Why Successful People Need a Short Memory - Blake Stilwell - Ep. 149

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Blake Stilwell is U.S. Air Force Veteran (combat cameraman), writer, and the Editor-in-Chief of We Are The Mighty. He covers military history, veteran issues, and defense news, and previously worked in film/television production (including ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO) and with the White House Communications Agency.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Networking and making business deals

04:05 First-time manager reflections

09:00 Importance of leadership in life

09:54 Leadership and team guidance

13:36 Being fired and fighting back

17:38 Embracing and learning from failure

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People and Names mentioned in the episode:

Jasmin Hurley

Jon Stewart

Marshawn Lynch

Darryl “BullyJuice” Williams

Ken Fisher

Michelle Lang

Fleetwood Mac

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Resources:

Blake's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakestilwell/

We Are The Mighty: https://www.wearethemighty.com/

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Podcast Summary:

Martin Foster and Blake Stilwell during the 2026 Military Influencer Conference. A wide-ranging, candid conversation about leadership, veteran life, career progression, and the value of persistence.

Key Topics & Highlights

⬛ Hometown Connection: The episode opens with a light-hearted discussion about the surprising coincidence that Blake Stilwell’s best friend shares the same name as Martin Foster and also lives in Dayton.

⬛ Military Influencer Conference (MIC): Blake Stilwell reflects on his long-standing involvement with MIC, both as a reporter and now as a participant, underscoring the conference’s unique ability to facilitate real business, networking, and personal advancement for veterans and entrepreneurs (02:08).

⬛ Editor-in-Chief Journey: Blake Stilwell shares his experiences and challenges stepping into his first major leadership role at We Are the Mighty, highlighting the importance of effective leadership, learning from early career missteps, and the satisfaction of growing a brand and team (04:05, 09:00).

⬛ Leadership Lessons: Drawing from past mistakes and observing both good and bad examples, Blake Stilwell discusses the critical role of practical, supportive leadership, aiming to be the type of leader he wished he had in earlier roles (09:00, 10:41).

⬛ Inspirational Encounters: He recounts life-changing moments from past MICC events, particularly interactions with Jon Stewart regarding advocacy for veterans, and highlights ordinary people making extraordinary impacts, such as the Torres family and Michelle Lang (12:19, 14:09).

⬛ Comfort Zones and Growth: Blake Stilwell opens up about his discomfort in the spotlight and how the conference pushes him out of his comfort zone, ultimately helping him grow as a communications professional (16:58).

⬛ Wisdom for the Next Generation: He closes with advice to not fear failure—emphasizing resilience and the importance of bouncing back, as well as his pithy written motto: “Don’t stop” (17:38, 19:08).

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Episode 90: Michelle 'MACE' Curran – How to Turn Fear into Fuel

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