Carnivore Leadership

What happens when Veterans return home changed by their service, but the people around them do not fully understand what changed?In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry speaks with April Brown, Marine Corps Veteran, educator, and co-editor of Voices of America: Veterans and Military Families Tell Their Own Stories. April shares how conversations with student Veterans at Texas Christian University grew into a project preserving more than 100 firsthand stories from Veterans and military families.The conversation spans military experiences from World War II through the post-9/11 era, revealing common themes of transition, identity, belonging, and the sacrifices made by spouses and children. April shares the powerful story of a Vietnam Veteran whose wife recognized changes in him that he could not see himself, and how hearing that story helped another Vietnam Veteran finally feel welcomed home.April also explains why authentic Veteran stories should be preserved in the voices of the people who lived them and why listening to those experiences can help bridge the military-civilian divide.Guest Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-brown-3626485/ Voices of America: https://tcupress.tcu.edu/9780875656731/Learn more at BerryLaw.com

What separates leaders who make things happen from those who wait for things to happen?In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with SEAC Ramón “CZ” Colón-López, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), former Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Pararescueman, and author of Carnivore Leadership. After 33 years of military service, including Special Operations missions and service as the nation's highest-ranking enlisted leader, CZ shares the leadership philosophy that shaped his career.CZ explains why effective leadership requires humility, discipline, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to the mission. His Carnivore Leadership philosophy distinguishes between people who take ownership and make things happen and those who wait for someone else to act.The conversation explores the difference between confidence and ego, developing future military leaders, and why great leaders listen more than they talk. CZ also shares lessons from working alongside senior military commanders, including Admiral William McRaven, and explains why transparency, delegation, and genuine concern for people are essential to building high-performing teams.For Veterans, entrepreneurs, and business leaders, this episode offers practical lessons on leading with credibility, developing others, and putting mission before ego.Guest Links:Ramón “CZ” Colón-López LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramoncolonlopez/Carnivore Leadership Website:https://carnivoreleader.com/Carnivore Leadership Book on Amazon:https://a.co/d/0i18NskWLearn more at BerryLaw.com

Can dark humor help Veterans process the experiences they carry home from war?In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Thom Tran, Army Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, comedian, actor, writer, and founder of GIs of Comedy, to discuss how laughter can create connection, provide perspective, and help Veterans navigate life after combat.Thom shares his remarkable journey from growing up as the son of a Vietnam War prisoner of war to enlisting in the Army in 1997. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, he was shot in the back of the head just days after crossing the border, yet remained deployed for the rest of his tour. After returning home, he built a career in radio broadcasting and stand-up comedy.The conversation explores military dark humor, leadership, and the difference between being genuinely funny and simply saying something offensive. Thom also shares why making Veterans laugh remains part of his mission, including an unforgettable encounter with a Soldier who laughed for the first time since returning from Afghanistan.For Thom, comedy is more than entertainment. It is another way to take care of people.Guest Links:Thom Tran: https://thomtran.com/GIs of Comedy: https://gisofcomedy.com/Joker 6 Media: https://joker6media.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomtran/Learn more at BerryLaw.com

What if the biggest obstacle keeping Veterans from new opportunities isn't a lack of resources, but not knowing where to find them?In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Maj. Ryan Patrick Hunt, U.S. Army (Ret.), entrepreneur, author, and founder and CEO of Veteran Social, to discuss breaking down barriers and connecting Veterans with the people, programs, and opportunities that can change their lives.After more than 23 years of Army service, Ryan continued his mission of developing people by building a collaborative network for Veterans, military spouses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Through virtual conferences, networking, and partnerships, Veteran Social helps military-connected individuals discover resources and build meaningful relationships.Ryan shares why he believes in collaboration over gatekeeping, how mentorship creates lasting impact, and why rebuilding community after military service matters. He also discusses leadership lessons from helping enlisted Soldiers become officers, the importance of communication and organizational values, and his vision for connecting Veterans around the world.His message is simple: Veterans should not have to find their next opportunity by chance.Guest Links:Ryan Patrick Hunt: https://ryanpatrickhunt.com/Veteran Social: https://www.veteransocial.org/Learn more at BerryLaw.com

Character isn't built when things are easy. It's revealed when everything changes.After losing his leg above the knee in combat, Nick Lavery refused to let that injury define the limits of his service. Driven by purpose, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to his team, he set his sights on returning to Special Forces and combat operations, ultimately becoming the first above-the-knee amputee to return to combat. And he's still on active duty today.In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Nick, active-duty U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, author of Objective Secure, entrepreneur, and leader whose story is rooted not just in extraordinary physical achievement, but in resilience, accountability, and the daily pursuit of excellence. Nick speaks candidly about self-doubt, setbacks, failure, and the reality that even high performers struggle. He explains why pressure doesn't create character but reveals it, and why long-term success depends on connecting a clear mission to the small actions taken every day. Rather than relying on motivation, Nick shares how systems, habits, and disciplined execution create lasting results.John and Nick also discuss the After-Action Review, a military tool Nick now brings to high-performing organizations. The principle is simple: identify what worked, spend even more time confronting what did not, and use accountability to get better.Guest Links:MCHN: https://mchn.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-lavery/Learn more at BerryLaw.com

What happens to your physical readiness when the uniform comes off?In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Maj. Joel Del Rosario, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), founder of Readi, to discuss tactical fitness, longevity, and why Veterans still have a responsibility to take care of the most important piece of equipment they own: their body.After retiring from the Marine Corps, Joel set out to help tactical athletes train for performance without sacrificing long-term health. Readi combines strength, mobility, recovery, mindset, and nutrition resources for military members, Veterans, law enforcement, and firefighters. Joel is also going through the police academy himself to better understand the physical demands law enforcement officers face every day.John and Joel discuss training smarter instead of simply training harder, preventing injuries, avoiding overtraining, and rebuilding fitness after service. Joel also shares leadership lessons from the Marine Corps and explains why consistency and high standards matter whether you're leading a unit, a company, or yourself.His message to Veterans is simple: hanging up the uniform does not mean hanging up your responsibilities.Guest Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeldelrosario/ Readi: https://www.getreadi.app/ Readi Social: @getreadi.app Joel Del Rosario: @joellerbladesLearn more at BerryLaw.com

What if one of the biggest threats to military readiness is what our service members eat?In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with Robert Irvine, Royal Navy Veteran, chef, entrepreneur, television personality, and founder of the Robert Irvine Foundation, to discuss why he believes food is national security.Robert shares how his journey began when he joined the Royal Navy at 15 years old and started cooking for service members. Today, he is helping modernize how the U.S. military feeds the Joint Force, from redesigned dining facilities and personalized nutrition to addressing food insecurity among military families.The conversation explores the connection between nutrition, readiness, long-term Veteran health, and military community. Robert explains why food does more than fuel the body. Sharing meals builds relationships, strengthens units, and gives leaders opportunities to recognize when someone may be struggling.Robert also shares his approach to leadership, why insecurity creates poor leaders, and how empathy, authenticity, listening, and hiring people smarter than you can build stronger teams.Guest Links:Robert Irvine Foundation: https://robertirvinefoundation.org/ Robert Irvine: https://chefirvine.com/Learn more at BerryLaw.com

What if the best part of the smoke pit was never really the cigar?In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry and co-host Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent sit down with Joey Mac Dizon, Marine Corps Veteran and co-founder of The Mobile Cigar Lounge, to talk about turning military camaraderie into a business built around relationships, experiences, and community.Joey shares how memories of the smoke pit inspired a company designed to recreate those moments when people slow down, connect, and build real relationships. He explains how mentorship from fellow Veteran entrepreneurs and a willingness to learn from other leaders helped him grow both personally and professionally.The conversation explores hiring, culture, communication, and Joey's approach to giving people room to succeed instead of micromanaging them. More than anything, Joey explains why cigars are simply the vehicle. The real mission is creating the feeling of connection and brotherhood that so many Veterans remember from service.Guest Links:Website: https://themobilecigarlounge.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeymacdizon/Learn more at BerryLaw.com

What do you do when people decide you don't belong in the room before you've even had the chance to lead?In this episode of Veteran Led, Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent sits down with Roslyn Davis, Air Force Veteran and President and CEO of RoDa Business Solutions, to discuss resilience, leadership, entrepreneurship, and proving yourself through performance.After 24 years in the Air Force, Roslyn continued serving through government contracting and a decade of federal civil service, including work on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. She shares how being placed in leadership roles others believed she was too junior or too young to handle taught her an important lesson: don't focus on the naysayers. Focus on results.The conversation explores how military resilience translates to entrepreneurship, why government contractors need the right strategic partners, and why relationships should extend beyond a single transaction. Roslyn also discusses the value of the Veteran entrepreneur community and why success often hides years of struggle that nobody else sees.Guest Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roslyn-davis/ Website: https://www.RoDaBusinessSolutions.com/Learn more at BerryLaw.com

What happens when the path from drugs and juvenile detention leads to military service, entrepreneurship, and a completely different future?In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry and co-host Freddie Kim of MilSpec Talent sit down with Andrew Vose, Army Veteran, entrepreneur, and real estate leader, to talk about the experiences that shaped his path and the lessons he carried into business.Andrew shares his unconventional journey into the Army and how military service eventually took him through Ranger Battalion and Special Forces support. After leaving the military, he brought those experiences into recruiting, real estate, entrepreneurship, and business acquisition. Today, he leads a network of more than 1,000 real estate agents while continuing to pursue new opportunities.The conversation covers failure, risk, leadership, AI, and Andrew's philosophy of the "2 Ps": proximity and purpose. From losing more than $200,000 on an investment to rebuilding after a failed business, Andrew explains why getting it wrong can sometimes teach you more than getting it right.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvose/ Website: https://www.andrewvose.com Instagram: @theonlyandrewvoseLearn more at BerryLaw.com