, and community programs help veterans rebuild their lives, find purpose, and create lasting legacies of service.

In this episode of Battle Ready (aired 02-05-26), host Ricky Chavez sits down with Todd Thomas, a leading voice in AI, energy innovation, and entrepreneurship. The conversation explores how artificial intelligence is driving explosive energy demand, the future of sustainable power, and how startups can turn waste into opportunity. Todd shares insights from his Unleashing Abundant Energy book trilo...

In this powerful episode of Battle Ready , host Ricky Chavez sits down with Dr. Lee Powell, a veteran, pastor, author, and leadership coach whose life embodies resilience and transformation. Once a high school dropout, Dr. Powell defied the odds through discipline, perseverance, and faith—earning his doctorate and dedicating his life to helping others find purpose and lead through adversity. Toget...

In this episode of Battle Ready (aired January 22, 2026), host Rickey Chavez is joined by executive coach and Continuum Leaders co-founder Carlos Martin for a powerful conversation on people-first leadership under pressure. The episode explores executive coaching, self-discovery, emotional intelligence, values alignment, succession planning, and leading through burnout, growth, and uncertainty. Ca...

In this impactful episode of Battle Ready , host Ricky Chavez sits down with digital growth strategist Marilyn Jenkins , founder of Law Marketing Zone , to address one of the most critical challenges facing today’s leaders: lack of visibility. Many high-performing leaders are doing exceptional work but still losing influence, momentum, and revenue because they are not seen in an increasingly digit...

In this powerful episode of Battle Ready , aired 12-04-25 , host Rickey Chavez sits down with leadership coach and trust advisor Dr. Deepak Butra to explore what it truly means to lead, sell, and communicate with confidence instead of fear. This episode breaks down why self-promotion feels uncomfortable, how to overcome the fear of rejection, and why perfectionism often sabotages performance. Dr....

In this powerful episode of Battle Ready, host Rickey Chavez sits down with Ryan Herpin, co-founder and managing partner of Impact Strategies & Consulting, for an honest and grounded conversation about leadership, uncertainty, and the pressure many leaders feel to appear perfect. With more than a decade of experience helping organizations optimize operations, increase profitability, and build...

In this powerful episode of Battle Ready , host Rickey Chavez sits down with Jose Pereira , a seasoned executive with over 35 years of leadership experience and former CEO of Citgo Petroleum, to share a story that redefines resilience, faith, and true leadership under pressure. Jose recounts the life-altering moment when a routine business trip to Venezuela ended in his abduction and nearly five y...

In this powerful episode of Battle Ready (Aired 11-20-2025), we dive deep into the emotional and mental battles people face when trying to break old patterns and create a stronger, healthier life. Through honest conversation and real stories, this episode explores why so many of us stay stuck in cycles that no longer serve us — and what it truly takes to rise above them. Listeners will discover pr...

In this heartfelt episode of Battle Ready, hosts Rickey Chavez and Clint Honeycutt explore what it truly means to lead with integrity, courage, and purpose in today’s challenging world. Through honest conversation and shared experiences, they reflect on how faith and service can guide leaders through uncertainty, helping them stay grounded while uplifting others.