Episodes

#90 - Michelle 'MACE' Curran - How to Turn Fear into Fuel
Aug. 28, 2025

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

Send 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 Su…
#89 - Todd Simmons - Courageous Leadership & Authentic Living
Aug. 21, 2025

#89 - Todd Simmons - Courageous Leadership & Authentic Living

Send a text 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 …
#88 - Dr. Keith Castille - Veteran Leadership & Vulnerability
Aug. 14, 2025

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

Send 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 of…
BONUS - Mary Polanco Interview from February 2023
Aug. 7, 2025

BONUS - Mary Polanco Interview from February 2023

Send 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 Grassroots …
#87 - Building Financial Resilience for Veterans - Erik Baskin
July 31, 2025

#87 - Building Financial Resilience for Veterans - Erik Baskin

Send 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 deci…
#86 - Connecting Rural Veterans to Resources and Support - Michelle Lang
July 14, 2025

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

Send 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 husb…
#85 - Blake Stilwell - Humor and Humanity
July 14, 2025

#85 - Blake Stilwell - Humor and Humanity

Send 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 throu…
#84 - Josh White - From Service to Self-Discovery
July 10, 2025

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

Send 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 life t…
#83 - Cody Keenan - Wonderful Struggle
July 3, 2025

#83 - Cody Keenan - Wonderful Struggle

Send 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 opens…
#82 - Shaun Murphy - Music as a Medium for Motivation
June 26, 2025

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

Send 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 anecdote…
Ep. 81: Kurt Warner’s Playbook - Perseverance, Humility, and Lighting the Way for Others
June 22, 2025

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

Send 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 Supe…
Guest: Kurt Warner
#80 - Shadows and Spotlights - Tripp Bodenheimer
June 19, 2025

#80 - Shadows and Spotlights - Tripp Bodenheimer

Send 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, and …
#79 - Nate Boyer - Community, Identity, and Healing Through Storytelling
June 12, 2025

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

Send 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. He…
Guest: Nate Boyer
#78 - Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas - Healing Through Hitting
April 5, 2025

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

Send 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 Regi…
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 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 witnessed countless shipmates who dealt with similar struggles. After losing 3…
Ep. 76: Michael 'Rod' Rodriguez: Healing Through Action
March 6, 2025

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

Send 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 contributi…
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 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 redemption. …
Ep. 74: Deonna Purrazzo - The First Lady of Stratus
Feb. 13, 2025

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

Send 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 dis…
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 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 Air Force, influenced by his family's military background and his personal pa…
Ep. 72: JoAnne Bass - Leadership in Uniform and Beyond
Feb. 4, 2025

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

Send 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 United States military branch. The episode provides insights into Bass's impressi…
Ep. 71: Rebecca Rouse - Momentum in Life and Fitness
Jan. 23, 2025

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

Send 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 with the Semper Stronger Foundation, which supports veterans. The discussion als…
Ep. 70: Steve Maclin - Military Influence on Pro Wrestling
Jan. 18, 2025

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

Send 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 persona, the evolution of TNA wrestling, and the importance of character developmen…
Ep. 69: Tiffany Zaloudek - Passion, Perseverance, and SERE Training
Jan. 9, 2025

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

Send a text Roughly 1.25% of the Air Force hold the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. It’s already a tough milestone to achieve. Tiffany Zaloudek is someone who did just that and made even more history recently by becoming the first female survival, evasion, resistance, escape (SERE) specialist to ear…
Ep. 68: Jennifer Marshall - Paranormal, Acting, Cancer, Uganda, Military, and Motherhood
Dec. 10, 2024

Ep. 68: Jennifer Marshall - Paranormal, Acting, Cancer, Uganda, Military, and Motherhood

Send a text Jennifer Marshall is a proud Navy veteran, EMT, Cancer Survivor and vocal advocate for the military veteran community. You may know her as the host of Mysteries Decoded on the CW (yes, she really is a licensed Private Investigator), or as Max's mom on Netflix's hit, Stranger Things. Oth…