The Decision Hour

On this episode of The Decision Hour, I sat down with Joe Rubin, CMO and co-founder of Mowpod, to talk about what it actually takes to grow a podcast audience today. Joe shares his journey from venture capital to building Mowpod, a marketing agency that charges on performance and turns down clients who are not ready to advertise. We break down why organic podcast growth is so tough, how AI is chan...

Sean Dillard is an Army veteran and founder of the Southern Illinois Veteran Foundation. He knows what it feels like to come home and lose your sense of purpose. He also knows what it took to find it again. We talked about his mental health struggles after the military, how community pulled him back, and why he and his son Aiden are rowing 6,000 miles through America's waterways to raise awareness...

Kalen Cotto is an Army Veteran, a Mother, and the founder of KMC Digital. She just wrote a book called The Revenue Runway and she did not wait until she had it all figured out. She wrote it while she was still building her client base, still raising her kid, and still figuring out digital marketing in real time. We got into three things that matter if you are trying to start something without a pi...

In one of the most important conversations The Decision Hour has had, host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with Matt Cahill, Army veteran, combat medic, and founder of Green Star Families of America — to confront an issue that doesn't get nearly enough attention: the families left behind after a veteran dies by suicide. Matt's path wasn't easy. After serving as a combat medic and facing his own mental hea...

What does Bitcoin have to do with human relationships? More than you'd think — and Hannah Praley is here to prove it. In this episode of The Decision Hour, host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with longtime friend Hannah Praley — songwriter turned author — to explore her new book, Rigs Are from Mars, Nodes Are from Venus. What starts as a conversation about Bitcoin quickly becomes something much bigger: a...

What does a Navy CH-46 helicopter mechanic, a mortgage underwriter, and a successful UGC content creator have in common? In this case, it's all the same person. In this episode of The Decision Hour, host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with Trish Leto, a Navy veteran turned digital entrepreneur who has built a thriving career in user-generated content creation and brand consulting. Trish breaks down exact...

In this episode of The Decision Hour, host Adam Bird sits down with Rick Sherak, Air Force veteran and CEO of Exokinetics, to discuss the game changing mobility device, the Zeen. With over 30 years in the medical diagnostics industry, Rick shares his unique journey from military service to leading a company at the forefront of mobility innovation. Listeners get an inside look at the Zeen’s develop...

In this episode of The Decision Hour, host Mr. Adam Bird dives into the entrepreneurial journey and business wisdom of Barry Bradham, a business systems architect and founder of DigiLink. Barry shares his story of growing up between Washington and Alaska, transitioning from rodeo and agriculture to business, and discovering his passion for automation and CRM systems. Together, they discuss the cri...

On this episode of The Decision Hour, host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with Anna Redmond for an inspiring conversation that goes from entrepreneurship to the evolving world of challenge coins. A Harvard alum and founder of BRAAV, Anna shares her journey from venture capital and thought leadership into transforming the physical security industry with a mission centered on helping people feel safe. The...

In this episode of The Decision Hour, host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with Brett Cotter, award-winning author and founder of the Stress Is Gone Wellness Platform, to discuss practical methods for managing stress, anxiety, and deep-rooted trauma. Brett shares his personal story of growing up in Queens, his journey through generational trauma, and his transformative experience with meditation and spiri...

In this episode of The Decision Hour, host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with operations strategist Lindsey Korell, founder of Daily Principal to discuss the critical importance of building businesses that thrive without relying solely on their founders. Drawing from her global experiences and a personal wake-up call after a heart attack, Lindsey Korell reveals why entrepreneurs often become bottlenecks...

In this episode of The Decision Hour, host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with Dr. Jacob Guidi, Account Director at Thrive Benefits Group and Doctor of Musical Arts, for a heartfelt conversation on career pivots, the value of discipline, and making meaningful choices for family and work. Dr. Jacob Guidi shares insights from his transition from music performance and teaching to employee benefits, detailin...

In this powerful and candid conversation, your host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, and leadership strategist Riley Gruppo. From her roots as an Army brat to breaking barriers as the first woman in her infantry unit, Riley shares her journey with raw honesty—revealing the challenges and triumphs she experienced on and off the battlefield. You'll hear about Riley’s uni...

In this episode, Dr. Saarah Nicolas, Ph. D. joins Adam for a clear, practical conversation about veteran mental health. Drawing on her background in a military family and clinical work with service members, Dr. Nicholas explains how evidence-based therapies help veterans process trauma, reduce symptoms, and rebuild daily functioning. What You’ll Learn Path & Purpose: How a military upbringing shap...

After 26 years in commercial printing, Jay Garstecki walked away to serve a higher mission: helping veterans heal. In this episode, Jay shares the moments that sparked his calling, how Take a Vet Fishing began, and the evolution into Operation Healing Heroes—the TV series documenting veterans’ stories and shining light on effective PTSD treatments. What You’ll Hear The leap from corporate stabilit...

This week on The Decision Hour, we confront the reality of veteran suicide—and what each of us can do about it. Marine Corps veteran Jerry Shaffer, founder of the Red Star Foundation, joins us for a powerful, deeply human conversation about remembrance, stigma, and actionable hope. Jerry lays out the hard numbers behind the veteran suicide crisis—not as statistics, but as stories of lives cut shor...

Welcome back to The Decision Hour! In this episode, we sit down with Barry Todd — U.S. Army veteran, financial advisor, and author of "Stand Your Ground: One Man's Self-Defense Nightmare." Barry takes us on a riveting journey through his military career, transition to finance, and a harrowing personal experience that changed his life forever. Listen in as Barry shares invaluable financial wisdom,...

Welcome back to The Decision Hour! In this episode, we're joined by the multifaceted Shaun Murphy — Army veteran, educator, motivational speaker, musician, and best-selling author. Known as "Mr. Motivation," Shaun takes us on an inspiring journey through his life's pivotal moments and the decisions that shaped his remarkable career. Listen in as Shaun shares his transition from military service to...

Welcome back to The Decision Hour! In this episode, we're serving up a hearty helping of inspiration with Stan Hays, founder of Operation Barbecue Relief. Stan takes us on a mouthwatering journey from competition barbecue to large-scale disaster relief, sharing how a simple idea born from the Joplin tornado grew into a nationwide movement of hope and hot meals. Listen in as Stan recounts heartwarm...

In this powerhouse episode of The Decision Hour, we welcome back Ansel Brown—a seasoned country music artist returning to the stage after more than 12 years away. With his new single “The Whiskey Makes Her Miss Me” and the upcoming album “Gravity” both set to drop on June 13, Ansel is ready to shake up the country music scene once again. This is more than just a comeback—it’s a rebirth. Ansel shar...

Today, we have an enlightening conversation with Dr. Carlos Garcia—a clinical psychologist, Marine Corps veteran, and former firefighter. Dr. Garcia shares his compelling journey from military service to psychology, revealing how personal struggles with anxiety and depression led him to a career in mental health. His story is one of resilience and transformation, offering a unique perspective on h...

In this special episode, we're celebrating a major milestone — the 250th anniversary of the United States Army! Our guest, Tom Long, Army veteran and event organizer, joins us to share a behind-the-scenes look at the incredible festivities planned for June 14-15, 2024, in Philadelphia. From a powerful naturalization ceremony to a dynamic historical reenactment featuring George Washington, this onc...

Welcome to another episode of "The Decision Hour"! Today, we're thrilled to feature Franco Sapia, a Marine Corps veteran and innovative entrepreneur. Franco's journey is a testament to resilience and creativity, transitioning from military service to law enforcement, and ultimately, to launching his own apparel brand, Zero Six Reveille. https://zerosixreveille.com In this episode, Franco shares ho...

In this episode, we're diving deep into the fascinating world of holistic mental health with the multifaceted Hilary Russo—award-winning journalist turned Havening practitioner and wellness expert. Listen in as Hilary shares her inspiring journey from a 30-year career in journalism to becoming a champion for mental well-being. She'll introduce us to Havening, a groundbreaking neuroscience-based te...

In this episode, we're diving into the fascinating world of public relations with Jeremy Knauff, founder of Spartan Media and Marine Corps veteran. Listen in as Jeremy shares his incredible journey from struggling entrepreneur to PR powerhouse. You'll hear how he overcame a life-threatening health crisis and rebuilt his career using the very strategies he now teaches others. Stick around as Jeremy...