On this episode of The Decision Hour, host Adam Bird sits down with Chris McFee, a retired Green Beret, photographer, and co-author of Follow Me: Leadership Lessons from the Shadows That Shape Extraordinary Leaders. Chris traces his story back to Miami, where his mother taught him the resilience that would carry him through his athletic career and into some of the most demanding special operations missions in the military.

He talks openly about the setbacks that followed his service, the personal struggles most people never see, and the moment he decided to get sober. That decision became the turning point. It did not just save his life. It opened a door into a creativity Chris never knew he had, leading him to found Green Beret Media and step behind the camera as a photographer and entrepreneur.

Chris talks about what leadership looks like when nobody is watching, why the discipline built in special operations does not disappear when the uniform comes off, and why your next mission does not have to look anything like your last one to matter.

Chris McFee: Follow me is not just a command. It is a promise.

Key takeaways from this conversation:

Discipline forged in special operations does not disappear when the uniform comes off. It redirects.

The decision to get sober can be the pivot point that unlocks creativity you never knew you had.

Leadership from the shadows means serving people who will never know your name.

Your next mission does not have to look like your last one to matter.

Chris McFee's book, Follow Me: Leadership Lessons from the Shadows That Shape Extraordinary Leaders, is available now. 

Proceeds support the Blk Ops Foundation youth mentorship program. 

Learn more at greenberetmedia.com.

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Brendon Smith made a decision. He could keep drowning in survivor's guilt and addiction, or he could turn around and start pulling other people out of the same hole. He chose the second option. That choice led him to get clean, pick up a pen, and write the kind of veteran stories Hollywood refuses to tell.

Brendon served as a Marine Corps machine gunner through both the pre- and post-9/11 eras, including a deployment to Iraq. He came home to a fight he never trained for, one that dragged him through addiction and PTSD before he finally reached for help. Now he works as a drug and alcohol counselor, and he founded Black Cross Publications with a simple motto: Write. Resist. Rebuild.

His book Despicable Heroes is exactly what the title promises. It is honest about the VA, about loss, and about the fact that coming home can be harder than the deployment itself. In this conversation, Adam and Brendon dig into the exact moment Brendon decided to start writing, why survivor's guilt is the war nobody warns you about, and what the first realistic step looks like when you are stuck in darkness. They also talk about The Anchorhouse Boys, Brendon's newest book, and why he believes serving others is the fastest way to heal yourself.

If you are a veteran who feels like nobody sees the weight you carry, or you just need to hear that you are not alone, start here.

RESOURCES

Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255.

Black Cross Publications: Write. Resist. Rebuild.

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Sue Kerver served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, then joined the Coast Guard. She knows what it is like to take off the uniform and feel completely alone.

For a long time, she tried to do it all herself. Then she hit a wall. She had to choose between staying on a path that was not going anywhere good, or waving the white flag and asking for help. She chose the latter. She told me it was the biggest decision she ever made, and following through on it was not easy.

She rebuilt trust starting with a friendship built on walking dogs. She diversified her communities instead of staying in one box, and said her life got richer because of it. We talked about fly fishing, why getting women veterans out on the water matters, and her book The Starfish Chronicles, where she put it all down on paper.

If you feel alone right now, or you are terrified to ask for help, start here.

Take a listen

Connect with Sue at: https://www.suekerver.com 

Instagram: @sue_kerver_author

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On this episode of The Decision Hour, I sat down with Joe Rubin, CMO and co-founder of Mowpod, to talk about what it actually takes to grow a podcast audience today. Joe shares his journey from venture capital to building Mowpod, a marketing agency that charges on performance and turns down clients who are not ready to advertise. We break down why organic podcast growth is so tough, how AI is changing podcast marketing, and the pitfalls podcasters often face, from podfade to common tech mistakes. Joe gives real advice on when to invest in advertising, optimizing SEO, and using tools like charts.mowpod.com. Plus, he reveals his must-have AI tools and encourages creators to embrace new technology, no matter their experience level. If you are tired of posting into the void and hoping something sticks, Joe gives you the real playbook for what actually works. This is the conversation you need to hear.

Checkout: https://mowpod.com

Follow on Instagram: @itsmowpod

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Sean Dillard is an Army veteran and founder of the Southern Illinois Veteran Foundation. He knows what it feels like to come home and lose your sense of purpose. He also knows what it took to find it again. We talked about his mental health struggles after the military, how community pulled him back, and why he and his son Aiden are rowing 6,000 miles through America's waterways to raise awareness for veteran suicide.

The Great Loop isn't a stunt. It's a mission. Learn more and get involved at https://OrsomeOdyssey.org.

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Kalen Cotto is an Army Veteran, a Mother, and the founder of KMC Digital. She just wrote a book called The Revenue Runway and she did not wait until she had it all figured out. She wrote it while she was still building her client base, still raising her kid, and still figuring out digital marketing in real time.

We got into three things that matter if you are trying to start something without a pile of money: how she tests ideas on a budget, what AI is actually doing to marketing for small businesses right now, and why she thinks most entrepreneurs quit on themselves before the market ever gets a vote. Kalen talks like someone who is in the fight, not someone who already won it.

Get ready to take notes!

Follow her:

https://therevenuerunway.com

Instagram: @KMCDigitalBrands

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In one of the most important conversations The Decision Hour has had, host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with Matt Cahill, Army veteran, combat medic, and founder of Green Star Families of America — to confront an issue that doesn't get nearly enough attention: the families left behind after a veteran dies by suicide.

Matt's path wasn't easy. After serving as a combat medic and facing his own mental health battles, he channeled his pain into purpose — launching a movement to honor and recognize the families who have lost loved ones to veteran suicide through the Green Star service banner.

In this episode, Matt and Mr. Adam Bird dig into the story behind the Green Star initiative, the push for national legislative recognition through HR6022, and the recent wins being achieved at the state level. They break down what advocacy really looks like on the ground, why reducing stigma is still the most critical battle, and how everyday people can take action to support veterans and their families.

This isn't just a conversation about loss. It's about legacy, resilience, and a movement built to make sure no grieving family feels invisible.

Don't miss this inspiring story of courage, compassion, and the fight to bring a long-overdue recognition to families bearing the silent weight of veteran suicide.

🔗 Website: greenstarfamilies.org

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What does Bitcoin have to do with human relationships? More than you'd think — and Hannah Praley is here to prove it.

In this episode of The Decision Hour, host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with longtime friend Hannah Praley — songwriter turned author — to explore her new book, Rigs Are from Mars, Nodes Are from Venus. What starts as a conversation about Bitcoin quickly becomes something much bigger: a deep dive into human behavior, incentive structures, and the forces that have quietly shaped civilization for centuries.

Hannah breaks down how our monetary systems have been distorted over time and why that matters to everyday people, not just economists. She and Mr. Bird unpack what Bitcoin's design reveals about ancient patterns of human interaction, how mining and nodes mirror the dynamic between men and women, and why the analog and digital worlds aren't opposites, they need each other.

With humor, candor, and genuine insight, Hannah brings a perspective that's equal parts intellectual and accessible. Whether you're deep in the Bitcoin rabbit hole or you've never bought a satoshi, this episode will make you think differently about money, relationships, and what it means to build something that lasts.

Don't miss this inspiring story of a creative mind finding truth at the intersection of finance, human nature, and connection.

🔗 Website: Amazon

📸 Instagram: IG

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What does a Navy CH-46 helicopter mechanic, a mortgage underwriter, and a successful UGC content creator have in common? In this case, it's all the same person.

In this episode of The Decision Hour, host Mr. Adam Bird sits down with Trish Leto, a Navy veteran turned digital entrepreneur who has built a thriving career in user-generated content creation and brand consulting. Trish breaks down exactly what UGC is, why brands are paying everyday people (not influencers) to create authentic content, and how you can get started using nothing more than products you already own.

Trish and Mr. Adam Bird dig into the discipline she carried from military service into entrepreneurship, the reality of pivoting careers more than once, and the practical steps new creators can take to land their first paid brand collaboration. This isn't theory, it's a roadmap from someone who's actually done it.

But this episode goes deeper than marketing strategy. Trish opens up about her sobriety journey and how a series of decisive personal choices completely redirected the trajectory of her life. It's a candid, empowering conversation about what it really takes to reinvent yourself and why authenticity isn't just a content strategy, it's a way of living.

Don't miss this inspiring story of reinvention, resilience, and the power of showing up as exactly who you are.

👉 Check out deployugc.com
👉 Email: [email protected]

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In this episode of The Decision Hour, host Adam Bird sits down with Rick Sherak, Air Force veteran and CEO of Exokinetics, to discuss the game changing mobility device, the Zeen. With over 30 years in the medical diagnostics industry, Rick shares his unique journey from military service to leading a company at the forefront of mobility innovation. Listeners get an inside look at the Zeen’s development, its impact on users’ independence, and how it bridges the gap between wheelchairs and walkers, all without motors or batteries. Rick dives into the device’s safety features, its tailored approach for individuals, and the importance of regaining mobility for veterans and others facing physical challenges. The conversation also explores the emotional impact of renewed mobility, advances in VA access to assistive technology, and the power of determination in overcoming obstacles. Don’t miss this inspiring story of innovation, perseverance, and life-changing possibilities.

 https://gozeen.com/

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