PICK UP THE SIX® Productions

Eric Vevang has a wild story to share. It's just your run of the mill mom was being sex trafficked, dad goes to prison, end up arrested for the first time at age 12. Set back after set back after set back, before ending up out of the military and in prison by the age of 20. And that’s just scratching the surface. Like any good comeback story, Eric’s has critical moments, including finally letting...

Jerry Quickel is a big helmet guy. I came across Jerry on Twitter/X and was instantly drawn to his epic football helmet collection, now 572 helmets and counting. He's a great guy, with a passion for sports, football, and representing the smaller schools, because in addition to helmets from the Blue Bloods, he has some schools you've never heard of. We nerd out over football gear and helmets, inclu...

Every day, men and women in law enforcement across this country leave their homes and families to answer the call of service to a greater mission. Tragically, this call to service can require a heavy sacrifice. This sacrifice is not only made up by the dangers that come with violent situations, but the cumulative stress from the burden of the badge. Caleb Cook and the End of Watch Foundation want...

We are back with an archived episode of PICK UP THE SIX Podcast, as we take time to remember the events of September the 11th, 2001. You don't need a reminder of what happened to our nation on that fateful day. As we have done in years past, we set aside some intentional time to honor those who lost their lives on that day. Our national and our world changed forever. As did the life of today’s gue...

In 2015, Paul and Linda Johnson lost their son, Joseph, to suicide. It sent them into a fog, but when that fog began to clear one thing was certain for them, they would not let that moment define the memory of their son. From that tragedy comes their mission to educate, save and improve the lives of those suffering from mental health challenges and prior suicidal tendencies by providing highly tra...

Chief Chuck has become a friend, yet we've not met in person. Our paths first crossed on Twitter/X talking about F3 and how he was drawn to our organization of men worldwide. Today, he joins the show to talk about his 24-year career in the Navy, we we focus on two undeniable qualities that he looks for in a real leader, honor and integrity.

We met Eric Hohman a few years ago on PICK UP THE SIX, a former Air Force Combat Controller, Eric was on a journey that included running for Congress and leading a non-profit called the 1st There Foundation, an organization dedicated to his fallen brothers and their families. Today, Eric is back with Lumi and they're sharing how 1st There is now working through an effort called Operation Soul Resc...

Mike, a Navy Veteran, and his wife Stacy have launched a new program through their therapeutic facility called OPTI VETS. Their goal is to augment Post Traumatic Syndrome efforts through a comprehensive integrative approach. They are putting in the work and serving those who have served. This is a couple that knows about picking up the six, their family of 11 includes six adopted children. We are...

At his lowest moments in life, Chris Fontana was a 300-pound alcoholic. But, life told him that was enough and he faced his challenges head on, with a primal mindset. Chris is the owner of Go Primal an the host of The Primal Mindset show, and he's become a friend and brother over the last year. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did, on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX.

Craig Hannum is a retired Army soldier and Military Police who continues his service through The Toughest Topic, a program that offers tangible tools to combat the one preventable death, suicide. He's become a friend and a brother in this battle, and we are honored to introduce you to him on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX. Show sponsors are Mudgear.com code PUT6 and LiveMomentous.com code BRIANJ.

Greg Archbold was headed in the wrong direction, until a mentor stepped in and spoke some quick truth into him. He turned a life of trouble around, joined the Army, lead security and prison operations, and now is on a mission to produce positivity everywhere he goes. We crank up the passion and energy on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX.

Mike Sullivan, aka Sully, is a 30+ year Army Veteran and a Green Beret. He has six combat tours in Afghanistan, all stemming from a rich military family history. He's staying active and on-mission through an expanded role with Team RWB and he joined the show to share his story and their important work to connect the Veteran community through physical and mental fitness. Show sponsors: Mudgear.com...

It is Holy Week and for my christian brothers and sisters this week marks the culmination of our faith, the days in which Jesus Christ died and rose again. One year ago we released a pair of PICK UP THE SIX episodes, one with Catholic Priest (and Air Force chaplain) James Hamel, and the other with my friends Rob Renzi and Dom Raso, a former Navy SEAL. Our conversations centered around a man thrust...

#179: Sutton Howard, the Pickleball Phoenix by PICK UP THE SIX

Late last year, PICK UP THE SIX Productions hit the road for Northwest Arkansas with our friends from Mudgear to meet Mark Jones and create a commercial for the new Mudgear Speed Ruck shoe. Through that, we got to learn more about Mudgear's purpose, founded by Alex Thrasher, and their connection to one of their Mudgear athletes, Mark Jones, a hard charger if there ever was one. Today, we introduce...

Our guest today is Dr. Karla Steingraber, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and a certified Mental Game Coach. As a certified Mental Game Coach (IMGCA), Dr. Steingraber teaches clients to identify mental barriers. She provides a proven mental skills system to improve performance in competition and to help build confidence and maximize performance. She is going incredible work, across the board, wit...

Today’s guest is Chris Cathers of Brother’s Keeper Veteran Foundation. Chris is a Green Beret and was one of the first 10 agency contractors into Iraq in the first days of the Global War on Terror. After his service Chris was feeling it, in the form of PTSD and he contemplated suicide. He battled through it and was later diagnosed with Stage-4 bone cancer. But that is not slowing him down at all,...

Evan Slaughter left the Army, after receiving a Purple Heart, and felt directionless. He ended up in rehab fighting to kick an opioid addiction, and in the meantime found himself drastically falling out of both physical and mental shape. Today, he's battling back, while creating comedy and motivational content as Fit2Serve. We have an incredible conversation, including the first content Brian saw...

We first met Dan Skidmore back on Episode 93 of PICK UP THE SIX Podcast and we’ve been overdue to sit down with him again. 
Dan was a special operator in the Air Force and he has a passion for doing hard things while living life to the fullest. He recently teamed up with three other buddies for the Morocco Monkey Run, an adventure that he shares with us, plus his views on training, fitness, and bu...

On this episode of PICK UP THE SIX Podcast we meet Julia Watson-Carlson who was a champion marksman in the United States Marines and who on deployment was heavily involved in women's engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan. She is truly a peaceful warrior. Show sponsors: NGBN: www.ngbn.tv Mudgear: www.mudgear.com code PUT6 to save 15% Amino-Vita: www.amino-vital.com code PUT6 to save 20%

On September 11, 2001, our world changed forever and a generation of warriors step to the line to take the fight to the enemy. 22-years later, and after a 20-year war, those warriors now face a new enemy, mental health and suicide. To raise awareness, a team of elite operators traversed nearly 200-miles across South Carolina ending in Augusta, Georgia on Veterans Day 2023. The team has raised near...

The mission of the Generation Next Project is to make a positive and direct impact on youth mental health within the golf community, providing players, families, and coaches with mental fitness tools and communication skills to thrive in today’s world, through the game of golf. The mental battle hit close to home for Generation Next Founder Robert Jones Black, after a family friend lost their son...

About 10-years ago, Joe Baker found himself in a rut. Not long after that he found a group of men that helped him unlock his purpose, and since then he’s not only transformed his body, but his mind as well. He’s now a staple in the GORUCK event community, taking what he’s learned along the way to form his own tribes while training others for greatness through Joe Baker Fitness. I’m excited to intr...

October 3-4, 1993. The Battle of Mogadishu. You might know it as Black Hawk Down. Yesterday, we replayed an archived Episode of PICK UP THE SIX podcast with Jeff Struecker, who was there for the battle. Today, we meet Jim Rooney, who 30-years ago, today, was a 20-year old soldier smack dab in the middle of a 2-day fight. I’m Brian Jodice, and this is PICK UP THE SIX Podcast.

This episode of PICK UP THE SIX Podcast is dedicated to the 19 American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of Mogadishu. You may know that battle as Black Hawk Down. Our guest is Major Jeff Struecker, who as a 24-year old Sergeant, was there during that fateful battle. We reflect on those moments, his role, and his faith.