Memorial Day isn't just the start of summer—it's a time to honor those who gave their lives for our freedom. Every Memorial Day, BJ has decided to play an episode he recorded two years ago to honor his late friend and everyone who has given their lives to service.

In this tribute episode, we speak with Marion Zilinski, known as Mama Z, about the true meaning of Memorial Day through the eyes of someone who lost a loved one in service. She shares the story of her son Dennis, his journey to West Point, the impact of 9/11 on his life, and his incredible generosity.

Marion reflects on the pain of losing him and the signs she still receives from him today. We also highlight Run with Dennis and the Dennis Zilinski Memorial Fund, and how you can get involved. Mama Z leaves us with a powerful reminder of what this day is really about.

To hear all this and be inspired to honor the brave men and women who give you your freedom this Memorial Day, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Dennis Zilinski, and his life of service.

• Marion reflects on the events of 9/11 and how they impacted Dennis

• The touching revelations about Dennis’ selflessness and generosity found in his will.

• The motivation behind creating Run with Dennis and the Dennis Zilinski Memorial Fund.

• Insights into the service dog initiative and its role in supporting veterans with PTSD.

• Where to find out more about these incredible volunteer-run organizations.

• A powerful reminder of the true meaning of Memorial Day and the cost of our freedom.

Quotes:

“[Dennis] was the protector. Always the protector.” — Marion Zilinski

“[Dennis] said, ‘I would never leave West Point, especially now when my country needs me the most.’” — Marion Zilinski

“I was so angry [when my son died]. I have never been so angry in my life.” — Marion Zilinski

“We want people to understand the dedication of our military.” — Marion Zilinski

“Freedom is not free. It’s bought and paid for only by our military – not by anybody else.” — Marion Zilinski

“22 warriors a day commit suicide because of post-traumatic stress and/or TBI injuries.” — Marion Zilinski

“Our freedom is bought and paid for by men and women that pledge to each of [us] their lives. And not all of them will come home. Many will be killed – or – wounded and their lives will be so impacted.” — Marion Zilinski

Longer Quotes:

“The worst thing that anybody could ever say to me is, ‘Happy Memorial Day’. It’s not a happy day. It’s not the first day of summer. It’s not all about the beach and the sales, it’s about your freedom. It’s about the men and women that step up, raise their right hand, and take that oath to give us our freedom.” — Marion Zilinski

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Marion Zilinski on LinkedIn

Run with Dennis

Zilinski Memorial Fund on Facebook

Fisher House Foundation

Brooke Army Medical Center

The Strong Gray Line

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

If education is executed correctly, it can be one of the best ways to inspire people to change the world!

Today’s guest on Leadership Blueprints, John Abraham, is a professor of thermal sciences at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about John’s career, what led him to academia, how he connects with this generation of students, and so much more!

We delve into his focus on ocean warming before discussing his work on sustainable energy through his company LEMA. John even removes the political side of global warming and climate change and talks about what is causing it and how to solve it.

Finally, our guest answers our rapid-fire questions, talks about the unimaginable power of AI, shares his advice for younger generations entering his industry, and gives us his take on the future of humankind and simulation theory.

Thanks for listening in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What drew John to academia and what motivates him inside the classroom.

• Insight into his work on ocean warming and sustainable energy.

• His company, LEMA, and what his involvement in it is.

• What’s driving global warming and climate change and how to deal with it.

• The wind energy debate and what John’s take on it is.

Quotes:

“When you can save lives and save jobs at the same time, man, that’s a win-win situation.” — John Abraham

“How do we deal with climate change? – Reduce our energy use; just use energy more wisely!” — John Abraham

“AI is going to absolutely change our world!” — John Abraham

“We’re in an environment where future jobs are up in the air. If you are dealing in a job that has information transfer and processing as your primary job description, your job is at risk for AI.” — John Abraham

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

John Abraham

John Abraham Email

LEMA
ChatGPT

Claude AI

Gemini

Grok AI

Meta AI

Mistral

DeepSeek

Sapiens

Homo Deus

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Joining us is Carey Kight, producer, advertiser, and owner of Veteran Made. He shares a series of pivotal choices that have shaped his career and his life’s journey, from the military to film school, advertising, production, and beyond. Pulling from his experiences, we discuss the frameworks that translate from the military to other fields.

Carey shares how Veteran Made embodies this, highlighting key skills that veterans can bring to the working world. We touch on managing your own expectations, the ideas that underpin Carey’s leadership decisions, and reveal more about his rich background and love of the classics, as well as his life philosophy and the kind of legacy he hopes to leave behind.

Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The transferrable skills that veterans usually have.

• Developing the skill of managing your own expectations.

• The number one leadership lesson that Carey has taken into his new career.

Quotes:

“Resilience is very much a lifeskill. That’s something you have to develop emotionally and intellectually for yourself.” — Carey Kight

“Don’t just stay connected to the military community and the veteran community, but integrate the other community that you are trying to get into.” — Carey Kight

“We’re not the products of our environments only. We are the product of the choices that we make in each environment that we are in.” — Carey Kight

“I’m very lucky that my vocation is an avocation for a lot of other people. That, to me, feels like a privilege and a blessing, and it’s something I get to do.” — Carey Kight

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Carey Kight

Carey Kight on X
Carey Kight on Instagram
Carey Kight on LinkedIn

Veteran Made

Veteran Made Podcast
Lord of the Rings

Chronicles of Narnia
Harry Potter
To Kill a Mockingbird

Farenheit 451
Stephen Pressfield

A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn