Peace, Power and Purpose Podcast

He tried to end his life… and it changed everything. In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Gabe Smith shares the truth behind addiction, hitting rock bottom, and what it actually takes to rebuild your life when everything falls apart. After years in the military and law enforcement, Gabe found himself battling alcohol addiction, losing control, and facing a breaking point that...

Zack Ferguson is a former Navy SEAL with multiple deployments to Iraq, Yemen, Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, we go beyond the Trident, often referred to as the “Budweiser” and into the man behind it. Zack served as a Lead Sniper, Pointman, JTAC, Combatives Instructor, and Weapons Ordnance Specialist, operating at the highest level of...

No Excuses. No Limits. Faith & Discipline | Big D In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Steve Morris sits down with Dan “Big D” Sachkowsky for a raw, unfiltered conversation on discipline, accountability, and what it truly takes to win in life. What started as a conversation about mindset and performance took an unexpected turn into faith, conviction, and the role God plays in...

9/11 changed everything. For Jason Andrews, it wasn’t just a moment in history—it was the moment that set his life on a completely different path. In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Jason shares how the events of 9/11 led him to serve, what he experienced in the Coast Guard, and the internal battles that followed—injury, adversity, and the silent struggles many men face afte...

What does 22 years of service in the U.S. Air Force teach a man about purpose—and what happens when faith becomes the turning point? In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Steve Morris sits down with Patrick J. Wright, a retired Air Force veteran who served 22 years, including his final 9 years as SOF Aircrew in Air Force Special Operations. Patrick shares what it’s like to oper...

From combat to coffee—this is what purpose looks like after service. In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Steve Morris sits down with Damien Celaya, a U.S. Army combat veteran and the owner/operator of Freedom Bear Coffee. Damien shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship, opening up about the challenges veterans face after leaving the battlefield and how he...

In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Steve Morris sits down with Stephen D. Powell, founder of The GunLife Coach, a USAF veteran, firearms instructor, and range consultant who works with individuals and organizations on self-defense training, firearms education, and mindset development. Through years of working with people in high-stress environments, Stephen has seen firsthan...

Many men survive war… but lose themselves after the uniform comes off. In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Steve Morris sits down with Michael Kurcina — former U.S. Marine, U.S. Army infantryman and Psychological Operations specialist, founder of Spotter Up Tactical Solutions, and creator of SpotterUp.com. After years operating in high-stress combat environments, Michael face...

What can military service teach us about leadership, listening, and navigating life’s hardest lessons? In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Steve Morris sits down with Jay Richardson, an Army veteran and host of the Conservative Chocolate Podcast, for an honest and surprisingly fun conversation about life after the military, leadership, mental health, and the lessons that shap...

Former Green Beret Chris Lee joins the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast for a powerful conversation about life in U.S. Army Special Forces, leadership, and the battles many warriors face after the uniform comes off. Chris shares insights from his time in Special Forces, his work alongside Nick Lavery, and the leadership development work he is doing through MCHN. He also discusses his book Beyond...

What does it really mean to walk by the Holy Spirit instead of living in the flesh? In this live episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Steve Morris sits down with Joe Thompson to discuss the biblical battle between the flesh and the Spirit and what it means to follow God in a world driven by temptation and distraction. Drawing from the teachings of the Apostle Paul, this conversation e...

In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Steve Morris sits down with Robyn Gudaitis, a second-generation police officer and dual-purpose police K-9 handler with over 15 years of law enforcement experience. Robyn shares what life is really like behind the badge — the discipline, responsibility, and emotional weight that come with serving in law enforcement. Raised in a police famil...

In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Steve Morris sits down with Erin Nugent — former Australian Police Detective, first responder wellness coach, and host of I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness. This powerful conversation explores the emotional weight carried by police officers, firefighters, veterans, paramedics, and their families — and why first responders are more likely...

In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, Steve Morris sits down with Gareth Hoernel, founder of G.T.H. Consulting Group, LLC, to break down what real leadership looks like when pressure is high, stakes are real, and failure is not an option. With decades of experience in risk mitigation, disaster recovery, private security, and executive protection, Gareth shares a disciplined, no...

In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, host Steve Morris sits down with Joe Swanson — former California Highway Patrol officer, tactical wellness instructor, and creator of the Tactical Resilience Training System™. Joe brings over 20 years of real-world law enforcement experience, including patrol operations, officer safety instruction, field training, and wellness program devel...

What happens when the mission ends—but life doesn’t slow down? In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, host Steve Morris sits down with David Griego, a 22-year retired U.S. Army veteran and current Senior Protection & Mission Assurance Advisor within the Department of Defense. David shares the realities many veterans and high-performing men are unprepared for after leaving struct...

Sometimes loving yourself means cutting weight. Not everything — and not everyone — gets to come with you. In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, we break down the side of self-love most people avoid talking about: growth requires subtraction. That means: • Letting go of people who drain your energy • Walking away from environments fueled by gossip and drama • Releasing habits a...

In this powerful episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, host Steve Morris sits down with Lauren Friedman, Founder & CEO of the Why Go Project, to explore trauma, nervous system healing, and the art of human connection. This conversation breaks down why trauma lives in the body, not just the mind — and why nervous system literacy may be the missing foundation of real healing, connection,...

In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, I sit down with Gianna Varrati—nationally recognized advocate, speaker, and entrepreneur dedicated to empowering military families, veterans, and first responders. Gianna is the Founder of Tactical Barbe Designs and the CEO & President of the National Warrior Foundation. Her mission is clear: strengthen those who serve by fostering communit...

In this powerful episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, host Steve Morris sits down with Robert J. Slade — a former U.S. Army Ranger turned nationally certified health and wellness coach, gym owner, and faith-driven leader. Robert’s story goes far beyond discipline and elite performance. It’s about what happens when strength, toughness, and achievement are no longer enough — and the mom...

In this episode, the roles are reversed. For the first time, Steve Morris, host of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, steps out from behind the mic to share his personal testimony. This is an unfiltered conversation about faith, failure, discipline, and what it really looks like to rebuild a life when pride, control, and self-reliance finally collapse. No highlight reel. No polished redemption...

In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, I sit down with John Mabry — a speaker, inventor, and storyteller whose life has been shaped by loss, addiction, faith, and hard-earned redemption. John’s story is not a highlight reel. It’s a cycle of rise, collapse, and rebuilding. After surviving a devastating car accident that cost him his leg, John went on to work in Hollywood, appeari...

In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, I sit down with Becky DiStefano, a licensed therapist specializing in first responder and military mental health, and the founder of Holding Space for Heroes. Becky has spent over six years working directly with law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, and military service members—men and women trained to run toward danger while carrying trauma...

In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, we sit down with Fransi Rottmaier, a German K9 handler and founder of Canine Guardian, for a raw, grounded conversation on trauma, fear, identity, and healing after high-risk service. Fransi’s life spans elite K9 work, military service, and private security—alongside years of navigating PTSD, isolation, and systemic failure in environments...

In this episode of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast, we break down Leading Through the Heat by Mark Andrew—a no-nonsense leadership framework forged in the fire service, where pressure is real and failure carries consequences. This conversation goes beyond theory, titles, and buzzwords to examine what leadership actually looks like when the heat is on. Drawing from decades of real-world emerg...