PICK UP THE SIX® Productions

80% of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed. The team at 321 Coffee is changing that. Let’s meet Lindsay Wrege, the CEO and Co-Founder of 321 Coffee, a nonprofit coffee shop that has an inclusive employment mindset. More about 321 Coffee: https://321coffee.com/

Just over one week ago, history was made in Major League Baseball. An all-female broadcast crew called a game, and our guest today is working to ensure it’s more commonplace in the future. Her name is Alanna Rizzo, and we go back a few years, having shared a small sports office at a TV station in Wichita Falls, Texas. We’re talking about her journey, her love for baseball, dogs and wine, on this e...

On August 22, 2004, while on deployment in Iraq Michael Jernigan’s platoon was on patrol when it was hit by a pair of artillery shells buried under the ground. He was thrown from his humvee and 45% of his skull was crushed in. The road to recovery was long, but 17-years later he remains committed because he got a second chance in life. He is a man of endurance, character, and commitment, and we me...

Lt. Col. Bill Fountain is the kind of guy who will go to his grave serving the Lord’s mission and working. He’s flat out mission driven. From flying combat tours in Vietnam in the F4 to teaching high school math, he’s a high impact man in every sense of it, and he has more than a few incredible stories to share with you on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX Podcast.

Major Chris Walsh has a little Ricky Bobby in him; he likes to go fast. He also wears a few uniforms along the way; US Air Force Special Operator, Race Car Driver, Bobsledder. Chris is aiming to make history, and we’re pumped to buckle up on today’s PICK UP THE SIX podcast.

Brandon Miller is a purpose driven guy, and our conversation today will leave little doubt about that. As the co-founder of the Too Fly Foundation he’s aiming to create a world where every student has the opportunity to travel. Let’s meet Brandon on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX podcast.

There is a growing problem in our nation. A suicide attempt happens every 22-seconds. One life is lost every 11-minutes and suicide is now the 2nd leading cause of death among ages 18-39. Today, we’re talking with Evan Owens who, through Reboot Recovery, is helping people overcome trauma so they can embrace a brighter future. Let’s meet them on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX podcast.

"You do not wander into an Air Force recruiter’s office and suddenly find yourself out at Firebase Cobra. You have to want it, and you have to work extremely hard to get there. Mark Forester sought the path he was on, and it was truly the path less traveled." Those are the comments a commanding officer said about Mark Forester, who was killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2010. Today, we meet Mark t...

#42: Brad Borders and Purple Heart Homes, Partnership to Complete a Project by PICK UP THE SIX

28 June 2005: Operation Red Wings Today, we revisit Episode 2 with Lt. Col. Jeff "Spanky" Peterson (https://www.pickupthesix.com/post/podcast-2-lt-col-jeff-spanky-peterson-operation-red-wings) and Episode 25 with Dan Murphy, Lt. Michael Murphy's father (https://www.pickupthesix.com/post/podcast-25-dan-murphy-his-hero-son-murph-the-protector-1), and we pay tribute to the 19 warriors who made the ul...

This episode of PICK UP THE SIX Podcast is another in our series talking about the Medal of Honor. We are grateful for our friends at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, not only for the incredible work that they do, but for helping us collect stories here at PUT6, like our interview with Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris (Episode 27). We have more like that coming up, so stay tuned. To...

Her A-10 Warthog had been shot up during combat in Baghdad, but despite a football size hole in the horizontal stabilizer, she avoided having to bail out. Meet Colonel Kim "KC" Campbell, a command pilot with over 1,700 hours in the A-10, including 375 combat hours. Strap in and let’s hear her story on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX podcast.

He wears our nation’s uniform as a Marine to work every day. This summer, in Tokyo, he’ll don the red, white and blue for the first time as an Olympian. His name is John Stefanowicz and he joins us on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX Podcast.

In 2005, Amber Smith and her friend Heather set out on a two and a half month cross-country trek to do good. Along the way they conducted random acts of kindness in over 20 states. The spark from that trip lives on today through Activate Good and their mission to improve communities through people-powered projects for good. Let’s meet Amber, and let’s do some good, on this episode of PICK UP THE S...

December 7, 1941; a date which will live in infamy. A young man from a Pennsylvania mill town was part of defending his country while Oahu exploded and burned in the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Years later, and long after his death, his daughter received almost 300 letters between her father and mother during World War II. The letters helped her get to know her father, but also led her to discover a...

There is an ever-growing need for social and emotional development and support. Sitting back and waiting for others to do it, isn’t something Robert Jones Black is interested in. He’s doing something about it with the Generation Next Project. The impact they are striving for, and Robert’s connection to one of golf’s all time greats, on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX Podcast. -- This episode of PU...

We are all loyal to certain brands, right? But, are you more inclined to be loyal to that brand if you believe they are having a positive impact on the world? Our guest today is driven by the mission of nurturing and developing those consumer brands to have that positive impact. His name is John Replogle, and he has a cool story to share with you on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX podcast. -- Toda...

Just over one year ago, many aspects of our daily lives were thrown into an upheaval. Life sorta stopped as a pandemic hit our communities. That included schools, and with that tens-of-thousands of kids who depend on free-and-reduced lunch programs. Our guest today set into motion to do something about it, and we're excited to introduce you to Dean Ogan of Rocky Top Catering (Raleigh, NC), on toda...

Jen Griswold believes that the world needs more boss ladies with big dreams. What did a kid growing up in Montana dream about, and how it led her to a career in the Air Force and down her strength of purpose path to this day, on this episode of PICK UP THE SIX podcast. See more about Jen here: https://jengriswold.com -- Today's show is sponsored by Tailwind Nutrition. Tailwind is the real-deal End...

Over 400,000 Americans died during World War II, nearly 300,000 of those were in combat, not taking into account the lives lost from American allies as well across Europe and the Pacific. Our guests today, through their father’s service during the Second World War, have a connection to tens-of-thousands lost in battle. And, General George S. Patton has a role in this story as well. Years, they wal...

In November of 2004 the Ellsworth family received the worst news they could. Their son, Lance Corporal Justin Ellsworth had been killed in Iraq. His father John joins the show to talk about his son’s heroic final actions, and how his legacy lives on today. This family understands service before self, and we are honored to have this conversation today. -- Read more about Justin's story here: https:...

Our guest is Captain Jon Koritz, who at the age of six (and one of three sons) lost his father, Major Thomas “Teek” Kortiz, during Operation Desert Storm. Please lean in and listen, and when Memorial Day gets here (or even if you’re listening after the holiday) please think about Jon, his two brothers, his mom Julie, and his dad. Join us as we honor Major Thomas Koritz and Lt. Col. Donnie Holland...

Our guest today is Jennifer Ballou. Jen’s mission in life is to help women veterans and military spouses navigate life transitions while living a whole and joyful life. She knows first hand about military life and transitions. Some good, and some during the darkest of dark. She joins PICK UP THE SIX to talk about the ultimate service before self. -- The Loredo WOD 6 rounds for time: 24 squats, 24...

This episode of PICK UP THE SIX is in honor of Chester Townsend, Odes Jefferies and Ronald Hagen. September 17, 1969. It was the Vietnam War. A fellow team commander, Master Sergeant Ronald Hagen, had been killed, and Staff Sergeant Morris would lead the effort to retrieve his fallen brothers body. He joined the show to tell us the incredible story, and how a hard but good life in Oklahoma prepare...

In early April, Army Captain Katie Hernandez went for a 1-mile run, in a bomb suit. She set the world record along the way. Why she did it, and what keeps her motivated in her journey of service before self and strength of purpose, on today’s PICK UP THE SIX Podcast.