Military Creator Con: Creator Conversations

What happens when a TV journalist and military spouse channels decades of high-stress living into a mission to heal others? You get Hilary Russo and her story is one you won't want to miss. In this episode of MCC Creator Conversations, host James sits down with Hilary Russo of Hilistically Speaking to unpack her journey from reporting live on 9/11 to becoming a trauma-informed holistic health prac...

Guest host, Sean Douglas sits down with Marine Corps veteran and Oscar Mike Radio, founder Travis Partington on the latest Military Creator Con Creator Conversations episode to talk about a massively underused content strategy: Community Access Television. Travis breaks down how veterans, small business owners, and nonprofits can walk into their local public access studio and produce broadcast-qua...

Mike Dell went from serving in the Air Force to building one of the most respected names in podcasting and he's got 20+ years of hard-won insight to prove it. In this Creator Conversations session with guest host, Lechon Kirb, Mike shares how veterans can use podcasting to tell their stories, own their intellectual property, and build lasting networks that go far beyond a social media algorithm. A...

"Get comfortable with being uncomfortable." Most marketers play it safe. Cliff Quicksell has built a career doing the opposite and after decades in the industry, he's convinced that the willingness to fail, experiment, and get genuinely uncomfortable is the only thing that keeps you relevant. Military Creator Con, Cofounder, James Van Prooyen sits with Cliff to break down how creativity and innova...

Isolation is one of the most dangerous things an entrepreneur can face, and for veterans making the leap into business, it can be the thing that quietly kills momentum before it ever builds. D. Scott has spent years studying what actually holds communities together, how storytelling creates trust at scale, and where AI fits into the future of authentic human connection. In this conversation with M...

"Technology should serve human connection, not replace it." One of the hardest parts of leaving military service isn't the career transition, it's losing the relationships. The tight-knit bonds built over years of service tend to fade fast once you're back in civilian life, and most veterans never find a real solution for it. Junhao Chen and Erik Gonzalez did something about it. Their company Tenu...

Thomas Long is a 100% permanent & total disabled veteran, 3-time suicide survivor, and CEO of Apex Business Alliance, and his story will stop you in your tracks. In this conversation, Thomas opens up about losing 150+ pounds without surgery, escaping a dark chapter of alcoholism and near-death, and how faith, family, and community pulled him back from the edge. Guest host, Travis Partington of...

Mr. Whiskey went from operating nuclear systems in the Navy to building one of the most community-driven voices in the veteran creator space and his reason for making that leap will resonate with anyone who's ever felt the pull to do something more. CoFounder, Military Creator Con, James Van Prooyen chats with Mr. Whiskey to open up about why podcasting became his vehicle for healing and connectio...

Jaime Jay went from jumping out of planes with the 82nd Airborne to building a business that's completely rewriting how entrepreneurs think about delegation and it all connects back to his military roots. CoFounder, Military Creator Con, Marah Lago chats with Jaime to break down his concept of "delegation intelligence" - a smarter, leadership-driven approach to virtual assistance that has slashed...

What does it take to go from military service to building a successful business empire? Donnie Boivin breaks it all down - the failures, the breakthroughs, and the exact strategies that changed everything. In this episode, special host, Lechon Kirb sits with Donnie to explore his proven 30-30-30 methodology for networking, thought leadership, and outreach, plus why sharing your business failures m...

"My nerdy side loves data and AI." Discover how one veteran, Will Curtis, Owner of Crossed Sabers Commercial Real Estate turned military skills into commercial real estate success and how he’s using AI and data to help creators, small business owners, and entrepreneurs thrive. What happens when veterans apply strategy, data, and AI to entrepreneurship? In this Military Creator Con Conversation, we...

What happens when an Apache helicopter pilot trades the cockpit for entrepreneurship? In this conversation, Army veteran Andrew Arbogast shares the wild journey behind turning his father’s cheese dip recipe into a fast-growing retail brand. From launching in 100 stores to over 2,000, nearly losing everything, and rebuilding after massive setbacks, Andrew opens up about risk, failure, faith, and st...

What happens when veterans step into the creator economy? In this Military Creator Con Conversation, Tom Schwab and Travis explore podcasting, entrepreneurship, and why conversations still matter in a world filled with algorithms and AI. They discuss building meaningful connections through podcasts, breaking the employee mindset after military service, and how veterans can turn storytelling, media...

Christian Brim joins Military Creator Con to share how veterans and creatives can stop undervaluing their work, embrace their worth, and build sustainable creative businesses. From tackling mindset blocks around money to connecting with a supportive community, Christian explains why understanding your value and finding your tribe is key to thriving after service. He also shares insights from his b...

What happens when veterans channel military skills into creative passion? James Van Prooyen and Lechon Kirb share how creativity, personal branding, and community help veterans thrive after service. From heart-driven projects to protecting ideas, they reveal actionable insights for turning passion into purpose. If you’re a veteran, creator, or aspiring entrepreneur, this Military Creator Con Conve...

Army veteran Jose Pila went from homelessness and addiction to building Warrior Dog Spirit, a whiskey brand honoring heroic service dogs and supporting veterans. Jose shares how military transition challenges, academia, and his service dog inspired a purpose-driven company that gives back to the veteran community. Support and join our event Military Creator con: https://www.militarycreatorcon.com/...