

490: Accept All Challenges Involved. With Travis Barnes
20 snips May 14, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Travis Barnes, a Marine Corps veteran and founder of Hotel Tango Distillery, shares his incredible journey from combat to craftsmanship. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, emphasizing the importance of support systems. Travis reflects on the power of discipline in managing PTSD and how distilling whiskey became a new mission. Their talk also explores the nuances of bourbon production, the community impact during the pandemic, and the emotional connections intertwined with bourbon culture.
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Travis Barnes Enlists Post 9/11
- Travis Barnes enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after 9/11, driven by a sense of duty and purpose.
- He experienced intense training and immediate deployment, entering combat nearly green and unprepared.
Thrown Into Combat Ready
- Barnes and four others passed a tough three-day recon selection, entering a platoon immediately preparing for invasion.
- They trained on the ship en route to Iraq, thrown into combat with minimal institutional knowledge.
Combat Hardships and Leadership
- Travis Barnes survived multiple IED blasts causing TBI but kept returning to combat.
- After multiple tours and surviving ambushes, he took leadership of a team, guiding young Marines in combat.