It'll Buff: A Podcast for Transitioning Military and Veterans

During this episode, we cover a lot: military life, why choosing to skillbridge at a start-up, why go into HR, how to maximize the SkillBridge time, and ultimately, where Robert is today. The transition wasn't easy, and we personally walked through the transition with Robert. He is now leading HR efforts and doing really well. He found his purpose and is running. If you like this episode or an...

In this episode of the It'll Buff Podcast, host Daniel Grochowski interviews Peter Gudmundsson, a veteran with a diverse career spanning military service and various civilian roles. Peter shares his journey from military to civilian life, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, networking, and understanding organizational culture. He discusses the challenges veterans face during the tran...

Explore the mil2civ transition from the perspective of Green Berets and discover why they founded Team Courser Racing! Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Transitioning from military to civilian life is challenging for everyone, regardless of their background or destination. It's crucial to understand your 3 M's and identify your battle buddies. The transition impacts each individual differently and at v...

Join us for another fantastic episode of the "It'll Buff" podcast with an incredible guest and an inspiring transition story. Introducing Matt Gjertsen, our first Air Force Academy graduate, whose story is nothing short of captivating! The central theme of Matt's journey is reclaiming his time. From a young age, Matt was captivated by flight. As he pondered his future, he decided...

This episode delves into an extraordinary origin story, exploring the journey from dedicated service to bootstrapping and growing a solar service company. Brian's path is anything but ordinary, and we are thrilled to share it with our audience. From an early age, Brian was driven by a strong desire to serve. His family’s military tradition dates back to WWII, so when the opportunity arose to a...

BLUF: Use your time wisely! Dallas (Stowe) Faircloth exemplified this principle during his time as an Army officer. He not only led his soldiers effectively but also prepared for his post-military career. From the moment Stowe was commissioned as a 2LT, he played the long game. Although aware of his eventual transition out of the Army, he remained fully present in his role. Like many officers, he...

If you're a trailblazer at heart, love exploring uncharted paths, or are simply eager for your next adventure, this episode is for you. In this installment, we have an inspiring conversation with Leslie Irby, tracing her journey back to the beginning and why she chose to join the Navy. Leslie realized early on that traditional schooling wasn't her path. Instead, she was drawn to the idea o...

A big shoutout to Caleb Campbell for joining our podcast and sharing insightful knowledge applicable to anyone transitioning from the military to civilian life. Caleb's journey is unique compared to others featured in this series. Instead of reporting to BOLC like his peers, he began his military service by showing up at the Detroit Lions' headquarters for the first day of summer camp. However, on...

Exploring the transition from military service to entrepreneurship, Andrew's journey is a testament to pursuing one's passion. While still on active duty in the Army, he began building GORX, embodying his long-held interest in micro economies since his college days. Andrew's military career saw him progress from the National Guard to full-time active duty, where he served as an infantr...

A fresh twist on our usual programming! In today's episode, we tackle a pivotal question many of us have faced: should we stay in the military or move on? Logan and I explore this journey and the decision-making process, addressing a multitude of concerns you may be experiencing right now. Am I leaving my comrades behind? Am I making the right choice? Will my successor care for these service m...

In this episode, we explored the topic of health, featuring Paul Reilly's inspiring journey from military service to his current achievements, showcasing the enduring nature of transformation. Throughout his transition to civilian life, Paul embraced learning and growth. While leaving the military was straightforward for Paul, the subsequent path was challenging. Initially, he entered an indus...

Where to start with this episode?! Drew shares a treasure trove of insights on best practices for transitioning from the military to a civilian career. Transitioning is an ongoing journey; as veterans, we're constantly learning, growing, achieving, adapting, and overcoming challenges. Drew highlights some key points in this episode that we wanted to emphasize upfront. First, one of the most va...

Here's another inspiring transition story from a remarkable veteran! Kathy shares her insights, which is quite fitting as she once disarmed bombs herself! Kathy offers an in-depth look at her journey to where she is now. From mastering the roles of Navy diver and explosives expert, venturing into the world of stunt doubling, exploring start-ups, securing a dream role at Facebook, to returning...

What a fantastic episode to start the new year! It's packed with insights to help you navigate the transition from military to civilian life. In this episode, we delve into several topics: How does John make tough decisions? Why leave the military at the 14/15-year mark, so close to a pension? Why choose the unconventional path in an Army career? Because John is always in pursuit of excitement...

After our recent episode with Kyle Ryman, the concept of success and how we define it has been on my mind. As service members preparing to transition from military to civilian life, we all aspire to be successful. However, we often fall into the trap of letting others' definitions of success shape our own. Just like each transition journey from the military to civilian life, there is no one-si...

It was a pleasure to discuss an alternative route from military service to the civilian world. Kyle Ryman shared his journey, transitioning from an Army captain to earning a prestigious law degree, and now practicing law in the vibrant city of Austin. Key takeaways from this episode: If you're passionate about pursuing a different career path but face initial setbacks, don't lose hope. Kyl...

It's always a fantastic experience to sit down with like-minded individuals and discuss our field! In this amazing episode, we explored a range of topics—from the unique role of a Commander, distinct from a CEO, to being a TAC officer, instructing at USMA, and the art of strategic networking. Zach shared invaluable insights: Transitioning from the military is challenging, regardless of when yo...

In this remarkable episode, we delve into a wealth of topics that ultimately convey a crucial message: don't give up! Logan shares his journey after the Marine Corps, beginning with his pursuit of a career in personal fitness. He partnered with an investor to launch a gym, which he later sold to Redcon1. Subsequently, he embarked on a new venture in the Fit-tech industry, which evolved into hi...

Whether you are currently experiencing it, have already been through it, or are yet to face it, transitioning from military service is challenging. Why is it difficult? Because doing it successfully requires time, and unfortunately, time is not usually in your favor. In this episode of "Fly Solo," we discuss where you should—and perhaps should not—focus most of your time. Learn from the...

What an enlightening episode, packed with essential insights! If you're transitioning from active duty military service to civilian life as an entrepreneur, this episode is a must-listen. Cody shares his journey out of the military, vividly illustrating the emotional highs and lows. He reveals that while separating from service may be straightforward, finding truly meaningful work is the real...

It's hard to believe that we're celebrating the one-year anniversary of the "It'll Buff" podcast. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has joined us on this journey and helped make it possible. The unwavering support from our community fuels my passion and drive to keep pushing forward. I hope you appreciate the full transparency of my journey! NEXT STEPS: 💼 Jobs for Tra...

You know the routine: we'll review the last 10 episodes and everything discussed so far. Thanks for tuning in! NEXT STEPS: 💼 Jobs for Transitioning Military & Veterans: https://bit.ly/4dZSnTV 🤝 Partnership Opportunities for Small Businesses: https://bit.ly/47kReUH LET'S CONNECT: 🔗 Connect With Daniel Grochowski on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3XDP9Qg 🔔 Follow Five & Fly on LinkedIn...

This episode marks a special occasion as our first featuring two guests, and even better, a father-son duo! The McCullochs delved into the transition from active duty service members to veteran employees, highlighting that the skill distinguishing you for success is leadership. We explored the journey into continued service through nonprofit leadership and then into government service with LTC (R)...

If you found your transition out of the military challenging, pause what you're doing and listen to this episode! Thank you, Jared, for joining us and sharing your tumultuous journey that ultimately led you to exactly where you belong! BLUF: Transitioning out of the military is tough! Key insights: You can never be too prepared when separating from the military. Many of you remain committed to...

What an incredible episode this was! Conner’s ongoing transition from the military exemplifies that there truly is no defined path to civilian life. In this discussion, we explored his journey from the military to Hiring Our Heroes, then on to Lockheed and Oracle, culminating in the creation of two companies, with his primary focus now on Rollup. Here are some key takeaways from the episode: Keep...