Military Creator Con: Creator Conversations

Dr. JR McIntyre grew up navigating gang life in Long Beach and Compton, lost his mother to AIDS, and found himself cycling in and out of county jail, until the towers fell and everything changed. Three tours in Iraq and 55 months of combat later, he became the motivator he needed as a kid. This conversation goes deep on resilience, accountability, and why the military community has something power...

Jasmine Rush went from aviation crash and salvage on the USS Iwo Jima to building businesses, advocating for her son with special needs, and coaching others to turn their raw life experiences into content that converts. In this conversation, she breaks down why your story has a unique fingerprint and how to stop sitting on it. Jasmine Rush is a Navy Veteran, published author, media strategist, and...

Seung Paik didn't grow up dreaming of the military. He was a gymnast from Illinois who got recruited by the Air Force Academy. What made him stay? A philosophy class that asked a question he couldn't answer. In this Creator Conversation, Seung shares his 25-year Air Force journey, with Military Creator Con co-founder, Marah Lago on the economics-based leadership framework he developed called Leade...

Simona Costantini launched her podcast production agency in March 2021 and sold out in 72 hours. Now her award-winning team at Volt Productions helps creators turn their podcasts into marketing machines, even while they sleep. As the host of Happiness Happens and As It Relates to Podcasting, Simona blends mindset shifts with actionable strategies. Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simon...

Army veteran Cory Brown lost a close battle buddy to suicide. His co-host lost his mom. So they built a cooking show. Eat Your Feelings uses food, humor, and honest conversation to go places most creators won't. Cory's bringing that story to MCC 2026. Cory Brown is a U.S. Army veteran and the creator and host of Eat Your Feelings, a cooking and storytelling show that brings people together around...

Wendy Poling published her first podcast episode in 2007. Nearly 20 years later she's helping military spouses build platforms that are built for brand partnerships from day one. She's bringing that blueprint to MCC 2026. Having published her first podcast in 2007, Wendy is a pioneer in the podcast and digital content space. Her work has reached millions and spans more than 14 years in a Fortune 1...

Barry Gibson spent 23 years in the Navy. Then he retired, found his niche, and spent the next decade building one of the most engaged Cowboys communities on Facebook. He's bringing his blueprint to MCC 2025 and yes, the conference is in Arlington. When you think of the Dallas Cowboys and Facebook, think of the Cowboys Unifier. Retired Navy veteran with a sleight of hand social media skill set aime...

Zach Starr didn't see combat. He almost didn't survive the transition. Now he's closing out MCC 2025 with a keynote on trust, video, and why your story deserves to be heard. Catch Zach live at Military Creator Con, April 16–18 in Arlington, TX. 👉 https://militarycreatorcon.com Socials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zackstarr/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezackstarr/ LinkedIn: https:...

John Albers flew 59 aircraft as a Marine test pilot, then lost everything trying to run a dry cleaning business. What came next built a 600-person aerospace company from scratch. John is the founder & CEO of Albers Aerospace. Following a six-year period of organic growth from himself to 80 teammates, John embarked on a buy & build strategy in 2021. Today, Albers Aerospace has nine location...

Michelle Angelillo has been using BANK, a reverse-engineered personality science system, to transform how people communicate, sell, and connect. In this conversation, she breaks down how understanding personality codes can change your relationships, your business, and even help veterans navigate the hardest transitions home. Michelle Lee Angiolillo is an international speaker, best-selling author,...

Entertainment attorney and podcast pioneer Gordon Firemark breaks down why content creation is just the beginning and how veterans and military creators are uniquely positioned to build real business empires from their expertise. Gordon has practiced entertainment law for 34+ years and has been podcasting for nearly two decades. At Military CreatorCon 2026, he'll be sharing the mindset shift that...

Dr. Russ Barnes has been part of Military Creator Con from day one and his fingerprints are all over the vision of what it's becoming. B-52 aviator turned PhD strategist turned entrepreneur, Russ breaks down why consistency builds movements, why the real magic happens outside the session rooms, and what makes this year's event different. Social Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/systroprofit...

Moni Jefferson is the founder of the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs (AMSE) and one of the most recognized voices in military spouse entrepreneurship. In this conversation, she talks about building a community of hundreds of thousands, launching apps before it was easy, testifying at the White House, and what the hard years of 2024 and 2025 actually taught her. Learn more about Moni a...

Before you say a word, your audience has already decided. Podcaster, tech veteran, and home studio expert Junaid breaks down how your setup, your frame, and your presence do the talking, and how to use it to build real connections as a creator. Catch Junaid live at Military CreatorCon, April 16–18 in Arlington, TX. 👉 https://militarycreatorcon.com Follow Junaid on Socials Facebook: https://www.fa...

If you're using AI to create content, you may not own what you're making and most creators don't know it. Attorney and Army veteran Andy Nelson breaks down copyright, trademarks, and the fast-changing legal landscape around AI-generated content. Catch Andy live at Military CreatorCon, April 16–18 in Arlington, TX. 👉 https://militarycreatorcon.com Social Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/At...

Active duty Army Lt. Colonel and entrepreneur Julie Austin built three businesses while still serving and she's got a framework to help you do the same. From real estate hacks with your VA loan to turning military discipline into business ownership, this one's packed. Catch Julie live at Military CreatorCon, April 16–18 in Arlington, TX. 👉 https://militarycreatorcon.com Social Links Facebook: htt...

After two decades as a military spouse, Anna Larson wasn't prepared for what came next and she's made it her mission to change that for others. Travis sits down with Anna ahead of Military Creator Con 2026 to talk about military spouse identity, transition gaps, and why communication between service members and spouses can make or break what comes after active duty. Socials: Facebook: https://www....

Laura Briggs has moved 14 times as a military spouse and built a freelance career that moved with her. In this Creator Conversation, Travis sits down with Laura ahead of Military CreatorCon 2026 to talk about what most people get wrong when hiring freelancers, how to define your requirements, and why delegation doesn't have to feel like losing control. Military CreatorCon 2026 → Learn More Here Co...

So what happens when you're 22, deployed, and the elder in the room? Kimberlee Nicole Smith served in the U.S. Army as a mental health specialist during Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and what she discovered on deployment changed everything. 🎤 Kimberlee Nicole Smith is a U.S. Army veteran, performative storyteller, public health educator, and creative strategist. She helps mission-d...

What if everything holding you back isn't a strategy problem, but it's a room you built as a kid? In this episode of MCC Creator Conversations, host James sits down with Jody Friedman, music supervisor for The Bachelor franchise, former CNN producer, songwriter, and identity coach, to unpack one of the most powerful frameworks for high achievers: Wreck the Room. Jody's story is anything but linear...

Lee Pepper spent eight years in the U.S. Army, worked on Ross Perot's presidential campaigns, and went on to grow a behavioral health company 60X in shareholder value, culminating in a $350 million acquisition. His secret weapon? The leadership strategies he learned in uniform that most veterans don't even realize are transferable. In this conversation, Lee breaks down why veterans struggle to tra...

Adam Peters served nearly 13 years as an Army infantryman: four deployments, 50 months in combat zones and spent 8+ years struggling to find his footing after getting out. Today, he's an AI educator, personal brand builder, and speaker at Military CreatorCon, helping businesses cut through the noise and actually use AI to win. In this conversation, Adam and James break down how relationships and g...

Ron Friedman has been at the intersection of tech, storytelling, and marketing for decades: from adding augmented reality to physical products before most people knew what AR was, to building AI-powered experiences at major conferences. Now, he's helping creators and entrepreneurs stop treating AI like a to-do list tool and start using it like a co-founder. In this conversation, Ron breaks down wh...

Mary Lou Kayser has spent over a decade helping high-performing people get unstuck, not because they lack discipline or drive, but because no one taught them how to read the terrain that's constantly shifting beneath their feet. A writer, podcaster, and former English teacher, Mary Lou brings a rare blend of creativity, strategy, and heart to everything she does. In this conversation, she breaks d...

Lisa Firmin is a retired Air Force Colonel, combat veteran, Bronze Star recipient, poet, author, and entrepreneur, and she's just getting started. After years of silence about her own experiences with military sexual trauma, Lisa chose to speak up, write about it, and build a platform that has literally saved lives. In this conversation, Lisa shares the story behind her powerful books, including S...