The Veteran Blueprint

June 22, 2025 ~ Mark Trail talks about his family history of military service, his time in the Navy at a young age, and his work with the Care Patrol and the Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 15, 2025 ~ Ron Jansen talks about his pre-military life in rural Michigan, shaped by sports and a family-oriented upbringing, which influenced his decision to join the Marine Corps after 9/11, participating in the intense invasion of Iraq. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 8, 2025 ~ Kurtis Schneider discusses how his family's military history and multi-sport achievements, which set the stage for his later Army service after his father’s passing, altering his college football plans. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 25, 2025 ~ Bob Shaner joins the show to discuss his journey from a blue-collar Detroit kid to a Marine officer. His military service and subsequent transition to civilian life were marked by undiagnosed PTSD and a search for the adrenaline rush he experienced in combat. The death of his son led him to a transformational experience at Heroes and Horses, a program that uses mustangs to help vete...

May 18, 2025 ~ Andy Riise grew up in Oakdale, California, and was influenced by his family’s military service. His father served in Vietnam, his sister and brother-in-law were officers, and his grandfathers served in World War II. This military background instilled in him a sense of leadership, service, and community involvement, leading him to West Point. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

May 4, 2025 ~ Secretary David Shulkin talks about his upbringing, which influenced his commitment to public service. Raised in a patriotic family with a strong military background, including his father and grandfathers, he developed a sense of duty and gratitude towards the country. Although he pursued a medical career instead of military service, he felt a longing to give back, eventually leading...

April 20, 2025 ~ Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox talks about his military background and upcoming gubernatorial campaign in Michigan. Raised in a working-class family with Irish immigrant parents, Cox’s sense of duty was influenced by his father’s service in the Korean War. After feeling lost in high school, he joined the Marine Corps in 1980, which transformed his life by instilling dis...

April 13, 2025 ~ Ricky Derring joins the show to discuss how his military background shaped his values of service and commitment. Raised by a veteran grandfather, he joined the army at 17, becoming a Ranger and Green Beret. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

April 6, 2025 ~ Sen. Gary Peters joins the show to discuss his career in both the Navy and the United States Congress. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

March 30, 2025 ~ Jason Alexander joins the show to discuss his challenging childhood, marked by instability and hardship, leading him to seek structure and purpose in the Army. His early life experiences instilled adaptability and resilience, which proved beneficial in his military career. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection an...

March 23, 2025 ~ Drew Hernandez discusses his unconventional path into the military, driven by a desire for his mother’s approval. Despite initial regrets, he served in both the reserves and active duty as a military police officer. Hernandez shares candidly about his struggles during basic training. He also talks about his later reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism after his deployment to Ir...

March 15, 2025 ~ Retired Major General Todd McCaffrey joins the show to discuss VA home loans and why they are underutilized within the veteran community. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

March 7, 2025 ~ Rob Sarver joins the show to discuss Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

March 2, 2025 ~ Derek Blumke, associated with the Gruntstyle Foundation’s mental health initiative, discusses his military upbringing in Northern Michigan and family history of service. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb. 23, 2025 ~ State Rep. Jason Woolford talks about his upbringing in a trailer park and choosing to join the Marine Corps after high school. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb. 16, 2025 ~ Eric Mitchell, a former Marine Corps member, discusses his military background, highlighting the profound influence of his grandfather, a Colonel, who fought in multiple wars. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb. 9, 2025 ~ General Doug “Odie” Slocum shares insights from his extensive military career. Influenced by his father’s Air Force service during the Vietnam War, Odie experienced a childhood of frequent relocations and developed an early aspiration to become a pilot. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

Feb. 2, 2025 ~ Major Brian Lynch of the United States Marine Corps discusses his upbringing in a typical Irish American family in Boston, where practical life lessons rather than military culture shaped him, despite having 25 veterans in his family. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan. 26, 2025 ~ Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Doug Webster shares his life journey, beginning with his upbringing in Southern California and education at UCLA. Inspired by events like the moon landing, he developed an early interest in rocketry and chose to join the Air Force. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use...

Jan. 19, 2025 ~ Brain Webb joins the show to discuss his journey as a veteran, detailing the challenges he faced growing up in a conservative family, marked by childhood trauma and substance abuse. Despite bullying, he found support from his best friend and eventually enlisted in the Navy in 1985. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our colle...

Jan. 12, 2025 ~ Rocky Raczkowski joins the show to share his journey and motivations for joining the military. Born to Polish immigrant parents who endured World War II hardships, he was inspired by their experiences in labor camps, which instilled in him a strong appreciation for freedom. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection an...

Dec. 29, 2024 ~ Chris Cauley, the executive director of the John Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, joins the show to share his journey from aspiring athletic trainer to a career at the VA Medical Center. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec. 22, 2024 ~ Bay City native and veteran Todd Dusso and Dave Woodruff of the Bob Woodruff Foundation join the show to talk about Dusso's time in the military and the struggles veterans have returning to civilian life. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec. 15, 2024 ~ Former Marine and leadership coach Chris Steely joins the show to talk about his time in the Marine Corps and how it informed his leadership ideology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec. 8, 2024 ~ Lenny DePaul joins the show to discuss his life as a Navy veteran and reality TV star. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.