West Point grad Gary Bartels shares his journey from combat to healing and how OATH provides purpose, community, and outdoor therapy for veterans and first responders facing transition and PTSD.

• (00:00:14) - Battle Ready Life
• (00:04:12) - West Point Military Prep School
• (00:10:01) - Battle Ready
• (00:12:19) - Gary Bartels on the Challenges of First Responders and Veterans
• (00:18:43) - Veterans and First Responders Need Help
• (00:23:45) - What the Oath Ministry Does for Battle Ready Veterans
• (00:27:37) - Oath of Chi-Town
• (00:31:19) - Oath Ministries: Volunteering
• (00:35:19) - Battle Ready
• (00:35:52) - How to Listen to Your Wife
• (00:40:26) - How to Attend a Veteran's Event
• (00:41:57) - Oath of Keeper Gal
• (00:44:10) - Oath Ministries: The Turkey Hunt Success Story

Air Force vet Brandon Stubblefield and PBJ Youth Foundation mentor at-risk youth with free life-skills, STEM & outdoor programs, scholarships, and parent support. Donate or volunteer.

• (00:00:14) - Battle Ready
• (00:00:57) - Air Force Veteran on 'This Is Us'
• (00:02:06) - Employee Recruitment at Daikin Park
• (00:03:35) - PBJ Youth Foundation
• (00:05:06) - Philip Bennet's Youth Foundation
• (00:10:01) - How to Donate to the PBJ Youth Foundation
• (00:11:56) - Battle Ready
• (00:12:33) - President Trump on the Need for Mentorship
• (00:15:57) - In the Elevator With Steve Jobs
• (00:17:14) - What about the Mid-Level Teens?
• (00:19:20) - Ricky on Needing Help For Parents
• (00:21:25) - How to Reach Out to Others
• (00:24:36) - Brandon Stubblefield
• (00:27:24) - Setting Boundaries for Kids
• (00:29:07) - Setting Boundaries For Your Child's Technology
• (00:34:31) - "I Just Want My Girls to Go Hunting"
• (00:35:19) - PJ Youth Foundation Camp in Jackson
• (00:37:07) - Donating to PBJ Youth Foundation
• (00:40:13) - The Parent-Youth Connection
• (00:42:08) - PBF Houston
• (00:43:50) - Brandon on Living With Integrity

How do great companies win top talent—fast? On Battle Ready, host Ricky Chavez sits down with Youi Culberson, founder & president of Culberson Resources Inc., a Houston-based recruiting firm with 20+ years of success. From immigrating at 10 to pivoting from accounting to executive recruiting, Youi shares real-world strategies for employers and candidates: how to craft “the sizzle” in your employer brand, identify a candidate’s superpower, showcase emotional intelligence, and build resumes that tell a clear story. We also dig into behavioral interviews, private-equity dynamics, being an A-player during layoffs, and scaling a business by mentoring and letting go.

Perfect for hiring managers, HR/Talent Acquisition leaders, and professionals planning their next move. Learn what differentiates top performers, how to stand out on LinkedIn, and why clarity and culture win every time.

Subscribe for more leadership, recruiting, and career insights from Houston and beyond.

• (00:00:14) - Battle Ready
• (00:00:33) - Meet Yui Culberson
• (00:00:57) - Asian American Recruitment Story
• (00:04:49) - How to Recruit the Right People
• (00:06:20) - Top Executives on Finding Talent
• (00:11:34) - Battle Ready
• (00:12:14) - Top HR Executives:
• (00:17:57) - Laid Off or Ready to Get Layoff?
• (00:22:03) - How to Get Out There in the Job Search
• (00:23:37) - Ricky Chavez on Business and the Future
• (00:25:57) - In the Elevator With Recruiters
• (00:27:11) - On Starting a Business on Your Own
• (00:27:48) - Why I Started to Scale My Business
• (00:29:51) - What's The Biggest Obstacle to Success?
• (00:32:38) - What is the core values of your company?
• (00:33:10) - The Crazy Candidate Negotiation
• (00:35:57) - Battle Ready
• (00:36:45) - Chris Rock on Letting Go
• (00:41:19) - What Would You Tell a Senior Manager About Retirement?
• (00:45:49) - Coberson Resources

On Battle Ready, host Ricky Chavez sits down with Houston leader Rick Figueroa—CEO of Patron Partners and chair within Texas licensing & regulation—to unpack how defeats forge character, why servant leadership wins, and how mentorship (your “pallbearers”) keeps you accountable. Rick shares his Bay City roots, the seven rules from his mother, the power of being bilingual, and his journey from ranch hand to wealth management—plus why impact beats success. We cover leadership vs. mentorship, building significance, faith-driven decision making, and practical ways to “bisect the curve” of your life and career.

Watch for real, actionable takeaways on organizational health, mindset, and purpose.
Subscribe for more conversations in English & Español on Now Media TV and your favorite podcast platforms.

• (00:00:14) - Battle Ready
• (00:00:44) - Ricky Gomez on Becoming an Accountant
• (00:03:50) - Bilingual Businessman on Running Away From Poverty
• (00:07:47) - Challenges and Defenses in Your Life
• (00:11:05) - Battle Ready
• (00:12:37) - Ricky on His Defeats
• (00:16:38) - A Soldier's Fight for Freedom
• (00:17:07) - Blessed Are You With Your Wife?
• (00:18:32) - What is the Impact of Your Work?
• (00:20:29) - Rick Figueroa: The 3 Rules of Wealth Management
• (00:23:38) - Mentorship and Leadership
• (00:28:30) - Billy Graham on Pallbearers and Social Media
• (00:32:35) - Close Friendships and the Need for Personal Growth
• (00:35:55) - Battle Ready
• (00:39:50) - What Is It That You Want From Me?
• (00:42:20) - 3 Big Victories Of My Life
• (00:45:35) - What is your biggest victory of all time?
• (00:47:20) - Rick Figueroa

Unlock lasting impact with lean thinking, empathy, and AI-driven leadership. Build trust, innovate yourself, and transform failure into growth with Dr. Adel’s mindset.

• (00:00:00) - Battle Ready
• (00:00:59) - How to guide a troubled soul out of their current situation
• (00:03:11) - The Power of Turning a Failure Into a Learning Experience
• (00:06:31) - What Can Leaders Do To Recover Confidence?
• (00:10:39) - The Pinnacle Performance Zone
• (00:13:08) - Dr. Adil Delil on Leading With Accountability
• (00:13:56) - Sensing the Next Level of Leadership
• (00:17:07) - How to grow as a leader
• (00:23:41) - How to find Dr. Adil Dalal online
• (00:24:51) - Emotional Intelligence
• (00:28:12) - Leaders: The shift in culture
• (00:37:27) - Empathy is the key to leadership
• (00:38:12) - Battle Ready
• (00:38:57) - What are the protocols and rhythms of your leadership
• (00:42:05) - Leaders: Lead by Example
• (00:46:36) - Be prepared for AI
• (00:47:50) - Dr. Dill on the Need for Peace

Better Homes and Gardens CEO Mark Woodroof shares raw advice for agents: mindset shifts, veteran buying power, and why resilience—not routine—wins in today’s real estate market.

• (00:00:00) - Gibraltar Mortgage and Insurance, Better Homes and Gardens
• (00:04:24) - Bob Ferguson Retiring at 40 years old
• (00:09:14) - Leaders: How to Manage High-Pressure Situations
• (00:13:13) - Bed Homes and Gardens CEO Gary Green on the Stress
• (00:19:51) - Gary Greene Real Estate: Help Your Agents Transition
• (00:25:28) - How to Become a Realtor: Mark Green
• (00:26:33) - Realtors on the Need for Structure
• (00:31:44) - Realtor Network: Biggest Challenge for the Real Estate Industry
• (00:34:28) - Real Estate Licenses in Texas
• (00:37:05) - Battle Ready
• (00:37:55) - Gary Greene on New Real Estate Students
• (00:42:19) - New Construction Veterans and the New Home Counselor
• (00:46:29) - Mid-Level Agents Get Back to Basics
• (00:48:05) - Real Estate Talk

From debt and divorce to teaching and mentorship, Garrett Hartman turned pain into purpose. Hear how he rebuilt his life on Battle Ready with Richie Fonté—now on Now Media and iHeartRadio.

CEO and Army vet Heath Melton reveals how flexibility, mentorship, and planning helped him pivot from military life to the boardroom. Get leadership gold on Battle Ready via Now Media TV and iHeart.

• (00:00:13) - Heath Melton on Re-inventing Himself
• (00:00:39) - Marine from Sedona on His Journey to West Point
• (00:03:29) - Serviceman transitions out of the Army
• (00:05:43) - Military Veteran transitions from the Army to Real Estate
• (00:07:56) - Steve Jobs on the Importance of Mentoring
• (00:11:46) - Battle Ready
• (00:12:18) - Mentors: Howard Hughes and KB Homes
• (00:15:24) - What to Tell Your Wife About Your Career Plans
• (00:16:38) - What Happened to My Job in Puerto Rico?
• (00:19:00) - How To Get Out of A Job Unsecure
• (00:22:13) - Battle Ready: Unemployed People and the Network
• (00:23:53) - Preparation for the NBA
• (00:24:04) - What Would You Tell People About Preparing for an Interview
• (00:25:10) - How to Prepare for an Interview
• (00:29:49) - How to Prepare for a Job Interview
• (00:30:51) - Mentors and the Hard Knocks
• (00:33:53) - How to Coach Your Friends
• (00:35:25) - Letting Go Of The Clique
• (00:36:52) - Battle Ready: Leadership, Hiring, Firing
• (00:37:29) - Leading Others by Example
• (00:39:40) - The Importance of Planning for the Job Search
• (00:42:12) - How to Write a Success Plan for Your Career
• (00:46:13) - Heath Smith on His New Position