In Episode 11 of Boots to Boots, we sit down with Tiki Tikhonov — the only female coach at Heroes Cup and a proud representative of a legendary hockey family.
Tiki opens up about what it means to carry the Tikhonov legacy, step behind the bench for the Washington Capital Warriors, and help give veterans the one thing so many miss after service: the locker room family.
From growing up in a hockey household to finding her purpose in coaching disabled veterans, Tiki shares the heart, humor, and heritage behind her journey — and why the Warriors community is changing lives far beyond the ice.
New episodes every Monday & Wednesday.
🎙️ Boots to Boots — where stories of service, sacrifice, and second chapters come to life.

She was the ONLY woman on the ice at Heroes Cup — and she owned every second of it. 🏒🇺🇸In Episode 10, we sit down with Libby Barbato, an active-duty Coast Guard member who made history at this year’s Heroes Cup. From representing her branch with pride to stepping into an all-male tournament, Libby shares what it means to break barriers, find belonging, and carry the confidence to compete at the highest level.We talk about:🥾 What it’s like being the only woman on the ice🇺🇸 How serving in the U.S. Coast Guard shaped her resilience🏒 Why the Heroes Cup has grown into a massive force for good🔥 The importance of representation in sports & service🤍 The power of community for veterans and first respondersThis conversation is all heart, all courage, and all purpose.Libby’s story is one you don’t want to miss.👇 Drop a comment:Would YOU have the confidence to step onto the ice like she did?#HeroesCup #CoastGuard #BootsToBoots #VeteranStories #WomenInSports #Hockey #TunnelToTowers #LibbyBarbato

On November 10th — the United States Marine Corps Birthday — we said “I do.” ❤️🇺🇸
In this episode, we look back on that day and what it meant to have every part of Steve’s life — military brothers, wrestling family, and loved ones — all in one room. From the chaos of the Corps to the calm of commitment, this is our story of love and service.
We also recap our journey since then — running the Marine Corps Half Marathon at Camp Lejeune, walking in the Tunnel to Towers 5K in NYC, and skating alongside heroes at the Heroes Cup.
🎙️ It’s not just about where our boots have been — it’s about where they’ve walked together.

From teaching high school to performing on stage, Damien Fagiolino, frontman of Orlando-based rock band Felicity, has lived two worlds — and learned that your calling can find you anywhere. 🎸
In this episode of Boots to Boots, Damien joins Deonna and Steve to talk about his journey from the classroom to the concert stage, the viral teaching moment that changed his life, and how balancing two passions taught him what purpose really looks like.
Through faith, family, and music, Damien’s story is about never giving up on the dream that still keeps you up at night — and proving that every version of success starts with knowing who you are. 👢For Spotify & Apple:
From the classroom to the stage — Damien Fagiolino, frontman of Orlando-based rock band Felicity, shares how a viral teaching moment changed his life.
He opens up about balancing faith, music, and purpose while chasing a dream that refuses to fade. This is a story about identity, passion, and finding your calling in unexpected places. 👢
#BootsToBoots #Felicity #DamienFagiolino #EveryBootHasAStory

🌟 From the battlefield to building one of America’s most patriotic brands. 🇺🇸
Join Tim Jensen, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Co-Founder of Grunt Style, as he sits down with Deonna and Steve to share his powerful story of service, addiction, and recovery — and how his time in Iraq shaped his purpose long after leaving the uniform behind.
Through honesty, faith, and discipline, Tim reveals how he turned struggle into strength and built a company rooted in pride, patriotism, and perseverance. 🎙️
💬 What does Pride in Self, Pride in Country, Pride in Military mean to you? Comment below and let us know! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell 🔔 for more inspiring stories every week.
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#BootsToBoots #GruntStyle #TimJensen #USMC #MarineCorps #IraqVeteran #AddictionRecovery #VeteranStories #MilitaryPodcast #Entrepreneurship #EveryBootHasAStory

From São Paulo to WWE to building a thriving personal training business — Cezar Bononi has walked a road defined by resilience, faith, and family. In this episode, Cezar sits down with Deonna and Steve to talk about leaving everything behind to chase a dream, building a new life in America, and how wrestling taught him the true meaning of perseverance.
This is a story about identity, sacrifice, and what it takes to keep believing — even when the odds are against you. 🎙️

From the battlefield to the wrestling ring — The Infantry are proving that brotherhood never fades. 🇺🇸👊This week, Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo join Deonna and Steve to talk about their journey from the U.S. military to AEW, how they joined forces as a tag team, and what it means to carry discipline, resilience, and respect from service into the spotlight.From their first training sessions to becoming AEW mainstays, The Infantry open up about teamwork, identity after service, and the real meaning of having someone’s back — in and out of the ring. 🎙️

Getting released from WWE changed everything. In this episode, Deonna and Steve open up about the day they were let go, how each of them processed it differently, and the unexpected paths that followed. From heartbreak to healing, the people who helped them fall back in love with wrestling, and the new life they built together in TNA and now AEW— this is a story about resilience, reinvention, and refusing to quit when one chapter ends.

In Episode 3 of Boots to Boots, Deonna laces up Her Wrestling Boots and shares her journey into the wrestling world — from chasing her dream, to her family’s reactions, to the highs and lows of proving herself in the industry. Alongside Steve, she reflects on how the path shaped her identity and how wrestling opened doors to advocacy and purpose beyond the ring.

After hanging up up his combat boots, Steve Maclin found a new identity in professional wrestling. In this episode, Steve opens up about the challenges of transitioning from military life to chasing a dream in the ring — from early opportunities and setbacks to the discipline and resilience that carried him through.
This is the story of how one pair of boots came off, and another took their place.
🎙️ Boots to Boots — every boot has a story.