Host Rickey Chavez sits down with James Rosone, Iraq War veteran, former military interrogator, and bestselling author, to discuss how military service and intelligence experience shaped his career as a writer. Their conversation explores military leadership, interrogation, research, modern warfare, AI and autonomous technologies, and the process of creating realistic military thrillers. James also shares how writing became a path forward after leaving military service and the importance of finding purpose beyond the battlefield.

In this episode of Battle Ready, host Rickey Chavez sits down with Jason Volkert, Vice President of Insurance Sales at the Gibraltar Group and a U.S. Navy veteran, to discuss how military service shaped his approach to leadership, discipline, and business success.

Jason shares his journey from joining the Navy after college to building a nearly 30-year career in the insurance industry. Together, they explore the lasting impact of military values, the importance of trust in leadership, and how serving others remains at the core of both military and civilian life.

The conversation also dives into practical insurance advice, including how families can better protect their financial future, why reviewing policies regularly is essential, and the importance of building long-term relationships through honesty, transparency, and service. Jason also reflects on mentoring teams, leading with empathy instead of authority, balancing career and family, and preparing for a new chapter as an empty nester.

• (00:00:13) - Veteran Jason Volkert on Serving Our Country
• (00:05:10) - Military Service and the Civilian World
• (00:06:51) - Marine Corps members make their bed every day
• (00:08:42) - In the Elevator With Vice President
• (00:10:23) - Transitioning from the Military to School
• (00:12:00) - Welcome Back with NOW Media TV
• (00:12:27) - The #1 challenge in the insurance industry
• (00:17:37) - Insurance Sales Reps: Building Trust
• (00:21:14) - Military Insurance Agents: Be proactive in protecting your financial future
• (00:23:54) - In the Elevator With Your Team
• (00:27:18) - Real Estate Agent: Trust is the biggest
• (00:29:51) - What qualities do differentiate great leaders from average managers?
• (00:31:43) - A Real Estate Manager's Challenge
• (00:33:55) - Do Relationships Play a Role in Long Term Business Success?
• (00:35:25) - How To Motivate a Team During Uncertainty
• (00:36:22) - Military Insurance
• (00:40:50) - Should You Extend Your Car Insurance Coverage?
• (00:42:25) - Roof Insurance
• (00:45:17) - Military dads talk about the new chapter of life
• (00:47:00) - The Role of Family in Leadership
• (00:48:02) - Battle Ready: Growing Strong Through Challenges

On this episode of Battle Ready, host Rickey Chavez sits down with Kelly Coughlin, CEO of Everyday CPA, to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of business success: financial readiness. Together, they explore the critical difference between bookkeeping and financial clarity, why many entrepreneurs struggle with taxes and cash flow despite strong revenues, and how business owners can make better decisions by truly understanding their numbers.

Kelly shares practical insights on tax planning, financial reporting, retirement strategies, business succession planning, and the common mistakes entrepreneurs make when relying on incomplete financial information. The conversation also examines how artificial intelligence is transforming accounting and financial management, helping small business owners streamline processes, reduce costs, and gain greater visibility into their operations.

In this episode of Battle Ready, host J. Rickey Chavez welcomes Jasmine Davis, Founder and CEO of Pretty Talk LLC, for an engaging conversation about youth leadership, character development, and the power of communication. Jasmine shares how her experiences working in juvenile justice inspired her mission to help young people build confidence, accountability, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills before entering adulthood and the workforce.

Throughout the discussion, Jasmine explores the challenges facing today’s youth, including communication gaps, social media pressures, self-confidence issues, and the importance of developing strong character as a foundation for success. She also discusses her entrepreneurial journey, the impact of mentorship, and how meaningful conversations can bridge generational divides between young people and adults.

• (00:00:00) - Battle Ready: What Makes a Leader?
• (00:00:51) - Pretty Talk
• (00:01:30) - Pretty Talk With Jasmine
• (00:02:35) - Leadership gaps in writing and verbal communication
• (00:05:46) - On Character Development and Working With An Elder
• (00:09:35) - Teaching the Right Way to Lead
• (00:11:58) - Battle Ready: Jasmine's Purpose Behind Pretty Talk
• (00:16:34) - Pretty Talk: Reinventing the Career Path
• (00:21:05) - The Work of Raising Girls
• (00:24:21) - Relationship Development for Kids with Needs
• (00:29:28) - What Do You Do For Old People?
• (00:32:29) - How Social Media Affects Communication and Self-Confidence
• (00:37:00) - Ms. Jasmine Davis on How to Understand the Young Generation
• (00:42:52) - The Need for Alignment
• (00:44:35) - Do As I Say and Not As I Do?
• (00:45:46) - On the Changing Landscape of the Workforce
• (00:48:44) - Battle Ready

In this episode of Battle Ready, host Rickey Chavez sits down with Vanessa Angulo, Senior Director of Field Talent Acquisition at Sysco, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and personal growth. Vanessa shares her remarkable journey from recruiter to executive leader, discussing the lessons she learned through professional challenges, family hardships, and life-changing experiences.

Together, they explore the importance of authentic leadership, creating inclusive workplace cultures, developing future leaders, and overcoming self-doubt. Vanessa also opens up about how personal adversity strengthened her commitment to supporting others, building high-performing teams, and fostering environments where people can thrive.

• (00:00:00) - Battle Ready
• (00:01:08) - Cisco Talent Acquisition Lead Vanessa's Inspiring Story
• (00:06:22) - Breast Cancer Survivor on Her Journey
• (00:12:13) - Supportive Leaders: How important is inclusion at work?
• (00:17:52) - Warehouse Delivery Company's efforts to increase women in operations
• (00:20:58) - What Do You Do to Create Inclusion in Your Organization?
• (00:24:27) - What Does It Do to Have Belief in Yourself?
• (00:26:46) - Leaders: How to Develop and Lead
• (00:34:18) - Strong Leadership Under Pressure
• (00:37:08) - What Made You a Senior Director at Cisco?
• (00:43:39) - How to Lead With Authenticity

On this episode of Battle Ready, Ricky Chavez sits down with Shore Danny, founder and CEO of Community Now, for a powerful conversation about resilience, trauma-informed leadership, mental wellness, and community healing. Shore shares her personal journey through adversity and explains how self-awareness, emotional support, and strong community systems help people move from survival mode into healing and purpose.

The discussion explores leadership under pressure, workplace wellness, violence prevention, hope as a strategy for change, and practical ways individuals and organizations can build healthier, more resilient communities. From trauma recovery to coaching for cultural success, this episode delivers valuable insights for leaders, professionals, veterans, educators, and anyone seeking personal growth and emotional strength.

• (00:00:00) - Celebrating Resilience with SH Danny
• (00:01:07) - Understanding the power of resilience
• (00:04:55) - How to Build Resilience from Pain
• (00:10:32) - Avoidance and the Anxiety
• (00:11:53) - What is the first step to building resilience?
• (00:12:52) - Battle Ready: How to Handle Trauma in the Workplace
• (00:15:13) - What mistakes do leaders make when they ignore emotional and psychological realities?
• (00:22:28) - Violence Resilience and Community Inclusion
• (00:24:36) - Violence prevention and its causes
• (00:26:10) - Build a Plan: Your Real Estate Systems
• (00:26:39) - On the Need for Racial Justice
• (00:29:52) - Healthcare Programs and Trust Relationships
• (00:31:39) - Building a Safer, More Resistant Community
• (00:33:18) - Battle Ready
• (00:34:01) - Healing Purpose 6: Hope in Leadership
• (00:36:18) - What Does It Look Like to Heal From Survival Mode?
• (00:36:57) - Culture and the future
• (00:38:19) - Mental Wellbeing: The key to a sustainable future
• (00:41:27) - Self-inventory and Cultural Coaching

In this episode of Battle Ready, Ricky Chavez sits down with CPA and entrepreneur Keisha Rodino to break down the true meaning of financial leadership and discipline in business. This conversation goes beyond accounting—exploring how entrepreneurs can gain clarity, build systems, and make smarter decisions to grow and scale successfully.

From tax strategies and cash flow management to the dangers of DIY finances and relying on tools like ChatGPT without proper guidance, Keisha shares real-world insights every business owner needs. Learn why having the right financial team, asking the right questions, and staying proactive can make or break your success.

• (00:00:00) - Lead With Strength, Discipline
• (00:01:00) - How an Accountant Helped Small Businesses
• (00:03:45) - Financial Discipline and Leadership
• (00:12:08) - Battle Ready
• (00:12:44) - Ask The CPA
• (00:20:51) - How to Prepare for the IRS Tax Season
• (00:24:12) - Starting a Business
• (00:34:22) - Tax Strategy
• (00:36:30) - Starting a Business
• (00:39:53) - How to Plan for Retirement as a Business Owner
• (00:42:26) - How to Balance Ambition and Discipline needed to grow your business
• (00:45:14) - Getting Everything Together for Starting a Business
• (00:46:07) - Becoming More Battle Ready financially