DogTags to Ownership
DogTags to Ownership is the podcast designed for military members and veterans ready to transition from service to success in business. Whether you’re considering entrepreneurship for the first time or are already on the path to business ownership, this show provides the tools, insights, and inspiration you need to thrive.
Hosted by U.S. Army Officers Julie Austin and Matthew Cain, we explore the unique strengths veterans bring to the entrepreneurial world, share actionable advice from experts, and feature inspiring stories of those who’ve successfully made the leap.
Tune in to transform your military experience into a foundation for innovation, resilience, and business leadership.
#DogTagsToOwnership #VeteranEntrepreneurs #MilitaryToBusiness #VeteranOwnedBusiness
Episodes
19 episodes
Episode 19 - Purpose-Driven PR with Barrett Bogue: Amplifying Voices Through Evocati
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, we sit down with Barrett Bogue, former Marine and founder of Evocati PR -- a public relations firm on a mission. Barrett shares how his military background inspired him to build...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 19
•
45:02
Episode 18 - Real Talk, Reflections & Final Salutes
Recapping Three Powerful Stories & Matt’s Raw Transition JourneyIn 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 Goddar...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 18
•
30:10
Episode 17 - Navigating Innovation: From Naval Officer to Tech Founder with Zac Staples
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, Matt and Julie sit down with Zac Staples, founder and CEO of Fathom5, a company at the cutting edge of cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing for critical infrast...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 17
•
49:48
Episode 16 - From Service to Success - Wendy Brinson's Mission to Educate
In this inspiring episode, Matt and Julie sit down with Wendy Brinson, retired Army veteran and powerhouse entrepreneur, who now owns and operates one of the top-performing Goddard Schools in the country, located in Stafford, VA. Wendy shares h...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 16
•
34:40
Episode 15 - Rooted in Service, Growing in the High Country: John & Michele Swart’s Entrepreneurial Journey
In this episode, we sit down with John and Michele Swart — a powerhouse duo redefining what life after service looks like. From John’s distinguished career as the NC National Guard’s Command Sergeant Major to the couple’s thriving ventures in r...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 15
•
35:34
Episode 14 - Lessons from the Frontlines: Recapping Powerful Stories + Bonus Financial Tips for Vets
In Episode 14, Matt and Julie sit down to reflect on the powerful insights and inspiring journeys shared in our last three episodes. We revisit key takeaways from Helen Perry of Dust Off Global, Kristen Kavanaugh of the Agency Initiative, and F...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 14
•
30:56
Episode 13 - From Center Stage to Center Command: Freddy "Showbiz" McDuffy's Journey to Leadership and Entrepreneurship
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, Matt and Julie sit down with Freddy "Showbiz" McDuffy, whose story is a testament to reseilience, leadership, and passion. Freddy shares his journey from serving in the Army Entertainment D...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 13
•
42:45
Episode 12 - From the Corps to the Corporate World: Kristen Kavanaugh's Journey of Leadership and Impact
In Episode 12 of DogTags to Ownership, Matt and Julie sit down with Kristen Kavanaugh, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Marine Corps Officer who served five years before transitioning to the corporate world. Kristen quic...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 12
•
44:46
Episode 11 - From Battlefield to Boardroom: Helen Perry’s Mission with Dust Off Global
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, we sit down with Helen Perry, a former Army nurse turned entrepreneur and leader. As the founder of Dust Off Global, Helen has dedicated her post-military career to providing critical healthcare consulti...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 11
•
48:45
Episode Ten: Crafting your Perfect Pour - The Story Behind Bar Book App with Michael & Dolly
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, Julie and Matt sit down with Michael and Dolly, retired Army Veterans who served in the Judge Advocate Corps before diving into the world of entrepreneurship. After years of service, they t...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 10
•
46:32
Episode Nine - The Power of the Veteran-Owned Label & Key Takeaways from our Guest
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, Matt and Julie take a look back at the past three episodes featuring inspriring veteran entrepreneurs: Brielle and Cody from UnCaged Fitness, DJ Mike from Mike Solutions Entertainment, and Jenn and Calvi...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 9
•
24:44
Episode Eight - Brewing Success: Service, Grit, and Always Faithful Coffee with Jenn and Calvin Taylor
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, Matt and Julie sit down with Jenn and Calvin Taylor, the founders of Always Faithful Coffee. Calvin, a newly retired Marine after 20 years of service, and Jenn, an Army child with deep ties to the...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 8
•
49:19
Episode 7: From Service to CEO – DJ Mike’s 25-Year Journey with Mike Solutions
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, we sit down with retired Army Sergeant Major DJ Mike, the founder of Mike Solutions. With an incredible 25-year track record of entrepreneurship while serving on active duty, DJ Mike...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 7
•
48:42
Episode Six - Uncaging Success - How Cody & Brielle Savoy Built a Thriving Fitness Community
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, Matt and Julie sit down with Cody & Brielle Savoy, founders of Uncaged Fitness, to talk about how they built a gym that's more than just a place to work out - it's a communi...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 6
•
40:26
Episode Five - Lessons in Taking Action - Lessons from our first three guest
In episode 5 of DogTags to Ownership, Matt and Julie take a deep dive into the key insights from our first three guests - David Harrison, Joe Byerly, and Ashley Sankar. From leadership lessons and entrepreneurial strategies to personal growth a...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 5
•
26:06
Episode Four - From Shark Tank to Sustainable Style: Ashley Sankar's Journey with 1920 Fashion
In this episode of Dogtags to Ownership, we sit down with Ashley Sankar, the visionary founder of 1920 Fashion, Shark Tank guest, and former Army logistics officer who served for 9 years. Ashely shares how her military experience shaped her app...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 4
•
45:03
Episode Three - From the Green Notebook to Lifelong Leadership with Joe Byerly
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, we sit down with Joe Byerly, retired Army officer and founder of From the Green Notebook. Joe shares the inspiring story of how he turned a simple idea in 2013 into a powerful platform for leader develop...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 3
•
36:13
Episode Two - Taking the Lead: Seizing Opportunities with David Harrison
In this inspiring episode of DogTags to Ownership, we’re joined by David Harrison, host of the Locked On Commanders podcast and beat writer for the Washington Commanders. David shares his journey from his early days to becoming a respected voic...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 2
•
30:08
