Marjorie K. Eastman joins Emily and Jason for Episode 019. Marjorie served as a US Army Intelligence officer and commander, and she wrote “The Frontline Generation: How We Served Post 9/11”. Her ten years of post 9/11 military service include two combat deployments, one in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the other in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Their conversation covers her upbringing in a large family and how that shaped her character early; her choice to enlist after college and lessons she carried forward as a commissioned officer; how she broke new ground for women; dealing with loss and other challenges on deployment; defining herself in authentic leadership with her signature smile; and what she believes military veterans and others who serve bring home to their communities.    Marjorie, through her writing, speaking and charitable work, continues to sound the call for National Service — especially for women. She is the spouse of an Army Ranger, having met her husband Charles on a deployment to Iraq in 2003. She wrote “The Frontline Generation” to their son, now 8, as he battled and beat cancer as a baby. She credits her fortitude and resilience to her years on deployment, as well as being the spouse of one deployed, lessons born of serving something greater than oneself. “Someone else gave me this sweet privilege of freedom, to live my little life to the fullest. Someone else did. They gave their life for it. And I must never forget this. I must honor them, make a difference in my own way — and make it count.” - Marjorie K. Eastman Links: Marjorie K. Eastman “The Frontline Generation” Cpl. Chris Coffland Learn more about GORUCK Glorious Professionals podcast website

Cadre DS, aka Dan Skidmore, is back with Jason and Rich in Episode 018 to talk about training. The previous part of the conversation (Episode 017) covered in more detail DS’s history and high level of physical preparedness as an Air Force Combat Controller. In this part, he dives deeper into how he trains, the origins of becoming a coach while on deployment in Afghanistan, his methods of inspiring more people to be active together, and the GORUCK Sandbag & Ruck Training program. Post military service, Cadre DS was a CrossFit and endurance competitor as well as coach to athletes of all abilities. He focuses on strength plus endurance - ready for anything - especially lifting odd objects and building overall work capacity outside the pristine environment of a gym. Training yourself is different from training others and DS talks about that evolution for himself and how he continues to be inspired by those he teaches. Throughout, with his “hard-charger” energy he pulls the lessons from his own training and deployments, from the DEAD diet to self discipline to MILES, to show others what they can do, build better teams and teach others to train to be tested. Simple, but not easy.  Links: Cadre DS Garage Gym Workouts with Jason GORUCK Team Assessment Ep 014 - Ryan Manion, President of Travis Manion Foundation Learn more about GORUCK Sandbag & Ruck Training Glorious Professionals podcast website

Cadre DS, aka Dan Skidmore, joins Jason and Rich for Part One of their conversation for Episode 017. Part Two will focus on training, while this part focuses on DS’s history: his progression from paintball battles in the fields of Ohio, to attachment to teams in the mountains of Afghanistan as an Air Force Combat Controller, to now GORUCK Director of Training and a fitness entrepreneur in Morocco.  In their conversation about mindset and maturity, DS discusses how he used his physical fitness and readiness as a baseline but Special Operations requires so much more to be a valuable member - and leader - on a team. He talks candidly about his development as a person and professional, his triumphs and the setbacks which he turned into opportunities for learning. And the 3 veterans have a hard conversation about remembering and honoring those lost on the battlefield, helping those struggling at home, and dealing with deaths by suicide. Throughout, Cadre DS speaks about the importance of learning the “when” in addition to knowing the “how.” Links: Cadre DS “Danny” Sanchez Mark Forester Foundation Learn more about GORUCK Training Glorious Professionals podcast website

For Episode 016, Jason and Rich talk to Cadre Will Hinkson about going through transitions, perceptions versus reality, and the importance of finding an individual “why.” Will’s competitive nature - and some good advertising - led him to become a Reconnaissance Marine on the scorching rooftops of Iraq. Later during a security contracting gig in Kabul he started a side-gig which became the first CrossFit affiliate at an embassy. That experience shifted his focus to people-centered business and he returned to start a successful gym stateside. Will talks about what his veneer of success and relentless pace was covering however, and how he eventually got a wake up call via another commercial to fully transition to a more fulfilling, meaningful life.  “Establish your why and chase it relentlessly. When you know why you’re doing something, and you have your core values and mission in place, do not let anything stop you.” Will shares the story of how he answered an unexpected call by a buddy and found himself serving in a new capacity: as a dive team member at Force Blue, a non-profit which unites the community of Special Operations veterans with the world of marine conservation. Will also uses his skills to help others as the creator of Scale Through Impact, a leadership consulting company which provides resources and community support to small business owners. Links: Will Hinkson “Contest of Honor” - Marines Ad SMEAC “Mercy, Love, and Grace” Trailer and Full Documentary Scale Through Impact Learn more about GORUCK Glorious Professionals podcast website

Chris Voss, the former lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI, author of the best-selling book “Never Split the Difference,” founder of The Black Swan Group, and currently THE Negotiations expert on MasterClass joins Jason and Emily for Episode 015. From the streets of Kansas City to NYC, the Philippines, Georgetown and quarantine, his stories and life lessons are in the true spirit of Glorious Professionals.  “Life is a series of negotiations you should be prepared for: buying a car; negotiating a salary; buying a home; renegotiating rent; deliberating with your partner.”   In this conversation, get a slice of Voss’s 24 years with the FBI and his basic operating principles on getting ahead, dealing with failure, continuing to learn, tactical empathy, communication, and most importantly practical advice for persuasion and negotiating in every day situations - particularly now in an even more online and changing world.  Links: Chris Voss Voss’s “Never Split the Difference” Chris Voss Teaches the Art of Negotiation on Masterclass Dos Palmas Kidnappings Operation Eagle Claw Back Swan Blog/Email Newsletter Learn more about GORUCK Glorious Professionals podcast website

“If not me, then who?” - 1stLt Travis Manion, USMC  The mission of the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) is to unite and strengthen communities by training, developing, and highlighting the role models that lead them. Ryan Manion, TMF’s President, joins Emily and Jason on Episode 014 to tell the story of TMF - a non-profit her mother started after the passing of her brother Travis in Iraq on April 29, 2007.  Ryan co-wrote “The Knock at the Door” as a personal history as well as a roadmap for “those with the courage to love others” to navigate the loss of a loved someone too soon through any type of tragedy. In this episode she shares the impact of her parents and upbringing in a military family; her 9/11 story and how it altered the course of her life; her own “knock at the door” and her family’s response; what “character isn’t cancelled” means; how TMF as a grassroots, bottom-up organization empowers veterans to continue to serve especially now during a pandemic; and overall what it means to be vulnerable through tragedy and “struggle well.” Links: Ryan Manion Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) Marine Corps Marathon Ryan's book “The Knock at the Door” Colonel Manion's book “Brothers Forever” Ryan on CBS Sunday Morning  “If not me, then who?” - ER Staff Learn more about GORUCK Glorious Professionals podcast website

On Episode Lucky Number 13 is Lieutenant General (Ret) Kenneth Tovo, a Green Beret who most recently served as Commanding General of the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) before retirement in 2018 after 35 years of military service. General Tovo joins Jason and Rich to dive deep on his hard-won lessons of leadership, particularly through a gripping oral history of a quintessential Green Beret mission: Operation Viking Hammer at the outset of the Iraq war in 2003. In his detailed account, learn why it is also called Operation “Ugly Baby,” how the links only tell a tiny slice of the story, and how the General really came to understand that plans are meaningless but planning is priceless. General Tovo’s operational assignments include the First Gulf War, Refugee relief in Northern Iraq,  Noncombatant evacuation in Sierra Leone, Peacekeeping in Bosnia (twice), 5 tours in Iraq, and 1 tour in Afghanistan. He was Jason’s Group Commander at 10th Special Forces Group in 2007 and they are both now on the board of the Green Beret Foundation.  General Tovo has cultivated a deep self awareness which he uses to carefully choose his team, effectively lead, and at least try to pass his lessons borne of experience to others. This episode is rife with his leadership lessons, especially through transitions and unexpected environments, which are as applicable in business as they are on the battlefield.  Links: Lieutenant General (Ret) Kenneth Tovo Robin Moore’s “The Green Berets” Operation: Viking Hammer Linda Robinson’s “Masters of Chaos”  Green Beret Foundation Learn more about GORUCK Glorious Professionals podcast website

For Episode 012, Jason and Emily are joined by Ambassador Elisabeth Millard, a career diplomat in the Foreign Service who most recently served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. The mission of a U.S. diplomat in the Foreign Service is to promote peace, support prosperity, and protect American citizens while advancing the interests of the U.S. abroad. Ambassador Millard led a full life of travel before and during her storied career and she talks about the role of foreign service officers; starting a career “later” while finding family and job balance; her priorities as Ambassador to Tajikistan; her approaches to leadership; and the “secret” of the Foreign Service Exam. Ambassador Millard is a naturalized US citizen who served State Department roles in Prague, Copenhagen, India, Nepal, Morocco and Kazakhstan as well as two stints at the White House. From 2016-17 she served as the US Ambassador to Tajikistan, in Central Asia bordering both Afghanistan and China. Her parents were both medical doctors, her late husband Captain Millard was a Naval Intelligence Officer with 30 years of service. She is a mother and grandmother who continues to serve her adopted country with distinction. Her life and family exemplifies servant leadership that is at the core of what this podcast is all about, and it’s an honor to have her on the show. Links: Ambassador Elisabeth I. Millard “I will not forget the hospitality of the Tajik people” Learn more about GORUCK Glorious Professionals podcast website

Coco Tang has traveled the world as a Nationally Registered Paramedic and a DOD-trained Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) instructor, and she is currently on contract working the night shift in New York City treating COVID-19 patients. She joins Jason and Emily for episode 011 to talk about the similarities and differences in her medical mission work from Africa to Afghanistan to here at home. Their conversation covers her ground truth at the epicenter of the current pandemic, her unique perspective as a Chinese American in the time of COVID, tales from her trips abroad, and what drives her to serve and help others in some of the most challenging spots around the globe. Coco was born in Fushun, China - not far from the North Korean border - and moved to the US when she was 12. She is a naturalized US citizen who speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and has a working proficiency of Arabic, German, Russian, and Japanese. In 2013, she moved to Jordan as a Fulbright Scholar to conduct academic research on ISIS and Syrian refugees. During that time, she began volunteering medically at the refugee camps. Since then, she has worked all around the world including: community outreach initiatives in Sierra Leone during the height of the Ebola crisis in 2014; the Nepal earthquake response in 2015; and Syrian refugee camps in Greece and Iraq. Last year, she led humanitarian and medical assessment trips to the remote mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia and to the Democratic Republic of Congo due to another Ebola outbreak in South Kivu. She most recently returned from a medical deployment in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Links: Coco Tang GORUCK Events Learn more about GORUCK Glorious Professionals podcast website

In Episode 010, Jason and Emily are joined by expert Linda Mansolillo to talk about disaster preparation - be it wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, or a global epidemic. Linda is a biotech strategist with 24 years of military service, currently a medical officer in the Air Force Reserve, and is also a mom. Through projects like LadyBugOut she focuses on bringing disaster preparation and implementation strategies home to our primary community - our families - and most especially our children.  Even if you don’t have kids, you can learn key strategies for dealing with emergencies including making preparations a lifestyle (including designating in advance “who makes the call”), the importance of staying calm getting factual information, and focusing on what you can control. Linda advocates for empowering kids of all ages to deal with disaster and life through age-appropriate discussion, decision-making and responsibility. This episode is primarily about leadership in crisis and spending the time to slow down and really communicate with our home team. Links: Linda Mansolillo LadyBugOut Learn more about GORUCK Glorious Professionals podcast website