Lessons Learned

On May 18, 2025, I was nearly killed in a violent accident that left me unconscious and severely injured on a sidewalk in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the aftermath, everything changed. I’ve been forced to confront what it means to live as a different version of myself.

This episode is told in two parts. The first is a recording I made shortly after returning home, before undergoing reconstructive facial surgery. I was dealing with a traumatic brain injury, a severe concussion, and multiple facial fractures—but I felt an urgency to capture the perspective that exists in the immediate aftermath of a near-death experience.

The second is an interview recorded in March 2026 in Medellín, Colombia, where I went in search of clarity, healing, and a path forward into a new chapter.

Both parts explore many of the same themes, separated by months of pain, recovery, and growth.

In the summer of 2009 Dominic Davila deployed to the city of Garmsir in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion 8th Marines as a machine gunner in weapons platoon . On July 23rd his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device that severely wounded him, resulting in his right leg being amputated below the knee. Cpl. Nick Xiarhos and LCPL. Jeremy Lasher were killed in the blast and Corpsman HM2 Trevor Parr was wounded as well.  In this episode Dom shares what happened on that day and how it impacted his life and the lives of many others. 

On this episode, we feature Lieutenant Colonel Tom Schueman, a Marine Corps officer who served as a Rifle Platoon Commander with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines during a harrowing deployment to Sangin, Afghanistan in 2010-2011. There, he forged an unbreakable bond with his platoon’s interpreter, Zainullah “Zack” Zaki—a young Afghan who risked everything to support U.S. forces on the front lines.

A decade later, as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in August 2021, Tom launched a desperate and determined effort to rescue Zack and his family before they were discovered. What followed was a powerful story of loyalty, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment.

Tom and Zack later co-authored the book Always Faithful: A Story of the War in Afghanistan, the Fall of Kabul, and the Unshakable Bond Between a Marine and an Interpreter. Tom also shares insights into his nonprofit, Patrol Base Abbate, which helps veterans find renewed purpose and community after service.

Scott Payne is a retired FBI Special Agent who spent twenty-eight years in law enforcement investigating cases against drug trafficking organizations, human traffickers, outlaw motorcycle clubs, gangs, public corruption, and domestic terrorists. He was also a SWAT team operator and instructor for firearms, tactics, and undercover operations. Scott recently published His first book titled, Code Name: Pale Horse How I Went Undercover to Expose America's Nazis, where he shares the realities of living the life of an undercover FBI agent and how it affected the rest of his life. On this episode he shares what led to his career with the FBI, how he managed the stressors of the job, and how he transitioned into retired life. 

Ten years after serving his country as a U.S. Marine, Captain Frank “Gus” Biggio signed up once again because he missed the brotherhood of the military. Leaving behind his successful law career, his young wife, and newborn son, he was deployed to Helmand Province—the most violent region in war-torn Afghanistan. As a participant in a combined coalition offensive named Operation Khanjar, Biggio and his fellow Marines fought to take back control of the Taliban stronghold city of Nawa. The offensive began with a troop surge designed to thwart the Taliban, and was followed by the restoration of the local government and real-time capacity building among the withdrawn and destitute Afghan people. Years after his return from the mission he decided to turn his experience into a book titled The Wolves of Helmand where he processes through a decade-long self-examination of a warrior’s heart, conscience, and memory. 

Dean Crisp is a leadership influencer and Founder / CEO of Leaders Helping Leaders Network (LHLN) where he is known as a highly energetic and motivational instructor who offers quality, impactful leadership development classes. He is a thirty-year veteran of law enforcement serving his last 17 years as a chief of police. Dean was also the former National Training Director for FBI-LEEDA and was instrumental in creating their Trilogy program. He is a best-selling author of Essential Leadership Lessons from the Thin Blue Line as well as The Leadership Recipe and is about to release his third book, 5 Simple Truths of Leadership: How to Be a Significant Leader in Your Business, Organization, and Life. He is also the host of his own podcast, “Straight Talk on Leadership” and enjoys doing keynotes for a variety of different organizations all over the country. On this episode Dean shares his lessons in leadership and how to implement them in your daily life.   

The Battle of Khe Sanh began on January 21, 1968, when forces from the People’s Army of North Vietnam carried out a massive artillery bombardment and infantry attack on the U.S. Marine combat base at Khe Sanh, located in the northwest of South Vietnam near the Laotian border. For the next 77 days the Marines fought off an intense siege in one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War as the base and the surrounding hill outposts were bombarded with constant artillery and infantry attacks. Dennis Mannion served on Hill 861 as an Artillery Forward Observer during that battle, calling in crucial artillery fire missions to counter the enemy attacks. On this episode Dennis shares his experience in the Vietnam War from more than 50 years ago and how it forever changed him. 

In 2016 Navy veteran turned television and film producer River Hagg left his job with the popular show Wicked Tuna to travel to Syria to document the bloody war between ISIS and the Kurdish militant group called the YPG. When he arrived he was informed that journalist were not allowed to enter the war zone and he was told that his only access would be through a 6 month contract to fight for the YPG. With only basic life saving skills learned from his time in the Navy, River and a small group of volunteers created the first ever front line medic unit to fight alongside the YPG. River documented his experience and it was later released as a two part documentary called “The volunteers” where he shows the world the bloody and disturbing reality of the war against ISIS. In this episode River shares his experiences, how they forever changed him, and how he learned to live with them. 

On a red-eye flight to Connecticut in 2003 David Kniess sat next to a young Marine who introduced himself as Jason Dunham. David immediately sensed something special about Jason and knew that he would inevitably be deploying to the Iraq war in the near future. Six months later David found Jason’s name among a list of those killed in action in Iraq in 2004. It was later learned that on April 14th 2004 during an insurgent attack Jason had used his body and kevlar helmet to shield his fellow Marines from a grenade blast that ultimately took his life. On January 11th 2007 Jason Dunham was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

David’s initial meeting with Jason on a random flight in 2003 would lead to the start of an award-winning documentary 20 years in the making titled “The Gift,” recounting Dunham’s sacrifice in the line of duty and his lasting impact on the lives of those around him. On this episode David shares his experience of taking on the privilege and honor to tell Jason Dunham's story to the word. 

On March 27, 2023, a lone gunman entered the Covenant School located in Nashville Tennessee and tragically took the lives of six individuals. Mike  Collazo, along with four other officers, were among the first responders to arrive at the scene that day. Their small team swiftly entered the school and began searching for the gunman. Ultimately, their unit encountered the shooter, leading to an exchange of gunfire that ended with the shooter dead. By the time their small team had found and taken down the shooter, only 14 minutes had passed since the first 911 call. On this episode Mike shares his experiences from that fateful day and how his life along with many others was forever changed.