Episode 18 - Real Talk, Reflections & Final Salutes

Recapping Three Powerful Stories & Matt’s Raw Transition Journey

In this special recap episode, Matt and Julie reflect on the last three impactful interviews with John & Mitchell of High Country Living, Wendy Brinson of The Goddard School in Stafford, and Zac Staples of Fathom5. Each conversation brought powerful insights on building purpose-driven businesses after military life—and we’re bringing the highlights.

They also share behind-the-scenes thoughts on their guest appearance on the Triple Threat Vets podcast, and Matt opens up about his final days in uniform. From shifting priorities to personal transformation, Matt gets candid about what it’s really like to leave the Army after 21 years, tying in his latest blog post, “I’m Not Checked Out—I’m Checked In.”

This episode is raw, real, and a reminder that the transition journey is deeply personal—but you don’t have to go it alone.

#DogTagsToOwnership #VeteranEntrepreneur #MilitaryTransition #PodcastRecap #Leadership #LifeAfterService #TripleThreatVets #ArmyRetirement

Helpful Links to Check Out:

Franchising: vetfran.org, SBA Express Loan for Veterans, SBA Office of Veterans Business Development, 

Government / Defense Contracting: Register at Sam.gov, utilize Federal Procurement Data System FPDS.gov for tracking past awards, Use SBA SubNet or Dynamic Small Business Search to find partners. Use tools like GovWin, BidSpeed, or GovTribe to monitor upcoming bids.