The TALK4 Podcast with Louis Skupien

From Navy SEAL & Firefighter to Crystal Meth Addict… and Back | Dr Tony Dice | TALK4 EP 170

In episode 170 of the Talk4 Podcast, Louis Skupien sits down with Dr Tony Dice — former firefighter, paramedic, U.S. Navy SEAL, addict in recovery, therapist, and author of After the Trident: A Navy SEAL’s Battle with Secrets, Addiction and Shame. Tony’s story is as extreme as it gets. From chasing chaos as a first responder and SEAL, to becoming physically and spiritually broken by alcohol and crystal meth, he reached a point where he couldn’t even pick up his own son from daycare. That moment — and the spiral that followed — pushed him to call a treatment centre, sell his car to pay for rehab, and go all-in on recovery. In this raw and honest conversation, Tony shares: • How his thrill-seeking, rule-bending nature fuelled both excellence and self-destruction • The moment he realised addiction was going to destroy not just him, but his son’s future • Why “willpower” works against you in addiction • How 12-step recovery actually works beneath the surface (and why it sticks) • His Holistic Change Model for lasting transformation • Why our “nation’s heroes” often suffer in silence — and how Bishop & Dice Defense is changing that • The power of “swim buddies” / battle buddies and why no one can do life alone Whether you’re military, a first responder, high performer, or someone quietly struggling with addiction or burnout, this episode offers hope, perspective, and a clear path to meaningful change. 🎧 Listen now to hear how Dr Tony Dice turned the worst moments of his life into a mission to pull others out of the fire.

60 Million People Die Every Year… Miles Spencer Is Trying to Save Their Stories With AI | TALK4 169

In episode 169 of the Talk4 Podcast, Louis Skupien sits down with Miles Spencer – serial entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of Reflekta AI, a “Soul Tech” company that lets you preserve and talk with AI versions of your loved ones, even after they’ve passed. Miles shares his journey from a curious kid in Pittsburgh to building early digital media and mobile ad-tech companies, co-creating the TV show Money Hunt, and finally launching Reflekta – a platform that lets him have dynamic, emotional conversations with his dad, eight years after his death. He opens up about the moment he first heard his father’s recreated voice, how a single 10-second voicemail turned into thousands of conversations, and why recording family stories is like saving an entire library every time someone dies. We also dive into: • How to spot real problems worth solving as an entrepreneur • Why “being helpful” has been his most powerful networking strategy • The mental health benefits of legacy work and family story-telling • The ethical guardrails Reflekta uses to avoid unhealthy attachment and AI “hallucinations” • How kids, widows, and people without a father figure are already using digital elders for guidance and healing 🎧 If you’ve ever lost someone, worried about being forgotten, or wondered how AI can actually serve humanity instead of replacing it, this episode will hit hard. Listen now to discover how Miles is using AI to turn memories into conversations – and why your family’s stories might be the most valuable legacy you leave behind.

Why the Attention Economy Is the New Cigarette Industry | Chris Kaspar | Sage Mobile | TALK4 EP 168

In this powerful conversation, Chris Kaspar (Founder, Techless) breaks down how phones and platforms were engineered for addiction — and what he’s building instead: Wisephone for adults and Sage Mobile (a full iPhone experience with layered protections) for kids and teens. We cover: * The foster-care moment that sparked Techless * Why “evil defaults” + the attention economy = anxiety, distraction, burnout * The psychology behind doom-scrolling (variable rewards, sexualised/controversial content, algorithm “dials”) * Designing minimalist tech that still works (maps, messages, curated apps, guardrails) * Kids’ digital dignity, parent playbooks, and school-wide device standards * “Life hours”: 2+ billion hours reclaimed — and the road to 100B If you create, lead, parent or just want your focus back, this one will hit home. 🎧 Listen on YouTube/Spotify/Apple and grab the book with 150 distilled lessons from 30 top Talk4 episodes. Guest links:  👉 Website: https://www.chriskaspar.org👉 Sage Mobile: https://www.sagemobile.com/?srsltid=AfmBOor5H3c9wN8zzr4ZRhhxnRnwq5ykeMC-J0xXTtc_EzyWLq26abBm Follow Louis: @louisskupien • @talk4podcast

She Helped Create the System That’s Saved 13+ Fighter Pilots | Jessica "Sting" Peterson | TALK4 167

In episode 167 of the Talk4 Podcast, Louis Skupien welcomes Jessica “Sting” Peterson — flight-test engineer, TPS instructor, and PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. A former civil-service technical director and instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School, Sting worked on Auto-GCAS and air collision-avoidance systems now credited with saving over a dozen pilot lives.What did we explore in this episode?In this dynamic conversation, Sting shares how she went from a non-traditional path to her first jet flight in an F-16, the reality of pulling 9G in the centrifuge, and how her team safely tested “don’t-hit-the-ground” tech without… hitting the ground. We dig into the engineering behind Auto-GCAS, the VISTA F-16 as an AI/autonomy “sandbox,” and her current research using real-time performance modelling to help pilots make smarter engine-out decisions. We also talk STEM outreach that truly inspires the next generation — and why human pilots and AI are stronger together.Packed with behind-the-scenes flight-test insight, leadership lessons under pressure, and practical takeaways for aviators, engineers, and anyone who loves pushing the envelope.🎧 Listen now on Spotify: [add your live link]⏱️ Enhance your style with AVI-8’s aviation-inspired watches!AVI-8 is offering an exclusive 20% discount with code: LOUISSKUPIEN20. Shop here: https://www.avi-8.com/talk4💰 Thinking of starting your own business? Launch your online store today for just £1 with Shopify!Get started: https://shopify.pxf.io/TALK4🎥 FREE Content from TALK4!Download and share short clips from our podcast!Download here: [your Drive folder link]👉🏻 Who Is Jessica “Sting” Peterson?Sting is a flight-test engineer and educator completing her PhD at UNR. As a TPS instructor and former USAF technical director, she helped develop and test Auto-GCAS and air collision-avoidance capabilities for frontline fighters. She’s passionate about STEM outreach and research that makes aviation safer.⭐️ Love the Talk4 Podcast? Leave a review!👉🏻 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/talk4-podcast/id1591476875👉🏻 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5DxcH2DxGbn0MVZUBqV1Gv?si=f335eeda0b3e44f4Video Title:Jessica “Sting” Peterson | Auto-GCAS, 9G Reality & AI Flight Test (VISTA) | Talk4 EP 167This episode covers: Auto-GCAS, flight-test safety, 9G centrifuge, AI/autonomy in fighters, VISTA, engine-out performance modelling, STEM outreach, and leadership under pressure.✅ Subscribe to our channel for more inspiring content:Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg0INsEySnXei_cS3lZceqg⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Listen to the audio podcast on your favourite platform:👉 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/talk4-podcast/id1591476875👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5DxcH2DxGbn0MVZUBqV1Gv?si=f335eeda0b3e44f4✅ Stay Connected With Louis Skupien:👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisskupien/👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/louisskupien👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.skupien👉 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@louisskupien👉 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/louisskupien👉 Website: https://louisskupien.com👉 Talk4 Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talk4podcast/✅ For Business Enquiries: louis@louisskupien.com==========================✅ Recommended Playlists:Explore Playlists: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLei2UnG7GRuwHK5UBos6H6asVl8G2O4VX✅ Other Videos You Might Be Interested In Watching:👉 Samuel “RaZZ” Larson | F-22 Raptor Demo Team | TALK4 EP 104: https://youtu.be/ue3OdODBVF4👉 Chris “Chowdah” Hill | US Navy Captain, CO CVN-69 | EP 129: https://youtu.be/82VY1dRUHf4© Louis Skupien#AutoGCAS #FlightTest #VISTA #USAF #AviationSafety #AI #STEM #Talk4Podcast #F16 #EdwardsAFB

He Built Rocket Boosters. Now He’s Hacking Human Energy | Mark Lee Fox - Resona Health | EP 166

In EP 166, Louis sits down with Mark Lee Fox, former Space Shuttle solid rocket booster chief engineer and founder of Resona Health. Mark explains how his aerospace career shaped his approach to building the VIBE, a pocket PEMF device designed to deliver ultra-low-power energy protocols for anxiety, sleep, pain support, recovery and more—plus similar approaches for pets and horses. We cover: * What PEMF is (in plain English), why frequency matters, and where the science sits today * Lessons from NASA: decision-making, “run the experiment”, and communicating complex ideas simply * Product design trade-offs (battery, heat, simplicity) and why Mark ditched Bluetooth * The horse world’s early adoption, studies to watch, and why mainstream medicine lags * New ideas coming: vagus-nerve toning, biomarker wearables, blue-light/PEMF combos, AI-guided protocols Links mentioned: Resona Health VIBE: https://resona.health/vibe/ Product flyer (PDF): https://d19878z74qufsh.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Resona-Health-Flyer-59.pdf 59 Primary Protocols: https://d19878z74qufsh.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VIBE-59-Protocols-030424.pdf Brain Wave Expansion: https://d19878z74qufsh.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Brain-Wave-Expansion-Protocols.pdf Research hub: https://resona.health/research/ Patrons page: https://resona.health/patrons/ Resona YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@resonahealth