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Beyond the Uniform

Beyond the Uniform is a show to help military veterans navigate their civilian career. Each week, I meet with different veterans to learn more about their civilian career, how they got there, and what advice they'd give to other military personnel. www.beyondtheuniform.org
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Now displaying: 2020
BTU #356 - A 13 Year Journey to the Perfect Post-Service Career (Robin Brown) 0
Jun 8, 2020

Why Listen:
 Today’s episode originally aired one year ago. Usually, when I do rebroadcasts, I like to go a lot further back then that, but Robin’s episode has been on my mind a lot lately. We got a one-star review on Apple Podcasts recently, after a 132 5-star review streak. The review criticized Beyond the Uniform for focusing on the 10% of Veterans who are most successful in their career transition. I feel that there is some truth there - I imagine it can be frustrating, especially for those of you who are approaching a career transition or who are experiencing difficulty in your transition - to constantly see stories of seemingly simple success. That’s certainly not my intention for this show. However, one of the things I loved about my conversation with Robin is her candor in her own 13 year journey of mistakes, pitfalls, and setbacks, that eventually led her to a job that she truly loves. I personally put Robin in a small category of people I have interviewed where it feels like she has felt her calling in her current career path, rather than simply a job. She talks about how the attributes that made her successful in the military were a liability in the civilian world - how she had to adapt her communication and response to corporate culture in order to be successful. We talk about her job in public service and why this sort of career may be very fulfilling to other veterans.

Additionally, Robin Brown is one of three Veterans spotlighted in the 30-minute documentary, Adventure Not War. I watched it and consider myself a movie aficionado -it’s fantastic. Google it - it’s also free. It is inspiring, to say the least.

If you like this interview, be sure to check out Episode #268 - How the Outdoors Saved My Life (Stacy Bare), as Stacy is featured in Adventure Not War along with Robin.

About Robin:
Robin Brown is the Executive Director at Grand Junction Economic Partnership, a non-profit organization that is your first point of contact if you are looking to expand or relocate your company to the Grand Junction, Colorado area. She served as an Army as an Aviation Officer flying OH-58s for 8 years, where she deployed twice to Iraq- first as an AS3, then as a Company Commander of an attack helicopter company. She is also a self-proclaimed "Army brat from a family of Army brats,” and her husband served as an Army pilot as well.

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  • Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books

 

BTU #355 - Army to the NFL (Nate Boyer) 0
May 25, 2020

Today’s episode originally aired all the way back in February of 2017. I was just getting my feet underneath me with Beyond the Uniform, and this was one of my first big episodes. I still think of this episode today. And, I have to disclose that I don’t follow football… I’m not a football fanatic… my appreciation of today’s guest has nothing to do with what he did in the NFL and EVERYTHING to do with two things that helped him get there:

  1. Failure - Nate has achieved the impossible - repeatedly in his life. He talks about being a grinder, of just working hard to go after his dreams. And he talks about how it's not about not having fear - it's about having the courage to realize that there is no downside, that the only risk is not taking an opportunity. There are far too many incredible words of wisdom to summarize here, but believe me - it's a lesson every single veteran will benefit from hearing.

  2. Passion - Nate talks about how many veterans fall back on what you know. He talks about how tried many things - and failed at many things - in his journey to find his calling and what he enjoys most. Again, these are lessons I found inspiring and hope you do too.

BTU #354 - The Slight Edge 0
May 18, 2020

Today’s episode originally aired all the way back in Oct ober of 2017. I recorded it a few weeks after episode #115 with Ray & Samantha Allen. They recommended a few books, and I read one that continues to impact my life called, The Slight Edge.

I think about this book all the time. In fact, in the last four weeks, I’ve discussed it twice with my Executive Coach, as the principles I learned in this book continue to impact the way I approach work and life. I’m also currently co-hosting Beyond the Uniform’s Purpose Mapping Seminar with Craig Filek, and I just sent a copy of this book to all of our seminar participants - it is such a great complement to any intended career path in life.

In this episode, rather than interviewing something, I play Levar Burton from Reading Rainbow and do a book review for you. While I still recommend reading the book, I hope this episode gives you some tips and tricks you can apply today in your personal and professional life.

BTU #353 - Career Advice with Andy Chan 0
May 11, 2020

Andy Chan works at Wake Forest as Vice President for Innovation and Career Development. He oversees The Office of Personal and Career Development (OPCD) which is creating a supportive university-wide career community designed to empower and equip students to successfully navigate their path from college to career. Previously, he was the assistant dean and director of the MBA Career Management Center at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.  Before joining Stanford, he served as president and CEO of eProNet, an online recruiting and career network based on exclusive relationships with university alumni associations.  Earlier, he was president and CEO of MindSteps, a corporate education software start-up. He has extensive executive leadership and career coaching experience as well as business experience in venture-backed start-ups, The Learning Company, The Clorox Company and Bain & Company. He earned his BA and MBA from Stanford University.

Why Listen: 

Today’s episode originally aired back in June of 2018 and I’m guessing that a lot of our newer listeners have not heard it. If that’s the case… fix yourself. If you HAVE already listened to it, this is one of a handful of episodes that i believe is worth a second or even third listening for everyone - whether you’re currently in uniform, hung it up a long time ago, or never wore a uniform. 

Andy brings over 20 years of experience helping more than 11k students at both Stanford University and Wake Forest figure out their next career move. In this interview he covers ground about the most common challenges people face in a career transition, and simple actions to take to approach this change with more confidence and skill. Andy packs in so much incredible information in a very short amount of time - I hope you enjoy and benefit greatly from his advice.  

BTU #352 - Vets in Hollywood (Tyler Grey) 0
May 4, 2020
Why Listen: 
My guest today has done the seemingly impossible - he went from medically discharged from the Army Rangers to consultant, director, and actor on CBS’ Seal Team, amongst other impressive accomplishments. But what sets Tyler apart isn’t his incredible accomplishments, it is his attitude. In this interview, Tyler talks about how we are all equally unprepared for our military transition - be it from medical injury or after 30 years of a career. He talks about giving up control, and putting in the effort even if it takes decades to achieve your dreams. He talks about networking, about what one wants to do versus what one NEEDS to do in life, about how Veteran is a status, not a job title, and more. Regardless of your interest in Hollywood, I guarantee there are multiple inspirational and motivational lessons for you in today’s interview.
 
About Tyler
Tyler Grey is an consultant, director, and actor on CBS’Seal Team. Tyler Grey is an Army veteran who served with the 75th Ranger Regiment, 2nd Battalion as a sniper in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was medically discharged in 2005 after he ran into some explosives during a nighttime raid in Afghanistan. He's spent years working in Hollywood as a military advisor
 
BTU #351 - Veteran Careers in Education (Daris McInnis) 0
Apr 27, 2020
Why Listen:
Often on interviews my guests talk about how - after they leave the military - they struggle to find a purpose, mission, or calling like they had in the military. One of the things i love about my guest today, Daris, is that his time since the military has been spent addressing a new purpose. I haven’t had anyone on the show before to talk about the education space. Daris has spent time as a teacher, leading a classroom of four year olds. He talks about how this is one of the best and most challenging job he ever had, and how it taught him resilience, leadership, and perseverance. He has continued in education, now as a full time doctoral student at Penn’s Graduate School of Education. He talks about meeting two different US Presidents, all in one crazy day, and more.
 
About Daris:
Daris McInnis is full time doctoral student at Penn GSE (Graduate School of Education) and a summer learning curriculum specialist at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Prior to Penn, Daris served as an early childhood teacher in Washington, D.C., an Education Pioneer in New Orleans, LA, and five years on active duty as an Ordnance Logistics Officer in the United States Army.
BTU #350 - The semiconductor industry & Micron Technology (Art Behnke) 0
Apr 6, 2020
Why Listen:
A lot of Veterans I speak with are interested in technology. Most of us in the military get a fair amount of experience with technology, and we hear about the high growth this industry has seen. It’s a pretty broad industry - to me, 10 years out of the military, hearing someone refer to Tech feels like someone referring to “the military” - it’s a great catch all phrase, but there is so much beyond that high level term - branch of service, MOS, warfare speciality, etc.
 
Today’s interview feels like a gateway to that world of tech. My guest, Art, works at a company called Micron Technologies, which is in the semiconductor industry. Which, as you’ll learn, is a foundational element in pretty much every technology industry: drones, autonomous vehicles, tablets, social media… it’s everywhere.
 
I don’t think I’ve ever had an interview that has packed in so much information at the end. I really try to keep these interviews to 45-50 minutes, based on feedback I’ve received from listeners. Today was a rare case where we kept going because there was so much richness in what Art was sharing. We talk about translating one’s experience on both a resume and interview. We talk about diversity of perspective as a strength when one is applying to a job. We talk about three things I rarely hear on these interviews: how important it is to evaluate a company by the size of the company and what this offers to you in terms of a community and mentorship opportunities, evaluating a company’s team and how those individuals will challenge and support you to grow, and also looking at how a company behaves in a crisis… like the one we’re going through right now. All of these are fantastic lenses through which to evaluate a company and job opportunity, and they’ve never come up in the 349 episodes that precede this.
 
As always, at BeyondTheUniform.org you’ll find 350 other free episodes, just like this one. You’ll find show notes with links to everything we discuss today. And you’ll also find a special, limited time offer at BeyondTheUniform.org/micron, where Art is graciously offering to connect with 20 of you to help you with your resume, and answer your questions about job transitioning (side note: he has conducted thousands of interviews), the semiconductor industry, and Micron Technology.
 
About Art Behnke
Art Behnke is a Manager of Talent Acquisition at Micron Technologies, which is a world leader in innovative memory solutions that transform how the world uses information. Micron Technologies has over 37,000 team members in 18 countries who work with the world’s most trusted brands, delivering memory and storage systems for a broad range of applications and sparking countless possibilities in technology.
 
Art served in the Marine Corps for 21 years as a FA/18 Hornet WSO and is a graduate of the TopGun program. He has held a wide variety of roles throughout his career and has completed 173 combat flights, with 2,500 total flight hours. He has completed an MBA and is a graduate of the Naval War College
BTU #349 - Finding Your Identity and Value After the Military (Josh Atkinson) 0
Mar 30, 2020
Why Listen:
The top two reasons to listen to this interview are:
1.Straight talk - Josh is very direct about the struggles he has faced in his career and transition. The wisdom he shares is incisive, and I think a lot of Veterans will appreciate both the sincerity and authenticity of his advice.
2.Consulting & project management - we talk about Josh’s experience with both consulting and project management, and why Veterans may love either of these career paths. 
 
Beyond the Uniform has over 350 podcast episodes and 20 videos with America’s top Veterans, including Jocko Willink, the former CEO of Pepsi, NFL players and more. They are all for free at BeyondTheUniform.org. If you benefit from Beyond the Uniform and would like to help get this in front of more members of the military community, please consider donating at BeyondTheUniform.org/donate. You can also text SUPPORTBTU to 33777 and we will send you additional information. Our cost of production is $300 per month, we are an all-volunteer team, and we could use your financial support. That is at BeyondTheUniform.org/donate or by texting SUPPORTBTU to 33777.
 
About Josh:
Josh is a Consultant at Whitney, Bradley & Brown (WBB), as well as a Training Consultant at PM-ProLearn. He started out at the Naval Academy, after which he served in the Marine Corps for over 11 years. 
BTU #348 - The Gift of Struggle (Bobby Herrera) 0
Mar 23, 2020

Why Listen:
The top two reasons to listen to today’s episode are:
1. Mindset - Bobby’s book, The Gift of Struggle, shares stories of adversity he has faced in his personal and professional life and how each of those struggles was a gift to him, his family, and his team. There is a great lesson for every listener in this.
2. Leadership - Bobby built his team to over 300 employees with nearly 9,000 contractors worldwide. He is humble and direct in sharing the mistakes he has made along the way to this incredible feat.

If you enjoy today’s episode, be sure to check out:
BTU #328 - Struggle is What Gives Us Value (Micah Fink - Heroes & Horses) - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-328-struggle-is-what-gives-us-value-micah-fink-heroes-horses?rq=fink
BTU #99 - Jacob Martinez: Army Sergeant to President of USA's 592nd Fastest Growing Company - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-99-jacob-martinez-army-sergeant-to-president-of-usas-592nd-fastest-growing-company?rq=jacob%20martinez

Beyond the Uniform has over 350 podcast episodes and 20 videos with America’s top Veterans, including Jocko Willink, the former CEO of Pepsi, NFL players and more. They are all for free at BeyondTheUniform.org. If you benefit from Beyond the Uniform and would like to help get this in front of more members of the military community, please consider donating at BeyondTheUniform.org/donate. You can also text SUPPORTBTU to 33777 and we will send you additional information. Our cost of production is $300 per month, we are an all-volunteer team, and we could use your financial support. That is at BeyondTheUniform.org/donate or by texting SUPPORTBTU to 33777.

About Bobby:
Bobby Herrera is the author of The Gift of Struggle, a book about leadership and the life-changing lessons we learn through our struggles. He is also the co-founder and president of Populus Group, a staffing & recruiting company with over 300 / 9k employees. Bobby founded Populus Group nearly 18 years ago. He served in the Army in Field Artillery for over seven years. With a passion for building strong culture and communities through trust and storytelling, his leadership style is about empowerment, connections, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Bobby grew up in a big family with parents who immigrated to America without much. While this is not an uncommon story, the leadership style and company culture that it inspired is. The belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed is at the core of Bobby’s philosophy in business and in life.
Everyone has struggles and business leaders are no exception. Bobby’s passion is helping others understand how their individual struggles can help them connect with their communities and inspire other is what will ultimately transform their leadership style.
Bobby is a proud Army veteran and currently lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife and three children.

BTU #347 - Marines to PMP Instructor and PM-ProLearn (Ian Fisher) 0
Mar 19, 2020
Welcome back to Beyond the Uniform. I’m Justin Nassiri and our mission is to support the military community in their civilian career. Today is episode BTU #347 - Marines to PMP Instructor and PM-ProLearn (Ian Fisher)
Why listen:
Here are the top two reasons to listen to today’s episode:
1.Project, Program, and Portfolio Management - at BTU we often hear questions about these three career paths, and Ian goes into great detail about what these fields are, how they relate to one’s military background, and how to succeed in these career paths.
2.Certifications - Clayton has great advice about education, certifications, and how to make one self appealing to a hiring manager. 
 
Beyond the Uniform has over 350 podcast episodes and 20 videos with America’s top Veterans, including Jocko Willink, the former CEO of Pepsi, NFL players and more. They are all for free at BeyondTheUniform.org. If you benefit from Beyond the Uniform and would like to help get this in front of more members of the military community, please consider donating at BeyondTheUniform.org/donate. You can also text SUPPORTBTU to 33777 and we will send you additional information. Our cost of production is $300 per month, we are an all-volunteer team, and we could use your financial support. That is at BeyondTheUniform.org/donate or by texting SUPPORTBTU to 33777.
 
About Ian:
Charles “Ian” Fisher is Director of Operations at PM-ProLearn. He served for over 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and since then has worked as both an IT Consultant as well as the Assistant Director of Professional Services at TimeClock Plus, a Data Management company.
BTU #346 - WIA, Whiskey, and Entrepreneurship (Clayton Hinchman) 0
Mar 16, 2020
Why listen:
Here are the top three reasons to listen to today’s episode:
1.Tenacity - Clayton describes his experience stepping on an IED in Iraq and the grueling road to recovery. His thoughts on perspective &  perseverance are exceptional.
2.Sales - Clayton’s attitude towards business is inspiring. His competitive nature and desire to provide for his family are inspiring.
3.Entrepreneurship - Clayton has repeatedly started organizations that thrive. From USi, which was acquired by Ignite, to Black Patch Distilling and his current government contracting company, SPS, Clayton has demonstrated his gift at starting and growing businesses.
 
Beyond the Uniform has over 350 podcast episodes and 20 videos with America’s top Veterans, including Jocko Willink, the former CEO of Pepsi, NFL players and more. They are all for free at BeyondTheUniform.org. If you benefit from Beyond the Uniform and would like to help get this in front of more members of the military, please consider donating at BeyondTheUniform.org/donate. You can also text SUPPORTBTU to 33777. Our cost of production is $300 per month, we are an all-volunteer team, and we could use your financial support. That is SUPPORTBTU to 33777
 
 
About Clayton:
Clayton is the Chairman of the Black Patch Distilling Co, a Combat Veteran-Owned and Operated Distillery. He started out at West Point, and served as an Infantry Officer for nearly five years before medically retiring as a Captain due to wounds sustained during an improvised explosive attack while conducting a night raid to kill or capture Al Qaeda in Iraq. He is an Honor Graduate of the US Army Ranger School, and holds a Masters from Georgetown University. After his departure from the military, he served as President and CEO of USi, which was acquired by Ignite in 2016.
BTU #345 - Flexible jobs that follow your life (Mika Cross) 0
Mar 9, 2020
Why Listen:
In 344 other episodes we spend so much time talking about WHAT sort of work people do - the industry they choose, the functional role they take on, the size of company, even the part of the world in which they work - but we hardly ever devote time to HOW they work. Well, today’s interview is all about the HOW. Mike is an Army Veteran and acclaimed expert on how the workplace affects employee engagement. We talk about remote working and other flexibility options, and why listeners may want to pursue this in their next career move. 
 
I loved my conversation with Mika - she is energetic, knowledgeable, passionate and generous. She is also extending a discount for her company - Flexjobs - to all Veterans, and there’s additional info in the show notes for this episode at BeyondTheUniform.org
 
About Mika:
 
"Mika J. Cross is a widely acclaimed workplace expert, speaker, strategist and innovator specializing in interdisciplinary expertise in the areas of innovative global workplace initiatives, culture change, strategic communications, knowledge management, next generation/future workplace predictions, performance and talent management, and employee engagement. Her 20+ year career in public service includes assignments throughout the United States Intelligence Community and across the Federal government. She is a veteran of the United States Army, having served as both an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer."
BTU #344 - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Admiral Mullen) 0
Mar 2, 2020
Why Listen: 
When I was in the Navy, I’m not sure how much I respected Admirals. I certainly feared them - I got that instilled in me at the Naval Academy. But I think I was caught up in this mindset of: it’s inevitable that I get promoted from O-1 to O-2, and from O-2 to O-3… so it can’t be that hard to make it to flag rank. In the ten years since I left the Navy, my respect for senior officers and flag rank officers has grown exponentially. I’ve seen how difficult it can be to reach the top of any organization - civilian, government or military. And I admire the determination, talent, and intelligence required to achieve these pinnacle leadership echelons. 
Today’s interview only served to reinforce that respect. Admiral Mullen served as Chairman of the Joint Cheifs of Staff under both President Bush and President Obama. I was fascinated to hear what it is like to work at this level, and a lot of the principles of leadership that helped Admiral Mullen achieve success.
We also talked about leadership of the Beyond the Uniform audience - how we, as leaders, can look out for the men and women we served with, and how we can pay forward the benefits we’ve experienced in our careers.
About Admiral Mullen:
Admiral Michael Mullen is a retired United States Navy admiral, who served as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to both President Bush and President Obama.
Previously, he served as the Navy's 28th Chief of Naval Operations, and was only the third officer in the Navy's history to be appointed to four different four-star assignments: Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples, and the 32nd Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He retired from the Navy after over 42 years of service. 
Fast Company has called Admiral Mullen “not just a new model for military officers-and a new kind of business titan-but also a case study in 21st Century leadership.”
Since retiring from the Navy, Mullen has joined the boards of General Motors, Sprint and the Bloomberg Family Foundation. He teaches at the Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs at Princeton University. He is also known for his efforts on behalf of service members, veterans and their families. He is renowned for his role in dismantling “don’t ask, don’t tell” and allowing gay service members to serve openly.
March 2020 Sneak Peek 0
Feb 29, 2020

A preview of 6 new podcasts and three new webinars coming your way in March. Also, if you're not yet on our Newsletter list, text 33777 with BTU to join, or subscribe at BeyondTheUniform.org

BTU #343 - Army to U.S. Congressman (Rep. Brian Mast) 0
Feb 24, 2020

Why Listen:
Although Brian lost both of his legs while serving in Army, he didn’t let that deter him from finding a mission where he could continue to make a difference in the world. Brian ran for and is now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 18th District. In this interview we avoid politics and focus on what it’s like to work IN politics, as well as why Veterans may want to consider this as a career path.

For listeners who enjoy this episode, be sure to check out:
BTU #70 - Emily Cherniack: How New Politics is helping veterans of both parties run for office - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-70-emily-cherniak-how-new-politics-is-helping-veterans-of-both-parties-run-for-office?rq=emily%20cher
BTU #250 - Navy Veteran to Congressional Candidate (Josh Welle) - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-250-navy-veteran-to-congressional-candidate-josh-welle?rq=josh%20welle
BTU #316 - Navy to Nebraska State Government (Jason Jackson) - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-316-navy-to-nebraska-state-government-jason-jackson?rq=josh%20welle
BTU #66 - Sean Barney: Purple Heart recipient to Congressional Candidate - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-66-sean-barney-purple-heart-recipient-to-congressional-candidate?rq=barney

About Brian
Brian Mast is a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 18th District. After high school, he followed in his father’s footsteps, enlisting in the U.S. Army where he served for over 12 years as a member of the elite Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as a bomb disposal expert. While serving, the very last IED Brian found resulted in sustained catastrophic injuries, which included the loss of both of his legs. Following retirement from the Army, Brian continued his work in counter terrorism and national defense as an Explosive Specialist under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He also volunteered to serve alongside the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to show support for the freedom Israel represents throughout the Middle East and the world.

BTU #342 - Army to Google Software Engineer (Joe Schafer) 0
Feb 17, 2020
Why Listen:
Joe’s story is a great example of a military Veteran who makes a BIG career change after the military. He majored in Computer Science at West Point, but never had any intention of going into Software Engineering. However, he loved to program and so he kept doing it on the side while in the military. That hobby landed him a job at Google and a completely different life and career path. In this interview we talk about Software Engineering - what it’s like, how to succeed in this role, what career progression looks like, and the difference between a large company like Google and a small startup like his current employer, Heap. Regardless of whether or not you’re interested in Software Engineering, Joe’s story shares great advice on how to make a transition to a wildly different career path than the military.
 
About Joe
Joe Schafer is a Software Engineer at Heap, a technology that allows organizations of all sizes can remove technical bottlenecks and gain a single comprehensive view of their customers. He started out at West Point, where he studied Computer Science, after which he served in the Army for five years. After his military service, he worked at Google as a Software Engineer for nearly three years.
BBTU - February 13, 2020 0
Feb 13, 2020

We cover announcements, upcoming events, feedback around new offerings, newsletter responses, and two audience questions.

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BTU #341 - From Air Force to US Ambassador (Gary Grappo) 0
Feb 10, 2020

Why Listen:
There is so much to appreciate about today’s interview. First of all: diplomacy. This is the first interview I’ve done around diplomacy, and I started off in the deep end of the pool, to say the least. Gary went from Air Force Officer to the US Ambassador to Oman. He had an incredible career in which he was involved in monumental work around the world. However, what I appreciate most about Gary is the humility and specificity he brings to this interview. It’s not just about why Veterans may enjoy a career in the foreign service (and, by the way, Gary makes a pretty solid argument for this). It’s the texture he brings to the conversation, of finding his own career path, starting over again in foreign service after earning his MBA and working in the corporate world, of being diligent in learning a new craft and working his way up… after having done just that in both the military and the corporate world. It was a privilege to be able to learn from Gary, and I hope you enjoy this candid and enlightening conversation.

About Ambassador Gary Grappo
Gary Grappo is a Distinguishe Fellow at the University of Denver and the CEO & Founder of Equilibrium International Consulting. He served as the United States Ambassador to Oman from 2006 to 2009, and previously Grappo was Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Counselor of the United States Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He served in the US Air Force for over 8 years, and holds a BS in Mathematics from the United States Air Force Academy, an MS in Geodesy and Survey Engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

BTU #340 - The Power of Meditation (Jon Macaskill) 0
Feb 3, 2020
Why Listen
Jon went from 20 year Navy SEAL to a meditation instructor. In this interview we talk about Jon’s work with Veteran’s PATH, since I believe that every listener could benefit from this free program. We also talk about mindfulness, how it has helped both Jon and I, and what it is. We also talk about how Jon found his way to the non-profit space. 
 
One note, in my introduction I use the wrong title for Jon’s role at Veteran’s PATH - it is actually Deputy Director - my apologies on the oversight… if Jon catches wind, and his SEAL training overrides his meditation training, I could be in trouble on this one.
 
For those who enjoy this episode, be sure to check out:
BTU #123 - The Veterans Yoga Project (Dr. Dan Libby) - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-123-the-veterans-yoga-project-dr-dan-libby?rq=yoga%20project
BTU #150 - Silent Meditation Retreats - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-150-silent-meditation-retreats?rq=yoga%20project
 
About Jon
Jon is the Deputy Director at Veteran’s PATH, a non-profit that enables returning veterans to rediscover meaning, purpose, and joy in their lives through mindfulness, meditation, and a safe community.
He started out at the Naval Academy, and since then has served as a Navy SEAL for nearly 19 years. For those who listened to episode #336 with Marguax Lohry on Tuck’s Next Step program, Jon is a graduate of that program as well. 
February 2020 Sneak Peek 0
Feb 1, 2020
A look at February's four episodes and four webinars.
BTU #339 - Purpose Mapping (Craig Filek) 0
Jan 30, 2020
Why Listen:
Many of the guests I’ve had on the show talk about their struggle to find a new purpose after they leave the military. I struggled with that as well, but - spoiler alert - that doesn’t end when you leave the military. I’m 39 right now, I’ve been out of the Navy for over 10 years, and I’ve been working on this same question for the last several months. That’s what actually led me to today’s guest, Craig. 
 
Craig and I met through John Wineland’s Emobdied Men’s Leadership Training - that’s the yearlong program I’ve talked about before on Beyond the Uniform. We were in the same small group of seven people, which meant we’ve spent hundreds of hours together this last year.
 
However, it wasn’t until recently that I discovered Craig’s superpower: helping people find their purpose. Today’s interview is different, because Craig and I have spent about four hours together over the last couple of weeks working on helping me clarify my purpose and current mission in life. We actually rolled right into this interview after an hour together of some pretty heavy duty work together.
 
I deeply believe in the importance of this process - of finding one’s purpose, of having clarity about what one is seeking in life. I believe in it for myself and for our audience. So, you can view today’s episode as part one of a much bigger offering. Craig and I will be hosting a 90-minute webinar about Purpose Mapping, where you’ll get a worksheet and make significant headway towards refining your purpose in life. If you sign up for our webinar - either to attend live, or to watch the recording after the fact - we’re also going to include a variety of videos from my own work on this. I’ll show you an honest look of what this process has looked like for me. 
 
It hasn’t been easy, but honestly the weeks since Craig and I met have been incredible. There’s a lightness in being closer to identifying what my mission is right now - of being able to say “no” to things more easily and “yes” to things where I otherwise might be hesitant.
 
Be sure to signup for the webinar if you’re at all interested in this topic. There’ll be links in the show notes for this episode, as well as on the Events page of BeyondTheUniform.org if you’re listening to this in real-time, or in the “on-demand webinar” section of our website if you’re listening this in the far-distant future. Craig and I are collaborating on a lot more in this arena, and the best way to stay abreast of that journey as it unfolds is by registering for the webinar.
 
About Craig:
Craig is a a father, a depth coach and a highly attuned facilitator bringing over 20 years of experience in transformative men’s work, shadow work and authentic relating to the unique process for radically clarifying your purpose, making a powerful contribution and stepping into your flow.
Enriched by a decade of applied study in Ken Wilber’s Integral Philosophy, and a founding member of the Integral Center in Boulder, CO, Craig's work is informed by the factors that precipitate growth and development in human systems.
Craig’s 15-year entrepreneurial career has carried him from being an unemployable philosophy major with an unplanned child to building a company from 2 to 22 people and $1.5MM/yr in just under 3 years. Along the way, he churned through a dozen false starts because the businesses were not authentic for him.
BTU #338 - Your LinkedIn Makeover (Donna Serdula) 0
Jan 27, 2020

Why Listen:
Donna is one of the earliest adopters of LinkedIn, and has written two books about LinkedIn profiles, including, LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Hummers. She is graciously providing her course FOR FREE to Veterans, which includes one-on-one feedback from her on your profile… please, please, please take her up on this. Donna is a goldine of information about practical ways to improve your LinkedIn profile and you will leave this interview with simple steps to take today to overhaul your LinkedIn profile.

About Donna:
Donna is the author of the books, LinkedIn Profile Optimization For Dummies and LinkedIn Makeover: Professional Secrets to a POWERFUL LinkedIn Profile. She is the Founder & Owner of Vision Board Media, which she has run for over 10 years and helped countless individuals improve their LinkedIn profile.

BTU #337 - Entrepreneurship and Self Knowledge (Khemit Bailey) 0
Jan 23, 2020

Why Listen:
There are two reasons to listen to this interview. First of all, Khemit created a platform to help people discover their values and create a life of alignment with one’s values. I really enjoyed his approach to this, and found it both novel and effective. Second of all, Khemit’s story illustrates how he has built a career that is in alignment with his purpose in life. He left Apple to pursue a career better suited to his unique aspirations. This led him to living in Lisbon. Regardless of your career pursuits, you’ll benefit from hearing Khemit’s unique story.
About Khemit:
Khemit is the founder of The Character Arc. He is a US Air Force veteran, former Mandarin Chinese linguist & intelligence analyst, and a founding member of the New Product Security team at Apple, Inc. in both China and the US.
He holds an MBA in International Marketing from The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California.
He is also a writer, fitness & martial arts enthusiast, and unabashed fiction buff.

BTU #336 - Lessons from Tuck's Next Step program (Margaux Lohry) 0
Jan 20, 2020

Why Listen:

In previous episodes, several of our guests have talked about Tuck’s Next Step program - which is an accelerated way for military Veterans (and elite athletes) to go deep on learning business skills without having to spend two years getting an MBA. While we do talk about the Next Step program in this interview, we spend the bulk of our time talking about takeaways relevant to any military Veteran, such as: why it’s just as valuable to DISPROVE an potential career path as it is to find the right career path. We talk about why Next Step pairs elite athletes with Veterans for their curriculum and how much these two groups have in common - I honestly had never put this together, and when Margaux explained it it made incredible sense. We talk about the skills that will make Veterans successful in the civilian workforce, we talk about patience and flexibility, and all sorts of other tips that you’ll be able to put to use right away. If you like this episode, be sure to check out: BTU #180 - Career Advice from Andy Chan - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-180-andy-chan-career-advice?rq=andy%20chan BTU #222 - Career Transition Advice from 16 Years of Recruiting (George Randle) - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-222-career-transition-advice-from-16-years-of-recruiting-george-randle?rq=george%20randle BTU #239 - Career Advice #2 with George Randle - https://beyondtheuniform.org/blog/btu-239-career-advice-2-with-george-randle?rq=george%20randle

About Margaux:

Marguax is the Associate Director for Transition to Business Programs at Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth. She holds a B.A. from Colgate University and an M.S. in Sports Management at Columbia University.

BTU #335 - Emotional Intelligence 2.0 (Dr. Jean Greaves) 0
Jan 13, 2020

Why Listen:
We received a positive response to Episode #320 - Emotional Intelligence (Kerri Meyer), and wanted to go deeper on the topic of Emotional Intelligence. Today’s guest - Dr. Jean Greaves, wrote the best selling book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and created TalentSmart - an assessment taken by over 1.5M individuals, and which also provides products and services used by 75% of all Fortune 500 companies. To say that she is an expert on Emotional Intelligence would be a gross understatement. For this episode we assume that you have listened to episode #320, which provides a primer on Emotional Intelligence - so if you have not yet listened to that episode - fix yourself. If you have, then strap in for a deep dive on emotional intelligence, which is an absolutely ESSENTIAL skill set to hone for every professional, but - as we’ll talk about today - especially for military Veterans.

About Dr. Jean Greaves
Dr. Jean Greaves is the CEO of TalenttSmart, the premier provider of emotional intelligence training products and services, used by over 75% of all Fortune 500 companies. She is the best selling author of the book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0, and is also a presenter and executive coach in the emotional intelligence, assessments and training & coaching industries. She is skilled in Executive Development, Coaching, and Psychological Assessment. She holds a Ph.D. focused in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology and a B.A. from Stanford University. Serve as Board Chair for Survivors of Torture International.

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