Ep. 135: The Light Foundation Buckeye Blast

Appreciating team support and fun

Martin Foster 0:00

Hey everyone, welcome to Passing the Torch. A few weeks ago, I attended the second annual Buckeye Blast put on by the Light Foundation in Delaware, Ohio. I recorded a bunch of interviews, and there were great interviews, and the videos themselves actually did really well. So I decided to strip the audio from those videos, compile all those different interviews into one episode. So throughout this episode, you're gonna hear me talking to uh through I think nine different people. The co-founders of the Light Foundation, Matt and Susie Light. You'll hear me talking to the Ohio State men's wrestling coach, Coach Tom Ryan, uh Bobby Carpenter, legendary Ohio State linebacker, and of course he played in the NFL, Nate Emner from the Patriots, country music superstar Tyler Farr. Um, man, there's there's a lot of people. Joy Eden, Troy Eden. Troy Eden is an Air Force uh veteran and the COO of the White Foundation. Um, yeah, so again, just a lot of cool interviews. Hope you enjoy. And if you could please like, share, follow, subscribe, all those great things. It'll help me continue to grow the show. I appreciate all of you. I have a

Matt Light

Martin Foster 1:05

fun intro I'm gonna read about you, but first, my name is Martin Foster from Passing the Torch. I'm here at the Black Wing Shooting Center where the Buckeye Blast is taking place, put on by the Light Foundation. Here's my intro I did for you. A classic, just like the LC Smith, three-time Super Bowl champion, and along with his wife, Suzy Light, established the Light Foundation where their 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. To my left, ladies and gentlemen, is Matt Light. Matt, thank you so much for just inviting me here today and just chatting with me.

SPEAKER_01 1:41

Well, listen, I like the fact that you start off with the LC Smith, which was my first shotgun handed down to me from my dad, and he got it from his father. And that side by side is probably still the gun that I would grab over any other gun if I was gonna go out and try to knock down a few birds or or even go out and shoot some sporting clays like we are here today at the Blackwing Center. But love the LC Smith, man. So I don't know that I'm that classic. You are. I'm definitely getting old, so I know that I know that much.

Martin Foster 2:11

I did my research on you. Uh, before we talk about the Buckeye Blask, I have to ask you one fun question. Are you the reason why Julian Edman thinks his house is haunted?

SPEAKER_01 2:21

I I heard somebody sent me a clip of him saying that he thinks I may be behind some shenanigans that are taking place within his home. Listen, I mean, Julian may be haunted himself, you know. So there's no telling what kind of bad mojo he's, you know, attracted to himself with all the shenanigans that he pulls. So he can try to put that on me, but I'm just gonna say this much. Jules, you need to check yourself, maybe go get a cleansing, see some kind of a priest, and get, you know, whatever that is off of you because it's not me, okay, buddy?

Martin Foster 2:55

You heard it here first. All right, let's talk about the Buckeye blast. What do you hope people take away from this today?

SPEAKER_01 3:00

Well, I think two things. One, the most important part is they've given up time out of their day to support something that that is near and dear to all of us. And in a lot of cases, you know, the people that are here today understand, you know, what we do and how we do it. But I personally want them to have a great day. I want them to have fun. I want them to enjoy being around their team members and hanging out. And look at look at the day we have. We're so blessed to be at a place like this where we can enjoy activities like these. And then the other part that is really important, right, is we're doing this for a purpose. And it's amazing how fulfilling it is to take time out of your day to do things that are purpose-driven and that that fulfill a need, right? And they're gonna get to hear from some kids that have been part of our programs. That's the heart of what we do. Yeah, um, and so I'm really excited for both those, having a great time, doing it with a purpose, and getting to hear from these kids themselves.

Martin Foster 3:58

Was there once with regards to the foundation and the young kids, was there one specific story that within all the years that you've been doing it, just like, man, this is it right here. This is why why we're doing it.

SPEAKER_01 4:08

Well, I think there's there's tons. And and every year, you know, we get to meet different kids. And yeah, we have a lot of kids that come back year after year. But for me, it's it's seeing the interaction, it's and it's hearing young people who say things like, you know what, being able to be a part of what you do or taking a part in this program, I feel like I'm part of a family. And I think that that's really important today because you know, you go out and and you see families and you see, you know, young people, and they're glued to uh attachments, right? Things like your cell phone and iPads, and and the disconnect is greater today than what it should be when we are able to connect in more ways. So true connections and and really having meaningful moments together is what we're all about. And I get to see that through, you know, our staff members' interactions, um, bringing in great mentors to talk with these kids and show them like, hey, you know what, don't do this, but think about that, right? And and that's the most fulfilling part to me is is being a part of that transformation or that realization in some cases, because look, we didn't all have great mentors growing up. And some of us did and didn't take advantage of it, like myself at times, because I was a knucklehead myself. But um, I I did I love those interactions and and being a part of a family is really important.

Martin Foster 5:28

That's awesome. What do you think? How uh what do you think kids are missing today by not doing more outdoor stuff like

The importance of genuine experiences

Martin Foster 5:36

this?

SPEAKER_01 5:36

You know, I think the connection to things that are real, right? Like what is real today? You have AI that can generate anything, it looks a hundred percent real, but you can't fake real when you touch it and you feel it and you have time. See, the the value of time is so very important because I can fool you in a couple hours, but over a couple of days, a couple of weeks, a couple of years, you can see through anybody's falsehoods. Yeah, and I think that that's the thing that that we're we're craving more now than ever, especially young people, is having a connection to things that actually matter and are real. The outdoors is real. You know, the struggle is real, but you know what? When you earn it and you put yourself in a position to experience something that's truly real, you never forget it either.

Martin Foster 6:25

I do have just a couple wrap-up questions, but uh one last kind of serious question. What would need to happen over the next 10 years time for you to reflect back and think that the past 10 years have been a success with regard to the Light Foundation?

SPEAKER_01 6:38

You know, it's a it's a great question, and it speaks to the growth. You know, we've we've gone through a massive growth period over the last, you know, seven, eight years. And 10 years from now, our hope is that we can upgrade our facilities in, which will enable us to host more kids for longer periods of time, uh, more kids that can stay overnight at the camp. Yeah. Um, we we have a number of other programs that we'd like to initiate. We have a uh what is probably gonna be known as a trade school that we're hoping to have online in the next five to seven years that focuses on the trades, but it's really a leadership program in disguise. See, at the Light Foundation, everything we do circles back to leadership.

Leadership Academy goals and programs

SPEAKER_01 7:17

So we have the Leadership Academy. That academy is really geared towards opening up kids' experiences and what they're doing and the activities so that they can have conversations, look people in the eye, treat people with respect, learn what work ethic is, learn what accountability means, you know, all those things that we say are being real, responsible, ethical, accountable leaders, and but we want to put it into practice. So, yeah, we have a lot of lofty goals, whether it's Timbertown Training Village or our trade school, so to speak, leadership program, or the expansion of our master lodging uh and facilities end of it. And so 10 years from now, if we can accomplish those things, we'll stay on track with the goals that we have internally and that the team is set for our strategic development.

Martin Foster 8:01

I love that. That's such a great answer. Couple of just wrap-up, fun questions. You've had, I don't, I I've done a lot of research about you, and I'm familiar, obviously, with your playing career. A lot of people talk about your time, you know, obviously with the Patriots. But I remember like you also blocked for Drew Breeze at Purdue. So between another legendary quarterback, uh, I would say Brady's uh, I think the best quarterback of all time is Uncle Rico. And then we can talk about you know Brady and Breeze and Kurt Warner and all those guys, but sure. Um but between Drew Breeze and Tom Brady, who would do better in the wilderness?

SPEAKER_01 8:36

Wow. Well, listen, I I I do believe that Breeze was on with uh uh what was his name? Gillis? Uh uh Shane Gillis? No, no, no, no, not just Shane. Shane Gillis. I I wanted to say that too. Yeah. Um, he had the uh survival type show, and he was a guy that like, you know, could survive in all these different conditions. He had a show on Discovery or whatever it was. I remember he did that, so he's got a little bit of an education there. And I would say that probably more importantly, Tom's really into fashion. And I think like it would probably be detrimental to his Manny Petty to get too much into the weeds. I love you, Tommy, but you're not the outdoorsman. So we got to give that one hands down to Mr. Drew Brees. Whether or not he retained any of the knowledge by a professional teaching him how to survive in the outdoors, he's definitely going to be better outfitted to survive in the jungle.

Martin Foster 9:34

And Uncle Rico would definitely be better than both of them.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

Well, Uncle Rico, yeah, because he spends a lot of time in the mountains throwing balls over the mountains. So, yeah, I mean, everybody loves Uncle Rico.

Martin Foster 9:44

Last question. It's about the Miz, and I'm a huge pro wrestling fan. So the thing about the haunted house, that was uh The Miz on uh the podcast with Julian Edman. But the Miz shared something about this. He said he loved listening to you talk about a bow and arrow. What is something you would love to hear the Miz talk about?

SPEAKER_01 10:02

Oh man. Um, well, listen, I think from what he's done in his life, it's it's so drastically different than how I came up in the whether you call it sports or just athletics or whatever. Um, I I like the behind-the-scenes stuff that happens with the guys. Like the locker room for me was the reason I played a game. All those relationships, busting chops. If there was an HR department, in what he did or in what I did, we would never have had the kind of fun that we had. So I would just want to hear some of the shenanigans and how they busted chops in his time, you know, and the things that he's done.

Martin Foster 10:41

Actually, one last bonus question between Ohio State and I want Troy to hear this question. Troy, you need to hear this question. Troy, I want you to hear this question. Uh I want you to hear this question. Who would survive better in the wilderness? Ohio State fans or Purdue fans?

SPEAKER_01 10:55

Well, that's a that's a that's a no-brainer. So look, in the in the outdoors, what's important is you have to earn everything, right? I mean, you're not gonna make it if somebody's holding your hand. If you're if you're talking about Ohio State versus Purdue and which one of those students, athletes that attend those universities are gonna make it over the other one. At Purdue, we actually go to class. We actually have to earn our degrees. You know, we don't have people just walking our candy asses to class and doing all the work for us. You know what I'm saying? And we're engineers. We can engineer our way in and out of everything. I mean, you're you're and you're also comparing us to a poisonous nut that is its own worst enemy. So, with all those things given, I think it's clear that a boilermaker is surviving, um, a buckeye, not not doable.

Martin Foster 11:43

Matt, thank you so much for your time and answering my questions for this fantastic opportunity. I I appreciate you, Susie, and the Light Foundation so much.

SPEAKER_01 11:50

Well, we appreciate you being here and uh we're looking forward to having a heck of a

Susie Light

SPEAKER_01 11:54

day.

Martin Foster 11:54

Uh, my name is Martin Foster from Passing the Torch. I'm here in Delaware, Ohio, at the Black Wing Shooting Center in support of the Buckeye Blast. To my left is a co-founder of the Light Foundation, Susie Light. Susie, how are you?

SPEAKER_03 12:06

I'm very good. Thank you.

Martin Foster 12:08

Uh thank you so much for uh uh taking time to chat with me. Um just very quickly, like how would you describe the Light Foundation?

SPEAKER_03 12:16

Oh, geez. Well, we're a family-run organization, largely. I mean, we have a great big amazing staff, but our family's very involved. Um definitely a labor of love. It's something that we started to do when we were 23 years old. Just we wanted to, you know, start something to give back to the community in the area where Matt grew up and it kind of grew, and we kind of serve communities all over the country now, and it's just something we do to you know connect with our our community and our friends and our family. So it's an overview, big overview.

Martin Foster 12:49

No, and it's great what uh the foundation provides. It's it's such fantastic, especially for young people. Uh, what do you want people to take away that are everyone that's attending here today? What do you hope they take away? And then as far as like, what do you hope young people take away from the foundation as well?

The Light foundation's impact on youth

SPEAKER_03 13:04

So today I just hope that everyone sees, you know, how much we care about young people and um just the incredible community that makes up the Light Foundation. And I mean how selfless and you know generous people really are for young people. It means a lot to these kids. When our kids are in our programs, a lot of them will tell you that they feel that like they're at home when they're in camp with us or taking um part in any of our programs. They feel like we genuinely care about them. And um, you know, it's a place to open up and be themselves and meet new people and realize they can do things that you know they may not, you know, they never realized they could do back at home in their own community. So once they spend some time with us, we hope that they take back the things they learn in camp to their own communities and you know give back in that way.

Martin Foster 13:54

So that's amazing. How can people best support the Light

Event fundraising with incentives

Martin Foster 13:59

Foundation?

SPEAKER_03 13:59

So for us, we don't generally do big like campaign ask for money for very often just to give. We really encourage people to come out to one of our events because we really believe in you know getting something in return for, you know, when you come, you're gonna have a good time. If you buy a ticket to one of our events, you are going to leave wanting to come back and excited about you know being part of what we do. Usually in our um auction, we have amazing things like if you're gonna give us money, you're gonna get something really cool in return. Maybe it's an amazing trip, some kind of amazing experience with hunting or the outdoors or a vacation.

Martin Foster 14:35

As far as auction, actually, it's kind of a bonus question. What was one item you're like, man, that'd be that's really cool. I would love to have that.

SPEAKER_03 14:42

Ah, geez. You asked the wrong girl because I have something better.

Martin Foster 14:49

Here's something more fun.

SPEAKER_03 14:50

I wouldn't want to go on any of the hunting trips. I don't need me or hunt, but I understand why people do want to go.

Martin Foster 14:56

Who would survive better in the wilderness? Your husband Matt or Troy Eden?

SPEAKER_03 15:04

Troy, I love you, Troy, but I'd I'd say it'd be Matt. I'd say it'd be Matt. Yeah.

Martin Foster 15:11

It's because he's a buckeye. That's why.

SPEAKER_03 15:14

100% because he's a buckeye. The Boilermaker always trumps a buckeye. And uh, I mean, I love Troy, and he can do a lot of things, but definitely Matt's gonna win that on.

Martin Foster 15:26

Susie, thank you so much for this opportunity. Thank you so much for for having me here, allowing me to be here today just to help share the story. Uh, and thank you for everything you do for just young people in our country. I appreciate you.

SPEAKER_03 15:36

Well, thank you for being here and sharing our story.

Martin Foster 15:38

Thank you. That was

Troy Eden

Martin Foster 15:40

great. Man, ladies and gentlemen, I love this guy. This guy to my left is someone who means so much to me and many others. I served 23 years in the military, and I remember meeting you when I was, I think, in E5 or E6, and you obviously don't remember, no, I'm joking. Yeah, but uh um, but you were so kind to me at such you were at a high-level position. But man, you've you've been a mentor and a model uh citizen for uh when was that? When are we at NASIC?

SPEAKER_02 16:08

Dude, so uh I so I was there three times, and I think I met you when I was there, so man chief, so uh 2013.

Martin Foster 16:16

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, so and 2026, so over 13 years, man, you mean so much to me, Troy. So uh thank you for having me at this at this event. So let's talk about the Buckeye Blast Light Foundation, and what's your actual title with the Light Foundation?

SPEAKER_02 16:30

Yes, sir. So I'm the chief operations officer for the foundation. I tell you, you know, I I spent my life in the Air Force, 27 years active duty, and just by happenstance, I through a mutual friend, I got introduced to Matt Light. They needed somebody to come up, teach overnight survival. So I was all in, and after three days, I said, it's a God thing, and this is where I'm supposed to be, you know, working with these kids. Uh just it's been such a blessing. So I've been with the foundation now four years. Hard to believe.

Martin Foster 16:58

And that smile on your face says it all.

SPEAKER_02 17:00

Well, you know, some days like, and I accidentally I was joking with the board of directors, and I said, Hey, I would do this for free. And like the president of the board said, Don't ever say that.

SPEAKER_09 17:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:10

I think they were gonna take me up on it. But I mean, when you spend your days, you know, getting kids out of their day-to-day routine, into the woods, fishing, hunting, just outdoors and something that's real.

Martin Foster 17:21

How much is of that is lost today in 2026?

SPEAKER_02 17:24

Oh, it's it's amazing. It is, it's stunning the amount of just the sheer numbers of kids that don't spend an hour outdoors. Yeah, you know, it's it's you know, they get on a bus, they go to school, they're in school all day, they come home, they're playing video games, or they're on their phone. And yeah, it's such a like look at today.

Martin Foster 17:43

I mean, yeah, that's the weather's always changing in Ohio. It is we got a good one today.

SPEAKER_02 17:47

It's a beautiful day, but I mean, it's we'll we'll get kids out to our camps, and maybe it's a three-day camp or a week-long camp, and we take cell phones away. Yeah, we we don't want them distracted. And I'll tell you that, you you give us a kid for and after 24 hours without a cell phone, and they're doing real stuff in the woods or the pond, or it's a different kid. It's unbelievable the change.

Martin Foster 18:11

So, well, you know, it's funny you say that my old boss, Steve Mega Watts. He yeah, we used to talk about uh like people don't touch the grass anymore, whatever bare feet. So he would every morning he would wake up and he would go like just barefoot and go walk in his yard. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 18:23

There's proven health benefits.

Martin Foster 18:24

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 18:25

I mean, yeah, you know, people go out and just lay, take off their shirt, lay in the grass, and there's proven benefits. Um, vitamin D alone from the sun, you know, you see these kids and you're like, what is going on with our society? And it's we've just gotten, and I I'm a big believer, I think things will hopefully correct, but it takes a deliberate effort to get kids, the kid children you're raising, or nieces, nephews, students, to get kids out into the outdoors.

Martin Foster 18:53

Yeah, so I mean you have such an impact on people. So why is it important to serve? You serve so much, mentored from people for many years uh while active duty. You're serving years after active duty now. Why is it important to serve after the uniform?

SPEAKER_02 19:05

I I'll tell you, and this is from the bottom of my heart, like I loved wearing that uniform. Yeah, I I love serving something larger than myself. I know you've experienced that. Everybody that wears the uniform gets a piece of that, and this is a continuation of that. I as a contractor, it was a great job, but I I didn't I I felt like I was doing it more for the money and not for the love or serving something larger than yourself. And man, I'll tell you, um dealing with seven to eight thousand kids a year and their family members and what we do, that's that that fills your heart. And I can't describe it. It's serving, you know, we want to build good citizens. I love America, but we are losing something with these generations coming up. They don't understand the history of the country, they don't understand how blessed they are to be able to walk out, turn on a faucet, and get clean water. You know, so part of our outdoor instruction is everything, but we also come at it from hey, you've got to be very appreciative that you're at this camp, that you're in this country. So serving something larger than myself is why I do it.

Martin Foster 20:12

Is there one story that sticks out to you over the four plus years that you've been with the Light Foundation where you're like, man,

Intense overnight obstacle course

Martin Foster 20:17

this is why I do it?

SPEAKER_02 20:18

Man, I I have so many of them, but I'll tell you this one, and this is kind of the fight that we're dealing with. We had a, we had, we were doing this, so it's a week-long course, four-year program where we get them when they're uh eighth graders going into the ninth grade, and then we mentor them for four years from all across the country, and we were doing what we affectionately call the 24 hours of hell. So they get up in the morning, they do their, you know, we do exercises, you go through, and whatever we're doing that day. It's a full day till eight o'clock at night. But then we say, get your paintball gear on, because we're going, and we do a six to seven mile, 13 obstacle course overnight till 9 a.m. the

Struggling with national identity

SPEAKER_02 20:59

next day. But part of that is they get a backpack with supplies. There's a flag in there that they have to get that flag and attach it, find the staff and attach it. And so one of the kids were saying, Hey, can you get the flag out of the backpack? And he's like, Oh, what flag? He's the American flag. And the other one says, What color is it? And that that was my first year here, and I was stunned. Like that caught me completely flat footed. But again, that's kind of the struggle that we're dealing with, where it's not, it doesn't even resonate with like an identity as an American citizen. So that's part of the our our our struggle that we deal with. But we had uh four kids in from the Passamaquaddy Native American tribe in Maine, you know, and and to see them when they're dead tired at 6 a.m. in the morning, but that flag is not touching the ground. You know, they it's it's amazing just the transformation you see in just a brief amount of time with kids.

Martin Foster 21:57

So back last fall, I had an opportunity. To do some media at a celebrity softball veteran game, right? And I got to meet Don Graves, he's 101 years old. He was an Iwo Jima veteran. So he was he fought at Iwo Jima. And I think, like, man, we're losing our connection to that whole generation. Before I get into some lighter questions, if there was a giant billboard with the White Foundation, and we'll say your picture instead of Matt White's because you're way better looking. So uh we'll put Joey's picture, right? We'll put Joey's picture. Uh and you wanted some people to take away something about the White Foundation. Everyone had to read this. What would you want that billboard to say?

SPEAKER_02 22:31

Man, we're just uh I I you know, not to sound arrogant or we're just a bunch of good people that that want to see these kids have an opportunity that they won't otherwise get. You know, that that's that's the most important thing.

Martin Foster 22:44

And just uh I was telling your son earlier, it's been three years. I asked you that same question three years ago because you wrote my podcast in 2023. Yeah, so the whole cross story, right? Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. All right, so we're gonna transition to some lighter topics. Who would survive better in the wilderness? Ohio State grads or Purdue grads?

SPEAKER_02 23:02

I mean, I appreciate the question, but it's not much of a question. Ohio State grads, absolutely hands down, you got Purdue, like Matt. I'm just gonna use him as an example. He's a football player.

Martin Foster 23:13

What a loser.

SPEAKER_02 23:14

That's exactly what I was thinking. He's uh he's a football player, he's an engineer. He was in school all day. What a nerd. Complete nerd. There's no way he could live 24 hours out into the wild. Like have him make his own fire, make clean water. He's done. He's done. Stick a fork at him. He's familiar with forks.

Martin Foster 23:35

I bet uh Tom Brady used to pick on him, like, nerd. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:39

That would be great. I would love to see.

Martin Foster 23:43

I asked your son a funny question. I asked him, I said, hey, who would survive in the wilderness uh longer or do better between you and Matt White? You'll have to watch that video to see that answer. I will. But I surprised him with another question. I said, Who would survive longer in the wilderness? Your dad or Chris Martin? So between what who would survive? So with I'm gonna flip it around. Who would do better in the wilderness? Who would survive longer? Uh Joey or Chris? Joey.

SPEAKER_02 24:09

Yeah, absolutely.

Martin Foster 24:10

Uh I had to get a shot in with that.

SPEAKER_02 24:13

Yeah, and you know, I know Chris will hopefully Chris will see this and uh I love you, brother, but Joey would would last longer.

Martin Foster 24:21

So there's a lot of athletes here today. Uh, how long did it surprise you how long it took the competitiveness to come out?

SPEAKER_02 24:28

Oh no, especially with the Sun League. Absolutely. I mean, these guys are, you know, I mean, they played with the highest professional levels, you know, in Major League Baseball, football, UFC. It's in them. It's in their DNA. That it it doesn't matter. You can I tell you a quick story about we had this guy, he has the number one whiskey in Europe, James Keene. He flew in to be up to see our camp.

Martin Foster 24:52

Did you bring whiskey?

SPEAKER_02 24:53

He did, but not around the kids. Okay. But amazing guy, James Keene.

Martin Foster 24:57

He uh that's right from uh Scotland, right? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we've had this talk before. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:02

Yeah, but uh talking about the competition. So James came in and we had you know 16 kids. He's like, hey, I'll give I'll give everybody a hundred dollars for each cornhole you sink. Practice for 10 minutes, and if you make it, I'll give you $100. I think one everybody was making it during practice. When it when it came to that pressure, they they kind of crumbled. Matt, he said, I'll do the same thing for Matt. If you throw one one beanbag into the hole, I'll give every kid 50 bucks. So Matt stepped up, drained it. I mean, just you know, I know that's a it's it's just a quick example, but whatever these guys do, they don't I I rarely see them do it for just fun. They want to win. They want to win.

Martin Foster 25:50

That's I love that story. I forgot about that. Yeah. Uh last question. How can people best support the Light

Foundation's programs and volunteering info

Martin Foster 25:56

Foundation?

SPEAKER_02 25:56

Man, it's you know, we we run programs all throughout the year. You go out to Mattlight72.com. You can you can check out our our website, see all the programs from our leadership academy, whether it's hooked on fishing or timber frame, where we go out and tear down these barns and repurpose the wood, just get you know, email me, Troy at MattLight72.com. If you're looking for an opportunity to volunteer or a nonprofit that you want to support, I can stand here and tell you with absolutely clear conscience, this is the organization to be a part of. This this event that we just held, the Buckeye Blast, this we we we do this, like this is our staff that we do this so that seven to eight thousand kids a year can you know go through these programs for absolutely free. You know, so check out MattLight72.com. Hit me up at Troy at MattLight72.com if you're ever interested in uh volunteering or being a part of this foundation. I I would love to hear

Joey Eden

SPEAKER_02 26:56

from you.

Martin Foster 26:57

Martin Foster from Passing the Torch here at the Buckeye Blast being held at the Blackwing Shooting Center here in Delaware, Ohio. Uh to my left is Joey Eden. Uh Joy, how's it going, man?

SPEAKER_10 27:08

Man, it's going wonderful. We got a good turnout, and uh man, it seems like people are having fun, and I'm I'm excited for how the evening is going to turn out.

Martin Foster 27:15

And like great Ohio weather.

SPEAKER_10 27:16

I mean, it's you know we were nervous at first. It said there was some rain coming our way, but man, thank God that that we got some clear skies.

Martin Foster 27:23

Hey, just talk about the Buckeye Blast and the White Foundation, what it means to you.

SPEAKER_10 27:28

And so my dad met Matt White a couple years ago, and they had some interactions down at Kansas. And I mean, after that, my dad's from Ohio and started working for the Light Foundation as a COO, and and what they do for the youth and what they do with all this fundraising and and getting these sponsors out here, man, it's just uh to the core of what they're doing is just is just righteous, man. It's it's awesome to see. Your dad's from Ohio, he's always bragging about Ohio and stuff. He so he grew up in Lancaster, so just south of Columbus.

Martin Foster 27:56

I didn't I didn't know that part. So um how proud of you are how proud of your dad are you, just everything like seeing everything that he's doing.

SPEAKER_10 28:04

Man, tremendously. I think um man, I think of how powerful it is just to have kind of a man in your life that can kind of guide you and and you know just uh and give you some advice uh as you as you go along and you grow older. But man, I'm so proud of him and what he's doing and what Matt's doing. It's uh man, it's it's a heck of an example to to see and hopefully hopefully emulate in my life.

Martin Foster 28:27

Absolutely. And I'm a retired Air Force veteran. Uh, I've known your dad since I think uh whenever he was at NASIC, that's when I met your dad. But he's been a great mentor of mine as well, and I have the utmost respect for uh for your dad. So here's the last question who would survive better in the wilderness, your dad or Matt White? That's a great question. Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 28:48

Oh my goodness. I feel like Matt Light can survive in any environment, regardless of what's going on. He looks like a grizzly man. Dude, he is a survivalist to his heart. Man, if I had a bet on it, sorry, dad, I'd probably bet on Matt.

Martin Foster 29:03

Okay, let's let's let's make I want to, you know what, I want to create some controversy at uh at your family Thanksgiving. Who would survive better in the wilderness? Your dad or your uncle, Chris Martin? Who I worked with.

SPEAKER_10 29:16

Man, I I I think Chris is kind of more of a city guy, so I'd have to give that to my dad.

Martin Foster 29:20

He's a hipster with that beard, right? A little bit, a little bit.

SPEAKER_10 29:23

He's got some gray in there as well.

Martin Foster 29:26

Hey, any parting thoughts on what uh on how people can best support the light foundation and what then what you want people to take away from about the light foundation?

SPEAKER_10 29:33

Man, please, if if man, if you if you like helping the youth, if you like supporting good causes and man, please, yeah, just just ask that you go mattlight72.com and and uh and send some support our way.

Martin Foster 29:48

Joey, thanks for your time, man.

Tyler Farr

Martin Foster 29:50

Thank you very much. Martin Foster here at the Buckeye Blast, which the Light Foundation is putting on, and to my right is Tyler Farr. Uh I can't believe I haven't having this conversation. Thank you so much for being here. Yeah, buddy, absolutely. I know I I told you before we start recording, I'm a military veteran. I just want to personally thank you because I know that you've done some overseas tours and uh just shows and yeah, yeah, just thank you so much. What compels you to whether it's the military or events like this to to serve

Visiting military bases abroad

Martin Foster 30:18

others?

SPEAKER_07 30:18

Well, my granddad, he served and I severally f several family members have served in military, and I've just always I think uh us as a nation, we don't understand completely what y'all do, and I I appreciate your service. And uh that's kind of for me, it's like that's the least I can do for what y'all do. And that's why we've been to Okinawa, Spo, Road of Spain, Naples Italy, Bahrain, Booty Africa. Even when I was like and turn this plane around, there's fires on the ground, and this is not safe. And then last year we went to Bulgaria and Kosovo, and uh this summer we're actually doing another military tour uh in the UK and Australia. So um, yeah, thank you, and I'll just do it because I appreciate it, just show appreciation.

Martin Foster 31:09

I'm grateful, and I know many others are as well. What country s uh song a lot of people are having a great time today, the weather's beautiful. What country song, or maybe even a song of your own, would you would uh best describe today?

SPEAKER_07 31:21

Oh, probably a Travis Trent. Uh it's a great day to be alive.

Martin Foster 31:27

My friend, uh, shout out to Scott McGregor. He says that uh every day is a special occasion. We'll treat every day like a special occasion.

SPEAKER_07 31:34

Old bus driver said, every day's a good day. Don't believe me, just miss one.

unknown 31:38

Yeah.

Martin Foster 31:40

Uh how important is it for if if there's a a lot of young people in the world right now that see this video, what would you what would you want them to take away?

SPEAKER_07 31:49

Uh just stay rooted and grounded, humble and uh and kind. Treat everybody good. And that's can't really lose.

Martin Foster 32:00

Follow Jesus, you'll be all right. Last question. There was uh shooting competition earlier. Uh you did really well, you know, I was I was cheering for you. I didn't tear. I I was trying to give you a boost, right? So I'm I'm yeah. I'm a realist. But who surprised you the most in the shooting competition?

SPEAKER_07 32:17

Oh I don't know, probably John Nees. He won the thing. Back to back. I was I killed a deer on his property in Ohio like last year. And I thought he was just strictly a bow hunter, and he came out with a shotgun and whipped everybody.

Martin Foster 32:36

Tyler Farr, thank you so much for your time. Yes, sir. Thank you.

Nate Ebner

Martin Foster 32:40

Thank you. That was awesome. All right. Martin Foster passing the torch here at the Buckeye Blast and uh in support of the Light Foundation. To my love, there's Nate Evner. First and foremost, it's awesome to meet you. Uh thanks for being here today. What made you want to support this event?

Matt Light's impact on the community

SPEAKER_06 32:53

Well, I mean, obviously, Matt has done a great job uh supporting the community and the youth. That's first and foremost. But just Matt's always been a great guy to me. You know, we kind of passed each other in our careers so we didn't get to play together. I don't know if I'm grateful for that or not, but uh no, he's he's always been a great guy to me and and super helpful and and just a great human being. So anything I could do to support him, you know, I was I was happy to do it.

Martin Foster 33:18

Great job shooting today. Were you who surprised you the most with their shooting skills?

SPEAKER_06 33:22

Me. You're great about it. I no, I am uh the fact that I was in the finals tells you more about them than it does about me. Because I I I don't shoot much. I I like to know how to shoot and I'm around guns a little bit, but um, you know, yeah, I was uh pleasant pleasantly surprised with myself, honestly, but those guys could could rip it. It was it's fun to watch people who know what they're doing and do it at a high level. It was cool.

Martin Foster 33:47

So the uh there's athletes here today, football players, wrestling, uh, baseball. Which which sports or which sport do you think has been the most competitive? Like, do you see as those players have been the most competitive?

SPEAKER_06 33:59

Shooting?

Martin Foster 34:00

Yeah, with shooting, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 34:01

Oh man, that wrestling coach, man, he knew what he was doing over there. I I gotta give it to him. But um I think we got we outnumber him with the football side, but I'm saying pound for pound, we gotta go with the wrestlers on that one.

Martin Foster 34:12

Awesome. Um, how's how impressed with you were you by Bobby Carp Carpenter's uh skills today?

SPEAKER_06 34:18

Yeah, I didn't think uh Bobby would know his way around a gun at all, but he uh no, he he did a good job. And uh any any chance I get to do anything with people like Bobby Carpenter or Matt Light, you know, I'd I jump at the chance to do it because they're great people and you know they put the community first and helping others. And um, you know, it's just awesome to have all these people here. It's been great.

Martin Foster 34:38

Last question. If people want to learn more about you and everything that you support, uh what's where's the best place for them to go?

SPEAKER_06 34:44

I mean, pick up my book, honestly. Uh, you know, Finish Strong, A Father's Code and a Son's Path. You know, Urban Meyer talked me into writing that one. I'm grateful that I did. But yeah, you can get that on anywhere you're trying to look for a book, Amazon, whatever. But um, yeah, that that that that sums it up for me right there. That that tells my whole story.

Martin Foster 35:02

So well, Nate, I'm a military veteran. Just thank you for your support to the veteran community and just for the example that you set for people. I appreciate you, man. And thanks for your time.

SPEAKER_06 35:11

Appreciate you guys

Bobby Carpenter

SPEAKER_06 35:12

and all you do for us. Thanks.

Martin Foster 35:13

Martin Foster from Passing the Torch hit the Buckeye Blast in support of the Light Foundation. Well, and to my left is Ohio State legend Bobby Carpenter. Bobby, thank you so much for taking the time with me here today.

SPEAKER_00 35:24

Oh, it's my pleasure.

Martin Foster 35:24

Excited to be out here. Before we get into any questions, how was that experience with the Navy Blue Angels that you did

Bobby Carpenter riding in an F18 fighter jet

Martin Foster 35:30

recently?

SPEAKER_00 35:30

That was uh incredibly difficult. Uh getting a chance to ride an F-18 in the back and you watch Top Gun, you always want to be a part of that and do something. And you think, like, in my mind, I could do that. And my my goal was just not to pass out. And I talked to my friend AJ Hawk, and he'd got to, he got to do both the Angels and the Thunderbirds. And he goes, it's hard, it'll be tough. And to man, it was the hardest thing I'd probably ever done in my life, the most difficult hour. But I uh stayed awake the whole time. I people asked if I threw up. I mean, I guess I was driving. I didn't eat anything because I was warned, they just like do not. They'll try to coax you into eating, but do not eat. And so it was a good, it was a really good time, and it was it's tough to get in a normal plane now, realizing what those things can do versus like a high performance, you know, which riding in a normal 737 versus a high performance jet.

Martin Foster 36:17

Yeah, no, absolutely. You played, and I remember you in college, you were such a beast, and just Ohio State was just overall stacked during that time. But from your time playing for the Buckeyes, which teammate would do the best if they had to survive in the wilderness?

SPEAKER_00 36:32

Ooh, that's got to be Anthony Schlegel. Uh yeah, he he's the he's the hunter. Uh last time I think I was shooting was actually down at his place outside of Circleville, his farm. Yeah, he was uh he was in the air, once the Air Force Academy was at the prep school. So he did all the survival training. He's an outdoorsman, making field dress, a pig, a deer, all this stuff. So yeah, it would definitely be him. If you give him the right equipment, he could probably live in the woods.

Martin Foster 36:56

If you had to pick one teammate, whether from college or the NFL, to lead a type of event like you and the uh that teammate had to co-lead this type of event, who would you pick?

SPEAKER_00 37:05

Oh, goodness, to co-lead this event. I mean, it might be Anthony Schlegel again, because he's also the most charismatic guy that I know. I mean, he we call him fun Tony when he gets going. You know, AJ's really good at a lot of stuff, and we could go back there and him it up, but but Schlegs is really the life of the party, and that's why he was uh such a good fit with us.

Martin Foster 37:23

So AJ Hawk, how would he do how would he fare in all these events today?

SPEAKER_00 37:26

Oh, AJ would be good. He's a good shooter. We'd go shoot, uh shoot skeet with and clays with uh Schlegs. He was it was a lot of fun. I mean, he there's not a whole lot of things he really can't do pretty well, and so he'd thrive in something like this.

Martin Foster 37:38

Who surprised you the most today of everyone that was shooting?

SPEAKER_00 37:41

Oh goodness. Um you know, Coach Ryan, Tom Ryan, who was the the head men's wrestling coach at Ohio State, and we did the little shootout at the beginning, and he's like, I really don't do this, and it was bang, bang, bang, six for six, like clockwork. And so he did that, and it wasn't beginner's luck because he stepped up in the next round and fired him away. So he was very, very good. And uh for coaches, usually college coaches are not great at recreational activities because they spend all of their time working, whereas it was great to see him get you know, obviously he's practiced this before and go up there and perform so well.

Martin Foster 38:12

Yeah. So I I know your dad, and this organization, the Light Foundation, they do so much to try to just you know develop uh just young people. How important is mentorship uh to young people?

SPEAKER_00 38:25

You know, the one of the things that we have a huge void of in society is just natural leaders and role models for our for our kids. And whether that's you know, sometimes it's parents, coaches, teachers, and a society, we've you know pushed individualism, which is great. And I want everybody to you know to be their own person, but you know, the collective accountability sometimes necessarily isn't there. And I don't know that we have the true team environment that was always cultivated a number of years ago. And so to have coaches or teachers

Community role in youth development

SPEAKER_00 38:53

that can make, or parents, whatever it might be, aunts, uncles, just community members that can demonstrate the type of behavior to help teach young people to lead and to live that out with them and invest and pour into them is absolutely critical to continue to pass on the wonderful characteristics and beliefs that our country has because those those are really they're very sacred and there's not they're not in a book. We obviously have our founding documents, but the thing that's made America great is just the passing of that institutional knowledge of how to operate and to be selfless and to be committed and to and to look at things larger than yourself and to be a part of something that is so very special.

Martin Foster 39:29

Man, I love that. Just two last quick questions. Who would survive better in the wilderness? Ohio State players or Purdue players?

SPEAKER_00 39:36

Oh, I don't, I mean, Purdue guys, like I mean, Matt's pretty smart, but he grew up in the country, so he's a little different. I mean, I'd probably say it's most of the Ohio State guys. And I knew a lot of guys that were from the country that played at Ohio State, so they they would be okay, probably getting out there and be able to mix it up. I don't feel like you're probably getting the same, same with that with the Boilermakers.

Martin Foster 39:56

Bobby last thing, uh, if people want to learn more about you or support everything that you're doing, where's the best place for them to go?

SPEAKER_00 40:02

I mean, I'm on I'm on X, B Carp3, Instagram at Bobby Carpenter, and you know, do work at 971 the fan, do some stuff down there and radio, do have a my my Bobby Carpenter show that I have on YouTube and FanDuel. So that's that's kind of it. We got our plumbing and HVAC company as well. So I got my hand in a lot of pots and trying to just manage all that with my kids and wife, and it's it's truly a blessing.

Martin Foster 40:24

One last bonus question. What's harder, playing linebacker in the NFL or being a sports, uh having a radio show in Ohio?

SPEAKER_00 40:31

Well, being the dad is probably the toughest of all of them because no matter how much you think you know, your kids always know more than you. So it's that's the most humbling.

Martin Foster 40:38

My daughter's 14, so I yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:40

You got a middle school daughter or even son. They they it's even worse because football. My kids they know more than I do. Do you know how to read coverage? That's fine. Like, you know what? You're smarter than dad. You you got it all figured out. Yeah.

Martin Foster 40:52

Hey, Bobby, thank you so much for taking the time. I appreciate you, man. My pleasure, thank you.

SPEAKER_04 40:56

Yeah, just General Manager of Else.

Martin Foster 41:00

Oh, right on. Yeah. All right, so uh I'll do a quick intro.

SPEAKER_09 41:05

Sure, that's

Bronze star recipient introduction

SPEAKER_09 41:06

all right.

Martin Foster 41:06

Ladies and gentlemen, uh Martin Foster passing the torch here at the Buckeye Blast Black Wing Shooting Center in support of the uh the Light Foundation. Um, a lot of amazing people here today. A lot of celebrities, a lot of former athletes, a lot of youth that are actually part of the foundation. But I noticed someone with something special on their hats, a bronze star recipient. Uh sir, do you mind just stating your name? I'm Galen Blosser. And just just uh what service were you in, sir? I was in the Army. The second best branch behind the Air Force. I'm retired Air Force.

SPEAKER_04 41:38

Retired Air Force? Well, that's good. You know, we need those guys too. You know, and Nom, they were there supporting me.

Martin Foster 41:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 41:44

Um, what brought you out here today? Well, I've covered Matt Light for years and years. And when he was a kid playing football, I was covering him, and uh, we're just good friends. And uh I take the Light Foundation pictures when they're in around Greenville and Dark County. So I've covered Matt for years and years, just good friends of him and the family.

Martin Foster 42:02

How proud are are you of Matt and Susie Light, especially since you've known Matt for such a long time to see like what this has turned into?

SPEAKER_04 42:09

Well, they do so much for the youth. Uh, I know he lives up in New England, but he comes back to Greenville and Dark County and this area a lot. Um, they do so much for kids, and what what you see going on here goes to the investment of kids. Um, and uh he takes inner city kids and and um really works with kids. So uh we couldn't be more proud of him.

Martin Foster 42:33

So you said you take a lot of pictures of the different events or yeah. Has there been like one specific picture that you've taken throughout the years that you were like that you you're most proud of that the picture, that one picture says a thousand words and tells an entire story?

SPEAKER_04 42:48

Yeah, I've got a picture of Matt at at uh the gauntlet there in uh Greenville. And uh he he went in head first in the muddy water and he's coming out and he's doing this, and the water's dripping off of him. I ought to send you that picture. It's awesome.

Martin Foster 43:03

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I would love it.

SPEAKER_04 43:05

Give me your card and I will. But that's probably the best picture I've ever got of Matt. I mean, it's it's really neat.

Martin Foster 43:12

Sir, just last question. What do you want people to, for everyone that's attending here today, what do you hope they walk away with?

SPEAKER_04 43:17

You know, camaraderie with people. There's so much negative in our country today. And you come out here and you see people smiling. Um, people, oh, there's Matt's wife right there. You see people smiling and and um talking with each other. And you know, we still have a great nation. Yeah. And and a lot of good people here. And and it's not what you always hear on the news. Well said, sir. Thank you so much for taking time and thank you for your sacrifice for our country.

Martin Foster 43:45

And you too. Thank you for your

Ohio State Wrestling Coach Tom Ryan

Martin Foster 43:46

service. Thank you, thank you. Martin Foster here from Passing the Torch here at the Buckeye Blast at the Blackwing Shooting Center, in support of the White Foundation. To my left is author of the book Chosen Suffering, member of the Hostra Hall of. Fame and wrestling coach for the Ohio State University, Coach Tom Ryan. Coach, uh, thank you so much for taking time. How are you today?

SPEAKER_08 44:07

Great, what a day, man. It was beautiful out, great people, lots of fun. Had some buddies with me.

Martin Foster 44:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 44:11

Haven't shot in a while, but it was fun.

Martin Foster 44:14

You were you were crushing it out there. So uh I don't know. I think you've been practicing leading up to this event.

SPEAKER_08 44:19

So my my wife's a better shot than I am, but I don't know. I guess I got into it out there and had a had a lucky round.

Martin Foster 44:26

So who would survive the longest in the wilderness? Wrestlers, football players, or baseball players? Wrestlers. Yeah. So actually, not that this is so silly. I wrestled in high school and I'm from Oklahoma originally, and wrestling is very popular. Like much like Ohio, it's it's very uh very big there. But what's the biggest misconception about wrestlers?

SPEAKER_08 44:45

Biggest misconception? Well, I think I think um they chew gum and spit and they they they they you know they wear garbage bags, you know, and they're always and they're always sweating. Uh I'd say that's probably the biggest misconception. I mean, the sport is about discipline and self-mastery and all those things that are priceless in in terms of growth. So a great sport.

Martin Foster 45:07

That's a great point you brought up because that's kind of that those are the things that the uh light foundation focuses on. How important is it for young people to learn those skills?

SPEAKER_08 45:14

Well, I mean, mentorship is so incredibly important in our lives, and uh, I mean, you climb higher when you when you uh when you have those things and you're around people that are great examples. So this foundation is super important. I just I learned about it quite quite frankly recently. And uh when I read the mission, I was like, I'm definitely gonna be at that.

Martin Foster 45:32

I saw you, Ryan Hawk is one of my favorite podcasters, and you're the podcast episode, uh, you know, you're on his up on his show. One of the best episodes I've ever seen, period. And he and not only above his, yeah, but uh I I don't really have a question about that. I just wanted to personally give you that compliment. You know, and I kind of know Ryan, I've you know he's been on my show. I have a podcast as well, but um, but yeah, I just wanna give you that feedback. That was that was beautiful.

SPEAKER_08 45:57

Thank you. I think part of that, the success of that, you know, that particular podcast was he was just really prepared. Yeah. You know, he was ready for tough questions and good questions and deep questions, and and uh yeah, I enjoyed, I enjoyed my time with Ryan on that podcast.

Martin Foster 46:10

Yeah. So last question if of all the wrestlers that you've coached or even been teammates with over the years, if you had to survive one night with one of those people in the wilderness, who would it be?

SPEAKER_08 46:21

Oh man, that's a heck of a question. Uh probably we got our our current heavyweight, Nick Feldman, he wants to be a Navy SEAL. I also have Justin Kresivic, uh, who's a Navy SEAL. So uh, but but someone that that uh would do well outside in the wilderness, uh you know, dudes that want to be Navy SEALs. So uh either one of those guys. I got a bunch, though. Yeah. I feel feel pretty safe with.

Martin Foster 46:44

Coach, uh any parting shots or anything you want to share before

Looking forward to next year's event

Martin Foster 46:47

uh before No, just uh looking forward to next year's event.

SPEAKER_08 46:50

I mean, if you haven't uh been to this event, it's a it's a great event. And so it's uh it's an important event. So I'm glad I was able to make it out today.

Martin Foster 46:58

Coach, uh again, I told you before we start recording, I'm a military veteran, but you're you are a leader that I greatly respect and admire. So just thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I appreciate you. All right, everyone. That wraps up uh all the nine interviews. Thank you so much for listening. And as always, remember vision, relate, develop. Take care, everyone. Foster out.