Episodes

Ryan Leaf explores addiction, accountability, identity, and why lasting transformation begins with radical self-honesty. - Podcast Chapters: 00:00 Ryan Leaf's redemption journey 05:46 Caring about family opinions only 09:07 Taking control of daily attitude 11:14 Sharing personal experiences openly 15:39 Reflecting on personal accountability 17:40 Discussing vulnerability and accountability 23:32 Diagnosing and understanding CTE 26:12 The impact of football on players 29:54 Re...

Send us Fan Mail Michael Sullivan is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel with 30 years of service, including 23 years as a Green Beret and the Executive Director at Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB). A 1994 graduate of Claremont McKenna College, he led some of the military’s most elite special operations units and served in key command roles across Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Africa. Sully completed six combat tours in Afghanistan and commanded organizations including 3rd Special For...

Amberly Lago is a widely recognized expert in helping entrepreneurs build their businesses through grit and resilience. As the founder of The Unstoppable Life Mastermind, she has worked with thousands of clients, empowering them to achieve success by developing resilience and perseverance. She is the host of The Amberly Lago Show, a podcast recognized by Apple as being among the Top 1% of podcasts worldwide. An internationally sought-after speaker on grit, resilience, and con...

The Military Veteran Awards event celebrates the incredible veterans, service members, storytellers, creators, and entertainment leaders changing how military stories are told. - Quick Episode Summary: I conducted nine interviews on the red carpet. This video is a combination of all videos. The episode is a vibrant celebration of the intersection between military service and entertainment, showcasing personal stories of resilience, creativity, and mutual respect. It h...

Ryan Hawk is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and host of The Learning Leader Show, where he has interviewed more than 700 influential leaders, including CEOs, bestselling authors, elite athletes, military leaders, and entrepreneurs. His podcast is consistently one of the world's top business shows, earning millions of downloads annually. Ryan is the author of three leadership books, including the USA Today bestseller The Score That Matters. A former Divi...

Jasmine Jones is an Airman in the United States Air Force, a High-Performance Athlete with Team USA Bobsled, Mid-American Conference Most Outstanding Track Performer, First Team College All-American, Bobsleigh Bronze Medalist in the 2026 Winter Olympics (which ended EMU’s 42-year drought without a US Olympic medal for the university’s athletes) and a single Mom. - Quick Episode Summary: Air Force Olympian Jasmine Jones discusses resilience, motherhood, bobsled journey. - Peop...

In 2001, former NFL player and 3x Superbowl Champion, Matt Light, and his wife Susie, established The Light Foundation to help young people develop the skills, values, and mindset they need to create a meaningful and productive future. The mission of The Light Foundation mission is to take young people out of their everyday environments and provide them with unique opportunities that ignite their passion, purpose, and motivation to succeed. - Quick Episode Summary: Buckeye Bl...

Manny Piñeiro is a certified executive coach and professional speaker who is skilled in leadership and character development at all levels of management. He is also on the USO Board of Governors and the President and Founder of MAKING TIME COUNT, LLC which focuses on making the most of our humanity count every second, through human involvement and meaningful change for C-Suite Executives and their employees. Manny is an extreme advocate of transitioning milit...

Army Veteran Adam Jones shares his journey from military service to personal transformation, highlighting the importance of identity, mental health, and living with purpose. He discusses the concept of weapons of mass deception, the power of grace, and how to find fulfillment beyond achievement. - Quick Episode Summary: Adam Jones discusses freedom, identity, achievement, and overcoming silent struggles. - 🔥 Torch Takeaways Include: ◼ Leaders aren’t responsible for results—th...

Vet Tix Chief Strategy Officer Steven Weintraub. Steve's dedication to service began in 1987 when he enlisted as a Combat Engineer in the Marine Corps Reserves. Following his 1989 graduation from Arizona State University, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and served as a Logistics Officer. His active-duty career took him across the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf, including a deployment to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope aboard the USS Rushmore Continuing his...

Kate McKinnon is the former Head of Human Resources at Playfly Sports, a leading sports media and marketing company. There, she led the People function through a fast-paced, high-growth phase - helping the company earn recognition as both a Most Loved Workplace and one of the Best Employers in Sports. Today, she leads her own consulting practice focused on empowering organizations by prioritizing their most valuable asset: people. Her work centers on: Leadership Develop...

Send us Fan Mail Lessons learned after over eight plus years of podcasting. Support the show Connect with Passing The Torch: Facebook and IG: @torchmartin More Amazing Stories: Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You Insecure Episode 81: Kurt Warner – Perseverance, Humility, and Lighting the Way Episode 90: Michelle 'MACE' Curran – How to Turn Fear into Fuel ------------ © 2026 TORCH LEAP®, LLC. All rights reserved.

Andy Riise (Reece) is an Army Veteran, West Point graduate, and former Army football fullback with 20+ years leading Soldiers in combat, earning two Bronze Stars. A pioneer in military mental fitness, he helped launch resilience programs and later coached MLB and NFL teams, including the Chicago Bears. With advanced training in sport and performance psychology, he now works with leaders across business, healthcare, and athletics. He’s a bestselling co-author...

George Hayworth is the Founder of Elite Sentinel Coaching where he “forges leaders and builds legacies”. He also leverages his expertise in leadership through over a decade of military experience, corporate experience and skills like emotional intelligence and conflict resolution developed through over a decade of therapy and healing. - Quick Episode Summary: George Hayworth explores legacy, leadership, emotional regulation, and personal growth. - 🌟 Torch Takeaways Include: G...

Scott Huesing is a retired Marine Infantry Major, combat leader, and bestselling author of Echo in Ramadi. A seasoned speaker and media contributor, he shares hard-earned insights on leadership, human connection, and overcoming adversity forged through 24 years of service and global combat deployments. - Quick Episode Summary: In this episode of Passing The Torch, I sit down with Scott Huesing, a former U.S. Marine Corps officer who led Marines through some of the most ...

Send us Fan Mail April is the Month of the Military Child. According to Defense.gov, Military families move every two to three years on average, and military children change schools an average of six to nine times from the start of kindergarten to their high school graduation. This year an estimated 30 percent of military service members will move to a new installation. Each year , April is set aside as a military child appreciation month, officially known as the Month of the Militar...

Jason J. Galui is the former Director for Veterans and Military Families at the George W. Bush Institute and the Director, Center for Civic Participation, Endicott College. Throughout a unique military career, Galui led soldiers in combat, taught economics to West Point cadets, advised senior military leaders in the Pentagon, and served in both the Obama and Trump White Houses. As Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Security Council and Chief of Staff to the Nati...

Matthias Giraud is a Professional Skier and Base Jumper, 2 X World Record Holder, and the man known as Super Frenchie. - Quick Episode Summary: Matthias Giraud discusses fear, passion, and mastering extreme mountain sports. - SEO Description: Explore extreme sports, fear, passion, and mindset with Matthias Giraud, pro skier and BASE jumper, on Passing the Torch. Insightful, inspiring conversation. - 🌟 Torch Takeaways and Key highlights: The Power of Intentional LivingFe...

Mary Howe is a writer, nurse, and military veteran whose work explores identity, transition, faith, and personal growth. Drawing from a multigenerational military family legacy, she reflects on purpose, resilience, and the quiet work of becoming. Through her Substack, she shares thoughtful essays on wellness, optimism rooted in history, and the journey from external achievement to internal alignment. - Quick Episode Summary: Mary Howe explores self-worth, transition, l...

Nick Lavery is a Special Forces Warrant Officer who returned to combat after losing his leg in a 2013 insider attack in Afghanistan. Refusing medical retirement, he became the first amputee in military history to complete multiple elite Special Forces qualification courses, including Combat Diver. A Silver Star recipient with three Purple Hearts, he speaks on resilience, leadership, and performing at the highest level after adversity. - Quick Episode Summary: Nick Lavery shares le...

While serving on active duty, Charlynda Scales inherited her grandfather’s (a Korean and Vietnam War Veteran) 1956 barbecue sauce recipe. She realized it;s true power wasn’t the ingredients, but the legacy behind it. Driven by gratitude, she now honors his sacrifice and celebrates the strength binding her family for generations. - Quick Episode Summary: Charlynda Scales shares resilience, entrepreneurship, and authentic leadership lessons learned. - SEO Description: Explore resili...

Kellen Mond shares his journey from surviving the chaotic world of professional football to finding peace and passion in photography and art. Hear about his upcoming debut show, the lessons learned from high-pressure NFL environments, and how his unique lens helps him capture the beauty in imperfection and chaos. - Quick Episode Summary: Kellen Mond discusses NFL challenges, art, photography, and embracing chaos. - SEO Description: Former NFL quarterback Kellen Mond shares his jou...

Send a text Timothy Klund, aka TK, shares his journey from being an Air Force veteran to becoming a successful entrepreneur and community leader. He discusses the importance of relationships, the value of time, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures. The conversation also delves into the origins of the Celebrity Softball Classic, emphasizing the significance of community and connection. TK's insights on spirituality, personal growth, and the necessity of...

Send a text Joe Bogdan is a remarkable teacher, mentor, and Air Force leader turned business innovator. We talked about resilience, finding purpose after military service, and the real, sometimes messy journey of leadership. Joe shared insights from his book, “Better Has No Finish Line,” and how facing life’s toughest moments can spark true growth. If you’re looking for encouragement, actionable leadership wisdom, and a reminder that consistency beats perfection every time, this episode is fo...