Summary

In this episode, we interview Denny Girardi, a former Army Infantry Team leader and co-host of the Be The Standard podcast. We discuss Denny's deployments to Afghanistan, the challenges of stop loss and surge deployments, and the differences in op tempo between the National Guard and special operations units. They also talk about working with SEALs and ODA teams, the reputation of Jocko Willink, and their experiences with CrossFit and MMA.

Denny shares his journey from studying political science to pursuing a career in sales, and how he and Mike Burns decided to start their podcast. The conversation covers topics such as podcast production and scheduling, breaking the stigma around mental health, the goals of the podcast, the importance of consistency and building an audience, and the impact of exercise and cutting back on alcohol for mental health.

We also talk about the importance of promoting the podcast on social media and expanding to different platforms and share our future plans for the podcast and the impact we hope to make. And an overarching theme for the entire podcast is the need for accountability and setting standards to create a better version of oneself.

Show Links

Denny's Links

Denny's LinkedIn

Be the Standard Podcast

Be the Standard LinkedIn

Be the Standard Instagram

Be the Standard TikTok

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:00 Deployments and Missions

04:40 Training Cycles and Team Assignments

06:13 Meeting Jocko Willink

08:06 Jocko's Reputation and Physicality

09:16 CrossFit and MMA

11:43 Interest in Politics and Law School

12:12 Legalese and Concealed Carry Laws

13:02 Difficulties in Obtaining Concealed Carry Permits

14:07 Deployments in Afghanistan

16:08 Working with SEALs and ODA Teams

21:47 Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

25:18 Combining Forces and Building a Network

26:00 Meeting and collaborating through LinkedIn

27:01 The challenges of remote collaboration

29:21 The importance of flexibility in podcast scheduling

30:11 The significance of mental health in the podcast

31:19 The importance of discussing mental health

32:16 Breaking the stigma around mental health

33:28 The goals of the podcast

35:11 The core principles of the podcast: setting standards, creating habits, execution, and accountability

36:37 The importance of having a focused theme for the podcast

38:08 Choosing the name of the podcast

39:06 The importance of sticking to the podcast's core values

40:08 The importance of consistency and building an audience

44:07 The impact of exercise and cutting back on alcohol for mental health

48:51 The love for golf and breaking stereotypes

54:13 The acceptance of tattoos in society

57:04 Tattoos and Personal Style

58:00 Surfing in the SEAL Teams

59:08 Challenges of Surf Passage

1:00:18 Overcoming Swimming Challenges

1:02:06 Respecting the Power of the Ocean

1:03:17 Future Plans for the Podcast

1:04:56 Promoting the Podcast on Social Media

1:07:46 Expanding to Other Social Media Platforms

1:09:09 The Demographics of Different Social Media Platforms

1:12:06 The Time and Effort Required for Podcasting

1:14:36 Creating a Better Version of Yourself

1:16:30 The Importance of Accountability and Standards

1:18:31 Future Guests and Potential Arguments

1:20:35 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

Summary

Summary

Today, we dive into Mike Klemmer's entrepreneurial journey with Aerial Resupply Coffee, a brand that honors military logistics and support personnel.

Mike began his venture with minimal coffee roasting knowledge, emphasizing the importance of starting small and gradually scaling up. Through research and experimentation, he has became the most trusted voice in the veteran coffee space. Mike's innovative and unconventional marketing strategies include creating engaging characters for his brand and using humor to his advantage, which has helped set his brand apart in the competitive coffee market.

In this episode, Mike also discusses his navigation of the B2C and B2B markets, particularly his experiences with major clients like Kroger and leveraging Amazon's Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) service to boost online sales. He sheds light on building a robust social media presence, especially on LinkedIn, and the challenges of handling feedback.

Looking to the future, Mike shares his vision for ARC Coffee as more than just a business; he sees it as a community hub for veterans, with plans for further expansion and innovation.

This episode of "Harder Not Smarter" provides a fascinating look at how passion, creativity, and strategic thinking can forge a successful, community-centric business in the coffee industry.

Show Links

Get 1-month of FREE access to the ⁠Vet Collective Community⁠ by using discount code: NLT1UQTI

Mike and Aerial Resupply Links

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

https://aerialresupplycoffee.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:02 Inspiration for Starting a Coffee Company

06:20 The Importance of Logistics and Support Personnel

07:39 Learning About Coffee Roasting

10:09 Getting Started in Coffee Roasting

12:06 Favorite Style of Coffee

14:07 Starting a Coffee Company with Limited Knowledge

16:19 Scaling the Coffee Production

19:30 Launching the Business

20:55 Distinct Voice and Style in Marketing

23:37 Creating Characters for Marketing

24:32 Unique Marketing Ideas

27:15 Expanding the Business and Marketing

31:17 Opening a New Facility

34:23 Utilizing Supply Chain Knowledge

36:41 B2C and B2B Marketing

38:42 Landing Big Business Customers

42:00 Getting into Kroger and the Challenges

45:55 Introducing Products into Kroger's ERP System

49:06 Expanding through the Kroger System

51:54 Selling on Amazon and Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA)

54:58 Building a Presence on Social Media

58:11 The Power of LinkedIn

63:50 Different Personalities in the Military

65:18 Creating Characters from Different Military Branches

66:17 Creating Content in the Style of The Office

67:01 ARC's Future Plans and Expansion

68:20 Exploring Novelty Coffee Ideas

69:00 The Importance of Consistency in Content Creation

72:29 The Potential of Jack Shack Coffee

74:20 Encouraging Veterans to Put Themselves Out There

76:08 Sourcing and Naming the Novelty Coffee

78:35 Finalizing Plans for Jack Shack Coffee

Summary

Summary

Summary

Join us in welcoming Joe Muscleman to the Harder Not Smarter Podcast. Joe was the mastermind behind formation of the The Honor Foundation and is now the founder and managing partner at Bravo Victor Venture Capital (BVVC). On this episode, we'll be discussing the purpose of his podcast (The TLC Equation) and the importance of the Schoolhouse, an accelerator for national security founders. He highlights the need for a Y Combinator-like program in the national security space and explains the curriculum and structure of the Schoolhouse.

Joe also emphasizes the importance of ethics and morality in national security founders and shares BVVC's focus areas for investments, including computer software, computer hardware, and advanced manufacturing. He discusses the need for a strong manufacturing base in the US and the potential for emerging technologies in national security.

We'll also discuss the process of filtering opportunities and investing in early-stage teams. Joe emphasizes the importance of team composition and trust in the national security sector. He also highlights the significance of company culture and the formation of a strong founding team. He shares his perspective on imposter syndrome and encourages individuals to focus on their own growth and improvement. Joe concludes by urging listeners to build and learn, as the country needs more builders and doers.

Show Links

Joe's Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemusselman/

Podcast: https://tlcequation.com/

BVVC: https://bv.vc/

Schoolhouse: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bv-schoolhouse/about/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Joe Muscleman and BVVC

01:08 Joe's Podcast and Conversation with Admiral Bill McCraven

04:04 The Schoolhouse and BVVC's Focus on National Security

08:03 The Schoolhouse and BVVC's Focus on National Security (continued)

10:27 The Honor Foundation and the Need for a National Security Accelerator

13:21 The Lack of a Y Combinator for National Security

16:15 The Curriculum and Structure of the Schoolhouse

21:47 The Three Focus Areas of BVVC's Investments

28:55 The Importance of Manufacturing and Emerging Technologies in National Security

33:10 The Need for a Strong Manufacturing Base in the US

40:45 Revamping the Manufacturing Facilities of the Future

41:11 Exciting Technologies and Systems in National Security

41:21 Filtering Opportunities

43:17 Excitement for Team Building

45:08 Importance of Trust and Team Composition

47:06 Forming Company Culture

49:28 Investing in the Team

51:34 Focus on Vision and Execution

53:59 Maniacal Obsession and Disagreeableness

57:13 Joe's Journey and Finding a Niche

58:59 Balancing Work and Family

01:00:40 Future Plans for BVVC

01:06:32 Name Changes and Rebranding

01:15:29 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

01:24:43 Encouragement to Build and Learn

Summary

Please welcome former Green Beret Ryan Hendrickson, Founder and Owner of Tip of the Spear Landmine Removal (501c3), to the Harder Not Smarter Podcast. The conversation discusses the shift in the environment in Ukraine since 2022, with an increase in Russian activity and strikes. Ryan talks about his experience in Ukraine and his mission to train advise and assist other humanitarians in his landmine removal efforts. He highlights the importance demining and removing explosive hazards to help civilians rebuild their lives. Ryan also discusses the challenges of running a nonprofit organization and the competitive nature of the nonprofit world. He emphasizes the need to stick to the mission statement and remain focused on helping people. The conversation ends with a discussion about the future expansion of the organization and the need for more volunteers. The conversation with Ryan Hendrickson focused on the challenges and needs of demining operations in Ukraine. The main themes that emerged from the conversation were the importance of equipment and funding, the scale of the landmine problem in Ukraine, the need for experienced leadership, the long-term nature of demining efforts, and the potential use of technology like drones and AI. The conversation also touched on the impact of the war on morale and the importance of finding purpose after leaving the military.

Tip of the Spear Landmine Removal is ACTIVELY involved in demining efforts in Ukraine and welcomes donations and support. Please consider sending some love their way!

Show Links

Episodes also available on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music.

Ryan's Links

https://linktr.ee/rmhendrickson.tipofthespear

www.landmineremoval.org

Chapters

00:00 Shift in the Environment in Ukraine

03:22 Working as a Solo Operator

06:09 The Importance of Demining in Civilian Areas

09:30 Finding Purpose in Helping Others

11:10 Transitioning from Special Forces to Humanitarian Work

22:04 Dealing with Security Concerns

25:09 Navigating the Nonprofit World

30:57 Learning on the Job

36:56 Dealing with Competition and Challenges

40:30 Building a Team and Expanding

41:45 Current Needs and Future Plans

41:49 Equipment and Operating Costs

44:07 The Extent of Landmines in Ukraine

49:58 The Challenge of Demining Ukraine

54:39 The Impact of Landmines on Agriculture

58:17 Demining Techniques and Technology

01:06:26 Morale and Uncertainty in Ukraine

01:09:08 Supporting Landmine Removal

01:11:02 Donations and Contact Information

01:13:04 Finding Purpose After the Military

Keywords

Ukraine, Russian activity, strikes, demining, landmines, explosive hazards, nonprofit, mission statement, volunteers, demining, Ukraine, equipment, funding, landmine problem, leadership, technology, drones, AI, morale, purpose, Landmine Removal Organization

Summary

https://www.vetrepreneurcollective.com/#community

https://open.spotify.com/show/4POIDow6wkQFCVbMZrFk1I?si=da6bdf48e66442fe