Beyond The Trek Fireside Chat: Conversations That Inspire

Taylor Cavanaugh is the only known individual to have served both as a U.S. Navy SEAL and a French Foreign Legionnaire—a journey that didn’t begin with military accolades, but rather in a place of pain, hardship, and personal reckoning. From incarceration to elite military service, Taylor’s path is a raw, powerful testament to transformation and grit.

In this conversation, we dive into what it really takes to rewrite your story, emb...

In this episode, we explore the mindset that separates those who lead from those who follow. From embracing discomfort as a tool for growth to prioritizing habits over fleeting goals, we dig into the principles that shape resilient, adaptive leaders. We confront fear, reframe change, and challenge the listener with a powerful metaphor: are you living in a coffin—safe, still, and stagnant—or a classroom—open, evolving, and alive? Wh...

Nicholas Ruggieri is an Active-Duty Army Officer with 18 years of service in both Conventional and Special Operations Formations. Nick joined the Army Reserves while attending Union College in 2005, after graduation in 2008 he enlisted into active service as an X-ray technician at Fort Sam Houston TX. Realizing he was made for more; Nick attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection and was chosen to become a Special Forces Medi...

John Wayne Troxell is a retired United States Army senior noncommissioned officer who served as the third Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this capacity he served as the principal advisor to the Chairman and the Secretary of Defense on all matters related to the troops of the United States Armed Forces to include the lethality, readiness, fitness, welfare and deployability of the force, as we...

Zac Cannon is a husband, father, and a seasoned Army veteran with 18 years of service, including 13 years in Special Operations. With seven combat deployments spanning Iraq, Afghanistan, and East Africa—along with 38 months operating across nine countries in Africa—Zac has lived a life forged in adversity.

Beyond his military career, Zac is a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus and an advocate for discipline, resilience, and s...

Colonel (Retired) William "Bill" Ostlund, a distinguished leader whose career exemplifies dedication, resilience, and exemplary service.

Colonel Ostlund's journey began in 1983 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining the elite 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence, he advanced rapidly, achieving the rank of Jumpmaster as a Specialist. In 1987, he transitioned to the Nebraska Nat...

From the battlefield to the streets, Dario Giomi has dedicated his life to service, facing danger head-on as an Army Cavalry Scout, SWAT officer, and two-time Medal of Valor recipient. In this episode, Dario shares his journey—from combat deployments to law enforcement, the challenges of PTSD and exhaustion syndrome, and his mission to support first responders in their healing. His story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and transfo...

Kevin Flack is an Iraq and Afghanistan Combat veteran currently residing in Bettendorf Iowa. Kevin was born in Lancaster California, and grew up on Whidbey Island Washington.

Kevin served with the US Army 10th Mountain Light Infantry Division in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2006 - 2012 as an Infantry fire team leader and squad leader. After his son Wyatt was born in Bettendorf Iowa he left the military and moved to the Quad Cities t...

Join Ken Reed, an Active-Duty Master Sergeant with over 19 years of dedicated service, as he shares his powerful journey of resilience, hope, and transformation. From enlisting at just 17 and serving as a Medic with the Infantry to becoming a Special Operations Civil Affairs leader, Ken’s career has taken him across six deployments, countless training programs, and vital disaster response missions.

But Ken’s story isn’t just about h...

De'Andre McDonald, raised by a single mother in a home without windows, rose from adversity to thrive in a remarkable career in Special Operations.

After retiring from the military at the rank of Major, DeAndre is aggressively working toward his second career as an educator within the public sector. His goals are focused on developing and empowering the next generation of students to impact the world with their unique talents and gi...

Gavin Berkley is the Media Director and an instructor for Team BTT. A West Point graduate, former D1 wrestler, and Army Infantry Officer. Gavin has been given a unique perspective from navigating adversity in both his professional and personal life. In this episode, he provides an inside look of his experience undergoing trauma, depression, dependency, and darkness on his road to a second chance he has been given in life. A story o...

Chad Ballestrazze, a special operations veteran and founder of Beyond the Trek, brings a unique perspective shaped by his extraordinary life journey. Growing up with deaf parents, Chad developed a deep sense of resilience and responsibility at a young age, learning to navigate and overcome adversity. His experiences in special operations and his commitment to building disciplined, resilient leaders inspired him to create Beyond the...

Welcome to Beyond The Trek Podcast Fireside Chat! In this episode, we dive into the origins of the company and the journey that got us here. Turning visions, past experiences, adversity, failure, and lessons learned into a platform to develop disciplined, resilient leaders who are accountable to themselves and those who depend on them.

We hope you enjoy!

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