The Strategic Veteran

In this episode, Tommy Kilpatrick shares how he deliberately burned his life to the ground. After decades of marriage, running medical clinics, and building financial stability, Tommy chose homelessness, took a vow of poverty, and walked away from everything he owned. What followed was a radical experiment in faith, healing, fasting, alternative health, and service. From working with Marines suffering from severe PTSD to teaching self-managed health clinics, farming, and bamboo housing in the Philippines, this is a conversation about letting go of money, titles, comfort, and control in order to reclaim purpose. This is not a feel-good story. It is a confrontation with attachment, identity, and what it actually costs to live on your own terms. Subscribe for real transition stories and unconventional frameworks: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS • Choosing homelessness and a vow of poverty • Running alternative medical clinics for PTSD and trauma • Why fasting, grounding, and discipline change the nervous system • Working with Marines at Camp Pendleton • Detaching from money, status, and control • Building a new life centered on service and simplicity GUEST BIO Tommy Kilpatrick is a former medical clinic operator, author, and lifelong experimenter in alternative health and intentional living. After walking away from wealth and comfort, Tommy now focuses on teaching self-managed health practices, fasting, farming, and community-based healing, currently working with farmers and communities in the Philippines. ⸻ LINKS • Tommy Kilpatrick Facebook: https://www.facebook.com • The Strategic Veteran Podcast: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3U8FOupOu070V00PXR4DSd • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategic-veteran/id1743039436

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

What do you do when the one job that made you feel useful gets wiped out overnight? Marsha Cleff spent seven and a half years as a TAP counselor, helping high-ranking military folks find their footing in civilian life. Then one day, she was told it was over. No backup plan. No warning. Just “reallocation of funds.” Instead of folding, she built Six Star Resume Strategy from the ground up, channeling everything she knows about identity, purpose, and making the invisible visible on paper. The moment she realized the transition system failed her, too Why “you’re a veteran, you’ll be fine” is one of the biggest lies we tell The new-girl sickness that hit her at a job fair What happens when your resume makes you feel small How her husband’s joke became the name of her company Why a six-figure salary isn’t worth your soul https://6starresume.com https://linkedin.com/in/marshacleff marshacleff@6starresume.com

What if the very identity that made you successful is the same one keeping you stuck? How do you rewrite your life when the script you’ve followed since birth suddenly stops working? David Richards grew up steeped in the Marine Corps—it was the family business. He led troops in combat during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, then spent 17 years climbing the corporate ranks at Cisco. But the real battle started when he realized he didn’t know who he was outside the uniform. Now a bestselling author, executive coach, and purpose-driven creator, David helps others find meaning on the far side of success. Felt like a failure the day he got promoted Stopped partying to earn back a legacy he thought he’d already inherited Carried the same anger at his father into his marriage—and watched it collapse Was scared to write because it meant confronting who he really was Burned the boats when it was time to go his own way https://davidrichardsauthor.com https://instagram.com/davidrichardsauthor https://a.co/d/aaAXxDw

What happens when the moment that broke you becomes the reason you lead? How do you rebuild when the war follows you home? Rich Brown was a Marine infantry assaultman. His story started with a teenage-triggered explosion in Haditha — and it could’ve ended there. But instead, he turned trauma into a mission: building men, community, and purpose after the uniform. Rich co-founded Honor Bound Fit, runs executive protection operations, and leads the Guidon-22 ruck, where veterans carry 22 pounds for 22 miles to honor those we’ve lost — and prove no one walks alone. The fight wasn’t just overseas. It was learning to become useful again. The moment he realized “I’m not okay” and why that saved him Losing his identity when the Marine Corps closed the door How a barracks-room hustle grew into a million-dollar business Why the best therapy comes under a ruck, not in a room The truth about purpose after service — no one’s coming, you lead Website – https://honorboundfit.com Instagram – https://instagram.com/honorboundfit Podcast – https://spotify.com/show/thestrategicveteran Newsletter – https://thestrategicveteran.com YouTube – https://youtube.com/@TheStrategicVeteran 🔗 Guest Links🎧 My Links

What happens when the fight never ends — not on the battlefield, but inside your own head? Carla Hutcherson and Brandy Mock, the women behind Mental Perk, have spent years walking alongside people at rock bottom. Carla’s a licensed therapist who’s seen every side of the system — courtrooms, hospitals, and private practice. Brandy’s a straight-talking entrepreneur who’s lived the civilian toll of military life up close. Together, they’re tearing the mask off mental health — no sugarcoating, no shame, just the truth about what it takes to find your way back. When he realized he wasn’t broken — just buried under lies he’d told himself When she finally let go of control and learned to trust the process When therapy stopped being weakness and started being strength When asking for help became the most dangerous thing a soldier could do — and the bravest When healing meant sitting in the pain, not running from it Mental Perk Links: Website – https://www.mentalperk.org Email – info@mentalperk.org YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MentalPerkPodcast My name is Adam Peters, and I’m here to unf*ck the transition.

What happens when the science of psychiatry collides with the future of AI and the timeless wisdom of healing? Dr. Bhargav Patel is a physician, psychiatrist, wellness entrepreneur, and CEO of My Peak. He’s also a leader in AI healthcare solutions through Sully AI and the author of Trauma Transformed. In this conversation, we explore the full arc of healing—from childhood adversity and PTSD, to plant medicine, to building systems that empower both patients and doctors. We dig into: The truth about psychiatric medications, trauma therapy, and why the VA often misses the mark Plant medicine, psychedelics, and the emerging science behind healing PTSD and moral injury The role of nutrition, fasting, and supplements in creating sustainable change Why ADHD and curiosity can actually be superpowers for entrepreneurs How AI is reducing physician burnout and transforming healthcare workflows Dr. Patel’s “core four-step framework for healing”: trauma processing, neuroplasticity/neurogenesis/epigenetics, overriding experiences, and post-traumatic growth This episode is a raw, evidence-based look at what it actually takes to move from surviving to thriving.

What happens when the mission you’ve given your whole life to suddenly ends? When the uniform comes off and all that intensity has nowhere to go? Brett Baker knows that moment well. After thirteen years and nine combat deployments as an Army Ranger, his body gave out before his will ever did. What followed was a storm of loss, faith, rebuilding, and the fight to create a new mission outside the wire. Today he’s the co-founder of VA USA, a faith-driven company building jobs and community for military spouses, and his story is proof that purpose doesn’t die with transition—it just changes shape. The thrill of war colliding with the emptiness of coming home Losing identity when the one thing you’re best at is taken away Starting over with nothing but faith, family, and a broken knee Turning failure into feedback and fear into fuel Finding out purpose isn’t found—it’s built, brick by brick Guest Links: Website: https://www.hirevausa.com

This week on The Strategic Veteran, Adam Peters sits down with David Maulsby, Executive Director of the PTSD Foundation of America, and Anthony Muro, Afghanistan war veteran and graduate of the Camp Hope program. David shares how his calling as a minister led him to walk the streets of Houston in 2009, supporting homeless veterans long before there was a program to back him. That leap of faith grew into Camp Hope, a six-to-nine-month peer-to-peer, faith-based residential program that has saved countless lives. Anthony brings the raw truth of lived experience—his near decade-long prison sentence was diverted when the foundation stepped in. He opens up about hitting rock bottom, how peer mentorship at Camp Hope turned his life around, and why he now helps other veterans reclaim their lives. Together, we explore: How faith and moral injury shape the healing process Why peer-to-peer mentorship is a cornerstone of Camp Hope The role of family education and support in breaking cycles of trauma Alternative healing modalities, from equine therapy to plant medicine The urgent need for veteran and family-centered programs across America If you or someone you know is struggling, call the Combat Trauma Helpline at 877-717-PTSD (7873). You are not alone. Learn more at PTSDUSA.org.

What if the thing you think you want—a “dream franchise”—is the very thing that will eat your nights, your weekends, and your sanity? What if the right fit is the one that feels boring on paper but quietly prints freedom? Kim Woods has spent two decades in the trenches of franchising, turning ambition into action for people who don’t want a boss anymore. Navy veteran, relationship builder, and franchise development lead at Clear Pest Pros within BELFOR Franchise Group, Kim speaks in straight lines: proven systems, honest screening, and grit over hype.  He thought owning a gym was purpose—until he saw the lease, the churn, and the weekends She learned the hard way that “franchise fee” isn’t profit—it’s the cost of a real support system If you won’t work the model, the model won’t work for you Your LinkedIn is a weapon; TAP won’t save you “Can I make a million?” isn’t a question—it’s a mirror Buy with an exit in mind, build something your kids could run or you can sell

What if the thing the system won’t give you is the one thing that could actually save you? Tim Wofford built a career launching global giants like Sam’s Club and Staples across twenty countries — but now he’s on a mission closer to home. As the founder of SmartBody Medical, Tim is bringing affordable hyperbaric oxygen therapy and next-generation wellness to neighborhoods where veterans, first responders, and families need real healing, not just more pills. With two sons in uniform, he knows what’s at stake — and he’s building the kind of help he hopes they’ll never need but always have. Why he traded corporate boardrooms for oxygen chambers The marriage he sacrificed to build billion-dollar brands How seeing the VA’s failures changed his whole life’s work Why the human body doesn’t need another pill — it needs real care The plan to put SmartBody locations where vets need them most ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:30 Growing up in Tulsa with big dreams and bigger faith 08:10 Breaking national sports records that changed everything 14:50 From corporate success to burnout to purpose 21:10 What living in twenty countries taught him about people 29:20 Why SmartBody exists for vets and first responders 37:50 The real impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy 45:00 How to get involved or help bring SmartBody to your town 52:00 His promise to the next generation of warriors Email: tw@smartbodymedical.com Phone: 539-222-7773 My name is Adam Peters, and I’m here to unf*ck the transition.

What if the thing you spent years running from turns out to be exactly where your freedom starts? Andy Dittrich didn’t deploy. He didn’t stack up ribbons or chase firefights. He did administrative work, learned about computers, partied under the neon lights of SoCal, and walked away from the Marine Corps with no plan. From crashing on couches to building a solid IT career, Andy’s story proves you don’t have to be a hero to have a hell of a comeback. His book, "Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes," is a love letter to mistakes, sarcasm, and embracing every part of who you are. Why picking the “boring” MOS saved him later How Fairbanks, Alaska, and a spiritual mom changed everything The couch surfing, clubbing years that taught him real life Why your biggest f*ckups become your best stories How mentoring young IT pros pays back the debt he never talks about ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:30 From Berlin to Alaska at fourteen 07:20 The recruiter who wouldn’t stop calling 12:50 Getting stuck with admin — and making it work 19:00 Living out of boxes and crashing in Vegas 24:40 Club life and the raves that shaped him 32:10 Finding mentors when you didn’t have a father 39:50 How to break into IT without a degree 46:20 Writing a book about screwing up and surviving anyway 52:00 His door is open for any vet who needs a push Website: https://andysbook.com My name is Adam Peters, and I’m here to unf*ck the transition.

What if the thing breaking you down isn’t the system but the belief you can’t fight back against it? Alex Muddiman spent nearly a decade in the Air Force chasing a dream of flying, only to have a hidden medical condition ground him for good. He pivoted to cyber, battled misdiagnosis, fought for the proper care, and stayed on mission even when leadership didn’t have his back. Alex’s story is every overlooked line in the reg, every late night Googling your rights, and every moment you wonder if you’re the only one banging your head against the wall. How he mapped out his entire ROTC plan on a napkin — and made it happen Why a single commander showed him the kind of leader he’d never be The day a simple test proved he wasn’t broken, just misunderstood How he used ADHD as a weapon, not an excuse Why knowing the regs better than your boss is the best armor you’ll ever have ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:10 Growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts 08:20 From welding to Air Force ROTC 15:50 Building a three-college plan to chase the sky 23:10 Getting grounded for good and pivoting to cyber 31:00 Living in the Barney Chair and learning to fight back 38:40 How leadership failed — and what it taught him 46:00 The night shift that cracked him open 52:00 The TOVA test that changed everything 59:00 Why the reg book is your best friend My name is Adam Peters, and I’m here to unf*ck the transition.