Strength From Service

In this episode of Strength From Service, we sit down with Christine Portillo — Edina graduate, former University of Minnesota golfer, and now an insurance professional with Twin City Group.

Christine shares her journey from competing in college athletics to building a career in business, and now stepping into a new role of service by organizing the inaugural Magnus Veterans Foundation Gala on November 21st.

We talk about leadership, teamwork, and the drive it takes to bring people together for a cause bigger than ourselves. Christine’s story is one of hard work, resilience, and dedication to both her community and our veterans.

In this episode of Strength From Service, we sit down with Stu McGee, a Vietnam veteran from Cleveland, Minnesota.

Stu grew up a small-town farm kid before being drafted into the Vietnam War. He shares what it was like to suddenly find himself halfway across the world, the day he was on point and wounded, and how life changed after returning home.

This is a story of courage, resilience, and perspective—one man’s journey from the fields of Minnesota to the jungles of Vietnam, and the lessons he carried back with him.

In this episode of Strength From Service, we sit down with Zach Gerhardt — promoter of Fairmont Raceway, owner of Zac’s Trailers, and a cancer survivor.

Zach shares his journey through the racing world, the passion and challenges of running a track, and the grit it took to beat cancer. He also talks about building a business around service and reliability with Zac’s Trailers. From the roar of dirt track racing to the quiet fight for his health, Zach’s story is about perseverance, dedication, and giving back to the community that supports him.

Learn more:

Fairmont Raceway → fmtraceway.com

Zac’s Trailers → zacstrailersales.com

In this special Strength From Service episode, Jack, Mike, and Jake sit down for a Service Announcement — a chance to step back, catch up, and talk about life.

We cover:

• What’s going on in the world and how to still find the good

• The importance of disconnecting when life gets heavy

• Mike’s time coaching football and the lessons it brings

• Jake’s work on a boat giveaway and the joy of giving back

• Jack’s speaking, hunting, and finding purpose in the outdoors

This episode is all about perspective, grounding ourselves, and remembering that service doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off.

In this episode of Strength From Service, we sit down with Brian Taylor, a National Guard veteran who deployed to Bosnia and Iraq before building a career at Mankato Motors.

Brian shares stories from his time in uniform, the lessons learned while serving overseas, and how those same values—discipline, teamwork, and service—shaped his approach to leadership and business. We dive into the transition from the military to civilian life, the importance of community, and what it means to carry forward a spirit of service no matter where life takes you.

This conversation is a blend of grit, humility, and inspiration—whether you’re a veteran, a leader, or someone chasing purpose in your own career.

Congressman Brad Finstad joins Jack and the crew to share his journey from growing up on his family farm to serving in the United States Congress. We dive into his roots, the values he learned in agriculture, and the many roles he’s played along the way — from local leadership to national policymaking. Brad also shares insights on veterans’ issues, highlights key initiatives he’s championing, and talks about the importance of community and service.

#StrengthFromService #CongressmanFinstad #Veterans #Leadership #Service #Minnesota

Tim Adams’ career reads like an action novel — Naval aviator, Army pilot, ROTC instructor, and Veterans Resource Center leader at MSU. Now serving as Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Institutional Research, Tim joins Jake and Mike to share his incredible journey. From flying missions to shaping veteran resources on campus, Tim talks leadership, service, and the lessons learned in and out of the cockpit.

🎧 Strength From Service brings you real stories from those who’ve served, showing how grit, teamwork, and purpose carry far beyond the uniform.

Dr. Shawn Alderman, Army veteran and founder of the Magnus Veterans Foundation, joins Jack and Mike on Strength From Service. In this deeply personal conversation, Dr. Alderman opens up about how following in his family’s footsteps led him into military medicine, and how those experiences inspired him to launch a healing sanctuary for veterans.

You’ll hear how his service journey unfolded—from Green Beret to physician—and how the Magnus Veterans Foundation bridges the gap between military service and civilian life with whole-person care across body, mind, heart, and spirit.

Dr. Alderman also invites listeners to support the Magnus & Friends Festival on September 13, hosted on the Magnus Veterans Wellness Campus.

Explore more and find out how to help: https://magnusveteransfoundation.org/  

Joel Peterson: Friendly Fire, Resilience, and Leading Through Service

In this episode of Strength From Service, we sit down with Joel Peterson — a combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, small business owner, and VFW Commander. Joel shares his incredible story from Iraq, including surviving a friendly fire incident and the chaos and heroism that followed.

We talk about what it takes to recover from trauma, the strength it takes to lead after service, and the importance of building community for veterans. From the battlefield to the business world, Joel’s journey is one of grit, purpose, and service beyond the uniform.

#StrengthFromService #PurpleHeart #FriendlyFire #VeteranStories #VFW #CombatVeteran #MilitaryLeadership #JackZimmermanPodcast

Dr. Staci Born — Breaking Down Barriers in Therapy

Dr. Staci Born joins Strength From Service to talk about real-world therapy—what works, what doesn’t, and how to actually help people. She’s the founder of Blue Couch, a therapy practice based in Mankato, Minnesota, and brings years of experience helping individuals navigate trauma, relationships, and mental health struggles.

In this episode, we cover:

• The difference between helpful and harmful therapy

• When to seek help—and how to find the right fit

• The power of listening and human connection

• Therapy myths and common misconceptions

• Real-life scenarios that show the value of good mental health care

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever considered therapy, wondered what it’s really like, or wants to better support someone else.

📍 Learn more about Blue Couch: https://bluecouchmn.com

#StrengthFromService #MentalHealthMatters #BlueCouchMN #StaciBorn #TherapyWorks #VeteranSupport #MentalHealthAwareness #RealTalk #JackZimmermanUSA