WWIA Podcast

On today’s episode of the WWIA Podcast, we are proud to introduce you to one of our incredible Purple Heart Heroes and a certified WWIA Guide, Mr. Derek VanBuren. Derek grew up with a love for hunting, fishing and trapping from an early age and his passion for all things outdoors continues to this day. While attending college, he worked as a hunting guide, which broadened his interest in hunting,...

On this episode of the WWIA Podcast, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel is joined by two remarkable Americans, Todd Bohm and Tony Kopchinski. Todd and Tony hail from Kronenwetter, Wisconsin. Todd is the Host of the longstanding Wisconsin Cast and Blast event, which has been proudly honoring our Heroes for thirteen years! Tony is Todd’s father-in-law and is the outstanding Host of one of our most...

The mission of WWIA is to serve our nation’s combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients by providing world-class outdoor sporting activities as a means to recognize and honor their sacrifice, encourage independence and connections with communities, and promote healing and wellness through camaraderie and a shared passion for the outdoors. One of the questions that we get on occasion pertaining to our...

On today’s episode, we are proud to introduce you to one of our tremendous friends and supporters of the Foundation, Mr. Danny Bourassa. Danny is an Army veteran, and a jack of all trades, who along with his wife Nancy, as well as their children, have been proudly supporting WWIA and serving our Heroes for over a decade. They currently Host the annual WWIA Wisconsin Golf Tournament Fundraiser (ove...

On this episode, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel is at the Foundation’s Northern Healing Center, Camp Hackett, and is honored to spend some time speaking with two outstanding combat-wounded Purple Heart Heroes, United States Marine Corp Master Gunnery Sergeant, Travis Jones and former United States Marine Corp Gunnery Sergeant and current United States Navy Lieutenant, Mike Murphy, both of who...

Welcome to the WWIA Podcast! Today, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel introduces us to his longtime friend and a remarkable supporter of the Foundation, Mr. Tom Schenk. Tom is a former Army Ranger, an avid fisherman, and owner of Chippewa River Custom Rod Company. In 2002, realizing the city life wasn't for him, he headed off to Northern Wisconsin, stopping at the junction of the Chippewa and Fl...

Welcome back to another special edition of the WWIA Podcast! In the conclusion (part 8) of this series, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel, shares the remaining years of his military career as he moves from the Florida Keys to his final assignment at SOCOM at MacDill Airforce Base in Tampa, Florida. John further explains how he transitioned from retirement to founding the Wounded Warriors in Acti...

Welcome back to another special edition of the WWIA Podcast! In part seven of this series, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel, continues expounding on his military career as he moves on from Washington D.C. to the Joint Southern Surveillance Reconnaissance Operations Center (JSSROC) in Key West, Florida. This special podcast series was released to commemorate John J. McDaniel Day and follow John...

Welcome back to another special edition of the WWIA Podcast! In part six of this series, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel, continues covering his military career and discusses his time at Command and General Staff College (CGSG) including an interesting assignment in Washington D.C. during 9/11. This special podcast series was released to commemorate John J. McDaniel Day and follow John through...

Welcome back to another special edition of the WWIA Podcast! In part five of this series, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel, continues discussing his military career as he details his time in Alaska including the 501st Long Range Surveillance Detachment and Space Command. This special podcast series was released to commemorate John J. McDaniel Day and follow John throughout his 20 years of milit...

Welcome back to another special edition of the WWIA Podcast! In part two of this series, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel, continues discussing his early military career as he moves into his time at Ranger School. This special podcast series was released to commemorate John J. McDaniel Day and follow John throughout his 20 years of military service up to where, how, and why the Foundation was s...

Welcome back to another special edition of the WWIA Podcast! In part three and four of this series, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel, continues discussing his early military career as he expounds on his post-Ranger School assignment, combat in Panama, and an awesome story involving alligators and beer. This special podcast series was released to commemorate John J. McDaniel Day and follow John...

Welcome to a special edition of the WWIA Podcast! In case you didn’t know, today is John J. McDaniel Day! In 2013, Mayor Buck Tower officially proclaimed April 19th as John J. McDaniel Day in the city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. John started his military career after graduating from The University of Wisconsin Madison and going through the ROTC program. During his career as a former Infantry officer, A...

On this episode of the WWIA Podcast, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel spends some time talking with Mr. Dave Hintz, one of the Foundation’s longest and most ardent supporters. Dave is the founder and driving force behind Hides for Heroes, a phenomenal fundraising powerhouse based in Waupaca, Wisconsin. Through their tremendous hard work and collective efforts, the incredible Hides for Heroes te...

On this episode of the WWIA Podcast, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel sits down for a special conversation with WWIA Team member, Corrina Hart. Corrina has been with WWIA for 10 years as their Logistics Coordinator and Hero Engagement Specialist, ensuring the Foundation’s operations run smoothly and provide the best services possible to the Purple Heart recipients they proudly serve. She is the...

WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel proudly welcomes Matt Brannon to the WWIA Podcast. Matt’s life has been dedicated to the service of his country and others. Matt is a proud husband and father, a United States Army Purple Heart Veteran, a certified WWIA Guide, Event Host of the Alabama Turkey and Hog Hunt, and a newly elected WWIA Board Member. Matt has served in Law Enforcement for the past 11...

On this episode of the WWIA Podcast, WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel is on-site at Camp Hackett, WWIA's Northern Healing Center in Wisconsin. John has come to Camp Hackett to do some required "housekeeping" at the property, to ensure it is in optimal condition for the Purple Heart Heroes who visit the Camp for our world-class sporting events, but also for the wildlife who frequent this 410-acr...

On this episode of the WWIA Podcast, we are proud to bring you the first in a series of on-location interviews from the Northwoods of Wisconsin at WWIA's Northern Healing Center, Camp Hackett. WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel welcomes longtime supporter and friend of the Foundation, Mr. Mike Reed. Mike is a multi-talented man who can do just about anything, truly a jack-of-all trades. He has gr...

On this episode of the WWIA Podcast, Host, John McDaniel gives an overview of the history of Camp Hackett, WWIA's Northern Healing Center, located in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Camp Hackett is the WWIA’s longest standing operational mission, dating back to 2007. Consisting of 410 acres of private property (owned and operated by the WWIA), Camp Hackett is a sportsmen’s paradise. The pro...

This episode of the WWIA Podcast features Mr. Wade Seaburg, Chief Revenue Officer for Dragonfly Energy, a 5-star sponsor and a valued friend and partner of the Foundation. Wade and Host, John McDaniel talk about the tremendous contributions they have made in support of WWIA and our Heroes, how they changed the effectiveness and future of WWIA's Northern Healing Center, Camp Hackett; and how Dragon...

Brian Roderick is the Host of the MO-KAN Ducks, Bucks and Trapping Event, and leads the incredible Mighty Team MO-KAN, which has proudly hosted and honored our combat-wounded Purple Heart Heroes annually for the past 13 years. Brian discusses his work with the organization over the years, including how and why he got involved with the Foundation, the impact it has made in the lives of our Heroes,...

Dan Doll and Dave Studenka are the Hosts of the Southwest Ohio Ducks and Bucks Hunt in Waynesville, Ohio. For the past 11 years, they have been honoring and serving our Heroes through their stellar and longstanding event. They join WWIA Founder and CEO, John McDaniel along with Purple Heart Hero and WWIA Guide, Jake Whipkey for an outstanding talk about the origins of the Southwest Ohio event, the...

Founder and CEO of The Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation (WWIA), John McDaniel, proudly introduces the WWIA Podcast. John explains why the WWIA Podcast was created and how it facilitates the Foundation’s mission to bring Honor, Connection, and Healing to these American Heroes and how it helps these combat-wounded veterans in their healing and recovery process. He explains that the Foundation d...