Chuck Casey returns to Stories from the Center of the Universe from when he was on with John Hollis and Jeremy Bowling in Episode #309. Paul and Chuck touched on their organization, The Longest Climb Foundation and Paul reiterated his commitment to help the organization. They then started to talk about Chuck and his military background. Chuck accurately labeled his career as a Unicorn. Chuck’s path is unique and varied as he touched three of the branches of the military during his education and career. After graduating high school, Chuck went into the U.S. Air Force and after about two years, he entered the U.S. Air Force Academy. During that time, he participated in an exchange program and spent a semester at the U.S. Naval Academy. It was there that he met and observed some U.S. Marines and that influenced him to switch from the USAF to the United States Marine Corps after graduating from the USAF Academy. They discussed his career over his nineteen years as a USMC Officer which was also varied and unique. They also talked about Chuck growing up in Massachusetts doing anything and everything on a board and being a drummer. They finished by talking about his wife Annie and how they have four kids.

Pai Charasika returns to the podcast to chat with Paul about a few different things. Pai first told Paul about his first hand experience dealing with Hurricane Helene. Pai is a high school football coach in Asheville, NC., an area that was hit very hard by the hurricane in late September 2024. Pai talked about the team having to miss games, but how the boys used that time to help the community which ended up winning them an award from the Army National Guard. It was life lesson they will never forget and when they got back to playing football, they came together and made it to the playoffs! Pai discussed being a financial advisor in Episode 301 and he and Paul talked further about finance and some lessons he teaches his clients. They discussed the NIL and getting student athletes excited about finance and they also covered subjects such as diversification, whether to rent or own and investing. They finished up by talking about the upcoming Super Bowl and Pai told Paul he is a Bears fan because of the 1985 Bears. For Super Bowl LIX, Pai said he is pulling for the Eagles and would like to see them win.

Courtney Kimble used to work with Paul and they reconnected after Paul met Courtney’s dad Anthony last week. Courtney is from Middlesex County, Virginia and Paul and a couple of friends went to eat lunch at Something Different (https://somediff.com) in Urbanna which Anthony and his wife Sarah own. They talked about where Courtney grew up, what Urbanna and Middlesex County are known for and how her best friend is a cousin of another guest that has been on the podcast. Courtney has been laid off for about the last five months. They discussed some great advice she got from her Dad, the perspective she has gained over these five months and what she has learned from going through a lay off. Courtney told Paul what she has done during this time to increase her skills and what she has accomplished to make herself a better candidate for her next job. Courtney talked about growing up, what sports she played, the different schools she went to and being coached by her Dad for a lot of years. They spoke about her schooling after high school and they finished by talking about her love for true crime, the Philadelphia Eagles and how she is looking forward to March Madness after the Super Bowl.

COL Jeremy Bowling makes a return to the podcast when he was last on Episode 309 with John Hollis and Chuck Casey. They discussed their efforts to honor Sgt. Rodney Davis as well as their overall goal of helping veterans. Jeremy told Paul that their 501(c)(3), The Longest Climb Foundation has become official, is growing and how it will help them meet their goal. Jeremy and Paul first talked about how Jeremy got involved and how the idea of helping Vietnam vets came from being a part of and witnessing the power of a D-Day commemoration. This led to the trip to Vietnam for the U.S. Army veterans that participated in the Battle of Hamburger Hill. Jeremy told Paul about the experience for the participants, their escorts and for him. They then shifted to talk about Jeremy and how he was raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee where he grew up playing football. Playing in a city championship in middle school got him noticed by an elite boarding school in Chattanooga and Jeremy said that led to the most important thing that happened to him as a young person. He was able to attend that boarding school for high school and Jeremy said it opened up many different opportunities which helped shape his life. They briefly discussed his deployments as well as his interesting experience going through U.S. Army Ranger School. They finished by talking about his wife Kerry and their two sons, Ethan and Jack. Jeremy expressed how very proud of and fortunate he is to have his family.

In Episode 181, Paul interviewed his son Zach after he had turned 21 and now it is daughter Lindsay’s turn! The whole family was together to talk to Lindsay and Lisa started by telling us about the day that Lindsay was born. It involved a trip to Target, Lisa’s Mom telling her  something when she got home and then a decision to go to the hospital. Lindsay being born that day (at 8:47pm) meant she had the same birthday as Lisa’s grandmother. Paul and Lisa talked about some early memories of Lindsay and a common theme was her ability to climb at a very young age. Lindsay talked about her earliest memory and Lindsay and Zach both talked about Paul being deployed when they were little. Lindsay talked about some of her early childhood passions which included Dora the Explorer, being a voracious reader, memorizing the presidents and becoming obsessed with the Beatles. Mel spoke about her first memory … it involved painting and how she wanted to be like her big sister. They talked about family and how Lindsay is particularly fascinated with the Sicilian heritage of one of her grandparents. Zach told us about one of his favorite memories and how Lindsay showed off her throwing arm when they were at a friend’s house. Lindsay is studying History at Randolph Macon and they discussed what her plans may be after college. We learned what nicknames she has had and still has and when asked for her final thought on turning 21, Lindsay said she is just Happy to be 21 and legal. They all wished her a Happy Birthday and said that they loved her! Happy Birthday Lindsay!!

John Hollis (Episode 277) returns to the podcast, but this time with a couple of friends, Chuck Casey and Jeremy Bowling. The last 2 times John was on, he and Paul talked about the story of Sergeant Rodney Davis (USMC). They delve more into that story by discussing the Davis family trip to Vietnam for the first time and other incredible stories as well as the 501(c)(3) that the three of them are working on together. Paul first learned how they all met each other and how their mutual interest in helping veterans started as a true grass root development. They have been able to help veterans and their families gain closure through trips to Vietnam. Jeremy in particular talked about the emotional impact and the incredible amount of healing that has taken place not only for the American soldiers, but the Vietnamese soldiers and people as well. They finished by talking about the 501(c)(3) which is called The Longest Climb Foundation. They have a lot of support, but the need is always there and they are working hard using a shared passion and their many connections to help our veterans.

Teresa Ofoia comes to the podcast via her Mom and Paul meeting at a networking event. Teresa is a professional dancer and has made that her career for about the last eight years. Teresa was born in Hawaii and raised in Virginia, first moving to northern Virginia and then moving to the Chesterfield/Richmond area. They discussed some of the changes she went through when she moved of which wearing shoes all the time was one of the big ones! Teresa and Paul talked at length about her dancing career including getting her dream job early on as well as other interests such as singing and acting. Teresa told Paul about some of the travel involved and Paul asked her about the favorite places she has been both domestically and internationally. That led to a chat about the differences in food here in the U.S. and other places in the world. Teresa talked about her love of food and how she believes food could very well play a part in her future endeavors. They finished by talking about her time in Los Angeles and how she is welcoming the change of now living in New Jersey/working in New York.

Silent Rob met Robyn D’Onofrio and suggested that she come on the podcast … Paul reached out and here she is! Robyn grew up in rural New Jersey where there were lots of kids around and there was always something to do. She attended high school and told Paul she was an “athletic goof-off” who wasn’t concerned with academics that much. That changed in college where she was a captain of the basketball team, worked very hard academically and was the president of the student senate. She continued her schooling and also received her law degree. She and her family moved to Richmond about eleven years ago and Robyn got a chance to coach basketball at the Steward School and then moved to be the coach at St. Gertrude. Paul and Robyn talked about her coaching philosophy, about their program at St. Gertrude and about one player that is a representation of what their program is all about. Robyn also teaches Government at St. Gertrude and they had a great chat about what it’s like to teach Government in an election year. They finished by talking about the upcoming basketball season and about her family.

Tom Greco returns to chat about the 2024 Presidential Election.

Happy Veterans Day to all who served!

Jamesetta Cleveland comes on the podcast to talk about her company Sports Mom University Consulting. Jamesetta and Paul talked about the company on a high level and how and why she founded it. Jamesetta will be joining Paul and Kevin on the Virginia is for Sports Podcast to talk more about her company and on the subject of NIL in particular. In this episode, Paul talked to Jamesetta about a variety of things. They talked about her growing up as a military brat and where her favorite places were to live and visit. This led to discussions about some differences between Europe and the USA when it came to transportation and fashion. Jamesetta also gave her perspective on the way history is approached and Paul got her opinion on the statues that used to be on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. Jamesetta talked about what activities she did growing up, how her parents were away for a good part of her time in high school and about her three kids and her two grandchildren.