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In this episode of our podcast, we kick off with a discussion about the challenges of being an infantryman and the debate over who makes the better host for the show.

We then delve into some of our favorite episodes from this season, including the highly downloaded episode featuring Michael Rodriquez, who shares his experiences and work with the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. Mike Lavigne's most downloaded episodes include interviews with Nich Palmisciano and Chelsey Porterfield, while Mike B's most downloaded episode features Larry Broughton and Kim Scott, who discuss the value of their episodes and the impact of Kim's work, including her book on Radical Candor.

We also touch on Nick's storytelling ability and the ups and downs of recording podcasts as a host. Mike L shares why he decided to join the AIP team and start doing monthly episodes in 2022.

Finally, we preview what's in store for season 3 and when listeners can expect it to start. Tune in for a jam-packed episode filled with valuable insights and entertainment!

Thank you for all the support this year, can’t wait to see you in 2023!! 

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Logan always knew that he wanted to live life differently and sought ways to challenge himself. After the 9/11 attack, he knew that the military was the logical route. When he joined, he attended the premier military leadership school, Ranger School. He decided to go to Special Forces (SF) selection and after multiple deployments with SF along with  almost 10 years of service, he applied to Harvard and was accepted for his undergraduate degree. But he didn’t stop there, he continued his education for 7 years and also  earned his MBA and Law degree. 

We spent the bulk of the episode talking about being an entrepreneur, why people may avoid the risks that come with it, and the principles that help with success. Logan talks about how we need to avoid comfort zones and take some risks. Luck plays a factor, but when opportunities are presented, you need to be prepared to take advantage of it. 

Logan also advocates for veterans applying to Ivy League schools; he was surprised at how few were in college with him. Being successful in the military is a lot like being an entrepreneur , you need to be self-driven and seek out opportunities to grow. However, being an entrepreneur isn’t structured and if you need that, then maybe this route isn’t for you.  

How to find and connect with Logan: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/loganleslie/

https://www.nrockusa.com/

https://hls.harvard.edu/today/logan-leslie-from-active-duty-to-actively-recruiting-veterans/

https://pattillmanfoundation.org/meet-our-scholars/logan-leslie/

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Michael “Rod” Rodriguez grew up surrounded by men who’d served their nation - and his pursuit of the same life of service showed him humanity at its best - and also at its most depraved.

After seeing the humanitarian crises in Somalia and Haiti up close, Rod chose the life of the Green Beret. He tells us the journey he took – the twisty path that placed him in the position he currently holds, as the president and CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a couple of your friends and leave us a review on whatever platform you use. Also find out more about AIP and the team at www.alwaysinpursuit.org. 

Thank you for tuning in to the show!

Check out our amazing Sponsors Adyton PBC and Learn more about MUSTR app which is streamlining systems for leaders across the Department of Defense! 

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Mike met Kevin and Jessica through the Veterans Yoga Project where Jessica was an instructor while Mike and Kevin were her students. In this episode, they talk about why they joined the military and some of the good and bad of military service. They all had different reasons for joining the military along with different experiences, but they shared the same struggles after they transitioned from the military to civilian life. It was difficult to integrate after deployments and not taking the time needed to process what we had experienced. 

We discuss their journey into yoga and how it has enhanced the lives of many. It has helped them in the intellectual, physical, and spiritual dimensions of their lives. The Veterans Yoga community has helped them and like any community, there is always common ground to be found. They spend some time talking about what it was like to become a yoga instructor. Now they can bring yoga to Veterans and share the benefits with everyone. 

Kevin and Jessica talk about how they got started with non-profit organizations and how it has grounded them and provided a sense of purpose because of the people they help. It is a rollercoaster at times, but the reward is worth all the struggle because when they see it change lives  it renews their passion. They also discuss how the communities they work with have helped and provided resources. Jessica's newest project is focused on prevention and giving service members tools to prevent some of the issues that plague Veterans. 

They are both amazing human beings and they have a lot of fun in this episode!

Find Kevin, Jessica, and Nonprofits: 

https://www.hvncvr.org/

https://veteransyogaproject.org/

https://www.tribeyogamilitary.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-keaveny-5a72714/

https://www.instagram.com/bugbeejessica/

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CPT Benjamin Ordiway is a Philosophy Instructor at the United States Military Academy at West Point. After serving as a Cavalry Scout in the 82nd Airborne and Cavalry Officer, he made a shift to Civil Affairs and served in 1st Special Forces Group. In 2020, he pursued his Master’s Degree in Philosophy from University of Michigan. Along the way, he found his passion and incredible insights into ethical training and moral reasoning. He has authored multiple articles which have been read by thousands inside and outside the military. 

We start the episode with Benjamin outlining the difference between morals and ethics. We need to define it so that we can know what training we need to do and prepare ourselves for the future. This sets the stage in the episode for us to talk about how we should conduct the training and where mistakes are made when trying to conduct check the box training. 

We must allow mistakes to be made in training so that we can learn from them and also so we can identify shortfalls in ourselves and teams. We need to stop teaching them what to think, instead of how to think. A part of this starts from the moment people arrive to an organization and the mentalities we instill immediately. 

In the episode, Mike throws himself in the fray and they run through an ethical dilemma. One that really happened where they talk through the events and decisions that were made. Ben walks us through how as a coach, you would walk another leader through an exercise to learn from the situation. As the coach, you help the person realize the emotions that come into play during a moral dilemma. 

Benjamin Ordiway Articles and finding him on LinkedIn
https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2021/02/20/how-to-wage-a-counterinsurgency-against-organizational-culture/

https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2021/05/17/ethics-breathing-life-or-hot-air/

https://media-cdn.dvidshub.net/pubs/pdf_63722.pdf

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminordiway

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a couple of your friends and leave us a review on whatever platform you use. Also, find out more about AIP and the team at www.alwaysinpursuit.org. 

Thank you for tuning in to the show!

Check out our amazing sponsors Adyton PBC and Learn more about MUSTR app which is streamlining systems for leaders across the Department of Defense! 

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Growing up in a rowhouse in blue-collar North Philly gave Patrick J. Murphy a full education before he ever stepped foot in college. Those humble beginnings launched him into a career in the law, service in the Army, and ultimately into the halls of Congress as the first veteran elected with service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Murphy’s resume is long and diverse, and his experiences defy an one label we could try to assign - but AIP co-host Mike Lavigne did his damndest, as he explores the backstory of a man whose desire to serve took him from the serving in the Army to leading it as the 32nd Undersecretary of the Army, with service as the Acting SECARMY during a critical period in the Army’s history. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a couple of your friends and leave us a review on whatever platform you use. Also find out more about AIP and the team at www.alwaysinpursuit.org. 

Thank you for tuning in to the show!

Check out our amazing Sponsors Adyton PBC and Learn more about MUSTR app which is streamlining systems for leaders across the Department of Defense! 

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Matt joined the Air Force to travel the world, but initially he only joined to do one enlistment. But after the events of 9/11, he was called to dedicate his life to flying the skies as a crew member of Joint Surveillance Target  Attack Radar System (STARS) program.  

After spending two decades burning holes in the sky, Matt decided it was time to find a new path. His next adventure would meld together his passion for friends, the outdoors, and playing games. He invented the Rollers Yard game which to date has sold over 100,000 units and is still going strong. It is carried by a major retailer and even a large corporation tried to steal the invention from him. His second invention, Tally Tumblers, has numerous varieties and is rapidly growing! 

Matt discusses the good, bad, and the ugly of his journey as an entrepreneur/inventor and mentors that have helped him along the way. He also highlights some amazing organizations that are designed to help transitioning veterans get a head start on their own pursuits. 

Matt closes out the episode with words of wisdom for all veterans and especially those looking at stepping into entrepreneurship.

Find Matt and Rollers: 

https://rollors.com/

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjbutler-1/

Links to topics discussed in episode: 

https://www.amazon.com/Borrowing-Brilliance-Business-Innovation-Building/dp/1592405800

https://bunkerlabs.org/

https://www.score.org/resources-veteran-entrepreneurs

https://www.warriorrising.org/

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a couple of your friends and leave us a review on whatever platform you use. Also find out more about AIP and the team at www.alwaysinpursuit.org. 

Thank you for tuning in to the show!

Check out our amazing Sponsors Adyton PBC and Learn more about MUSTR app which is streamlining systems for leaders across the Department of Defense! 

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One NCO’s first experience in combat completely changed the trajectory of his life - and put him on a focused path to a lofty goal: help every member of the joint force be physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared to fight in the most disadvantageous terrain on their worst day – and win.

John Wayne Troxell, who served as a command sergeant major for 20 years before becoming the third Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2015, learned a lot in the 7 months between redeploying from Operation Just Cause and deploying again to Operation Desert Shield some 7 months later. He took those hard-learned lessons and made them a primer that would ultimately shape his 38 years of service to the nation.

AIP co-host Mike Lavigne’s conversation with his worst PT nightmare (and boss of exactly 72 hours) covers a lot of ground – from the successes Troxell experienced in peacetime and in combat, to the crushing realities of being suspended and investigated as the Defense Department’s most senior noncommissioned officer.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a couple of your friends and leave us a review on whatever platform you use. Also find out more about AIP and the team at www.alwaysinpursuit.org. 

Thank you for tuning in to the show!

Check out our amazing Sponsors Adyton PBC and Learn more about MUSTR app which is streamlining systems for leaders across the Department of Defense! 

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Colonel John Spencer is a scholar, author, combat veteran, scholar, and is recognized across the globe for his expertise in urban warfare. He enlisted in the Army and quickly rose to become a senior non-commissioned officer before becoming an officer. 

In this episode, Mike and John talk about how he got his start in writing and some of the mentors that helped him. Unlike most, he went straight for the big leagues as his article was accepted and ran by the New York Times. From an Army of One to a Band of Tweeters

This article, other writings, and deployments lead to him writing the book, Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership and Social Connections in Modern Warfare. In this book, he discusses the differences between deployments because of technology and as leaders the adaptations we need to make to ensure we continue to influence our subordinates. Connections don’t just happen, hardship and spending a lot of time together are what facilitate it. 

John and Mike also talk about the Ukraine crisis and how John has become the subject matter expert on it and urban warfare. We touch on how that developed and the power of social media to get strategies into the hands of the fighters in Ukraine. We also discussed how his tweets became a field manual that was published in Ukraine and how this event has changed the world and the future of war. 

Find John Spencer, his works and social media: 

https://www.johnspenceronline.com/books

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a couple of your friends and leave us a review on whatever platform you use. Also find out more about AIP and the team at www.alwaysinpursuit.org. 

Thank you for tuning in to the show!

Check out our amazing Sponsors Adyton PBC and Learn more about MUSTR app which is streamlining systems for leaders across the Department of Defense! 

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SGT Retired Michael Sugrue served as a police officer for 14 years and also served in the Air Force as an officer in the Raven Program. After 8 years as a police officer, he would answer a call that would forever change his life. What ensued for the rest of his career can be described as a perfect storm of trauma. 

In those final years of his time as a police officer, he went through a divorce and a 4 year investigation into his actions on the previously mentioned call. He watched as mentors and his department turned their backs on him. In this episode, Michael talks about how these events were more traumatic than the taking of a life while in the line of duty. 

Michael recently published the book, Relentless Courage: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma. This book did the impossible and it not only unpacks Micharl’s trauma, but it is also written in a way that others can relate and find hope in. 

Trauma isn’t a destination; it is a journey and Michael talks with extreme candidness in this episode. Our Law Enforcement Officers face incredibly difficult situations in communities that they also live in and raise families. Michael’s story in this episode and his book can help prepare officers for these challenges or to help them realize they are not alone in their struggles. 

If you want to learn more about Michael and some of the amazing work he is doing, use the links below to connect! 

Michael Sugrue FaceBook

First Responders First FaceBook Page

SGT Michael Sugrue Group Page 

Relentless Courage Book on Amazon

Michael Sugrue on Instagram 

Stellate Ganglion Blocks Information

Smashing the Stigma on YouTube 

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a couple of your friends and leave us a review on whatever platform you use. Also find out more about AIP and the team at www.alwaysinpursuit.org. 

Thank you for tuning in to the show!

Check out our amazing Sponsors Adyton PBC and Learn more about MUSTR app which is streamlining systems for leaders across the Department of Defense!