🔥 #747 FireSide Chat w/ the Crew — Leadership: Military Lessons That Still Work Today Recorded October 11, 2026

The uniform comes off, but the leadership lessons—and the friendships—stay with us.

Join Andrew “AJ” Cox, Vick Ney, and Jess Kindelspire for an honest, often hilarious conversation about carrying military experience into civilian life. From workplace disagreements to accepting uncomfortable feedback, the Crew explores what happens when direct military communication meets a world with different expectations.

Vick shares a real challenge from his work as a music educator, opening a discussion about boundaries, tone, and the difference between what we intend and what someone else hears. Can you stand your ground while recognizing that your approach needs a “rudder adjustment”? And does being an effective leader require being liked?

The conversation also examines the friendships veterans build through service, why those connections can feel harder to find afterward, and the value of people who care enough to tell you when you’re getting something wrong.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a FireSide Chat without a few detours! Football banter leads into military rugby memories and honoring fallen teammates. Old computer games spark a conversation about teaching history honestly, while military movies, questionable uniforms, and exaggerated service claims bring plenty of laughs.

AJ and Vick also share their experiences with tinnitus and hearing loss, reflecting on habits they wish they had changed earlier. The evening closes with Words of Wisdom about taking action, embracing uncertainty, and getting out of your own head—and a reminder to check on the people you served beside.

🎙️ ON THIS EPISODE

Andrew “AJ” Cox — Founder / Executive Director / Host Retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant.

Vick Ney — FireSide Chat Crew / President, The Lost Art Project Retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant and music educator.

Jess Kindelspire — FireSide Chat Crew Recurring Crew member sharing veteran perspectives, personal stories, and candid humor.

🤝 Thank you to our sponsors and supporters: Saddleback Leather Company • Tinker Federal Credit Union • Honor Dog Designs • AllCoin / BRAV

🇺🇸 Every Veteran Has a Story. Every Story Is a Piece of History.

The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices preserves veterans’ lived experiences through recorded conversations, oral histories, and historical archiving.

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