Send us Fan Mail What separates someone who has a leadership title from someone people genuinely want to follow? In this episode, I am joined by Mark J. O’Loughlin, a retired Marine Corps Sergeant Major whose 30-year career includes infantry leadership, drill instructor duty, deployments to Desert Storm and Iraq, and senior roles supporting wounded Marines. Mark shares lessons from his new book, Validated Leadership, built around five practical leadership rules designed for real life—not just...
May 19
23 min
Send us Fan Mail Who are you when the uniform comes off? In this episode of Unarmored Talk, I sit down with Angeletha Long, a U.S. Army veteran of 24 years and leadership strategist, to unpack one of the hardest questions veterans face after service: Who are you—really? We go beyond the surface of transition and get into the identity shift that happens when the structure, mission, and title you’ve lived by are no longer there. Angeletha shares how this question showed up in her own life, how ...
May 4
23 min
Send us Fan Mail The hardest pushback often comes from the people closest to you—so what if that resistance is actually confirmation you’re on the right path? In this episode of Unarmored Talk, I sit down with Rachel Singletary—minister, facilitator, and leader—to talk about what obedience really looks like when your calling demands growth, discipline, and time. We get honest about the refining process people don’t post—the part that humbles you, stretches you, and challenges your relationshi...
Apr 7
21 min
Send us Fan Mail Cancer isn’t a solo fight—especially for veterans. But too many are still fighting it alone. In this episode, Marine Corps couples Joe and Jennifer Worthy, and Casey and Ashton Kroner, share the reality behind colon cancer, testicular cancer, remission, and the grind of chemo. This is the side of cancer you don’t see—shock, denial, constant appointments, and the strain of trying not to lose your identity as husband and wife while cancer pushes you into patient and caregiver r...
Apr 6
29 min
Send us Fan Mail What if success isn’t the right career? In this Unarmored Talk podcast episode, I sit down with U.S. Army veteran Frank Van Buren, author of Life Lessons from the Cockpit, to explore his journey from flying night missions to Wall Street—and the realization that success alone doesn’t equal fulfillment. A chance conversation on a beach in Cyprus during the Beirut Air Bridge set everything in motion. It led to business school, a career in finance, and ultimately a deeper truth...
Apr 2
23 min
Send us Fan Mail Have you ever stopped to ask yourself—am I putting people first, or just chasing outcomes? For the first time, David Tellefsen removes the armor. In this episode, the 22-year Marine Corps veteran and Director of Veterans Services in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, shares what drives his passion for serving others—and why people must always come before profit. We discuss leadership, the identity shift after the military, and the reality many veterans face when transitioning. Da...
Mar 24
21 min
Send us Fan Mail Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse and trauma that some viewers may find difficult. Viewer discretion is advised. In this episode of Unarmored Talk, I speak with Emilio Roman, a Marine Corps veteran, minister, entrepreneur, and author who grew up in Camden, New Jersey, surrounded by instability and hardship. Despite those early challenges—including a speech impediment and childhood trauma—Emilio built a life centered on faith, service,...
Mar 15
13 min
Send us Fan Mail A single choice can change a life — but so can the choices that follow. Beth Abbott returns to Unarmored Talk to share the truth behind a DUI that injured two teens, cost her a frocked promotion, and forced a painful reckoning with addiction, leadership, and identity. From volunteering to begin her jail sentence immediately, to finding purpose behind bars, to rebuilding through sobriety and accountability, this episode explores public failure, forgiveness, and the long road t...
Mar 1
21 min
Send us Fan Mail Do you notice significant changes in your mood, energy, or focus from fall to spring? Every fall, I deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). When the days shorten and energy dips, I don’t ignore it — I prepare for it. In this episode of Unarmored Talk, I share three simple, repeatable habits that help me stay mentally steady from fall through winter and into spring: • Control your environment first thing in the morning • Don’t feed isolation — connection is fu...
Feb 24
2 min
Send us Fan Mail Who are you when the plan ends? Marine veteran William Philyaw IV shares his journey from overseas embassy security duty to navigating an unexpected injury that forced him to surrender a 20-year vision. Through faith, family, and intentional relationships, William rebuilt his identity and discovered a new mission serving veterans in Virginia. This episode explores transition, purpose, and the quiet courage it takes to start again. Stay unarmored, stay authentic, and stay ment...
Feb 17
17 min
Load more