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
50 episodes
Episode 50 - From DogTags to Wedding Planning: Carmen's Journey
In this engaging conversation, Carmen Fleischmann shares her journey from serving in the Florida National Guard to becoming a successful wedding planner. She discusses her military background, the challenges of transitioning to entrepreneurship...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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38:21
Episode 49 - Brazilian Roots, American Craft: Inside 5th Haven Cachaça with the Zachary and Jessica
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, Julie and Matt sit down with Zachary and Jessica Cunningham—both active-duty Army officers and the powerhouse founders behind 5th Haven Cachaça, a new premium, organic Brazilian spir...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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33:28
Episode 48 - From Marine Boots to Boardroom: Untangling your Leadership Path with Miguel Echols
In this engaging conversation, Miguel Echols, a US Marine Corps veteran, shares his journey from military service to becoming a leadership consultant and motivational speaker. He discusses his passion for leadership, the challenges of transitio...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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25:15
Episode 47 - From Soldier to Sober: Joe Yurick's Journey of Transformation
In today’s episode we sit down with Joe Yurick The Founder of This Sober Vet Podcast, a U.S. combat veteran and small business owner, to discuss his incredible journey from military service to sobriety. Joe shares his insights on normalizing so...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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41:44
Episode 46 - Three Episodes, One Mission: Turning DogTags Into Ownership
In Episode 46 of DogTags to Ownership, Julie and Matt sit down for a rapid-fire recap of Episodes 43–45—three conversations packed with wisdom, grit, and real-world strategies for turning service into success. We revisit the game-changing insig...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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27:02
Episode 45 - From Flight Paths to Franchises: How Air Force Veteran Vivek Shah Built his Entrepreneurial Trajectory
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, Julie and Matt sit down with Air Force navigator turned serial entrepreneur Vivek Shah — a powerhouse behind multiple successful ventures. From owning three Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids franchises to co-found...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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37:39
Episode 44 - From Service to Support: How Chas Sampson Helps Veterans Get the Benefits They Deserve
In this episode, Army veteran Chas Sampson, founder and CEO of Seven Principles, shares how his own experiences inspired him to create a company dedicated to helping veterans receive the benefits they’...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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48:52
Episode 43 - From PAO to Powerhouse: How Waza Media is Transforming Veteran-Led Marketing
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, we sit down with Alex Milner and J.R. Arce, founders of Waza Media, to explore their journey from serving as Public Affairs Officers in the military to becoming the driving ...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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46:33
Episode 42 - DogTags to Deal-Making: Recapping Episodes 39-41 & Bonus Franchise Insight w/ Giuseppe Grammatico
In this episode of Dog Tags to Ownership, hosts Matt Cain and Julie Austin recap episodes 39 to 41, highlighting the journeys of veterans who transitioned from military service to entrepreneurship. They discuss the insights shared...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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40:51
Episode 41 - From Flight Deck to Foundership: Jeff McCabe's Mission-Driven Leadership
In this episode Matt and Julie sit down with Jeff McCabe - U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Navy Pilot, and owner of BWQOHT, INC. Jeff shares how the precision, pressure, and purpose of military aviation shaped his path into entrepreneurship. ...
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43:17
Episode 40 - From Desert Storm to the Airwaves: Eva Fulton's Journey of Service and Storytelling
In this powerful episode of DogTags to Ownership, Julie and Matt sit down with Eva Fulton - U.S. Army Desert Storm Veteran, entrepreneur, author, filmmaker, songwriter, and podcast host. Eva shares how her military experience shaped her resilie...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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43:58
Episode 39 - Navigating Military Transition: Insights from Gregory Povenski
In this conversation, Gregory Povenski, a US Army Special Forces veteran, shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA). He discusses his military background, the challenges of transitioning to civilian ...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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31:42
Episode 38 - From Service to Success: Recapping Episodes 35–37 + Bonus Insights with Charity Brown of The Happy CEO
In Episode 38 of DogTags to Ownership, Julie and Matt sit down to recap the powerful lessons shared in Episodes 35–37. From Gerry of RedBeard Solutions and his blueprint for building a “Destination Employer,” to Dan Clare of Disabled American V...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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36:20
Episode 37 - From the Marine Corps to the Canvas: Leroy Brown’s Journey into Art & Entrepreneurship
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, we sit down with retired U.S. Marine Leroy Brown, the creative force behind Leroy Brown Art. Leroy shares how he leveraged his military benefits to earn a degree in entrepreneurship and how he transforme...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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38:07
Episode 36 - Dan Clare on Empowering Veterans through DAV
In this conversation, Dan Clare, Chief Communications and Outreach Officer for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), discusses the organization's history, mission, and the various services it provides to veterans. He shares insights into the Pa...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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31:30
Episode 35 - From Marine Corps to Destination Employer: Recruiting and Retaining Talent with Gerry Gadoury
Join us in Episode 35 for an inspiring and strategic conversation with Gerry Gadoury, a former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant and Signals Intelligence Operator turned recruitment expert and founder of RedBeard Solutions. Drawing on nearly three dec...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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35:32
Episode 34 - From Land to Leadership: Recapping Episodes 31–33 + Bonus with Hammer & Nails
In this special recap episode, Julie and Matt sit down to revisit the last three powerful conversations: • Ep 31 – Brent Bowers, The Landshark 🦈: breaking down how land investing can create free...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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35:33
Episode 33 - From Service to Scaling: How an Infantry Vet Built a National Staffing Company
In this episode, Chris Wallingford, a U.S. Army veteran and owner of Metafora Group, shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship. He discusses the challenges of transitioning to civilian life, the establishment of his staffing ...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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45:15
Episode 32 - Breaking the Surface: Purpose & Healing Below the Waves
In this powerful episode, Marine Corps veteran Larry Wilson — founder and CEO of Deep Blue Dive Therapy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD through therapeutic ...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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41:21
Episode 31 - From Boots to Building Wealth: Brent Bowers' Land Investing Journey
This week on DogTags to Ownership, Matt and Julie sit down with Brent Bowers - a former Army officer turned real estate investor and land flipping expert. Brent shares how he transitioned from active duty to full-time entre...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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33:56
Episode 30 - 30 Episodes In: Reflecting, Recapping, and Rolling Forward
In this special milestone episode of DogTags to Ownership, Matt and Julie hit pause to reflect on the journey so far. They recap the inspiring stories and lessons from Episodes 27-29, featuring Wesley Hutchinson of Whiskey Run C...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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20:14
Episode 29 - From Operations to Ownership: Christopher McKinney's Mission Beyond the Uniform
In Episode 29 of DogTags to Ownership, Matt and Julie sit down with Christopher Mckinney - Retired U.S. Army Veteran and Founder of OpSynergy - to dive into his powerful journey from the frontlines to founding his own business. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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37:23
Episode 28 - From Infantry to Industry: How Sean Loosen Is Transforming Optical Solutions
In this episode of DogTags to Ownership, we sit down with Sean Loosen, a U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate who took the lessons of leadership, discipline, and grit from the infantry field to the forefront of the optical industry....
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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42:33
Episode 27 - From the Gunny to the Grain: Wesley Hutchinson's Journey with Whiskey Run Customs
In this episode, Wesley Hutchinson shares his inspiring journey from being a United States Marine Corps veteran to becoming a successful entrepreneur with his business, Whiskey Run Customs. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from mili...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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41:25
Episode 26 - Turning Service into Impact: How Veterans Lead Through Ownership and Purpose
In this special recap episode, Julie and Matt connect the dots across Episodes 23 to 25, highlighting how each guest embodies the power of transforming service into impact. From Leroy Roberts, Founder & CEO of Team Worth Solutions, to Kimbe...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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35:55