Mentors for Military Podcast

Imagine finding that you are genetically predisposed for the genetic mutation BRCA2. According to the National Cancer Institute, BRCA2 (Breast Cancer 2, Early Onset) is "a gene on chromosome 13 that normally helps to suppress cell growth. These proteins help repair damaged DNA and, therefore, play a role in ensuring the stability of the cell's genetic material. When either of these genes is mutate...

In this episode, Sammy Durrani joins Robert and Mike to discuss her military background, her heritage, and the history that has shaped much of what we've seen in current events. Sammy is a former enlisted soldier and now an officer in the U.S. Army and she hails from 3 generations of British Army soldiers. She has a B.A. and an M.S. from Boston University. She spends much of her time as a philanth...

Too often we see companies who are not able to see the value that separating military bring to their organization. Bram and Robert discuss the values, ethos, skills, leadership, and other tangible benefits that veterans bring to any organization after their service. As veterans, you should consider the benefits you offer and learn how to package that into a resume as well as learn how to communica...

Brad Genereux spent 22 years serving in the USN as a SEABEE. As a career military man, Brad Genereux deployed eleven times around the globe. Deployment demons pursued him until Brad confronted the inner darkness stalking his days and nights while walking the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage in northern Spain. During his own pilgrimage on the “Camino de Santiago” in Spain, he found self-di...

This episode is socked full of great tips for anyone making a career change as well as active duty military considering transition within the next few years. Tom Moore is the cofounder and Managing Director of WithYouWithMe based out of Australia. WithYouWithMe is a veteran owned tech start up that solves the problem of effectively transitioning personnel from the ADF to the Australian private sec...

Fiona Heloise was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Military Police branch who recently decided that she needed to make a career change in order to match her passion and to ensure she developed enough experience in her career for a future military transition. She chose to go into the criminal investigation division (CID) and it meant that she would have to leave her commission and become a w...

George Briones III is the founder of GB3 Athletics and Team Head Coach at SOFlete. He served 8 years in the USMC with part of that in Recon and as a BRC instructor. In this episode, he is joined by Robert Gowin, Mike Pritts, and Don Fox. Don was a US Army Ranger Instructor at 4th RTB and Mike Pritts was a command sergeant major (CSM/E-9) at SWCC. This group discusses what it takes to have an elite...

Eric DeVries retired from the U.S. Air Force Dec 2012. He earned a master degree in sport and performance psychology. Since his military separation, he's been working in several civilian roles but also in partnership with a large veteran's charity, training veterans in mental resilience. He recently established a Performance Coaching service, where it's not "therapy" and re-living trauma, but just...

KOTA Longboards founder, Mike Maloney, and Mentors for Military founder, Robert Gowin, have similar experiences of serving their country and also of climbing the corporate ladder to become executives. In this episode, Mike and Robert talk about the current economic situation and possible trend, becoming an entrepreneur, and the approach to building a successful company. Mike Maloney served in the...

Nick is a UH-60M U.S. Army aviator who joined the Army for the purpose of following his passion; to serve his country, live in the sky, and aid others. He shares his outlook on practices of stoicism in the workplace, approaching problems in new ways, and the journey of following ones passion. He joined Robert Gowin and Kat Kaelin on this episode. Follow Mentors for Military: iTunes: http://apple.c...

Taylor Drescher is a 1LT in the U.S. Marines and is currently serving as the battalions Logistics Officer, Uniformed Victim Advocate Officer, Safety Officer, and Logistics Company Executive Officer for the 1st Marine Raider Support Battalion. While attending college at Univ. of Louisville, she was a competitive crossfit athlete and a UL cheerleader. Upon graduation from UL she attended the Marines...

Change is all around us and will continue to occur. How we adapt to the change is so important. We discuss steps to help you adapt to the changing environment - both on a macro level and micro level. Follow Mentors for Military: iTunes: http://apple.co/1WaEvbB SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/mentors4mil Instagram: www.instagram.com/mentors4mil Twitter: www.twitter.com/mentors4mil Facebook: www.face...

Scott Kinder served in differing roles on an Operational Detachment – Alpha (A-team) in the US Army Special Forces before transitioning to civil service and helping stand up the newly operationalized Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC).  This service spanned more than a decade at differing command levels of Special Operations Forces. He entered the U.S. Army in the 18X (Special Forces Candi...

William Oatis is a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier (Green Beret) that in the Spring of 2012 began the VETERAN FIRE COOKING PROJECT, a one person mission to travel the world figuring out the best way to reintroduce Mankind to the dying Craft of cooking with fire. In all, he has traveled to six continents and roughly 70 countries researching how we’ve cooked for more than 200,000 years. The intent...

Robert discusses some of the differences between a manager role and a leader role in both the military and in the private sector. From an enlisted member of the U.S. Army to an executive within a $60 Billion company, Robert shares his experience of the differences between these two roles. There are many overlapping characteristics and traits, but a leader begins to see things beyond that of the ma...

Robert Gowin, Mike Pritts, and Kat Kaelin share personal experiences that became teachable moments in their lives. These teachable moments are meant to help us not fear failing and to understand that we should only focus on the things that we have control over and let go of those things that we don't have control over. Even though we plan, not everything will happen according to plan, and that's o...

U.S. Army Captain Derick Carver was on a patrol in the Afghan desert when he hit an IED. The blast destroyed his left leg almost to the pelvis, and about 50 percent of his right thigh. Derick suffered a serious shrapnel wound to his left elbow, the index finger on his right hand had to be partially amputated, and the pinkie and index finger on his left hand were fused together. The Ranger-trained...

Many organizations are not developing leaders at the rate at which they are needed. Developing leaders is paramount to organizational and mission success. Demographic trends are indicating that we will have a shortfall of leaders in the future and the demand for good leaders will continue to escalate. The team shares their stories about becoming leaders, developing other leaders, and how frequentl...

This is a revised version of a podcast from about a year ago. In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive marketplace, it is crucial for organizations to be flexible enough to change. This is true for the military and for the private sector. The military is in a constant state of change and their members learn to adapt easily. For the private sector, it's imperative to learn to adjust to change i...

Stuart Pearson went on a routine patrol to observe and possibly attack a Taliban checkpoint near Kajaki Dam in Helmand province. As his patrol carefully picked their way down a ravine, his friend, Cpl Stuart Hale, hopped across a river bed and then flew backwards after stepping on a mine. Stuart Pearson was the next victim after he stood on a mine as he went to his friend's aid. He looked down and...

Bram Connolly left his Adelaide home at sixteen to work on a sheep station. He joined the Australian Army as a seventeen year old and rose through the ranks to retire from Special Forces as a Major in 2011. In a distinguished twenty-year career (over fifteen years in Special Forces) Bram was deployed to Somalia, East Timor (twice) and Afghanistan (twice). In 1997 Bram was selected on Australia’s f...

Damian is currently serving on active duty with the U.S. Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (E7). He's served on multiple rotations to Afghanistan with most of his time in the Kandahar and Panjwai regions. At times, he has been attached in support of Army Special Forces ODA's and Navy SEAL platoons. He joins Robert Gowin and Mike Glover to talk about his training...

Bryce Mahoney joins Robert Gowin and Mike Glover on this podcast. We discuss the increase of special operations forces op tempo and the role they will play countering terrorism during the next administration. We discuss the transition of the SOF community (specifically Rangers and SF) and the difficulty some have assimilating into the private sector. There may be an opportunity to create a mentori...

Mylee Cardenas served in the U.S. Army as a civil affairs non-commissioned officer before volunteering to join the cultural support team (CST)initiative where she was assigned to the Special Forces in Afghanistan. While deployed, she noticed a lump on her breast, but ignored it so she could finish the eight-month tour. Mylee returned to the United States to find out that she had stage 3 invasive d...

Kinessa Johnson is a U.S. Army veteran. After separation from the military, she trained in weapons. She has always been passionate about saving the "big 5" animals from extinction in Africa. She talks about her previous trip to Tanzania and how that went terribly bad. She is currently preparing to revisit Africa with a different organization soon. We talk about her past, her military transition, h...