Episodes

#91 - Curtez Riggs - Connecting Communities, Military Influence in Action, and Veteran Impact
Sept. 1, 2025

#91 - Curtez Riggs - Connecting Communities, Military Influence in Action, and Veteran Impact

Curtez Riggs is a retired Military Veteran who spent twenty-one years within the ranks of the US Army. A native of Flint, Michigan, he is a serial entrepreneur, community builder, and advocate for the military community. Today, he uses entrepreneurship as a tool to create economic opportunities for…
#90 - Michelle 'MACE' Curran - How to Turn Fear into Fuel
Aug. 28, 2025

#90 - Michelle 'MACE' Curran - How to Turn Fear into Fuel

Send us a text Meet Michelle "Mace" Curran, former Air Force Thunderbird pilot, keynote speaker, and author. The conversation kicks off with Michelle sharing her excitement about the upcoming release of her first nonfiction book, The Flip Side: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your…
#89 - Todd Simmons - Courageous Leadership & Authentic Living
Aug. 21, 2025

#89 - Todd Simmons - Courageous Leadership & Authentic Living

Todd Simmons is the Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Courageous Leadership Alliance. As a seasoned educator, executive coach, organizational culture influencer, international keynote speaker and business leader, Todd strives to build a coalition of change agents sharing a common aim for building…
#88 - Dr. Keith Castille - Veteran Leadership & Vulnerability
Aug. 14, 2025

#88 - Dr. Keith Castille - Veteran Leadership & Vulnerability

Send us a text In this conversation, Dr. Keith "KC" Castille and Martin Foster explore profound themes of life, loss, and leadership. They reflect on personal experiences that shape their perspectives, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability, the impact of mentorship, and the evolving landscape…
BONUS - Mary Polanco Interview from February 2023
Aug. 7, 2025

BONUS - Mary Polanco Interview from February 2023

Send us a text Mary Polanco shares insights on leadership, wellness, and purposeful living. === Time Codes: 00:00 Mary Polanco: Veteran & Mentor 03:43 Second Chance: Career Shift to Optometry 08:23 Neglecting Self for Others' Validation 12:22 Promote Fitness for Workplace Success 13:31 Grassroo…
#87 - Building Financial Resilience for Veterans - Erik Baskin
July 31, 2025

#87 - Building Financial Resilience for Veterans - Erik Baskin

Send us a text The episode touches on the lack of personal finance education in schools, with Erik advocating for more practical courses to set young adults up for success. He also describes his approach to budgeting as a way to reduce mental stress and free up brain space for more important life d…
#86 - Connecting Rural Veterans to Resources and Support - Michelle Lang
July 14, 2025

#86 - Connecting Rural Veterans to Resources and Support - Michelle Lang

Send us a text In this impactful episode of Passing The Torch, host Martin Foster sits down with Michelle Lang, founder of Operation Honor Rural Salute (OHRS), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting rural and small-town veterans and their families. Michelle shares her personal journey, including her h…
#85 - Blake Stilwell - Humor and Humanity
July 14, 2025

#85 - Blake Stilwell - Humor and Humanity

Send us a text In this episode of “Passing The Torch,” host Martin Foster sits down with Blake Stilwell—an accomplished writer, editor, and combat photographer who was recently named editor in chief at We Are the Mighty. The conversation dives deep into Blake’s unconventional and winding journey th…
#84 - Josh White - From Service to Self-Discovery
July 10, 2025

#84 - Josh White - From Service to Self-Discovery

Send us a text In this heartfelt and insightful episode of "Passing The Torch," host Martin Foster sits down with Josh White, host of the Herofront podcast, core member of Team Departing Sin, and a recent military retiree. The conversation takes listeners through Josh's transition from military lif…
#83 - Cody Keenan - Wonderful Struggle
July 3, 2025

#83 - Cody Keenan - Wonderful Struggle

Send us a text Meet Cody Keenan—best known as President Barack Obama’s longtime speechwriter and author of the bestseller "Grace." The conversation covers Cody’s career journey, from his early days working for Senator Ted Kennedy, to his rise as White House Chief Speechwriter, and beyond. Martin op…
#82 - Shaun Murphy - Music as a Medium for Motivation
June 26, 2025

#82 - Shaun Murphy - Music as a Medium for Motivation

Send us a text Shaun Murphy, known as Mr. Motivation, shares his journey of resilience, fatherhood, and the fusion of music and motivational speaking. He emphasizes the importance of living in the moment, embracing failure, and surrounding oneself with a supportive community. Through personal anecd…
#81 - Kurt Warner’s Playbook - Perseverance, Humility, and Lighting the Way for Others
June 22, 2025

#81 - Kurt Warner’s Playbook - Perseverance, Humility, and Lighting the Way for Others

Send us a text Passing The Torch – "Kurt Warner" Podcast Summary In this inspiring episode of Passing The Torch, host Martin Foster sits down with NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner to explore the remarkable journey that took him from stocking grocery store shelves to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as a S…
Guest: Kurt Warner
#80 - Shadows and Spotlights - Tripp Bodenheimer
June 19, 2025

#80 - Shadows and Spotlights - Tripp Bodenheimer

Send us a text Tripp Bodenheimer is the host of The Shadows Podcast. An enlightening show that uncovers stories of triumph, showcasing inspiring tales of resilience, courage, and hope. Through powerful narratives, it illuminates the indomitable human spirit. Delving into mental, social, physical, a…
#79 - Nate Boyer - Community, Identity, and Healing Through Storytelling
June 12, 2025

#79 - Nate Boyer - Community, Identity, and Healing Through Storytelling

Send us a text Nate Boyer—former Green Beret, NFL long snapper, philanthropist, and public speaker. Nate’s journey is anything but ordinary, spanning military service in Iraq and Afghanistan, walking on to the University of Texas football team, and even suiting up briefly with the Seattle Seahawks.…
Guest: Nate Boyer
#78 - Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas - Healing Through Hitting
April 5, 2025

#78 - Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas - Healing Through Hitting

Send us a text Vincent “Rocco” Vargas, a former decorated Army Ranger who also conducted Spec Ops at the border (and continues to serve as a Sergeant First Class Reserve Officer today). In addition, Rocco Vargas is a veteran of three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with the 75th Ranger R…
Ep. 77: Every Sunset Eventually Leads to Sunrise with Rachel Oswalt
April 3, 2025

Ep. 77: Every Sunset Eventually Leads to Sunrise with Rachel Oswalt

Send us a text Rachel Oswalt is a US Navy veteran who served 6.5 years as an Aviation Electronics Technician. In her time served she not only experienced her own challenges within the military mental health system, but also w...
Ep. 76: Michael 'Rod' Rodriguez: Healing Through Action
March 6, 2025

Ep. 76: Michael 'Rod' Rodriguez: Healing Through Action

Send us a text Background: Michael “Rod” Rodríguez joined the U.S. Army in 1992, becoming a Green Beret in 1997 and serving as a Sniper Instructor at Fort Bragg until his medical retirement in 2013 due to combat injuries. With ten deployments, Rod’s military career was marked by significant contrib…
Ep. 75: Marcus 'Buff' Bagwell: The 11 Hardest Steps In My Life
Feb. 20, 2025

Ep. 75: Marcus 'Buff' Bagwell: The 11 Hardest Steps In My Life

Send us a text Buff Bagwell Discusses Sobriety, Wrestling Career, and Personal Growth. In this captivating episode of Passing The Torch, host Martin sits down with professional wrestling legend Marcus Buff Bagwell for an in-depth conversation about his life, career, and ongoing journey of redemptio…
Ep. 74: Deonna Purrazzo - The First Lady of Stratus
Feb. 13, 2025

Ep. 74: Deonna Purrazzo - The First Lady of Stratus

Send us a text In this episode of "Passing the Torch," the host interviews Deonna Purrazzo, a professional wrestler currently signed with All Elite Wrestling. The conversation explores how Purrazzo's experiences of being told "no" have fueled her resilience and determination to prove herself. They …
Ep. 73: The Art of Bearing: Joshua Alvord's Journey in Military Service and Fitness
Feb. 11, 2025

Ep. 73: The Art of Bearing: Joshua Alvord's Journey in Military Service and Fitness

Send us a text In this episode of "Passing the Torch," Martin Foster interviews Staff Sergeant Joshua Alvord, a member of the United States Air Force Honor Guard, who serves as a body bearer. Alvord shares his journey in the ...
Ep. 72: JoAnne Bass: Leadership in Uniform and Beyond
Feb. 4, 2025

Ep. 72: JoAnne Bass: Leadership in Uniform and Beyond

Send us a text In the latest episode of "Passing The Torch," host Martin Foster interviews JoAnne Bass, the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and the first female to hold the highest senior enlisted rank in any Unit...
Ep. 71: Rebecca Rouse - Momentum in Life and Fitness
Jan. 23, 2025

Ep. 71: Rebecca Rouse - Momentum in Life and Fitness

Send us a text In this engaging conversation, Rebecca Rouse discusses the significance of routine and structure in maintaining mental and physical health. She shares insights into her upcoming projects, including her work wit...
Ep. 70: Steve Maclin | Military Influence on Pro Wrestling
Jan. 18, 2025

Ep. 70: Steve Maclin | Military Influence on Pro Wrestling

Send us a text In this engaging conversation, Steve Maclin shares insights from his journey as a Marine Corps veteran turned professional wrestler. He discusses the influence of his military background on his wrestling person...
Ep. 69: Tiffany Zaloudek - Passion, Perseverance, and SERE Training
Jan. 9, 2025

Ep. 69: Tiffany Zaloudek - Passion, Perseverance, and SERE Training

In this compelling episode of "Passing The Torch," we are joined by the trailblazing Tiffany Zaloudek, the first female SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) specialist to rise to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. Tiffany’s story is both inspiring and enlightening,…