Beyond The Trek Fireside Chat: Conversations That Inspire

🎙 New Podcast Episode – Beyond the Trek Teammate Series

Meet Mike Diaz a father, coach, and special operations veteran. His journey has been one of resilience, from the hardships of combat deployments to the personal battles of divorce and rediscovering his faith.

Join us as Mike shares his story of struggle, redemption, and his powerful comeback to Christ. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Kevin Flack is an Iraq and Afghanistan Combat veteran currently residing in Bettendorf Iowa. Kevin was born in Lancaster California, and grew up on Whidbey Island Washington.

Kevin served with the US Army 10th Mountain Light Infantry Division in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2006 - 2012 as an Infantry fire team leader and squad leader. After his son Wyatt was born in Bettendorf Iowa he left the military and moved to the Quad Cities to fulfill his responsibilities as a parent. Upon arrival in the Quad Cities he immediately enrolled in college where he was the President of his local Student Veterans association where he pursued liberal arts and psychology. He attended the Military and Family leadership institute put on by Student Veterans Association National and Purdue University. As well as Student veterans National Conference 2015 in San Antonio, Texas.

Shortly after starting his Bachelor's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology he accepted a job with the Illinois National Guard Bureau as a Family Assistance Specialist. Handling resource facilitation and soldier and family readiness assistance for the northwest region. Shortly after taking this job his combat PTSD and TBI issues started to become more of an issue.

It became bad enough that he admitted himself into the St. Cloud VAMC for 3 months of inpatient PTSD and TBI treatment. It was during this time that his diagnosis and tactical training were used as a reasoning to keep his son from him. This period and exposure almost led Kevin to take his own life while losing all faith in the judicial system we fought for. However it was also the catalyst to DownRange Excursions and DownRange Supplements.

Kevin would go on 100 plus mile paddling trips in Iowa to remove himself from the overwhelming pressures and anxieties of the system he was dealing with and worry about his son. This coupled with a strict exercise routine and healthy diet not only allowed Kevin to mitigate his symptoms and the anxieties from the situation but eventually led him to actually becoming successful in his endeavor to obtaining custody of his son.

Kevin started to bring law enforcement into the fold along with combat veterans. Giving them all a chance to meet on common ground and learn more about each other and how they both deal with a lot of the same issues from service. Shortly after this Kevin decided to license and incorporate DownRange Supplements to bring fitness supplements to the military and first responder demographics. Creating “ The Brand of The Troops”. Truly giving our men and women in uniform a brand they can call their own and bring health and fitness back to the forefront of troop mentality. With the hopes of promoting a lifestyle of health, acceptance and commitment to the military, law enforcement and first responder demographics.

Join Ken Reed, an Active-Duty Master Sergeant with over 19 years of dedicated service, as he shares his powerful journey of resilience, hope, and transformation. From enlisting at just 17 and serving as a Medic with the Infantry to becoming a Special Operations Civil Affairs leader, Ken’s career has taken him across six deployments, countless training programs, and vital disaster response missions.

But Ken’s story isn’t just about his accomplishments in the field—it’s about overcoming adversity and turning pain into purpose. Growing up in a troubled environment, he faced immense personal challenges, including struggles with thoughts of suicide. Through grit and determination, Ken emerged as a beacon of hope for others navigating their darkest moments.

In each episode, Ken draws from his experiences as a medic, operations leader, and instructor in extreme environments to inspire and empower listeners. Whether you’re seeking tools to face your own battles or simply looking for a dose of motivation, Ken’s stories of perseverance and his unwavering commitment to helping others will leave you uplifted and ready to take on life’s challenges.

Resilient Warrior with Ken Reed: Real stories. Real struggles. Real hope.

De'Andre McDonald, raised by a single mother in a home without windows, rose from adversity to thrive in a remarkable career in Special Operations.

After retiring from the military at the rank of Major, DeAndre is aggressively working toward his second career as an educator within the public sector. His goals are focused on developing and empowering the next generation of students to impact the world with their unique talents and gifts. Currently, DeAndre holds a certification for leadership coaching through an International Coaching Federation-recognized program with North Carolina State University. DeAndre obtained this certification to increase his ability to add value to others in every way possible. This is an episode you won't want to miss--tune in and be inspired by the real-life journey of someone who's turned trials into triumphs.

Gavin Berkley is the Media Director and an instructor for Team BTT. A West Point graduate, former D1 wrestler, and Army Infantry Officer. Gavin has been given a unique perspective from navigating adversity in both his professional and personal life. In this episode, he provides an inside look of his experience undergoing trauma, depression, dependency, and darkness on his road to a second chance he has been given in life. A story of tragedy, accountability and redemption. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the resilience we can all find within ourselves. This episode isn't just about overcoming adversity - it's about the raw, unfiltered truth of transformation, faith, and hope.

Chad Ballestrazze, a special operations veteran and founder of Beyond the Trek, brings a unique perspective shaped by his extraordinary life journey. Growing up with deaf parents, Chad developed a deep sense of resilience and responsibility at a young age, learning to navigate and overcome adversity. His experiences in special operations and his commitment to building disciplined, resilient leaders inspired him to create Beyond the Trek, a company dedicated to helping individuals and teams achieve their fullest potential. In this episode, Chad shares powerful stories from his upbringing, lessons from his military career, and his mission to empower others through leadership, character, and teamwork. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and visit our website to find out more about how we can help you…

Website ➡️ www.beyondthetrek.co

IG ➡️ @beyondthetrek

Facebook ➡️ Beyond The Trek

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Welcome to Beyond The Trek Podcast Fireside Chat! In this episode, we dive into the origins of the company and the journey that got us here. Turning visions, past experiences, adversity, failure, and lessons learned into a platform to develop disciplined, resilient leaders who are accountable to themselves and those who depend on them.

We hope you enjoy!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and visit our website to find out more about how we can help you…

Website ➡️ www.beyondthetrek.co

IG ➡️ @beyondthetrek

Facebook ➡️ Beyond The Trek

TikTok ➡️ @beyond.the.trek

X ➡️ @beyondthetrek