Unstoppable Stories

In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, host Nathan James welcomes Lloyd “Milo” Miles, Senior Vice President of Global Military Operations at UMGC and retired U.S. Army officer, for a powerful conversation on leadership, service, and purpose. Milo shares how his 32-year military career shaped his approach to leading others—and how his second chapter in higher education is rooted in that same sense...

In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, host Lauren Cardillo sits down with James Rodriguez, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former Assistant Secretary at the Department of Labor, to discuss his remarkable journey through military service, education, and leadership. James shares how his pursuit of higher education became a key driver in his transition from the military to a corporate career, emphasi...

In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, host Lauren Cardillo welcomes U.S. Army Veteran, Former Miss USA, & UMGC Alumna Deshauna Barber to discuss her extraordinary journey. From balancing military service with pageantry to overcoming obstacles through perseverance and tenacity, Deshauna shares the lessons that shaped her success. Deshauna reflects on the power of resilience, the importance of...

In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, host Nathan James sits down with Lieutenant Colonel Merissa Blackwell—Army Reserve, Logistics Officer for the U.S. Federal Government, and proud UMGC alumna. Merissa shares her journey from her early years, where education was the key to unlocking her dreams, to her path of service and lifelong learning. From earning her bachelor’s and MBA while serving in t...

In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, the UMGC Podcast, host Lauren Cardillo welcomes Brandon Blackwell, Director of Software Development at CyTech Services and UMGC alumnus. Brandon shares his personal journey, including how he balanced work while earning his degree from UMGC. From family values to striving for excellence and giving back to the community, Brandon's story is one of resilienc...

Welcome to another episode of Unstoppable Stories, the UMGC podcast that celebrates extraordinary journeys. Today, host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Lynnette Lamp, a proud UMGC alumna, who shares her remarkable path—from young mom to Maryland’s Mom of the Year, widow to therapist, and student to graduate. Lynnette’s story is a powerful testament to the resilience of mothers and an inspiration to...

In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, host Nathan James sits down with Kevin Finkelstein, a theater historian and UMGC alumnus. Kevin shares his lifelong passion for the arts, sparked at a young age, and takes us through his unique journey—from high school Shakespearean troupe to a detour into I.T., and ultimately, his path into higher education. Kevin reflects on his experience at UMGC, where h...

In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, the UMGC Podcast, host Lauren Cardillo welcomes D’Yanna Craighead, author and UMGC alumna, to share her journey of resilience, growth, and transformation. From her early experiences overcoming adversity to participating in the Disney College Program, D’Yanna’s story is a testament to perseverance and goal setting. D’Yanna discusses the inspiration behind her...

In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, the UMGC Podcast, host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Mike Hill, author and UMGC alumnus, to explore his inspiring journey of personal and professional growth. From navigating the challenges of returning to college as a working parent to achieving remarkable career success, Mike’s story highlights the transformative power of education. Mike reflects on how U...

In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, host Nathan James welcomes UMGC alumna Lakia Elam to share her inspiring journey of resilience, determination, and success. Lakia reflects on overcoming the challenges of being a young parent, finding her motivation through her daughter, and the pivotal moments that pushed her to pursue higher education at UMGC. Lakia dives into how UMGC’s supportive environ...

Welcome to UMGC’s newest podcast episode of Unstoppable Stories. In this episode, our host, Lauren Cardillo, is joined by Robert Blackwell, Jr., CEO of Cytech Services and UMGC alumnus. Robert dives into his entrepreneurial journey, sharing how he built his own business while earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UMGC. From family values to the pursuit of excellence and a commitment to...

Welcome to Unstoppable Stories, the UMGC podcast hosted by Lauren Cardillo. Caitlin Bassett, a UMGC graduate, military veteran, and actor, shares her inspiring journey from serving in Afghanistan to making it to the big screen. Influenced by her family's military legacy, Caitlin enlisted at 18, seeking purpose and a fresh start. Despite the challenges of military life, she earned her degree fr...