Veteran Made with Carey Kight

In episode 155, I sit down with Rich Comitz, Chief Operating Officer at American Corporate Partners , to have a candid discussion about the realities of the transition from work in the military to work as a civilian. We explore how making the leap from military service to corporate business environments demands more than just a polished resume — it requires leadership, self-advocacy, and an unrele...

In episode 154, I sit down with Carl Churchill, co-founder of Alpha Coffee and an inspiring veteran entrepreneur, to unpack the realities of leadership, small business ownership, and the transition from the military to civilian life. We dive deep into Carl’s dynamic journey from serving as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army to building Alpha Coffee from scratch with his wife, leaning on their f...

In episode 153, I sat down (again) with my friend, Dan Horgan, USAF TAC-P veteran and founder of Arrow and Honor Co. , to talk about what it really takes to build a community-driven business from scratch with our own resources. We talked about how the only thing that keeps us moving forward is the network we build through genuine honesty and real relationships with other human beings. Arrow and Ho...

Creativity is not a gentle muse that visits the idle; it’s a relentless force that demands your full engagement, discipline, and honesty. In episode 152, Gary Stevens strips away the romantic myths surrounding creative work and expose its true nature: ideas are raw materials mined from the grind of lived experience, relentless questioning, and the courage to confront failure head-on. Stevens, a vi...

Episode 151 with Steve Callahan, author of sometimes I go away, Dead Reckoning Collective’s latest collection of poetry is a relentless exploration of creativity — not as a gentle muse that occasionally visits, but as a force that demands engagement, discipline, and honest labor. The conversation explores how ideas arrive, asserting that creativity is a process of dictation and translation: ideas...

Too many veterans make the mistake of dragging every military habit, mindset, and experience into civilian life, expecting the world to adapt to them. That’s unrealistic, and it leads to frustration and irrelevance. The hard truth is, you must aggressively shed the skills and attitudes that no longer serve you as a citizen. Stop clinging to the notion that your past rank entitles you to anything n...

The Call of Duty Endowment stands apart in the veteran employment space by deploying an aggressive, business-driven system to vet, coach, and hold accountable the non-profits it funds to ensure only the highest-performing organizations are available to junior enlisted veterans seeking meaningful careers. With over 44,000 veteran-serving organizations in the U.S. alone, the Endowment’s Seal of Dist...

Episode 148 features Michael “Rod” Rodriguez, CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation . We dive headlong into the tangled realities of the GWOT, refusing to shy away from its complexities or the ways participation in such a conflict can both expand and restrict one’s worldview. He lays bare the war’s multidimensional nature which spans continents, cultures, and generations and chall...

Episode 147 features Mary Kreis and is the last in our series featuring Team RWB and the Old Glory Ultra Relay . This was not just another endurance event—it was a bold, uncompromising statement about what it truly means to represent the entire veteran population. Team RWB’s selection of its 12-person relay team was not about assembling the fastest or youngest athletes, but about building a group...

In this episode, the reality of teamwork in Team RWB's Old Glory Ultra Relay is laid bare: this is not a challenge that anyone could possibly conquer alone. The logistics, physical demands, and relentless pace of a transcontinental relay require more than just individual grit—they demand a level of coordination, trust, and mutual support that only a true team can provide. Every runner, from the se...

In this episode, listeners are confronted with the raw, unvarnished reality of what it means to face a sudden, non-negotiable change in role-right on the eve of a major team event. Peter Consalvi, originally slated to run in Team RWB's Old Glory Ultra Relay , is forced by injury to relinquish his runner position and step up as crew chief. This isn’t a gentle pivot; it’s a high-stakes, high-pressur...

Team RWB’s Old Glory Ultra Relay is not just an endurance event — it’s a full-blown logistical and psychological battle, where the best-laid plans are destined to be shattered the moment the race begins. Episode 144 pulls no punches: the runners, all military veterans, are acutely aware that “no plan survives first contact with the enemy.” They have meticulously mapped out every shift, every hando...

Patriotism in America is not a monolith — it’s a battleground of identity, sacrifice, and service — and this episode of Veteran Made rips off the veneer of easy answers. Host Carey Kight and guest Jordan Buck, a former Army Cav Scout, refuse to let listeners coast on tired clichés. They confront the reality that waving a flag or wearing a uniform is not the sum total of service. For Buck, who neve...

In this episode of Veteran Made, Zack Lever shares his compelling journey leading up to his participation in the Old Glory Ultra Relay . Initially selected as a team chief rather than a runner, Zack candidly discusses the internal conflict he faced when asked to contribute in a supporting role rather than running—a passion that defines him. Despite his initial hesitation, Zack leaned into the chal...

The Old Glory Ultra Relay is not just a test of physical endurance — it is a crucible for leadership at every level, demanding relentless initiative, adaptability, and cohesion from all involved. Episode 141 with Cole DeRosa makes clear that pulling off an event of this magnitude requires far more than just elite runners; it calls for a military-grade approach to logistics, communication, and mutu...

In this gripping episode of Veteran Made, Lindsay Kasow dives deep into the transformative power of shared suffering and how it forges unbreakable bonds. Through her journey as an ultrarunner and participant in Team RWB's Old Glory Ultra Relay , Lindsay shares how pushing physical and mental limits alongside others creates a profound sense of community. Whether it’s enduring grueling night runs or...

In this episode of Veteran Made, host Carey Kight sits down with Bill Savage, a former Army infantry officer and endurance athlete, to explore the relentless pursuit of growth during the transition from military service to civilian life. Savage shares his journey from serving in elite units like the 82nd Airborne and the 75th Ranger Regiment to finding purpose post-service through challenges like...

In this gripping episode of Veteran Made, host Carey Kight interviews Johnny “MF” Glenn, a former Special Forces operator and current ultra-runner participating in Team RWB’s Old Glory Ultra Relay . Glenn’s unconventional approach to training and life philosophy challenges listeners to rethink their own methods of personal growth and achievement. Glenn introduces the powerful concept of “stacking...

In episode 137 of Veteran Made, Zach Polega, a West Point grad and former Army Ranger, challenges veterans to take aggressive ownership of their post-service purpose. Polega, preparing for the grueling Old Glory Ultra Relay, emphasizes that the military equips service members with invaluable skills, but it’s on individuals to leverage these abilities in civilian life. He argues against the entitle...

This episode of Veteran Made dives deep into the transformative power of purpose and the dangers of misdirected effort, featuring Roel Gonzalez, an Army veteran and crew chief for Team RWB’s Old Glory Ultra Relay . Gonzalez shares his journey from military service to ultra running, revealing how even good things—like physical endurance or community service—can become harmful when pursued for the w...

In this powerful episode of Veteran Made, Jason Wood shares his transformative journey from struggling veteran to elite ultrarunner, emphasizing the critical importance of taking full responsibility for one’s health and wellness. Wood’s story is a testament to the profound impact of personal accountability, particularly in the context of fatherhood. He describes how the realization that he needed...

This episode features a discussion with JJ Pinner and Mike “Sully” Sullivan from Team RWB about their upcoming Old Glory Ultra Relay event. The conversation delves into the organization’s mission to build America’s foremost health and wellness community for veterans and how this ambitious relay across the country embodies their commitment to challenging the prevailing narrative of veterans as vict...

This powerful podcast episode tackles a critical issue within the veteran community: the pervasive and damaging victim mentality. Margaret Britten , Senior Director of Advancement and Bryana Allen , Director of Marketing at Team RWB , who are both deeply connected to the military, offer a refreshing and much-needed perspective on how veterans can break free from this self-defeating mindset. They a...

In an exhilarating episode of Veteran Made, host Carey Kight sits down with Mike Erwin, the founder and executive director of Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB), to discuss the upcoming Old Glory Ultra Relay . This ambitious event, set to take place in May 2025, will see a team of 12 veteran runners attempt to set a world record by relaying an American flag across the country in just 15 days, cov...

In this high-octane episode of Veteran Made, Carey speaks with Ed Rush , a former Marine Corps fighter pilot turned entrepreneur and author, who shares his insights on pursuing one’s true calling and achieving personal and professional fulfillment. Rush emphasizes the importance of following one’s desires and wants in life, arguing that these often align with God’s plan for an individual. He chall...