Price of Admission

Meet Ketric "Buff" Buffin, a man of many talents and an embodiment of resilience and heart. NFB senior of ’08. Class of ’09. Currently an Aircraft Maintenance officer in the USMC - still motivated by the camaraderie and fellowship of his Marines. Raised in the DFW…Texas. Ketric's journey has been marked by his tenacity both on and off the field. As a former cornerback known for his hard hits and c...

Bruno Garcia is and has been manufacturing site Lean leader for more than the past few years.  Watch how memories of Bruno (A mentor, highlighting his ability to instill confidence, diffuse awkward situations, and value every individual, irrespective of their role) connects to his continued leadership style today. Bruno's journey from a young dad to a leader in the manufacturing industry offers li...

After 53 episodes of the “Price of Admission”, the first guest returns.  This person paved the way for conversations by setting the tone of what the “price of admission” could be.  Almost all of the guests since the start of this podcast shared 3 themes - 1) sacrifice, 2) suffering, and 3) pain.  You’ve been granted a beautiful gift. Don’t squander it. Take a drink from that glass every once in a...

KC Middleton, a navy sprint football senior of ’09.  USNA class of 2010.  Marine.  Now a project manager for new home construction. Known for his grit, strength, and uncompromising spirit.  KC, who hails from Jacksonville, Florida, shared insightful anecdotes from his diverse career trajectory.  Marine Corps logistics officer, afghan police advisor, maintenance management officer.  KC’s journey is...

Bakari Fucuals is an extraordinary leader of people and a mentor who has had a profound influence on me for years. His incredible journey in the manufacturing sector began from the ground up, although it’s not the primary source of his comprehensive understanding and ability to discern the ‘why’. The conversation starts off on an exceptional detailed view of how he grew up. A little bit of “just d...

Born and Raised in Saches, TX (pronounced Saxie), Tim has returned to his stomping grounds today to raise the fam.  A 4 year letter winner at Navy in kicking, ’99 NFB senior, class of 2000.  “Scooby” is a flier of jets - FA-18s specifically.  Tim’s been a flight instructor, the XO of CENTCOM’s Joint Ops Center in Tampa, FL.  He then transitioned to the corporate world.  What a great story.  This o...

Short and sweet with this modest motivator.  NFB ’09, class of ’10 with some D Line scrappy. Commissioned UMSC ground on to -> Air Support Control Officer -> Law School -> Law Firms Lawyering. One of my college roommates. Had to Get Bayard NONE on the air! Bayard lives in Albuquerque, NM with his wife Justine and Daughter Aurelia.  Awesome dude, humble, hungry, and persistent. 

Justin North is a fellow NAPSter of ’06 and USNA class of 2010. Justin played Linebacker at NAPS after serving as an enlisted Marine (one of the Mustang ballers!).  After graduating, he keeps peddling to become a Marine Infantry Officer.  Now a Lawyer, after graduating from Norte Dame Law School. Currently settled in Colorado,  practicing law with his firm, but also serves as Principal and General...

Dexter contracted Congestive Heart Failure during the COVID Delta variant outbreak in December 2021 and it changed his life. A fun "blast from the past" conversation and one of my homies from hometown Liberty Hill, TX.  Dex was a 3 sport stand out as the high school quarterback, had passion for basketball, and a quarter miler in track.  Dexter was a football player and graduate of Mary Hardin Bayl...

D.R. King has 9 kids! Drexel and Johnna have an outstanding story of opening up their home, the joint effort it takes, how to balance, and bringing order and peace to the chaos. they’ve set out on.  Drex was a NFB  defensive back - senior season ’08, class of ’09. As a big face in the Marine Corp ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyQKeDz0leY ), he represented himself - Level headed, always seemed...

Blood Brothers, ’96 and ’99 NFB!  Jon currently serves as the Executive Officer of the Navy’s Blue Angels, while Ben serves in the Commercial Pilot community. This podcast episode presents a comprehensive and insightful dialogue, tracing the paths of two brothers from 1) Early life and family in Texas, 2) the high school years, 3) college life and NFB, 4) the transition, 5) current life and future...

Joe Cardona. Long snapper for the New England Patriots. 2x Super Bowl champ.  NFB senior of ’14, class of 2015.  Not ONLY an NFL footballer, but also an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve.  Hailing from El Cajon, California, Joe was drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft, making him one of the few players designated as a long snapper ever to be drafted.  Now Joe has 2 Super Bowl rings… (S...

In this episode, we’re joined by John Chan. John is currently based in NYC, working as a Program Manager with Google for Startups, a role he’s taken to heart with a mission to level the playing field for founders from underrepresented backgrounds all over the world. Despite a series of surgeries that threatened to slow him down, John keeps his spirit and body active with walking, yoga, and surfing...

Meet Ian Meredith, a dedicated family man and esteemed (HUGE reputation- Walks the Walk) Surface Warfare Officer who hails from Chattanooga, Tennessee.  He has been LISTENING, mentoring, and nurturing his loving wife and four adopted boys.  In his current role as the Director of OOD Phase 1 & 2 at Mariner Skills Training Center Atlantic in Norfolk, Ian is responsible for ensuring the highest l...

Beardo!  NFB senior ’05, class of ’06.  Dealing Million Dollar Art is his current trade.  His secret - discovering the old master painting and "bringing it to life" is the game.  Beard hails from Youngstown, Ohio where coal and steal was the way of life.  Having multiple Ivy league offers out of high school + Navy, Evan sets his eyes on Naptown. His journey from Annapolis -> Navy Intel… Then cr...

REFLECTION MOMENT:  This group discusses their growth, flexing on NEW day to day challenges, sharing thoughts on other POA podcast guests and the impact of those words on them, and requesting future guests to share their stories based off interest.  We discuss the various costs and challenges associated with achieving success in different areas of life. The importance of mentorship and guidance in...

Brad Chatlos!  This Navy Linebacker of ’98 is a dedicated professional with a diverse career in the military and software sales. Raised in Youngwood, PA, he graduated from Hempfield Area High School.  NAPSter of ’95 and USNA ’99. He started his career in the USMC as a Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Platoon Commander and progressed through various roles before transitioning into the software sales...

From Bethlehem, PA - NFB ’04 #51, the Club (Drydock's club sandwich namesake), Bobby Mac/Robert Quinn McClarin!  Inside linebacker by trade, on to Navy Surface Warfare Officer -> Glass crushing ops leader ->  Commodity Sourcing Manager as a Buyer in Procurement -> and NOW the Director of Sports Medicine at Lehigh Valley Medical.  Also, non-profit founder of THE 5 STAR HEART Project, suppo...

T.O.!  Nick Henderson everybody. NFB '09, class of 2010 wide receiver.  Nick became a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) and has transitioned in to the consulting industry (Med and Sports specifically with Russel Reynolds Consulting.  Nick spends some time in the Non-Profit world with "AT LAST" working with under privileged kiddos getting them support with academics and development.  Also learning some re...

Mongo!  A 2001 NAPSter, NFB senior 04. Class 05. Flying CH-53 Helos. 3 AFG deployments. A Presidential Pilot of 5 years, flying Marine One for Obama and Trump. On to a squadron Ops O -> XO -> CO of “Ironhorse”.  Now currently serving as the Heavy Lift Detachment OIC for VMX-1 (Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One). Adam Horne is described as a natural leader who has been takin...

Chaps! and Author of “Into the Fire: A Season of Navy Football, Fortitude and Faith”.  John Owen was the Navy Football team Chaplain for the 2007 season.  A 10 year Coast Guard Helo pilot, transitioned to 17 year Navy Chaplain. Now retired, living in Spokane, Washington.  Alum of Cal Berkley for a year then Whitworth College as an english major.  Chaps talks about the lessons he’s learned over the...

The Mayor!  Mr. Craig Carter of Oklahoma is a HUGE NFB supporter and advocate.  Once an Oklahoma State Cowboy Footballer, Craig reflects a little about the past, but better yet, where he is today.  I love one of his pieces to the Price - “Nothing’s free, fair, or equal, but if you get 2 of the 3, you’ll be alright.”  Shaking hands and taking names, the Mayor might be in your neck of the woods soon...

Now a Wealth Manager from Raleigh, NC, Trey Grissom shares his POA.  NFB senior '10, Class of 2011, Marine Corps Infantry Officer, and Military Staffing Salesman. Trey stays focused on finishing what he starts, staying uncomfortable/not getting complacent, and prioritizing leading himself first.  Hit Trey up if your have and need some wealth to be managed!

Mike is a Tyler TX native, former Marine Corps Infantry Officer, Class of 2010 USNA Boxing Champ, current day entrepreneur and content creator.  We get to Mike's Price of Admission after gaining a little more insight to his podcast series "Always Faithful" episodes, discuss sections of his Book "Black Veteran Entrepreneur, and touch a little bit on culture change.  An all around good dude and advi...

Marine Corps Major Jordan Eddington tells us about his experience as the Battalion Operations Officer for 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, running the largest airlift in modern history, ending the United States’ longest war ever.  Jordan starts his career washing cars, then working at Six Flags selling turkey legs, on to NAPS -> to USNA where Jordan was a NFB linebacker and fullback.  Class of ’10,...