Épisodes

  • Zack Miller

    Zack Miller
    Jan 5 2026
    In this episode, Zack Miller, founder and CEO of Patriot Growth Capital, breaks down why entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful paths back to purpose after the military. Raised by two Marines and surrounded by service his entire life, Zack shares how he walked away from corporate America to help veterans become business owners instead of employees. We talk identity loss, risk, money, network, and why owning cash-flowing businesses creates real freedom after service. This is a no-fluff conversation about building generational wealth, teaching veterans how to fish, and reclaiming control after the uniform comes off. Subscribe for real transition stories and frameworks that actually work: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd ⸻ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS • Why corporate America fails veterans • Identity, purpose, and tribe after service • The myth that entrepreneurship is “too risky” • Buying cash-flowing businesses instead of starting from scratch • Patriot Growth Capital’s 5-year veteran ownership model • Teaching veterans how to build generational wealth GUEST BIO Zack Miller is the founder and CEO of Patriot Growth Capital, an acquisition platform designed to help veterans become business owners. With a background in sales leadership, startups, and capital strategy, Zack now focuses on acquiring profitable businesses and training veterans to run and eventually own them. LINKS • Patriot Growth Capital: https://patriotgrowthcapital.com • Email Zack: z.miller@patriotgrowthcapital.com • The Strategic Veteran Podcast: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategic-veteran/id1743039436
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    1 h et 3 min
  • Russell Torgerson

    Russell Torgerson
    Dec 29 2025
    In this episode, Russ Torgerson shares how a 31-year Coast Guard career as a rescue swimmer and pilot shaped his identity, and how losing that identity nearly destroyed him after retirement. From pulling bodies out of the water to flying missions in some of the harshest conditions on earth, Russ opens up about PTSD, depression, alcohol, and the long road back to purpose. We talk about the veteran transition, identity loss after service, finding a new tribe, and why physical struggle and community matter more than most transition programs ever admit. Subscribe for real transition stories and frameworks that actually help: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd ⸻ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS • Becoming one of the first Coast Guard rescue swimmers • What continuous trauma does to the nervous system • Leaving service after 31 years and losing identity • Depression, alcohol, and the silent spiral after retirement • Why most veterans say “I’ve got this” when they don’t • Finding healing through jiu-jitsu, discipline, and tribe ⸻ GUEST BIO Russ Torgerson is a retired Coast Guard commander, former rescue swimmer (RS-68), pilot, and aviation program leader. After 31 years of service, Russ now focuses on mentorship, personal growth, and helping veterans navigate identity loss and life after the uniform. ⸻ MEGAPHONE LINKS • Russ Torgerson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russtorg • The Strategic Veteran Podcast: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategic-veteran/id1743039436
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    1 h et 8 min
  • Robert Novotny

    Robert Novotny
    Dec 22 2025
    In this episode, Robert Novotny shares how he went from a Marine navigating loss, NJP, and suicide inside the ranks to building a life of purpose through financial planning and veteran advocacy. We dig into the reality of the veteran transition from military to civilian life, including grief, identity loss, money mistakes, and what actually creates stability after service. This conversation covers suicide prevention, leadership failures, entrepreneurship, and why real wealth is about legacy, not status. Subscribe for real transition stories and frameworks that work: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd ⸻ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS • Losing a close friend to suicide on his birthday • Leadership lessons learned the hard way • Why TAP fails most veterans • Transitioning from the Marine Corps to civilian life • Building wealth with intention, not hype • Veteran entrepreneurship and legacy building ⸻ GUEST BIO Robert Novotny is a former United States Marine, financial planner, and founder of Vets Lives Matter. He works primarily with veteran-owned businesses, helping them build long-term financial stability, generational wealth, and purpose after service. ⸻ LINKS • Robert Novotny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com • Vets Lives Matter: https://www.instagram.com/vetslivesmatter • Strategic Planning Associates: https://strategicplanningassociates.nm.com • The Strategic Veteran Podcast: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategic-veteran/id1743039436
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    59 min
  • Kenny Dupar

    Kenny Dupar
    Dec 16 2025
    After 30 years in the Army, Kenny Dupar learned the hard way that transition isn’t about resumes or programs. It’s about identity. In this episode, Kenny breaks down combat, counterinsurgency, leadership failures, why TAP and SkillBridge fall short, and what actually helps veterans rebuild after service. From Iraq in 2003 to writing novels in East Tennessee, this conversation is honest, funny, and deeply real. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Transition must start years before separation • Combat arms veterans are left without real civilian pathways • Creativity and daily discipline are survival tools • Fixing transition would fix recruiting LINKS • Kenny Dupar: https://kennydupar.com • Amakaya Retreat: https://amakaya.org • The Strategic Veteran: https://thestrategicveteran.com • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategic-veteran/id1743039436 Subscribe for honest conversations about life after the uniform.
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    1 h et 3 min
  • Rex Enriquez

    Rex Enriquez
    Dec 1 2025
    After eighteen years in Air Force intelligence, Rex Enriquez faced the hardest mission of his life — rebuilding after the military. From divorce to a near-death heart attack, his story isn’t about struggle; it’s about resurrection. In this conversation with Adam Peters, Rex breaks down what real self-mastery looks like, how to overcome destructive patterns, and why most so-called “coaches” don’t know what coaching actually means. Key Takeaways: • Self-mastery starts when you stop lying to yourself • Healing requires facing your own origin story • Coaching isn’t advice — it’s accountability and truth Links: • Guest: https://www.instagram.com/badcoachrex • Amakaya Retreat: https://amakaya.org • Heroes Media Group: https://www.heroesmediagroup.com • Ramshorn Coffee: https://ramshorncoffee.com Code THESTRATEGICVET • The Strategic Veteran: https://thestrategicveteran.com • Megaphone: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/the-strategic-veteran • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategic-veteran/id1743039436 • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thestrategicveteran
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    1 h et 2 min
  • Tom Sauer

    Tom Sauer
    Dec 1 2025
    Navy EOD officer turned addiction-treatment founder, Tom Sauer has seen both sides of the fight. After losing his father to addiction, he spent years defusing bombs overseas before realizing the real war was happening back home. In this episode he breaks down the crisis inside veteran mental health, the failures inside the VA, and why he built Miramar Health to give veterans a real shot at surviving addiction and trauma. We cover his early Marine Corps years, counter-WMD work in Guam, leaving the Navy, and how he now treats veterans who arrive at rock bottom. Tom explains why trauma recovery, fitness, and community care aren’t optional if we want to save lives—and why the system has resisted change. • Addiction is killing veterans faster than war ever did. • Trauma recovery and structure change outcomes. • Community Care must be enforced if the VA can’t meet demand. Miramar Health, Amakaya Retreat, Heroes Media Group, Ramshorn Coffee, The Strategic Veteran, Megaphone, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Subscribe for raw conversations about the fight to rebuild your life after service.
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    1 h et 6 min
  • David Zallo

    David Zallo
    Dec 1 2025
    COL-select David Zallo spent 27 years serving across Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, and JRTC before stepping into one of the hardest missions he’s ever faced: rebuilding his identity outside the uniform. In this episode, he breaks down what the Army gave him, what it took from him, and why financial wellness became his new way of serving veterans. We cover deployments, leadership, burnout, the collapse of Afghanistan, and the quiet fear every senior leader carries when it’s time to walk away. David explains why money and mental health are more connected than people realize and how he plans to help veterans avoid the traps he saw destroy families and lives over the last two decades. • Transition hits harder than anyone prepares you for. • Money problems fuel mental health problems more than we admit. • Reinvention requires honesty, discomfort, and showing up. • Amakaya Retreat: https://amakaya.org • Heroes Media Group: https://www.heroesmediagroup.com • Ramshorn Coffee: https://ramshorncoffee.com • The Strategic Veteran: https://thestrategicveteran.com • Megaphone: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/the-strategic-veteran • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategic-veteran/id1743039436 • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thestrategicveteran Subscribe for raw, unfiltered conversations about transition, purpose, and rebuilding your life after service.
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    1 h et 2 min
  • Rich Spalla

    Rich Spalla
    Nov 17 2025
    Rich Spalla joined the Army at thirty five, walked into Afghanistan with men ten years younger than him, and carried the weight of July 7th long after he came home. This episode goes deep into identity, guilt, transition failure, VA pills, the struggle to feel human again, and the long road back through faith, discipline, jiu jitsu, and fatherhood. If you’ve ever felt like the world kept spinning while you fell apart, Rich’s story will hit hard. We talk about rebuilding identity, why purpose matters more than rank, and what it takes to finally stop running from yourself. This is one of the most honest conversations I’ve had on this show. • The day that broke our company and what it took to climb back • Why identity collapses after service and how to rebuild it • The danger of the VA pill conveyor belt • How faith and physical discipline saved his life • Amakaya Retreat: https://amakaya.org • Heroes Media Group: https://www.heroesmediagroup.com • Ramshorn Coffee: https://ramshorncoffee.com • The Strategic Veteran: https://thestrategicveteran.com • Listen on Megaphone: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/the-strategic-veteran • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategic-veteran/id1743039436 • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thestrategicveteran
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    1 h et 11 min
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