December 8, 2024 • 51 mins
Join us as we explore the compelling journey of Jon Sessa, the visionary founder of Warrior Golf Academy, whose transformative experiences from military service to civilian life have shaped a sanctuary for veterans through the healing power of golf. Jon shares his personal battles with PTSD and the daunting challenges he faced during his transition, painting a vivid picture of how golf provided him solace and community. This episode unravels how Warrior Golf Academy is not just about swinging clubs but about building a supportive network where veterans find peace and camaraderie.
We also shine a light on inspiring tales from the world of adaptive golf, featuring veterans who have embraced the sport as a lifeline. Discover the heartening story of a military veteran who, after relocating to Costa Rica and then settling in South Florida, found purpose in helping other veterans through golf. We discuss the partnerships and hurdles encountered while establishing the academy, highlighting the significance of asking for help. From a neuro-challenged young golfer to an 80-year-old Vietnam veteran, these stories illustrate the profound impact of accessibility and inclusion in sports, proving that determination and spirit know no bounds.
Finally, we delve into the power of storytelling in fostering connections and community. Learn about the plans to launch a Facebook group for golf enthusiasts and the therapeutic blog series "Mojo Stories," which offers a unique perspective through the eyes of a service animal. Reflect on the success of a recent veteran storytelling event and the transformative effect that sharing narratives can have on building a sense of belonging. This episode celebrates golf's potential to unite individuals, inspire through stories, and cultivate a resilient community.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Scott McLean (00:00):
Welcome to the podcast.
I'm Scott McLean.
My guest today is John Sessa.
John is the founder andexecutive director of Warrior
Golf Academy, located in BocaRaton Florida.
How are?
Jon Sessa (00:13):
you doing, john?
Oh, I'm good, scott, thank youso much for having me here.
Scott McLean (00:17):
It's fantastic, it's fantastic, I got through
that intro.
I didn't think.
I usually don't.
I made it, I was holding mybreath.
Jon Sessa (00:24):
Honestly, I was like is it going gonna happen?
Scott McLean (00:27):
so I I want to tell you something that I didn't
tell you before the podcast.
You are the first personinterviewed in the one man, one
mic studio sponsored by willowand palm construction, delray
beach, florida.
Willow and palm south,florida's premier builder.
From driveways to roofs, tobuildings.
If you need it, they can do it.
(00:47):
Find them at willowandpalmcom.
I throw that in there.
That's awesome.
Jon Sessa (00:52):
They they deserve it I mean this the studio is
fantastic, man, uh, the locationis amazing.
So, uh, let me ask you what do?
Scott McLean (01:01):
you think of the big pink coach?
Jon Sessa (01:03):
I don't mind the pink man.
It puts me, it puts me in asomber mood over here.
Scott McLean (01:07):
Preach brother.
There you go.
That's what I got.
I like it.
Preach buddy, preach yeah.
Jon Sessa (01:12):
It took a moment.
I sat down, I was like, okay,and I was like you know, it's
velvety.
Scott McLean (01:25):
It's it, you know, a little comfortable, beautiful
, beautiful so missionaccomplished with the big pink
couch.
That's it very welcome.
Yes, yes, all right, buddy.
So let's get right to it.
Warrior golf academy you're aveteran yes sir.
So give us a little bit of yourstory from where you're from,
and then your military journey,and this point right here so, um
, not not a lot.
Jon Sessa (01:46):
Grew up like most other people, I suppose.
Uh, I was born in california,moved all over the place as a
kid, started working sales andjust had no upward momentum, was
always kind of interested inthe military.
Right like 2006 is when Igraduated high school.
Uh, I know I'm showing my age,but I'm not like, not old or
anything.
(02:06):
But, with that being said, thatwas like the dawn of the surge.
Some parents were like maybenot, I went to college and then
I ended up enlisting 2013 in thein the army.
So I went army field artillery.
I'm a red leg through andthrough.
Of course, I didn't want to doany of the crazy stuff while I
was in the military.
I didn't want to jump out ofhelicopters.
I didn't want to do any of thecrazy stuff while I was in the
military.
I didn't want to jump out ofhelicopters, I didn't want to do
(02:27):
any of that, but I ended upgetting rappel so I could rappel
.
I do a bunch of cool stuff withthem and yeah, but it was, it
was good fun.
After I got out, I had a lot ofptsd, substance abuse issues,
yeah, so I had a lot of thingsthat are very difficult for me,
or just, uh, that you know.
(02:47):
Uh, one big one is barracksbuildings.
Walking into a barracksbuilding and finding one of your
soldiers, you know, hunghimself in the closet, um, you
know, you don't ever come backfrom things like that.
Like things that happened tothe bad guys is one thing, um,
the people that are trying torip your lives apart, but the
people that are here with you,that you really care about, and
(03:09):
that's ultimately what it is.
So that's, that's one incident.
I had another buddy who ate abullet, um, and thank God it
didn't kill him.
But you know, having to holdyour face together and like,
live through that, like thesetraumatic experiences, everybody
has them and the point being is, like I get maybe mine could be
more gruesome than some peoplecould say, others are way worse
(03:32):
than what I have, but everybodyknows that feeling and that's
what I like to hone in on isthat feeling of despair and
darkness.
Everybody has felt that,everyone's been there and you
need a way to pull yourself outRight.
So it took me a long time toget there.
I got out of the military 2019.
A lot of survivor, guilt, a lotof PTSD, thinking what, what
(03:55):
could I have done to to helpthose that were underneath me,
my soldiers that I would give mylife for.
I would give my life for, andcoming into the civilian world,
I lacked that community.
I didn't see.
I didn't feel the same wayabout it, so I created my own.
I started Warrior Golf Academyon the means that we need a
(04:15):
community for the veterans, andgolf was my therapeutic outlet,
just like there is equestrianand there's fishing and there's
painting and podcasting, exactly.
That's it.
That's it, but theseconnections that we have.
So I create a warrior golfAcademy to be a one-stop shop,
basically for veterans or thosewho have been through some
(04:38):
trauma to come and say look, Iwant to be rehabilitated, I want
to learn how to play the gameof golf, be fine, piece through
it.
Maybe not so good at golf, soyou want to learn.
Rehabilitated, I want to learnhow to play the game of golf,
find peace through it.
Maybe not so good at golf, soyou want to learn to caddy.
Well, I have a caddy programtoo.
Every veteran has a fantasticstory, so getting out on the
golf course, being grounded, isa huge thing when it comes to
(04:59):
mental health.
Getting outside, talking withpeople, just having an excuse
and a reason to get out of thehouse that's what I'm promoting
is just volunteer.
I have events happening.
Come out.
I run weekly golf groups tocome out, sit in the golf cart.
You don't even have to payanything, man Like.
Just come, hang out with yourbrothers and your sisters that
(05:21):
went through so much togetherand prevent yourself from that
isolation, especially when itcomes to the holiday seasons.
This is when we see a lot ofpeople and isolation is the
number one reason for suicideand trying to push that message
and just the awareness beyond itis.
Is it so?
The one thing people always ask, like what can I do, right?
(05:43):
Is I say just smile to somebody.
You don't have to do anythingfor me, man, honestly, just look
at somebody, smile, maybesomeone's having a bad day, and
that smile or that wave or thatyou know hey, how's it going
today?
Like that friendly gesture ofjust acknowledging another
person instead of being sowrapped up in your own life, uh,
it could change somebody's life.
Maybe you save a life just bysmiling at somebody.
Scott McLean (06:06):
I say the same thing, saying hi to somebody,
engage in a conversation withthe person that nobody, that
people shy away from oh, thatguy's crazy.
You talk to him, but you know,I want to go back on something
that you said and I noticed thisa lot since I started doing
this podcast and I got involvedin the veteran space and it's
you kind of touched on, like,well, my story isn't as bad as
(06:29):
some might, maybe somebodyelse's story and you downplay it
, and but what you followed upwith was exactly right, but
that's mine.
Like we all go throughsomething.
That's different levels.
You can't downplay what youwent through compared to okay,
this guy got blown up or thisguy, you know, and I only did
(06:53):
this, but it affected you andyou gotta.
You know the thing and don'tdownplay it.
Jon Sessa (06:59):
You have to realize it it's not that I downplay no,
not you, I didn't so, as I go, Ifocus more on the emotion that
causes, because everybody knowsthat emotion.
Everybody could say man it.
It must be awful to be in awheelchair.
Well, I understand thatcompletely, because there was a
time in my life where I wantedto kill myself.
I had suicidal attempts and Ihad substance abuse to the point
(07:23):
where I was just covering thepain and I was utilizing alcohol
to just feel nothing, to thepoint where it literally took my
life and ruined it and I hadnothing left.
I had to rebuild, and comingback from there gave me a sense
of purpose, and I believe that'swhat people need.
(07:43):
So you need a community, youneed a sense of purpose and you
need to feel like you belongsomeplace.
And with those feelings youhave not only just living but
the will to live, and that'swhat it is.
You need the will to want tocontinue to live.
For what?
To better something.
(08:04):
Everybody has that and everyonehas to look.
Whether it's for your children,whether it's for your buddy
that you're living next door to,whether it's for your brothers
and sisters, whatever it's for,everyone is living for something
and that's what you need tohone in on, and don't forget
that Life is so short.
Anything could happen at anymoment.
Take the time to engage in thethings around you that make life
(08:28):
so beautiful.
Scott McLean (08:29):
I say this you know we live in Palm Beach
County so everyone calls it PBC.
But with my foundation, one man, one, mike Foundation, my cheap
plug every episode I say we saythat PBC isn't't palm beach
county, it's purpose, belongingand connection I like it and
that's what veterans need.
(08:49):
That's it, you know?
Jon Sessa (08:51):
pbc not just veterans , though it's everybody
everybody anybody that'sexperienced any type of trauma,
anybody that's just seekingcommunity.
Yeah, um, and I tell a lot ofpeople with veterans day of just
passing too, a lot of peoplesay thank you for your service.
Well, we wouldn't be able to dowhat we did downrange if it
wasn't for the supportivecommunity back home.
Right Understanding thateverything is OK here, being
(09:14):
gone and having enough on yourplate there and not having to
worry about it here because ofthose that actually support us
here in the US, is amazing.
That feeling that there'speople that got your back.
And we were talking earlier,before this, about how
everything seems to just bebuilt right now to just drive
you apart.
There's no good stories on thenews.
(09:34):
Everything's so negative andhateful and it's just.
Everything's a ripple effectand it's just pulling everything
.
And we don't need that.
We need reasons to come, cometogether.
We need to find common ground,likenesses.
Why is everyone focused on thedifferences instead of the
things that we're all human?
That's the thing.
Everyone is human.
We're all flesh and blood whenit comes down to it.
(09:55):
Uh, you know, some have alittle more biomechanics than
others, but you know, at the endof the day, is that a golf
thing?
Scott McLean (10:02):
a vet of mechanics , mechanics.
Jon Sessa (10:04):
Not really, it's a my my buddy Ed.
I started a Broward golf groupwith them down here so I'll plug
him.
It's another place to come inand runs a fantastic golf group
for for anyone who wants to comeout and play.
But he's he's missing his leg,right.
So I always say, give him ahard time when we go out and
(10:26):
play golf, that he's going tohave to kick that into high mode
and change over the settings onhis leg to get the hydraulics
warmed up.
That way he's able to keep upwith all of us.
But no, it makes for a reallyfun time when we get out there
with everybody else.
So being able to engage, getout with the community,
(10:47):
especially through Palm Beachand through Miami, it's awesome.
Scott McLean (10:52):
So why golf?
How did you come up with golfas your, let's say, non-profit
of choice?
Jon Sessa (11:00):
So golf really started because when I was very
little, I would go out with mygrandfather and I would just hit
buckets of balls over and overand over, and six o'clock in the
morning, with the dew on theground, that is just.
It was peaceful.
It was peaceful for me.
I mean, I was doing thousandsof balls a day.
(11:20):
I was hitting not necessarilyhitting them right, but you know
, I was doing a lot of it.
So good Not not all practice isgood practice but I was hitting
not necessarily hitting themright, but I was doing a lot of
it.
So not all practice is goodpractice, but I was doing it and
it brought us together andthat's a moment that I can look
back in my life and say that Iwas truly happy.
Those moments are what we livefor and if I can replicate that
(11:43):
for other people, then that'swhat I want to do.
So, getting out of the military,I focused on golf as my therapy
.
I moved to Costa Rica.
I lived in Costa Rica for threeand a half years, used my GI
bill to go back to school andthen supplemented income by
teaching English to the localpopulation.
(12:03):
Get myself involved.
Supplemented income by teachingEnglish to the local population
, get myself involved.
I met my wife out there and Icreated a new life and it was
really the reset that I needed,just like if your computer's
malfunctioning.
I felt like that was me man,like I needed.
I needed somebody to hit thatreset button, and it took me
three and a half years in CostaRica teaching English to realize
(12:26):
what I really wanted, and thatwas to help my brothers and
sisters through what Iexperienced.
So we have a daughter, 14 yearsold, and we moved here to the US
, in Florida, particularly soshe could go to high school.
I don't want to move allthroughout high school.
I want to give her theopportunity for the best life
possible, of course.
(12:47):
So with that I created mycommunity here in South Florida,
and it's a perfect place forgolf.
It's a perfect place forveterans.
Florida is a fantastic state,very veteran friendly, so I'm
very happy that this is wherewe've created our home, and
everyone I don't want to sayeverybody, but most people are
very open and supportive, right.
(13:09):
Um and, as we said, the otherpeople we just shy away from no
problem.
You know, it's just water offthe back.
Not everyone's going to bereceptive to things, and that's
okay, um.
But change is coming and itdoesn't need to be that ripping
people apart.
We just need to fostercommunity and bring people back
together.
I think with technology andeverything nowadays, it's so
(13:31):
easy to travel across the world.
Everyone forgets about what,about the person next door.
You know, crazy thing, when Ifirst moved here right, I moved
into Deerfield Beach I'm alittle cookie cutter
neighborhood wanted to make sureit was nice for the family and
I had a bunch of money savedfrom when I worked in the oil
fields and stuff, right.
So I was like let's come outhere and make like we'll do it
really nice.
I went to everybody's housewith some chocolates and like,
(13:54):
knocked on the door, introducedmyself, said hey, we're new to
the neighborhood, blah, blah.
I never saw one of those peopleagain.
Yeah, can you like?
Scott McLean (14:03):
no, I'm not surprised I.
Jon Sessa (14:05):
I'm not surprised and that's just.
That's not the, that's not theamerica that I'm used to, right
like.
I moved around a lot in themilitary, so my, my view of
america was when I was a kid,growing up, like playing in the
streets and going out and youdon't, there's, there's, not
that anymore.
Everyone's so and I tell meabout it.
Scott McLean (14:24):
I grew up in pretty much the.
I was born in 63, so the 60s,the 70s, the 80s, that's what we
did, I mean, that's what it wasall about.
Jon Sessa (14:33):
So the sandlot days.
Scott McLean (14:34):
Huh, yeah, I I see exactly what you're saying,
except I experienced it yeah 20something years ago before you.
You know what I mean.
I went through this, and that'syou know what I mean.
I went through this, and that'syou know.
People are people.
So how, how old is the warriorgolf Academy?
Jon Sessa (14:51):
So I've been out here in South Florida for two and a
half years now.
Warrior golf Academy is uh beenan LLC for one year, um, and I
want to just operate it myself.
I'm 100% out of pocket.
Any donations I know thatfeeling.
Any donations that I take iseverything that I just give back
into the community.
(15:11):
I don't have any formalsponsorships but I do have a few
partnerships, so Foot Joy isone of them.
They have been awesome here inSouth Florida with some
inclement weather gear for ourcaddies and participants so that
way when they graduate throughthe program they can get a
couple of swag items to wearwhen they're out on the course
(15:33):
when it's raining or, you know,especially here in South Florida
when it's raining.
So that's why I got got somegood stuff from them.
I have Weekend Warrior suppliedsome shirts and hats, which is
fantastic, so that way there'slow upfront cost to getting in.
I can give you a shirt and getyou hooked up with some gear.
Also had Sound Card Club downin Ocean Reef Fantastic in the
(15:57):
Keys.
They're amazing.
They donated two sets of golfclubs.
Scott McLean (16:01):
Beautiful.
Jon Sessa (16:01):
So I have golf clubs that I can help train veterans
with.
There's a lot of organizationsthat have been really nice and
helping out a lot.
Scott McLean (16:09):
Let me, let me ask you the about the ask how did
that go?
How did that?
I know it's evolved into.
Eventually you got good at itcause you got stuff, but how did
you feel?
And this is just you know, uh,founder to founder, executive
director to executive director.
Jon Sessa (16:29):
Oh, I dislike it very much.
That's it.
Yeah, that's one way to put it.
I dislike it very much.
It's fucking hard is the otherway to put it.
Yes, uh, I mean, we're, we're,we're strong men, and I want to
feel that way.
I want to feel like I'm the oneto go to for the resource,
right, and that's the way that,that's the way I've been.
I'm, I'm here, I got you LikeI'm supposed to be the rock in
(16:51):
the hard place, right, always,you don't show it and that's and
that's.
The thing is like we've alwaysbeen trained that, but now I'm
learning that it's not aweakness to ask for help, right,
right, I'm, I'm doing a goodthing on my own and I'm asking
other people, not for help, butjust to get involved.
(17:11):
I'm looking for mentors, and Idid.
I did a post online talkingabout it too.
Um, hey, I was pretty excitedCause I got like almost 5,000
followers on LinkedIn.
Scott McLean (17:21):
I'm like 4,500 and I've been throwing it like
every week 5,000 followers onLinkedIn, I'm like 4,500 and
I've been throwing it like everyweek.
I see you all the time.
You and I, we connect all thetime on there.
Jon Sessa (17:28):
Yeah, and I try to make it personal like this, like
we're having a conversation nowbecause of that, and there's so
many people that I reach out toand I don't hear anything back.
It's like well, why, why areyou my connection then, if
you're not going to connect withme Like I'm looking for
mentorship in the golf businessLike this is new for me.
(17:49):
I'm looking for mentorship in in, you know uh nonprofits, cause
that's new.
I don't want to lose my visionto a board and that's what I'm
worried about.
So I'm grasping to my soleproprietorship while I try to
figure out which direct like Ineed guidance and help on how to
reach the most people possible,but I don't want to give up the
control, at the same time, ofthe people and the vision that I
(18:10):
have.
Scott McLean (18:11):
That's.
That's a whole nother podcastepisode, my friend.
That's a whole nother episode.
Jon Sessa (18:16):
Talk about yeah, oh, I, I, I'm with you, I'm with you
.
Scott McLean (18:19):
Um, so what?
What?
Give me the full range ofservices that the warrior so I
want to get involved withanything golf related.
Jon Sessa (18:29):
So it comes down to uh, we give you a set of golf
clubs if you need them.
Uh, and by that I mean I'm notjust going to give you this nice
set that Sal card club donatedto me you know you're not
getting that one but we're goingto get a set, maybe $50 or a
hundred bucks off of Facebookmarketplace and we'll find.
Maybe somebody will donate it.
And you know what I do withthem.
(18:50):
We'll break it down.
We'll read shaft, put a brandnew shaft on it, put a new grip
on it.
That's right for them.
We'll re groove the clubs.
We repaint them in a colorscheme that's great for you.
What are your favorite colors,what you like, and put some
sentimental value into that.
Right, even if you don't likeplaying golf.
After that experience Iguarantee you're not going to
sell those set of golf clubs.
They cost 50 bucks, man to getand we put hours into it
(19:14):
together, bondingtherapeutically, talking about
life and learning a skill.
Skill.
There you go.
So that's golf related, but notplaying golf.
Yeah, oh, it's still a skillyeah, exactly, but it's a skill.
So we have that.
I find it very therapeuticdoing that.
I have caddy training.
(19:34):
Caddy training is huge.
That's been taken off.
I want to say Eastside Golfabout inclusion and
accessibility when it comes togolf is awesome and they're
helping out with the caddyprogram as well.
And I want to try to introduceveterans who have a story,
because all veterans have astory.
Plus, we have great work ethic.
You have to have very good workethic to be in the military and
(19:58):
with that I think the militarycommunity makes fantastic
caddies.
Just go out, you carry the golfbag.
You don't have to know anythingspecial.
I'll teach you everything youneed to know.
It's not a four week class oranything like that.
I could teach you how to caddyin a day.
We'll do a half morning aPowerPoint that I have drawn up.
I got to redo videos and stuff.
Everything's so outdated thatyou find out, yeah, man.
(20:30):
Like that's.
Another problem is I need tolike come up with all my own
stuff and I need someone tofollow me around with the camera
and stuff you know so, um, butI have an immersive caddy
training.
That's personal, one-on-one,stress-free environment where we
can learn from what you know.
So you know everything that way.
It's not what does everybodyknow, so you don't feel
embarrassed when you go out intothe golf course and don't know
a terminology, right, you got tostart from nothing to assume
you know nothing.
And even if you relearn somethings, that's okay.
It's, you know, just a fun timeout.
(20:51):
Who doesn't want to be out onthe golf course?
Manicure greens, grass?
So, talking about that, I alsohave partnerships with getting
into the ergonomy side, which isworking on the golf course.
If you want to work on mowinggreens, you know you get.
You get free golf.
You get free golf working forthe golf course.
So if that means if you want togo out, you like fresh grass
(21:12):
cut, you could go out there.
Like in the summer it's hardfor a lot of places here in
South Florida find employment.
Come talk to me and get youlinked up with somebody.
You can go out there, cut somebushes.
You could mow some grass twicea week in the morning in the
cool air Cause it's relaxinglistening to music and then you
get free golf out of that too.
But all of these lead tosomething and it's getting back
(21:34):
into the community.
So I like running events.
I have an event coming upDecember 22nd.
Scott McLean (21:38):
Stop, stop, right there.
Did you just say, I likerunning events.
Yeah, you are a rare bird myfriend, because there's a lot of
people out there and I just gotdone with mine and it's it's
tasking at times but it is.
You know, most people like Ican't believe I gotta do this
you know, okay, I love that, butI can't.
You're like, I love doing thisshit I love it.
Jon Sessa (22:00):
I love bringing people together.
Man, bringing the communitytogether is like nothing else
and having the opportunity in aplace to say, hey, let's all
come together, especially forChristmas.
So, christmas coming up,december 22nd, come out.
Links at Boynton beach we'redoing a nine hole scramble with
mini games, ugly sweater contest, food music, uh, vendors, it's
(22:21):
just.
It's going to be just acommunity of fun.
Scott McLean (22:23):
And that's when.
Jon Sessa (22:24):
And that's December 22nd, 8.30 am to about 11.30
noon, and we're going to havepeople out there all day.
Scott McLean (22:32):
How do people do they have to sign up for it or
just show?
Jon Sessa (22:35):
You can sign up for it at warriorgolfacademycom or
you give me a call at305-401-5671.
It's $200 for a foursome, awalking nine hole, but we have
games on every hole.
We have long drive competitions, we have some ladies out there
running nonprofits that aregoing to be doing beat the pro
(22:57):
things for us and it's going tobe just a fantastic time.
Like I say, even if you don'tplay golf, just come out, listen
to some music, play someputting games.
Everybody knows how to playputt-putt, so come out and try
your luck on some free prizesfor putt-putt.
Bring an ugly sweater.
Get involved with the communityplease, because know your
(23:18):
neighbor, it doesn't do muchgood if you're only talking to
people that live thousands ofmiles away.
You know you need to immerseyourself back like it was in the
70s and the 80s where you gotto yell at your mom to hang up
the phone.
Mom, I'm on the line.
Scott McLean (23:34):
I'm not a golfer, but I do have a six-hole putting
green.
That dog legs around my pool inmy backyard.
I bet you practice it's verytherapeutic and frustrating at.
Bet you practice it's it's verytherapeutic and frustrating at
the same time.
Yeah, I had that put in.
After I retired I'm like okay.
Jon Sessa (23:56):
I don't golf, but I can putt yeah.
Scott McLean (23:58):
And you know a bucket, a little bucket of balls
, just putt away and it's fun.
Jon Sessa (24:03):
It's fun and that's why why I always think like I
don't think anyone is ever meantto be good at golf.
Think how the game createdthese guys in scotland just
hitting a ball or a rock with astick.
Scott McLean (24:15):
Yeah, come on, that's you're saying how much
more miserable can I be today?
Oh, I can tell you, let me goout and hit a rock with a stick
in the rain, in the sidewayswind in Scotland Like.
I don't know, miserable enough.
Jon Sessa (24:28):
I don't know where that came from and how it
evolved to this, but there issomething just it's just
therapeutic to just be, evenwhen it see.
For me I don't like being incrowds and stuff too.
I get a lot of anxiety andstuff about that.
Um, so being even a busy day onthe golf course is not a busy
day, right, you're only therewith a couple of close people.
Even if you don't know them,you get to know a couple of
(24:48):
people and I can handle that.
Scott McLean (24:50):
Yeah.
Jon Sessa (24:50):
Like it doesn't put me in a situation where I feel
like you know, and I'm going tohave a panic attack or something
.
Scott McLean (24:56):
Is there a specific eligibility or criteria
for veterans to join this orjust be a veteran?
Just be a veteran.
All you had to do is forveterans to join this or just be
a veteran.
Jon Sessa (25:04):
Just be a veteran.
All you had to do is take theoath, like all of us did and
that's good enough for me.
Scott McLean (25:16):
So you've been doing this for a year or so.
You said right, that's it.
Give me a, or give thelisteners a success story, a
feel-good story that someonejust came and said hey, john,
like this is what I want to do.
Jon Sessa (25:30):
So I would say the biggest success story that I've
seen wouldn't actually be from aveteran, but from a veteran son
and this is an adaptive golfer,ok, a boy who adaptive golfer
meaning meaning he's, uh, neurochallenged and he doesn't have
(25:53):
the ability to use one of hisarms as well.
Um, so, with that thing, like Iw, if I, if that was me,
honestly I would think all thethings that I can't do all the
time Right.
And here he is saying that hewants to go out for his high
school golf team.
He wants to play, he wants tobe accepted into it and there is
no limitations.
There is no adaptive golfsports team for the high school
(26:16):
team.
It's like you make it or youdon't.
So, uh, his father'sencouraging him walk 18 holes
every time he plays.
Every time he's hitting theball, really concentrating on it
, and he's getting good.
He's getting good and watchingthis turnaround and having the
adaptive golf community.
So if you want to look them up,it's United States Adaptive
(26:40):
Golf Association, usaga.
They are fantastic and anythingthat I can do to help children
and veterans know that life canbe better, like you can get out
there and golf.
Don't think about things thatyou can't do.
So those are the stories thatreally get to me is how he's
still inspired by going out andplaying in these events, by
(27:01):
seeing other adaptive golfers.
Uh, like this 80 year oldgentleman who was in Vietnam and
he went to the doctor one dayand he had lost like 30 pounds
in like 30 days and he was like,oh my gosh.
He said he said before that youcould even get the words out.
I think I'm freaking dyingRight, that's what he was going
to tell the doctor.
He said he collapsed and henever walked again, right, so
(27:22):
that's agent orange related andbecause of that now he golfs in
a solo rider, so using one ofthe adaptive golf machines to
help him stand up and still beable to play golf in and out of
bunkers onto the greens andputting.
They're not cheap, but theyhave them in the community.
Scott McLean (27:44):
So give me an example of what that would be
like what you just said anadaptive machine.
What is the?
Is it?
Jon Sessa (27:51):
a so it's a solo rider.
What it is is it's a vehiclewith three wheels on it and you
put your golf bag on the frontand it's got a chair that you
sit in and it straps you in likekind of like a wheelchair.
And you can envision like athing that turns sideways and
goes up the stairs to helppeople that can't make it
upstairs.
Same type of a thing.
This turns sideways and standsup.
(28:11):
It even has a little cover thatcomes over the top bra, so
you're in the shade chilling andit stands you up.
And another inspirational storyis um, I saw it's not not me, I
can't take credit for it, but Isaw this video online and this
gentleman who hasn't been ableto stand up, first thing he did
when he got in a solo rider isgive his wife a hug.
(28:32):
Oh yeah, could you imagine that, not being able to stand up and
give the one that you?
love a hug in that long and nowhave the ability to do it.
That's why I'm pushing adaptiveand inclusion accessibility
when it comes to golf.
Because the world's changing.
We need to know that golfdoesn't have to be that collared
(28:54):
shirt.
Tuck in your shirt into yourpants and show up and like what
if you don't have legs to wearpants?
Exactly you know what I mean.
What do you want me to do, man?
I'm sorry.
Like how that?
Some of these things.
And the saddest thing is thatpeople don't address disability
(29:14):
very much so what you just said?
Scott McLean (29:16):
the first thing that popped into my head is okay
, veterans are a uh, we are,we're a community and disabled
veterans are a smaller community.
But within the disabledveterans smaller community,
there's severely disabledcommunity that really doesn't
(29:37):
have many options.
Yes, and to know that there'ssomething like I just learned
something today Like that'samazing, that's fucking amazing.
Yes, and to know that there'ssomething like like I just
learned something today Likethat's amazing, that's fucking
amazing that that and itinspired you, which, okay, it
wasn't so veteran related.
But now you know, like now youhave something to maybe point
(30:00):
that and say I'm going to dothis, I can get this done for
this veteran, because I was.
I saw it work myself Like Iwitnessed it, and so now it
inspired you to maybe go deeperinto you know, you just don't
say no.
Like you, you can't look atsomebody now and say I wish I
could help you.
Jon Sessa (30:18):
But now you're like, I know exactly how we're going
to do this.
Exactly.
There is no limit.
I will teach anybody to playgolf.
Come find me and I guarantee youI got you.
That's what it's about.
And the thing about golf isyou're only playing against
yourself, right?
So when you get somebody in awheelchair that's missing an arm
(30:43):
and can only hit the ball withone arm and or maybe they're not
even, maybe you're blind andyou can't even see yeah, right,
but you hit that ball and itgoes 50 yards straight.
Yeah, that is an incrediblefeeling.
Yeah, I bet, yeah, I challengeanybody to tell somebody that
it's not somebody with downsyndrome to come and play golf
and hit the ball and be good atit.
(31:04):
That's all it takes, it's justthe feeling for them, like it's,
it's relative man, it's justperception from the person.
Your perception is differentthan mine and that's why you
just have to.
You just have to make peoplefeel good, yeah.
Scott McLean (31:20):
And partnerships and collaborations.
Do you have any partnershipswith other maybe non-profits, or
collaborate with othernon-profits or businesses that
that maybe kind of partner with?
Jon Sessa (31:33):
I do, so I I do work with 100 for 22 foundation.
They run 100 holes a golf for22 veterans that commit suicide
every day, and then they're openfor veterans and first
responders, which is fantastic,and Warrior Golf Academy
provides the caddy services fortheir events, so that's
fantastic.
(31:54):
I love being out there in thatcommunity.
You can look up pictures fromus when we were there in North
Carolina.
It was just an absolute blast.
I had my favorite caddy Mojowith me as well, so he goes
everywhere, and that's that'sanother.
That's another thing I wouldlike like people there's for,
for when it comes to thedisabled community, we need to
(32:16):
to be more open.
I think everyone everyonedifferent perceptions and
different realities that theylive by.
You just need to understandthat everyone's, everyone's
different.
Scott McLean (32:25):
You know, I think you and me, uh, we have.
We have a lot in common thatI'm finding out during this
conversation and uh, and we'redefinitely going to be uh, you
know, doing stuff together.
I already know this is going tohappen one way or another, one
way or another.
But I think we have one otherthing in common.
So're a one-man army.
Like I am doing this for yournon-profit right.
(32:48):
You're doing everything.
You're out of pocket for it forthe most part well, you're the
driving force behind it.
Jon Sessa (32:54):
I am I, I.
I don't want to say I take.
I mean I, I take, I, I am butyou are, but it's a community.
Scott McLean (33:00):
You know, I want to give it.
Jon Sessa (33:01):
I want to give credit to everybody that that supports
and everybody that shows up andeverybody that just comes out,
but it's for one like I have ahard time saying this too, but
it is like me I am doing, but itis yes, one man, one.
Scott McLean (33:13):
My foundation, yes .
I and even my, my president.
You know, uh, who I, she's,she's, she's like I don't know
how you do this, I don't know,you know, and but there's
something behind you and me thathelps us do what we do, and
it's your wife yes, sir and thesupport, because without their
(33:36):
support, without them just goingback and say you go do what you
got to do, that's it.
You go help those veterans dowhat you got to do with no you
know, no, no strings attached.
They, they support what you'redoing, they sit back, they help
they, they listen to you whenyou know you just rattling on
about something and they listenyou know that is extremely
(33:58):
important.
I know this my wife, who workshard herself, but she'll listen
to me every day and she justlistens to me.
Jon Sessa (34:07):
Nobody.
Nobody can see me just noddingmy head, because everybody else
knows too.
I bet everyone listening isjust nodding your head like, yes
, it's those in the immediateones around you that really
notice, because it's easy tocome to places like this, but
they don't.
You don't see everything right.
Like everybody, has good days,bad days, and to have that
(34:27):
support through all of it, thefrustrating times, the times
where I'm sure you're, you'relooking at your computer like
you're gonna smash it and theanxiety of you know is is
anybody?
Scott McLean (34:38):
you show up to my party, like when you're doing a
fundraiser, you know there's allof it goes into it and somebody
is behind you goingeverything's gonna be all right,
exactly everything's gonna beall right, you know I.
Jon Sessa (34:50):
I published out my event.
I have a zero confirmed peopleright now, but but uh, let's
promote that again.
It's on it's december 22nd,yeah, at the links of boynton
beach the links in boynton beachyes, sir, it'll be on their
short course.
It's a par 39 hole walking.
Uh, if you're disabled and youneed a golf cart, we can provide
(35:13):
it.
Um, but it's just going to be agreat day to just be out under
the sun and enjoying thefestivities and wear your ugly
christmas sweater that's it.
I'm gonna wear one mojo's gonnawear one hideous one you can
find oh, yes, oh, we have someterrible ones out there too, so
it makes for good fun, though,but that's it.
That's what the holiday shouldbe.
You should be bringing peopletogether.
(35:34):
We should be doing.
When's the last time you wentto a potluck?
Scott McLean (35:39):
that's a good question.
I was just yeah, that's a goodquestion.
I was just yeah, that's a goodquestion.
Jon Sessa (35:42):
I mean these things don't happen anymore.
I mean maybe you're worriedthat you know the neighbor's
going to put fentanyl in thecandy or something.
I mean I don't know at thispoint, like things are just
crazy everywhere, you know.
Scott McLean (35:55):
You're right now.
I'll never look at a potluckthe same again.
Now that you said that Exactly.
But, I'm good.
Jon Sessa (36:02):
Yeah, yeah, I mean that's a big scare now.
I mean I guess, I mean I'm justglad that buffets came back.
Man, I'm a big buffet.
Scott McLean (36:10):
So after COVID, when that came back, I was
nothing like a good buffet, yeah, so, john, give us your website
again.
So you can find me online atwarriorgolfacademycom and give
me the on that, give us a realquick rundown of what you offer
(36:32):
again.
Jon Sessa (36:33):
So on that website, really just contact me for
anything that you need.
I have a simple contact me formon there.
There's a phone number.
Scott McLean (36:39):
There's caddy training Everything's need.
I have a simple contact me formon there.
There's a phone number Pattytraining.
Jon Sessa (36:42):
Everything's listed.
I do club repair, I do Pattytraining, I do community
engagement events.
If you want me to just come outand set up a table, I would
love to.
I would love to help promoteyour events too, for no charge.
I'm working a partnership withsome people that are doing
charity scramble.
Put up all the website for thecharity scrambles, that way you
(37:06):
can find them Just anything whenit comes to golf and charity
and being nice, I guess AnythingI can do for you.
Reach out, please.
We're trying to just grow acommunity.
So soon, very soon, I plan onhaving a Facebook group created
so that way anybody that's goingout and playing golf which I do
quite a bit, and I have quite abit of open places with me, so
(37:31):
whenever we go out and play golf, you can find somebody that can
join you and say, hey look, Igot a game going at this time.
Who wants to come?
I got a game going here, let'sdo this.
Or I got two tea times, let'sget eight people together.
Like we need to build thecommunity.
And it's been happening, but Ithink I can't wait more for
other people.
So I got to be that drivingforce right.
(37:52):
So, with me being the drivingforce, I'm going to create the
Facebook group and I'll linkthat to the web page.
So check back.
Also, check out my blog onthere my Mojo stories.
This is, I think, a unique takeon seeing life from my service
animal's eyes.
Scott McLean (38:11):
And that's who Mojo is.
And that's who Mojo is younever really got into it.
Jon Sessa (38:15):
You talked about Mojo .
Never got into it.
Scott McLean (38:18):
Give us a rundown on Mojo.
Jon Sessa (38:24):
So I guess I'm not supposed to love him is what I
tell my wife and I tell everyone.
I don't like him, but I lovehim, right, he's my service
animal, little pomeranian, 10pounds, uh, and he goes
everywhere with me most of thetime.
Um, you could have brought himhere today.
Yeah, I was I got.
All you have to do is ask.
That's it.
That's it the power of asking.
See, I should just, should justask, don't be afraid.
Scott McLean (38:46):
That's right.
Jon Sessa (38:48):
That's why Let me know, ask me for things people,
please.
But Mojo, so you can look Mojostories.
I think it's an interesting wayto get people to kind of look
at how disabled people strugglein daily life.
So I go to golf courses withhim and this latest one is about
our trip to North Carolina withour mission for 100, for 22.
(39:09):
And the anxiety that I havetraveling through the airport
and what it's like, and his jobas a service animal and what
he's meant to do, and I think itwas a creative way to kind of
display it.
So I'm going to continue onwith that series, maybe one one
a month.
I'll write another one and putit out there.
But I'm finding that it'seasier for me to write things
down.
(39:29):
It becomes quite therapeutic.
I'm not a good reader, I don'tread much, I'd rather listen or
watch something, but but writingwas it, was.
Scott McLean (39:37):
It was quite therapeutic to do that Okay'm
gonna put you on the spot nowyeah yeah, you didn't see this
one coming, okay, but it justdawned on me, so I just did my
uh, my, my fundraiser, which wasmy uh storytelling event,
veteran storytelling okay, andit was amazing.
It was amazing.
It was my first one.
Uh, didn't know what to expect.
I knew what to expect.
(39:58):
It far exceeded even myexpectations.
It's fantastic.
So I'm going to do one everysix months.
Awesome, it's going to justgrow organically.
It's going to be part of myfoundation.
So I'm going to ask you wouldyou be one of the storytellers
at my next event?
Absolutely, there you go.
Jon Sessa (40:17):
I would love to.
Scott McLean (40:18):
I would love to Because I think there's a story
of you and Mojo that would justkill the audience.
Their heart will justabsolutely explode.
It definitely could.
Jon Sessa (40:29):
As we talked about it before, I need to get the word
out.
Whatever I can do to driveawareness, to just help people
is all it's about Just be niceto people.
So I got it.
I would love to attend.
Scott McLean (40:41):
There you go.
You're going to be part of thenext Story Lab.
Jon Sessa (40:43):
Terrific.
Scott McLean (40:44):
A night of veterans stories.
Jon Sessa (40:46):
So I won't release too much mojo material.
I'll have to keep some secretsso that way I have new stuff to
give Any story you want to tell,any story you want to tell, but
I'm going to put you on thelist.
Scott McLean (40:56):
you're the second veteran now thank you.
Jon Sessa (40:58):
Thank you volunteered to do this.
What an honor they want to doit.
Scott McLean (41:01):
Uh, it's.
I'm telling you, people, if youknow, no one knew what to
expect at this first one.
Like they really didn't, it'slike storytelling.
It's not dynamic, it's not, youknow.
Like it's how do you promote it, how do you hype it?
You know what I mean.
But a good crowd showed up, asmall crowd, but a good crowd,
and I asked them, a lot of them,as they were leaving and they
were just overwhelmed with whatthey saw and all of them to a
(41:25):
person said this is not what Iexpected.
Jon Sessa (41:28):
Oh, that's right.
Scott McLean (41:29):
And uh I I asked them what did you expect?
And they said I don't know,they were like, I just thought
people would be telling storiesabout being like, you know, just
being in the military typething, and but these stories go
deeper than what they expected.
Jon Sessa (41:45):
Yes, yeah, just talking to you Very much so.
Scott McLean (41:48):
You got at least 20 stories.
I can tell you that.
Just talking to you, I knowyou've got some great stories.
Jon Sessa (41:55):
Definitely have relatable stories is the thing,
and storytelling for veterans isreally important.
Scott McLean (42:00):
You touched on it earlier.
That's it In the thing.
And storytelling for veteransis really important.
You touched on it earlier inthe interview.
It's very important and I thinkyou know I say a veteran's
story is their strength, it'stheir biggest strength, that's
it.
Jon Sessa (42:10):
And I feel the hardest thing and I think you do
a great job at it with yourfoundation is helping people to
tell their story right, becausethis is lost.
And when I first got into SouthFlorida here and started
looking into like creatingWarrior Golf Academy and talking
to different people, I reachedout to a lot of speakers too in
(42:30):
the speaking circuit aboutinclusion and things like that,
and when I was speaking to someof them they said you just they
go.
Wow, your story resonates withso many more people than just
veterans.
They go.
Not only is it just veterans,but then it's anybody that's
like a first responder and thenanybody with trauma and you can
just build on.
It really is just for everybody,and that's what made me really
(42:53):
hone in on it's a feeling if youcan get people to feel that
feeling inside of them, andthat's what, what you use to
unite people.
You don't, you can't say like,oh well, I got shot at, like not
everyone's been shot at, sothey don't know.
But if you could say like, ohmy gosh, my heart was racing
like a million, like I didn'tknow what was going to happen,
like relate that to like a moststressful environment of your
(43:15):
life, like losing a child, orlike, if you're, you know,
walked away and you were, likehad that moment of, like deep
anxiety, where you're like, ohmy gosh.
Or like I was feeding a babyone time and and it like burbled
on me and I was like the firsttime ever and I was like I'm the
one in control.
What am I supposed to do?
Like that's the scariest momentof my life and that's more
relatable to most people, Likethose things are, like those
(43:38):
emotions are what we need tocapture.
Scott McLean (43:40):
They turn into stories.
Memories immediately turn intostories, exactly.
Jon Sessa (43:45):
So I think it's awesome what you're doing by
helping other people be able totell their stories.
I tell them.
Scott McLean (43:51):
I tell everybody, I say this, and if this piques
your interest, then get in touchwith me, because this is what
we do with One man, one MicFoundation, and that's um
storytelling that's.
It is a superpower and there'sand I I explain and when you and
I get together, you know,probably in the new year, if you
(44:11):
want to go through thispodcasting course or the
storytelling course I will,because I'm a storytelling nerd
like an absolute nerd about it,right, but I will explain to you
exactly how it's literally asuperpower I can see that I
could see that I use.
Jon Sessa (44:28):
I mean, it was a part of sales for a long time.
People use it's a tactic for alot of things get people to nod.
Scott McLean (44:33):
Tell it effectively is a superpower,
yeah, so yes, sir.
All right, buddy One more timeWebsite warrior golf academycom.
All right, your, uh, your, your, your event coming up, let's do
it again.
Jon Sessa (44:47):
All right.
The event coming up is onDecember 22nd at the links at
Boynton beach golf course.
Scott McLean (44:55):
What's going on?
Jon Sessa (44:55):
It's going to be a nine hole golf scramble to
invite the entire South Floridacommunity.
Feel free drive hours to comeand see us.
I would love it.
Please build upon this.
We're going to have uh, we haveadaptive coaches there.
We have regular golf coachesthere.
We have, uh, all types of gamesand events.
(45:16):
We have ugly sweater contestshappening.
We have putting prizes.
We have just communityengagement.
Hot luck, sure, bring food.
I mean at this point, just comeout.
Please just get involved withthe community.
Right?
If you want to, if you have abusiness, you want to set up a
booth, if you anything, pleasereach out to me.
Look on the website, get a holdof me.
(45:37):
This is a chance for us to justharness the community before
christmas time.
This is the.
This is a chance for us to justharness the community before
Christmas time.
This is the holiday season achance for everybody to get out.
Get outside and nice air,sunshine.
You got some Christmas musichappening.
You got a lot of festivitiesgoing on and all the grass is
there and it's clean and it'scut and it's manicured.
It's like a giant park for fun.
(45:59):
Even if you don't play golf,you can come out there with the
family right, beautiful,beautiful.
Scott McLean (46:04):
Well, that's it, buddy.
I think we covered everything.
Is there anything that you wantto touch on at the very end,
anything that we might haveforgot?
Jon Sessa (46:12):
No, I think.
I think we touched on justabout everything, oh.
Scott McLean (46:15):
I forgot to say Um , so John does run a nonprofit
and well, money is the enginethat runs nonprofits, that runs
the machine.
And so, if you like what whatJohn's doing, give him money.
Just give him your money,that's it.
He's working hard, he's doing,he's doing great work with
(46:38):
veterans.
His attitude is absolutelycontagious.
Jon Sessa (46:42):
So give him money I don't want to say no, but you
won't say no I don't want to sayno, but give him money, donate
to his foundation come, come tothe website, see, see what you
get for your money and and we wecan discuss it, because I don't
like taking things for nothing.
(47:02):
There's definitely worthwhile.
Scott McLean (47:05):
ROI on your investments.
So there you go.
Then you'll get something foryour money, and real quick.
I forgot to mention this theservices, the services that you
provide and you teach veterans.
There's always a monetary valueto that.
And if somebody was to payhonestly, if someone was to pay
out of pocket, say, hey, I'mgoing to learn all this stuff
(47:26):
that John teaches in the WarriorGolf Academy.
It's free.
But if I was coming out ofpocket, what do you think it
would cost somebody?
Jon Sessa (47:34):
Honestly, I think everything that I offer, if you
were to utilize all of myservices, would probably cost
you upwards of $10,000.
Scott McLean (47:42):
There you go See.
Jon Sessa (47:44):
That's golf clubs, that's new equipment, that's
teaching.
I mean golf pros are $100 anhour, at least, yep.
So come for free.
Free, learn a skill, give himmoney.
Scott McLean (47:57):
Learn a skill.
It's free, it's great and he'sa good dude.
He's a solid dude and justlistening to him you got to
think you know this couldn't bea bad thing.
Going out on the golf coursewith John.
I don't think that's bad at all.
Jon Sessa (48:11):
Oh, I don't think any day on a golf course is never a
bad day.
Never have a bad day on thegolf course.
So if you're out there with me,yeah, I've.
I've had some of the worstrounds you could ever imagine.
Scott McLean (48:21):
But you're out there oh well, it's it.
Jon Sessa (48:23):
I I get distracted by squirrels.
By by by, there will be oneballoon in the sky and I spot it
, man, like yep, it's it, butit's a great time out there well
, all right.
Scott McLean (48:36):
So, uh, we built another bridge today.
Uh, I want to thank John forcoming on.
This had been delayed a fewtimes, but I always I don't
forget, I don't forget, and Ireached out to John.
He's like let's do this, so Iwant to thank him for coming on.
The podcast.
I want to thank you forlistening and, as I always say,
now listen to the very end.
There's a good public serviceannouncement.
(48:57):
It's for veterans, family ofveterans and just civilians.
Also, it has to do with 211 and988 and the services that
provided.
It's only 30 seconds long.
Just give it a listen andhopefully you get something out
of it, and hopefully you gotsomething out of today's episode
.
I just want to say thank youagain for listening and
supporting this podcast.
(49:17):
It's exceeding my expectations.
You guys are great and I trulyappreciate you listening and,
like I always say, you'll hearme again next week.
Welcome to the podcast.
I'm Scott McLean.
My guest today is John Sessa.
John is the founder andexecutive director of Warrior
Golf Academy, located in BocaRaton Florida.
How are?
Jon Sessa (00:13):
you doing, john?
Oh, I'm good, scott, thank youso much for having me here.
Scott McLean (00:17):
It's fantastic, it's fantastic, I got through
that intro.
I didn't think.
I usually don't.
I made it, I was holding mybreath.
Jon Sessa (00:24):
Honestly, I was like is it going gonna happen?
Scott McLean (00:27):
so I I want to tell you something that I didn't
tell you before the podcast.
You are the first personinterviewed in the one man, one
mic studio sponsored by willowand palm construction, delray
beach, florida.
Willow and palm south,florida's premier builder.
From driveways to roofs, tobuildings.
If you need it, they can do it.
(00:47):
Find them at willowandpalmcom.
I throw that in there.
That's awesome.
Jon Sessa (00:52):
They they deserve it I mean this the studio is
fantastic, man, uh, the locationis amazing.
So, uh, let me ask you what do?
Scott McLean (01:01):
you think of the big pink coach?
Jon Sessa (01:03):
I don't mind the pink man.
It puts me, it puts me in asomber mood over here.
Scott McLean (01:07):
Preach brother.
There you go.
That's what I got.
I like it.
Preach buddy, preach yeah.
Jon Sessa (01:12):
It took a moment.
I sat down, I was like, okay,and I was like you know, it's
velvety.
Scott McLean (01:25):
It's it, you know, a little comfortable, beautiful
, beautiful so missionaccomplished with the big pink
couch.
That's it very welcome.
Yes, yes, all right, buddy.
So let's get right to it.
Warrior golf academy you're aveteran yes sir.
So give us a little bit of yourstory from where you're from,
and then your military journey,and this point right here so, um
, not not a lot.
Jon Sessa (01:46):
Grew up like most other people, I suppose.
Uh, I was born in california,moved all over the place as a
kid, started working sales andjust had no upward momentum, was
always kind of interested inthe military.
Right like 2006 is when Igraduated high school.
Uh, I know I'm showing my age,but I'm not like, not old or
anything.
(02:06):
But, with that being said, thatwas like the dawn of the surge.
Some parents were like maybenot, I went to college and then
I ended up enlisting 2013 in thein the army.
So I went army field artillery.
I'm a red leg through andthrough.
Of course, I didn't want to doany of the crazy stuff while I
was in the military.
I didn't want to jump out ofhelicopters.
I didn't want to do any of thecrazy stuff while I was in the
military.
I didn't want to jump out ofhelicopters, I didn't want to do
(02:27):
any of that, but I ended upgetting rappel so I could rappel
.
I do a bunch of cool stuff withthem and yeah, but it was, it
was good fun.
After I got out, I had a lot ofptsd, substance abuse issues,
yeah, so I had a lot of thingsthat are very difficult for me,
or just, uh, that you know.
(02:47):
Uh, one big one is barracksbuildings.
Walking into a barracksbuilding and finding one of your
soldiers, you know, hunghimself in the closet, um, you
know, you don't ever come backfrom things like that.
Like things that happened tothe bad guys is one thing, um,
the people that are trying torip your lives apart, but the
people that are here with you,that you really care about, and
(03:09):
that's ultimately what it is.
So that's, that's one incident.
I had another buddy who ate abullet, um, and thank God it
didn't kill him.
But you know, having to holdyour face together and like,
live through that, like thesetraumatic experiences, everybody
has them and the point being is, like I get maybe mine could be
more gruesome than some peoplecould say, others are way worse
(03:32):
than what I have, but everybodyknows that feeling and that's
what I like to hone in on isthat feeling of despair and
darkness.
Everybody has felt that,everyone's been there and you
need a way to pull yourself outRight.
So it took me a long time toget there.
I got out of the military 2019.
A lot of survivor, guilt, a lotof PTSD, thinking what, what
(03:55):
could I have done to to helpthose that were underneath me,
my soldiers that I would give mylife for.
I would give my life for, andcoming into the civilian world,
I lacked that community.
I didn't see.
I didn't feel the same wayabout it, so I created my own.
I started Warrior Golf Academyon the means that we need a
(04:15):
community for the veterans, andgolf was my therapeutic outlet,
just like there is equestrianand there's fishing and there's
painting and podcasting, exactly.
That's it.
That's it, but theseconnections that we have.
So I create a warrior golfAcademy to be a one-stop shop,
basically for veterans or thosewho have been through some
(04:38):
trauma to come and say look, Iwant to be rehabilitated, I want
to learn how to play the gameof golf, be fine, piece through
it.
Maybe not so good at golf, soyou want to learn.
Rehabilitated, I want to learnhow to play the game of golf,
find peace through it.
Maybe not so good at golf, soyou want to learn to caddy.
Well, I have a caddy programtoo.
Every veteran has a fantasticstory, so getting out on the
golf course, being grounded, isa huge thing when it comes to
(04:59):
mental health.
Getting outside, talking withpeople, just having an excuse
and a reason to get out of thehouse that's what I'm promoting
is just volunteer.
I have events happening.
Come out.
I run weekly golf groups tocome out, sit in the golf cart.
You don't even have to payanything, man Like.
Just come, hang out with yourbrothers and your sisters that
(05:21):
went through so much togetherand prevent yourself from that
isolation, especially when itcomes to the holiday seasons.
This is when we see a lot ofpeople and isolation is the
number one reason for suicideand trying to push that message
and just the awareness beyond itis.
Is it so?
The one thing people always ask, like what can I do, right?
(05:43):
Is I say just smile to somebody.
You don't have to do anythingfor me, man, honestly, just look
at somebody, smile, maybesomeone's having a bad day, and
that smile or that wave or thatyou know hey, how's it going
today?
Like that friendly gesture ofjust acknowledging another
person instead of being sowrapped up in your own life, uh,
it could change somebody's life.
Maybe you save a life just bysmiling at somebody.
Scott McLean (06:06):
I say the same thing, saying hi to somebody,
engage in a conversation withthe person that nobody, that
people shy away from oh, thatguy's crazy.
You talk to him, but you know,I want to go back on something
that you said and I noticed thisa lot since I started doing
this podcast and I got involvedin the veteran space and it's
you kind of touched on, like,well, my story isn't as bad as
(06:29):
some might, maybe somebodyelse's story and you downplay it
, and but what you followed upwith was exactly right, but
that's mine.
Like we all go throughsomething.
That's different levels.
You can't downplay what youwent through compared to okay,
this guy got blown up or thisguy, you know, and I only did
(06:53):
this, but it affected you andyou gotta.
You know the thing and don'tdownplay it.
Jon Sessa (06:59):
You have to realize it it's not that I downplay no,
not you, I didn't so, as I go, Ifocus more on the emotion that
causes, because everybody knowsthat emotion.
Everybody could say man it.
It must be awful to be in awheelchair.
Well, I understand thatcompletely, because there was a
time in my life where I wantedto kill myself.
I had suicidal attempts and Ihad substance abuse to the point
(07:23):
where I was just covering thepain and I was utilizing alcohol
to just feel nothing, to thepoint where it literally took my
life and ruined it and I hadnothing left.
I had to rebuild, and comingback from there gave me a sense
of purpose, and I believe that'swhat people need.
(07:43):
So you need a community, youneed a sense of purpose and you
need to feel like you belongsomeplace.
And with those feelings youhave not only just living but
the will to live, and that'swhat it is.
You need the will to want tocontinue to live.
For what?
To better something.
(08:04):
Everybody has that and everyonehas to look.
Whether it's for your children,whether it's for your buddy
that you're living next door to,whether it's for your brothers
and sisters, whatever it's for,everyone is living for something
and that's what you need tohone in on, and don't forget
that Life is so short.
Anything could happen at anymoment.
Take the time to engage in thethings around you that make life
(08:28):
so beautiful.
Scott McLean (08:29):
I say this you know we live in Palm Beach
County so everyone calls it PBC.
But with my foundation, one man, one, mike Foundation, my cheap
plug every episode I say we saythat PBC isn't't palm beach
county, it's purpose, belongingand connection I like it and
that's what veterans need.
(08:49):
That's it, you know?
Jon Sessa (08:51):
pbc not just veterans , though it's everybody
everybody anybody that'sexperienced any type of trauma,
anybody that's just seekingcommunity.
Yeah, um, and I tell a lot ofpeople with veterans day of just
passing too, a lot of peoplesay thank you for your service.
Well, we wouldn't be able to dowhat we did downrange if it
wasn't for the supportivecommunity back home.
Right Understanding thateverything is OK here, being
(09:14):
gone and having enough on yourplate there and not having to
worry about it here because ofthose that actually support us
here in the US, is amazing.
That feeling that there'speople that got your back.
And we were talking earlier,before this, about how
everything seems to just bebuilt right now to just drive
you apart.
There's no good stories on thenews.
(09:34):
Everything's so negative andhateful and it's just.
Everything's a ripple effectand it's just pulling everything
.
And we don't need that.
We need reasons to come, cometogether.
We need to find common ground,likenesses.
Why is everyone focused on thedifferences instead of the
things that we're all human?
That's the thing.
Everyone is human.
We're all flesh and blood whenit comes down to it.
(09:55):
Uh, you know, some have alittle more biomechanics than
others, but you know, at the endof the day, is that a golf
thing?
Scott McLean (10:02):
a vet of mechanics , mechanics.
Jon Sessa (10:04):
Not really, it's a my my buddy Ed.
I started a Broward golf groupwith them down here so I'll plug
him.
It's another place to come inand runs a fantastic golf group
for for anyone who wants to comeout and play.
But he's he's missing his leg,right.
So I always say, give him ahard time when we go out and
(10:26):
play golf, that he's going tohave to kick that into high mode
and change over the settings onhis leg to get the hydraulics
warmed up.
That way he's able to keep upwith all of us.
But no, it makes for a reallyfun time when we get out there
with everybody else.
So being able to engage, getout with the community,
(10:47):
especially through Palm Beachand through Miami, it's awesome.
Scott McLean (10:52):
So why golf?
How did you come up with golfas your, let's say, non-profit
of choice?
Jon Sessa (11:00):
So golf really started because when I was very
little, I would go out with mygrandfather and I would just hit
buckets of balls over and overand over, and six o'clock in the
morning, with the dew on theground, that is just.
It was peaceful.
It was peaceful for me.
I mean, I was doing thousandsof balls a day.
(11:20):
I was hitting not necessarilyhitting them right, but you know
, I was doing a lot of it.
So good Not not all practice isgood practice but I was hitting
not necessarily hitting themright, but I was doing a lot of
it.
So not all practice is goodpractice, but I was doing it and
it brought us together andthat's a moment that I can look
back in my life and say that Iwas truly happy.
Those moments are what we livefor and if I can replicate that
(11:43):
for other people, then that'swhat I want to do.
So, getting out of the military,I focused on golf as my therapy
.
I moved to Costa Rica.
I lived in Costa Rica for threeand a half years, used my GI
bill to go back to school andthen supplemented income by
teaching English to the localpopulation.
(12:03):
Get myself involved.
Supplemented income by teachingEnglish to the local population
, get myself involved.
I met my wife out there and Icreated a new life and it was
really the reset that I needed,just like if your computer's
malfunctioning.
I felt like that was me man,like I needed.
I needed somebody to hit thatreset button, and it took me
three and a half years in CostaRica teaching English to realize
(12:26):
what I really wanted, and thatwas to help my brothers and
sisters through what Iexperienced.
So we have a daughter, 14 yearsold, and we moved here to the US
, in Florida, particularly soshe could go to high school.
I don't want to move allthroughout high school.
I want to give her theopportunity for the best life
possible, of course.
(12:47):
So with that I created mycommunity here in South Florida,
and it's a perfect place forgolf.
It's a perfect place forveterans.
Florida is a fantastic state,very veteran friendly, so I'm
very happy that this is wherewe've created our home, and
everyone I don't want to sayeverybody, but most people are
very open and supportive, right.
(13:09):
Um and, as we said, the otherpeople we just shy away from no
problem.
You know, it's just water offthe back.
Not everyone's going to bereceptive to things, and that's
okay, um.
But change is coming and itdoesn't need to be that ripping
people apart.
We just need to fostercommunity and bring people back
together.
I think with technology andeverything nowadays, it's so
(13:31):
easy to travel across the world.
Everyone forgets about what,about the person next door.
You know, crazy thing, when Ifirst moved here right, I moved
into Deerfield Beach I'm alittle cookie cutter
neighborhood wanted to make sureit was nice for the family and
I had a bunch of money savedfrom when I worked in the oil
fields and stuff, right.
So I was like let's come outhere and make like we'll do it
really nice.
I went to everybody's housewith some chocolates and like,
(13:54):
knocked on the door, introducedmyself, said hey, we're new to
the neighborhood, blah, blah.
I never saw one of those peopleagain.
Yeah, can you like?
Scott McLean (14:03):
no, I'm not surprised I.
Jon Sessa (14:05):
I'm not surprised and that's just.
That's not the, that's not theamerica that I'm used to, right
like.
I moved around a lot in themilitary, so my, my view of
america was when I was a kid,growing up, like playing in the
streets and going out and youdon't, there's, there's, not
that anymore.
Everyone's so and I tell meabout it.
Scott McLean (14:24):
I grew up in pretty much the.
I was born in 63, so the 60s,the 70s, the 80s, that's what we
did, I mean, that's what it wasall about.
Jon Sessa (14:33):
So the sandlot days.
Scott McLean (14:34):
Huh, yeah, I I see exactly what you're saying,
except I experienced it yeah 20something years ago before you.
You know what I mean.
I went through this, and that'syou know what I mean.
I went through this, and that'syou know.
People are people.
So how, how old is the warriorgolf Academy?
Jon Sessa (14:51):
So I've been out here in South Florida for two and a
half years now.
Warrior golf Academy is uh beenan LLC for one year, um, and I
want to just operate it myself.
I'm 100% out of pocket.
Any donations I know thatfeeling.
Any donations that I take iseverything that I just give back
into the community.
(15:11):
I don't have any formalsponsorships but I do have a few
partnerships, so Foot Joy isone of them.
They have been awesome here inSouth Florida with some
inclement weather gear for ourcaddies and participants so that
way when they graduate throughthe program they can get a
couple of swag items to wearwhen they're out on the course
(15:33):
when it's raining or, you know,especially here in South Florida
when it's raining.
So that's why I got got somegood stuff from them.
I have Weekend Warrior suppliedsome shirts and hats, which is
fantastic, so that way there'slow upfront cost to getting in.
I can give you a shirt and getyou hooked up with some gear.
Also had Sound Card Club downin Ocean Reef Fantastic in the
(15:57):
Keys.
They're amazing.
They donated two sets of golfclubs.
Scott McLean (16:01):
Beautiful.
Jon Sessa (16:01):
So I have golf clubs that I can help train veterans
with.
There's a lot of organizationsthat have been really nice and
helping out a lot.
Scott McLean (16:09):
Let me, let me ask you the about the ask how did
that go?
How did that?
I know it's evolved into.
Eventually you got good at itcause you got stuff, but how did
you feel?
And this is just you know, uh,founder to founder, executive
director to executive director.
Jon Sessa (16:29):
Oh, I dislike it very much.
That's it.
Yeah, that's one way to put it.
I dislike it very much.
It's fucking hard is the otherway to put it.
Yes, uh, I mean, we're, we're,we're strong men, and I want to
feel that way.
I want to feel like I'm the oneto go to for the resource,
right, and that's the way that,that's the way I've been.
I'm, I'm here, I got you LikeI'm supposed to be the rock in
(16:51):
the hard place, right, always,you don't show it and that's and
that's.
The thing is like we've alwaysbeen trained that, but now I'm
learning that it's not aweakness to ask for help, right,
right, I'm, I'm doing a goodthing on my own and I'm asking
other people, not for help, butjust to get involved.
(17:11):
I'm looking for mentors, and Idid.
I did a post online talkingabout it too.
Um, hey, I was pretty excitedCause I got like almost 5,000
followers on LinkedIn.
Scott McLean (17:21):
I'm like 4,500 and I've been throwing it like
every week 5,000 followers onLinkedIn, I'm like 4,500 and
I've been throwing it like everyweek.
I see you all the time.
You and I, we connect all thetime on there.
Jon Sessa (17:28):
Yeah, and I try to make it personal like this, like
we're having a conversation nowbecause of that, and there's so
many people that I reach out toand I don't hear anything back.
It's like well, why, why areyou my connection then, if
you're not going to connect withme Like I'm looking for
mentorship in the golf businessLike this is new for me.
(17:49):
I'm looking for mentorship in in, you know uh nonprofits, cause
that's new.
I don't want to lose my visionto a board and that's what I'm
worried about.
So I'm grasping to my soleproprietorship while I try to
figure out which direct like Ineed guidance and help on how to
reach the most people possible,but I don't want to give up the
control, at the same time, ofthe people and the vision that I
(18:10):
have.
Scott McLean (18:11):
That's.
That's a whole nother podcastepisode, my friend.
That's a whole nother episode.
Jon Sessa (18:16):
Talk about yeah, oh, I, I, I'm with you, I'm with you
.
Scott McLean (18:19):
Um, so what?
What?
Give me the full range ofservices that the warrior so I
want to get involved withanything golf related.
Jon Sessa (18:29):
So it comes down to uh, we give you a set of golf
clubs if you need them.
Uh, and by that I mean I'm notjust going to give you this nice
set that Sal card club donatedto me you know you're not
getting that one but we're goingto get a set, maybe $50 or a
hundred bucks off of Facebookmarketplace and we'll find.
Maybe somebody will donate it.
And you know what I do withthem.
(18:50):
We'll break it down.
We'll read shaft, put a brandnew shaft on it, put a new grip
on it.
That's right for them.
We'll re groove the clubs.
We repaint them in a colorscheme that's great for you.
What are your favorite colors,what you like, and put some
sentimental value into that.
Right, even if you don't likeplaying golf.
After that experience Iguarantee you're not going to
sell those set of golf clubs.
They cost 50 bucks, man to getand we put hours into it
(19:14):
together, bondingtherapeutically, talking about
life and learning a skill.
Skill.
There you go.
So that's golf related, but notplaying golf.
Yeah, oh, it's still a skillyeah, exactly, but it's a skill.
So we have that.
I find it very therapeuticdoing that.
I have caddy training.
(19:34):
Caddy training is huge.
That's been taken off.
I want to say Eastside Golfabout inclusion and
accessibility when it comes togolf is awesome and they're
helping out with the caddyprogram as well.
And I want to try to introduceveterans who have a story,
because all veterans have astory.
Plus, we have great work ethic.
You have to have very good workethic to be in the military and
(19:58):
with that I think the militarycommunity makes fantastic
caddies.
Just go out, you carry the golfbag.
You don't have to know anythingspecial.
I'll teach you everything youneed to know.
It's not a four week class oranything like that.
I could teach you how to caddyin a day.
We'll do a half morning aPowerPoint that I have drawn up.
I got to redo videos and stuff.
Everything's so outdated thatyou find out, yeah, man.
(20:30):
Like that's.
Another problem is I need tolike come up with all my own
stuff and I need someone tofollow me around with the camera
and stuff you know so, um, butI have an immersive caddy
training.
That's personal, one-on-one,stress-free environment where we
can learn from what you know.
So you know everything that way.
It's not what does everybodyknow, so you don't feel
embarrassed when you go out intothe golf course and don't know
a terminology, right, you got tostart from nothing to assume
you know nothing.
And even if you relearn somethings, that's okay.
It's, you know, just a fun timeout.
(20:51):
Who doesn't want to be out onthe golf course?
Manicure greens, grass?
So, talking about that, I alsohave partnerships with getting
into the ergonomy side, which isworking on the golf course.
If you want to work on mowinggreens, you know you get.
You get free golf.
You get free golf working forthe golf course.
So if that means if you want togo out, you like fresh grass
(21:12):
cut, you could go out there.
Like in the summer it's hardfor a lot of places here in
South Florida find employment.
Come talk to me and get youlinked up with somebody.
You can go out there, cut somebushes.
You could mow some grass twicea week in the morning in the
cool air Cause it's relaxinglistening to music and then you
get free golf out of that too.
But all of these lead tosomething and it's getting back
(21:34):
into the community.
So I like running events.
I have an event coming upDecember 22nd.
Scott McLean (21:38):
Stop, stop, right there.
Did you just say, I likerunning events.
Yeah, you are a rare bird myfriend, because there's a lot of
people out there and I just gotdone with mine and it's it's
tasking at times but it is.
You know, most people like Ican't believe I gotta do this
you know, okay, I love that, butI can't.
You're like, I love doing thisshit I love it.
Jon Sessa (22:00):
I love bringing people together.
Man, bringing the communitytogether is like nothing else
and having the opportunity in aplace to say, hey, let's all
come together, especially forChristmas.
So, christmas coming up,december 22nd, come out.
Links at Boynton beach we'redoing a nine hole scramble with
mini games, ugly sweater contest, food music, uh, vendors, it's
(22:21):
just.
It's going to be just acommunity of fun.
Scott McLean (22:23):
And that's when.
Jon Sessa (22:24):
And that's December 22nd, 8.30 am to about 11.30
noon, and we're going to havepeople out there all day.
Scott McLean (22:32):
How do people do they have to sign up for it or
just show?
Jon Sessa (22:35):
You can sign up for it at warriorgolfacademycom or
you give me a call at305-401-5671.
It's $200 for a foursome, awalking nine hole, but we have
games on every hole.
We have long drive competitions, we have some ladies out there
running nonprofits that aregoing to be doing beat the pro
(22:57):
things for us and it's going tobe just a fantastic time.
Like I say, even if you don'tplay golf, just come out, listen
to some music, play someputting games.
Everybody knows how to playputt-putt, so come out and try
your luck on some free prizesfor putt-putt.
Bring an ugly sweater.
Get involved with the communityplease, because know your
(23:18):
neighbor, it doesn't do muchgood if you're only talking to
people that live thousands ofmiles away.
You know you need to immerseyourself back like it was in the
70s and the 80s where you gotto yell at your mom to hang up
the phone.
Mom, I'm on the line.
Scott McLean (23:34):
I'm not a golfer, but I do have a six-hole putting
green.
That dog legs around my pool inmy backyard.
I bet you practice it's verytherapeutic and frustrating at.
Bet you practice it's it's verytherapeutic and frustrating at
the same time.
Yeah, I had that put in.
After I retired I'm like okay.
Jon Sessa (23:56):
I don't golf, but I can putt yeah.
Scott McLean (23:58):
And you know a bucket, a little bucket of balls
, just putt away and it's fun.
Jon Sessa (24:03):
It's fun and that's why why I always think like I
don't think anyone is ever meantto be good at golf.
Think how the game createdthese guys in scotland just
hitting a ball or a rock with astick.
Scott McLean (24:15):
Yeah, come on, that's you're saying how much
more miserable can I be today?
Oh, I can tell you, let me goout and hit a rock with a stick
in the rain, in the sidewayswind in Scotland Like.
I don't know, miserable enough.
Jon Sessa (24:28):
I don't know where that came from and how it
evolved to this, but there issomething just it's just
therapeutic to just be, evenwhen it see.
For me I don't like being incrowds and stuff too.
I get a lot of anxiety andstuff about that.
Um, so being even a busy day onthe golf course is not a busy
day, right, you're only therewith a couple of close people.
Even if you don't know them,you get to know a couple of
(24:48):
people and I can handle that.
Scott McLean (24:50):
Yeah.
Jon Sessa (24:50):
Like it doesn't put me in a situation where I feel
like you know, and I'm going tohave a panic attack or something
.
Scott McLean (24:56):
Is there a specific eligibility or criteria
for veterans to join this orjust be a veteran?
Just be a veteran.
All you had to do is forveterans to join this or just be
a veteran.
Jon Sessa (25:04):
Just be a veteran.
All you had to do is take theoath, like all of us did and
that's good enough for me.
Scott McLean (25:16):
So you've been doing this for a year or so.
You said right, that's it.
Give me a, or give thelisteners a success story, a
feel-good story that someonejust came and said hey, john,
like this is what I want to do.
Jon Sessa (25:30):
So I would say the biggest success story that I've
seen wouldn't actually be from aveteran, but from a veteran son
and this is an adaptive golfer,ok, a boy who adaptive golfer
meaning meaning he's, uh, neurochallenged and he doesn't have
(25:53):
the ability to use one of hisarms as well.
Um, so, with that thing, like Iw, if I, if that was me,
honestly I would think all thethings that I can't do all the
time Right.
And here he is saying that hewants to go out for his high
school golf team.
He wants to play, he wants tobe accepted into it and there is
no limitations.
There is no adaptive golfsports team for the high school
(26:16):
team.
It's like you make it or youdon't.
So, uh, his father'sencouraging him walk 18 holes
every time he plays.
Every time he's hitting theball, really concentrating on it
, and he's getting good.
He's getting good and watchingthis turnaround and having the
adaptive golf community.
So if you want to look them up,it's United States Adaptive
(26:40):
Golf Association, usaga.
They are fantastic and anythingthat I can do to help children
and veterans know that life canbe better, like you can get out
there and golf.
Don't think about things thatyou can't do.
So those are the stories thatreally get to me is how he's
still inspired by going out andplaying in these events, by
(27:01):
seeing other adaptive golfers.
Uh, like this 80 year oldgentleman who was in Vietnam and
he went to the doctor one dayand he had lost like 30 pounds
in like 30 days and he was like,oh my gosh.
He said he said before that youcould even get the words out.
I think I'm freaking dyingRight, that's what he was going
to tell the doctor.
He said he collapsed and henever walked again, right, so
(27:22):
that's agent orange related andbecause of that now he golfs in
a solo rider, so using one ofthe adaptive golf machines to
help him stand up and still beable to play golf in and out of
bunkers onto the greens andputting.
They're not cheap, but theyhave them in the community.
Scott McLean (27:44):
So give me an example of what that would be
like what you just said anadaptive machine.
What is the?
Is it?
Jon Sessa (27:51):
a so it's a solo rider.
What it is is it's a vehiclewith three wheels on it and you
put your golf bag on the frontand it's got a chair that you
sit in and it straps you in likekind of like a wheelchair.
And you can envision like athing that turns sideways and
goes up the stairs to helppeople that can't make it
upstairs.
Same type of a thing.
This turns sideways and standsup.
(28:11):
It even has a little cover thatcomes over the top bra, so
you're in the shade chilling andit stands you up.
And another inspirational storyis um, I saw it's not not me, I
can't take credit for it, but Isaw this video online and this
gentleman who hasn't been ableto stand up, first thing he did
when he got in a solo rider isgive his wife a hug.
(28:32):
Oh yeah, could you imagine that, not being able to stand up and
give the one that you?
love a hug in that long and nowhave the ability to do it.
That's why I'm pushing adaptiveand inclusion accessibility
when it comes to golf.
Because the world's changing.
We need to know that golfdoesn't have to be that collared
(28:54):
shirt.
Tuck in your shirt into yourpants and show up and like what
if you don't have legs to wearpants?
Exactly you know what I mean.
What do you want me to do, man?
I'm sorry.
Like how that?
Some of these things.
And the saddest thing is thatpeople don't address disability
(29:14):
very much so what you just said?
Scott McLean (29:16):
the first thing that popped into my head is okay
, veterans are a uh, we are,we're a community and disabled
veterans are a smaller community.
But within the disabledveterans smaller community,
there's severely disabledcommunity that really doesn't
(29:37):
have many options.
Yes, and to know that there'ssomething like I just learned
something today Like that'samazing, that's fucking amazing.
Yes, and to know that there'ssomething like like I just
learned something today Likethat's amazing, that's fucking
amazing that that and itinspired you, which, okay, it
wasn't so veteran related.
But now you know, like now youhave something to maybe point
(30:00):
that and say I'm going to dothis, I can get this done for
this veteran, because I was.
I saw it work myself Like Iwitnessed it, and so now it
inspired you to maybe go deeperinto you know, you just don't
say no.
Like you, you can't look atsomebody now and say I wish I
could help you.
Jon Sessa (30:18):
But now you're like, I know exactly how we're going
to do this.
Exactly.
There is no limit.
I will teach anybody to playgolf.
Come find me and I guarantee youI got you.
That's what it's about.
And the thing about golf isyou're only playing against
yourself, right?
So when you get somebody in awheelchair that's missing an arm
(30:43):
and can only hit the ball withone arm and or maybe they're not
even, maybe you're blind andyou can't even see yeah, right,
but you hit that ball and itgoes 50 yards straight.
Yeah, that is an incrediblefeeling.
Yeah, I bet, yeah, I challengeanybody to tell somebody that
it's not somebody with downsyndrome to come and play golf
and hit the ball and be good atit.
(31:04):
That's all it takes, it's justthe feeling for them, like it's,
it's relative man, it's justperception from the person.
Your perception is differentthan mine and that's why you
just have to.
You just have to make peoplefeel good, yeah.
Scott McLean (31:20):
And partnerships and collaborations.
Do you have any partnershipswith other maybe non-profits, or
collaborate with othernon-profits or businesses that
that maybe kind of partner with?
Jon Sessa (31:33):
I do, so I I do work with 100 for 22 foundation.
They run 100 holes a golf for22 veterans that commit suicide
every day, and then they're openfor veterans and first
responders, which is fantastic,and Warrior Golf Academy
provides the caddy services fortheir events, so that's
fantastic.
(31:54):
I love being out there in thatcommunity.
You can look up pictures fromus when we were there in North
Carolina.
It was just an absolute blast.
I had my favorite caddy Mojowith me as well, so he goes
everywhere, and that's that'sanother.
That's another thing I wouldlike like people there's for,
for when it comes to thedisabled community, we need to
(32:16):
to be more open.
I think everyone everyonedifferent perceptions and
different realities that theylive by.
You just need to understandthat everyone's, everyone's
different.
Scott McLean (32:25):
You know, I think you and me, uh, we have.
We have a lot in common thatI'm finding out during this
conversation and uh, and we'redefinitely going to be uh, you
know, doing stuff together.
I already know this is going tohappen one way or another, one
way or another.
But I think we have one otherthing in common.
So're a one-man army.
Like I am doing this for yournon-profit right.
(32:48):
You're doing everything.
You're out of pocket for it forthe most part well, you're the
driving force behind it.
Jon Sessa (32:54):
I am I, I.
I don't want to say I take.
I mean I, I take, I, I am butyou are, but it's a community.
Scott McLean (33:00):
You know, I want to give it.
Jon Sessa (33:01):
I want to give credit to everybody that that supports
and everybody that shows up andeverybody that just comes out,
but it's for one like I have ahard time saying this too, but
it is like me I am doing, but itis yes, one man, one.
Scott McLean (33:13):
My foundation, yes .
I and even my, my president.
You know, uh, who I, she's,she's, she's like I don't know
how you do this, I don't know,you know, and but there's
something behind you and me thathelps us do what we do, and
it's your wife yes, sir and thesupport, because without their
(33:36):
support, without them just goingback and say you go do what you
got to do, that's it.
You go help those veterans dowhat you got to do with no you
know, no, no strings attached.
They, they support what you'redoing, they sit back, they help
they, they listen to you whenyou know you just rattling on
about something and they listenyou know that is extremely
(33:58):
important.
I know this my wife, who workshard herself, but she'll listen
to me every day and she justlistens to me.
Jon Sessa (34:07):
Nobody.
Nobody can see me just noddingmy head, because everybody else
knows too.
I bet everyone listening isjust nodding your head like, yes
, it's those in the immediateones around you that really
notice, because it's easy tocome to places like this, but
they don't.
You don't see everything right.
Like everybody, has good days,bad days, and to have that
(34:27):
support through all of it, thefrustrating times, the times
where I'm sure you're, you'relooking at your computer like
you're gonna smash it and theanxiety of you know is is
anybody?
Scott McLean (34:38):
you show up to my party, like when you're doing a
fundraiser, you know there's allof it goes into it and somebody
is behind you goingeverything's gonna be all right,
exactly everything's gonna beall right, you know I.
Jon Sessa (34:50):
I published out my event.
I have a zero confirmed peopleright now, but but uh, let's
promote that again.
It's on it's december 22nd,yeah, at the links of boynton
beach the links in boynton beachyes, sir, it'll be on their
short course.
It's a par 39 hole walking.
Uh, if you're disabled and youneed a golf cart, we can provide
(35:13):
it.
Um, but it's just going to be agreat day to just be out under
the sun and enjoying thefestivities and wear your ugly
christmas sweater that's it.
I'm gonna wear one mojo's gonnawear one hideous one you can
find oh, yes, oh, we have someterrible ones out there too, so
it makes for good fun, though,but that's it.
That's what the holiday shouldbe.
You should be bringing peopletogether.
(35:34):
We should be doing.
When's the last time you wentto a potluck?
Scott McLean (35:39):
that's a good question.
I was just yeah, that's a goodquestion.
I was just yeah, that's a goodquestion.
Jon Sessa (35:42):
I mean these things don't happen anymore.
I mean maybe you're worriedthat you know the neighbor's
going to put fentanyl in thecandy or something.
I mean I don't know at thispoint, like things are just
crazy everywhere, you know.
Scott McLean (35:55):
You're right now.
I'll never look at a potluckthe same again.
Now that you said that Exactly.
But, I'm good.
Jon Sessa (36:02):
Yeah, yeah, I mean that's a big scare now.
I mean I guess, I mean I'm justglad that buffets came back.
Man, I'm a big buffet.
Scott McLean (36:10):
So after COVID, when that came back, I was
nothing like a good buffet, yeah, so, john, give us your website
again.
So you can find me online atwarriorgolfacademycom and give
me the on that, give us a realquick rundown of what you offer
(36:32):
again.
Jon Sessa (36:33):
So on that website, really just contact me for
anything that you need.
I have a simple contact me formon there.
There's a phone number.
Scott McLean (36:39):
There's caddy training Everything's need.
I have a simple contact me formon there.
There's a phone number Pattytraining.
Jon Sessa (36:42):
Everything's listed.
I do club repair, I do Pattytraining, I do community
engagement events.
If you want me to just come outand set up a table, I would
love to.
I would love to help promoteyour events too, for no charge.
I'm working a partnership withsome people that are doing
charity scramble.
Put up all the website for thecharity scrambles, that way you
(37:06):
can find them Just anything whenit comes to golf and charity
and being nice, I guess AnythingI can do for you.
Reach out, please.
We're trying to just grow acommunity.
So soon, very soon, I plan onhaving a Facebook group created
so that way anybody that's goingout and playing golf which I do
quite a bit, and I have quite abit of open places with me, so
(37:31):
whenever we go out and play golf, you can find somebody that can
join you and say, hey look, Igot a game going at this time.
Who wants to come?
I got a game going here, let'sdo this.
Or I got two tea times, let'sget eight people together.
Like we need to build thecommunity.
And it's been happening, but Ithink I can't wait more for
other people.
So I got to be that drivingforce right.
(37:52):
So, with me being the drivingforce, I'm going to create the
Facebook group and I'll linkthat to the web page.
So check back.
Also, check out my blog onthere my Mojo stories.
This is, I think, a unique takeon seeing life from my service
animal's eyes.
Scott McLean (38:11):
And that's who Mojo is.
And that's who Mojo is younever really got into it.
Jon Sessa (38:15):
You talked about Mojo .
Never got into it.
Scott McLean (38:18):
Give us a rundown on Mojo.
Jon Sessa (38:24):
So I guess I'm not supposed to love him is what I
tell my wife and I tell everyone.
I don't like him, but I lovehim, right, he's my service
animal, little pomeranian, 10pounds, uh, and he goes
everywhere with me most of thetime.
Um, you could have brought himhere today.
Yeah, I was I got.
All you have to do is ask.
That's it.
That's it the power of asking.
See, I should just, should justask, don't be afraid.
Scott McLean (38:46):
That's right.
Jon Sessa (38:48):
That's why Let me know, ask me for things people,
please.
But Mojo, so you can look Mojostories.
I think it's an interesting wayto get people to kind of look
at how disabled people strugglein daily life.
So I go to golf courses withhim and this latest one is about
our trip to North Carolina withour mission for 100, for 22.
(39:09):
And the anxiety that I havetraveling through the airport
and what it's like, and his jobas a service animal and what
he's meant to do, and I think itwas a creative way to kind of
display it.
So I'm going to continue onwith that series, maybe one one
a month.
I'll write another one and putit out there.
But I'm finding that it'seasier for me to write things
down.
(39:29):
It becomes quite therapeutic.
I'm not a good reader, I don'tread much, I'd rather listen or
watch something, but but writingwas it, was.
Scott McLean (39:37):
It was quite therapeutic to do that Okay'm
gonna put you on the spot nowyeah yeah, you didn't see this
one coming, okay, but it justdawned on me, so I just did my
uh, my, my fundraiser, which wasmy uh storytelling event,
veteran storytelling okay, andit was amazing.
It was amazing.
It was my first one.
Uh, didn't know what to expect.
I knew what to expect.
(39:58):
It far exceeded even myexpectations.
It's fantastic.
So I'm going to do one everysix months.
Awesome, it's going to justgrow organically.
It's going to be part of myfoundation.
So I'm going to ask you wouldyou be one of the storytellers
at my next event?
Absolutely, there you go.
Jon Sessa (40:17):
I would love to.
Scott McLean (40:18):
I would love to Because I think there's a story
of you and Mojo that would justkill the audience.
Their heart will justabsolutely explode.
It definitely could.
Jon Sessa (40:29):
As we talked about it before, I need to get the word
out.
Whatever I can do to driveawareness, to just help people
is all it's about Just be niceto people.
So I got it.
I would love to attend.
Scott McLean (40:41):
There you go.
You're going to be part of thenext Story Lab.
Jon Sessa (40:43):
Terrific.
Scott McLean (40:44):
A night of veterans stories.
Jon Sessa (40:46):
So I won't release too much mojo material.
I'll have to keep some secretsso that way I have new stuff to
give Any story you want to tell,any story you want to tell, but
I'm going to put you on thelist.
Scott McLean (40:56):
you're the second veteran now thank you.
Jon Sessa (40:58):
Thank you volunteered to do this.
What an honor they want to doit.
Scott McLean (41:01):
Uh, it's.
I'm telling you, people, if youknow, no one knew what to
expect at this first one.
Like they really didn't, it'slike storytelling.
It's not dynamic, it's not, youknow.
Like it's how do you promote it, how do you hype it?
You know what I mean.
But a good crowd showed up, asmall crowd, but a good crowd,
and I asked them, a lot of them,as they were leaving and they
were just overwhelmed with whatthey saw and all of them to a
(41:25):
person said this is not what Iexpected.
Jon Sessa (41:28):
Oh, that's right.
Scott McLean (41:29):
And uh I I asked them what did you expect?
And they said I don't know,they were like, I just thought
people would be telling storiesabout being like, you know, just
being in the military typething, and but these stories go
deeper than what they expected.
Jon Sessa (41:45):
Yes, yeah, just talking to you Very much so.
Scott McLean (41:48):
You got at least 20 stories.
I can tell you that.
Just talking to you, I knowyou've got some great stories.
Jon Sessa (41:55):
Definitely have relatable stories is the thing,
and storytelling for veterans isreally important.
Scott McLean (42:00):
You touched on it earlier.
That's it In the thing.
And storytelling for veteransis really important.
You touched on it earlier inthe interview.
It's very important and I thinkyou know I say a veteran's
story is their strength, it'stheir biggest strength, that's
it.
Jon Sessa (42:10):
And I feel the hardest thing and I think you do
a great job at it with yourfoundation is helping people to
tell their story right, becausethis is lost.
And when I first got into SouthFlorida here and started
looking into like creatingWarrior Golf Academy and talking
to different people, I reachedout to a lot of speakers too in
(42:30):
the speaking circuit aboutinclusion and things like that,
and when I was speaking to someof them they said you just they
go.
Wow, your story resonates withso many more people than just
veterans.
They go.
Not only is it just veterans,but then it's anybody that's
like a first responder and thenanybody with trauma and you can
just build on.
It really is just for everybody,and that's what made me really
(42:53):
hone in on it's a feeling if youcan get people to feel that
feeling inside of them, andthat's what, what you use to
unite people.
You don't, you can't say like,oh well, I got shot at, like not
everyone's been shot at, sothey don't know.
But if you could say like, ohmy gosh, my heart was racing
like a million, like I didn'tknow what was going to happen,
like relate that to like a moststressful environment of your
(43:15):
life, like losing a child, orlike, if you're, you know,
walked away and you were, likehad that moment of, like deep
anxiety, where you're like, ohmy gosh.
Or like I was feeding a babyone time and and it like burbled
on me and I was like the firsttime ever and I was like I'm the
one in control.
What am I supposed to do?
Like that's the scariest momentof my life and that's more
relatable to most people, Likethose things are, like those
(43:38):
emotions are what we need tocapture.
Scott McLean (43:40):
They turn into stories.
Memories immediately turn intostories, exactly.
Jon Sessa (43:45):
So I think it's awesome what you're doing by
helping other people be able totell their stories.
I tell them.
Scott McLean (43:51):
I tell everybody, I say this, and if this piques
your interest, then get in touchwith me, because this is what
we do with One man, one MicFoundation, and that's um
storytelling that's.
It is a superpower and there'sand I I explain and when you and
I get together, you know,probably in the new year, if you
(44:11):
want to go through thispodcasting course or the
storytelling course I will,because I'm a storytelling nerd
like an absolute nerd about it,right, but I will explain to you
exactly how it's literally asuperpower I can see that I
could see that I use.
Jon Sessa (44:28):
I mean, it was a part of sales for a long time.
People use it's a tactic for alot of things get people to nod.
Scott McLean (44:33):
Tell it effectively is a superpower,
yeah, so yes, sir.
All right, buddy One more timeWebsite warrior golf academycom.
All right, your, uh, your, your, your event coming up, let's do
it again.
Jon Sessa (44:47):
All right.
The event coming up is onDecember 22nd at the links at
Boynton beach golf course.
Scott McLean (44:55):
What's going on?
Jon Sessa (44:55):
It's going to be a nine hole golf scramble to
invite the entire South Floridacommunity.
Feel free drive hours to comeand see us.
I would love it.
Please build upon this.
We're going to have uh, we haveadaptive coaches there.
We have regular golf coachesthere.
We have, uh, all types of gamesand events.
(45:16):
We have ugly sweater contestshappening.
We have putting prizes.
We have just communityengagement.
Hot luck, sure, bring food.
I mean at this point, just comeout.
Please just get involved withthe community.
Right?
If you want to, if you have abusiness, you want to set up a
booth, if you anything, pleasereach out to me.
Look on the website, get a holdof me.
(45:37):
This is a chance for us to justharness the community before
christmas time.
This is the.
This is a chance for us to justharness the community before
Christmas time.
This is the holiday season achance for everybody to get out.
Get outside and nice air,sunshine.
You got some Christmas musichappening.
You got a lot of festivitiesgoing on and all the grass is
there and it's clean and it'scut and it's manicured.
It's like a giant park for fun.
(45:59):
Even if you don't play golf,you can come out there with the
family right, beautiful,beautiful.
Scott McLean (46:04):
Well, that's it, buddy.
I think we covered everything.
Is there anything that you wantto touch on at the very end,
anything that we might haveforgot?
Jon Sessa (46:12):
No, I think.
I think we touched on justabout everything, oh.
Scott McLean (46:15):
I forgot to say Um , so John does run a nonprofit
and well, money is the enginethat runs nonprofits, that runs
the machine.
And so, if you like what whatJohn's doing, give him money.
Just give him your money,that's it.
He's working hard, he's doing,he's doing great work with
(46:38):
veterans.
His attitude is absolutelycontagious.
Jon Sessa (46:42):
So give him money I don't want to say no, but you
won't say no I don't want to sayno, but give him money, donate
to his foundation come, come tothe website, see, see what you
get for your money and and we wecan discuss it, because I don't
like taking things for nothing.
(47:02):
There's definitely worthwhile.
Scott McLean (47:05):
ROI on your investments.
So there you go.
Then you'll get something foryour money, and real quick.
I forgot to mention this theservices, the services that you
provide and you teach veterans.
There's always a monetary valueto that.
And if somebody was to payhonestly, if someone was to pay
out of pocket, say, hey, I'mgoing to learn all this stuff
(47:26):
that John teaches in the WarriorGolf Academy.
It's free.
But if I was coming out ofpocket, what do you think it
would cost somebody?
Jon Sessa (47:34):
Honestly, I think everything that I offer, if you
were to utilize all of myservices, would probably cost
you upwards of $10,000.
Scott McLean (47:42):
There you go See.
Jon Sessa (47:44):
That's golf clubs, that's new equipment, that's
teaching.
I mean golf pros are $100 anhour, at least, yep.
So come for free.
Free, learn a skill, give himmoney.
Scott McLean (47:57):
Learn a skill.
It's free, it's great and he'sa good dude.
He's a solid dude and justlistening to him you got to
think you know this couldn't bea bad thing.
Going out on the golf coursewith John.
I don't think that's bad at all.
Jon Sessa (48:11):
Oh, I don't think any day on a golf course is never a
bad day.
Never have a bad day on thegolf course.
So if you're out there with me,yeah, I've.
I've had some of the worstrounds you could ever imagine.
Scott McLean (48:21):
But you're out there oh well, it's it.
Jon Sessa (48:23):
I I get distracted by squirrels.
By by by, there will be oneballoon in the sky and I spot it
, man, like yep, it's it, butit's a great time out there well
, all right.
Scott McLean (48:36):
So, uh, we built another bridge today.
Uh, I want to thank John forcoming on.
This had been delayed a fewtimes, but I always I don't
forget, I don't forget, and Ireached out to John.
He's like let's do this, so Iwant to thank him for coming on.
The podcast.
I want to thank you forlistening and, as I always say,
now listen to the very end.
There's a good public serviceannouncement.
(48:57):
It's for veterans, family ofveterans and just civilians.
Also, it has to do with 211 and988 and the services that
provided.
It's only 30 seconds long.
Just give it a listen andhopefully you get something out
of it, and hopefully you gotsomething out of today's episode
.
I just want to say thank youagain for listening and
supporting this podcast.
(49:17):
It's exceeding my expectations.
You guys are great and I trulyappreciate you listening and,
like I always say, you'll hearme again next week.
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