Veteran Led

What does it take to grow a small, underfunded nonprofit into a $4 million-per-year force for veteran support?

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Kate McCauley, CEO of Wounded Warriors Family Support (WWFS), to explore how operational clarity, disciplined leadership, and heartfelt dedication can scale a mission—without losing the soul behind it.

Based in Omaha, Nebraska, WWFS was founded over two de...

What if the biggest challenge men face today isn’t weakness—but noise?

In this compelling episode of Veteran Led, host John S. Berry welcomes John Krotec, a U.S. Army veteran, speaker, and founder of NeoMasculinity Solutions. Together, they explore the dangers of modern misinformation, the collapse of authentic leadership, and how stoicism, silence, and clarity are becoming critical tools for navigating a world drowning in ...

What does it really mean to be a cowboy—and can horsemanship heal the human soul?

In this gripping episode of Veteran Led, host John S. Berry rides into the heart of Texas to meet Lane Robison, Program Director of Camp Cowboy, a powerful 90-day program that uses horses, sweat, and soul-searching to help veterans, active-duty military, and first responders rediscover purpose, rebuild communication, and reconnect with their f...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with veteran, entrepreneur, and Camp Cowboy founder LTC (Ret.) Scott Robison for a candid and insightful conversation on initiative, leadership, and how to build trust in business and in life.

Scott shares how a joke about stolen valor turned into a hard lesson about assumptions and recognition — and how it led to being honored with a Navy Achievement Medal by a stunne...

In this episode of Veteran Led, host John S. Berry sits down with MG (Ret.) Dusty Shultz, a trailblazing Army officer who’s redefining what leadership looks like after service. From director of intelligence at SOUTHCOM to her current mission advising companies and empowering teams, Dusty brings clarity, compassion, and candor to every conversation.

With more than three decades in uniform—and a transition plan that s...

“I started living for what I can do—not what I can’t do.” — Richard Kaufman

In this powerful episode of Veteran Led, host John S. Berry welcomes Richard Kaufman—Army Veteran, best-selling author, and host of the Vertical Momentum Resiliency podcast—known nationwide as The Comeback Coach. From addiction and homelessness to blindness and recovery, Richard’s incredible journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spir...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with actor and producer Matthew Marsden, known for his roles in Black Hawk Down, Rambo, and Transformers. Though not a Veteran himself, Marsden has become a passionate advocate for the military community through his work on and off the screen.

Marsden shares how his experience training with Army Rangers for Black Hawk Down fundamentally shaped his respect for service m...

In this episode of Veteran Led, host John S. Berry sits down with Army officer and viral military influencer Austin von Letkemann, better known as Mandatory Fun Day. With a decade as an enlisted soldier before commissioning, Austin delivers raw, hilarious, and brutally honest insights about military life — from barracks blunders to leadership that forgets birthdays but remembers formation at 0500.

Austin shares how humor is...

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry explores the critical role of external partners—your attachments and detachments—in achieving organizational success. Drawing parallels to military operations, John discusses how to identify aligned vendors, assess contracts, manage expectations, and avoid costly mistakes. With firsthand stories of collaboration, failure, and redemption, this episode offers practical frameworks...

In this episode of Veteran Led, host John Berry sits down with Bronze Star recipient and Gulf War Veteran Steven Kuhn—author of Unleash Your Humble Alpha and co-founder of Novascale Partners. Steven shares how military principles like urgency, adaptability, and unwavering purpose fueled his rise from a post-service identity crisis to leading billion-dollar international deals. You’ll hear lessons from the battlefield to th...

Hooked from the first pill, headed for Leavenworth. In this gripping episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with David Mike—former soldier, convicted drug dealer, and now author of Dishonor. From a broken leg at Airborne School to the darkness of addiction and the light of redemption, this is a raw, emotional journey of failure, faith, and finding purpose after disgrace. You won't believe where his story ends—or b...

Step inside the battlefield of leadership failures with Veteran Led. In this episode, Veterans pull no punches as they expose the worst leadership they've ever witnessed — no names needed, just hard truths. 

From selfish credit-grabbers and insecure tyrants to mission-driven disasters that cost lives, our guests share jaw-dropping, raw stories that every leader (and aspiring leader) needs to hear.

You'll learn what not to do...

When life blows up—literally—you either sink or rise stronger. In this episode of Veteran Led, soldier in the special operations community, turned powerhouse CEO, Channing Walker, shares how he went from IED survivor to scaling multimillion-dollar ventures. Dive into Channing’s no-fluff lessons on building unstoppable teams, winning federal contracts against billion-dollar competitors, and why real leaders never "burn the ...

Numbers track our progress, but they don’t tell our story. In this episode, John S. Berry breaks down why true leadership isn’t found in statistics, but in the moments we rise after failure. Learn how veterans are conditioned to win through relentless preparation, resilience, and character under pressure. Subscribe and discover how to turn your toughest challenges into defining victories—both in business and in life. 

In this powerful episode of Veteran Led, host John Berry sits down with trailblazer Lieutenant General Jody Daniels, Ret., the first woman to command the U.S. Army Reserve. With over 41 years of military service and a successful civilian career at Lockheed Martin, Dr. Daniels shares raw insights on what it takes to lead nearly 200,000 service members, challenge outdated systems, and reshape military culture.

From battling m...

What happens when a Marine officer, Silicon Valley engineer, and fintech disruptor builds a better way for law firms to get paid? On this episode of Veteran Led, host John Berry sits down with Emery Wager, co-founder & CEO of Confido Legal. From combat tours in Afghanistan to streamlining cash flow for thousands of law firms, Emery shares why financial clarity is the lifeblood of legal success—and how great leadership ...