Lessons Learned for Vets
Supporting veterans to achieve career success as they navigate the challenges of transitioning out of the military. Each week we will bring you a new mentor who will teach you the lessons they have learned as they traveled the military transition path before you.
Episodes
179 episodes
Embracing Life's Post-Military Adventures with Gennaro Mazzeo
Gennaro "Pirate" Mazzeo turned his military transition into an adventure – and it changed everything. After retiring from the Marine Corps during COVID after 22 years of service, he embarked on an unexpected journey that led him from ROTC instr...
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Season 5
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Episode 178
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44:05
Adapting through Career Changes from Government to Tech with Melinda Beyer
Former Marine Corps officer Mindy Beyer takes us on a remarkable journey through her diverse career path that has spanned military service, government work, tech startups, and now leadership at gaming giant Roblox as Director of Cybercrime and ...
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Season 5
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Episode 177
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43:26
Revamping the Military Transition Framework with Jason Anderson
When Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jason Anderson retired after 20 years of service, his transition looked perfect on paper. He landed a defense industry job with just one resume and two interviews, quickly rising to an executive position managi...
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Season 5
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Episode 176
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54:34
Exceeding Your Own Expectations with Christopher Coffey
What happens when your therapist asks you to practice rejection by applying for jobs you think are out of reach? For Air Force Tech Sergeant Christopher Coffey, it led to three six-figure job offers and a complete rethinking of his value in the...
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Season 5
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Episode 175
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38:19
Keeping Good Records for Career Succes with Lori Norris
Maintaining meticulous records might not seem like the most exciting aspect of career management, but as veterans know, proper documentation can make all the difference between mission success and failure. In this tactical solo episode, Lori No...
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Season 5
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Episode 174
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26:23
Demystifying the ATS: How to Get Your Resume Past the "Robot" with Marisol Maloney
Ever felt like your carefully crafted resume disappeared into the void of an applicant tracking system? You're not alone. In this myth-busting conversation, Navy veteran, defense industry recruiter and resume writer Marisol Maloney pulls back t...
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Season 5
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Episode 173
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40:54
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Adapting to Corporate Culture with Nick Perez
For many veterans, like Nick Perez, transitioning from the military can feel like stepping into a new world filled with unfamiliar rules and social cues. In the latest episode of our podcast, Nick shares his experiences since retiring from the ...
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Season 5
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Episode 172
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39:58
Military Transition Insights from Human Resources with Gary Steensgard
This episode features insights from Gary Steensgaard, a veteran who transitioned from military service to a civilian HR role. We explore strategies for translating military skills for civilian job markets and how to navigate the realities of th...
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Season 5
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Episode 171
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53:15
Highlighting Mentorship and Entrepreneur Education with Leslie Coffey
Leslie Coffey, Vice President of Military Engagement for American Corporate Partners (ACP), joins us to shed light on the importance of a mentor in the military transition process, whether you intend to join the corporate world or open your bus...
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Season 5
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Episode 170
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43:40
From Aviation Leadership to Franchising Success with Michael Athanasakis
Michael Athanasakis, a veteran with an impressive military career, shares his story of transitioning from active duty Army service to owning a Chick-fil-A franchise. Discover how leading helicopter attack platoons and teaching military science ...
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Season 5
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Episode 169
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47:14
Empowering Veterans with New Career Opportunities with Mark Adams
Mark Adams, a former active duty and reserve Air Force service member, shares his journey from military service to finding his place and an operational excellence leader in the private sector. Mark thought about retiring in 2012, but af...
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Season 5
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Episode 168
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38:21
Season 4 Episode 167: Military Transition Q&A with Marc Lopez
Marc Lopez joined the Army 20 years ago and started his career in the intelligence field as a linguist. He transitioned over to become a warrant officer and is now a cyber warfare operator who is preparing to begin a SkillBridge program before ...
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Season 4
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Episode 167
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45:38
Season 4 Episode 166: Seeking Alternative Methods of Healing with Eric Infanti
We are excited to host Marine Corps veteran, Eric Infanti. By all accounts, Eric had a smooth transition into the corporate world, where he worked for 5 years. When his health began declining, Eric began a healing journey that included 2000 hou...
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Season 4
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Episode 166
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38:01
Season 4 Episode 165: Five Things Your Resume Should Contain with Lori Norris
On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we get back to the basics with best practices for crafting a resume. Certified resume writer and career coach, Lori Norris, shares 5 elements that a resume must contain as well as the rol...
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Season 4
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Episode 165
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31:47
Season 4 Episode 164: Changing Perspective over Time with Ray Jokie
If you are a transitioning service member, it’s always helpful to hear the role that time has in the transition process. The transition process doesn’t end when you land your first job as a civilian. There is so much wisdom to gain from listeni...
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Season 4
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Episode 164
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45:22
Season 4 Episode 163: Navigating the Ups and Downs of Military Transition with Chris Dreisbach
We are excited to welcome back Chris Dreisbach for his fifth appearance on the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast. Chris retired in 2020 as a Senior Master Sergeant for the United States Air Force. Now in his sixth role since his retirement, Chri...
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Season 4
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Episode 163
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39:24
Season 4 Episode 162: Rate My SkillBridge with Ethan Shipp
We welcome Ethan Shipp. Ethan began his career in the United States Air Force as an EMT but has since retrained as an information systems technician. Although he is still serving, he used his tech skills to create a resource designed to empower...
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Season 4
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Episode 162
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36:02
Season 4 Episode 161: Knowing When to Take a Break with Lori Norris
On this solo episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, Lori shares the challenges that she and her family have been going through over the past few months. During this time, Lori has struggled with burnout, a feeling that most everyone h...
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Season 4
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Episode 161
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16:54
Season 4 Episode 160: Military Spouse and Family Transition with Sarah Bumgardner
In celebration of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we are pleased to host Sarah Bumgardner. Sarah is a military spouse and a certified financial education instructor who has worked with AAFMAA since 2010. She is currently the Director of Partn...
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Season 4
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Episode 160
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32:01
Season 4 Episode 159: Job Interview Success with Brenda Mariah - Part 2
On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we continue our discussion on interview best practices with career strategist, Brenda Mariah. We encourage you to listen to Part 1, episode 158 before continuing with this episode. During...
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Season 4
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Episode 159
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33:30
Season 4 Episode 158: Job Interview Success with Brenda Mariah - Part 1
On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome Brenda Mariah. If you are having trouble getting others to see your value or recognizing your own value, this is where Brenda shines. Brenda Mariah, of Push Career Management, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 158
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46:24
Season 4 Episode 157: The Emotions of the Military Transition with Mary Polanco - Part 2
We continue our discussion with Mary Polanco on Part 2 of this 2-part series. On the previous episode, Mary discusses the importance of taking time for yourself during the military transition process and the reality that separating from the mil...
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Season 4
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Episode 157
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33:11
Season 4 Episode 156: Dealing with the Grief of Leaving the Military with Mary Polanco - Part 1
After serving 23 years in the US Air Force, Mary Polanco retired from the Air Force. She is the founder and CEO of Live and Lead Well and the author of Your Final Debrief, which she describes as a must-read guide to learning how to bre...
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Season 4
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Episode 156
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43:10
Season 4 Episode 155: Learning How to Market Yourself with Clarissa Merced
On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we welcome retired US Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, Clarissa Merced. Clarissa used the SkillBridge program to upskill and land a role with the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). ...
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Season 4
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Episode 155
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38:10
Season 4 Episode 154: Exploring SkillBridge with Dave Schantz - Part 2
On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we continue our conversation with Dave Schantz, SkillBridge expert. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, we encourage you to download Episode 153 and learn more about what the SkillBridge p...
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Season 4
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Episode 154
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31:24
