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Summary:

In this episode, Dr. Arielle Jordan shares her inspiring journey from military service to mental health advocate and entrepreneur. She discusses her work with veterans, trauma therapy, and founding The Jordyn Effect nonprofit, offering valuable insights into mental wellness and healing.

Key Topics:

• Military transition and mental health challenges
• Trauma therapy and EMDR techniques
• Founding and mission of The Jordan Effect nonprofit
• Resources and programs for veteran mental wellness
• The importance of community and connection in healing

Takeaways:

• Treat people well and focus on genuine connection.
• Find passion in your work and let it fuel your impact.
• Normalize conversations about mental health and seeking help.
• Use resources like vocational rehab to support education and career goals.
• Healing from trauma involves understanding and addressing systemic issues.

Chapters:

1. Introduction to Dr. Arielle Jordan and her background
2. Military service and transition out of the Army
3. Educational journey and shift to psychology
4. Starting her business and nonprofit ventures
5. Mental health resources for veterans and systemic challenges
6. The role of EMDR in trauma healing
7. Building the Jordan Effect nonprofit and community impact
8. The importance of therapist-client fit and communication
9. Advice for veterans and entrepreneurs
10. Final thoughts and resources for mental wellness

Resources:

• Connect with Dr. Arielle Jordan - https://www.ariellenjordan.com/
• Support our community and purchase from an amazing businesses on https://forcesbrands-usa.com/ for the #ReplaceOneChallenge
• We are a proud member of Heroes Media Group
• Check us out on Wreaths Across America Radio on Thursday mornings at 7 am.
• Attend the C.R.A.F.T. event in Tampa.

Support the show

Visit our website: https://www.dogtags-to-ownership.com/

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Support the show

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Summary:

Aaron King discusses turning a pickle hobby into Barracks Brine Pickle Company

Air Force Veteran Aaron King shares how a boredom-fueled kitchen experiment, and a strong support network led him to launch Barracks Brine. This episode is about betting on yourself, building a consumer packaged goods brand from scratch, and turning unusual flavor ideas into a real business. We cover Aaron’s military transition, the origin of his fruit-infused pickle concepts, and how SkillBridge, friends, and community connections are helping him move from hobby to scalable company.

This Week's Forces Brands USA Business of the Week is Call Sign a watch company that has partnered with the American Legion for a watch collaboration and the proceeds go to back to the American Legion.

Key topics:

• In this episode, Aaron King introduces himself as an Air Force veteran, pickle maker, and founder of Barracks Brine, a brand built around crunchy, flavor-packed pickles with unconventional twists.
• The business started as a side hobby, with Aaron giving samples to his unit, local community members, restaurants, and eventually testing demand on Facebook Marketplace in 2024.
• Aaron talks through the role of SkillBridge through Unturning Steel, which gave him time and support to develop the business while still having income stability.
• The conversation highlights the importance of community, with Aaron crediting military and civilian friends for helping with the website, kitchen access, business advice, and problem-solving.
• Aaron discusses Kickstarter as a way to raise capital for R&D, packaging, labels, and new flavor development without relying only on his own pocket.
• He shares ambitions for Barracks Brine to become a standout pickle brand with collaborations, limited releases, and eventually national distribution.
• Beau Garrett the founder of Call Sign also joins the podcast for this weeks Forces Brands USA Business of the week to discuss his partnership with the American Legion and making the perfect watch for their collaboration.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to S2:E37: DogTags to Ownership
01:14 - Introduction to Aaron King Owner of Barracks Brine Pickles
06:25 - The Start of Barracks Brine Pickle Company
10:06 - Building the Business
16:11 - Kickstarter Campaign
22:08 - Owning your life after service
25:50 - Final Two Questions
28:30 - Forces Brands USA Business of the Week: Call Sign
33:30 - Call Sign collaboration with the American Legion
36:12 - Challenges of American-Made Watches
39:18 - Closing thoughts

Resources:

• Barracks Brine Pickle Company - https://barracksbrine.com/
• Support our community and purchase from an amazing businesses on https://forcesbrands-usa.com/ for the #ReplaceOneChallenge
• We are a proud member of Heroes Media Group
• Check us out on Wreaths Across America Radio on Thursday mornings at 7 am.
• Attend the C.R.A.F.T. event in Tampa.

Support the show

Visit our website: https://www.dogtags-to-ownership.com/

Follow us on Social Media

Instagram/Facebook/Threads: @dogtags_to_ownership

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Summary:

In this episode, Jeff 'Bones' Bonner shares his journey from combat fighter pilot to performance strategist, introducing his daily debrief model for continuous improvement applicable across personal and professional life.

Julie also sits down with the event coordinators and Cory Brown of the Eat Your Feelings Show to discuss VetFest happening this weekend Saturday September 12th in Malvern, Pa.

Key Topics:

• The fighter pilot mindset and leadership
• The development and application of the daily debrief model
• The importance of habits for continuous improvement
• Transitioning from military to civilian life and career
• The impact of reflection and visualization on performance

Takeaways:

• Experience alone doesn't make us better; adjustment does.
• A five-minute daily debrief can significantly improve performance.
• The debrief model is applicable to business, sports, healthcare, and personal growth.
• Practicing the habit of debriefing fosters continuous improvement.
• The importance of starting small and practicing consistently.

Chapters:

1. (00:00) Opening the episode and introducing Jeff Bonner and Forces Brands USA Business of the Week: VetFest
2. (01:02) Jeff Bonner’s background as a fighter pilot and Marine officer
3. (03:19) Growing up with Top Gun, air shows, and the fighter pilot dream
4. (06:44) How naval aviation training and service needs shape career paths
5. (09:35) Transitioning from military service to airline captain
6. (10:29) Harvard, the Kennedy School, and postgraduate research
7. (13:27) Why experience alone does not improve performance
8. (15:22) The five minute daily debrief concept
9. (16:24) The original audience for the book: business leaders
10. (17:51) How the model expanded to athletes, healthcare, and personal leadership
11. (19:55) The GREAT model and common debrief mistakes
12. (22:49) The five steps: gratitude, goals, evaluation, anticipation, lessons learned
13. (25:17) Why Jeff wrote the book and why a book was necessary
14. (27:21) Why the debrief works best at the end of the day
15. (28:44) Gratitude and starting with “I’m glad to be here”
16. (29:11) Reviewing goals and asking what you are trying to do
17. (29:40) Evaluating what worked and what did not work
18. (30:10) Using visualization and mental preparation to anticipate tomorrow
19. (30:39) Taking time for one lesson learned
20. (32:10) Why the habit works because it is consistent and nonjudgmental
21. (34:22) The new edition of The Daily Debrief and what changed
22. (35:15) Recording keynotes to keep improving the message
23. (36:12) The model stays the same, but the applications keep expanding
24. (38:18) Why knowing the model is not enough without practice
25. (39:15) Introduction to VetFest

Resources:

• Jeff Bonner's Website - https://debriefadvantage.com/
• Support our community and purchase from an amazing businesses on Forces Brands USA for the #ReplaceOneChallenge
• We are a proud member of Heroes Media Group
• Check us out on Wreaths Across America Radio on Thursday mornings at 7 am.
• Register for the Veteran Social Summit 2026.
• Check out Vetfest if you’re in the Philadelphia area.
• Attend the C.R.A.F.T. event in Tampa.

Support the show

Visit our website: https://www.dogtags-to-ownership.com/

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Summary:

In this episode, Mike Starr shares his inspiring journey from military service to successful entrepreneur in the food industry, highlighting the importance of passion, resilience, and storytelling in building a brand.

Key Topics:

• Mike's military background and travels influencing his cooking style
• The evolution from hobbyist to business owner during COVID
• Using social media and TikTok to grow the brand
• Challenges of scaling production and entering retail stores
• The importance of belief and passion in business success
• Strategies for growth and maintaining product relevance
• Potential exit strategies including acquisition by larger companies

Chapters:

1. Introduction and Mike’s military background
2. Travel and cultural influences on Mike’s cooking
3. Transition from military to food business
4. Starting Blazing Star Barbecue and COVID impact
5. Using TikTok for brand growth
6. Scaling from local to national distribution
7. Passion and resilience in entrepreneurship
8. North Carolina roots and barbecue style
9. Experimenting with recipes and flavors
10. Growth into 4000 stores and fulfillment challenges
11. Building relationships with brokers and Amazon
12. Lessons learned from product development and mistakes
13. The importance of storytelling and branding
14. Defining success and future goals
15. Sustaining growth and potential exit strategies
16. The entrepreneurial mindset and military influence
17. Branding and product versatility
18. Books, podcasts, and continuous learning
19. Final thoughts and closing remarks

Resources:

• Support our community and purchase a rub or sauce from Blazing Star at Forces Brands USA and check out Crewdogs for the #ReplaceOneChallenge
• We are a proud member of Heroes Media Group
• Check us out on Wreaths Across America Radio on Thursday mornings at 7 am.
• Register for the Veteran Social Summit 2026.
• Check out Vetfest if you’re in the Philadelphia area.
• Attend the C.R.A.F.T. event in Tampa.

Support the show

Visit our website: https://www.dogtags-to-ownership.com/

Follow us on Social Media

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Summary:

In this episode, Jerry "JDog" and Tracy "Mrs. JDog" Flanagan share their inspiring journey from military service to successful veteran franchise owners. They discuss the creation of the JDog brand, its impact on the veteran community, and insights into entrepreneurship, franchising, and branding strategies.

Key Topics:

• The origin of the J Dog brand and its military roots
• The importance of branding and community connection in franchising
• Challenges and lessons learned in scaling a franchise
• The role of veteran identity in business success
• Insights into marketing, storytelling, and organic growth strategies
• The impact of media, including TV and podcasts, on brand visibility
• Advice for service members and veterans considering entrepreneurship

Takeaways:

• Military service instills values that translate into business success.
• Branding around veteran identity creates trust and loyalty.
• Scaling a franchise requires patience, resilience, and community engagement.
• Authentic storytelling and media exposure boost brand recognition.
• Veterans bring soft skills that are highly valuable in entrepreneurship.

Chapters:

(0:03) Introducing Jerry “J Dog” and Tracy “Mrs. J Dog” Flanagan
(1:06) Jerry’s Army service and the origin of the “J Dog” nickname
(3:09) Tracy on becoming a veteran spouse and joining the military community
(4:54) Why Jerry left active duty and how he tried to rebuild after service
(7:59) The post-military hustle - multiple jobs and learning the work ethic
(8:47) From Halloween retail to entrepreneurship and seeing the money gap
(10:09) Tracy joins the business journey and the 2008 crash leads to junk removal
(12:15) J Dog starts as a side hustle, then a customer changes everything
(14:39) Turning veteran identity into a real competitive advantage
(16:17) What the J Dog model is and why it resonates nationwide
(19:30) Why Tracy pushed franchising as a way to create opportunities for veterans
(21:54) Growing to 88 franchises and building national momentum
(22:59) The J Dog TV show and how it helped tell the brand story
(25:34) How Tactical Treasures became a podcast and grew organically
(28:26) Tracy on episode 200 and the emotional power of veteran stories
(31:52) The realities of scaling a franchise and why execution is hard
(37:59) Advice for veterans considering entrepreneurship

Support the show

Visit our website: https://www.dogtags-to-ownership.com/

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Summary:

In this episode, Tom Schwab shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship, highlighting the power of podcast interview marketing for building trust and growing a brand. Discover how his insights can help military veterans and entrepreneurs leverage conversations for meaningful business success.

Key Topics:

• Tom Schwab's military background and transition to entrepreneurship
• The evolution of podcast interview marketing since 2014
• How to use podcasts to reach ideal clients and grow your business
• The importance of authentic conversations and storytelling in marketing
• Strategies for military veterans to turn their skills into business ownership

Takeaways:

• Listening to your customers provides invaluable insights for business growth.
• Taking action quickly and learning from experience accelerates success.
• Celebrating small wins builds momentum and motivation.
• Authenticity and clarity attract the right clients and opportunities.
• Podcast interview marketing is a powerful tool for micro-fame and valuation growth.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 Introduction to Tom Schwab and His Journey
2. 02:43 Military Background and Transition to Civilian Life
3. 05:31 First Steps into Entrepreneurship
4. 08:11 Building Goodbye Crutches and Lessons Learned
5. 10:55 The Evolution of Interview Valet
6. 13:43 Navigating the Podcasting Landscape
7. 16:41 Defining the Target Audience and Clientele
8. 19:25 Refining Focus and Growth Strategies
9. 21:58 The Value of Micro Fame in Business
10. 22:55 Identifying and Targeting Ideal Clients
11. 24:39 Feedback and Engagement through Podcasting
12. 25:32 The Evolution of Podcasts and Social Media
13. 28:00 Repurposing Content for Maximum Reach
14. 29:33 The Power of Genuine Conversations
15. 31:48 The Importance of Patience in Entrepreneurship
16. 36:02 Recognizing Your Unique Value
17. 37:50 Encouragement to Share Your Voice
18. 39:11 Recommended Resources for Growth

Resources:

Interview Valet - https://interviewvalet.com
Forces Brands USA - https://forcesbrands-usa.com/

Support the show

Visit our website: https://www.dogtags-to-ownership.com/

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Summary:

In this episode, Malyri Ryan shares her inspiring journey from Marine veteran to successful social media influencer and entrepreneur. She discusses the importance of authenticity, balancing family and passion, and how her platform has impacted lives.

Key Topics:

• Military transition and entrepreneurship
• Building an authentic social media brand
• Balancing family life with online business
• Collaborations with Walmart and other brands
• Impact of social media on personal and professional life

Chapters:

1. 00:00 Introduction of Malyri Ryan and her background
2. 01:20 Malyri's military service and transition to civilian life
3. 03:00 Starting her blog and social media journey
4. 06:46 First brand collaboration and growth of her platform
5. 10:55 Building her website and brand identity
6. 15:52 Balancing family life and social media career
7. 20:49 Challenges and highs of being an influencer
8. 25:54 Winning the veteran media fashion award
9. 29:59 Reflections on authenticity and purpose in social media
10. 35:05 Impact stories and community connection
11. 39:48 Advice for transitioning military members into entrepreneurship

Resources:

Forces Brands USA - https://forcesbrands-usa.com/

Cheap Chic Finds - https://www.cheapchicfinds.com/

Hero's Media Group - https://heroesmediagroup.com/

Support the show

Visit our website: https://www.dogtags-to-ownership.com/

Follow us on Social Media

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