Why do we still go to Popeyes? Michael walks in craving spicy chicken and walks out with a bigger question: why do we tolerate broken systems when the payoff is only sometimes worth it? The story starts with missing tea, long waits, and that infamous “we’re out of chicken” at peak time.

From there, the timeline rewinds to a moment that shaped a generation—watching 9/11 unfold on a store TV while holding a new Jay-Z CD. That memory doesn’t just linger; it reframes everything. We talk about drifting through restaurant jobs, stacking small promotions, and realizing momentum isn’t the same as direction. The recruiting office gauntlet brings humor and humility, but the Air Force pitch lands with two demands: quit smoking and start running. What follows is the unglamorous truth of building capacity—walk-run intervals, a competitive training partner who keeps you honest, and the first quiet pride of hitting distances you once hated.

The MEPS sequence strips ego and replaces it with checklists and early mornings. It’s awkward, it’s funny, and it’s clarifying. We cover picking a job path, getting medically cleared, and fighting doubts over a perfect cafeteria burger. Life off-base pushes back too—on-again love, rent due, and a ring pop proposal that adds purpose to the chaos. Then the pivot: a ticket in hand, a plane to San Antonio, the bus rolling through Lackland’s gate, and the shock of Week Zero as the jokes die and the training begins.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between comfort and calling, this story is a blueprint for choosing the harder road with your eyes open. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review with the moment that made you change course—we’ll read our favorites next time.

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Intro by Kobeofei via Fiverr
Season 2 Artwork: Ishida1694 via Instagram